Help does anyone know of an evergreen ground cover that....

TOO embarrassing!! It was Cocoajuno that asked for suggestions for ground cover to create interest in the winter... and I addressed my post to Tootsie Pop... sorry!!!
Pat

well, psych thats ok - I still liked your suggestions! ; ) and I too could use more artsy-fartsy stuff... I have a Buddha that I like, but I need a large arbor for my trumpet vine that is waaaaay taller than the fence, it's just reaching for the sky right now, trying to grab a cloud... so I like what you said your Dad did with the rebar..... hmmmm ? Thank-you!

Psychw2, where did you live in WA?

I lived in the South East corner of the state, Tri-Cities, Kennewick to be more exact. I was born and raised in that area. Then I moved to Walla Walla (ya, it really is twice) for 2 years of grad school, while I lived in an apartment. One of the things I liked about the apartment was a beautiful view of the neigbor's gardens from my balcony!

My former gardens had lots of artsy stuff. It was a challenge to me to NOT overpower it with stuff. I did have some stuff I loved though!!! I had a metal scuplture of a cat that was "mid-flight" after a bird. It was positioned on a tree stump with a white gate behind it for contrast. I had lots of art work that was "hidden" from view until you rounded a round or entered into the "secret garden". That was my way not letting the art over shadow the plants. I even bought molds for a cement garden bench (and bird bath, stepping stones, and more) so I could make more of my own things and have gifts I made!

I have an old window frame with 6 panes that will be replaced with mirrors, that will be one of projects for here. What can I say? I'm a gardening addict! It feel so GOOD to be back in the dirt! I have my first pink lilly in bloom today since moving to Idaho. My liatris is just starting to show color.
Pat

Pat, were you a student at Whitman in Walla Walla?

Good to hear about your return to the soil - and I understand the art stuff all too well. Unfortunately, my passion is for silly little statues of children, fairies, angels, frogs, etc. I have way too many, but am like a child who loves her toys with all her heart. I try to spread them out as much as possible, but there really are too many. Oh, well!

No, I attended Walla Walla College, a private Seventh Day Adventist college. I earned my Masters in clinical psychology there. Then moved to Idaho where they do not recognize my degree! They wanted another 12 credits and 400 intern hours. I'm finishing that now.

GROUPING all the frogs together, using bricks etc for "terracing" can be quite effective. Throw in a few pots of trailing flowers like Wave Petunias to help cover the brick and it can be quite stunning. Just a thought...
Pat

How bizarre that your degree was not recognized in Idaho! But glad you're finishing up their requirements.

My "Frog Garden" is kind of weird - long and narrow as it runs under and just barely in front of my deck . . . shade flowers. I sort of intersperse the frogs here and there, but like your idea of terracing and think I could work that into one of the other gardens quite well (I have a "Fairy Garden," an "Angel Garden," and three "Children's Gardens" - can you tell which type of statue I have the most of???!!!).

Good day all,
It has been pouring rain all morning...oh well it is so good for the plants...

Redtootsiepop, your gardens are where I am heading...lol I love them, I have a few questions about plants...one I remember is what is the little red and white flower in the picture with the pink tubular flowers? I think while at all the nurserys and garden shops yesterday, I have talked DH into letting me put in some new areas....oh my I can't wait!

Here are the things I purchased from the list
Liriope, variegated Vinca, Ajuga - 2 varieties, Kinnikinnick, Rock Cress - 3 varieties, a blue fescue and a couple of low sedges. But some of the sages jumped in my cart as did some poppies, penstemon, a white foxglove among some others. Really to many to mention and to many to remember. Remembering them is more like it. I just picked up what I liked. I ended up getting some pinks because I love them in the front of the bed and I took all of mine up when we down sized the gardens. I only spent $172.00 but I did get 2 new soaker hoses too. I went to 3 nurseries looking for the verbena to no avail, they all had annual only...I am for sure going to find that one ASAP. It has so many memories tied to it that I had forgotten until I saw that picture of it.

I wish I could go out and put them in now but it is sporatically pouring and only 50 degrees, my aching bones does not allow me out much in that kind of weather...unless I really want to pay for it. So I will stay inside and do the laundry and clean until another sunny day.

I really enjoyed this thread, all of your help and such a warm welcome has really rekindled a love of gardening I had to shelf for so many years.

Here's a view of part of the front yard. I have clematis montana, peonias, iris, and sun rose flowers even in the front.

Thanks again, Carla

Here is another view of the front yard, so you see I am a messy/clutter gardener...lol if that is what you want to call it. I am moving the more upright Japanese Maple this fall to the side garden. And I will divide the iris's since their blooming is decreasing.

Oh Carla nice pictures !!! You plant list sounds great... you might have already picked up the red & white - it is Salvia "hot Lips" I put in 3 - since it's an area I can see from where I sit inside, I wanted it to really pop. Oh, keep posting, take it easy today, but can't wait to see when you get all those plants in !!! who hooo - wish I was closer, I'd help you dig ! I'd be happy to root a piece of my verbena and send it to you - !!

Tracy

Good evening Redtootsiepop,

Wow, can it really be rooted, that would be great. I will gladly pay the postage, I will also continue to look for it here, I will name the one you send purpletootsiepop since we are not sure of its real name...lol

I must really like that Salvia, it is the same one I picked out by the verbena, maybe I will find them at the same nursery...lol It was on my list but I could only find a dark pink and a purple salvia, they are pretty too!

I am going with a male friend tomorrow to pick out trees and shrubs for his yard, he is planning on spending about $2000 on just that. He will have me pick out and plant all his perennials after the landscaper puts in the trees and shrubs, he said he couldn't rely on his landscaper to choose for him. He has always loved my gardens and was very sad when I had to remove a lot of it 2 years ago so I could maintain it. I had what I called an English garden, it was like yours so full of things, but mine were mostly perennials. I didn't have too many shrubs but DH put in shrubs when we cleaned it out so I have to work around those. This time I am going more for all year color. But I noticed when I shopped I still picked up some of my old favorites...lol I plan to do alot of seeds next year, I just wasn't sure how this surgery would turn out.

I hope it doesn't take to long because it is suppose to clear up tomorrow and begin raining again on Wednesday. I need to be planting...well maybe not need...want to be planting...lol I hope the weather down there is better than it is here.

It would be so much fun to plan a meet sometime and have lunch with some of the nice people on here. Maybe do a secret pal type thing and dig up and share a part of our garden with others.

I will D mail you my email address and I will mail postage for the verbena when you get it rooted.

Have a great evening and thanks so much for being willing to share your garden.

Carla

Carla, I am so excited for you - it's wonderful to think of you out shopping and getting (more or less) what you want!!! I had to work all day, but had hopes of being outside right afterwards, but it kept raining here, too. It stopped now, but I'm not sure I want to start anything so late.

Shopping with your friend tomorrow will be great fun, I am sure, and I can't wait to see more and more photos of your yard as you get it back to the way you've wanted it.

Hi Carla,

Wow, you got some great plants on your nursery trip! Your front yard looks really nice, too! It's not messy at all. It's layered and interesting.
If I were closer, I'd help you plant, too. :)

I'm only a little north of redtootsiepop and my weather was "bleah" and cool during the day, but now it's kind of sunny. Hope this weather is headed your way.

Seems like a lot of folks are really interested in irises right now-you might be able to trade some for other plants you like, too. Can't wait to see how it looks when you get it all in the beds!

Hello Murmur and susybell,
It has been a very wet day here... even for the PNW. I know I will enjoy going to the nursery again and helping a friend, but I would rather be planting if it was dry.
I had myself convinced it was okay to cut back to a maintainable garden but I guess I was kidding myself. Now that I am able they will eventually be crowded.
Yes, I did get some nice plants thanks to those of you who came up with a list for me.
Wow wouldn't it be a blast to have a garden planting party, it would be such fun to have so many people interested in plants and to get different opinions on placement. Just being on here gives me such insight and it is fun to see how others do their gardens.
What a wonderful sight and on the PNW forum I have met the most wonderful warm people.
Goodnight all, sleep tight!
Carla

The hard part is done!! Yesterday I managed to hoist the basalt column up to the new base. Now the stonework for building the pond and waterfall can begin. The new "waterless" pond will, I hope, support a plethora of mosses, lichens and many of the smaller rock garden plants. I see some blue sky peeking through the clouds so maybe after the complementary coffee and pastry at Safeway this morning I can mix up a batch of mortar and get started 'rocking'.

Nice yard Carla, I love your Maples. Have you been to the Woods Creek Nursery in Monroe ? Great place. Lots of Japanese Maples, Hostas and bunches of neat stuff.

Beautiful landscaping Tootsie. Not the least bit overcrowded.

Carla, I hope it will root, when I bought the last sprig of it for the front, I noticed one had reached over and rooted in the next pot --- so thats what gave me the idea... I'll be very disappointed if I can't !!!

Balvenie - GORGEOUS!!! oh lordy me, I would love a water feature like that!!! I'm nutty about rocks and water.

Susybell, it's sunnier today, much nicer than the past few days... going to get out and weed/mow today!

Balvenie, love the water feature! Show us another picture when it's all set up!

Redtootsiepop, yes, it was a lovely day to dig up and move large rocks, and, of course, weed. It was just the right temperature for working outside. I've been rearranging and rethinking all my beds and adding new ones this year. I've been at the "chaos" stage for a while. Moving these rocks is a big bit of progress. I have a couple more rocks to deal with and then I'll be able to replant this bed and move on to the next section. Yayy!

oh susy it sounds great... you have to show us ; I want to see those rocks!

Redtootsiepop,

I just realized that I never wrote back yesterday-Sorry!

After all the nice gardens I've seen (including yours, of course) I've been too embarassed to put up any pictures of mine the way they look right now. But maybe after I get this bed done?

I will say that these are officially "organically grown, native rocks". They seem well-adapted to our climate and appear to reproduce well in
acidic clay soil.......lol! And, they're still too "young" (i.e. small.....) to qualify as "boulders". The biggest one was probably three feet long-ish.

thats ok ! I think I have the same rocks here - lots of clay !! and I also know 3' long is darn heavy .... I collect them from where they are building houses down the street, and it is heavy lifting. I need to get some more before they are done and they haul them all away.

Have fun in your beds!

Carla, I've started the "rooting" process, we;ll see if its a go (fingers crossed)

Hello all,

The trip to the nursery with my friend went really well. He spent $1500 for trees and shrubs, very nice ones. I am sure glad I don't have to plant the trees, he bought a very big birch and will have to dig to China (lol) to plant it. I actually went to a nursery and walked out empty handed, only because the perennials they had I already have and it was a tree and shrub place.
Yesterday, I planted about 10 plants and spread all the bark I had stock piled. I needed to get the bark out of the way to plant more plants..lol
So far I have not found "hot lips" here...so I bought two on ebay. I am headed to the nursery Balvenie mentioned in his earlier message and if they have one I am still going to buy it...lol I did find a red "greggi" and planted it near a red daylily, yellow daylily, and a blanket flower, I can't wait to see the bloom. I also ordered black and blue and a sapphire blue salvia. I don't have any trouble finding the purple or pinkish salvia, I got the last red available.
I took the camera out yesterday to take pictures and got so busy I forgot to take pictures. So far this morning is is drizzling so the plants should get a nice watering....again.
Okay, I have this idea, I need some input. I have alot of very tall 4'+ plus dahlia's. I have had tomato baskets in since I planted them, I am ready to change the support! So my idea is to put in a modified split rail fence. I will use 3 blocks set on there side and insert a 4X4 inside the blocks for the posts at about 4 to 5' intervals, I will then attach two rails, one at 2' and one at 4'. The reason I would use blocks instead of cementing them in is so they are portable enough to move if I don't want them anymore.... Well any opinions? Or a better way to support the dahlias without caging them in. I also hate the stakes because I kind of like my eyes, and it never fails I bend over somewhere near a stake and poke myself and I am so afraid I am going to "poke my eye out"...lol

Susybell, while I was at my friends, I discovered he had alot of head size rocks and told him I was coming to get some and he said go for it, I am trying to get them out of here. So Saturday I am taking DH's truck and get some rocks, they grow so nice here in the PNW...lol
I love rocks around my greenhouse instead of bark. I use peagravel for the floor inside and around the outside, so it just looks better with some head size rocks in different areas. Show us your rocks...I know moving those is alot of hard work. I have a few big ones and some smaller ones in my beds and they are permanent no matter what...I will not move them again...lol

Wow, Balvenie that is a great picture not just the water feature but all of the gorgeous flowers and plantings. You need to take the time and post a picture when it is complete. Love the foxglove in the background. Thanks, my garden is a work in progress and am open for any suggestions.

Redtootsiepop, I received your email, just let me know what postage will be if it roots. I even asked at the nursery we went to, they only knew of annual verbena and did not carry many perennials and no annuals...mainly a tree and shrub farm.

Thank you all for your support, help, opinions, and compliments. I can use all the ideas you can come up with I am always looking to improve my gardening and appeal.

I just love this flower, blanket flower (Gaillardia) and it puts out so many new ones to keep or easy to get rid of!

Happy gardening, Carla

pretty picture !!! oh, it sounds like you are having so much fun. I have to say, I'm not convinced that my verbena isn't an annual, that for whatever reason has wintered over for a couple years... to me it looks just like the annual verbena. My annual snapdragons usually come back too. ?

I like your idea for the dahlias, and lol at poking yourself, I scraped my cheek really bad one time so I know what you mean! My dahlias are all close enough to something sturdy, fence, etc that I tie them up with green pipecleaners .. but its a pain in the butt, and I know I could do better.

** as a side note, I'd love to be able to go out and spend $1500 on plants in one day... oh that would be fun !!

Carla, Your blanket flower (Gaillardia), is BEAUTIFUL!!! Give me a yell if you ever decide to "thin" that out!!! I love it, so pretty.

I thought I'd die laughing at your "poke your eye out"... ya, we'll all had a try at that it seems. You might try something more substantial like a stake made of 2x2 with a cute little bird house on top. You are less likely to miss seeing that!

Pat

Good morning all,

Well it has been a very busy few days since I last wrote I have planted some of the suggested flowers and still didn't have enough...lol I also got all the bark spread and the soaker hoses laid out (like I will need those..lol). The only day that was decent since I planted was Saturday and I was at my friends house directing the planting of his trees and shrubs, I was there until 5:00 pm. Sunday and Monday have been very drippy but it looks like today and possibly tomorrow will be a good day to plant again.

I plan to take the camera out today because I cannot believe the growth in the gardens with all of this rain. I have started building the dahlia restraints, I have the posts built and will probably be able to run to the Lowes and grab some deck boards for the cross boards. I will get a picture of that when I finish it too!

Pat thank you,
The blanket flower produces new plants every year and I think the reason it does that is because it is not a true perrenial, the old plants die and the new plant takes over. It is a traveling plant...lol

Redtootsiepop,
I sure wish I could do it all at once too, but then I would have a hard time getting them all planted by myself. I have spent more than that this year but a little at a time. I think I am doing it the right way for me because I am the only planter, my friend had 3 men doing his planting and bark spreading and it still took all day.
I did find 3 perrenial verbena's, 2 purple colors and a red, I bought them all! If one of them is the aggressive tall one Murmur talked about I will be in trouble...lol... none of them look like yours?

While I was doing the plant supervision.....I also loaded up two big tree pots full of rocks. I unloaded those Saturday evening and just kind of put them anywhere so I can arrange those too! I will definately be going back to get more rocks! I am going to build a small rock wall somewhere for some hen and chicks and other rock plants! My DH thinks I am too ambitious for my own good, but he doesn't understand gardening! You can always use free materials in the garden...ie: rocks, boards, bulbs, sticks, pots, chairs, etc...you get the picture! I also came home with all the pots from the big trees and shrubs, I never pass up the chance to get those!

As I said in my opening statement I planted the plants from the list that I could find on my first few trips and it wasn't enough. Well I went to another nursery and I will show you the picture of what I bought...It probably still will not be enough..lol but it is a start.

Happy gardening everyone!

These are the plants I am going to try to get in the ground today....

Carla,

You are definitely getting a LOT more rain than I am down here! Today it's sunny and might hit 80 today and tomorrow, then it's showers projected for Thursday. We've really had very few days with solid rainy weather.

We've all got the plant bug just like you do! For most of us there's never enough plants, and any excuse to go get more is a good one! So, looks to me like you're doing just fine. We'll all cheer you on when you go back for set #3, too-we'll be doing this as we load up our OWN cars, of course!!! ;) My DH doesn't get it, either, (You need MORE plants? But what about.....???) so I have to explain, but not here, and it's wonderful!

I agree with you on free stuff for the garden! You can always fit another plant in someplace...I'm also a fan of sale and bargain items. I've gotten some very nice things that way-good plants, too!

I'd love to get my hands on another giant tree pot-good for you for grabbing them. I grow tomatoes in mine. I think the soil heats up faster that way and it makes it easy to reuse with fresh dirt next year to avoid all the tomato nasties.

You were right about the size of my rocks. They're big enough to make a statement but small enough I could still arrange them. I hope to get that bed planted today.

I've also got a pile (well, more than that, really. I have LOTS of rocks) of rocks that are more softball or half-loaf sized. I am trying to figure out how to arrange them to make a smaller slightly raised section in a bed I'm starting to work on. I think I am going to need to modify the contour of the bed I was building to make it look ok-more hard work!

Enjoy!

Susybell....I wish I was in your area, I spent a year in Kelso/Longview area working and loved it! The weather there was so much nicer than up here in the North end. I loved the warmer summers and enjoyed the spring a lot more there, it is a lot drier. I would love to see pictures of your rock area in progress, be sure to take pictures along the way and post them so we can all see them.
I am trying to wait until 9:15 am to get outside, the school kids will be gone and the dogs won't be so excitable....lol My gardening is on a time clock...at about 2:30 pm I take the dogs to their backyard and close them in for the same reason...Dogs and flowers...hmmm maybe DH is right, I am a little off...and I am getting another dog to go with all the new plants....Have a great day!

Carla, exciting!!!! And I join the group with the DH who doesn't "get" how I could possibly need or want more plants (actually, delete the word "need," it's strictly "want!!").

Susy, wish I had some of your rocks - I built a small wall (not very well I must admit) and have run out of rock to finish it. Need to go on a hunt of friends' yards, etc.

Murmur....Good morning, how is your adventure going with the trees and all your new plantings?
Do you know the name of the verbena that is invasive? I bought two purple and a red and I don't think I want the one you were talking about earlier... I could plant an invasive one on a hill I have trouble growing things on...Thanks for your help

Murmur, I'll send you some for postage.....LOL!!!!

I do get up to Seattle periodically, however. Maybe we could arrange something?

Susy - LOL - that's too funny!!! But if you are ever going to be in Seattle, let me know - it would be fun to meet whether I still need rocks or not. What part of Seattle do you go to?

... I dont know how I missed all these new posts ! cocoa, hope its going well, I agree, I'm going to get some more scavenged rocks this evening... I'm worried they'll cart them alll away soon (from a construction site - the ones I can lift they dont use) I want to keep extra, I know I'll use them someday.

I can't wait to see a picture of everything - those plants looks great! I'm glad you found your verbena....**I do think mine is an annual that wintered over due to heavy mulching ?? I'm still trying to root a couple of different ways.

Murmur I wish I could share some rocks with you :)

Hi Murmur,
That would be fun!
Generally, I'm in town to visit family. Both DH and I are from "the big city" originally. Mostly, we're north of downtown when we visit-our families are from the opposite side of town, but both toward the north....

Something I saw on TV has me a bit intrigued. I saw a landscaping show where they built a fence with "potato-ish" sized rocks. They sunk steel beams as fence posts and attached a heavy duty metal mesh on both sides and filled the middle with rock. It looked pretty neat when they were done. I keep trying to think of something I could do with that idea- a column, or fountain or?????

oooh susybell, that sounds so cool, what show?? Oh, that sounds very intriguing !! could you use river rock?

Wow - wish I'd known about something like that before I built my sad looking little wall. When the plants fill in, it will be okay, but for now it's downright pathetic!! I have no artistic talent when it comes to arranging rocks appropriately!!

I think river rock would look pretty neat. It would take a while to get it all arranged, but it would look wonderful in the rain. In the show they sort of just dumped rocks into it. I think the key would be the size of the mesh. Unfortunately I don't remember what show it was. DH thinks it might be Landscapers Challenge.

Carla, I forgot to respond to your question about the invasive Verbena - it's a tall variety (probably reaches 5 - 6 feet, the blooms are on rather long stems). In this picture it is the tall airy looking plant. And do you see the plants with the white flowers towards the bottom? Avoid it like the plague!!!!! It is a groundcover in the Lysimachia family (like Loosestrife). I'll try to find the actual name, but it is a nightmare . . . pretty when it blooms, but becomes a thick mat that spread in no time. I have to try to dig some of it up and throw it out!!!!!! Or maybe I could put in on that property in back of me . . . think it could take over even out there . . . overcome the thistle, nettles, horsetail, etc.??

Wow, I must have scrolled right past Carla's last post! Sorry Carla!

I do like the weather down here a little better than north, except for the ice storms. The last one almost killed my Floating Cloud Japanese Maple.

Gosh, Carla, then I forgot to answer about the trees, etc.!!! I'm spacey tonight and should be in bed. Anyway, I've lost a few trees (more than I anticipated), but many are doing well. I wish the thistle, nettle, and horsetail weren't such a constant problem - I swear they grow three feet tall and spread at least that far overnight. But I haven't given up - and thank you so much for asking!

Murmur - pretty picture ! I can't stop thinking about that "rock fence" even a column would be pretty.... hmmm