Work Party at Rachel's

Rachel and her folks, who stopped by on their way back from the PNW Antique Tool Club meeting (or something like that). Turns out NWGordon has antique tools also . . . who woulda thought?

One shot from my "Scrappy and the Milk Can" Series. Hard to say which of the pictures was cutest.

Rach - the more I think about it, the more I like that milk can laying down in the middle of the bed. You could put sedums "spilling" out of it onto the ground. Hmmmmmm - wonder if I can find a milk can.

Here are a coupla goofy girls.

I think everyone's right-those groupings are nice, but they need some height variation. Also, all the containers and pots are the same color. That's great for continuity, but maybe planting something in a dark color would be a nice contrast with a lighter grass, maybe? Like a dark trailing sedum, perhaps?-it would echo the sedum that NWG brought, to pull that in, and maybe contrast and blend with the pots?

eek! a picture, with me in it! Great smile, Sheri!

Scrappy and the milk can is adorable!

Kathy, it appears we're both thinking sedum tonight....

I have sat here grinning from ear to ear as I viewed the photos and read the posts - what a marvelous day and what a fabulous project!!!!!!! It's such fun also to see all the smiling faces of the DGers and their DH's, parents, etc. I truly can't wait until the time I can be involved with all of you in one of these cool projects!!

Carole - We've done a lot, but there's so much more. I'm thinking we'll all be pretty buff by the time autumn rolls around. LOL

Guess who has two milk cans?

So . . . . Gordon, buddy . . . got a spare milk can?

:-) You're too funny.

We'll talk about it!

What do you want in trade for a milk can?

I love the idea if differing heights! Tomorrow morning I will go and search around the yard for "pedestals!" Stay tuned.

Yes, Melissa I would love more of the Ice Dance and any other sedge or short grass that you want to get rid of :0) Now I'm going to be on the look out for short grasses and/or sedge!

Everyone's pictures are so wonderful, I can't stop smiling!

I have no idea! But must sleep! You people are machines! I can't even keep my eyes open. I'll bring it with me to Newcastle next month.

Yes - I'll be tired tomorrow morning . . .

I'm with you on this - just brings on a bout of smiling! How wonderful.

Rach, I agree about the milk can being on its side with plants spilling out - marvellous idea. And having tall grasses behind the bedstead as a billowing curtain would be just lovely, especially if you get a period of light from behind. May I suggest that there also be some spillage from the bed - in amongst the sedge plantings at the front, tuck in some bulbs. What grows in the bed when the bulbs are showing? How about some astrantia or echincea both have long blossoming periods in the summer, need little maintenance, tolerate some shade and don't come up until the bulbs are well over. The astrantia, comes in good cottage colours and would look like a plumped up duvet from a distance.

I love the bulb bed! I was wondering what bedspread or duvet wa next too! WOW you could even grow pumpkin in there and have them trailing out...lol I just love that Rachel so charming.

You guys are a bee hive of conversation. I can see great friendships were further built and lots of love is going on. It is good what gardeners can do with each other. Happy people happy faces. Well done.

I was thinking that I might plant some squash or cucumber seeds in the bed and let them spill out all over. So many ideas to think about, I love it!

We missed you Murmur and Sofer! Laurie's spirit was with us. I saw her standing by the bed watching.

That photo of scrappy should be entered in the photo contest. I could not wait to see what photos you got of him lapping the milk can water. So cute it's pathetic! There is something about that dog that just sings. He is joy with 4 legs.

Rachel, this thread is a perfect example of many heads making great ideas! I love the milkcan/sedum idea, as well as the ideas about the bulb bed. You have your work cut out for you!

Speaking of Laurie, I think she was dreaming of gardening and SuperGardener last night. I was buzzed by an extraordinarily large bumblebee late yesterday afternoon and I thought I saw striped tights...

I look great in striped tights, don't I? Sofer's dressing gown just can't stand in comparison!

BUT!. . .Sofer in the dressing gown AND the striped tights ~ hmmmmm? Laurie, I think you may be in for a bit of competition there.

This used to be a nice thread now its getting kinda risque!

Put on your wings and fly with us.

How did I get into tights?

Remember you wiggled alot!

It was a bee thing! Just buzz on in and pollinate a bit, eh!

Ok I'm visualizing my abdomen all covered with pollen, my tights are with fuzzy with monarda dust. I am flying with a fairy in a purple too too. She keeps messing my flight with that fairy dust stuff. Hey she isn't wearing any tights. Whats up? I thought this was a garden party. I thought everyone is wearing tights. LOL

This message was edited Mar 10, 2008 9:02 PM

Okay, I won't ask...I will just assume it is just like the kilt question....

Sofer ~ this IS a garden party...a PNW garden party. Kinda like Alice in Wonderland...rabbits, caterpillars, queens, etc. And the visual of the pollen tummy and fuzzy tights is eye-wateringly funny!

Maybe that was Steve in my Crocus.

My, this thread was quite bzzzzzzzzzy today!

Steve - the faeries west of the Cascades don't wear tights - the rain makes them soggy.
ooooohh, I'm not sure I want to know about flying in a kilt...

Thanks everyone for posting photos. It was fun to look at them & recall parts of the day.
What I took away from this event was a deeper understanding of what I consider to be a blessing: our common love for "all things plants" being the tie that binds, which has given a great sense of community to our group that will continue to evolve. Pretty cool.

While weeding, I found the opportunity to listen to the "hum/buzz" of activity:
the gentle chatter of plant info, the exchange of ideas, the asking for direction, the sigh of satisfaction - having given your energy to something that has a healthy, positive outcome, and helped a friend achieve her goal.
I was so pleased to have been able to meet each of you - the contribution of individuals, & the group as a whole was wonderful.
I know that Rachel & Carl were so appreciative of this endeavour: it showed on their faces throughout the day.
By the way, mega-kudos to Carl for the meal, and especially for blackening my Kosher Hotdog - yummy! Rach, your parents are gems. Hope we are able to interact with them down the line.

For those who were not there, we missed you, but know that your presence is felt. Distant cheering is always heard & welcome!

Gordon - thanks for the Daphne pic. I have D. aureomarginata, too. They are in full bloom & I could park my face in the middle of the shrub - invigorating: feels like it cleans out my brain!
Looking forward to seeing each of you at the Newcastle swap.
Kate (aka Turbo-weeder. well, you go drink a nice cup of dark-roast java & pay a visit to your weeds. You too can have a reputation with them!) =:0)

That was Awsome Katye

It was indeed!

And hmmmm, that daphne brain cleaning! A perfect description.

Katye ~ The trumpet vine you mentioned. . .was it campsis radicans? I picked up two c. radicans tagliabuana this weekend and will put them in pots on the chain link fence surrounding the dogs' yard.

Hi ya, Sheri!
Yes, that is the one that I mentioned. They are considered by some to be from vine h*ll. I don't know if they are that bad here - my friend has a gorgeous one that she does prune back hard each year. Most perennial vines need this hard pruning to minimize legginess: all the flowers will be at the ends of the vines. It's a beauty, in my opinion, and does not grow as long as it would in warmer climates.
I'm going to jump over to your other thread & tell you an idea I had for the QAW.

Hey outta! Where did you pick uo the campsis radicans tagliabuana? I would love to get some for the vine cave.

Pssst. . .Gordon. . .c'mere. (whispering to you. . .)I got them at WalMart in Poulsbo. They had a bunch but I only got 2. I bet I can get more if they don't have them where you're at. Claims to be two years field grown. We'll see ~

Pssst thanks Sheri, I wont tell anyone.

Katy, I watch you on your turbo weeding, tryed to do but didnt do to bad at it, but the weeds where not bad there, Need more training before I hit the big stuff.
Thats the work party I need at this point, just weeding and Blackberry H### pruning. Got to get the rest of the S### out of here first.

TURBO WEEDING? do you need a license to do this? sounds scarey - I picture Katy's arms spining round - yikes.