Tell Me About Your Gardens!

lovemesomemonster · May 2015

lolo883 said:

JennyColada said:
It doesn't get cold enough here for tulips to last more than one season. They are my favorite flower.
I don't remember what flowers we have in the front, but in our back veggie garden we had tarragon, corn, radishes, beans, artichoke, carrots, and spring onions going on.
Pull the bulbs out of the ground and store them in the fridge for the winter, then plant again in the spring. Doesn't save you the work, but at least you don't have to repurchase them every year.

We're going to have H's aunt help us with our flower beds... she's a master gardener so I know it'll be amazing, I just have no idea what will go in there. I definitely want giant allium somewhere though! And lilacs.

THESE are amazing.. we have a constant stream of deer through our back yard among other animals and reading up on these they are deer AND drought resistant.. you may have just found me a damn flower I can grow so THANK YOU!

As for the rest of the garden, Ours was pretty established when we moved in, but mostly shrubs and they did gravel in all the beds out front so I am just keeping the bushes trimmed. In the back we have a lot of work to do and I royally suck at keeping anything alive.. We did plant a maple tree, his name is Wilson, and I'm pretty proud to say he's still alive and full of green leaves right now!

labro · May 2015

lovemesomemonster said:

JennyColada said:
It doesn't get cold enough here for tulips to last more than one season. They are my favorite flower.
I don't remember what flowers we have in the front, but in our back veggie garden we had tarragon, corn, radishes, beans, artichoke, carrots, and spring onions going on.
Pull the bulbs out of the ground and store them in the fridge for the winter, then plant again in the spring. Doesn't save you the work, but at least you don't have to repurchase them every year.

We're going to have H's aunt help us with our flower beds... she's a master gardener so I know it'll be amazing, I just have no idea what will go in there. I definitely want giant allium somewhere though! And lilacs.

THESE are amazing.. we have a constant stream of deer through our back yard among other animals and reading up on these they are deer AND drought resistant.. you may have just found me a damn flower I can grow so THANK YOU!

As for the rest of the garden, Ours was pretty established when we moved in, but mostly shrubs and they did gravel in all the beds out front so I am just keeping the bushes trimmed. In the back we have a lot of work to do and I royally suck at keeping anything alive.. We did plant a maple tree, his name is Wilson, and I'm pretty proud to say he's still alive and full of green leaves right now!

I love that people do this! We planted two Japanese Maples this spring but neither of them have a name.

lovemesomemonster · May 2015

@labro, I have to name them so there is some kind of connection with remembering to water them! We also have a dwarf lemon tree inside, his name is Henry. No idea why they are all "he" and I'm sure I would stop doing it if I had a huge garden and didn't kill it regularly!

KatieinBkln · May 2015

lovemesomemonster said:
@labro, I have to name them so there is some kind of connection with remembering to water them! We also have a dwarf lemon tree inside, his name is Henry. No idea why they are all "he" and I'm sure I would stop doing it if I had a huge garden and didn't kill it regularly!

Why does the notion of a dwarf lemon tree named Henry fill me with such delight?!

labro · May 2015

@lovemesomemonster I'm laughing so much over 1. A lemon tree named Henry and 2. Naming things so you remember to water them. It's funny and adorable!

I work from home twice a week. Those are my favorite days because I get to spend the morning watering all my plants versus doing it in the evening when I get home from the office and I'm exhausted and in nice clothes. Work from home mornings where I get to work in the garden before settling down at my desk for the day are my therapy days.

lovemesomemonster · May 2015

@KatieinBkln and @labro I'm glad I could make you happy on this Tuesday morning!

The saddest part about me sucking at keeping things alive (with the exception of my dog) is that I work from home EVERY DAY! You would think I could remember to water. I will keep you updated on Wilson and Henry, if they are alive by winter I will call this year a success!

labro · May 2015

ETA: I stepped outside (WFH day) and got some pictures of my final two azaleas that are still blooming and my "mystery" rose bushes...although I'm sure they are just a different color variant of the bright pink knock out roses that I already have.

mrscomposer · May 2015

For those of you with herb pots/plots - I haven't done any research on them, but I'd like a few (especially basil) - what works best in terms of sun/shade? My back deck would be the ideal place (kitchen window & access), but it gets morning sun and nothing else. With my house I either have hardly any sun, or major sun.

labro · May 2015

@mrscomposer I've only ever grown basil in areas with lots of sun. I've never experimented with it in shade so I have no idea how well it might do. How many hours of sun do you get in the morning? Any idea? I think if you get at least a good 5 hours it might be ok, but it'd be better for the areas of your house you get a lot of sun. I grew basil in pots on my front porch last year and yeah, it's slightly inconvenient since it isn't right next to the kitchen, but it's more convenient than say - buying basil at the grocery store.

TrixieJess · May 2015

mrscomposer said:
For those of you with herb pots/plots - I haven't done any research on them, but I'd like a few (especially basil) - what works best in terms of sun/shade? My back deck would be the ideal place (kitchen window & access), but it gets morning sun and nothing else. With my house I either have hardly any sun, or major sun.

Basil grows well in partial shade. I haven't had luck with basil in pots, but that's because we use so much of it. If you are growing tomatoes, grow basil between the rows, they are complementary plants.

KatieinBkln · May 2015

mrscomposer said:
For those of you with herb pots/plots - I haven't done any research on them, but I'd like a few (especially basil) - what works best in terms of sun/shade? My back deck would be the ideal place (kitchen window & access), but it gets morning sun and nothing else. With my house I either have hardly any sun, or major sun.

I believe most herbs need at least partial sun.

Also, I was informed recently that it's a good idea to keep basil in a separate pot--evidently it requires more water than other herbs!

Oh, and I know you didn't mention growing herbs in a bed, but if you do, don't plant mint! It will take over. Mint needs to be carefully contained in a pot.

levieenrose · May 2015

I LOVE your gardens! I love this thread!!!

The first thing I did when our offer on a house was accepted was to double-check the planting zone. A little colder than I wanted. Now I have established the hardiness/wetness/draining/sun/shade needs for all my favorite flowering plants and which side of the house they can go. We won't move in until probably too late to do real planting this year, but next year I am sooooo in. What will some of my little houseplants do when they finally have freedom from the strained bondage of their little ceramic pots?!

Also, I spent 6 hours this weekend doing online research and drooling over fancy composters and I finally know which one I want. That is taking precedence over furnishing the house (I'm not kidding).

DH is the designated edible plant domesticator.

sarahufl · May 2015

levieenrose said:
I LOVE your gardens! I love this thread!!!

The first thing I did when our offer on a house was accepted was to double-check the planting zone. A little colder than I wanted. Now I have established the hardiness/wetness/draining/sun/shade needs for all my favorite flowering plants and which side of the house they can go. We won't move in until probably too late to do real planting this year, but next year I am sooooo in. What will some of my little houseplants do when they finally have freedom from the strained bondage of their little ceramic pots?!

Also, I spent 6 hours this weekend doing online research and drooling over fancy composters and I finally know which one I want. That is taking precedence over furnishing the house (I'm not kidding).

DH is the designated edible plant domesticator.

ooooh, talk to me more about composting. This is also on my list, I just need to do some research.

levieenrose · May 2015

There are a lot of different options--you can literally just make a pile of old leaves and new clippings somewhere on your property and it will do the trick. But people who like to make compost that's good enough for your garden or who don't like the untamed look of a pile of vegetal mass will go to greater measures to get the style of composter or the "recipe" right.

You'll want to know the difference between your "browns" and "greens," how anaerobic vs aerobic composting works, and check out how different styles of composters require more or less work.

If you are like us and want to compost not only to enrich your soil but also because you want to decrease the amount of waste your household produces, then you're going to be looking into a more complicated composter or composting system. Leaving food scraps which decompose differently in a simple composter will lead to unsanitary rotting and draw unwelcome guests to your yard.

labro · May 2015

@levieenrose What did you get exactly? Link? H and I want to do more composting, and he's convinced all you need is a hole in the ground or an area that you turn frequently...which I guess istechnically true. But I'd prefer something a little more enclosed and secure. Most of our food waste tends to be stuff like coffee grounds and fruit peels more often than not.

levieenrose · May 2015

It's a $300 one, I think. Which is kinda ridiculous when you can make it for free. I'll check the name when I get home.

EtA: Also, coffee grounds and egg shells can go right in the kind of composter he wants. I'd double check fruit peels, but I think we'd include them (tear them up) before they go in the pile in the back. Unless you want to compost dairy, meats, or cooked foods, it sounds like his method is totally sound.

mrscomposer · May 2015

lovemesomemonster said:

lolo883 said:

JennyColada said:

THESE are amazing.. we have a constant stream of deer through our back yard among other animals and reading up on these they are deer AND drought resistant.. you may have just found me a damn flower I can grow so THANK YOU!

The company I order from (Vesey's) has a great search function - I plugged in deer resistant to see what else would come up for you. Of course, it depends on your hardiness zone, but you could also plant astilbe, baby's breath, spirea, delphinium, butterfly bush, coneflower.... there were pages of choices.

lovemesomemonster · May 2015

mrscomposer said:

lovemesomemonster said:

lolo883 said:

JennyColada said:

THESE are amazing.. we have a constant stream of deer through our back yard among other animals and reading up on these they are deer AND drought resistant.. you may have just found me a damn flower I can grow so THANK YOU!

The company I order from (Vesey's) has a great search function - I plugged in deer resistant to see what else would come up for you. Of course, it depends on your hardiness zone, but you could also plant astilbe, baby's breath, spirea, delphinium, butterfly bush, coneflower.... there were pages of choices.

Thank you, this is very helpful. We have a lot of deer (even got a moose once) among other animals, we are about 2hrs south of Canada so the winters get cold/snow, and the yard is surrounded by trees and we don't get much sun. Makes keeping things alive a little harder! I will do some research on these and the company you order from!

theartistformerlyknownas · May 2015

YOU GUYS look at my purple tree!

sarahufl · May 2015

lolo883 said:
YOU GUYS look at my purple tree!

is this new yard or old yard?

I like!!

theartistformerlyknownas · May 2015

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:
YOU GUYS look at my purple tree!
is this new yard or old yard?

I like!!

New yard!

sarahufl · May 2015

lolo883 said:

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:
YOU GUYS look at my purple tree!
is this new yard or old yard?

I like!!
New yard!

That's a big ass deck!!

theartistformerlyknownas · May 2015

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:
YOU GUYS look at my purple tree!
is this new yard or old yard?

I like!!
New yard!
That's a big ass deck!!

Yup!! It goes the full width of the house. And there's another one underneath it - walkout basement.

lovemesomemonster · May 2015

lolo883 said:

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:
YOU GUYS look at my purple tree!
is this new yard or old yard?

I like!!
New yard!
That's a big ass deck!!

Yup!! It goes the full width of the house. And there's another one underneath it - walkout basement.

I love a big deck, that is awesome!

hellosweetie1015 · May 2015

lolo883 said:

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:
YOU GUYS look at my purple tree!
is this new yard or old yard?

I like!!
New yard!
That's a big ass deck!!

Yup!! It goes the full width of the house. And there's another one underneath it - walkout basement.

I can't decide if I don't like you any more or not, between this and the appliance post. :P

theartistformerlyknownas · May 2015

hellosweetie1015 said:

lolo883 said:

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:
YOU GUYS look at my purple tree!
is this new yard or old yard?

I like!!
New yard!
That's a big ass deck!!

Yup!! It goes the full width of the house. And there's another one underneath it - walkout basement.
I can't decide if I don't like you any more or not, between this and the appliance post. :P

You can come visit? The guest bed has a fluffy pale blue damask comforter with fuzzies on the other side, it's very squishy.

KatieinBkln · May 2015

lolo883 said:

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:
YOU GUYS look at my purple tree!
is this new yard or old yard?

I like!!
New yard!
That's a big ass deck!!

Yup!! It goes the full width of the house. And there's another one underneath it - walkout basement.

OMG that gorgeous deck and giant yard are giving me the apartment-dwelling no-garden blue-balls.

Which is to say, congrats on your sick new house!

hellosweetie1015 · May 2015

lolo883 said:

hellosweetie1015 said:

lolo883 said:

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:

sarahufl said:

lolo883 said:
YOU GUYS look at my purple tree!
is this new yard or old yard?

I like!!
New yard!
That's a big ass deck!!

Yup!! It goes the full width of the house. And there's another one underneath it - walkout basement.
I can't decide if I don't like you any more or not, between this and the appliance post. :P
You can come visit? The guest bed has a fluffy pale blue damask comforter with fuzzies on the other side, it's very squishy.

Oooooooh fuzzies and squishy. I like you again.

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