Share your yarden?

I don't recall where I picked this cute one up but I am sure it was less than 5 bucks otherwise I would have passed on it!

One more to show you, this is in my front yard. Oregon is not exactly known as the caladium capital of the country so I grow them real easy like this....

...and what you don't see..... I just tuck these behind the piggyback plant (native here) and the sweet woodruff. There are three all together. Cost: $1 each at the dollar store, and there were holes for drainage already in the bottom! After the first frost I can just grab them by the handle and bring them in.

Nice ideas. I tend to spend every cent on plants(llilyfan, I can relate), that is, until last week when I did a tiny pond on my deck. Nothing too fancy, but the nice sound of running water, to relax by and have a nice morning latte. I am trying to add to the atmosphere. I'm just not garden artistic, like you are, pard. I wish I could just think of those cute ideas.

Mags, how did you do your pond?? Pictures please. :)

Pard, great ideas, now show us the big picture! ;) LOL

Lilyfan, what side of the garage is that? North? East?

pard, absolutely wonderful! I however, am like magnolialovergarden artistic impaired LOL. I have big bold hardscape....my bridges are 4ft wide and I tend to feel unless it is good sized it will just look like it blew in and I didn't clean it up!!!!!!!!

Well, I guess I shouldn't complain too much, it is the west side of the garage! Those are my amaryllis summering in the ground with some peruvian daffodil, dahlia, and elephant ear. The north end of this bed is growing gangbusters, it is peony and some daylily and barberry bush, so I suppose I shouldn't compare.

Well, I'm off to the big city and then to tour a daylily breeders garden for the second time with Wandasflowers this afternoon. Later.............

You guys have fun!! :) Wish I could have been there, but not going to happen this time.

Diann

All your beds are breath taking! You guys inspire me . . . to spend more money!

We have had a rough summer . . forced to overhead watering which paid off when the lilies bloom so beautifully! But it seems summer is going too fast.

Tomatoes are turning and sweet corn is coming on so it will be BLT's for breakfast from now through Sept.

Guess I better go order more lilies.

arlene

Pard, I love your ideas!! I will have to think about groupings using decorative fences. My space is so squished and the background is all sidewalks and apartments- I have a tendency to just cram as much as I can in to get a feeling of abundance that my eyes like. But I could afford some fences- laugh, I would probably paint them garish colors! but it's an idea to play with :D

That said you won't be seeing much of my old rusty shed and dead lawn...

A couple weeks ago, our Minnesota Rock Garden Society took a roadtrip down to Clinton, IA to the Bickelhaupt Arboretum, to see the dwarf conifers especially. In that area and west, we marveled at how lush everything was. They have been in a rainbelt this year. But go north 30 miles, and it's an Iowa desert. I remember commenting to my carpool companions, "Why can't we have brown lawns like that?" Everyone up here is lawn irrigating crazy. It makes me sick. Besides, have I mentioned before that brown is my favorite color? LOL

If I were to keep my lawn green in summer, I estimate my total water bill would be well over $100 a month. I can think of better ways to spend it. Of course all of the new developments with HOAs keep their lawns green. Nature's way in the Willamette Valley is brown. Fall will come, the rains will again arrive and green will return as the cycle repeats... I have seen many homeowners install rock lawns: a pile of rocks here, sand there, those "dry" stream beds etc. On a hot day those rocks slowly release their heat in the evening, increasing the cool off period after the sun goes down. I'll stick to brown.

My lawn really didn't go dormant this year. We've had a lot of rain. But usually in July through part of August I rarely have to mow. Here is a shot of my west side walk garden bed.. This is from the end of June this year...

Wow ticker, what a wonderful place for a flower bed. It would be such a pleasant walk.

What a day! Parts of my day proved to be futile, but oh what a joy to visit the daylily hybridizers' garden. I was able to see several daylilies that were still full of buds going into August. My want list grew.......lilium,hems,lilium,hems,lilium...I see I need to go buy a lot somewhere so I can expand LOL

You may never have guessed, but brown is my favorite color too , Lefty. We have not been in the rain belt here, the only good thing about that is, no lawn to mow.
Here is my attempt at a small water structure. So perhaps it's not a yarden, but a yeck? Nothing too fancy. The DDs each picked out a small goldfish and viola', soothing sounds and something to entice the racoons and feral cats, who apparently, enjoy drinking the running water, while I am asleep, or one littlwe rascal, while we are awake.

So, although this looks like it could be our cat, it's a resident feral kitty.

Magnolia, that's a beautiful arrangement you have there. I have a water garden too, but no faucet at hand to supply a little fountain as you have, which is charming. Is that cat dangerous?

Oh, no. In fact, the cat is as sweet as sweet can be. I hesitate calling these cats feral. I talk to them, and sometimes they will lay down and watch me weed or pick raspberries. They are pretty cute. I just try to spay and neuter them, when I can.

It's been my experience that feral kitties can be tamed if you get them young enough. Neutering helps a lot. And they are usually the bestest mousers!! That little gray & white one is precious.

Your "yeck" has inspired me. I would have to Sammie proof anything I did on the deck, though, she thinks it is her playroom. So it's usually covered with dog fur, bones and an occasional sock she has stolen. Right now all my plants are up off the flooring and in stands, 'cause she thinks she's supposed to separate the plants from the pots, go figure. But I am sure she would love the water feature to drink from.

Lilyfan, Thanks. :) The sidewalk is the original sidewalk to the original front door. Unless you're paying attention to where you are walking on it you might end up on your nose. It's a tad bit uneven due to a former mulberry tree. When the Lincoln Highway went through about a 100 years ago, that changed where the drive and what is considered now the front door is from the West to the South... It made the original front entrance and sidewalk irrelevant.

And so, dear Lilyfan, what did you and the girls get from your day of adventure??? Hmmmmmmmm? :) :)

Magnolia, Yes! That is my kind of water feature! Way to go girl! Do you still have two little goldfish in there? I bet the kitties and raccoons are after more than a little drink... ;) Someday in the near distant future we finally get a patio done, I want a water feature similar to yours. :) You can come help me pick one out and put it together, if we're not in an assisted living home by then. :) LOL

It's a beautiful day in Iowa! Time for me to go get dirty!

magnolialover, that sure looks like artistic talent to me! If we ever get a deck I'm going to have a small water feature, alas I too may be in assisted care living before those things happen. One thing at a time....unfortunately they are progrssing at a snails pace.

Ticker, you would feel right at home down here then, we need new sidewalks in the baddest way! Hope to pour a new one next to the drive and house this coming Tuesday, we will have 2 and 3½ year old helpers for almost 4 days so plans may not work out as hoped :-)

Well............I ended up with 3 culled seedlings that will be perfect for my little planting next to the street and sidewalk. It won't matter if kids help themselves to the flowers for mom that way. I also became the proud parent of Dream Queen and Prague Spring. Prague Spring will be used to breed spiders next season. I also picked up a Double Red Head out of Wanda's bag!!!!!!Shhhhhhhhhh Also got some seeds from a - to die for - deep purple cleome and 3 seedlings (cleome) that seem to have survived the ride and move to their new home.

This morning I went to the Lincoln Iris Society sale and came home with several, and a few naughties for that special section of the garden.

Moby, you and your naughty garden....Lol! Only at Moby's........
I , too, love those summer society sales.

And she got some old fellow's name and phone number too. I'm telling you, you gotta watch that gal!

Woo Hoo!! Go Moby, Go! But not without Dave. :) LOL McGlory, I'm sure you weren't encouraging her at all, were you? :) LOL

Oh, yeah, you can bet on McGloryt egging Moby on. I have witnessed such events in person ;) Watch out Mr. Old Fella!!

This message was edited Jul 28, 2007 2:29 PM

Hmphf! I would never encourage such behavior. Not unless it's Saturday morning. ;-)

Here you go. I'll kill this thread in a hurry with pictures of my yarden today. This first one has my Casablanca lilies in it. Don't laugh too hard.

This one has different colors. And lots of different weeds. And lots of holes I need to fill in.

I'm now off to do some serious weeding. Weather is perfect for it today.

Just been catching up with this thread again. So many lovely gardens. And I'm very proud to see the midwest making such a strong showing. My little stand of black beauties was looking very nice this morning , floating above the fray in a far corner of my garden, so I took a pic, and here it is.

The hummingbirds here sure love my 'Black Beauty' clusters. It keeps them quite busy.
Nice shot wickerparker. After seeing your yard in action, I must say, it looks like a little piece of paradise.
McGlory, love that' Casablanca'.

More pictures of gardens and yecks :) nice to see!

Went to the botanical garden today and it was gorgeous, as usual. Found one part I wanted to share, though. This is a herb garden in a wheel shape.
Picture 1

Picture 2- different angle

How big is that wheel, Hybaean? It looks huge! I've thought about one of those for herbs, but thought they looked a little odd. Maybe the ones I was looking at were just too small.

Wickerparker, I couldn't agree more. A little paradise you've got going there. :-)

It was huge- uhm, if I had to guess, I'd put it at 15 ft. Didn't look odd in this setting, although, I couldn't imagine adapting the idea for a yard that's my size. They had it in a nook with a tall wooden fence behind it with sunflowers, and two benches at about 10 and 1. Saw it and immediately thought of Pard's decorative fencing.

Thank you! I don't know about paradise, but it definitely beats the real world, which I try to avoid as much as possible. We haven't had any hummingbirds yet, though more butterflies than ever before, by far. Lovely pics, Hyblaean.

Thanks Wickerparker! I love looking at the pics you put up- they are always beautiful. I don't know how you do it living in the city, but you do :)

mcglory, looks good to me. I see lots of room to tuck in more lilies to help it fill in next year. I have a couple of beds like that too.

wickerparker, wonderful photo, so idyllic.

moby, congrats on the accquistions, especially the old man................!

Hey, McGlory, I knew I could count on you to keep Moby in line. ;) LOL BTW, nice garden. At least you have room to play.. I have to rent a sod cutter to start a new garden....

Wickerparker, your garden looks so restfull. :) Lovely, just lovely. ;) Love that Hakone grass! :)

Hyblaean, I always wanted one of those types of herb garden. Very nice. :)

All your gardens look so beautiful and well planned out. I'm not there yet. There is no composition to my gardens. I am just happy to see blooms. This was a very rewarding year for me in regard to lilies. will probably be purchasing more come Aug 1st.

llilyfan,
do you know the date for next spring for the Iowa Lily Society sale?

It's usually the weekend around St. Patricks's day, March 17.

TLC we also have our fall bulb sale in October.