How many years of gardening before logging in treasures?

Reading all your posts, I've only really started to become an avid gardener lets say about 3 years ago...I've purchased hundreds of plants, received hundreds and they are just planted, little thought to where...now when would you have studied their needs, transplanted to correct location..right from the start of your gardening interest or later on????

"...now when would you have studied their needs, transplanted to correct location..right from the start of your gardening interest or later on????"

A bit of both. Sometimes I actually investigate a plant before I acquire it; but I also tend to be an impulsive plant purchaser, so sometimes I just buy it and figure out where the heck to put it when I get it home...I'm also in full denial that my gardens are almost filled to capacity. LOL.

Joanne

hehehe...I just buy the ones I like and worry about where to put them when I get home as well...I will glance at height and light requirements before planting though sometimes that info is wrong.

I used to check out the few catalogues I bothered to get, get ideas from a few websites make a list and go to every nursery in town with my list. I dont bother anymore I just go buy what I think I want when I see what they have ( unless I deem it 'too expensive')and find a place for it when I get home. I have been planting my perennial beds for between 10 and 20 years - still room for more or I just renovate old areas, give the plants away and go for more. Forget about plans!
I do check if its a sun or shade plant ( I have more semi shad than sun ) . When I get home they all go in the back porch and I start figuring out where they will go = wander around with pot in hand, plunk the pot s down , leave them there for a couple of days while I wander and stare, move them if I think its not quite right until I find the right spot. And if it turns out that was not right I just move em again!

Actually when I first started I really did keep good records but I stopped that years ago!

If I see something I like, I buy it & hope I can fit it in somewhere. I'm a terrible shopper when it comes to plants. I will even buy plants for other people's gardens. Last summer I travelled a lot for work. I always came back home with a bunch of plants, trees & garden stuff. A bit of a sickness I think. Oh well, still lots of grass that can be removed.

I start out with some planned plantings, then as the space begins to fill up, tend to do the "squeeze it in here temporarily" denial thing - this picture always cracks me up, because that monster of a yellow helenium was a teeny tiny plant plunked down in front of the shasta clump, behind the daylilies, just "for the time being..."

3 years later, there it still is, elbowing the poor dayliles into the dog fence.

Well at least the Shastas are higher! You can always pull the dog fence, remove a foot of grass to give the daylilies more space and put the fence back!

LOL. Sounds like something I would do. My disease is Hostas. And I'm in denial about the amount of space I have. I DO sort of plan where they go, but every year I move a bunch around too. In general I'm much more of an impulse buyer and planter than a planner.

Ann

My kind of planting pals...this year was the first year I travelled to one of the largest Lily farms that is just up the road from me..so, will have to dedicate an area just for them this spring..now I have to take a detour when passing it each day this spring/summer and fall or I'll have to take a mortgage in order to feed my passion..

Because I was lucky to find 2 flowers when I moved here a few years ago I hit several Church Bazaar sales..would come home with 100 at a time because it was a fund raiser so I just keep digging and digging..it's so funny, I started to dig a little pond all on my own..hit sand, well before the weekend was over I now have a pond about 20' sq. and about 4' deep..little carried away..

I imagine after living here 10 years or so, there will not be much of grass remaining..

Here is my last little bed I started at the end of summer...can't wait for spring to fill it up..

As you can see because of the sand my grass is not the greatest, so gardens it will be lol

Oh my, I NEED that yard. Look all that grass to tear out and make room to plant stuff in. Drooling with envy here. Lovely, lovely gardens Betty. And the picture within a picture is wonderful!

Joanne

Betty - with all that shade you could have Hosta gardens to die for.

Beautiful yard Betty! What beautiful trees and you have made it so personal, I really like that.

This is an interesting thread. Seven years ago my yard was one big grass rectangle with a square deck that resembled a dock. Every year I take out more grass with only a vague vision in my head . I love plants, but I also like the challenge of creating atmosphere and beauty without a big budget.

My friend hired a garden designer to draw up her new garden plan, down to the exact number of plants to be planted in each square foot of it. For me, the pleasure is in having a new project as a vision, and changing that all winter as I think about it and look at catalogues. When the shovel is in my hand in spring then I incorporate all the new plants I admire into the vision as I plant! I know my garden would probably look much more professional if I stuck to a plan! But the impulse buying and instinctive placement is more who I am.

When I run out of grass I may have to get organized. That day is not too far off.

Theresa

Have hosta's in the front yard, perhaps they'll be large enough for me to transplant in the back..thanks for the suggestions..think when I hit 60 I should be making the gardens smaller NOT enlarging..as someone once said, probably a sickness right..lol

Betty your gardens are lovely. You must be fast learner.

Hey Betty, do you have a pic of your pond? You are 60 and dug your own pond? High five to you, girl!!

I see you enjoy garden art too. Love your picture frame with the hanging basket! I have a rustic one with a window box that is freestanding, so the effect is lost by the back post, if you see what I mean. I still like it though, and all my other garden nic nacs.

Sandy

I think the biggest thing is whether the garden beds are all filled or not.

I usually only design/plan if it's a brand new bed. And because I'm first and foremost a plantaholic, I end up changing & moving plants constantly to make room for new acquisitions.

I ADMIT, I have design-itis. With me, it's a personality trait where I'm compelled to plan everything! I also love to research, so I enjoy making lists and gathering data on different plants. I go out once a week during the season and record the bloom times of all my plants. Call me cuckoo but I've been doing that for years and it's helped me learn the botanical names of the plants.

AND, I'm also a plantaholic. PLUS, over the past couple of years I've been feverishly collecting hostas and heucheras. As a plantaholic/collector my first instinct is to buy that lovely new variety and worry about where to put it later.

So I struggle with both.

Oh boy, sounds like I need to sit down and have my temperature taken. A plantaholic with design-itis that's been bitten by a collecting bug!

Sandy

Sandy, how cute..love your frame..the one I installed is 5' x 6' and has 4x4's to hold it up..not pretty in it's 'now' stage but once all the flowers/shrubs grow and it hides the 4x4 it should be one of my gardens focal point..

Now where is White Lake?

I know a few girls in the Canadian forum..
Erynne
Starzz

If you want to see some brilliant ideas, watch for postings from Starzz..lordy I want ALL she has...lol

Now I know Erynne has a love for lillies...Lilly Farm is not far from my home..

But between us all, I'm sure we'll be able to feed off of each other..



The pond..yep..I'm almost done, only area left to complete is the back rock foundation for the waterfall. Nothing like listening to the water..will try to locate photo's for you..Changed computer late last fall and think 1/2 of my photo's are on the other drive waiting to be transferred..now where is that son of mine..lol

Think I have a few here, doesn't do it justice but will give you an idea of how many corners I've attacked...

Another view..

Making a little tea room - area cut out from underneath the lilac trees..this year I'll add multi flowered vines to cover the arbor

Not quite as rustic as yours, however, I do like the look of rustic art in the garden..but, because I paint I've added a few pieces of my painting art..

This blue heron I painted guards the pond...

Enjoy watching the birds making a home in this birdhouse I made and painted..

Another home for the birds..enjoyed making and painting this one..

Hope I'm not boring you...

This blue heron which is about 3' in length..done in stained glass will be mounted in copper tubing which will spray water..entire design should be about 5'..I'm lax in finishing it..probably about 6 hrs. left of work and it's done..so hopefully by spring he'll be guarding the pond as well...

Towards the end of the summer I decided to work on a 'french cafe' look on the back deck so I could enjoy the beauty of the yard..still so much to do, but the area is calming..got an old piece of linoleum and painted it black/red/white on the underneath side and it adds to the look...

Forgot the photo

Just counting the days to my being able to get back outside..guess we all are...

One more and no more I promise..you might see the chandelier hanging in the photo..was at a garage sale and it was electric ..all the imitation candles did not work..so brain being in fast motion I though, those candles could be removed, and a glass voltive put in each; she was asking $5.00 and I went on rambling about what I would do with it, she glanced at the other lady, went to take it back and I quickly put the $5.00 down and took it.well, that taught me something..when I get a bright idea, which is occasionally, pay for the item, THEN tell them what treasure it will then become..lol..took all of 5 minutes to replace the candle fixtures into voltive holders...

Keep the pics coming. Really enjoyable.

Compared to me, Sandy really is a designaholic and her gardens show the difference too. LOL

Ann

Ann, I appreciate your comments but I think you sell yourself short as I've been to your garden - I hope you'll keep us posted with your new front yard garden, which promises to be a hosta haven!

Betty, wow, that winter scene on the birdhouse is phenomenal. I have a friend that is a tole painter and has a special scene on her bathroom door that makes you feel quite at home. To tell you the truth, I'm quite awed by your talent. I'd love to see some closer-ups of your pond if your get your computer files to cooperate.

Sandy

P.S. Betty, you asked where White Lake is - it's about 45 miles west of Ottawa. ViolaAnn and I have done a few trades, as well as Erynne, as we have hostaholic tendencies, I think.

This message was edited Jan 12, 2008 8:55 AM

Betty, your garden art is spectacular; what a talent!

P.S. beware of the Hostaholics posting here; their disease is highly contagious...I should know...(twenty hostas later after reading all their hosta posts last year)...LOL

Joanne

LOL, Joanne. Glad to help.

Well they've talked me into some hosta's..too bad the church plant sale doesn't happen until first Sat. of June..they always have so many..

thanks for making my head swell..lol

Was just saying on my friendship thread..Best/Worse and What did I learn today..some of the nicest ladies one could ever meet..anyway...why do they put gardening magazines right at the till..gee whizz..a couple had to come home with me...

You can tell I'm in the gardening mode..was at the stained glass studio this morning and picked up a pattern packet to do for my front window...

*sigh*

You all make me so envious. My whole yard is smaller than Betty's pond, I think.

And such knowledge and talent - not just knowing what you're doing (more or less) with a garden, but painting, stained glass and all sorts of things.

I'll get there . . .
~marilyn

Marilyn..I just fake it..you try enough times you are bound to succeed..lol
Anyone can do any of the above..I always say it's NOT that you can't do it, it's you are not interested in trying to do it!"

I teach a group of seniors who only started painting in their 70's..they are awesome..in fact 6 of them are working on Georgian Bay scene floormats done on linoleum..don't think I have a photo here at work but do at home..will post it if you are interested..early day here..snowing and blowing and it's Friday so we close at 1..yet 100 mile drive home...

Do have a great day..

Marilyn..where do you live in the city..I work at Weston Rd. and Steeles..live about 40 miles north of Barrie...

Hi Betty:

I live right down between Eastern Ave and Queen near Jones Ave.

I'd love to see the photos of what your seniors are painting. I'll be that age sooner than later, so maybe will have a new interest to explore.
In High School art classes, the teacher promised to pass me if I promised never to take art classes again!! I was that bad.
So much I want to learn - photography too. I just kind of wing it now, but doing a bit better each trip.
Hope you get home warm, safe and sound. That's a long trip to make each day.

Marilyn, that sure is right downtown..trip home wasn't as bad as they had said..some flurries as we got north..winds seem to be getting stronger..

Having an early night tonight as I have painting class tomorrow, so a gardening book by my side, movie to watch, might even pop some popcorn..how much cozier can one get..good place to be 'inside'....

i echo the others sentiments bettypauze, you are very talented lady that bird house is great

Thank you kindly..makes one day to get some praise..lol..