It's become clear to me through posts and PMs that there are some gardeners here just waiting for the chance to discuss gardening!
So, I was thinking... how do you use gardening, or how does it affect you if you need a break, need some respite, need to relax, need inspiration....how do you use it as a therapy tool in caregiving?
What are your activities: Do you go out and pull weeds, read a magazine, design new beds? Look through garden catalogues? Go to garden stores?
And what interests have you added to your gardening? Visit estate or garden displays? Do you go to garden shows?
Does anyone design and plant Knot Gardens? Raised bed planters? Assistive gardens? Pollinator gardens (and have you thought of ways to help the bees and butterflies?)
Are your gardens primarily for pleasure or food, or a mix of both? Do you grow plants for medicinal purposes? Which ones, how do you harvest and process them? Any suggestions?
Do you grow plants that can be used in crafts, such as grapevines for wreaths and lavender for lavender wands? Do you make herbal products such as creams, lotions, chapstick?
What else can you share about gardening and the means in which it nurtures your soul?
On another note, anyone have weeping cherry trees? I put them in about three years ago and am quite disappointed in them. My dad’s voice is echoing in my head, he’d always say about something more trouble than it was worth “fertilize it with Roundup!” Haven’t gone there, but if anyone has them happily I’d like to hear about it.
There is a box now-even though they do not want a nest box, prefer a shallow ledge. I put the plant in it, up high. It has open slats, so maybe they will like it-if they are desperate. Hoping they will like the box more than the plant.
Stepping out onto the porch, two squirrels were digging just near the bottom of the stairs. Not scared away at all. I no longer feed the squirrels.
It felt like all of nature was at my door this morning. Lol. An exaggeration.
I burned the eggs I was cooking for breakfast. Did not have my coffee yet.
Dh and I are already arguing about the plant they trampled. I said we would need to sacrifice the plant for the birds if they make a nest in it, because we could not water it. He says he will still water it. Feels like last time, and maybe should discourage the birds from staying at all. Giving dH his way, because he wants it his way.
🐇🐇🐇🐇
Waiting for the grass to dry out to mow, then some pruning. It's a small space so not too hard to keep up with. Last Summer a huge branch fell off of a 60+ foot tall Gum tree, sheared the sides of some lovely hemlocks, crushed a rhododendron, bruised azeleas. So, I'm hoping that now there's a nice big open hole in the tree canopy with that branch gone and professionally pruned back hard, other plants will thrive. The pink dog wood, once heavily shaded by that Gum tree, looks wonderful this year.
Fired up the sprinkler system yesterday. Ran it for the first time last night, should have done it while I was up to keep track of what was going on. The valve on the last station did not close, so it ran all night. I did get it fixed today. I am sure there is plenty of water in that area, but with the wind, it will dry out quickly.
I was really hoping to get the house sold before summer maintenance needs. No such luck. Now with rising interest rates, and increasing home prices, would like to stay where I am for the forseeable future. Maybe employer will allow me to continue to work remotely two days a week. There is just no place to live down there.
I have/had a contract on a home down there, but, the more I look at it, the more I think it is not a good idea, in spite of losing a $5K earnest money deposit. I have a 4.5% mortgage now with equity of 2/3 of the home value.
Ummmmm.
Yes, I would use 4 x 4's, good idea.
Cutting them to 6' would save money. Dh is no longer good at cutting.
Pricing 6'.
A patio guy I used over a thousand years ago used a 2 x 4 in between
two 2x 6's to make the posts look like 6 x 6 ! Not necessary for this project, but a good idea if you want/need a 6 x 6 post.
Pricing redwood because I heard you cannot use pressure-treated wood in a planter-it would kill the plants?
Thanks for the link to that exact privacy planter-we will be making that a.s.a.p.!
Really what I need also, we have several perfect places for it.
So happy you found that!
When I awakened this morning (avoiding the use of the word "woke" lol);
in my head I was designing a privacy lattice thinking it could be closer to the house (4-6 ft.) and bring more shade in closer for keeping it cooler near my windows. Yes!
The perfect privacy planter. Maybe I will put the planter box on both sides of the lattice. Maybe use cedar lattice if we can afford it.
The family has a "real" garden in the back yard but I think I will get more yield from my limited space containers...
CWillie, I'm guessing your father may have had a Fraser tiller? Like this model?http://www.zucksrototillers.com/FrazerHistory.html
Dad had one, tilled his own garden, a supplementary garden on a neighbor's property, as well as mine. He was largely responsible for expanding my garden; I did some double digging of my own, but that tiller could really tear up the ground and make it workable for planting.
I'd buy one but I'm not sure I could handle it; it's not like the smaller tillers of today.
Shari49, compost is mandatory! Couldn't garden without it, but the lawn Nazis in the area where I currently live don't understand that. They cited me just for having a small grass pile, heating up to be dug under with other compost.
Years ago the magazine Victoria hosted the best forum I've ever experienced. Gardening was obviously a category. One of the women shared her own method, which I thought was unique.
To avoid the aroma attracting critters, she ground up the compost and immersed it in water, in pails, and sometimes froze it to save over the winter. By the time it was poured out, according to her, there was little scent to attract critters. I started doing it and it worked well for me.
So, my question is: Chipmunks, squirrels, or deer? Who am I feeding? And is there anything I can do to keep them away?
When I moved in with my sister (a temporary arrangement that lasted 20 years, but that's another story) it was a new house with most of the topsoil scraped away and gardening there was a whole different kettle of fish. I relied heavily on Rodale's Organic Gardening magazine - anyone else remember when it was pocket sized and was actually full of helpful articles? I'll never forget the thrill the first time my compost actually got hot - it was working!!
My home today is on a lot that I'm told was once a heavy equipment yard and I don't doubt it, the subsoil layer is hard clay interspersed with gravel and rock. Compost to the rescue - but even though I chip my branches and shred most of my leaves and garden waste there is never enough, every year I find myself wishing for a pickup truck so I could load up with a few tonnes of manure !
Be careful, heal well before you get too industrious in that yard!
Give me some time and I'll find the link. Right now I'm celebrating that I could walk out to the street and put the garbage out, w/o falling. (I fell down some stairs about 3 weeks ago and have been hobbling around since.)
Also, the site you referenced has some great ideas; I've seen similar if not identical ones in the Country Gardens magazine.
https://gina-michele.com/2018/09/01/privacy-screen-planter-diy/
This is what I want! (only made a little sturdier, and maybe not quite as deep?)
Camellia, laurel and hawthorn are all good privacy hedges. These fast-growing hedges are all evergreen and reach a good height. Evergreen shrubs and evergreen trees for gardens make for the best hedges for privacy as you don't want your privacy to be compromised when the leaves fall off in fall.
Then cut out the perennials on your property.
I never plant up to my property line so there can be no disputes. I have allowed an extra two feet for a walkway or a fence, placed wholly on my side.
Spend the extra money you will save by not attending the destination wedding, spend it on yourself to make your own home a destination you will love.
No need for hand-holding, you've got this Cwillie! As if married couples fare any better looking for someone to help us decide! The only thing you will be missing being single is someone who would criticize your choices. lol.
To help yourself, look for the most expensive plan you will love, then cut corners to find something in your budget. Do this (an attitude adjustment),
instead of searching for the least expensive to start. You are worth it!
This is the bit from their website:
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They like things which are a bit off the beaten track so you should be in with a fair chance.
My fantasy is a couple of long raised beds with a trellis along the back side (east), and because they are technically not permanent like a fence the exact property line wouldn't be as much of an issue. But $$, not just for the lumber but for soil to fill them. I wish I had somebody who would hold my hand and help me to make a decision - sometimes being single sucks.
CW, why don't you.like Norway maples?