Landscaping ideas, please?

Katie59 ~ I'm not sure what you mean by the back of the potager. Looking at the picture which shows the whole house, the potager will be in the inset between the garage and the front door. The arbor is going to be over the walk in front of the garage. There was supposed to be a planter area between the walkway and the house but I was at work when the walkway was poured and subsequently, the concrete abuts the garage wall. We have a 4' wide walkway there and no soil in which to put anything. Also, as you can see by the picture, there is only one window and that wall is VERY white, desperately needing color and personality. I originally thought rolling pots on either corner, and that is still an option but then the arbor idea struck me. When people arrive they would have to walk underneath it to get to the front door (unless they come in through the garage). But when on emerges on the other side the potager will smack you right in the face. It will be 16-18' long and will attach directly to the wall just above the garage window. It does not get much sun at all, not even in mid-summer, since it's on the north side. I think I remember last year morning sun on the east half of walk and afternoon on the west. I also stuck the bulbs I was given last year alongside the walkway (just looked and there are about a dozen breaking through...would it hurt to put composty/mulchy/soily stuff over them at this point? I want to build up that area a little more but don't want to hurt the little dickens).

Hey Carla ~ Thanks for the welcome here and on the gunnera thread. I did read your post here but, because all are so danged friendly and helpful here, it's difficult to reply to everyone. I appreciate the welcome and all the advice. I've already gotten so many good ideas ~ I can hardly wait to get started (BTW, didn't see your hair before but this certainly suits you very well and is quite nice).

I keep looking at your property images and thinking how nice a few tree Rhodo's would be. Sorta background and slight wind block. The image is Rhodo calophytum. If I had that much space I'd also either grow palm seed or buy small 1 gallon palms and place them in groups of 3 here and there. The sarcaccoca is a great idea for the semi-shaded spot. Winter blooming Viburnum x Bodnantense 'Dawn' and I think someone mentioned Garrya elliptica 'James Roof' for the evergreen foliage & dangling blooms. You mentioned attracting butterflies so why not a few different Buddleja including the Chilean species and the variegated foliage one.

outtamygourd, when you mentioned the arbor I thought of that cedar tree you are removing and how close you are to the beach. Why not make a rustic split cedar arbor. Nothing says PNW more than split and nicely aged cedar. If you have a few dry spots, try a Lobelia tupa - love it! A few Crocosmia 'Lucifer' in some fast drainage areas around the house will give you some nice red blooms. Camassia leichtlinii 'Alba' - the double is quite nice. Phygelius too. I wish I could just give you a few things...but the border. If anyone wants, I have some Iris confusa but it might be difficult to get it to you.

As a crafter with "nothing to trade" I would suggest getting a cement stepping stone mold and get going! The molds can be bought inexpensively and give you something wonderful to trade with. There are several companies on Ebay and some gardening catalogs as well that feature molds for sale. Or go the hypertufa and cement forums and check out the great free form work and grotes! http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/738626/#new

You could actually bark right over the septic tank lids and place nice garden benches over them. That would mark them and keep you from getting too plant happy over them! The idea of the portable wood walkways over them is pretty cool.

So maybe I'm turned around . . .

As you're looking away from the front door, isn't the garage immediately to your left and the QAW past the yard and down to your left? I was thinking that you would put the potager in between the garage and the QAW. If that's the case, then an arbor to sort of create a magical doorway into the QAW that you would see from the front door/porch across the corner of the potager would be cool . . .

I love the idea of tree rhodies. They are some of my favorite landscaping plants. So graceful and they stay beautiful all year long.
Tillysrat, I completely forgot about using tires as planters! I used to do that when I lived in Texas, but it was really too hot where I was and I ended up with fried tomatoes. LOL! But they would work really well in this climate. You have nice raised beds.
Take a look at these:
http://www.wuvie.net/tireplanter.htm
http://www.ponyswings.com/tropical_bird_planters.htm

Growin' ~ I love the idea of tree rhodys and do have one rhody in the corner of the planter where the garage meets the house. Love the Garrya elliptica ~ gorgeous! I kind of have an issue with palms (grew up and spent most of my adult life in southern Cal where there is an over-abundance of every kind of palm you could ever want to see...have pretty much had my fill of those).

And Katie59, yes. Looking away from the front door to the north the garage is on the left (west) and the QAW to the northwest beyond the garage. But the most likely place for the potager to me, at least for this first year and particularly since it's the flattest area and the one I can accomplish most quickly, is directly in front of the front door, in the area in the shadow in pix 2 & 3. There is a large mostly square and mostly flat area that will accommodate a 3 box by 3 box potager perfectly ~ one that is exactly like the one you linked me to, except instead of 4 boxes total there will be 9. I've already measured, copied the picture in the link and cut and pasted a 3 x 3 for guidance. I do envision the arbor as a walkway to the QAW but perhaps through a nice cottage garden-type area leading down to it. I think, however, this year is just going to be the potager, the arbor, and the bulb planter. That should keep me busy for the season!

Oh, Pix, I think you have just given Tills some new projects - my prediction for 2008: those are definately going to tempt her! An entire herd of wild tire horses, bounded by multiple shades of purple tire lilies!! Excellent. I am watching this space!

For some reason, I'm envisioning the tires painted to match the crops, so there's a purply white "garlic" one, a red/ green tomato, etc, pink watermelon, etc...maybe I've just had too much cough syrup? Or maybe it was that yummy English marmalade I got for Christmas.

Pixy, you lived in Texas? Were you there long? What was gardening in alkaline soil like? I'd be adrift...

Sheri, we do all "drift" a bit in these threads..I think that's what makes them so much fun. I keep imagining a fairy ring in your clearing in your QAW or a fire ring and benches and lanterns on poles (carefully, of course, with underbrush cleared out) with a neat windy path with fun foresty ground covers and natives, then opening to the clearing

Sheri -

Sounds like you will have lots going on this summer. Glad you're so inspired. Keep your scale big. It took me awhile to get out of "pot" mode when I made the move from indoor to outdoor gardening. Looking forward to seeing it develop.

Melissa -

Nice tire planters. Wherever do you find these things? :-)

O' Kay Laurie you are tying to get me into something more than I already have!!!
lets get woodland finished first then I'll think about it.

You don't paint the tires, then they won't keep the heat in, might look pretty but not functional.
And any tire store will give them to you free. whats neat is when you can turn them inside out makes neat planters, I haven't tried to do that yet.

Rach: the tub is set on a incline, to drain at the plug hole, then I put rocks in the bottom of the tub and laid weed fabric over them, then filled in with compost and soil/sand mix.

Pix
Most of my family is from Texas, Mother was born there (Wichita Falls, Texas)
Alot of the ideas I get are from my childhood and the farms and horse ranches I grew up on. Kinda like Rach but my DH not.

Susy...OMG! So odd that you mention the faerie ring...that's exactly what we have been talking about. When we first moved in we threw up (not literally) two forest faces on the trees down there, with the plan of making it an "enchanted" wood. I have a sign that reads "Beyond Here There Be Dragons." I so envision faeries and elves and gnomes and dragons....with the walkway through the cottage garden leading to it becoming increasingly enchanted the closer you get...maybe we could pipe in sound?!?!?

Tills - you used a word I've never heard before in the gardening context - FINISHED. Hmmmm, I'll have to look that up.

Good great news - I've just finished up outside - and locked up at 10 mins. to 5!! And managed to walk in to the house without outdoor lights! And it is raining, so heavy overcast - just think if it was a clear afternoon, probably coulda stayed out until 5! The days ARE getting longer - hooooray!

Ok Here is the picture of the planters we just finished up. We used cinder blocks on the inside and framed to outside with bord and batten to match the house. Thses are tall planters I think we should have made them a little shorter but this is what the homeowner wanted. What a great view looing down puget sound toward murmur. Heidi and Dragonfly

Maybe with the extra height, Heidi, you can have some terracotta pots in front without loosing the big planters behind - it is a bit severe right now, but once it is planted up, a good chair and some overflow stuff it'll be gorgeous - one of your plantings, a planted chair maybe, would be a stunner with those.

Hi Sheri, Oh, yes, you are going to fit right in here! Wait til Pixy hears you want a faerie ring! I think it'd be fantastic!

Those are nice big planters! Filled to overflowing and weathered to a nice grey, they'll be good for years and years. Are these folks more "modernistic" in style, or rustic?

How tall are the planters? I like them tall enough and WIDE enough to park my fanny! I really like the planters that double as benches for extra seating. Of course that means WHAT and where you plant inside the planter is impacted but ...

And definitely no plants with thorns, lol! (Unless you're trying to discourage seating..... ;) )

These people are modernistic. They have lives all over the world working for the united states embassy. They have some pretty cool outside art peices. They have nice outside furniture and these are big enough to sit on the tops. These people have only a few plants fruit trees some clumping bamboo and a couple of rhodies thats it. I would almost call them minimalist. These are beefy planters and will last a long time. Heidi

Impressions of todays commentary thus far:

"beefy planters"
"park my fanny"
"and definately no...thorns"

and I chuckled all the way upstairs to get the laundry...........

Laurie: What do you mean new word, you just used it. Ha Ha to funny LMBO >>>>

Okay - but finishing the patio means getting the landscape guys out! So finishing there counts! But you are right - it is funny.

busted!

*Sigh* how many times in my life have I thought to myself "when I get " ----" done, I'll be finished!" Hehehe... ya right!

Here is the latest picture of Cinder and Scrappy, he is growing like a weed!

oh, how cute! He looks like he's copying Cinder!

Loving the "Beyond here there be dragons" sign. I might have to steal a version of that. I always thing of the ring of cedars and firs that surround my little meadow as "Ents" looking down on and protecting me. Of course, they are a little scary when the wind is blowing.

Heidi, the planters are beautiful. I agree with you, though, they could have been lower as the plants will increase the heighth of the whole scene. You guys did do a great job.

Rachie, Scrappy Doo looks like he's trying to look just like Cinder. Does he follow her around everywhere? I can just imagine. He's precious!!

This message was edited Jan 6, 2008 8:35 PM

Fairyland

A Fairy's house stands in a wood,
Midst fairy trees and flowers,
Where daisies sing like little birds
Between the sun and showers,
And grasses whisper tiny things
About this world of ours.

Such flowers are there beside the way,
Lilies and hollyhocks:
Blow off their stalks to tell the time
Tall dandelion clocks;
While harebells ring an hourly chime
Like a wound music-box.

Some day shall we two try to find
This strange enchanted place?
Go hand in hand through flower-lit woods
Where living trees embrace--
And suddenly, as in a dream,
Behold a fairy's face!


Enchanted Tulips and Other Verses for Children
by A., E., and M. Keary
London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1914

Susybell and Tillysrat, I was born in Texas. My entire family was born in Texas. Notice I don't live in Texas? Witchita Falls was my dad's old stomping ground. As an adult, married, I lived in Del Rio (on the river, hence the name...) in the middle of nowhere in the desert. No gardening there, really. Just tried to do tomatoes in tires. Young, clueless, but needing to grow something. Tarantulas, scorpions, rattlesnakes, vultures, but we were young and in love, and we had our first child there. But she was conceived in Washington. At that time we never dreamed we would end up here. We were just visiting my parents, dad being stationed at Ft. Lewis as the chaplain for Madigan. So we came up here and conceived the first grandchild, an event I still remember details from (which I will definitely not share, but involved Jeno's Pizza Rolls). My dad was so excited to have a pregnant daughter that he announced from the pulpit that Sunday that his daughter had just conceived his first grandchild -in his own house! My mother was mortified. I was back in Texas by then so I didn't care.Just a little family story there.

What is this 'fairy ring' that you speak of Susy and Sheri? As far as I know, a fairy ring is a ring of mushrooms that springs up overnight, indicating fairy activity, of course. you must never disturb them lest you be sorry. And Sheri, no need to pipe in music. Just go into your forest on any moonlit night (okay, I know there aren't that many of them, maybe you should do the piping after all) and listen closely. You'll hear the music that's already there.
Katie, when you remember that when the wind blows the ents are 'dancing', you will be less afraid. But get out of the way anyhow. When they work themselves into a fenzy they don't know their own strength.

My mental picture was sort of a magical clearing in the forest where it would be easy to imagine dancing with fairies at midnight on midsummer's eve, very enchanting and magical-feeling...maybe even fireflies, although there really aren't any out here.
Also, a great place to sit with friends and enjoy some wine and good conversation on a summer evening, watching the stars through the gap in the trees, maybe.

I don't even want to know about the Jeno's Pizza rolls! But, wow, that's a great story. I can understand the mortified part, too. I think my mom would be the same way in that sort of situation.

Great story Pixs, All I know is thats where my moma came from, and allot of sad stories about that era from grandma, don't wanta go in to it. And I don't wana know about the pizza's rolls ether. But I know your daddy was proud. LOL

Rach; have you ever though of bunkbeds, they are to cute and hes to cute for words.

Sorry Laurie:
I know nothing in gardening is ever finished, what I met was at leased to get the whole plan layed out and the outline done before I jump into another. My DH will say why are you starting another when you are not done with this one and you cant keep up with that one and here I go again with another one, Then I turn around a tell him why dont you help me with them and we could have fun with it, He says (funny) I cant work with you, your to "BOSSY" go figure.

But you did leave youself wide open, couldnt resised. "Love Ya Laurie"

Scrappy is Cinders little shadow. They are so funny to watch. She would never admit it but she really loves him and watches out for him. They love to "talk" to each other. Carl and I always wonder what they are saying, it is most definetly a dialogue. Cinder will scold him for getting in her way and he will back talk, Carl calls it giving "lip service!"

I love fairie rings, Pixy and I saw one when we where at Savage Gardens after we went to DragonFly the day of our fieldtrip. They where the darling little red and white ones, here is the link to the picture I took of one of them http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=4084133 They where growing in the gravel under some cedar and fir trees. I can just see the little fairies prancing around the nursery at night!

Pixy...Susy nailed the concept. The area to which I refer is the second to the last picture I posted...the 50-60' circular future clearing (currently not so clear but visible) in the middle of my QAW. I have 2 forest faces on the trees and envision a really enchanted space with an increasingly interesting terraced walkway down to it. The dragon sign and one that says "Don't p**s off the faeries" will also be a part of the walkway. Susy...love the firefly idea...could maybe plagiarize from PotC...the bayou area. Don't have to pipe in music in the summer, we have tons of singing frogs. Sometimes they were so loud I had to close the bedroom window at night! Such big noises from such little bodies.

*Sigh* Monday. Time to head off to work work. Looking forward to my weekend already!

Isn't the fair ring the morning's evidence of fairy dancing in the moonlight the night before? Mmmmmm, I love the thought.

Rachel I think scrappy doo is going to big a boy. All of ours are big but all the other ones around here are little. Someone said it is what part ot the island their genetics comes from if they are big or little. Our last heeler gator was a monter he got to 81 pounds. The vet spent his whole life trying to figure out why gator was so huge. No problems just big and lazy. He was like fernand the bull. We took him to hearding class. He went in the ring a few feet looked at the sheep running by looked at my with the look like you want me to chase them. Oh please let me out. Then boney went in and the trainer had a stick and boney didn't like the stick so the trainer asked my husband make him do some thing and Dave clicked a noise and boney within seconds took out 2 sheep hard flattened them and we got excused from the class with a glare. The trainer had border collies and usually border people dont like heelers.. I think aussie sherpard peple are on the fence sometimes they like heeler and sometimes no. Boney was terrible abused physically and looked anorixic when we got him his real name was cisco but boney or bones stuck. They do copy everything. We have noticed everyone new to the pack picks up on somebody else behavoir. Unfortunaty its usually not a favored behavoir which is copied.

Fortunately for us Cinder is very well behaved. So far Scrappy is doing very well and minding his manners, most of the time! It will be interesting to see how big he gets.