I had a few wild roses that showed up one day,roses do that from time to time. And they can be rather strong about staying and growing,and that is all right sometimes SOME ARE VERY PRETTY!!!
Long-lived perennials
That was my initial thought, wild rose
That's so funny, if that is what it is. I always assumed it was some kind of fruit bramble, because when we first moved in I had planted a bunch of elderberries and the like and then got distracted by current events and didn't pay attention.
ever seen it blooming???
I'm so embarrassed -- yes, it blooms in May around the time of the Deutzia. It has white flowers, enough to be mildly pretty from a distance. But I never walked up and looked at it in bloom.... it just didn't seem very interesting. Because I thought it was a fruit bramble of some sort, I just pondered whether I should put netting over it so I could harvest something. It has certainly snagged me enough as I've weeded. Now I am thinking I need to pull it out -- isn't wild rose considered invasive?
Lot of times it is only "you know "one man's trash another man's treasure" I was always happy with them as I enjoyed them. I see you got to the plant id forum. Good ideas are like letting someone do your math homework,It gets done that way and hopefully it works out ok.
Yes it can be invasive if not controlled
There is some between us and our neighbor and the fragrance is AMAZING, I don't want to get rid of it, but I make sure it doesn't travel anywhere
I don't think it looks quite like THE wild invasive rose. THat one is so wild it would be a massive bush by now, seems like. But anyway, it sure looks like some wild rose.
Mine is a massive bush, but only about 5' tall.
Ok so it could be the invasive one. Little white flowers that smell good.
I don't ever remember mine smelling, but I don't think I ever got close to it either. It is in an out-of-the-way place.
As you get to the planning/planting stage... the area you're doing is that slope in front, right? There are a lot of tough plants that would take a little extra time to plant but would then probably do really well... agastaches, salvias, and the like sometimes are picky about clay soil, because they need good drainage... being on a hill solves part of that... I'm thinking all you need are a couple of breadloaf sized rocks or a few bricks... make a little semicircular "pocket garden" on the slope and dump in some potting mix, then plant. As the plant gets established, it'll send some roots deeper into the clay.
And the rock-edged "pockets" would be pretty in and of themselves on the slope.
Has anybody mentioned the old-fashioned purple coneflower? Not any of the often-fussier new hybrids, just plain old Echinacea purpurea.
I've definitely got Echinacea purpurea on the list -- thanks for cautioning me away from the fancy cultivars.
I haven't had much luck with Agashaches and Salvias -- I'm glad to hear they are long-lived, though. (I don't want to experiment on my awful hill -- I need stuff that will absolutely definitely make it. I don't like working on that hill much!) Your description of the planting method is exactly what I intend to do on the whole hill -- there is no way to cultivate the soil.
I think I remember Happy using the pocket method on her back hill when we were talking about that one a few years ago. It is a really good trick to use on a hillside. How about Prickly Pear?
One of the most dependable plants we have is Carex hachijoensis evergold. I've borrowed a photo from Plainview Farm, and they classify it as easy. The ones we have are in a shady spot where leftover driveway gravel mixed in with our usual clay. They are far enough away from the house that the deer would be more likely to browse them if they were interested and also far enough that watering would not happen. I think they are very attractive. They have not spread anywhere and are basically ignored.
They are beautiful, ecnalg; thanks for the suggestion.
That Carex sounds and looks excellent.
Happy, I have loads of Echinacea purpurea in my garden (more pink ones but some white ones). They are all blooming now. I can lose half of them without leaving holes in the garden. I planted some a few years ago, but didn't deadhead them because people said I should keep the seedheads for birds. So they made babies.
If you remind me toward the end of the season, I can dig up some for you if you want them.
Thanks, Donnerville -- I might take you up on that! I definitely envision Echinacea in my future!
I have LOADS of Echinacea seeds. Like--a cup and a half full.
How come???? I kepr dead-heading these in the HD garden---to, ahem--
make them more salable....Took the dead blooms home and dried them and collected a bunch of seeds.
I would imagine they need striation to come up next year---yes?
SO! Sprinkle them when Nature would--maybe in September????
Did a photo of where to find the seeds in a flower head of this plant. The seeds are quite large.
They hide so well......:o) See them in between the spikes?
When done picking--all that is left is the "cone" of the Cone Flower.....
Wow, Gita, that is really cool! How beautiful and orderly is nature!
Happy---
Here is what the seeds look like....pretty neat--no?
The drier the flower head--the easier these are to remove. BUT! Those dry spikes hurt!
I used a bread knife and scraped and scraped across the spikes.
Most of the seeds just popped out.
They look nice against the turquoise of the plate.
I wish I knew where I could use this granite and marble
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/grq/3053570681.html
$2 a piece?? I wonder if its scraps from counter tops!!! The place I bought from had a dumpster full.
wow nice...they'll probably be really slippery though if they got wet, you'd have to rough em up a bit
I wonder why the seller doesn't post a picture -- makes we wonder about what they look like....
they hardly ever post pics on craigslist, if you're interested you contact them and then they'll send you a pic
Sally, I think a mosaic sort of grouping around a gazing ball or water feature or fire pit would look beautiful. If the pieces were shiney or polished they might reflect enough to mimic a small pool of water (some people use mirrors!) or several. Under your red bud tree would be pretty and mulch like. If they are from counter tops usually the underside is rough. Could also make a nice bench seat or table top or creative edging. A circle of same around the big tree right off your deck stairs would be a cool way to light up area and display plants. To the left of your deck stairs between house and stairs would be yet another place for some creative whimsy!
Usually posters on craigslist will answer emails and send photos upon request. I'm sure most of us could find a repurposed use for these at $20 for ten and then want to go back for more!
Granite and marble are very long lived perennials that take no care and do well in our area.
This message was edited Jun 21, 2012 5:26 PM
Good ideas- and LOL that last comment. I think I will inquire- I'll let y'all know. If it is from counters, it could be irregular sizes with formed edges on some sides and rough irregular cuts on others. Yes the polished side might be unsafe for walking when wet.
All kinds of good ideas and very tempting. Depending on what they are they could maybe be available for the swap. Hint hint heehee.
Think of the marble steps in Baltimore. They must not be too slippery. You could sand blast them if they are polished.
Can you just use the bottom side if that is not polished?
Seems like the unpolished side would be pretty nice. It's not too smooth and I think the stone pattern would show when its wet.
I think we'll be lining up at this next swap for some marble
Do any of you have suggestions for perennials (or shrubs) that are maybe 24" tall -- it's ok if the flowers shoot higher (like a daylily). DH and I spent a LONG time today clearing out weeds, which left much larger holes in the border we were working on than I had anticipated (great swaths of Aegepodium). It is on a slope that ends at a retaining wall adjacent to our patio, so if there are tall plants there, we wouldn't see them well and they'd hide any plants behind them. Plus since there isn't full sun, a lot of really tall plants flop over. Low-growing plants don't show up. I'd like to add some perennials about the height of daylilies or Irises or Sedum Autumn Joy or Coreopsis Moonbeam, all of which are already there and work well (the Moonbeam is tad little short). No full sun, sadly.
Hydrangea?
I don't have any that are that short -- do you know of any cultivars that short? I love hydrangeas....
Drift roses, gardenia , Rhododendron, hawthorn, dwarfs of all that might.
Happy, there are a number of 'dwarf' hydrangeas available nowadays.
a dwarf 'oakleaf'! http://www.waysidegardens.com/hydrangea-quercifolia-sikes-dwarf/p/48618/
and 'Ruby slippers' http://gurneys.com/ruby-slippers-dwarf-oakleaf-hydrangea/p/86058/
'Pia' is pink : http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/pia.html
City line series : http://www.colorchoiceplants.com/cityline_venice.htm
Little Lime has lime green flowers : http://gurneys.com/ruby-slippers-dwarf-oakleaf-hydrangea/p/86058/
A personal favorite of mine is 'blue billow' :http://www.waysidegardens.com/hydrangea-serrata-blue-billow/p/48945/
Blue Billow sounds lovely -- but sadly 4' tall!
Thanks! Any suggestions on perennials?
This message was edited Jun 25, 2012 12:09 AM