My new back yard/my empty palette...

Several people have asked recently if I had any new threads. I have to be honest in that I think I ran myself ragged from September until December and am just coming back up for air. Now it's time to start seeds and start on gardens. Ack!!

After looking for info on raising chickens and trying to figure out what I really want to do with my new huge yard and what I want to get from it, I started making plans. I went out yesterday to get a few pics and the two of my daughters and I walked around and enjoyed the cool air and warm sun.

This is a pic from the furthest corner of the property. It was all overgrown field last year.

empLy palette?? Whoops! Typo!

This is straight across the back of the property.

Anybody lose that kid? Nice mouth full of blue bubble gum. LOL

Looking toward the road.

That kid sure is having a good time marching through the field!

This is from the road, looking back, at the furthest side of the property..

All the way across the front.

Ack! The kids are multiplying!

Back to the front yard. That tree up front on the right, is the one we bought for Christmas. The pond is still under construction.

Here's some of the fishies. Looks like they did well over the winter. That Koi in the front is about 18" long or more. My girls bought it four me for Mother's Day 2 years ago. It was only 4" then. LOL

Isn't this cute??? Janett in Sweden made me the little gnome house and gardengram sent me the gnome along with some garden goodies. :)

Believe it or not, those two beds (and group of pots) hold thousands of plants and bulbs. Part of the reason we wanted this much land is so I can open a little nursery. There is another bed running the length of the falling down fence but you can't really see it here. The water and shape dug in the yard on the right are a soon to be bog garden. I was gifted (if you wanna call it that) with a bit of a drainage problem. LOL

My four year old and I decided this would be her own little garden. We were going to throw it away when we moved but I brought it anyway for some odd reason. The clothesline and poles are really rusted so we are going to grow vines up them.

I don't love this tree but it will stay for now as it softens the edge of the house and it's healthy. The satellite dish is up for grabs though. LOL

This one on the other hand, well she doesn't look so good. Now I have to figure out how to get it out of there. I may try to cut off the dead sections but I think it's a goner. They were both planted too close to the house and rub the edges.

We've had this little statue for several years. It was a gift from a friend that is a member here. He's had a rough life and needs a new coat of paint so I can put him back in the pond with his fishing pole. I have no idea why, but my almost 2 year old is suddenly enamored with him.

That concludes todays tour. Now what am I going to do with all this space? The back half (about 3-4 acres) is slated for critters. The front half is mine. :)

How come you get to have flat land ?
You need a couple of hills with little wash-outs all over. I have some I will sell cheap,LOL!
Looks like you are in for a fun summer.
Bernie

LOL Along with flat land comes holes that hold water. What I would give for some hills! I love the way the rolling properties look but alas, flat was cheaper. Gonna have to build me some berms...

Hi 'Chele

Hey you know I don't like bricabrack sp?, but the gnome home from Janett is funny. You know I remember having a landscape design class in high school in the early '80's talking about slapping in pyramid arb's on the corner of houses - I guess they thought they wouldn't grow to be 30'- ha! IMHO those could come out and bring you back to the '90's or so. What's up with the rivers in your lawn?
Al

LOL My friend Al!

Well, I am arguing the very existence of the water situation with my realtor through the BBB as we speak. Drainage is an issue as the land is so flat. I did figure out how to fix part of it and have plans to fix the rest. It's all a matter of time and money and I am still miffed it was not mentioned pre-sale. There are also two wells near there and I hear there is a third but where on earth is it??? The front one is full to the top and in line with the divot that goes to the lake there. LOL We are going to get a pump and let some of the water out of there and see if that helps. Right now it is full to the top and you can also see where it looks like there is a tank close to the well hole with water on top of it! I'm trying to keep my sense of humor.

I guess the question is 'do you have any slope or drainage nearby that you can work on getting your water to'?
Daylillies love standing water - you should try it.

You know, you are so putting yourself in line for a royal kick in the pants! LOL

Under the turn of the driveway, there is a section of steel drain tile. I plan to dig up the driveway there, put in a longer tube and dig a hole on both sides. When I replace that section of driveway, I will put in low retaining walls then divert some of the water from the middle of the yard to the corner of the drive where it can drain to the back of the field. I know that will work if I can get passed the maple tree by the garage. There is already a small trench there and I dug it wider and deeper when I first saw the water problem and it does drain the water from that side of the yard.

The yard slopes slightly uphill toward the street so running anything to the ditch would be self defeating.

Water doesn't run uphill very well I guess. The water is trying to flow out the back or side then?

I can send some Wild Rice seed. LOL!
I know we shouldn't be funning you after we almost forced you to buy this place.
I'm sure you will get it all worked out & have a beautiful place before you know it.
Even our yard looks crappy in the winter, then things start growing & blooming & then lo & behold you are up to your neck in weeds!
Bernie

Wow 'Chele, you've got a BIG playground there to fill up. I almost feel sorry for you because I am in the same predicament. Large flat acres to make look good. :) I'll be watching your progress and maybe stealing some of your ideas. LOL

I love the gnome house! That is just too cute.

Sooooo, how hard is it to transplant houses? I'd like to dig up mine and replace it with this one!

Give me the blueprint & away we go! LOL!
Bernie



P.S. May need a couple bucks, too.

This message was edited Mar 4, 2006 6:53 AM

Why's it always come back to money?? LOL

Dah!

LOL Yeah, I know. "All it takes is hard work and money". :)

Hey Chele - think primula, rogerisa, ligularia, etc etc. Boggy soil can be a huge asset. OOohhh how
about saracena (pitcher plants).

And I've got HILLS - and I'm always thinking about how I'm going to get the tractor around any planting
area or trees so that I can still mow the hills. I wish I could trade you half of my hills for half of your flat!!!

Tam

PS: Cute kids! Great ornamental value in that winter landscape of yours.

Hi Tammy!

I did just order a bunch of ostrich and regal ferns and ligularia. :) I've never really had the opportunity do to real shade gardens so this is fun! I moved what named hosta I had from my other house and some of the unamed ones too. I left enough behind to fill in what shade I had. Thanks to a dear DG member, I also received a ton of hosta to put around the trees out front and also a bunch of Astilbe which I put across the front of the house. I brought solomon's seal, a few ferns and a few other things which are also planted in front of the house. I plan to dig a huge trench in front of the garage and back fill with lots of leaves and peat when I put in drainage and I think the ferns and such will be happy there.

Where should I mail your flat land? :)

I keep digging out ostrich fern!!! Don't buy anymore. Its gorgeous but is definitely an imperialist.

And send that flat land to Barto Pa please. I'll find it. :-)

Maybe then I have found my golden plant. There are many barren yards out here with nothing planted in front of the homes which are in full shade. I'm gonna be a fern pusher. bwaahh ha ha haha

Oh, mailed you a flat acre. Postage is $8,932.64. Could you please send cash and not stamps? :)

Oh but wait 'til the hillside arrives 'Chele. A swap, remember?
Tam

LOL Okay, send me the hillside. :)

LOL Just happened across this. I've been wondering about your progress Chele. Sort of surprised you didn't jump all over the rice paddie solution :-)
Sharon

Badseed:

You gonna sell any of what you are going to grow on all that land?

LOL Sharon! Would like to avoid the rice crop if possible. :) I have 100' of drain tile out there waiting for me and a crop of ferns headed my way along with other goodies.

noobie, I plan to have a monster veggie garden, add critters later and plant the whole front except for room for a greenhouse and driveway. I am in the process of setting up a website and have already ordered all sorts of stuff to sell and will also be dividing and rooting plants. If you want any more detail than that, you can E me. :)

Badseed:

Ummmmmm....I am SO happy for you. You are living my dream. If you don't do web design, or don't have time. It's one of the services I offer. I would love to help you out. Let me know if you need anything.

Gnome Meyer seem to enjoy the sunshine and he looks great.
How can you "complaine" about the flat land, its a gardners dream. Yeah you have :0)) some water but that is easy to correct, try to get rid of a couple of hundred useless cherrytrees and an awfull lot of rocks and those darn thorn bushes I have everywhere. you only have to plow the "field".

But hey, send me some (read tons) of dynamite and a couple of bulldozers and maybe my garden would be as easy as your to fix. rotflol
Janett

noobie, I definately do not do web design! LOL I found a site I liked today and they told me who did it and I contacted him but he is busy for another month. Do you work for plants or kids? LOL Just kidding. I need the plants, umm, I mean kids!!! I am sending you an E. :) I did wait ten years to get this property and it needs lots of work. I also still have to finish some odds and ends at my other house and get it sold. It is cutting into my plant and plans money.

LOL Janett! I have plans for the water-bogs, carnivorous plants and deciding if I am brave enough to...okay, I'll stick to containable plants. :) Mr. Gnome is quite happy out there. He asked for a blanket the other night when he locked himself out. Whoops.