new here and thanks!

16 years ago

Hello everyone! Since I've lurked on this site for quite along time, I thought I should introduce myself and to especially thank ALL of you for such great advice over so many topics!

I live by the AB/SK border near Provost, AB and work full time at the local hospital and my main hobby for the past 22yrs, has been showing/trialing & breeding Australian Shepherds(first started with Mini Dachshunds, with only a 16yr old senior left) Have always liked to garden, but never had time it seemed with dog showing, to really do much.

This has changed dramatically the past 3yrs, with a new obsession of roses, lilies, daylilies, clematis and so on. I owe this "oh I love that" and "have to find it" all to you guys and all those gorgeous pics you post:)!!

My yard has many projects started, with a few almost finished and many in that "long ways" to go yet catagory.

One that I'm the most excited over, is doing a pondless waterfall. The boulders have been hauled, the basin has been dug and this spring, will be the put it together phase with many plants already on order. I exchanged the 10' x 12' liner that came with the kit, to a 10' x 25' one, so that I could have more of a creek or pooling area's on the length of it. I had originally wanted a full fledge pond, but with the Aussies being like ducks in the water, it was a potential disaster in the waiting, so this was a good compromise (I hope!:)

Anyways, I've been terribly long winded here, but just wanted to really express my Thanks to all of you experienced gardeners and you have helped me incredibly over the past couple of years with all your knowledge!

Debbie

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Comments (18)

sierra_z2b
16 years ago
Hi Debbie, and Welcome to the Far North Forum.

Your project sounds interesting. Do post some pictures of your progress and gardens. Join in when you can!

Sierra
Crazy_Gardener
16 years ago
Hi Debbie, thanks for introducing yourself, it always helps to get to know each other better.

I live a hopscotch and jump from you. I live in Wainwright and I also work for ECH.

Best wishes on your garden this year!

Sharon
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Laurie_z3_MB
16 years ago
Hi Debbie, so nice to meet you! You definitely have to post some pictures of your waterfall. I think that rocks, water and plants go together extremely well......it just doesn't get any better than that in my books!lol

Glad you took the time to introduce yourself....I wonder if any more lurkers would come out from hiding? :^)

Laurie
debbie_z2
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you Sierra...I will take pics as I go along. I have kinda bit off more than I can chew at the beginning, and the hardest part is coming up with a "plan" (and sticking with it) since I often see different or new plants or especially new idea's and change midstream:)
And yes Sharon, I figured out you were from Wainwright and felt your advice on hardiness,etc was particularly helpful since we are so close to eachother. But what a small world to hear you work at ECH as well!
Thanks for the welcome.
Debbie
Pudge 2b
16 years ago
Welcome, Debbie. I'm also looking forward to pics of your project. I've been toying with a similar 'pondless' water feature (kind of a fountain) idea that incorporates lots of rocks, so would love to see how yours turns out.

In the meantime, don't be shy and jump right on in.
debbie_z2
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Laurie & Pudge
I actually went to a pond making seminar last summer, which ended up being a pondless waterfall seminar. The simplicity and maintanance of it really made more sense for me at this point in my life. My worst fear though, since my yard is very flat, is to not have it look like a big ol' volcano sitting out in the middle! HA!
It almost did me in though, hauling rocks for 3 weeks (although abit more fun compared to picking rocks as a kid growing up on the farm)
I thought I would plant lots of daylilies, small shrubs, grasses,etc to try to blend it into the flatness of my yard.
If anyone has pictures or other ideas, I sure would like to see them.
Debbie
savona
16 years ago
Welcome Debbie..this is a great forum and you will get loads of friendly good advice. It is always exciting starting a new project, keep us posted on your progress..savona
Laurie_z3_MB
16 years ago
Debbie, the link below are pictures of my pond. I was also worried about how a pile of rocks in a flat yard would look too, but now as things are growing up around them, it's starting to look more "natural" now.....I think anyway.;^)

Laurie

Here is a link that might be useful: Laurie's pond
debbie_z2
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you Savona. That is why I came out of lurk mode, as I felt guilty reading and searching posts and getting so much out of it, but never letting the poster know that I really appreciated it.

And omg Laurie! Your pond is beautiful and how creative you were with the rock to create a sitting area.
I can't wait till spring
Debbie
marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario
16 years ago
Welcome, Debbie! It's always nice to meet someone new, and it's great that you and Sharon actually work in the same hospital! You sound like us - totally addicted! LOL

I'm waiting for spring too!
sazzyrose
16 years ago
Hi Debbie. Thanks for joining in. I can't wait to see what your waterfall looks like.
A while ago, I too was just just lurking... and I found this place such a friendly place to be. Plus the knowledge is unbelievable. We have been on the quiet side lately, but things are starting to pick up a bit. Spring must be on the way.

Shelley
mariana2007
16 years ago
Hi everyone,

I'm a "lurker" too, and I have a waterfall/stream with 3 little ponds.
Debbie, I don't mean to steal your post at all, but I too am in the same situation as you, searching old posts, reading new ones, enjoying pictures and such...
Thank you everyone for all the valuable information in these posts. It really has helped me get a head start with my own garden.

I live in north Ontario, in Elliot Lake. My husband and I moved here in October after one year of continuous traveling from Toronto, using all our vacations and all our long and not so long weekends for doing renovations to this house.

We didn't plan to move here so soon... We were thinking about this place as a retirement option, but the town is so nice and quiet, and people here are so friendly, that we decided to try living here. We are still looking for employment.

The garden has a nice landscape done by the previous owner. It had a more natural and wild look when we bought it, with lots of greens. Or maybe it just looked that way when we were visiting here because the flowers were not in bloom at the time. The stream has a nice flow through the garden, and through two ponds, one on the side of the house, and the stream continue along the side after that. The pond on the raised bed is not connected to the stream.

A quick warning about opening the photo: I don't want to hurt your eyes with the colour I chose for the deck, fence and garden path. I'm planning to change it in the spring with brown. :)

{{gwi:729048}}.
debbie_z2
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the warm welcome everyone.
And glad to hear you came out of lurk mode yourself Mariana.
That is so very interesting with the streams then ponds and so nice and close to your house. Mine won't be that close, but hope to build a "patio" of stone under a pergola near my waterfall (but that might not happen for another year:)
Debbie
Laurie_z3_MB
16 years ago
Welcome to the forum Mariana!

What lovely ponds and streams you have there! Was that last year's project? Once the plants all fill in, what a nice retreat you'll have there....looks like you've put in a ton of work, but it's so worth it, isn't it?

Laurie
Crazy_Gardener
16 years ago
Marcia, Debbie and I don't work in the same hospital, we work for the same region, different facility.

Welcome aboard Mariana!
mariana2007
16 years ago
Thank you Debbie, Laurie and Sharon,
The stream and ponds were there when we bought the house. We've redone the begging of the stream with all those rocks around the arch design, I think is a good focal point. Redone the whole deck, underneath it was no proper frame to hold that deck, rearranged the ponds for better drainage, buried lots of water hoses for the stream, removed trees, extended flower beds, created new ones, covered an unnecessary path, and so on for as long as weather was good to work in the garden. It is worth it. I can work, and work in the garden nonstop. I recently joined a local gardening class, and thanks to all of you who post here, now all the garden topics sound so familiar.
Hopping my winter-sowed containers will sprout, I will have a nice colorful garden.
One more thing I have to share with you, I planted indoor hosta and the sprouts came out today, and I'm so happy.
Laurie_z3_MB
16 years ago
Congratulations Mariana! Hosta babies are just the cutest! :)
mariana2007
16 years ago
Thank you Debbie.
Yes, they are so cute!

new here and thanks!

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