Theresa

As you can see, it's very BLAH around the porch. I spent last year building the other beds & neglected this one. LOL
I plan to build an arbor over the front steps, and plant some clematis to grow on it. As for the rest of the bed on either side...I have NO CLUE! LOL Something with color, although MONO, definitely....to attract attention AWAY from the horrid blue/red/pink/tan porch! LOL
This area gets partial sun, only in the afternoon/evening, so I need to plan around that. ANY ideas or suggestions are welcome!!

The front door is soon to be replaced, we're going with wood. I've also been begging for screen doors, old fashioned wooden ones. I was told that *maybe* I'd get some this summer. (keeping my fingers crossed) It's more for ventilation than anything, since we have 39 windows in this house & 5 outside doors, we get a pretty good breeze through here and hardly have to use the AC. But, I think screen doors just add a homey look to a county place as well. LOL

The porch itself....UGH...that's a mess. It's covered in lead paint, so there isn't a safe way to remove it and calling in a professional is WAY beyond our means. So we need to seal it, but aren't quite sure how to do that either. I've said....just build a wooden porch OVER the darn thing & forget it! LOL Probably not the BEST solution...but hey, I'm lazy. :O)

Where are everyone else's projects for the summer? I can't be the ONLY one with something to keep me busy! :O)

Here is the front with our only tree.

This is my Burdock patch next to the garage where the dog kennel will be (almost got that done)

They considered this the "steps" off the back deck

This is off the other side of the deck out back, there IS a fence there, well at least what is left of it!

This is the dirt I get to work with! That is after 5 straight days of heavy rain!

I've got some stuff cleaned up, I'll have to get some "during" pics up

But, there are some pretty things here too

My view off the back deck

Babies living under the front porch

wandering out in the field

Wish me luck!!!!

I'll try not to put so many pics up next time!!

Vic

Vic

I did not join the other RR thread but, is this for the contest? And are those who did not enter in the RR aloud to enter here?

I wish I could have joined the RR, but I am a newbie and do not have that many plants :(

I don't know what happen to the tag on photo bucket so will just send the link to it ,
besides with this slow dial up I canot open this up to see all the pictures many pictures will not load for me . so missing out on them .

vic maybe next time just do 2 pictures at a time
then they will load for me to see also :)
i cannot get the last 3 to come in for me .
maybe next time :))

well you all have a greay day .
susie

Remy, ya, I've seen some recipes for Burdock! If it wasn't so expensive, I would start by marinating them in gasoline! :o LOL!

I am going to TRY and concentrate on ONE area, I have a very hard time doing that, I have very little patience and want it all done NOW! I did find out that I can get free compost from the landfill! WhooHOOO!!! But it has been too cold and windy here to get outside! Yesterday was a record low 34! Today we are getting 50mph wind and rain, and it has been raining almost everyday!

I did get some stuff done, the burdock was weed wacked down (already coming back!) got the weeds/tumbleweed raked up and that old rusty fence down. The tree got a trimming, and got a few plants in the ground, if it stops raining I will take pics.

Susie, sorry for the pics! I will try to figure out how to make them smaller, I know ther is a way, just don't remember right now!

You guys haven't seen the WORST side of the house yet! It is way overgrown with weeds and grass, I don't think anyone has cut or weed wacked it for yrs! I don't even GO on that side! It will have to wait. And the thought of the place needing to be painted! UHG!! I'm just going to try tall plants for now and worry about that later! LOL

~ If it wasn't so expensive, I would start by marinating them in gasoline! ~

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA Thats how I feel about it to! :)

You do have a beautiful view and it looks like you have plenty to keep you busy. LOL

I will post pictures of where I plan to put my 'name' garden. I had a place all picked out but may be changing my mind. I have a raised bed that I did a couple years ago for annuals and my daughter used it last year but I think it would be a great place for perinals - will have to think about it some more.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Marie

Here is before . I Think I have figured out how to post the pictures :))

will post a finished product when I can get it finished after the rain :)

good night ALL
susie

OH MARIE I can see the pictures now very nice they are coming in ok :) .
I hope you got my note letting you know your box will be going to your PO BOX ADDY .

best of luck with it

Susie

Shirley

Anyway, I liked the idea of Hydrangeas around the front. Since my Endless Summer is blooming beautifully today, I thought is would look good there too! (Of course, so would Annabelle or any of several others.) Here's my effort:

I happen to like blue and think I would leave that porch blue, though more on the gray side than it seems to be now (and I'd paint the foundation the same color). Since orange is the complete contrast of blue, I would use a deep, persimmon/terra cotta/or such on the front door.

After editing the picture and looking at it again, I wonder about your style, Melissa... I think this porch might look even prettier with a tall grass or 2 at the corners, anchoring a layered bed that included some orange daylilies and blue-blooming plants instead of hydrangeas.

Good luck on whatever you decide! (And I hope you're feeling better.) Pat

I do like the look of hydrangeas. I actually planted 2 last year (on either sides of the steps, both were red), but they didn't make it. Now that I know what they will look like....hmmmm....that will definitely go into the possibility file!

Thanks for giving me a great idea, Pat!! :O)

You know, computer monitors and photo editing play havoc with color nuances but in the picture, I think your brick seemed to pick up blue tones nicely. I think if you painted the porch just "gray", it would look a bit bland. I went back and re-read your earlier post about purchasing a new wood door. Assuming you're going to stain/seal the wood, I'm sure whatever it is would look pretty with blue/gray too.

As for the hydrangeas, like I said, mine is blooming so prettily right now (after 3 years!) that I am just taken with it today. My very favorite hydrangea is the Limelight but it would get too large for your space, which is why I was thinking Annabelle. I also have Oakleaf Hydranges, which are supposed to get to 6' but at my house they've never topped 4'... If they would do the same for you, they might be nice there. From your photo, I'd guess that your porch floor is only about 2' off the ground. I like the idea of something that comes a little above the porch to add a bit of privacy if you're sitting out there.

Does your style align most with the "cottage" look? If you want to play up the arts & crafts style of your house (if it even IS that style (I can't tell with certainty)) I think taller, more willowy, plants with more movement would be gorgeouse. (More about foliage than bloom.)

Here we're embarking on our own house overhaul. As you've probably seen me mention before, we're (DH and I) finishing up our pool and flagstone this year. Next month the contractor will arrive to build a garage for us. Next spring we will have a new roof put on the house. Next summer dh and I will replace siding & windows. We'll form a new driveway (pavers) but a contractor will actually pour and finish the concrete. I'll work out the new front landscape next fall. Finally, whenever time allows, we'll convert the now-1-car-garage into a "master suite". Then, we rest! Here's my photoshop before and after:

Poof!

Pat

Yes, our house is very cottage-y. We're out in the country, surrounded by trees, farms, cows & various other animals too. That would be why I"m mainly growing roses & daylilies, everything else looks too formal with the house. Hubby liked your hydrangea idea...he loves "something thick in flowers" for the front porch area. I was thinking about Azaleas, also? How do you think those would look?
We're going to hit some sales at local nurseries in the next few weeks, to try to spiffy up the place a bit...the gardening bug has bit hubby pretty hard this year.
He's wanting to take out the lawn entirely and replace it with "edible" gardens! He actually wolfed down 3 daylily buds today, simply to see what they tasted like - I told him they were edible. (BTW, the yellow ones are the sweetest, followed by the red...oranges are a tad bitter) LOL

Pat,
Wonderful job with the photoshopping!
Remy

Susie, I think you are in the lead in our before/after contest! Wow! That's incredible.

Okay, here is our LAST YEAR's before/after project. Of course we didn't dig and install the pool but we did do the deck rail, benches, and border area around it. Having an in-ground pool has been the realization of a dream for me. Now I can actually garden all summer despite Florida's heat and humidity.

Okay, here's part of the pool process. The boys were helping haul away chunks of clay and rocks that the machines had dug up and left behind. Who knew that we had clay in Florida!?

Maverick was very anxious to swim....

And this was yesterday...

I have no huge projects planned for this year. I do have a few small ones in mind but we'll see. Earlier this year I did add this "wall" to behind this area to anchor it and screen the area behind it where DH keeps his ugly trailer.

I planted some blue point junipers on each side of my garage door and they take full sun and are slow growing so I have been happy with those. I have the yellow-gold lantana and some daylilies in those beds. Also trying a few of the short sunflowers in there this year, but they have not bloomed yet, so we will see how that goes.
I think red geraniums would look beautiful in containers on your porch... maybe so they are on each side of those columns. I also can see some panels of lattice board painted white allowing vines to grow in front of some sections of the porch. Maybe you could grow morning glories or clematis (or pole beans and green peas on them?) As you can see, I have lots of ideas. Not much of a person to do the work though and no art work to present! LOL
Okay, I am not trading this month and am not in the contest, but wondered if anyone had some suggestions for this area in front of my house. It just doesn't look right. It is an area that is recessed and gets afternoon sun. Actually pretty hot there with the sun reflecting off the brick. What is there now in the center is my lemon verbena which I do not want to move because it makes it through the winter there and I don't think it would make it anywhere else in my yard. (I love my lemon verbena!) Also, planted in the ground on each side of it are reblooming (Encore) azaleas that are a bright pink when they bloom. I really don't want to move them either. I have already dug them up once and replanted them to enrich the soil a bit. The taller shurbs that you see in the foreground are regular azaleas. Don't want to move any of these so trying to deal with something that will improve the look by adding some plants and not subtracting anything. Throw out some ideas. I have tried adding glads, but they are only tall for a short while and have to get staked so not the look I have in mind. The soil is very poor there and with the heat reflecting off the brick, a climbing rose would probably not make it. I can't make the border much deeper because this is in line with shape of the house. If I try some improvements after you toss some out, I will post a picture of it later.
Well, I went on and on long enough.
Happy Father's Day to the dads!
Jeanne

Having fun with the idea for this month. Everyone is so creative with these themes!
Jeanne

Yeah, our golden has a black spot on his tongue. I'm not sure why but glad to hear that it is common. That is a great area there to plant in. I would definitely put something taller in there in the middle. Could the Verbena be moved forward to be able to plant something tall behind it? Something tall would balance out those Azaleas. For afternoon sun you could put in a Plumbago. That will get quite large. Maybe even two or three across the back. If you didn't want to move the Verbena at all and there is no room, then I would hang something on the wall in the middle but just below the windows. I don't know what they're called but those white metal "garden art" type things you can get at Michaels. I do like the idea of a climbing rose growing up that wall if you're willing to improve the soil but Plumbago doesn't need soil improvements.
Theresa

I think that would be a gorgeous corner for a bench or some pretty iron chairs...under a small tree (you could even use a dwarf fruit tree, they only get 6-8 ft tall, depending on variety!). It would give just the right amount of shade. Another option would be column style apple trees. They only get 6-8 ft tall, but grow no wider than 1-2". We had several at our old duplex, I lined the walkway with them, and they were the perfect size for that. You could make a garden around the base of them, with blueberries, strawberries or other edibles...and still have plenty of room for your azaleas & verbena! (and maybe a bench or chair, lol!)

I like Azaleas but here they are deciduous and grow a bit "leggy." The ones I planted in my side garden do have an outstanding fragrance for about 2 weeks each spring.

Vic - I know that starting over is hard but you have so much to work with! And, as others said, "Wow! What a view!" BTW, I think that "one area at a time" approach is the way to go... Maybe the first thing you see when you come home?

Susie - What a terrific difference you've made on your project. It's looking great!

Everyone - Thanks for the comments about my photoshop work. The picture of my proposed house transformation is actually the culmination of a few years of consideration. We wanted to update the house but we didn't really need more living space. (We do truly need the garage/storage though.) Of course, finances have been a big consideration every step of the way. That's why DH and I are doing so much of the work ourselves.

Jeanne - I had to smile when I read where you wrote that I'm the "perfect planner." It's true. I'm a great planner! Now if only I could get someone to carry out all of my wishes! LOL!

Theresa - Your pool (and garden) is beautiful. The picture of the sparkling water made be long to jump in and cool off! I so wish our pool was ready to fill. It won't be long now but it's been over 90 every day for about 2 weeks (topped 100 three times). I can hardly wait.

I'm on my laptop and the battery is about gone. If I ignored anyone, it wasn't on purpose. Pat

Theresa, love your pics!

Melissa, Pat did a wonderful job on your porch! If only it were that easy! I can't believe you would be up for a major project this summer! If I were you I think I would get a couple potted plants with lots of color, and plan for next yr when you have a little more energy, but even less time with a newborn!

I am going to concentrate on the front of the house (well, mostly!) I did just find out (thanks to some GW's) that we can get free compost from the landfill, and they have shredded bark and wood chips also. I got my first load of compost yesterday! About 10 more and I should be good! I really need to get something up for a wind block on the right (west) side, the wind gets so strong it blew the iris I planted right over! I'm debating btwn tall grasses or a fence with a vine type something growing on it. We already have the posts and some farm fence from the back, but I think no matter what I do it will take some time before they get established. Oh, and I found this "pretty" little flower growing EVERYWHERE that I thought might be a wild morning glory, after checking the internet I found out I am infested with BINDWEED! And I thought the Burdock was bad!

Off to work in the yard, it's going to be a beautiful day here.

Vic

Hubby will work on the flower bed, if I ask him nicely. :O) He is the one that did nearly all of the work putting the beds in last spring, and he enjoyed it. I've been having him plant flowers as I get them, he just finished a small spot of iris for me a week or so ago. He loves to garden as much as I do, I think. But he's more of the "if it ain't edible, it ain't worth growing" type. SO...at least I've got an excuse for all the daylilies & roses I've got growing! :O) And all my herbs, too. LOL

Hubby & I were looking over the pictures in this thread, and he was VERY impressed with Miss Susie's work!
He also said..."WOW! A blank canvas! How exciting!" when he saw Vic's yard. He was already making plans for everything! LOL We both agreed that a blank canvas was better than trying to fix what someone else did. :O) He thought you are incredibly lucky, Vic! (but then, HE is not the one doing the work, eh??)

I've been lurking here and decided to post my before and my almost after pics. This is a peice of town owned land that I see from my picture window. I had already cleaned out all the brush before taking the before pictures.
This is as of Sunday. I used cardboerd and lots of mulch because the weeds are so bad over here.

the pix are great. theresa, your pool i'm drooling over. i got a pool this year, nothing fancy until i decide if i want to make the committment. i also have to reconfigure flower beds and what not. and your peonies are now in bloom? my bloom time is gone and then there is always a terrible rain storm that destroys them not long after they burst. every year the same thing. every year i swear i'm going to put a tarp up or old umbrellas to protect them longer. but this year i wised up and cut so many bouquets and shared them - they were just too gorgeous and what a thrill they are to everyone.

sue, are you putting in a second pond? i remember last year or so when you worked on one and i remember it being just as nice. i have an area i am considering for one, but the thought is still in my head.

jeanne, what about a weeping cherry or a japanese maple or a dogwood plating in the middle right about where you begin to see the shadow.

melissa,

ishareflowers - WOW what a great thing you did. pretty up an otherwise neglected area, even if the first thought was your view, so many others can appreciate it as well. what did you plant? did you have to get a permit or permission, or did you just do it? i'd love to get my hands on some of the plantings in the town i live in, but everything is so political it's hard to break through their wall.

looking forward to seeing more pix.

happy blooms,
maryanne

Have a great day

I have to get my mulch yet but that is next month :)
nice cool day so out to the gardens have a great day

susie

This is the raised bed that I had origanally thought to put everything in.

Then I changed my mind and put 25 tomato plants there instead. They are there but they are pretty small and I don't have all the cages up yet.

Most of the tomatoes are expermental so I am expermenting! I used manure from one of the correl's, top soil from a corn field, some sand & 3 different types of bagged garden/potting soils. 10 of them are in the old mineral tubs and the rest in the ground. In front of them are daylilys, sedum, daisy's and a few other lilys but there is plenty of room left over. I don't want to dig any more of the prairie up so I plan to put in a few chili peppers so that I can make salsa ~ a must for me and the kids! I ususally have a real veggy garden but was told that wouldn't be an option this year where it has been for the last 6 :(

Next to the tomatoes I plan to put a few sun loving plants - there is already a purple butterfly shrub, maximillion sunflowers & 8 tree lilys from last year.

This is the ONLY shade I have (about 4 square feet on the left and just a thin strip on the right) and I have been wanting to cover up the west side of my 'tub' and fill in the north side of my house for awhile. I put up the cattle wire panel as an arch before I took the picture. I am going to put clematis on the house side and morning glorys for the other. The kitty's name is Vixen and a real sweety! She loves helping me garden - okay she is mostly in the way but she try's LOL

I have lots of room behind my house but the prairie grass is everywhere and is going to take ALOT of work to get under control!

I only have a push mower but I plan to tackle it this coming weekend and just dig it up a little at a time as I need it.

Of course not all the plants will have family names but to help start the sun garden I have purchased from eBay some Iris: MegWitch, Peggy Sue, Jean Marie & Deveta Marie and a few Daylilys: Dixie Chick, Dixie Rooster, Sweet Marie & Bertie Ferris. I know that I have more 'Marie' plants but they are easier to find and it is 'my' garden. :)

Marie, looks like I'm not the only one that will be busy this yr! It also looks like you have some very nice views too!
I love that idea with the cattle fence arch, and you can make it any size you want. Hmmmm.......I might have to steal your idea, I just happen to have a roll of that fence!
I have an area of prairie grass too, and am thinking of mixing in some other grasses and tall flowers and see what it looks like. I know what you mean about digging it out!

I started on the front of the house, I'm not digging out the dirt it is too hard, and there is so much bindweed in there that if I rototil it that will just make it spread like crazy! I'm doing what I call the "lazy way"! Using all my moving boxes as weed block with a thick layer of compost on top, then where I want plants I'm digging down and adding compost, then I will put a thick layer of mulch on top. Hopefully in a few years it will work it's way down, at least that is what I've read in some of the forums!
This is what I've got done so far, but ran out of compost and rock!

I want to put some iris or something along the house to cover up the badly needed paint job!

I need something for the porch rail, maybe a small vine type plant, or a window box planter with trailing plants.

I really need something along the fence for a wind block! I was thinking some tall grasses, I just got some pampas grass that I thought would look good, or a trellis like Maries that you would go through to get to the future garden that will be over on the side of the house.

Any ideas Ladies???
I tried to make these pics smaller, but it just isn't working!

Off to get more compost before it gets too hot, it got up to 93 yesterday!

Vic

POLANTER BOX OVER THE DECK WOULD BE NICE JUST REMEMBER MORNING GLORIES ARE RESEEDERS & WILL DROP SEEDS INTO YOUR BEDS BELOW & CAN TAKE OVER :(

ALL PLANTS TAKE TIME TO MATURE & FILL IN BUT THEY WILL :)
WELL YOU ALL KEEP THE PICTURES COMING i WILL CHECK BACK IN A COUPLE DAYS TOMORROW IS MY EYE SURGERY :))
SO BLIND IN ONE & CAN SEE OUT THE OTHER :) JOKING :)))

SUSIE

I went with a pink theme for the front porch area, since I've already got one pink rose & Marie sent me 2 more. I planted the pink roses from Marie in the middle, and planted some pink daylilies (dragon's eye, strawberry candy, barbara mitchel, pink debutante, karen sue...and a few others..) on either side of them. (had to move them from another bed) There are pink glads closest to the steps, and stargazer lilies beside those.
I also found some volunteer hosta (I've been trying to get them out of my flower beds for a year now!) & I put those in front of the roses. I'll fill in the very front with some annuals, but for now....I'm going to let everything settle in and see how it looks in a week or so.
I'm also too tired to even contemplate doing more yard work for awhile! LOL

Since the roses are climbers, I'm going to train them to grow horizontal...along the front edge of the porch, so they'll fill in behind the daylilies. I've got some growing like that on another side of the house, and they seem to do better that way.

Jeanne,
Your pic of your dog's face is so perfect. He looks so happy.
Melissa's small tree idea for the optical illusion is a great idea. Vic's idea for a garden object or trellis is good too. With either idea you don't need to worry about the lemon verbena.

Ishare,
That's great the town let you fix up the property!

Maryanne,
Good to see you post! I'm glad you got and gave some enjoyment out of your peonies. Everytime someone mentions umbrellas in the garden, I think of you : )

Marie,
You are tackling a lot! The raised bed is a perfect spot for the tomatoes. With the flowers going around it, you are going to have a very lovely potager.
I can't imagine trying to conquer that grass!

Vic,
It is looking so much better already. Yes, dumping good stuff on top will improve the soil underneath.

Melissa,
Wow, you got all that planted, wonderful!
Remy

Remy~ That purple clematis on the other picture thread? How long did that take to fill in that much? I'm sure it's years....but it's really gorgeous, so I thought I'd give them a try.

Its looking very nice! I like your idea of having the roses grow horizonal - that will look neat. Did you get a 'pink' clematis in the first box? I bought you a pink one and me a purple. If it didn't get there, I better do another search to see what else didn't make it into your box.

I planted my new purple one & the 2 I had on the south side, that were not doing well at all - on the north east corner of my house. The purple one wasn't looking very good, crunchy brown leaves but the roots are healthy and is starting to green up - the others, a red and a pink & white, I think were getting to hot where they were and should do much better now.

Vic,
Great idea for your old boxes! The cattle panel is pretty stiff wire, this one is 16'($20?) and I would recommend help when you bend it over on your posts! I had quite a time by myself :) I finally tied one corner at a time but it all worked in the end LOL It takes a while but I have Peony's along the east side of my house - in bloom now and beautiful! To help fill in the bare spots as they are only 4 years old and not very full, I put in Canna's, a few Hollyhocks (mini's & regular) and different annuals each year.

Remy,
Yes, the grass is a challenge but I get a great work out with my shovel! LOL I would love to have some of your yellow Iris :) Not sure if I have your address - could you send it ? Thanks!

I had to plant my cabbage in the little space by the tomatoes - not enough room with the iris as the dianthus is filling in very nicely. There is room left for a couple of the iris & DL that Susie sent and the soil is almost ready to put in the hostas. I would have finished it last night but some nasty weather was threating - softball size hail and a very impressive wind shear about 1/2 mile to the east of us. Thankfully we didn't get hit with the bad stuff and it rained about 2/10" :)

Marie

I got more done yesterday, it was beautiful outside, partly cloudy, a nice breeze, and in the 80's. Of course I put sunscreen on Zack, but not me, and I had a backless halter on Ouch! I am paying for that! The sun is definately more intense out here than back in MI! It was too hot to do anything outside today, and even with a shirt on it felt like the my back was on fire with the sun on it!

Any ideas on a fast growing vine???? I want to put one up on the dog kennel to give them more shade and block there view of the rabbits running around in the yard, they bark at them constantly! The kennel is 10x40 ft. so I have a lot to cover!

Also, is it too late to plant glads? I just got some in a house plant swap and didn't know if I could still plant them.

Vic

Marie,
You meant you need Susie's address for the iris I think.
Thank goodness the hail missed you! I can't imagine the damage that would cause. The hail I got here was bad enough.
Remy

I don't like the way this one turned out at all! I love the gerber daisy's, zinnia's and marigolds but I need different bricks/border around the butterfly bush. The rocks I moved from the pile that was in front of my new shade garden - not working for me.... I think I will try some white rocks (bagged kind) and put little 3/4 moon shaped bricks instead. The way the wind blows here, I need something heavy to hold the plastic down. I still have to put some Iris across the top, I think :)

I poured these last year and tried putting them here:

Not crazy about this either... towards the top of the picture you can see the sand colored paving stones that I had to use since I couldn't find any more red ones - I sure hope I can find more red one's next year! This will work to keep me from having to step in the mud but it isn't very pretty.
I mowed about 1/4 the back yard before the afternoon storm arrived on Sunday:

Seems like all I did was work this weekend but not much to show for it that I am happy with :(

BUT... happy news! Baby tomato!

What did everone else do this weekend?
Marie

Marie,
You accomplished a lot! And you have a baby tomato!! I have lots of flowers, but I have not found a tomato yet.

Ishare,
That is a good looking clematis. Here's my monster clematis.

Remy

HERES THE LEADER OF THE PACK :)

THEN COMES THE TITLE WAVE :) OR THE BIG DIVE :)

JUST LOVE WATCHING THEM SWIM :)
HAVE A GREAT DAY
SUSIE

LVE THE CELMATIS MINE NEED HELP

Does anyone know, do they make electric edgers? What I am thinking about is something that runs with a power cord and will make nice stright edging lines through some grass that keeps trying in invade every bed I have out there. Of course, the lawn only grows right at the edge of my beds because that is where it gets some water. I am always having to tug it out and it's a lot of tugging! Hopefully I can get more mulch down in July. I started raking it away from the plants in the spring to help the seedlings get through and because we have snails like you wouldn't believe out there and the mulch just encourages them to move in.

Have a good weekend, everyone.
Jeanne

Jeanne, looks very nice, I like the pittosporum. For an edger, I use my weed wacker (well that is until I burned it out today trying to cut threw some very thick bindweed and grass! - turn it so the string is cutting straight up and down instead of across, kinda upside down and backwards - wish I could explain it better.

Susie, the ducks are soooo cute!

Remy, I love your clematis, I even put it on my want list LOL

Marie, you have really gotten a lot done! For those stepping stones have you thought about spacing them out - kinda like footstep width apart and then filling around them with gravel, or a low growing sedum or groundcover?

Well I'm off to bed, I have a very busy day tomorrow!

Vic

Well, I can't remember when the dead line is but here is my name bed redone with 3 Iris at the top from left to right:
Jean 'Marie', 'Meg'Witch, and 'Bee's' Knee's - I am in a crafting club called the Busy Bee's and had to have the last one. MegWitch & Bee's Knee's are mini's

And I put this together last night. Although I ran out of white rock and there is no more in captivity for this year, I think it is cute :)

I also purchased a small round glass top table to go with my bench but haven't set it up yet.

and just showing my Lil' Farmer off - he has 2 little pumpkins starting to form at his feet!

I have to go to the dentist to have a cleaning - Later...
Marie

Can I declare a tie?? LOL
It's too darn close to call.
Can we hold a random drawing instead?? :O)

great swap thresea ty for hosting it was fun just to share :)) .
Marie I will send you the irises to help fill in :))
but it maybe next week when i get them in the mail :))

susie

And although I didn't get anthing finished I will post pics in a few min of what I did get done!

Yesterday I did go get more compost and mulch to finish the front bed but it was in the 90's and just too hot to work on it being in full sun.
Today I spent the day trying to track down a stolen box that contained more than 50 plants, many of which were going in the front! It is a long story, but if you go to the conversation side of the plant exchange and read the "sending in envelopes" it will fill you in!

Vic

I got the burrdock cut down by the garage and the area cleared for the dog kennel which is 10 x 40ft. I am starting to plant some grasses and tall things there to try to block there view of the rabbits they are constanly barking at, but it is Very rocky clay so I didn't get much done. At the back of the kennel where the old fence was I put the "Marie Inspired" fort for my son, I used her idea with farm fencing to make a trellis, put it up to the top of the kennel and on one side is the old fence gate that I left there for a Door. Once I get a vine to grow up it, the dogs will have extra shade, and Zack will have his hide-a-way! It also goes out past the back of the house that had all the dead weeds in the corner so I got them outa there. I did get almost all the weeds cut/pulled next to the house and had an area cleared that my stolen daylilies were going to go in but.........

You can see approx where the bed will be in front by how the rocks are on the ground, and I did get a lot of the tree/bush trimmed and some cardboard down to try killing the weeds so hopefully by fall or next sprin I can get a bed started there too. I was afraid to cut too much of the tree and kill it so I will do more in the fall.

I did get some more things in the bed (Thanks Bunny) but I don't think they showed up on the pics!

If photobucket EVER finishes downloading them I will share!

Vic

Vic

Finally!
I still have LOTS to do, but it will keep me out of trouble, of course the house REALLY needs a good cleaning, but there is just too much to do outside! LOL

I LOVE your 'antiqued' gate! That is going to be so much fun for your little one!! And he is helping :) Your doggies look so sweet - and I know What they are thinking, "we move to Montana with all thE WIDE OPEN SPACES & Mom STILLLLLLL puts us in jail"..... LOL I like your idea about separating the round stones and putting ground cover inbetween - guess I should start making a list of things to get done next spring!

Bunny - I agree with Vic - you have much more than the rest of us to do this summer - I don't have near the energy that you have!

Susie - I can't believe how big your Ducks are! Seems like just yesterday they were little fluffy balls....

Carol - your squirrel is just to funny! I was feeling the same way on Monday - 102 at 4:00pm - pant, pant....

Susie - I love yellow Iris! Let me know what the shipping is - Thanks!

About 3:00 on Saturday afternoon, I got tired of the watering, weeding and grass work! My daughter was at a friends for the night, I called some people that have property on Laramie Peek to ask if I could camp, dumped a tent, fishing poles, tackle boxes & coolers into my car - 2 1/2 hours & $200 later for food, drinks & a license - I was setting by Horse Shoe Creek drowning worms :) No I didn't catch anything, not even a snag but I saw some great wild life - several Does w/fawns, lots of birds & squirrels. It was so relaxing, so worth the $$$ After giving up on the fishing part of my trip, I dug up wild Iris, a few round cactus for my sister, some dark & light pink wild roses and lots of different kinds of flower seeds! I found some that look like the 'hairy balls' - hope they grow down here! Sunday afternoon I was back at home, playing in the dirt - putting my new plants into new homes. I was and still am angry with myself - I forgot my camera & my cell camera wouldn't work up there - no pictures.....

Monday I played hooky and goofed off with my sister - we found these while walking her puppies:

Thanks for the votes ladies!
Marie

Marie,
I hope those little guys didn't pee on you, ya know that causes warts!! LOL
A night at the river! I am so jealous, I love fishing! You are right, it is so relaxing. I miss the deer at home, we had lots of them in my backyard. I don't see too many here, none at my house, just horses. And the deer didn't bother my plants near as much as the rabbits do here!
And ya, the dogs hate the kennel! But, they chase the rabbits and don't come back for hours!

Vic

I agree with everyone...I think Marie has made great progress! And I like her little "village", too.
But...I think Vic has made great progress, also! There are actually some flower beds now! :O)

So my vote goes 1/2 for Marie & 1/2 for Vic.
:O)

And what do you mean there are actually flower beds now??? I still haven't finished one! LOL
But there are the beginings of beds! hehe

I'm going to go get some raspberries from a woman (Vickie) that doesn't want them anymore, strange how I accuired most of my plants I have now be all the 100's of rasp. plants I had in MI and can you believe I didn't bring even ONE! So now I'm going to someone elses house to dig her's up LOL

Have a good night all!

Vicky

here's the link to a few more pictures they are growing :)
vic & april I know you have worked just as hard in your gardens also & they are always never ending projects :))
trust me I started with 1 & now have 17 to care for &
most are from friends here on garden web :)

well have a great day & a safe weekend
marie did i send yellow flag in your box or not ???
I can send you a few clumps that you can divide up
if not .
will be next week .
susie

Okay. So all contest participants will get a prize. The idea was to get the ball rolling and get some work done and I think we have done that. I will attempt to get the boxes together over the weekend and get them sent out next week. I'm sure I have Susie's address but I know I don't have yours, Vic. I might have Marie's but I'm not sure. Can you gals send it to me at boring24@bellsouth.net

Theresa

Congrats to all you girls! You ALL have done great work this summer, even if they are still works in progress. But ya know...the best gardener I've ever known told me..."Every garden is a work in progress. It's constantly changing, and it's never finished. When it's finished, you're dead."
LOL

Now, I want everyone to look at Susie's Duck kennel and picture my dog kennel like that, all planted around and looking pretty!

Theresa, if you could possibly get a backhoe to fit in that prize box it would be greatly appreciated! But you might want to send it flat rate d/t the wt.! LOL

Have a great 4th of July ALL!
Marie

And Vic, here is a backhoe for YOUR little garden helper! LOL!

Thanks - so much better than I was hoping for! LOL I feel those temp's rising now but gardening will be a real pleasure... hehehehe

Marie