Yardening Fall 2013 Part 2

SS--How do you add writing on a photo--like above?

That is a good idea....I ID all my pictures as they go into the "My Pictures" Folder
but that does not show on an uploaded picture.

Thankds--.G

I think you need to think bigger, not in terms of having just a foundation strip bed there. How about outlining a bed with a stepping stone path connecting your front walk/porch entrance to a bird watching area near the right side of the photo? The path could continue curving down to the sidewalk, if that fits with how your house is situated.

All the bare dirt area (more if you wish) would be between the path and the house, and the path would curve to create a wider area in front of the taller shrub at the right corner... that's where you'd put a bench, a bird bath / fountain, and a couple of feeders. Angle the bench so you can watch the birds and/or your neighbors passing by... it'll look friendly. :-)

Like this, sorta. (Joyanna helped)

The pale brown is an area of chip mulch or pea gravel (the foot-friendly smooth kind), for easy access/maintenance of the bench & water feature. The tall blue arrows are bird feeders ... you could interchange the placement of feeders & water feature if you need the latter closer to the house for electrics & water (but you can easily run a heavy duty extension cord through your pea gravel, too).

Taking a break from mulching leaves for the bananas, I only use brown mulch on them so as not to generate any heat. I figure I should have about a cubic yard to provide them with a nice warm winter bed. Since they are planted next to the compost , it's very easy to rake their bed into the pile next spring as we uncover them. Our compost is huge this year, our neighbor is adding all his leaves and clippings to it. When I put the snow blade on the tractor, I'll turn as much as I can and treat it with chicken manure and black strap molasses. I probably got a couple yards of compost used this year Our front beds will need amended next year and that will take a lot.We usually screen and add lime as we move it. but still a major job.

I love that Joyanna helped!

I just realized this part of the front yard is frequented by feral cats. I'd hate to inadvertently set up a bird-hunting spot, so any bird baths/feeders will go in the backyard where there are more places for the birds to hide and get to safety. I still like the idea of having a low bench by the hydrangea and a pebbly area surrounding it... almost like a Japanese meditation garden: http://img1.etsystatic.com/002/0/5363230/il_fullxfull.359338473_t0ha.jpg?ref=l2

Gita, I used an application on my phone called OVER to write the text. It's very easy to do right on the phone, but I don't know of an easy way to write a caption like that from my computer.

I keep forgetting that nowadays everyone's cameras are their phones.

I am too behind on all this modern stuff...
I have a house phone with an answering machine. I have a cell phone
which i never use. it's just a regular T-Mobile phone...
It lives and dies in my purse...Now and then I remember to charge it up.

In my simplistic life--that is all I need...
g.

You might ask on the bird forum. but I think some of the new plants you're considering would provide additional cover... and putting the feeder out in an open area (in front of the bench, rather than back by the foundation) gives the cats no place to hide in ambush. Just put it far enough away that they can't use the bench as a launching pad!

just a bench on an "island" of gravel would be a great focal point, although a low " bubbler" in front of it would be very "zen" IMO.

Today's yardening will be removing the old railroad tie that framed the walk way to the garage. Since I've bricked the driveway it will be one continuous surface.

Heavy lifting there, Ric -- take it slow & careful! Your landscape sure has been going through a renaissance!

Got the job done and can't find a camera.Lifting wasn't too bad, more like dragging them out of the way, to backfill, tamp, and lay brick.I'll probably slide them on the trailer and use my little tractor to haul them away. I'll probably start on the greenhouse tomorrow, I got a real nice 6' Anderson sliding door I want to put in place of the awful leaky one that came with it. Should save a lot of heat.

IT was such a gorgeous day to be outside.

I spent hours fiddling with plants and loving it. More work redoing the front bed, similar in concept to what ssgardener is starting. I moved hostas into mine from the area in back which now will be sunny not shady;, and got narcissus Capree Elizabeth planted,; planted GItas iris in two clumps; planted a sweet box from somebody in swap a couple years ago,; moved some big clumps of var. Liriope; dug up wandering petasites and planted it to fill a bed in a shady wet spot; got some tropicals ready for winter, brought most things inside; potted a couple more things for light shelf. phew.

I got the last of my end of season bargains planted today. The fall color of the woods is at its peak and is really beautiful. Still haven't been able to burn that big bonfire - seems like every time we plan to do it the weather is a problem - much too windy today.

Aspenhill, I love the smell of a bonfire. Do you all sit around the fire making smores? I haven't done that in ages!

I still have about 3-4 plants to get in the ground. Right now I'm ignoring all the work I have to do and dreaming of a nice front garden. My list so far:

-Liriope muscari 'Big 'Blue'
-Sedum 'Angelina' (transplant from the back)
-Sedum 'Autumn Joy (transplant from the back)
-Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' (order from Santa Rosa again)
-short yellow yarrow
-hardy geranium
-dwarf nandina, maybe 'Firepower'
-Mahonia "Soft Caress" and a Camellia next to the hydrangea
-stepping stones/bench

SS, That sounds like a lovely low maintenance bed, with plenty of seasonal color. Weed it, treat it, mulch it, No more work.Holly and I are attempting to achieve that goal. With maybe a few annuals added for summer impact.

Sounds really nice, SSG!

Very nice list Ss, what pretty combos!!

Ric, that's what I was going for! I'll probably add Yucca Color Guard and/or a gold Aucuba Gold Dust if there's room. As I was getting this list together, I realized some of these plants are common in commercial landscapes, which means they're drought tolerant and tough.

I love this front yard:
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/landscaping-projects/landscape-basics/front-yard-landscape-secrets/#page=11

Thank you all for your help!

This message was edited Nov 5, 2013 8:34 AM

SS--
My Pakistani neighbor is rooting several Acuba "Gold Dust" for me.
She has a big bush--and she took cuttings. She gave me one already.
SO! I will have these available for the spring Swap. I don't want any.

Of course--these will be small--not a full blown bush.


AND--Just FYI--
Another company is going to be in charge of all the shrubs and trees
for HD. Bell is doing just flowering stuff.