"Where have all the PNWers gone"

But just in case, they did remind us.

This creeping euonymus was all over. The hotel we were in had it all over the grounds as well.

Susy,
I love the toads! The arbor is lovely too, maybe someday I will build one like that, I keep dreaming about it. The alle of Crape Myrtles are wonderful.

I love the toad. I would die for one out here. One of my clients got a huge cool pig . Those ones you bid on at the farmm market. Very neat.

Wow super pictures, feels like you just took me on a trip too. All those Crapes and I still don't have one, I can't make up my mind which color bloom I want, maybe this year!
Looks like you had some fun there.

Susy - nice pictures. What a good idea, to accompany DH to Texas.

I'm amazed at the alley of crape myrtles. Somehow I didn't realize that they got that big!!

Oooo, susy, thanks for the pictures. I loved the cluster of camellias - but even more the row of Crapes - but the setting reminds me of how you can have good elements in the wrong combination - I love the crapes, the terraced beds are lovely, the sculpture is intriquing - but the combination doesn't work for me - I feel as though that sculpture and the crapes are at war, and the sculpt is winning!

I don't know if you get the BBC programmes on one of your satelite/digital channels - but if you do watch for a new garden programme called 'Around the world in 80 gardens' - in the first place it is fronted by our dishyiest TV gardener, Monty Don - all together 'sigh' - sheesh - but the first programme is set in Mexico at the Ethnobotanical garden in the Yucatan (this might just make me travell again - I loved Oxaca, and this might be a reason to go back) - it is breathtaking! And then he went on to Edwards Jame's weird and wonderful garden North of Mexico City in yet another unspellable area. And then he went to Cuba to look at the organic vegetable gardening - absolutely inspiring!!!

I will admit that Monty is a touch overwhelmed by things outside his comfort zone (James garden) and he is a bit heavy on the descriptives - but turn the sound off. The gardens and our boy are worth the look. Just wish he would stay on in Mexico - I'll bet there are loads more fabulous gardens there.

ooh, I'll tivo it if we get it here.

Susybell, I love the crape myrtles, the trunks/bark is fabulous to me. And the arbor/trellis is amazing, makes me want to build something !! And those cute little paper whites, sounds like a fun trip with your DH : )

*We did get enough snow here to sled around this morning, I'm sure we woke people up with all our screaming and laughing - oh well! Totally fun, came in and had hot cocoa.

Oh RTP, you wild girl! Ride those sleds with pride!

Hi, Thanks everyone, it was a fun trip. I really want to go back there again in spring if I can. They do huge swaths of tulip plantings. Every fall they plant them and then after they bloom they yank them all and re-do it again. I saw something about it on a garden show once.

Laurie, in real life the toads are only visible once you get to the end of the allee and step into the small courtyard, so it's not quite so jarring to switch from formal to whimsical as it appears here. Oh, and the terrace with the trellis is on the other side of the arboretum completely. I didn't want to overwhelm anyone with photos so I just picked a few. I also took lots of small shots in more of a hurry than I would have done if DH wasn't with me. He enjoyed the day but doesn't have the fascination and endless interest that I do, lol!

Here's a map of the arboretum:

http://www.dallasarboretum.org/Visit/Garden_Map.htm

RTP, not as much snow here, but just looking at your parking strip shots, I know you're higher than I am. I'd say a short inch of snow here.

well, our snow is gone gone gone now, but it was fun.

I don't see "Around the World in 80 Gardens" here, if someone one else finds it, let me know. Maybe just not airing here yet.

My dh QUIT HIS JOB today (sorry for shouting, but I am so happy for him!) I believe he's choosing Intel, but ebay has called him twice today so who knows ?!! So, I guess it's really happening, we will be moving to Santa Clara.

I been cleaning the house today which totally sucks. I think I need to invent a vacuum which works like a shop vac. I have brought a shop vac in before to vacuum but they don't roll very well. My boots track in mass mud and rocks. Anyways I have a whole spare bedroom and my bedroom and more in the living room and basement of books and magazines. Maybe someone would want to start a swap with gardening books.? I'll start a thread s to see if there is any interest. If not I might set up a section here at the nursery to trade books. Heidi

NOOooooo cleaning house for me, been making my 'wants list' and working on my gardening journal on DG, mess it up bad somehow dup. everything and had to go back and delete all the dups. Pixs, Rach do you use this or am I wasting my time? I have my notebook but it gets real messy,
Like the idea of book exchange that could be fun, and then again could make problems.
I am watching my brother try to get his truck out of my driveway and laughing so hard its to funny, he is from Calif. and we keep telling him to put weight in the back so he puts a few rounds of wood in and then takes it out. I told him 200 lbs not go to get it try at least 500 or more. wont listen. now hes got it stuck across the drive.
Im having to much fun with this, watching from my window.

Tills,
I love the garden journal, it does take some time to get used to. Check your dmail!

Got it

Hey tills once it warms up I have a few ash trees I dug up out of the yard and some huge miscanthus strictus or gigantea if you want it. The trees wouldn't fit in your car. I am also digging up a few other things that are yours if you want. I can make you a pile Heidi

Ooooh. Heidi - I'd love some of the miscanthus strictus. I can come over and get it once the weather clears up . . .

absolutly I have given truck loads away to hansville and Kingston garden club and my friend sinda. I have also potted some up. It is actually a pretty grass and can get 10' tall. If you can't make it maybe I can put a couple of clumps in Pixy's van for the green elephant. I'm donating more as well. I hope she takes the seat out. Maybe we need rachels man truck.

:-) Yippee. That'll be fun.

Yes, I'm sure that by the time we get to March, the list of trades will be brimming!!

This message was edited Jan 28, 2008 7:58 PM

Heidi if you are talking to me about? something not fitting in my car no worry I have my brothers truck One I don't trust far but you are close. would love to have anything, but how big are these? have a friend nextdoor that has a excaving buissness, I think you might know him, Francis Richardson "Richardson's Hauling"
Has done alot of work in these parts
Have alot of space pile it on, will work for plants, LOL

No the trees aren't that big just tall. I had them growing in the nursery and dug them up to put some more tables in. They are probably 8' tall. We can pick them up no problem I also have tons more of the pink polygnatum which would look great in your woodland. I get you a pile and I'm home most of the time so on one of your days off we can load you up. I just hate throwing plants away. I'm glad they are going to a great home.

Once I get the rest of the Da## cars out of here, I have lots of space. Can I put them in pots for awhile?
I have almost a little over a acre here and a very small GH. and my GH is full at the moment with the plants I bought from you and the ones Melissa and Carol gave me, started winter sown, never done that before, but there are outside, may have more than I bargained for.

RTP, you're moving to Santa Clara? I must have missed something earlier - what's happening???!!!

Tillys I have 2 greenhouses and they are packed I could have 10 greenhouses and they would be packed. Thats how they all are. I will put them in a pot. I'm so glad your up for some plants. I still have pleanty for the elephant. I wish you all lived closer. You would all have dragonfly gardens.

Pixy do you know what you are planting in your new bermed bed?

RTP, congratulations! You'll be moving after the school year, right?

Heidi - what a sweet thing to say. We could all have dragonfly gardens. That just sounds cool. BTW - I have a few dragonflies around here in summer. What to do to attract them? I know they need to have some water - any plants that they like in particular?

I'd love to have a dragonfly garden, too. Thanks, Heidi, just the thought is wonderful!

I don't know about plants. Pixy might know I think she is smart about bugs. I had a cool huge green catapillar and she knew what it was and had a picture. I have a few that hang out at the nursery for advertising they are pretty cheap labor

Heidi
if anyone wants anything, I can transport, as long as it will fit in a Subaru wagon, I work in Lynnwood "do the comute thing, and hate it" they can pick it up from me at work. if they want. Just have to figure out how to get it from you? "I know" once a week hauler, Just trying to help LOL

Geez this is an active bunch!! Where to start??? Plus I have photos of the Enchanted Cottage down the road. So get ready to be enchanted!

RTP, I don't know whether to be happy for you or sad for you! Start digging your plants out now! But you will have sunshine in Santa Clara and we will all have zone envy. If your DH hates his job that much, then I am thrilled for him that he has quit!

Heidi, I can fit lots in my van, but not 10 foot tall grasses unless you cut them back. Then it's cool. I'll take more of that polygonatum, too if you have some. I know I'll be giving it away, too in a few years, but it's a nice plant.

Susy, love the toad! Thanks for posting the photos. That toad is my favorite.

Heidi, I have a shrub border that will be replanted on the berm. It's a shady area that is underneath the big cedars. I'll post another thread when I get some time and put photos there. I am ALWAYS looking for suggestions and input. I'm looking forward to growing some more nice shade plants like some of the more unusual arisaema and arums.

In terms of dragonflies, yes, you will need water to attract them to stay in the yard. My pond has larvae in it all the time. They are quite ugly, but I get attached to them. In addition, they like to land on little tall sticks by the pond. I mean like rebar, or those green bamboo stakes. Get the tall ones. They act like little dragonfly perches.

Tills you are too funny sitting there laughing at your brother. Hope he got out okay, though. It's not nice to laugh at people from california, ya know!
I have not used the garden journal. I haven't even looked at it, but maybe I should. although I already spend enough time on the garden and on gardening related things. Probably shouldn't add one more thing.

Are you ready for the slideshow? Heeerrrrrreeeee's DAVID!

This is the one I meant to post. You can see him better in this one. See the earring? Leftover from New Year's.

Swinging the camera a little to the left. See the little girl with wheelbarrow? That's a bronze. As is the rooster on top of the gatepost. You can't see that very well as it blends into the snow a bit. The white statue is marble.

Here is the entry to the front. I absolutely love this door! It is so extremely cool!

Here's a closeup of the carving. By the way, yes, that is a real tree planted on top. An Alberta Spruce. I have no idea how they water it.

Omigosh. I really hadn't absorbed what you meant when you said he was oversized for the garden!!!

Swinging the camera to the right of the gate. More bronzes. And they are incredible.

I don't know if you can see this very well, but this is the most darling rooster on top of the house! It positively gleams in the sun. Very, very cute!

Yes, Carole, mere words do not quite capture it, do they??

This message was edited Jan 28, 2008 8:59 PM

I must say "David" is even bigger in person! It's like they too one of the Smithsonian buildings and tried to shove everything that was in it into the local small town library!

hmmmm...yes, David is quite large.
I love the blue recycle bin & garbage cans - gives it that "real life" look. LOL!

I hope this isn't too rude, but this yard is like "What happened to the statues after Rome was conquered by the Barbarians". Total stylistic juxtaposition. ( I guess the earring would be a Roman touch, though? ;) )

Nothing necessarily wrong with either, independently...and nice elements of both styles...but....

One thing for sure - I will never again worry that I have too many statues in my yard - I do have a lot, but they are all small and most disappear when the plants grow in the spring and summer!!!!