Taming the wild garden

Laurie-
That lasagna bed alone looks like a ton of work! I love the "headstones!" It all looks so inviting.

This wasn't the photo I expected but I'll put it in here anyway - this was the view from the patio the other morning looking down at the wild garden area. What a morning!

Rachier what are you doing up at this hour? You should be tucked up and nightnight! But how nice to have someone to share with.

Laurie-
It's 9 a.m. here in Washington State I've been up for a few hours already. What time is it there?

What a gorgeous view! I truly hope that a group of us DG'ers can make a trip to England in the next year or so. I have always wanted to go! Would love to see your beautiful gardens!

And here is the one I meant to post -
This is half way up the lasagne bed - but it is where I have managed to widen it out to its full width of about 6.5mtrs - I have planted the first of the cornus canadensis in the middle area - I have several more growing on in the greenhouse and they will eventually come towards the camera, in a diagonal. Behind that is pachysandra terminalis - and again, there is another 60 of these in the greenhouse I am growing on (another avid gardener thing: you buy one, take a dozen cuttings, and congratulate yourself on how much money you save! Not taking into account the greenhouse cost/the time/the materials etc). They will be planted towards the trees. I want a large low flush of glossy leaves moving back towards the grey of the trees. The canes at the back of the pachys. mark the second pathway, and the pachysandra planting will pick up probably a metre or so infront of the trees and then move up and behind.

I am taking up some of the large ferns from down in our woodland (polystichon) to bring up and give some height in the planting behind the trees. (They grow in huge masses down there, so I won't be stripping it). I'm also planning on digging up some of the bluebells from an area in the field that the sheep keep grazing off and bringing them into this area.

That's funny - the bar at the right of the postings says 4 a.m.! but of course you're right - I just wonder where Dave has the time set to. Certainly not here - it 4PM in the afternoon - he's 24 hours out! Hah. How clever of me to figure that out.

It would be nice to have all of you drop over. Are you going to the elephant swap this weekend?

Laurie-
I can hardly wait to see that bed in the spring with all of it in bloom. It will look like a cloud of white flowers!

Yes I am going to the swap. I spent all day yesterday out digging plants up. And of course getting sidetracked, pulling scotchbroom (bleck I hate that stuff!) The @$^$^ seed can germinate up to 75 years from the time it drops from the plant!!!!! So that means that I will be 103 and still pulling the stuff!

I have no idea what time Dave's goes off of. It says the correct time on mine?

with fingers crossed, and alot of avid gardener imagination - it will indeed!

Now I am back to workwork to earn enough money to finish (hah!) the plantings.

I love the image of the weed pulling 103 year old! - I bet the time is my fault - probably set it wrong in my preferences or something. Now I really have to finish - I'm still in doggie walking clothes. TTFN

Huh. My time has never been right. I didn't think about checking my preferences, just thought it was a DG setting. Duh. I'll have to look into that.

Laurie - I can see why you live there - the view across the valley is just stunning - moreso with the frost. And it looks like you've done tons of work - with more to come, moving and ferns and putting in the pachysandra. Just lovely.

What is the tree with the huge trunk in your last picture? Do you know?

Laurie you have been a very busy girl, and I bet you have the the muscles to prove it.
What is the vine hanging over doggie?
The pic of the downward Landscape, I would love to have it frame and mounted, its gorgeous.
And as far as seeing nothing, Sorry I see alot in those pics. can wait for spring pics.

And yes still looking for the bus/////

Laurie, it is absolutely fabulous! I can completely 'see' the path by the trees by your lasagna bed as you approach the house. I also 'see' hellebores. Lots of hellebores under those trees. And the meadow! What a wonderful place to sit and sip coffee (or tea, as it were) and look out at the landscape. I feel myself tottering toward retirement and a larger piece of property somewhere. I don't know where, but somewhere.
Excellent doggie!

Laurie you have mail

Thank you thankyou thankyou!! I needed that. I think it is that weeding thing - you know, someone comes into the garden and says 'wow' and all you see is the weeds - I love working on this project, but I am still a bit overwhelmed by it all. Thanks, I needed you to come visit.

Katie - the large trees are very old beech - they are distorted because they were originally a hedge of shrubs that were laid. These predate the easy access of wire stock fencing and barbed wire (which were extremely expensive). The trees are probably 125-150 years old, although the actual hedge line is probably older. I'll have to find a photo for you to see what a laid hedge looks like - extremely effective for penning in animals (not to mention beautiful).

Tils - the vine over the dog is a very old Cotoneaster which should be a shrub but has progressed onto a tree. It arches because is is overshadowed by an enormous, beautiful copper beech. I am soooooo lucky to have 'inherited' some brillant tree planting by previous owners. Again we are not sure of the age of the tree (guessing somewhere between 50-75 years - probably not planted at the same time as the beech hedge, but in the same line) but it goes through some of the most magnificent colour stages - green tinted copper in spring, absolutely black purple in summer, and then into crisp fresh copper in the autumn. It is fabulous.

Muscles - I keep telling husband, inside this hmm-umpty year old body is a full set of six packs - now if I could just get some of the covering off it, I could impress someone!

And hellebores, you are absolutely right Pix, hellebores are needed - I just hadn't seen that! I'm heading for the nursery this morning (I'm home a day early this week!!) - and I've got my credit card, and they had a fresh load in last weekend - ohhhhh, please don't let anyone else have thought they needed them. Now what time do they open - hmmmm, probably later than 8 a.m.

Yes!! I should have looked at the leaves hanging down. 125 years old - what a brilliant tree. I haven't heard of a laid hedge. I'll be interested in seeing that. I'm really thinking that I need a beech - what with all that color and all seasons of interest from it.

And here I thought the cotoneaster was the leaves and berries of a Mountain Ash. I don't think I've ever seen one so high.

Great idea for the hellebores - I've got my fingers crossed that you find what you're looking for.

This is a link to hedgelaying (I'm still looking for a better one I found one other time - with full how to instructions!)

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.southwest-landscaping.co.uk/resources/midlands%2Bhedge.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.southwest-landscaping.co.uk/hedge_laying_cornwall_devon.html&h=274&w=435&sz=46&hl=en&start=17&tbnid=4GT98wgR3FjI3M:&tbnh=79&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2527laid%2Bhedge%2527%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

the young trees are actually cut 3/4 of the way through at the base, and literally laid over on their sides to regrow. The side branches are then woven in to make the density of the hedge - these are very good barriers for animals - even sheep have a tough time getting through a well laid hedge. Beech, Thorn, holly, hazel are the most common to use - they have quick regrow, will grow from the base, and have whippy new growth - but lots of other tree/plants will do just as well.

I took a beginners workshop on this a couple years ago, and it is very physical, but you can pick up the essentials very quickly (there are a couple of tools you need) - and it isn't rocket science - those with knitting skills can pick it up very fast.

All I can say at time is WOW...

I hate this. I just got the Google first page, but not the link. I'm going to do a search on hedgelaying - it sounds very cool. "Hedgelaying high up in the Weald". There I go again. Love the way you guys talk. Hee hee.

Wow. Very cool. There are some amazing craftsmen out there. That's what I need to keep my dogs in. Thanks, Laurie.

I'm so thrilled to have a few minutes to spend on DG!!! And to see Laurie's outstanding work - I have to add my own WOW!!!!!! And looking forward to more photos, please please please!!

We've missed you. I've been thinking about d-mailing you. How are things? Are you coming on Saturday?

Katie, thanks for missing me! And thanks to so many of you for checking up on me. It's just been crazy busy. New baby (great grandson) born Sunday night and I've been on the mainland more than on the island.

I have to pass on Saturday, much as I'd love to come. My oldest daughter (grandma of this newest little guy) is here and I will have both my daughters, both my grandsons, two of my three granddaughters, and the new baby all in one place. I wish I could quickly fly my 16 year old granddaughter up from CA, but I've spent a fortune on things related to the new baby (including flying my daughter up here and renting a car - thank heavens for credit cards that give you mileage!). Not to mention missing some work. (Oh, that's right - I hardly make any money anyway - lol!)

Sounds like you'll have a houseful. Enjoy. We'll miss you!!

Murmur, I'm putting my tent up in the garden. That is a house full! Right to the rafters!

To make it even funnier - it won't be at my house (which is not large), but at my granddaughter's tiny apartment!!! It won't be a long visit, especially with the rambunctious boys, but I'll take what I can get.

I wish I still had my motor home, I would lone it to you.
Injoy those babies
Tills

Yes, you have to love those exhausting family visits. Wouldn't trade them for the world, but sleep like a baby when you get back home.

We're pretty loud to begin with - and then when you throw three little boys in the mix, it gets too loud to hear yourself think. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm picturing Christmas mornings at these households!! My goodness.

Good evening Laurie - wish you weren't so far; I'd say drop by for some conversation!
Guess we can do that here, but I have not yet figured out how to serve an herbal tisane over the internet...

We'll be sure to think of you tomorrow morning while we gather in the all-too-likely drizzle/showers/rain to swap plants.

How's your light/temperature situation at this time of the year? We are sliding into the impending dread dark of winter and accompanying chill. I've never cared for short-light days, but I suppose it's because I am simply not finished at the end of each day.

Well, hope your weekend is fun & you're able to accomplish much! Kate


This message was edited Nov 2, 2007 11:29 PM

Kayte, you really need to get yourself a good set of halogen lights. It makes all the difference in nighttime gardening! I speak from experience.
The dread is upon us. The doom is yet to come. But we will simply not allow rain tomorrow morning. I will do my sunshine dance.

Pix, between your fairies and the sunshine dance - it is bound to be a glorious autumnal day - just like here. My word it is a beauty.

And thank you for the tisane, Katye, most refreshing - in spirit if not in reality. Thank you for the thought.

I hope you all had fun today the weather was not to bad in Lynnwood at least no rain, how was it there. May be this spring for me.

Christmas is a bad word, if you work in retail, by the time it does get here, I am already tired of it. and all the spring and summer stuff comes in. Yaa Wo!!!

Christmas for me is all about the babies, and the younger kids.

We had a grand time! I only wish I had been able to hang around and visit longer. Susybell came all the way from Vancouver. But we had a rhododendron to dig at someone's house, so had to go shortly after it was over. What a lot of activity all at one time! I hardly knew how to get focused! I'm afraid I was having so many conversations about plants all at one time that I never actually finished any of them. But I reached my goal of spreading plants around to lots of people, coming home with fewer than I brought, and making new friends. And we held the rain at bay!!

I'm kinda glad I didn't go, with all that you and Murmur gave me I had no more room in my little greenhouse to put them, and more like no time to take care of the, some of the ones I got from you are sprouting away.
Here's a pic of the crowded room.

Its really hard to take a pic in there that was only half of it. This is a diff shot.
Just my size can't over do it. LOL

Wrong one I wish when we can edit the pics out not just the words///

This message was edited Nov 3, 2007 8:24 PM

try again

Tilly, I love your greenhouse stash!!! I have a HUGE bunch of plants in pots, but no greenhouse . . . . so I'm just hoping things will winter over for me "as is."

Pixy, I smile at the thought of you trying to carry on all those conversations - wish I could have been there to further confuse you - lol!! BTW, I have a plant for you. Do you remember on the Whidbey Island tour last year, at the last house we visited, there was a ground cover you really liked? I was pretty sure I had some, but not positive and couldn't remember the name of it. Anyway, it has silver foliage and bright red little flowers in the Fall. Again, I can't think of the name, but do have one labeled at home for you. So - next time!!

I had a great day with family, but am fighting a cold (man, how I hope I didn't share it - tried hard not to hug or kiss babies too closely!) and am really tired. I am at my brother's again and will make a Costco run in the morning, then swing by the folks' again to change my dad's bandage. My bro and sil will take over for the coming week and I'm not even leaving the island once (unless someone really needs me, of course!!).

So nitey nite to all!

Carole

How nice of you , Carole! I only wish I could remember what it was! LOL!!

Tilly, you have plenty of room in that greenhouse!! Just put the shelves closer together! Everything is looking great in there!

Pixy - lol!! I really didn't expect you to remember, but will try to remember to send you a picture. It is a nice little plant. I was going to bring one to you when we all met in Kingston, but didn't have a good one going.