Oh, and my mother bought a house a few years ago. Across her back yard, she has a 3-foot deep row of aspidistra. She doesn't like it and mentioned pulling it all up. Guess who said, "I want it!" Yes, me. I haven't gotten any of it yet, and luckily she's not in a hurry. But I have no place to put ?? plants (3' x 100'?120'? worth).

She isn't in a hurry because she's more worried about pulling out all the dwarf mondo grass and liriope grass that surrounds her house. Guess who said, "I want it!" I haven't gotten any of it yet, but I am going to have to.

She also wants to pull out the little pond (about 2x4) that is by her back door. Guess who said, "I want it!" (my husband says no, but seriously, we have 20 acres... I can hide it somewhere, lol.

This post was edited by aharriedmom on Sat, Jun 8, 13 at 8:01

I have the same problem. I love plants. I love the many plant varieties and shapes. I want to design and landscape more because I want my yard to look neat, tidy, and impressive, but my brain resists that type of planning because my love of plants overrides the landscaping principles of symmetry, color coordination, and minimalism.

I went to a landscaping design presentation once and the speaker suggested painting all the garden pots a matte black shade and filling them with leaf plants of different shades of green and different textures. He said not to plant too many flowers. That did sound pretty, but I knew I could never do it.

I do "try" to use the concept of garden rooms and edging (plant or hardscape) to bring some visual order to my yard. I don't want to live in an overgrown messy jungle.

Unfortunately, my mother invited me to come for the afternoon and spend the night.

This is unfortunate, because she works at a nursery, and I am allowed all the "destined for the compost" plants that I want. Because this also includes the pots they are in, I have more than once brought home something I don't really want, just for the pot. Then I am, of course, obligated to try to save the plant.

The first time I went, I brought home 75 plants. The second time, only about 40 (because that is all the fit in the toolbox of the truck I was driving).

I wonder what I'll do today (or tomorrow, depending on when we go).

I will probably scout out her wee pond, and the grasses that she has and see about a plan for getting them home. Too bad she lives an hour away.

~~

I managed to not pick many oxalis - instead I reclaimed a palm tree from masses of vines, cut down a veritable ton of volunteer trees & weeds from stands of cedar, areas of yucca (anyone want yucca? I have it coming out of my ears).

I don't think I can look up anymore, after all the looking up I did getting the vines. There were well over a hundred.

I have a similar problem, though I am the opposite in that I can draw up all sorts of plans. But due to financial and physical limitations, I often wander the yard knowing what I want to do, I am just unable to at that moment. I am also the opposite that despite my limitations I will often decline donations and offerings. While I have no issues taking a cutting here or there, if someone like DClegg says, "Hey I have some Salvia you can have" I tend to quietly decline (Though I have been thinking on her offer, so I have not actually declined that offer yet.

As a result, I have quite a few beds designed and mulched, but they are sparsely planted. Which is also a result of starting many of my plants from seed or cuttings. Two of my beds should look much better once things have grown a bit and filled in.

The front yard is for the neighbors, somewhat tidy and organized. The backyard is my haven, at least one of everything. I started out clearing one grassy area, then another and so on. Every bed started out small, and just grew with time (and plants).

Now there are 4 beds in the front lawn, plants surrounding the house, beds along the full length of one fence and halfway across two other fences. Pots on the pool deck and elsewhere. It's taken me over 10 years, and I'll never see the full design because it's always a work in progress.

Many plants that I've tired of have found homes in neighbors' yards, and then I get something else to fill the space. I've even removed lawn to put something in and now am returning the space back to lawn because the plants didn't work out as I hoped.

I call it my Gemini yard (which I am). The front is the calm, organized face and the back is the schizophrenic, disorganized, fun face.

Do what makes you happy, just dig a hole and get started.

One of the big box stores near me has a section for reduced price plants that are on their last leg's. I can't pass up a bargain, and I also feel the need to try and rescue the poor plant's. Yesterday I came home with two Dahlia's and a Buddleia that were looking pretty desperate, but now, having removed all the dead foliage and given them a good drink, I'm happy to report that this morning they're looking pretty perky.

Hi
Have been gardening actually growing plants for over 30 years and still don't have a real plan lol After Jeanne,frances and Wilma redesigned my grow area was forced to come up with another plan lol have always been a hopeless collector and at one time had over 500 pots!! lol
Unfortuneately still have no interest in "landscape" BUT over the last 3 years i have organized into groups with similar needs and have made great headway with "too big too rampant too delicate too much maintenence"lol
my canopy has returned and I really like the looks so am now busy layering and underplanting branching into alternative culture methods as well as complimentary plantings . Though I still have well over a hundred pots and 5 separate grow zones they are fitting together and have cut the maintence by around a third. MUCH more to go BUT I am slowly arriving at an interesting garden which is very pleasant to be in and not a constant headache lol I really don't mind the work but hoping more of a "part time job" without becoming ordinary and boring lol
Recently i actually picked a color scheme!!! Is that progress or what?? lol gary

That is progress, Gary! Similar needs is a great way to do it. It seems it would be a very good method for me and one I am considering first - then hopefully by needs.

500 pots is a lot of maintenance! How did you fertilize, I'm finding that mixing it by the gallon is extraordinarily time consuming - I was thinking mixing 5-gal worth into a bucket and dipping it out by the gallon.

I have my "recovery room" under some trees that get a bit of morning sun, and then a bit of late afternoon sun. It's time to start transitioning things out now.

~~

Linda Brookes,

Are you me? I picked up a red calibrachoa, a flat of verbena (some candy-striped!), and three kalenchoes yesterday from the throw out pile at my mom's work. The kalencho are for my mom, I have one at home (brought by my neighbor when she came over to liberate me of about 30 plants that were extra from my nursery freebies, I was thinking, "No! You were supposed to take plants, not bring them!) and am not sure I want more.

We're going back today because she wants plants that don't need resuscitation (she will buy these plants) - and I believe I am going to be forced to pick up the remaining verbena and ALL the ornamental sweet potato vine, which I passed on yesterday. Stupid, I think now, I could have just as easily brought it, what if it's gone this morning?! If it's still there, I will rehab what I can, plant what I can, and give away the rest.

~~

Ladywingr - we don't have a front yard, really. We aren't visible from the road, our property is surrounded by large trees. This is unfortunate in that it doesn't force me to keep at least one "proper" area. ;)

I never thought of simply giving away the plants I don't like! I could possibly avoid all guilt!

~~

Leekleman - If I was off somewhere, I would decline offerings, but the given plants just show up at my house - most, actually, are brought by my husband, after he has mentioned to someone I garden and they give him something to bring to me. Too late to decline!

This post was edited by aharriedmom on Sun, Jun 9, 13 at 21:02

Hi
Slow release for terrestrials, foliar for most of the orchids, pellets for most of the water plants really cuts down on the work BUT requires records which is very time consumming also lol gary

I HAVE FOUND MY PEOPLE!!!

Aharriedmom, I too am a dreamer. I share your visions of masses of plants and flowers. And I must admit, I love to garden… but it seems there is a whisper in my heart telling me that I want OTHERS to enjoy what I've done. So I don't just do it for myself. I feel like I'm creating a little Eden for my friends and loved ones.
I hate to pull up seedlings, too. I don't have homes for all of the volunteers that show up, so I try to pot them up and give them away, but I've run out of people to bombard with free plants. A few of my friends have sussed out the fact that I invite them over for lunch and cocktails just so I can soften them up for the 'big-plant-giveaway.' One has figured it out so well, she shows up in her white-leather-interior Lexus, dressed to the nines, with plans for where she's headed (certainly not home!) when she leaves my company. "I would take them, but… I didn't bring the truck… I don't want to stain my clothes… they'd just die in the trunk while I'm out saving the world!"
Where does your mother live? Will she adopt me? I want some Aspidistra and Liriope, too! (And don't get me started on how many plants I'd try to salvage from her work!)
LMAOOO @ "hide the pond somewhere"!!! That's awesome! (And so ME)
Yes, I want Yucca!
I absolutely can not have enough Sweet Potato Vine. What is it about that plant? The deep purple, the bright green, the pale variegated with pink edges… sighhhh. I had to chuckle that you were worried it wouldn't be there. I can't count the times I've gone mad-dashing out of the house (without a bra, even!) to get something I "left behind" the day before in the TLC section!
I, too, go outside to "yarden" with all of the best intentions. As in, today I will feed everything, Round-up the weeds, pot up the cuttings, leaf blow the patio and walkways, prune the Wisteria, etc… then I get out there with my iPod and next thing you know, I'm crawling around pulling out Loquat babies and dollar weed, shaking my rump to "Bottom of the River." My poor neighbors.

Amberroses, I relish symmetry in my house. I am organized to the point that I can spot something out of place in a room immediately. My spices are on risers in the cabinet in alphabetical order. My drinking glasses are lined up in soldier straight rows. My towels are in 4 rows because they have "categories." I know how to fold a fitted sheet so it looks just like its flat counterpart.
But in my back yard, all bets are off. I don't want to live in an overgrown messy jungle, either… but I do like the lush, abundant look. I'm almost embarrassed at the randomness of my "plan," until someone sees it for the first time and says, 'It's like a resort back here!" or "It's like being at a spa!" or "It feels like being on vacation!" I guess I'm headed in the right direction. They don't immediately see what I see: that when everything grows up, I've got a problem on my hands. LOL!

Leekle, I think I could be more discriminating over what plants I accept from people if I had the finances to just place that huge order that would fulfill my vision. As it is, when offered plants I always say, "Yes!" then go outside to figure out where to tuck it in. I have a lot of empty space, and something is better than nothing.
I have a lot of "somethings" that are in their "temporary homes" until I can determine where I'd like to permanently place them. I know, it makes no sense… not even to me.

Ladywingr, I couldn't agree more that the front yard is for the neighbors and should be somewhat tidy and organized. My backyard is my haven, too!
I have plants everywhere, at least one of "everything" (but that's not true, of course… always have a list with me of plants I want!) I have plants in pots on the patio, pool deck, walkways, in the screened porch, hanging from trees.
I'm not even a Gemini! (Scorpio here… dunno what that means garden-wise)

Linda, I have a hard time passing up the TLC plants, too. A lot of my best and favorite plants looked like death warmed over when I brought them home!

Gary, I have dreams of "getting it together" and having specific-need plants grouped together. But alas, as of now they're all mish-mashed and spread hither and yon. Color scheme? I couldn't begin to try. I'm always planting things, then stepping back and thinking, "Well, those mustard-yellow flowers look awful next to the white such-and-such and framed by the pink whatevers." And then I shrug, tell myself I'll just let it "nursery" there for a while and I"ll move it some day. Some day when the skies part and God Hisownself hands me THE perfect garden plan.

And here is my proof that I can't pass up a plant:

How many plants can you name in this ONE pic? LOL!

Those Giant Agave were in a heap at the local mulching facility. I only wanted one, but they were throwing away 10. I managed to give away three before getting attached to these… that are planted too close together and too close to the fence.

This area is such a work in progress.

Look closely and you'll see that there's a seed tray of plants under the table even!

Pots on the pool deck. And see that Marigold in the cactus pot on the left? I HATE Marigolds. Yet this one keeps re-seeding every year and I just let it.

Pots on the patio and in the beds:

More pots on the patio… and cuttings I'm rooting…

And still more pots on the patio:

My shade garden area is too small, so everyone is jammed in tight for how young they all are!

Apparently I needed more plant cuttings…

This post was edited by shear_stupidity on Mon, Jun 10, 13 at 14:15

I love the fish planter.

Thanks! (Pier One Imports, 10 years ago)

I can't decide whether I like the green onions shooting up out of its mouth, or if I prefer something spilling out.

This year, the onions win. ;)

What a lovely garden shear_stupidity, so much to look at, I love the random feel to it. I have dreams of recreating the cottage garden I had in England, but so far all I've done is collect plants. Called in the store for potting compost today and returned with potting compost, plus two very sad looking Hibiscus that were about to go to the great garden in the sky

Thanks, Linda. I'm not sure I've embraced the randomness yet... but I love every plant I own and have to keep them SOMEwhere! LOL!
I would love to see your England cottage garden pics if you have a few?

I don't have any photo's of my garden back in England, sadly I lost them all when my old laptop died. Here are some photo's of the small garden I've created here. I have lot's more plants, but we're going to be moving house again soon so the others are living in pot's for the time being.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Garden

Beautiful! I love that yellow Hibiscus!
It has a very "happy" feeling. The colors all mixed together against a cheery yellow wall is very smiley.

Are you moving far? Will you be able to move all of these plants with you?

Oh, that's lovely, shear stupidity!

~

My lack of an ability to plan is most apparent in the fact that I can't decide where to spend the time I need to spend to make beds.

I have a ton of shade areas, but most need some serious attention before I can plant because of the weeds & vines.

I also have a fair amount of sun areas (within reach of the hose), but they need to be dug out. I also have to decide where I want them.

~~

The sweet potato vine was still there, thankfully. So were the other 10 verbena. I didn't mention that when I was falling asleep, all I could think was that they would have composted them after the nursery closed, or before they opened Sunday morning. Ridiculous stress I put myself through.

I "made" my neighbor come over to take some of the verbena, nicotiana babies, and something else. She tried to get me to bring home more spider plants, some begonias, and a night blooming cereus, but I stayed strong. For the moment, ha. Mostly because I have no idea where to put them.

~

We had some all-of-the-sudden work done today, replacing our drainfield. Suddenly it there is a lot more cleared land around our house. Well. Not cleared yet, but the trees are pushed over. After some clean-up, I may have new late morning-on sunny areas to create beds.

-- when I say, "some clean-up," I mean A LOT of clean-up. My husband had the backhoe operator push some trees down (a few mimosa, a dead cedar, a dying dogwood, and the trees that were in the way of the drainfield). My side yard looks like a bomb went off.

The only bright side is that I will now have a nice, clear area for planting. Ofc, it's an area on the far side of the house from where people drive up and where we sit when we're outside, so no one will actually see it very often. But I guess it could be my "temporary holding spot" for the plants I impulsively pick up and don't know what to do with. lol - it's just enabling me.

Re: "A bomb went off"…

Let me show you what "putting in a pool aftermath" looks like… an opportunity to change EVERYTHING!

Here are the before and after views out one side of my screened porch:

Here is the view looking toward the pool from outside the porch. No beds. No landscaping. And the same view today.

View from an upstairs bedroom… before and after.

Here is where we had no patio 8 months ago… and the never-finished-of-course patio today.

And finally a view of the back of the house… after pool dig, and the "after" pic this past January… after a lot of work!

Just start putting things in. I'm in love with drawn and planned gardens… I really am. But because of the way I amass plants and cuttings, I have to relax (a four-letter word!) and just drop and plop plants wherever they land. :)

That is beautiful. You can come and visit me and give me some pointers! I think, "Yay! I have a new blank slate!" And then I remember that I have no ability to design or plan.

My husband's uncle ran (and owns) the backhoe, and it is still parked here. I could so easily have him scratch out a place where I could put other beds... if I could figure out where I wanted other beds. :\ (also where my husband would let me put more holes in the ground. I need places that are within 100' from my spickets, or I'll be hauling water.

-- baby bird is hungry again. One small feeding (enough to ensure he doesn't starve before parents find him) and then we're headed to take him back home.

If you want to take pics and post them here or email me, I'm FULL of opinions!

Gaw, I only WISH I had access to a backhoe!!

How beautiful it looks with your pool now. I'm so jealous of your huge garden, I'm hoping I'll be lucky enough to get a big garden at our next home.

I hope so, too!
If you don't get one, do like I did and MAKE one!~ (or two, or three!)

Bridget - thanks for alerting me to this post - I love seeing the pics of your landscaping and hard work. Your whole place is so pretty and peaceful. What an amazing transformation.

Juli, you definitely should post pics of your bombfield. Even if just for "before and after". Plus, someone could give you an idea that you might love and you could do it while you still have backhoe privileges.

That is a gorgeous garden picture, Linda - the further I scrolled down, the more vibrant it got! Are the white flowers pentas?

Susie

Thank you susieqsie :) Yes the white flowers are Pentas. I took those photo's the day after tropical storm Andrea came through here. The garden really appreciated all the rain and the plants looked beautifully lush and green afterwards.

Since there isn't really a "just stuff" thread, and so I don't have to start another one...

I was outside repotting a few things this morning and two of my dogs (11lb mini doxie and 65lb lab/blue heeler) were playing - running & chasing each other in between "wrestling" matches. The big dog ran past one of my pots - a hanging one that wasn't hanging. His collar caught the handle of the pot and he dragged it about 15 feet - spilling little Dahlberg Daisies around and dumping potting soil out.

Oh well - there were too many in the pot so they needed to be separated.

~

I may get pictures of my bomb area - but it's going to be quite a while before I can even think about planting there. So much work to be done that anything would get trampled.

It's all fun and games until someone loses a flower pot!

^ Ha. I know. He's nearly 2, but definitely still has that lab maturity issue. He tears around like a madman, and he's big enough that he can wreak a lot of havoc. When he pushes off to start running, he'll even tear up grass.

~

And, I just changed the clutch cable on my riding mower. All by myself. And it works, so yay! I can finally mow again!