The Following Photos May Contain Weeds.

You can always go back to those painted rocks by Harper.

Definitely! I plan to use Cat's idea - I think it's great. I don't think I can impose on Harper. But DD is a great artist - and I could probably paint some myself. (Of course, I would never turn down an original Harper!)

Ah my lady, the beauty of the garden is only surpassed by you.
Don't you think I'd made a great knight for King Auther and the round table?
Gad zooks, there goeth a dragon! Off I be to slay the foul beast.
I shall bear your rose into battle fair lady.
Verily Sir Chuck

I am honoured, Sir Chuck! I think you would make a goodly knight - assuming you can joust.

You "joust" wait!

ohhh - I never saw that one coming!

Whoa! Totally amazing.

Good knight Chuck.

I'm ready to turn the page. Let's go to the serf yourself restaurant?

Great work Michaela!!!! looks great... I hope your brug blooms... I have one bud... really interesting... they are in full sun, getting watered everyday and being fertilized every other day... according to Dave they are really heavy eaters , need to have really big leaves and be dark green... and since they are in a pot they need the extra food...

I have 2 small purple daturas opening... one bloom each... the plants are about 2 feet tall... and I had to transplant some sunflowers to give them a chance to get sunlight!!!!

all the wild daturas are huge in comparisson to the others... I think is time to move them to the front of the house... if you have to do it, don't make the same mistake I did... water the place a lot and dig them up and plant right away... and not in the sun... wait until really late afternoon... I tryed in the morning and it was not enough time for them to get used to the place and they are all droopy....

I have the datura you gave me planted around the base of my tree rose (which is in a pot). The datura get plenty of drainage there - but they are half the size of yours. I will definitely feed the brugs more. They are planted in miracle-grow potting soil that contains fertilizer, but I will start providing liquid fertilizer as well. Your brug is in shade most of the day, so it might not bloom this year. I loved it sooo much I bought three Equador Pink brugs when Wayside had there 3 for 1 sale. They came as very small cuttings - but they are really taking off. Today I planted them in 20 inch pots and they are on the driveway in full sun. I also planted my last 3 datura blackcurrant swirl into 20 inch pots (also on the driveway). So maybe I will get some blossoms.

Michaela, on the terrace garden - keep in mind that annual / perennial gardens are very labor intensive. Planting, weeding, mulching, deadheading, watering, etc. And people tend to be a bit less enthusiastic about lending a hand doing garden 'chores', as opposed to creating the garden.

This is very true, Victor. However, I have the luxury of a job that basically has me free from May until the end of August. Also, I don't feel the need to do everything overnight. I have time to dream . . . . and then time to get realistic.

In the end, I will try to stick to drought-resistant, disease resistant plants with a long bloom period as a long-term planting goal.

But for the Illumination night - I am prepared to try and create a 1 season extravaganza! Illumination night is held every year on rotation between 7 different terraces. So, once every 7 years we can go a bit wild. :-)

Our turn for Illumination night is 2010. So I have this summer to think things through . . .this winter to winter sow perennials, next growing season to get the perennials started, etc.

I hope to follow your example and underplant with ground covers to minimize weeding.

So - any suggestions you have, please pass them along!

What a great job, wow have you been busy. I think your thumb is turning green.
Have a great 4th everyone, kdcon

So then you have three year AND seven year plans??!

You bet! Clearly, I have too much time on my hands!

Will you live in the garden during sabbatical years??

Man - I have to be able to afford to take sabbatical! I have to work all these extra course just to keep our heads above water. I am the only one who can work until we get permanent residency. It has been a long, slow process. So - until I can live on my base pay, sabbatical is totally out of the question.

Seandor,

Thank you for the tour of your beautiful garden. I'm so impressed! And you call yourself a newbie! You've done so much. It looks wonderful and will really look spectacular as everything fills in.

Loretta