Had a ripper day yesterday: my dear friend S drove me about during an annual open gardens day, called “Through the Garden Gate”. I will confess up front that I didn’t last past the morning’s viewings; but that was partly because they had provided me with three epiphanies (sort of).
-
- I’ve gone off planting salvias in my empty front bed. There are simply too many people growing salvias; and I have no wish to create a déjà vu feeling.
- I MUST have a ceanothus ! This plant is about the most attractive to bees that I’ve ever seen. :)
- I’m going (now) to have that front strip a native garden. Q.E.D.
Here are my favourite shots:
S and I have prepared the front bed with manure and then compost (her) and lots and lots of turning over and working it all in after having weeded – meaning daisies, too (me).
Now for a buying spree !!! YAAAAAY !!!
I’m with you on ceanothus, M-R. They’re native to California, too, and i have a beautiful lilac one in my front yard. I would love to have more, actually, but they do get quite large. I love open garden events. They always inspire me, and it sounds like that’s what happened for you! Let the buying and planting and beautifying begin! :-)
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We did 2 nurseries today, and came back with, I think, 8 natives and 1 non-native – the ceanothus. :) I shall take some shots of the two garden areas I have, so that you can understand that one’s non-natives and the other’s going to be entirely native. I HOPE that there will be room for a couple more, when I finish the planting out.
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Oh, there’s something so wonderful about gardens isn’t there …
And I’m not even a true gardener, though we have completely redone our front garden over the last 3-4 years and are excited about it. We have gone mostly natives and proteas (almost natives – in that they suit our climate) plus deciduous trees that suit our climate. We were thrilled with the progress that had been made while we were in Japan. There’s still a lot of growing to do but at least everything that should have been growing was growing. That’s a start.
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I’m really excited about this, Sue, because it really is MY garden till I kark ! :D I’ll be starting to plant out the natives I’ve bought (so far) tomorrow arvo, I hope: them I shall bore you shitless with photos. And of course you’re right: growing is, like, IT ! [grin]
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I hope you bore us silly with photos. I love garden photos.
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Remember: mine will be large spreads of soil with wee little plants here and there ! :D
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Well, that’s how much of ours still is. These plants take a while to grow. Difficult for impatient people like me!
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I love lilacs/ceanothus. They smell so yummy! I hope you enjoyed spending your money on cool plants for the garden. It’s a fun time!
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Lilacs ? – I didn’t realise, M-J ! I think all I saw was the kind of carpet of bees on the several bushes in the show garden, and that was that ! :D
Thank-you for the extra input !
XO
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Google tells me everything. When I looked up ceanothus, California lilacs popped up. Probably not the same lilacs as we have in Wisconsin, but I imagine the same lovely smell.
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Fingers crossed, m’dear !
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M-R I enjoyed your piece very much. It has given me some ideas for improving my place. I have a five-acre area Ty o work with, t the is is helpful. By the way I am glad to read your work again after so many years. I look forward to more.
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Sorry for the miss-spelling it is five in the morning. I will proof read in the future before sending.
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Who cares about mis-spellings ? – pas moi ! Don’t fuss, m’dear. :)
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Steve, you’re too kind ! – so kind that I can find it in my heart to forgive your being a conservative voter. But only JUST ! ;D
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I thank you so much I realize being conservative is not easy but I love all people no matter what political issues they support.
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Sounds like fun, M-R. Yo had me cracking up at your deja vu fears, but I have to admit the Ceanothus looks a bit like Lantana on ‘crack’ – lol – but so good to know that it helps the bees. Have fun.
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I shall do as you order ! :D
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