I should really adhere to some sort of schedule for posting. I'm still in major destruction mode. Yesterday I focused on the area directly outside our front room. *What makes a room a parlor? Greeting guests? Anywhoo (I did smash that snail attached to the lid of the green bin).
After, removed 2 very leggy Salvia and a huge cluster of Crinum. They were nice, but I'm trying to consider things that have mostly year round interest. I can make exceptions on things beloved. More open space than I thought it would be!
From a different angle, as you walk up to the front door. This angle doesn't show the now empty area as well.
Attempt at a close-up of one of the Pseudopanax crassifolius. *The best thing about having your house painted is there are no spiderwebs (for a very short period of time). I had to wipe a bunch of webs off for the picture. I wonder if there is some sort of feather duster for outdoors to remove sticky webs?
The Begonias (the upper one is boliviensis 'Santa Cruz Sunset') and Psoralea pinnata 'Kool-AidBush' growing behind it got a temporary stay because they look nice at the moment. You can see the horrible slug/snail damage on the hosta on the ground. I need to throw handfuls of Sluggo all around.
And what is to go in the new empty area? Well I was thinking on it and reminded myself I have a stash of plants waiting, waiting for me in the back. Some good options, but I think I'll put in this Cyathea medullaris, black tree fern from Ivan. It's been in the shade house for a few months, I couldn't find the right spot for it to shine. If I position it correctly, it will be shaded by the house and somewhat protected from wind. And room to spread her wings.
I'm not planting anything quite yet, I want to add/amend soil. So around the corner I went to battle, part 2 on the Alstroemeria. Alstroemeria is nice, just not this one. It's an ugly sickly color and spreads like fire.
It was exhausting, honestly. All those snappy little tubers in the heavy clay soil there. I'm sure there are more hiding, but I felt like I got 952 roots & tubers out. Done for the day, I headed back inside to shower to go out for dinner to celebrate J & I's 30th wedding anniversary.
*copy of photo after the wedding, Blue Lake in Fairview, OR October 1995 in the back of a friend's convertible. *Or her Dad's if I remember right.
And promptly scratched my eye (taking out a contact lense) and couldn't open my eye so we cancelled our dinner reservations. I also slammed my finger in the door. lol, typical. Our anniversary isn't until mid-week so no biggie.
Tomorrow I get to do a fun thing! Ivan's good buddy,
David Neumaier is having an open garden- to be followed by a visit to the gardens of Ann Nichols and Marcia Donahue (wow). I've wanted to see both of their gardens for quite some time, and I'm thrilled for it. Plus visiting David's garden again is reason enough to celebrate. Have a nice weekend!
Happy Anniversary! And what a fun day you're gonna have, it's like Gerhard and my adventure in reverse (instead of ending at David's). I look forward to photos! As for your demolition project, looking at the photos had me remembering how hard it is to work new plantings into an area that also has older plants. It's so much easier to just take a scorched earth approach and start over completely--but then again who wants to get rid of happy mature plants. Ugh. (love that tree fern!)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I just reread both your and Gerhard's recaps of those 3 gardens. *I'm really wondering what that vegetable garden area looks like now! And you're so right - theres a part of me that wants everything out. It's hard to think. I'm excited about the tree fern, I'm glad I didn't rush and put it in the back. I think it will be great in the front.
DeleteHappy anniversary! You look beautiful in your post wedding photo. My husband and I were married by a traffic court judge, telling no one beforehand (which didn't go especially well with our families), but I do regret that have I don't have a single photo...
ReplyDeleteYou're on a tear in your garden. I'm on something of one too. I consider it the effect of slightly cooler temperatures after a long stretch of miserable heat. I also have a long list of projects and still manage to complicate just about every one of them by discovering new things I need to take care of at the same time.
Have fun with your garden visits tomorrow!
Thank you Kris! Oh, I wish you did have a photo. lol @ family drama! Our wedding was small, and so very inexpensive compared to what people do now. I did the planters of flowers, my mom sewed a a black edging on white cotton squares for the candle centerpieces.
DeleteI relate to your finding new issues at every turn! We're both in the middle of it. *Better than being stuck inside ;)
I'm looking forward to the gardens- wish you were all going too.
Wow, a lot of plants.
ReplyDeleteOr not nearly enough, hahaha!
DeleteMy 30th is this month, too. You do not look old enough to be married 30 years, unless you were in pre-school.
ReplyDeleteRe-working an area is always satisfying--when it is completed. The process can be tiring, hope it is fun for you.
Fabulous gardens to visit --enjoy!
Happy Anniversary! A great month to get married in California. It poured rain the morning of ours, thankfully it cleared in time for the reception and we could be outside. Yes, I was 3 and he was 4. hahahaha! Actually 29, which feels like preschool now.
DeleteI'm having fun, but struggling with blending new/old - but happy to be working out there!
Thanks!
You mentioned hostas. Ours had a pretty good year. whatever Sue did to discourage munchers, worked pretty well. We’ll have to cut them down soon. They get mushy if we leave them too long.
ReplyDeleteI have Sluggo Plus sitting on the porch for me to scatter, Sue was on it!
DeletePerhaps you should invent a way to take out spider webs quickly. It'd make a mint ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary. Your garden is coming along nicely. Sorry about your injuries.
Ha ha, yes - the webs are so thick & sticky yuck!
DeleteHappy Anniversary and many more to come. You haven't changed... still that unmistakable winning smile.
ReplyDeleteGarden bed renovations can be tasking but there is joy in the planning and seeing it come together, even if takes awhile to get past the teenage-awkward phase :-D
Aren't you concerned with Pseudopanax crassifolius being so close to the house? They can get 18'-20' tall (eventually).
I love that planted up 'rain chain'. So sweet. I should consider do ing the same with mine.
Chavli
Thank you Chavli! I like what you said abut the teenage-awkward phase, it's totally true. The Pseudopanax crassifolius trio are in a corten steel planter, so I can move/relocate them in the future. They are growing faster than I thought they would. The rain chains were fun, we don't really get much rain - but they still work as designed when we do!
DeleteHappy Anniversary, take care of you... goodness me. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing a photo of the cat. ;-) I have wondered what the Doc has been up too.
Ha ha, I love that you spotted Dr. - he does follow me around to keep me in check in "his" garden.
DeleteI do love your garden but I can see it quite a challenge as you continue to remodel it/ What a bummber about your anniversary dinner. Hope your eye repaired itself quickly. Ouch
ReplyDeleteMy eye was better by the next morning, thank you! I'm kinda getting into the redo now. Finally!
DeleteAw, Happy Belated Anniversary! Ugh - eye trauma. Just got my first subconjunctive hemorrhage yesterday and it ain't pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jerry. OH NO your eye! I hope it's healing and clearing up quickly.
Delete