Need ideas

It's Kinda a weired sensation when you rip it all out, something that has been there for so long and you know that you don't want to make the same problem you did before , and then you have nothing, mind goes blank, can't think of anything, Then It happens and the light goes on, this could be it. or another failure? Then maybe not. or the best thing I did.
Thanks Laurie
Tils

But each change of thought brings with it a whole new picture in your mind of the area. I love to change ideas all the time. Life is more fun that way. Go Tils! I shall stop giving you ideas for statuary.

Tills, I have a pussy willow like the one you posted above - I love it. It started out being the focal point of a new flower bed I did in 2004, but some other things have surpassed it in heighth. I do think it is suckering a bit, but I am not bothered by that - will try to get some starts. But I would suggest you buy something bigger. This is what it looked like when the garden was brand new - I got the tree on sale at Ace for $22 (originally around $50). This picture was taken July 5, 2004.

The garden looks nothing like this now! It is a mess and I can't even see my stepping stones - lol - I'll take a picture shortly. It is in need of its Spring pruning, but you'll get a kick out of the change.

Oh, Carole! That's just darling! Go out and rescue those children so they can see where they are digging!

Very beautiful murmur. I just want to dig in your dirt and say hi to a bunch of worms. I have seen statures of children with water spraying on them. Why don't they make one with the children covering their eyes or face.

This one was taken a few minutes ago.

And a close up of the Weeping Pussy Willow. The branch sticking straight up (looks like from the top of the willow) is actually a rogue tree that appeared two years ago - I have no idea what it is or where it came from, but possibly arrived with a Weigela purchase off the Internet (appears to be absolutely straight from the center of it).

I really need to thin that poor garden out . . . and I have a ton more statues now, too - all of children . . . five playing follow the leader, some reading, some playing baseball, leap frog, etc. and I got a new one for Christmas of two children sitting on a bench. I take most of them in for the winter, but will have them back out before long.

Enlarge the bed! You look like you have lots of lawn around there. Just leave a walkway and make it big enough for one passage of the lawn mower.

Steve, it has increased by a foot every year already! And I do want to increase it even further. Unfortunately, the lower part of the bed is on quite an incline - so I have to do some serious planning.

This was last year's expansion. The other side and both ends of the bed aren't much more than a lawnmower's width, but this side is quite the challenge.

Simply set one of you large plants in the area shown with a terrace to continue the decline of land fall. Or I would place a large mound here with a lot of soil So there was a large rock garden on the decending slope.. Great place to have your children statues playing where you can see them having fun.

Now that sounds like an idea to work on!! Thanks, Steve!

Mary - Article on Iris Setosa. My dogs taste a lot of stuff. Don't know if your dogs do. Just be aware.

Kathy

http://www.alaska.edu/opa/eInfo/index.xml?StoryID=105

Beautiful, beautiful gardens, Carole. Love your plants. Statues sound really fun. I'd love to come weed for you sometime, maybe this Summer when hopefully Steve is on the mend and your life has had a chance to settle down. Remember that we want to come do a work party for you sometime when you want a bunch of folks over.

Thank you, Mauryhillfarm! Though I would normally be too embarrassed to let anyone see the messes I have, this is one year I will let people help me! I was out there wandering around aimlessly this afternoon . . . so much to do that I can't even get myself started. I finally did dig up some Phlox Blue Paradise and divided it, put it in pots. And did a bit of weeding in the above garden. But honestly, if I hadn't filled one big tub with weeds and prunings, plus made a trip to the back with an enormous armload of stuff, I wouldn't know I had done anything!

I am liking Steve's idea more and more. I have to get a load of rocks to get it started (and price them first . . . minor detail).

Murmur ~ Just catching up on threads after a week of workwork, but OMG. Your beds are beautiful! It inspires me so ~ Thank you for posting the pix, and NEVER be ashamed of anything. We are all simply human and there are only so many hours in each day. Your beds will shine again soon, I assure you ~ Sheri

And Carole - your plants are clearly very happpppppy plants. It's just that they don't clean up after themselves. Honestly, every garden I've looked at in the last month (with the exception of the more-mulch-than-plant beds in front of the starter castles down the road. And they don't count as gardens) has that winter-into-spring look.

Oh, Murmur - its lovely! And I think Steve's idea sounds great, and now you have a project for a work party - excellent! Take them up on it - I can guarantee this will be tonic for a tired soul! That is one fine bunch of gardeners - and they can move rocks! My guess is they can even supply some.

Carole, that is beautiful, and thank you for the pix on the willow its a go, would like to find a 6'er. If I can the cat. says 4' to 5' for $49.99 but I don't want to go that route. I want it NOW. got to check back with Heidi.

And I think work party needed, to make you and your yard happy again. Is so gorgeous, how bout we get a team together, just to prune and clean, while you are with Steve when he has his surgery, then he wont be stress, and you get to come to a happy garden. Just a thought.

Did anyone see one of the most pretties Rainbows today? I didnt have my camera like I always do, so I ran and got the stores it uses the same chip as mine. and got some pixs.

This shot looks like there is a moon in it

And this is the two of them

And a close up, don't know this camera as well as mine.
These when taken from the out side of my store in Lynnwood.

Katie have had the plants for 3+ years have not had any problems
Thanks They only eat food and stuffed animals. and Tyler gets into the kitty poo sometimes.

Tills ~ Thanks for the great pix! There was only a smidge of a bow when I was leaving workwork yesterday evening, a rectangle in amongst the dark clouds. I've always called that a "rainbow doorway" hoping that it leads to some magical land somewhere with, you know, unicorns, faeries, elves, etc.

Wonderful pictures, Tills!!! I expected a rainbow out this way, too, but it didn't really rain enough I guess to give us one.

Beautiful picture Mary!

Mummer, I have an obelisk exactly like yours. My BIL made if for me for Xmas one year. Patricia

Murmur,

I love the picture with the children in the sprinkler, what a grand picture/idea! Your picture of the weeping pussy willow has made me yearn for one, I just will need to find a place to stash it.
Am happy to see you are able to enjoy your time for right now. You are both in my thoughts and prayers each day!

Tills,

You have received a lot of ideas, all great! Since all of your areas look so fantastic I am sure this special area will too! I think you wanted a purple Liatris from me, so save a space for it!

What a collection of photos today! Really great! Rainbows and Liatris, does it get any better?

Nice refreshing pictures this am. It motivates me to finish my Tax prep and send it to the accountant. That moon is sure large tilly!
I am surviving with my cutting that are blooming in our house with the sun glaring on the emerging garden.

Thats is just what the doctor ordered Cocoa, for a spot there I haven't quite figured out. O the joy to see this come together, cant wait for the plants to be in place. Time all I need is Time !!!!

Sofer, I said I thought it was a moon, I don't know what it was, maybe a spirit, or a alien craft. It just showed up on the camera, I didn't see it with my eyes.

Nothing motivates me to finish my tax crap. I mean prep. Sorry.

I have not checked in on this thread for way too long! Too many posts to get through all of them so here are the main ideas for me:

Soferdig, Herriot was British. As far as I know there is no american counterpart. Plus, we're talking a completely different century with Herriot, as much as I love his stories and also the TV show that went with them. Excellent British fare! But you have an unusual job being a traveling vet. I'll bet there is a book in it, even if you got a ghost writer. There is always room for another book of heartwarming animal stories.

Tills, I love the pussy willow. They are so lovely that it's worth the upkeep in terms of suckering. How bad can it be? Cutting the suckers a couple times a year? I would vote for a simple statue of St. Francis. Classic and elegant. The patron saint of animals. Who could possibly object to it? Then you need him to be standing over a small water feature, nothing fancy, just maybe a little low birdbath with some color in it. Primroses spotting the area surrounding the birdbath in the early spring. I love the carex. Great plant for many places. No, I didn't buy it all. But it's a great color.

Laurie, yes we can supply some rocks if there is an empty, undeveloped site nearby. The rock liberation front can swing into action.

murmur, your gardens are divine! Just beautiful!

Pixy you are a dear, you just gave me the missing link, We have a St. Frances statue at work holding a gold plate ( you could put seeds or water in) I have been looking at it but couldn't make up my mine, you just did, I had forgotten who he was. and all those field trips in school visiting the missions in Calif. To young didn't penetrate. The picture is getting bigger.
Thank You

You see!! There is a method to my madness!! Perfect, tills!

see you at Rachs

Why are we still up? We are crazy. I am going to bed. I really mean it!

I got home at 11:30 I know why I'm up, But me to

Geeze Pixy you steal my idea and give it to Tils and take all the credit. I didn't know she was Catholic. I could have come up with the perfect statue. Though I wouldn't have made it funny. LOL

I'm not catholic, I just think he would fit better and for his love of animals.

Had a great day at Rach's, every muscle in my body hurts, haven't done that kind of work in a while. Got to meet Outta, Suziebell, Katie, NW, Rach's DH, and Mom & Dad, Pix's DH, And Katie59 which I have met before and of course Pixs, And of best of all was Rach's Fur babies, just love Scrappy. Wish I had room in the car I would of taken Tyler, they would of had a blast.
I'll post the pics I took on Rach's work party tread, when I get them down loaded.

The Day Lilies from Annie, just overwhelmed me. so many, but very happy and started a lily bed, mix with a couple of the Hell's from Heidi, and still going to add more.
This is the start, my Tiger Lily already there I move from another place hope it does better here than, where it was.
The first planted was 'my name' " Miss Mary Mary" JLI
On the right just behind the snail.

This message was edited Mar 9, 2008 8:27 PM

This is my helper and director 'Miss Sassy'

This is as far as I got today looking good. so far.
I know I got off the main part of the tread I started, but things happen and I don't have what I need for there yet. but It will come soon.