Oh, yes. Nothing compares to the scent of jasmine, wafting through a soft summer night...
need help starting over to get the cottage look going again
brigidlily,
There are some warm climate lilacs. Here is one: http://www.monrovia.com/learn/plant_catalog/detail.php?id=1319
From a Fine Gardening article: "Recent selections bred at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles do tolerate the heat and the lack of a chilling period. And lilacs grow on the campus of the University of California at Riverside. I'm told that one of the best cultivars there is my old favorite, the early-flowering S. X hyacinthiflora 'Excel'."
You can contact Descanso Gardens (owned by the City of Los Angeles) for more info on their program.
Karen
Dear W2B,
I'm so sorry for the loss of your house and the subsequent looting. I know close to exactly how you feel. We lost our family home in '72- Hurricane Agnes. The looters were even worse if that's possible. I have lots of butterfly and cottage garden seeds. I'll go through what I have and you can have whatever you'd like. No trade necessary. D-mail me your addy.
(((((Warmhugs))))),
Maggie
So sorry about the loss of your home and those awful people taking your stuff. There's a place for them....
I am collecting seeds now and will save you some. Zinnias, Mexican sunflower which the butterflies love.
Elaine
You are welcome to ANYTHING on my trade list-not trade necessary-it is extensive, so have fun shopping, just send me a dmail and let me know what you would like, I will send what I can this year, some may have to wait til spring...depending...
^_^Stacey
Want2bee what would you like? I haven't updated my trade list forever but I swear I have at least one of everything. I'm serious. At least my seed bag looks that way.
I think it would be easer for you to post your "wants" than for us to post our "haves." We would all be tickled to help out so you mustn't be shy about letting us know what you'd like to see in your new garden. For example if you post that you would love to have some black and blue salvia I can say, "Me! Me! I have black and blue salvia!" LOL @ my exuberance.
Don't you know that gardeners are the most giving people on earth? There's very little they enjoy more than their own garden unless it's sharing it's bounty with some one else. ;-)
Or if you want some candy lilies or malva or coreopsis (3 kinds) I can say "OOO pick me, I have those!!"
Thank-you all so much!!!!
here's an update, after the bushes under the big window are gone and new bed, 3 loads of fill dirt and the shutters added...
Oh, keep us posted. I think we're all going to be very happy.
Purdy.. that looks like some good black dirt.
Looking good, your DH was right about the shutters. Are you still going to buff up the column too? Nice to see the bushes gone and a bed there.
Looks better:) Good job so far:)
want2bee - Bless you! I am so very sorry for your trials! You are making amazing progress - we are all very proud of you! I agree that if disaster struck our home, the FIRST place I would want to be is outside! It gives such peace to the weary soul to just rest in the beauty of nature, & flowers, especially, can brighten my day anytime! Am looking around for things I have - will list them later! Prayers & blessings for you, dear! Samantha
Want2be: I have Christopher Lloyd's book on cottage gardening and they all feature climbing roses heavily around doors and windows, so you might consider incorporating a couple of them around the door arbor if you add one, certainly around any porch pillars you may add. Sorry to be late, but just found this thread. Sorry about your misfortune, but you've made amazing progress. Please keep us up to date.
Want2be: Check out the Garden Trellis thread on this site. There is a link to Westvalley Roses that is amazing, just what I'm talking about in my previous post.
If Gardenia does well in your area , one of them is wonderful near the porch or walkway..Each year when mine blooms it is wonderful and just one can scent a room + people love to be handed a fresh Gardenia.
I wish you well and admire your courage and stamina. Your determination to overcome this tragedy is inspiring.
Aww, Want2Bee, I was in Cedar Rapids at the Iowa RU this spring, and my heart just broke over and over watching the flood progress on the news, and thinking of all the wonderful people I'd met, and garden centers I'd visited. I know how much time and love (and sweat, and money!) people invest in their gardens, and I really feel for you! Your garden was so lovely!
I'd love to send you some seeds to help you get started again! From your list above, I have Oriental poppies (flaming red-orange!), foxglove (both raspberry with maroon patches, and white with maroon patches, seed is mixed together), and zinnias (Will Rogers, a very full intense red, and Magellan Swirls Mixed, both from Jung seed). I have some of the other plants, too, but haven't collected seed yet.
I also have lots of peachleaf bellflower seed. It wasn't in your list, but is such a pretty, cottage-y plant!
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/35/
Some folks posted that it was almost invasive in their gardens, but I haven't found that to be the case at all. I'd be happy to have this one spread! I've had it for 3 years in my butterfly garden, and still only have the original two plants. Then again, I've been happily collecting seed, so maybe haven't given it opportunity to self-seed.
Is your address in the exchange? If not, D-mail me if you are interested in any of the above!
(((hugs))) and much admiration for the way you're jumping in and starting fresh!
Angie
I would love to have a a few of the seeds that you mentioned sharing with "want2be" in rebuilding her garden. I have only had a woodland shade garden here and just this year have begun to try "sun" gardening , which i guess is cottage gardening. I want flowers that will attract hummingbirds and butterflies and that I can cut from to bring inside, or gift to a friend or make Tussie- Mussies.
Whether you care to share with me or not, I hope you have a blessed day and enjoy wonderful gardening !!
Sheri
Hi want2bee,
Just came across this thred and read about your loss of your lovely gardens. I have a Cottage Garden with many of the flowers you are wanting. I would be more then happy to provide you with seed and "babies". Not sure if the time is right for now to put in "babies" as they would need a time to establish. If you think they would survive, please let me know, and I will get out there today and start digging. In the mean time I can send seed which you can put into the ground now and perhaps save some for spring planting as well.
This is what I have available in seed that I can think of off the top of my head, I know if I go look, there will be alot more......
Morning Glory - (Grandpa Otis)
4 - Clocks (hot pink)
Nicotinia (sylvestris)
Rose Mallow
Purple Cone Flower
Shasta Daisy
Black eye susan
Perenial Sweet Pea
Sea Holly
Moon Flower
zinnia
Sun Flower
Hollyhock
This is what I can send you in live plants (babies), off the top of my head, and again, I know once I take a walk thru my gardens, I will find more....
Shasta DAisy
Black Eye Susan
Phlox
Veronica (both white and purple)
Iris (mixed colors)
Sedem
Hosta
Bee Balm
Snow on the Mountain (this is a ground cover)
Spurge (this is a ground cover as well)
Hollyhock
Columbine
Chedda Pinks
Just "D" mail me, and let me know what you would like......but hurry if your wanting the live plants, as time is running out here.......
Good Luck!!! and Happy Gardening!!
Deann
PS: I invite you to view my flowers on Webshots
http://community.webshots.com/user/deannmi
Sorry if I haven't gotten back to you... things around here have been crazy..
Our Father has been sick and passed away, so this is the first I have been on in a awhile...
Dear W2B,
I'm so sorry about your father's passing. It seems when it rains, it pours and you certainly have had your share. We will keep your Dad in our thoughts.
Maggie
Sorry about the loss of your Father. Prayers for your family to have strength to get through the holiday period.
want2bee
I think its too late for me to send you babies, however I will mail out seed which can be planted now or in spring. Come spring, can you d-mail me to remind me I offered you babies, and I will get them to you.
Deann
W2B, so sorry to hear about your father! This has been a rough year! You've got my prayers, and the offer is still open for seeds, whenever you feel ready to think about that. The seeds will keep!
Poor honey. Big hugs to you.
Want2Be: My sympathy on your father's passing. Next year just has to be a better and brighter one for you.
Hugs,
Angie
So sorry to hear of your Dad's passing. Am saving seeds for you for spring.
Hugs,
Elaine
w2b - any new projects this past month?
Want to bee have you noticed the fall frenxy piggy swap you are welcome to come on over and make any requests you'd like. We are all donating seeds to storm victims so you wouldn't need any seeds to offer. It would just be fun for you to be able to pick stuff out you'd really like to try. : )
Good thinking, Meredith!
Yes, please join us! Get your wish list posted on the "lists" thread, and jump right into the main swap thread to let us know you're there and to ask people for seeds you'd like to try.
Here's the first post for the swap, with the guidelines: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=5776678
Here's the "lists" thread: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/923393/
Here's the current discussion thread: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/923858/
Thanks for the offers, I'm not sure where we are headed!!!!!!!!!!
We went to close on the house and found out that it's a big mess around here. They have our land in a building association and they have VERY strict covandants....in the short of it all, we are the old farm stead and these 500,000.00 homes around us want us GONE, so they can bull doze this place and build a fancy place. So we have NO idea what we are going to do...How 6 people can run other peoples lives is amazing! We wanted to add on to the house and update the front, but they won't let us! 2 arces and can't do nothing but mow it!!!!
and in the middle of all of this our brother in law took his life 2 weeks ago.....
I WILL BE SO GLAD WHEN 2008 IS OVER!!!!
Thanks for letting me vent!!!
Want2Bee: Sincere sympathy on your BIL's death. Hang on tight to God's promise to walk with you through this.
Hugs,
Angie
Oh Want2Bee,
I'm SO sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and your family.
Did you close on the house anyway? I feel for you in the housing department. I can't imagine mowing 2 acres of ecological damaging grass.
Maggie
You're in my prayers, want2bee
Wow, this has been a horrid year, hasn't it? I am so sorry about your BIL, and so soon after your father, too! Hugs and prayers coming your way!
No, we haven't signed the final papers....I guess if there was a blessing to all of this, it's we didn't find this out AFTER we had closed....
They say God doesn't give us more than we can handle, but I'll tell you what, I know I am at my breaking point......
I need my flowers and dirt under my finger nails to cope, and it's sooooo cold out and snow!
Thank God for that! At least in this market, you can get a better price than you could have even 6 weeks ago.
Mother Teresa once said she wished God didn't trust her quite so much. I will pray for you and your family if that's OK?
Maggie
I (and my husband) need all the prayers we can get....thank you