Funny--how they just evolve from the main rib of the leaf and come out the edge of it.....
These are just beginning....looks like ALL these will open about the same time. What a show THAT will be!!!!
Spring Projects - Show Us Yours!
Here is the full size of it hanging on the pole.....The pot it is in is barely 6" big...
The other one is my Ric Rac cactus......Also pretty big!
Gita, that epi is stunning! How big is the flower? It looks huge.
Sally, I want to find a buddy who gives me stones. LOL
Mushroom soil? I don't know what it is but it sounds wonderful. I'll have to post a photo of some of the rocks I dug up while I was planting the begonias last week. One is so big I'm trying to figure out how to make it into a garden seat.
I'm always finding old broken pottery bits in that area too so I guess it was where trash was dumped long ago.
Hart---The blooms are about 4" across and last about 2 days......then they decline.....
I do not, ever, pull them off....i think that is an understood "No--No".....I just let them fall off whenever they decide to.,.....
Here is a better shot from last year.....
And--LOVE this sideways shot--it looks soooo translucent! My fave!
Wow! Love that color. They're spectacular.
Wow hart, that's a lot of digging, great job! Years ago we planted some Dahlias from Walmart and they were gorgeous. Alas, like you, not hardy here and even though we tried to winter them over in the basement we were unsuccessful. I picked up some lovely dark leaved Dahlias from Kim's the day after Mother's Day but was disappointed when I got them home and read the label - they're only supposed to get 15" tall :( They're pretty regardless but I was hoping for something bigger, MUCH bigger! I'm afraid now that the plants I planted in front of them as an edger might swallow them by the end of the summer.
Gita, your Epi is beautiful! I think it's similar, if not the same one, that one of the vendors is always selling at the shows we attend. They're incredible and she sells out of them every year!
I haven't been posting much this week, I'm frantically trying to get lists together for the design of my daughter's garden! Hopefully I'll have my plan of attack done by the first of the week and can relax with DG in the mornings before leaving next Friday!!! I'll be taking lots of photos and will report back with what I was able to accomplish in a week. I've been looking at the video she sent me and I've got my work cut out for me :( The good news is my youngest son, the "strong" one, is pretty sure he can spend the WHOLE week with me and I'll definitely appreciate his help! LOL
Rcn, you will have a wonderful trip and I am very much looking forward to seeing what you accomplish.
I finally have something new to talk about my bathtub pond project started maybe 2 years ago is almost complete. Jamie came over last night and plumbed it for me. Now the project is back in my hands. All I need to do is dig the new bed that the tub will sit in and plant. Whoopee If it stops raining I should have it done by early next week. Not to mention that many of the plants sitting in the drive way will move in to that bed. My Dahlias for one will go out there.
I finally have a day off from work, but alas it is raining again so I doubt I'll get to any of my ongoing projects. At least the rain does give me a chance to sit down and catch up on DG. I haven't been to this thread in a while - all the projects are looking good...
Hart, your new dahlia bed is off to a good start. I know how much work it is to get rid of weeds and amend the soil LOL. I'm not familiar with dahlias, and I don't think I've ever even seen one except for in pictures.
Stormy, you have a big job ahead of you with that white fence, but I know you'll make it look B-E-Utiful - even with the bird poo :-). Look how nice ladygardener's white fence turned out!
Sally, I'm partial to stone of all kinds in the landscape - take all the "leftovers" you can get - what you did with the first batch of slate is so creative and turned that bench area into a really inviting spot.
Doc, nice pergola!!!
Gita, you always amaze me with the success you have with the mechanics of growing things - you do have the knack, that epi is so pretty.
Rcn, I always look forward to your posts, and really enjoy seeing how your projects are progressing. I like the disappearing fountain, and I LOVE the hat - agree with the others, definitely take it with you on your upcoming trip. Can't wait to see what you get done at your daughter's new house.
Debbie, the ones you find already leafed out at the garden shops are always the short ones. This is the only place I know where you can still find tubers for the big ones and today is the last day they're taking order. The dahlia folks say they're an excellent source.
http://www.dahlias.com/
I like the monster ones with 10-12 inches flowers. Look for the ones that say AA (biggest) or A size. They'll get 4-5 feet tall. The flower sizes progress down - BB would be the next bigger size, then B and so on.
Debbie, this looks like a pretty good deal. Five of the big ones for $25 something. All good, named varieties.
http://www.dahlias.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=317 They have some other collections too.
You might be able to find a few tubers at Lowes, HD or Walmart too. Our Walmart got no dahlias and in fact very few summer bulbs this year. When I checked, all they had were elephant ears and onions. Not kidding, that's what the girl included in summer bulbs when I asked. LOL
Holly, can't wait to see your bathtub project. And Aspen I hope you're enjoying your day off even if you can't get out and dig in the dirt.
This message was edited Jun 5, 2009 12:44 PM
Here's the Hyacinth Bean vine I bought to start covering that fence. I really like the purple stems and it smells pretty good. PF says it's easy to repropogate and will grow up to 20'.
stormy---AND--the beans ARE edible!
I'm just sprouting some hyacinth bean seeds to plant in a big pot with trellis where my sweet peas aren't doing much... I got a couple of fun varieties from Garden Store & More... will save seeds (unless I eat them all!), although since I'm planting them together they might be crossed.
Thanks for posting your projects, they are sure giving me incentive to go home and work in my garden! I'm currently at my daughters in Woodbury, NJ helping her our with my new grandaughter, Grace Emma so I'm not totally unhappy, LOL! I know that my welcome is going to be wearing out - hopefully she will get some good news from her GP on Monday and I will not be needed. She is having problems with high blood pressure before delivery and now still, almost 3 weeks later. Plus she has had a headache that never goes away, poor kid. The OB/GYN had her on BP meds but that didn't help, then she was put on water pills which did help reduce the swelling in her legs and feet. Anyway, the baby is doing well and looks to this proud grandma as if she has already started to plump up!
On the topic of Dahlias, I love the dark, dark Thomas Edison ones - the plants get really tall, about 3-4 feet and the flowers are dinner plate sized!
Oh and Gita, I have to tell you my baby wintersweets are doing well - at first I had confused them with the 4 o'clock seedlings but now they have gotten their second leaves and are growing slowly but surely. I have to confess that they are well travelled - I didn't trust my DH to take care of them properly, so when I left my home 2 weeks ago, the seedlings travelled here to NJ with me!
Jil,, I've tried hyacinth beans seeds but for some reason the seedlings all disappear, do you know if rabbits or deer like them?
Have a good weekend everyone!
I'm sure rabbits and deer like them or any kind of "bean." sometimes it helps to start plants in cups/pots and plant them out after they have some size to them... young and tender seedlings get slug-munched, too.
I'm glad you're having fun with your new granddaughter... hope her mom starts feeling better! LOL@ traveling seedlings.
Terri, hope your daughter is feeling better soon, did she have an epidural? I'm sure she really appreciates the help.
dragonfly, now that's dedication, taking seedlings with you!
My 'edging stone' turned out to be 21 pieces of red concrete-edging with scallop on the top, about 24 inches long by 6 inches. Umm, not what I had in mind for stone edging, I was hoping for natural stone.. But I took it and laid it flat for a mowing strip. Mark will like that better than the rocks I had in that area.
hart, thanks for the link but I'm going to pass on buying any more Dahlias this year :) I've got way too many plants to get in the ground and I've still got to get my containers planted before I leave next Friday! Then I need to keep my fingers crossed that Rick does a good job watering them while I'm away :(
Ditto to hart, Holly I can't wait to see the bathtub project!
Terri, what rotten luck - a day off and all that rain :( I will say we needed it though - I was actually watering some of the gardens earlier in the week because they were getting so dry, even after all the rain we've received this spring!
Stormy, healthy looking Hyacinth Bean! I just planted one and it's scraggly compared to yours! Actually Rick planted it for me :( He got tired of looking at it in the pot and planted it in the deck planter where I intended to use it. It's in the wrong spot but at least it's planted! LOL
Dragonfly, congrats on your new granddaughter :) I hope your daughter is feeling well soon and you can return to VA with your "seedlings"! Now there's a thought, I could take my newly planted containers with me and I wouldn't have to worry about Rick taking good care of them while I'm gone! LOL
Not one of "my" spring projects actually but we spent the morning yesterday planting for a 'friend' :) We had major problems with our truck when we were traveling this spring and were fortunate to find an incredible service station right off 81 in Mint Springs (just below Staunton). Long story short, the owner, Jim, has been amazing and has got us back on the road in no time flat. No pun intended, but there was one of the "episodes" which involved a flat tire! LOL We wanted to thank him in some way for his generosity (he's been MORE than fair!) and told him we'd come back at the end of the season and plant the 18' raised brick bed next to the station when things slowed down for us. I dropped my van off earlier in the week for servicing before my long trip and went back yesterday to pick it up and get the bed planted with a variety of Hostas and a Japanese Maple. The soil in the bed was beautiful and everything should be very happy there :) BUT, get this! Our intention was to repay him for his generosity with the planting and then when I tried to pay the bill for servicing my van, he wouldn't accept it and even filled the van with gas! I don't know how this man makes any money, he's too darned good to his customers. So....for anyone traveling up or down I-81, if you need gas, stop off at Exit 217 and see Jim at the Liberty station and tell him RCN sent you :) It's the least I can do for him by sending a little business his way!
I am the proud owner of a Hyacinth Bean Vine. There was one on the raffle table at my HGHA picnic and it came home with me along with several other very nice plants. Guess I will have to read up on them before I get it planted.
Terri, I'll bet you're having a big old time with that brand new grandbaby! Give Grace Emma a big smooch for us. I hope your daughter is feeling better soon. Most of the dahlias I planted are the big, dinnerplate sized ones. I like the big ones.
Debbie, I understand Holly's bathtub will include a topiary of Sally. LOL
OMG,ROFLOL Hart that is soooo true that is why I have a new interest in topiary. Must get Sallys measurements to assure accuracy. LOL
Sally exactly how long are those legs?
I was told in high school I would make a nice bean pole.
I can laugh, now!
Congrats, Terri, on that new grandbaby! They ARE such a joy. You are only about 20 miles north of me right now. Hugs to your daughter, and hope she is feeling better soon.
HMMM........... I will have to look into hyacinth bean for next year.
RCN, I think your vehicle will be full of 'goodies' with no room for the containers.^_^
Go for it, Holly! It will amuse the heck out of us and confuse all your neighbors. LOL
Jan, you're absolutely right - I just have to make sure to leave room for Phoebe :)
Holly, I'll be waiting to see how you figure out how to get that "pose" of Sally in the tub! LOL
I've been pondering what to do with the outside edge of my road side bed for 2 years. Finally I've taken action after seeing a similar planting in another forum. The traffic whips by here at 45 to 50 mph and the road wind & dust is non stop. Also, there is a tremedous amount of regular wind that comes through here. In the spring I find that most of the fall's mulch from here has been blown into the bed.
This is 150' x 6'. I planted 16 Blue Rug Juniper, 25 Purple Ice Plant, 15 Golden Ice Plant, 16 Iberis, 20 Sedum Red Dragon, 25 Sedum Gold Star Creeper and 15 Sedum Angelina. There are Mums, about 50 of them, planted in the upper section, from last year.
I have some other ground covers that I could add here, but I want to wait a bit and see how these do. They are Creeping Jenny & Creeping Thyme. It is very dry out there and it is difficult to get the sprinklers and hoses out there.
This message was edited Jun 10, 2009 12:09 AM
First I had to edge it to try to keep the soil in. There was only about a 1' path of sidewalk uncovered when I moved here. It has take me 4 years to completely clear it. Each year the weeds try to take it back. But this is the first year that I completely cut into the house side of the sidewalk.
Here I've finally cut enough overgrowth away that the edge of the sidewalk is clear, or was before all this debris blew in. The daily trash and cigarette butt accumulation along here is just delightful!
This section between the sidewalk and the street was 1' of dirt and weeds above the level of the sidewalk. I've been putting about 10 bags of dirt out in the bi-weekly trash since the early fall. The soil is really no good for anything. It is full of road salt and smells like car exhaust. I'm still not finished this and new weeds are moving in up by the corner where I started.
150' feet are done. Another 100 ' to go. When it's all done, I will lay sod down here.
There had been Iris planted between all of these trees but this year half of them didn't come back. Don't know if it was the voles or if the shredded leaf mulch that I put down was too heavy and rotted them. There are a bunch of Iris under my River Birch that I want to move back over here to fill in the missing ones.
This is what it looked like when I first put the mums in last year. All but about 5 came back. I don't understand why people have trouble growing mums. Mostly they just want miserable conditions and to be neglected.
I have 8 large clumps of Stella D'Oro that will need to be divided this fall. I may plant some of them up by the trees behind the mums. There are also a ton of King Alfred Daff's in my shrub bed that need thining so I may put them over here as well.
Hope this all get's finished very soon. I'm tired of lugging dirt to the trash.
I have a nice assortment of rocks in my rock pile. Until this fills in, I may put some of the rocks out there to mimic a rock garden look. I may try again in the fall to plant some Creeping Phlox out here and see if it will survive.
Looks very nice, Stormy.
Your irises didn't come back because they're planted too deep and you should never mulch them - the rhizomes rot. Bearded irises should be planted so the rhizomes are sitting on the soil. Like this (scroll down to #6.) They need a lot of sun and fairly dry soil.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/123/
I know thats what they say on Iris, but mine refuse to keep their rhizomes on top. Maybe they sink in my sandy based soil.
stormyla you are one hard workin' gal. I've wondered if it would be fun to tackle a fixer upper landscape.
OMG Stormyla, you make me feel like a slacker. Must go out and work harder. Between you and RCN, I know I am falling behind. LOL
That is a tremendous amount of road frontage, I know I am spoiled I can fill up my trailer and dump dirt and debris any number of places. Not to mention just burn anything that I don't want. Makes it so much easier. I will say that your garden is a beautiful one so all your hard work shows.
Hart, Those Iris were not planted deeply. They were growing on top of the soil. They came back the prior 2 years. Either the voles got them or the leaf mulch from outside the tree line blew up on them and settled there smothering them. This was the first time that I ever applied a fall mulch.
Sally, it has been fun & a great learning process with MANY challenges and just a lot of hard work.
Holly, Thank you. My garden is nowhere near where I want it to be, but it is coming along. No burning allowed here. I also reclaimed the front of the house sidewalk. That was only 150', but I did not have to dig the street side strip up. It is only about 4" higher than the sidewalk and has grass growing on it. On the side of the house, it is the snow plows that pile all of that salt & stuff up. It's a main thorofare and gets quick & repeated salting and plowing..
Sorry, looked like the rhizomes were buried in the photo. I was hoping it would be something simple like planting them too deep. Darned voles.
What incredible gardens. My garden club friends call me the ever ready gardener....
This is my clean slate from last year....
Janet
It is on the right side (brick side of the house) this year.
Janet
