Wow Holly, you sure do have a beautiful yard. I have never been to your place and enjoyed the pictures you posted. That's a nice wrought iron seat, and a gazebo, wow, so nice! I love the wooden ones. My daughter just put in a big (12ft) white one. I think it's vinyl. She said she couldn't keep up a wooden one with all the other home and yard jobs. It is very pretty though.
You must spend a lot of time in your yard to keep it so healthy and nice looking. I'll bet your neighbors enjoy it too!
Neck of the Woods CHAT Summer 2013 Part 2
Hey, Guys!
I just came across a DG'er that lives very close (??) to me--but we have never
seen him yet on this Forum. He joined last fall--his "name" is "typwc".
He lives in Parkville---I live in Perry Hall--neighboring sub-divisions.
I sent him a D-mail and invited him over....found him on the Seed and plant trading Forum.
I have one thing he/she has on his/her "wants" list. A new England Aster.....
Sent him a "Hello" and a picture of it....Look for him and say "HI!"...
Gita
Thanks Coleuslover, If you are coming to the area you should let us know and drop by. That Gazebo is a wonder, we have very little shade in the back yard and it is so very comfortable sitting under it. You wouldn't believe how much cooler it is. The yard does take a lot of work, lucky there are two of us that enjoy gardening.
Did anybody happen to catch today's article?
Happy - I believe Gita's Aconitum is A. napellus, the most widely available species.
The NEW person is a SHE--named Karen.
We have D-mailed a lot....she must not have enough $$$ for things--as she said
that she will join DG as soon as she has $20 to spare.
I will pay for her membership---how does one go about it????
She lives VERY close to where we lived right after we got married. She knows the street.
We sent each other pictures of our houses--so we know where to stop--if it is convenient.
She sounds like a real sweetheart. Gita
I think you just go to her member page..
That is awfully nice of you.
do a good turn daily..
go to preferences and then subscription, there is a tab to click for sub for another member
Well, Paul---
Someone here on the MA just gifted me with a 1 year renewal to thank me for all
the plants she has received from me. Just returning the favor to someone else.
Just "Paying it forward"---she seems to be quite the gardener--loves collecting seeds,
loves growing unusual plants, etc. Like--we are "two peas in a pod".
I just sent a note to DG (under the "Contact Us" tab)--as I really do not know how it is done.
Never occurred to me to just click on her name. I think she has been a "member" since fall of 2012.
You know what I did today???
A group of us from the HD (7 or 8) went and re-landscaped the beds in front of a small Community center.
Wearing our "TEAM DEPOT" orange shirts--we worked from 9:30AM until 2Pm.
I am sure you may have seen a bunch of people (Team Depot) doing something wonderful
for someone--or some place.
Pulled up all the old plants and weeds and dug up3 different beds One of them--the biggest--
with the huge sign in it that said what this place was...
Planted 2 HUGE planters and 2 just lg. planters with pretty flowers (this was MY job!).
Turned out really pretty! I may sneak over there some day and see how they are doing...
The ASM in charge, Marquis, is not a gardener at all--but he was put in charge of this project.
He came to me Tuesday and said he needed some help deciding what plants to plant where.
He showed me the pictures of the locations--and that is all I had to go on.
So, Wednesday--the two of us walked the garden and i, basically, picked out what to plant where.
He could agree--or not--but I know better....
So--this AM we loaded up the Load-And-Go with he plants and soil and mulch .
Because one bed was sooo narrow--the shrubs we had planned to put in there would not work.
SO--Marquise and I went back to our HD to get more plants Came back and finished the job.
This was ALL volunteer work. Even our Store Manager, Curtis (the cutie) was there all day.
GO! Team Spirit!!!!
Here are a few pictures.....
--The beginning--the weeding...digging up bulbs--everywhere!
--The main bed to do--my fave when it was done.
--Me--planting a Black Eyed Susan in a bed
--The whole Team Depot. Curtis--our SM--is front left.
--The two organizers/planners--Marquis and me.
what a nice program!
Gita, what a great community project!
Does anyone know if there are any plants out there that tolerate driveway traffic? This area is in full sun (when there isn't a car parked on it). There are surface roots form a dogwood that was cut down a few years ago. We've been parking on this spot for a couple of years, so the clay is very badly compacted.
We really should pave this area, but I'm not excited about having more concrete in the front yard. I'd put in a permeable driveway if it weren't for the cost.
SSG, I like those cinder blocks that you can plant grass in. I think they make a nice surface to park on and still have a natural look. No idea the cost or work into putting them in.
Holly, that's interesting... something I hadn't considered. I was hoping to avoid any digging, though!
I'm going to stay away from ornamental thyme in that area. A lot of my thyme is starting to die out, even though they're planted in full sun. This is their first wet spring/summer, and they're not handling it well. They bloomed so beautifully during last year's drought.
For those of you who grow honeysuckle, what kind of a trellis set up do you have?
Well they aren't real thick, I think 3 to 4 inches if I remember correctly. But your tree roots could be an issue even that shallow. Here they are.
http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/porous-paving-open-cell-concrete-block.html
Oh, my county actually has a rebate program if you install permeable pavers like that. But the water line is directly under this area, and it's just full of tree roots from the old dogwood and a huge oak nearby.
I think I'm going to try a little bit of Blue Star Creeper and see how it spreads.
ssg, I think soil compaction is a major factor in what will not survive that condition. Nothing can thrive if its roots suffocate, as you well know from tapla.
It would be a real bear to dig off a couple inches of tree roots in order to install anything. If you could lay permeable pavers on the existing, maybe with some leveling sand in places, the tree roots would infiltrate up into the spaces, maybe you'd top the holes with pure sand as well. Having the pavers a few inches above grade sounds good as it would help prevent ice in the winter right where you park.
We park on grass in the back now with all kids home- this would be great.
I'll do more research on permeable pavers. It just looks so terrible right now with bare dirt on the front lawn. Not even weeds will grow in this spot!
I'm also considering putting in a ribbon driveway to minimize digging in the area.
huh? what's a ribbon driveway?
when we win the lottery we'll re do our driveway and sidewalks with something in stamped stained concrete. i wish...
Oh I learned that term just now when I googled it to see examples. It's when you just pave 2 strips for your tires instead of paving the entire driveway.
Lol we used to call them 'ruts'!
I think cars should fold up or become picnic tables when not in use
Can you do a ribbon drive out of permeable pavers? I remember one old house I lived in with a ribbon drive I just hated. Seems the ribbons that fit the wide boats of the 50's meant my sub compact could either have the passenger side or the drivers side wheels on pavement, but not both at the sametime.
Maybe a car feature that puts down its own pavement when it is parked that is recessed when driving? Wonder if any Sharks would invest in that one?
Sally, you did mean a circular drive with a promenent water fountain in the center didn't you? You know, the 'dancing lights ' kind?
Ever notice that all those Curb Appeal shows never have vehicles out front or in the driveway?
ruts hahaha...the power of euphemism--ribbon driveway....By the time you make sure you fit different wheel widths, and peeple want good surfacing to walk on, you'd have two stripes three feet wide, with double the edging job to do....you might as well just have a regular driveway.
LOL, I knew exactly what she was talking about. That was a very common driveway back in the day. You guys just aren't old enough. LOL
I think it is a great idea -- because ssgardener can plant everywhere except on the ribbons. If she is careful and stays on the ribbons (which she could reinforce with gravel), the plantings won't be damaged. And if every so often she drives over the plantings, they'll probably recover. Maybe mondo grass?
SSG: I think you would be able to put the open pavers down on top of your hard clay and fill with new soil.
I have such grand visions when I read your suggestions, but I need to keep this project manageable since I'll be doing the majority of the work myself.
I like the idea of using dwarf mondo grass. I think I'll start with a few different plants on the edges where it's not compacted so much, and see what survives the area.
Dwarf mondo sounds like a good cheap tough plant to try. Depending on the viewing angle, if you can get a large patch established, the inevitable ribbons from tires might not be very obvious. THose blades wouldn't squish too easily.
Sally, have you gotten mondo grass to spread at a reasonable speed? My only experience was with draft mondo grass, and it just say there for years and years without expanding. But I met someone at a local swap who said her expands quickly. (She gave me a couple plants but I don't recall now where I planted them -- I should go hunt them down. If they are thriving (or even if they are not) you are welcome to them ssg.)
Had a great visit with Ric and Holly today.
Ric, the sweetheart that he is, came to cut my RR tie off at the corner bed.
He also brought me some more stones.....Now--more work for me!
We walked around--and sat around under my patio..A nice day to do so
Of course, they did not go home empty handed. Some plants just decided to
move to Dover, PA with them. How strange!!!!!
Went to lunch at "Casa Mias" (they were very impressed with the food!).
Then I led them to IKEA to wander around...and came home with a full tummy...
Wonderful day! Thank you again, Ric and Holly...You both are true Gems!
Gita
Company always gets to sit on the Swing....
OH--Here is the "after" picture. G.
Woohoo!!
Oh we had such a nice time. Gita's home and garden is just lovely and her back patio is cool and relaxing. She always talks about how little space she has but her gardens are packed full of wonderful plants and all look so very nice.
what a nice visit!!
Yes it was, very nice to see Gita's yarden all in one picture. The content of the stories always add further color.
Thanks ALL!
I DO love my Garden...it CAN be beautiful--it gives me peace and tills my soul.
It also frustrates me--for the many reasons i have already shared here many times....
Then--all I have to do is go under my patio--sit on my Swing with a drink---and chill.
Look all around me and realize that--this is my little spot of heaven in this world...
G.
Happy, I think you're right about mondo grass being a slow spreader. This area is completely bordered by walkways and the driveway, so I wouldn't mind a semi aggressive runner.
Ric and Holly, what a wonderful visit!
Gita, yes my garden is my little bit of heaven. If only the mosquitos didn't think my garden was their little bit of heaven too!
SSG, I googled "ground cover for driveway" just for fun. One of the hits was for a book about prairie xeriscaping, which offered up Antennaria parvifolia Nutt. (small-leafed pussytoes) as a possibility. But I don't know if that would work for our humid east coast environs, plus the flowers might be too tall and create a fire hazard under a hot car engine. But it's an adorable little plant that I had never heard of before. Learn something new every day!
Also saw this beautiful driveway that used blue star creeper and corsican mint:
http://www.houselogic.com/photos/landscaping-gardening/cool-driveways-are-smart-approach/slide/home-grown/#home-grown
Good luck!
Karen--
If your garden and mine are our little bits of heaven--
does that make us both Angels? :o)
LOL! YES!
Except I've been coveting some Crocosmia "Lucifer" for years and keep wishing he would come in and liven things up a bit!
The Devil has certainly been active in my garden of recent....
Hi typwc! Welcome! I hope to see you at the fall plant swap! Corsican mint is an interesting idea. I'm going to check out the summer perennial sales to see what I can find. :)