Aguane, Thanks so much for those words. I see the pics of FK's garden/plantings and I just want to cry. Brenda's garden is a winner (saw that first hand) and the other pics too. I'm trying to just create one rather smallish garden to start. It's probably 12 x 5 but not any particular shape, just where the bermuda was the thinnest thinking that would be less work to dig. If I have to raise it a foot, that's ok too.
Do you think I should put the plastic in the bottom of the bed to keep the bermuda out, fill with sand as above and soil after that or just soil mix and prayers? I'm so not sue and hat eto waste the effort of digging to have grass again.
Pick ax? I bought one, used it for exactly one swing. It was too heavy went over y shoulder and hit the back of my leg on the backswing. I put it away after washing and bandaging my leg. No more pick ax for me. I stick to shovel that stays in fron tof me at all times. Not too coordinated anymore or just not strong enough. I always think I can do what I did when I was younger and get startled at the changes the years have taken. It's kind of like the gasp that comes out of me each morning whenI catch that first glimpse of myself in the mirror. I wonder who that old lady is looking back at me and where did I go?
J
Continuation of Cottage Gardens....
LOL I know what you mean! I was sitting at lunch the other day facing my friend... there was a mirror behind her. Ugh!
Have you thought about hiring a guy or gal to do the hard work, prepare the space and you just go to the nursery, buy the plants you love and dig? This time of year in Phoenix is perfect for getting some things established for Winter then we get to do it again in Spring. Forgetthe Summer!
Hey Jo, if you can Cottage in Arizona, we can all Cottage!
In 2003, my ''Tulip Bed'' didn't have so many tulips. I had iris, bachelor buttons and I don't even know what else in there. The secret ingredient for a lot of spring color, was sweet rocket. (Hesperis)
Hi everyone,
Newby here...Newby to gardening, to DG and to Ireland...where we have a cottage in need of a Cottage Garden!
The cottage is over 200 years old - although we have been renovating for ever - we have just moved here from our city life in London.
This summer we started on the garden - which was a mass of brambles and waist high reeds.
We have managed to clear the whole of the land around the house, and dig planting areas near to the house (woodland plants and "natural" bulbs etc) - but I have yet to tackle the main area - the front of the house and its stone walled garden, which would have been a traditional cottage garden. It currently has a huge fuchsia tree growing along the roadside - that is obscuring the view in the photo, and a variety of blue aquilegia which I have not found the name for as yet
Could anybody suggest plants that may be good to try, although a temperate climate we do have rather a lot of "precipitation"
Sue
(Lovely being able to ask experienced gardeners questions!)
Sue,
Assuming you're Willow, will we also hear from Spike? Just wondering.
NOT an experienced gardener here, but I couldn't wait to tell you how utterly charming your new home is. I was amazed while in the UK to see all those houses and farm buildings which have stood for several or at least two centuries. Thick walls the likes of which I'd never seen before.
As you make plans and progress, please keep us all posted with photos. Of all the houses posted thus far on either thread,this one is certainly the most cottage-y.
That green, WOW!! How I miss GREEN.
BTW, Welcome to DG and to our attempts to get a cottage garden forum started.
billyporter, what a pretty picture your garden makes!
Hi, Sue. a 200 year old cottage..how wonderful! though it sounds like an awful lot of work to clear out the overgrowth in the gardens. do you know what zone you are in? not surprised to hear that you get a lot rain. there are probably lots of plants that like a moister environment. I'm a bit new to perennials myself, but I know you'll get lots of good advice here. can you take more pictures and give a little more information about how much sun you DO get?
For those of you that have to dig in hard clay and calichie (sp) ...here is the perfect tool for making it an easier job!! This really works. Jo
http://davesgarden.com/journal/j/viewentry/10099/index.html
oh Jo, what a device!! I MUST HAVE one. Is it copper or what? I guess it doen't matter, just metal so it won't bend under the pressure of getting pushed into the rock hard stuff that passes for soil.
Thanks, I'm off to HD to get the stuff to put one together.
Jude
Willow, welcome! What a charming cottage. My family on my mother's side came from Ireland. So I will be interested in your postings.
I would think most plants would grow well for you as long as their roots are not sitting in water, Siberian Iris and primrose don't mind wet feet. That is 2 that come to mind. Where lavender needs good drainage and on the dry side.
My hostas put up with a lot of mosture also.
Chris
Here is a Siberian Iris, called New Wine that is actually growing in my water garden.
I'm longing for spring again after seeing all these sumptuous gardens!
Sue/Willow - you have to grow primulas there. I can envision a glorious mix
of peonies, primulas, siberian iris ... I would think the cool wet weather would
be fabulous for a cottage garden. That cottage is awesome. Can't wait to
see more pictures & share your journey in learning to garden in the faire isle.
Jude - have you tried a digging bar? Its this really heavy straight bar that has
a pointy end and a flattened end. You lift it up and let it fall into the soil Then
you push it to loosen the soil. I tried a pickax too - our soil is 80% rocks. I
put it away permenantly when the ax top fell off and hit me.
I'll have to go through my pictures to find some that look cottagey. Mostly I'm
a plant collector.
Tam
Here's one of my favorite combinations - catmint & weigelia
Willow, I would start by looking at what folks are growing in your area. Let yourself fall in love with plants-don't just take our advice. Also visit public gardens with similar conditions-I envy you this research!! Then you can add things as you learn more about zone, wetness, and sun. Folks at DG can answer any questions that come up along the way. What a great project! Here are my siberians. It rains a ton here and they like that.
Wish I could go on the Tucson shopping excursion!!
Jude, you need a friend to help you get over the hump-do you know anyone who will come over and help you? I've helped a few people start and that made a huge difference.
Jude...it's made out of regular old water pipes...is that Galvinized?. Jo
tammy, that combo packs a lot of color into 2 plants.
I want to go shopping in Tucson, too! or at least hear where they went and what they came home with.
JO!! I went right to HD and was putting together the pieces when someone noticed your drawing and my matching the pieces up to it.....he directed me to the inside garden dept and next to the hoses and wands, there's a thingy that is made for root watering of your trees. It's a one piece, no parts to screw or solder together, has a foam grip and a pointy end to plunge into the ground, and it comes with a shut off too, So for $20. I was set.
Came home and got right to work trying it out, but not in the area I had sprayed with season long earlier. Of course, your warning to learn how not to be covered in mud fell ondeaf ears (mine) and I took a bath in it, glasses and all. It was well worth it tho since I was able to learn quickly how to handle this magic tool.
I'm going to leave the sprayed section for a few days, then go after it with a vengence to ge the bermuda out while it's dead.
Meanwhile back at the ranch (so to speak) while I was playing with my new tool, a buddy arrived and took that ever loving pick ax mentioned eariler today and chopped, hacked and managed to get that mass of aloe out for me. I never knew how bad aloe could smell in quantity, phewy!
Some of the roots were bigger than my upper arm and went pretty far down, but good old David managed to get them all out. That's where I want to put my gourds come spring, so NOW I CAN!! This has been quite a day in my garden-to-be and I can now see exactly how I'll manage to plant, grow, nourish and enjoy having all the things I could only dream of just this morning.
It feels like my fairy-god0mother waved her wand and made it all better. I owe you big for this tip, name your pleasure.
Jude
lol Oh its so nice to see a happy pweelee! I was going to mention that tool to you Jude when I read what you were building. $20 is a great price...must put one on my HD shoping list. Our speaker on trees in my Master Gardening class highly recommended that tool while he paid twice that for. Great for both watering your trees and making big puddles.
Don't forget to let the area completly dry out before you do any digging though. And fill with good topsoil, alfalfa pellets, compost etc...not the same stuff you dug (sprayed) out.
carol
PS - oh one other note...this is also a great tool for digging a trench under an existing walkway. For instance ... to put landscape lighting wiring conduit thru, or irrigation pipe.
Jude! You Go Girl! Good work! Carry On! Maybe you can post "befores and afters".
This message was edited Nov 5, 2006 7:20 PM
I don't know if you could stand looking at the before but I'll take some just for comparison sake. I neglected to take the real before, when I took this house it was nothing but dead bermuda and lots of weeds which were knee high. It's better than that now, but not by much.
I'll start taking pics tomorrow for this project, between my digging that is.
Wow, Jude, it's like somebody lit a fire under you. I'm so impressed! can't wait to see pics. you, girl, are going to have that garden in no time.
Hey Jude! For those of that don't know...I met pweelee and aguane at the Cave Creek gathering recently....I feel like they are family now.....as are all on DG!!
Jude...I'll think of sumpthing to WANT.....you should get a little packet of seeds from me tomorrow. Jo
Jo, That's a great idea! Well, part of one anyway. Maybe Jude should designate a small part of her garden to wildflower seed. She would surely get a riot of everlasting color in the Spring. Love to local wildflowers!
Jude, you're working magic if you complete you project!!! You want to 'do' magic, don't you?
Jo, I really enjoyed meeting you at the Phoenix Swap in Cave Creek!!! You are a riot yourself! You really know how to have fun and create fun. My idol!
Jo, another gift? I really owe you big already and you need to know that's not said lightly. You've literally saved my soul with that tip on the water thingy. Dream big and Santa will make it happen.
grampapa (gram) blame Joe for the fire under my feet. her idea and drawing got me started and it should all be downhill from here.
has anyone read sir johnny's post in southwestern tonight? I really want to find out what that lacy tree is in so many of his pics. That's one I would love to grow too, that and a Chaste tree, and and and and..............
BTW, Jo, when I grow up (if ever) I want to be just like you.
Royal Poinciana, Jude.
Very pretty tall, mature tree at Royal Palms Resort on Camelback Rd if you want to see it. Very pretty, lacy, red to yellow flowers.
I've been gone for a couple days and have so enjoyed seeing what's going on here!!! Great pics and the enthusiasm is wonderful!
When we first bought this house four years ago I was concerned that I would have to have "formal" gardens because the house itself is so contemporary (don't quite know how we ended up with a house like this, but we did and for the most part we love it). But I just started in rototilling and planting, rototilling and planting, etc. etc. etc., and do have some gardens that would probably qualify.
This is what the main yard looked like in July of 2002 (from the stairs to the deck).
Jude.........Our dear Horseshoe has said the same thing!! I use the crotchety old lady, Maxine, as my role model!!
If I ever get around to hosting a swap in my wonderful Coshise County....I fully expect to see some of YOU traveling 3-1/2 hours (or more) to attend!! Jo
Name the date Jo, I'll be there with bells on!
Who or what is Horseshoe?
Murmur....we were posting at the same time....and you just HADDA show me all that green didn't you? For someone that was born in WV (we have a Greenbank too).....I sure do miss seeing lawns with GRASS. Also, I lived in Port Orchard, WA when I was VERY young....we had lots of grass....and RAIN ...there too.Jo
This picture was taken from the same spot - I "created" this garden in July of 2004.
Jo, hope this doesn't disillusion you . . . it was way too much green for my liking!!!!!! I still have green all around it, though - nice framing for the garden.
Aguane, I thought that was a mimosa, what do I know. Thanks for the answer. Now I have to decide if I want one what will get to 30'
Jude! What will I do with you?....Horseshoe...or our beloved 'Shoe as we call him....is one wonderful guy here in this garden.....Lives in NC, and is one of the most helpful people on DG. He can spin a good yarn too.......here's one of my favorites....and time to bump it up again.Jo
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/409450/
very pretty Murmur, my idea of a nice bed. I could curl up right there with a good book and be completely happy.
Too funny Jo, Shoe is someone I'd like to listen to for a long time, no naps with that story teller around
Murmur, wonderful garden! that's what I think grass is for, too....framing LOL just wide enough to mow.
Jude, all I had was mud when I moved in, but that's nothing compared with your bermuda and weeds. I had a pretty good go-round with yellow sedge and horsetail in my beds last year and this, but thanks to a fellow DGer I think I finally got a handle on that.
gram ~a girl~
Murmur you are an inspiration to me. Thanks for the before and after pics!
carol
All beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing.
I especially like rutholive's picture # 2 showing her pretty garden with the mountains in the background!
Didn't get many pics taken this summer, but here's a sample of our yard.
I am assuming a "Cottage Garden" is a hodge podge with no planning. That is me!
Bernie
Bernie, your collage is just great, lovely yard. Someday I must learn how to do multiple pictures.
Murmur, where is Greenbank, couldn't find it in my WA atlas. Must be smaller than Tonasket or a suburb. Glad you posted before and after. Such a great change you made. Your garden is just beautiful.
Donna
Donna, Greenbank is an itty bitty town on Whidbey Island - the "town" itself is a whistle stop with a mom & pop grocery store, a post office, a real estate office, and a tiny antique store - if you blink as you drive through, you miss it!! Thanks for the nice words on my garden - it has been some of the greatest pleasure of my life. Your gardens are lovely, too - and such a wonderful setting. I know you struggled with the heat this past summer, but looks like you won the battle!
I would like to comment on each and every photo shared on this thread, but it would take all day and I have to go to work. But let me just say, that I am in awe of what everyone has been doing. And, of course, the cottage in Ireland stole my heart. My maternal grandmother grew up in Ireland (Dublin area) and her father was a landscape gardener there on a private estate (which is now a public garden, I believe).
I think we've got a good thing going here!