Poppyless in Seattle (well, Woodinville, really)

Kathy,
I truly believe that it's impossible to kill a rhody if you live in Western WA. When we where having our property prepped prior to building our home I found a six foot, leggy, very old rhody that was smack dab in the middle of the area that they had to clear for building the house. I whacked the heck out of it, as Laurie would say "off with it's head" and had the bulldozer scoop it up (the root ball was about 6x6 feet) and put it in a different area. It sat like that the entire summer while the house was being built (about half of it's roots where exposed and the other half where buried in the lovely glacial till that we live on.) When I had the 225 yards of topsoil brought in, (thank goodness we where able to roll that cost into the construction loan!) I covered the exposed roots and our WA winter rains did the rest. It has been two years and it has grown about three feet, it has not bloomed yet, I think it has been busy getting re-established. Good luck with yours :0)

Thanks for the encouragement, rachierabbit. I didn't realize that the rootbal might be as big as 6x6, though. That will be a bit of digging in the new spot, even as using a truck to pull it out will hap on that end. Oh well, it'll get done, one way or the other. :-)

I'd love to see pictures of your bottle and tea trees.

Tillsrat, how did it go today? Did everything go as planned? Are you happy with the result? Let us know.

Kathy

So Far so good will have to catch up on all the treads later to much to do now. want to get as much done with the nice weather we are having. We actually got one of the trucks to run. It set out here for 3 years.

Here is the bottle tree

Here is the "tea tree"

Here is an overall shot of the area.

The blue tarp is covering a pile of topsoil. This fall I will be planting daffodils, lilies, iris and I'm not sure what else in that bed. I will be putting the bed frame that is in the attached picture (not put together yet, got the whole thing, headboard, footboard and rails for $2 at a rummage sale around the new flower bed!) BYW the big bunny in the picture is Walter, got him for $2 at the same sale, I like him where he is.

So creative!! My favorite is the bottle tree - I like them on the tree the way they are, rather than hanging, I think. Another idea would be to put a vine at the base and then the bottles could reflect the colors of the flowers as they stick out of the cover of the leaves.

A couple of years ago I was at a garden tour on Bainbridge Island. The gardener had used a bed frame to create a garden bed. It was very much the same style as yours. I love it!! Thanks for sharing.

Think I might have to go plan a bottle tree for my yard. Heh.

Kathy

Excellent, Tillysrat!! Yes, this is perfect gardening and general outdoor work weather. You enjoy. We'll talk to you later.

Kathy,
Great idea with the vine, I have a clematis that I might have to plant there! Rachel

Ooooh. I'm jealous. Still trying to figure out what tree I need to kill to have one here . . . LOL.

Kathy

All is well, 7 cars gone 1 6yd dumpster full, And now its raining.
Okay, I go back to work in AM (don't want to)
Did not get as far as I wanted, But Rome wasn't built in a day, have to wait till next spring to go any further. Now DH wants to build a garage where we have cleared, I don't think that will happen ( if I have my say in this) Still a ways to go.

Wow, that's a lot done! Might not be everything, but it's still a lot!

Good for you. That must feel fantastic.

I just found this thread - and bot has everyone been busy and creative!!

My favourite bit, Tils, is the lovely little pristine fence infront of the trailer holding back the detritus of all the dead cars! (posting 3942523) WELL done little fence! Sometimes it is the littlest that really holds the battle line!

Now, I think DH needs to rethink Garage into lovely covered seating area with beds - someplace to sit on a warm rainy day - he has had his time there, and now over to Tillys imagination.

The bottle and teacup trees are marvellous!

That little fence almost ended up being kindeling for the wood stove this winter, until I saw it and told my DH I want a fence made out of it. Well I got my fence with a little growling. Now he wants to add to it. They are never happy.

Laurie I wish I had a garage, but then maybe thats not a good idea, the way he keeps everything he finds But does find things to do with them, overtime.

Katie59 Have you started moving the rhodys yet, I lost track of everything have the poppys ready, Hows the new job?

Rabbit; My DH thought I was nuts when I told him about your new trees, I showed him the pics. He laughed and then looked at me and said NO, know worry I know how to get around him. But I have no small trees to make my own. Have to work on a theme.

Thanks for asking, Mary. I haven't started the new job yet, but I'm temping at an escrow company in Lynnwood. I still have so much to do in the garden . . . hate (and LOVE) this working thing. LOL

Haven't started moving the rhodies yet. I'm having a garage sale this weekend, so it'll have to wait for the following. I keep looking at their size and scaring myself. I'm committed to moving at least one this winter, though. I'll keep you posted.

Good luck with convincing your DH. I'm sure that he'll love it when he sees what you come up with (and how happy it makes you!!)

Katie59

Tilly,
Tell your DH that the trees would look much better than his old hulk car collection :)

Rabbit: I agree that's why the cars are leaving, I'm still working on some ideas for this spring, only time will tell. When I go to the next faze of happy trails, this is going to be a very fun area because nothing will grow there, except whimsical trees. Just have to find the right stuff and do it he will never know, aah such a plan!!!!
This pic is under a cedar that almost cascades to the ground. My horse love it, it was always cool and he didn't get rained on. and it borders the fence line of my neighbors. you might be able to see the fence. They are other trees to make the canopy.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/702629/

This message was edited Sep 19, 2007 5:29 PM

Great trees Tilly! I can envision hostas, heuchera, evergreen huckleberries and ferns growing under those beautiful trees!

Never thought of the huckleberry's, Have started the front section of this area this spring with, Hostas, abislbe, ferns, Hellebore's, columbines, daylilies, and many others, Next spring will start the next section. cant wait to see how it will look this spring and what didn't make it through the winter, also there are a lot of bulbs mixed in.

That pic was taken in may this is the last one I took not that good of pic going to take the last one today til next spring to compare.

Tilly, in the first of these two pictures,what is the large thing to the right leaning against the big tree, it looks like a wood carving?

Tilly,
I love your wishing well and your big windchime!

thank you
And yes its a sun god

Oh, Tilly, that sun god is totally cool! LOVE it!

Tilly, did you make the little fence in this post? I'm looking for a replacement for my tacky little wire ones.


September 18, 2007
5:10 PM

Post #3990991

So I met "Tilly" today and she was so kind as to give me some montbretia and some of her poppies. It's so cool to meet fellow gardeners that I've met online.

Thank you, Mary.

KatyMac, My DH did it was supposed to be kindling for the wood stove, and I told him no way. but I did show him how I wanted it made. He can be handy some times.........!

YES it was very wonderful to meet you to Katie59 ( Kathy) it is really great to talk to another DG'er in person, and not stare at a ### computer. And I hope I get to meet more of you as time goes on.

Thanks Suzybel, It was given to me from a old friend who is long passed, and it is very special to me. I have quiet a few carvings all over the place. here's a pic of one that I had done in 1997 I need to paint it again but the stump is slowly rotting.
it was done because I couldn't remove the stump after cutting the tree down, It sat on top of the septic tank, So I had the carving done.

Still has anyone heard from Pixy yet???????
And Laurie hows it going havent heard from you lately!!!!!!!!!!

Heres the newest pics of Happy trails, hope it fills in next year. I tryed to make a panorama pic hope it worked.

I'm impressed lets try another. this is the bank. I left the middle open my DH said he would get me a 3 tier waterfall. I have not seen it yet maybe for xmas can only hope it would just make the whole thing come together////// And some deer ( not real) I never see them in my yard down the road but not here.

This message was edited Sep 25, 2007 2:12 AM

And this is the last this is a side view.

Katie59
This is my big boy not yet a year but in the teens. Tyler ( bunny butt)
Can you see the devil in those eyes.

I have one last pic to share. I made some wire cages to put over my garden seedlings when I first plant them so my 4 cats don't dig them up, so when I remove them they may be place anywhere, well this one cage was placed on a old stump and a old piece of carpet was on the stump. I was out working in the garden and my little Tilly made this spot hers. Kitty in the cage she crawled under and went to sleep. every time I work out there that's where she goes. Strange kitty.

Hi Tills, I'm here.

We have been doing so much workwork right now, and I am wearing more than one workwork hat - so my gardening side is a tad uncommunicative. But I am checking in.

Tills I do hope DH sets up the waterfall before next spring - would be a good christmas present. (Show him this message so HE gets the message) - it really would be wonderful in that spot. When your bluebells come up they should do quite well in the new wooded area - but I can really picture them around the waterfall. Hmmm, some nice snowdrops would be good too. The other thing you might want to try under the big trees is pachysandra - there is both a green and a variegated one. Very nice carpeting plant, evergreen with small white blossom in the spring. Makes very nice good green drifts.

This is the link for the green one pachysandra terminalis

I'm very impressed how you got the picture to become a panorama - give instructions please. WELL DONE.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/6868/

Tilly-
Tyler has such a sweet face, what a darling! I love the pic of Tilly in the "cage" our cat Cleo loves it when you put the laundry basket over her, they are funny creatures! My princess "Georgia Cuddles" my Manyx that I have had for 11 years is sitting next to the fan on my laptop warming her buns, now she just turned around and is warming her front. She is definitley the Queen of the house!

Tilly -

Not a strange cat, but a very normal cat, to judge by the "cat habits" around here. There's nothing like basking in the victory over human intent. I can tell that she's pretty happy to have made her throne there. LOL

Tyler is a cutie. I know what you mean by in the teens. I have one, and, as cute as he is, he's certainly started to come into his own and cause his own trouble, rather than following the others into theirs.

Happy Trails and the bank look like they're filling in well. Congrats to you for getting stuff to grow under the trees. I haven't yet had much success with that - and the limbs each year hang farther down, which makes it tough to work under there. I'll have to "limb up" my big fir and cedar in the back again next year.

The poppies are happy. I've put them in my new bed in front. When I get the last little pieces of it done, I'll post pictures. Maybe today I can get a couple more hours in.

Laurie - How's the weather there? Are you seeing all the signs of fall that we are here?

Rachie - I have several kittens from a group we trapped and rescued a couple years ago. Their tails were everything from kinked to halfway there to missing alltogether. In the end, I adopted out everyone with an unusual tail except for one. And sadly, he went missing (to a coyote or a raccoon) last year. I miss him dearly - he was a hoot. The first one out of the whelping box and over to the human. Allegro, my big black cat is his brother.

Happy Gardening!!

So I met Katye tonight. Thanks, Katye, for making the drive all the way up to Woodinville (after a full day of work, no less) to bring me some of your poppies. I had a great time talking with you and getting to know you. Sorry that the nursery closed so early and you didn't get your work done there. But thank goodness for Starbuck's, eh?

Oh Starbucks! So glad they don't close up shop early; it was very convenient for them to be located across the street from Molbaks!
And thank you for a fun night - glad to have made the trip & hand off the poppies. The dogs were scolded about the other pot they upset, and naturally they gave me their best "was not me!" look.
I can dig more later this week, and get the other plants out of the ground too. Just pray for another dry week, please!
Beautiful moon tonight, and rather chilly: it is now officially jacket weather. Time to dig holes, water everything well, bring in the tender ones for overwintering and rid the soil of whatever weeds I can. Fertilize the lawn, gather leaves, spread mulch. Gee - do I have time to deal with bulbs? Forget it!
Katie - yellow Crocosmia in foreground.