COTTAGE GARDENS, who has and who wants to start theirs?

Well, I agree with the general characterization but I dare not go into any detail because the one thing I can be sure is about half of you would henceforth hate me, and the other hand -- well, we'd be mighty fine. So I love you all I'll just leave it at that!

Yes, it is probably better as I see that some people offend easily and you don`t even know why. This one you`d know why. The Nation all has oppinions on the matter but we are all on the same side in the big picture ha?

I haven`t been to phoenix for a couple of years and last time I was in Sun City and it is nice there for retired people to live but the growth of the area from my previous visits in the late 90`s was shocking. Where do the animals go? It also changes the climate after a while too.

helln, I have *no* idea what you are talking about... but that is O - K because I don't need to know! Perhaps in the future you could try to clarify a bit as to subject matter ;-) Where do the animals go? Much of the time, onto the property of those with no tolerance for wildlife.

Sorry, Anyone who gets offended and doesn`t explain themselves is probably never going to get an apology. I am just saying that Happy is right about not pursuing a conversation that is most likely going to offend someone because I have seen people on DG get upset for things that may not even seem contraversial or offensive, in any way. I have seen it several times and on several threads. No big deal. I am just in agreement. The conversation about politics would probably be funny, some people joking and others may get mad and not get the joke. Thats about as clear as I can be. No offense to anyone. now I love a good cottage garden. I love cottage style decorating in and out. If I only had a thatch house with straw and mud walls and vines growing all over it, I could die a happy girl.

hellnzn11: Couldn't agree more -- I'd move in next door.

Lets go Baby. I want to jump in and live in a Thomas Kinkade or Marty Bell painting. side bar: I have never seen 1 gopher mound in any of their paintings either.

I think that's probably artistic license...they paint out the gopher mounds LOL. Can I move in on the other side? There could be a pond or waterfall, right?

I'd rather move to Montana and be with magpies... lol

Definitely a pond or water hole. How else would we do the laundry or water the cottage garden?

there is no laundry in our cottages, but waterfalls cascading down and under our river rock bridge are a must. Of course Happy, there is plenty of room on the cottage on the other side, it`s beautiful this time of year. lol

well, it's beautiful all year round! Christmas tree in the cottage window with real candles glowing...fresh white snow glistening on the evergreens & holly, the little waterfalls don't freeze, there are cardinals at the bird feeder (wait...helln, do you want snow??). good smells coming from the kitchen, because we potted up some herbs to bring in for cooking. dried some flowers last summer to put in the wreath, too.

I see we dodged the topic just fine, but for future reference there's a standing policy on DG against any political discussion (even jokes), which probably helps to avoid a lot of unpleasantness.... as folks have said, there are lots of other places on the web to have those exchanges & conversations.

I think we were down to only one active groundhog burrow in out little row of trees last year, so I only had a little damage from them... we had 3 *pairs* raising families in our yard a couple years back, and even with the corn field available to them (behind us), they did a good bit of damage. I wouldn't mind so much if they just sampled, or even if they'd eat what they take, but they were pulling up strawberry plants, taking one bite, and leaving the plant behind to die.

Back O/T regarding developing the cottage garden look....

My initial effort to seed wildflowers and encourage "volunteers" in our little home orchard (a dozen dwarf fruit trees & a pair of pecans) was not a success... grass took over... This summer, I killed off the grass and most of whatever else was in that area (not the trees!), and I was planning to put down clover seed, maybe some swaths of poppy seed or other reseeding annuals... I think I'll gradually keep expanding the perennial beds around into the orchard area, adding little "islands" of lower-growing plants until someday the whole orchard looks like a meadow as I'd originally envisioned.

There's the plan, and then there's executing the plan... and sometimes (maybe often, LOL) your first approach doesn't work, and you have to find a different method of establishing the plantings you want....

Oh ya don`t I know too well. I did the kill the grass thing too last winter and spring so this year it should go well. I pray. Critter, in our neighborhood, in the enchanted Forest, we do not have any of these pests or woes. Do not burst our bubble lady, you can play with us though, we really do play well with others. Gramps, we`re on the same page and snow is a must, for a little while. Christmas music in the air off in the distance.

helln...call me gram. definitely Christmas music...carolers at the door. we can probably just go back into the woods past the stream and cut our own tree. we're sitting inside by the fire having a hot toddy, egg nogg, or drink of choice ____(insert here) planning wintersowing, or a new cottage bed for spring.

Amen Gram. I picture heaven this way often.

You guys are the best. My dh and I are sharing a winter bottle of champage, and just said a cheer to all the laughs you brought us. Now back to our plebeian life.

This message was edited Dec 9, 2006 8:24 PM

Yeah

Started my garden just three years ago with no plan except to enjoy the outdoors. Cottage Garden was the only thing I knew to call it since there was and is no plan. Has saved my sanity by digging in the dirt. The 30 something days of over a 100 degrees presented quite a challenge this last year.

These pictures were in June, 2006 just before the heat wave started and never let up. Actually live in a suburb of Dallas Texas and the dirt is very alkaline. Many cement plants within 20 miles because of the caleche. Have about 2 feet of black clay above who-knows how much white rock.

sure was pretty in June, Lou

I love it and with caleche too. I have similar conditions but have gophers too and a lot of calcium in my water. I am zone 8b..Did you seed grow or plant adult plants or sapplings?

Beautiful, Lou!