Updates on Plants

AYC: Victor was the one who started with the pufferthings on Al's cotinus - I'm just guilty on the floopy when I meant floppy. Glad your fern is alive and well.

"Prodigal fern"? Victor, you are just so quick and so funny.

Kim - Jack didn't have on the umbrella hat for longer than it took me to get a photo! He wears a typical baseball cap in the garden because of too much exposure to the sun and skin cancer.

After too much time in the pot we purchased it in our Japanese maple, Scolopendrifolium, will finally get planted this morning. I had to remove a huge amount of astilbe to make room for it and as we dug we ran into hardpan and had to get through that and down to loamy sand. The pit ended up being 30" deep. Then Jack mixed sand with compost and soil and refilled, watered and now it drains well and FINALLY the tree will have its home. What a long drawn out project! I told the owner of the nursery he should never let me leave with anything larger than a one gallon pot.

I bet it's going to be beautiful Pirl :)
The great thing about that is the memories you and Jack make in the garden on a daily basis ..... is there anything better? Gardening sure is alot of work isn't it. But isn't it nice to sit back and look at it and say.... "yeah, it was worth it"!

Kim

Yes, Kim, it's pure delight.

Wish my wife would be a gardening partner! Would certainly give my back a bit of a break. I have to admit - there are times when I question whether it's worth it. When my back is sore and I'm staring at lots of weeds and see deer damage...

Maybe she could take up bow hunting and help you out with the deer problem.

Would love it. 'Dear, please shoot that deer!'

Pirl, What a great picture! Jack is such a good sport!

AYCat, I'm glad that you found your fern.

Kim, My vinca is in shade. I found a patch of it when I got here and it did really well for the first two years. It spread nicely. This year at least half of it is gone. There was new growth in the spring, and now it seems to be at a standstill. I don't know if it's because the area it's in is very dry this year, and/or if voles are killing it--since most of the bulbs in that area disappeared too. Or it could be the dreaded...STEM BLIGHT.....http://ipm.uiuc.edu/diseases/series600/rpd640/#symptoms

Victor, I know what you mean. My DH doesn't garden either, but he mows and helps me with heavy stuff. I sometimes get overwhelmed. The deer damage is the most discouraging for me. I just couldn't keep up with it so I had a small area fenced in this spring, pulled out the grass, and moved as many plants as I could fit inside it. The deer fence is not very attractive but at least my hydrangeas, roses, clematis, hosta, lilies, and Goldie's wood ferns have a chance now. I'm hoping to replace the deer fence with something nicer in the future, and add a dense privacy hedge as a backdrop, since the "back" of this area is at the edge of our east side. But, Victor, you're such a good gardener and your gardens are so beautiful. At least you have a wonderful reward for all your hard work.

Loretta

Loretta, that's just it. To put all that time, effort, planning and last but not least, $$$, into it and see animals undo parts of it overnight is just sickening. I have used two products this year with 100% money back guarantees. They both failed.

And past mistakes still haunt. Letting my lawn cutter talk me into using river rock as an edge years ago was a disaster. I put Preen in it every Spring and still it gets inundated with weeds. Not to mention getting kicked all over by their mower and trimmer. Also, small stones used as patio and pool deck surrounds are a weed nightmare. Just can't keep up with it.

Still not ready to throw in the trowel yet, though. But I keep getting closer.

Forgot to mention - my pond has a leak somewhere and I can't seem to find it. What else can go wrong?!

Skunks can move in! :-|>

Victor - I mentioned to Loretta to take a look at our other Southold member's deer fence but I'd happily go over and take photos of it for you and get the cost. Lillyo, from CT, also put up the 8' tall deer fencing. It will NOT stop them from tromping down your driveway, a problem for all who must have access and don't want an 8' tall fence to open each time they leave or come home.

Use the river rocks someplace else. When something just doesn't work we have no choice but to rethink our plans.

Tar paper, with slits cut to allow the water to go through, then layered with chips works for us, for behind shrubs and would work (and has in one case) in front of shrubs. We just tried it in front of shrubs down one side, maybe 20' but it works. I'll take photos for you.

It's just no fun when what's supposed to be pleasure gets to be a burden but it's a feeling many of us get now and then.

Thanks Pirl. Yes it can be a real downer at times. I cannot put up any fence taller than 6' - town rule. And I would have the driveway problem. That 'invisible' plastic fence does work well but it's really not for a suburban setting. I will probably have to remove the river rocks but you cannot imagine how much work is involved. I can't even estimate the linear feet involved. Well over 1000. Might just start with the front. I was thinking of having it removed (I just can't do it myself with my back problems) and replace it with glass block or cobble or something similar. Should look nice. Only problem - some parts of the bed involve a pretty sharp radius curve (I inherited that bed).

Restrictions are blessings and burdens.

Your pool sounds like a big problem, too. One friend has had to have her liner replaced four times!!!!

I tried the river rocks but not nearly the amount you have! Maybe I had 40 to move but it was time consuming and, as you said, your back is an added problem.

Maybe you need to just get away for a few days, like a long weekend.

And go deer hunting. Bagging a few will make you feel ever so much better.

Thanks.

Sounds like you are having a tough week, Victor. Hang in there.

If he'd just wear that green tunic and purple cap he'd scare the deer away.

I'll be fine - thank you!

Al, do you have this one?

http://davesgarden.com/forums/fp.php?pid=3713838

Not exactly. I did have it one year though. My Prairie Sun is very similar.

Pirl the question is..... does Jack know you posted that pic??? lol.
My success story are my hostas that I planted last year from extras I got from my sil, they just took off they're huge! A few of them actually sat in a bucket of water for at least 2 weeks before planting...I must have planted them when the moon was full :)
My disappointment.. petunia easy wave seeds I started indoors, they are still only about 2" tall. I wanted them for my whiskey barrels but had to go to the garden center(not that I minded really) My 4 yr old and I planted a red, white and blue barrel on the 4th.It came out really good (I don't have a digital to show you any pics) :(

Jack posed for the photo and got a big kick out of it being posted. He stood right here and read the posts. He really is a good sport.

Gotta love Hostas. I planted a few in a dry shade area last Summer. Only watered them a few times and they came back great this year. They and Daylilies are just bulletproof. Pests are the only real concern.

I've heard of daylily problems, like thrips, but haven't had any problems that would get me to spray. I enjoy both hostas and daylilies - such adaptable plants! They can take the heat, rain, drought, etc.