| Author | Content |
bigcityal
Menasha, WI
(Zone 5a)
January 11, 2006
6:35 AM Post #1968677
| Welcome to my garden tour. I have it at a presentable level with many improvements to come.
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com] |
drdon
Temecula, CA
(Zone 8b)
January 11, 2006
10:51 AM Post #1969089
| Oh my, those Columbines are fabulous! I wish we could grow them here. Too bloody hot. |
bigcityal
Menasha, WI
(Zone 5a)
January 11, 2006
6:07 PM Post #1970102
| Thanks Doc, they are really tough plants here. I added some new ones late last year also. |
fireant13
Mascotte, FL
(Zone 9a)
January 11, 2006
6:32 PM Post #1970172
| Sometimes I miss snow. |
daylily970
Coshocton, OH
(Zone 6a)
January 14, 2006
8:34 PM Post #1977026
| enjoyed your garden. love the columbine! |
doss
Stanford, CA
(Zone 9b)
January 23, 2006
11:06 PM Post #1996476
| Such careful planning - love the sketches.
As far as your blue-wave hydrangea. Mine dies to the ground most winters and didn't bloom at all until I gave it some sun. Also, don't prune this one or it won't bloom. And it gets very big, so be prepared. Can you tell I'm speaking from experience? When it's blooming properly, noting can beat it though and the blossoms stay on forever and turn lovely colors. They fade to a dusty pink/purple.
I like you small beds - your callas aren't old timers - the speckled leaves give them away as newer cultivars but they are stunning. Nothing is quite as happy as a happy calla. And the dahlias are lovely
And it's a woman's perogative to change her mind. Or so I've heard. :-)
I'm constantly changing beds too. I'm hopeless!
Thanks for doing all of this Al. It's got great potential.
Doss |
jmorth
Divernon, IL
(Zone 5b)
January 24, 2006
2:07 AM Post #1996688
| Looks like you've put a lot of labor into your terra-forming, Like you, rudbeckias and cone flowers rate high in my pecking order of plants. Thanks.
J |
drdon
Temecula, CA
(Zone 8b)
January 24, 2006
7:31 AM Post #1996831
| hiya Al,
When your spring springs, we'd love to see updates showing all the growth that occurs. It must be a phenomenal transition from snowy, frigid and bleak to lush and colorful.
best,
don |
bigcityal
Menasha, WI
(Zone 5a)
January 24, 2006
10:34 PM Post #1998374
| Doss and Doc,
I've been trying to finalize some plans - trying to figure out how to create more dahlia space. I'm thinking I'll give away 2 burning bushes in the front and then move other stuff there.
The buds on the hydrangea macrophlylla freeze off some in this zone. Hydrangea paniculatta sp? do so much better I will add another this year.
I do have some big changes coming in the spring and I will get better before and after photos then.
Al |
doss
Stanford, CA
(Zone 9b)
January 24, 2006
10:55 PM Post #1998399
| If you don't like the two burning bushes and you can replace them then GO FOR IT!!! You have such nice hardscape that you can get away with a lot actually. Have you thought of using border dahlias? If you love dahlias it's a fun thing to do.
I love the hydrangea you are choosing. I love the way the big heads fall over. When they bloom they really mean it!
Dorothie |
drdon
Temecula, CA
(Zone 8b)
January 28, 2006
7:56 AM Post #2005977
| hiya Al,
I keep revisiting that Coneflower bed...very nice indeed. The orange flowering plant that you explained was botrytis-ridden. What did you do to fight the rot?
I'm developing a kind of Apothecary bed where I've got some common E. purpurea growing now and will put in a few seedling E. angustifolia this spring. Do you know if any of the wacky hybrids that are out there now are also medicinal, or have they bred those properties out of the plants in favor of cool flowers?
I really do enjoy touring your gardens.
best,
don |
bigcityal
Menasha, WI
(Zone 5a)
January 28, 2006
9:25 AM Post #2006093
| Hi Don,
I removed as much of the bad leaves as I could and then treated with fungicides a couple times to help prevent new growth from being infected. Last year I had very little disease , but a lot of watering.
I'll have to check on your medicinal properties of anything newer.
Thanks,
Al |
drdon
Temecula, CA
(Zone 8b)
January 28, 2006
9:46 AM Post #2006129
| hiya Al,
Good job recovering that plant man. I really like the color of the flower. I'm going to look for that rascal for the roadside gardens. I think it will be nice with all the poppies, galliardias, rudbeckias, flax, toadflax, lupine and a nice contrast to some of the more carefree dahlias I plant to move out there next month.
In the DG forum, you shared that you are a lawn care professional. Do you do mostly residential, commercial, golf, or are you an agronomist?
best,
don |
bigcityal
Menasha, WI
(Zone 5a)
January 28, 2006
10:12 AM Post #2006190
| Doc
I perform maintenance on lawn, trees and shrubs on residential and commercial properties. So that includes fertilizing, pesticide applications and trouble shooting that needs to be done. That does give good regional experience with what are plants that have pest problems to avoid. Most of the other landscaping work and such I picked up on my own.
I did work for a summer as an Assistant Superindendent at a golf course, but the hours were killing me.
Al |
corgimom
Clinton, MS
(Zone 8a)
February 12, 2006
6:31 PM Post #2040947
| Hi Al ! I just joined this forum and yours was the first garden I "toured". Wow ! I can tell this is going to be fun ! I can sit inside my house and see beauty everywhere I look !!! ( that is if I don't look to the side of me and see the cobwebs) . I live in Mississippi where the summer heat and humidity sizzles everything - especially me. I do grow daylilies - about 2,000 varieties. I need to cut that down to about 20, though ! HA |
sstateham
Rockford, IL
(Zone 4b)
February 14, 2006
8:57 AM Post #2044135
| Corgi - By all means, start a Daylily tour! That would be pretty cool to see.
Stacy |
corgimom
Clinton, MS
(Zone 8a)
February 22, 2006
7:12 PM Post #2064207
| Hey, where'd you get the Ruby Giant coneflowers? I gotta get me some of those !!!! |
bigcityal
Menasha, WI
(Zone 5a)
February 22, 2006
7:17 PM Post #2064222
| HI Corgi,
Ruby Giant should be a little more common this year. They are slightly better than Ruby Star I guess. Terra Nova is the breeder. Fragrant Angel is the white version of this flower also.
[HYPERLINK@www.songsparrow.com]
Al |
doss
Stanford, CA
(Zone 9b)
May 31, 2006
10:11 PM Post #2337704
| All, I noticed that you didn't like your blue wave hydrangea. I have several that I adore but it took me quite a few years to get them going. They don't really like a lot of shade. I had to move mine from quite a shady position. And they basically die back to the ground every winter. But mine are about 5 feet tall now and bloom like crazy. It just takes them a long time. And they will be pink if you don't treat them. |
bigcityal
Menasha, WI
(Zone 5a)
June 1, 2006
7:43 AM Post #2338977
| I have only had them in light shade, the tag did say full sun - but it's hard to believe they would like that. I moved them around to the privacy hedge and gave one Nikko to a neighbor. The dieback means only one or two flowers a year. I have added Quickfire and Little Lamb for paniculata's that I like better. |
doss
Stanford, CA
(Zone 9b)
June 1, 2006
10:17 AM Post #2339396
| Those will probably perform better for you in a timely manner. I had mine for years before they really took off. I'll catch a photo of it this spring. |
