Wow! Very nice, very impressive. You have done a lot of work in a short time. Enjoy all your hard work and show your husband a chair to SIT in while he is outside!

You must be in the landscaping business because it looks so professionally done, better in fact than many pros.

And the plants you used look so refreshing, not the same ol' same ol' that contractors use because it's cheap and fills the space.

That wall is certainly interesting and unique, most of the walls I've seen like that were "estates" with gates and the house behind them. I like yours more.

I had to keep flipping back and forth between the pictures. THey were so different (better) it didn't look like the same place.

Thanks, no we're not in the landscape business but my husband is a contractor, so he's always handy (and very willing to help) when he gets to use his big machinery :). We got the rocks for free from a construction job site.

The wall was surprisingly difficult to design -- alot of decisions: height, angle, column size and spacing, tile, lighting, planters...glad you like it. It divides the front (our rental place) from the back (our house). Ricky's lecture on The Tyranny of Plants could have used me for a case study. The two bismarks were one of the first things I planted five years ago (boy those things grow fast) before the wall was built. I had a heck of a time figuring out how to work the wall around them when we got the idea to build the wall. We ended up splitting them up on either side of the wall, which was contrary to my original plan of a dramatic, symmetric entrance. But I'm actually more happy with the curving asymmetric look now, especially since the two bismarcks have developed quite differently in size, shape and coloring. But I was definitely tyrannized by those Bismarcks!

Wow, gorgeous. You did a great job. I plan to post my before and after shots, but I keep changing my mind, so the shots are always 'in between'. You should be proud and treat yourself to a massage, you probably need it after all of that work.
Nancy

Julie, you've done an amazing job creating your private oasis. I love the large, curving beds everywhere and the use of the cool boulders. It already looks lush and tropical. I happen to like the asymmetrical use of the bismarcks much more than if you would've used them symmetrically. I also think you did a superb job with the privacy wall. You've got to be proud of your accomplishment. Please continue to show us pics as it evolves!

Anna

Absolutely gorgeous! I love before and after pictures :) . The area by the pool is beautiful. And I love all of the rocks you've added.
All of that hard work is paying off!! Great job :)

Very nice! You should go into the Landscape Design business, but then again that would probably take all the fun out of it ;-)

Tom

WOW - Reeeeeeally BIG improvement. Very nice job. I loved looking at the changes you made.

Great job! Like the wall and the shade garden the best. Very good idea to visually separate your rental from your residence. It looks totally like a different property.
Congratulations!
Felix

Just beautiful!! How long did it take you to get everything planted once you decided on the beds? I absolutely love your boulders - if I could have anything I wanted for my garden, it would be some rocks and boulders like that.

Ginny

Every thing looks wonderful. I am in boulder envy! You did a great job. Keep the pictures coming as the work progresses. :o)

That looks like a monumental task, congratulations on an excellent piece of landscaping. However you're missing a few orchids mounted on trees around your pool to complete that tropical look. Let me know if you want hints on what to plant where. Again.... outstanding landscape work and I echo what others have said, looks better than some 'pros' I've seen.

Very nice. Love the big rocks!

What a transformation, Julie! The rocks are fantastic!!! I love the shade garden and your entryway. Your hard work has paid off big time! And the pot in your shot of the back of the pool is great! What is that tree you have planted in it?
~Betsy

Thanks! Looking back I guess there is a big difference for four months time. I just see all the work left to be done (and there's a lot) and I can't wait until the plants get bigger. Virtually everything in the streeside bed I grew from seeds or cuttings. I highly recommend lots of caladiums for quick impact and cheap gratification. My progress has been slowed considerably since I broke my foot three weeks ago -- bummer.

Ginny, planting the plants was much, much less time consuming than spreading all the bulk mulch. Ben, I love the idea about the orchids on the trees by the pool, but I'm afraid they'd get too much sun. Maybe I could try some sun tolerant bromeliads. Betsy, the plant in the pot by the pool is just an ancient ficus that I've been dragging around for almost twenty years. I guess I'm just hanging on to it for sentimental reasons -- and the fact that is as maintenance-free as a real plant can be. But I've thought about pulling it out and planting a nice dwarf citrus tree in it. My goal is to get this placed whipped into shape and maybe host a swap someday. It seems like there aren't so many swaps over here on the west coast.

WOWSER!!! love it. Love those rocks and the shady area and that area with what looks like tropicals?..the bannas and I think I saw a plumie in there too?

Cliff

Jen, full sun is a very doable thing with many orchids. Here's a list for you to consider, to attach them on tree, use a piece (4x4 inches or therabouts) of cocofiber tween the orchid and the tree, use plastic tie wraps (H.Depot electrical dept)to secure orchid to tree, you may need to use more than 1 tiedown depending on the thickness of the trunk you're attaching to. It is important that plant be secure and immobile when tied down to the trunk, new growth has to point upwards for all plants except phalenopsis, they grow hanging down. Google these plants and see what you like and I believe you have some orchid nurseries in sarasota. If you have a hard time tracking any of the plants on the list, let me know.

Plants that can be grown in full sun:

Encyclia tampensis - florida native, blooms in June
Schomgburkia- any variety
Laelia anceps - summer-fall bloomer
brassavola - any variety (nodosa, cucullata, perrinii, dygbiana, mostly summer bloomers, nodosa is expecially fragrant, after dark).
Epidendrum ciliare
cattleytonia (CTNA)hybrids - small red/yellow flowers.

If you have some partly shaded spots, then, you can use any cattleya hybrid or dendrobium hybrid or oncidium (dancing lady).

and lastly if you a VERY shaded spot, you can put some phalenopsis in, for these use extra(two layers with roots sandwiched tween them) cocofiber as they will need more moisture than the other plants and preferably within reach of the sprinklers

Thank you so much Ben, I have all my orchids (I only have 6) in pretty heavy shade, and guess what -- they never bloom! They are a lovely shade of deep green though and they put out lots of new growth, so I just thought they were slow bloomers. I will definitely try to track some of these down and try them on the palms, per your directions. I would love to have some pretty orchids poolside to enjoy.

So nice! I'm curious about the royal poinciana tree. How big was it and how do you think it's grown? If you wouldn't mind throwing out a ballpark cost figure, I'd be appreciative.

I ask because I just sprouted a few RP seeds. I've heard they can grow 5 ft per year and will flower withing 3 years. Thanks!

Jen, I just noticed you have bismarkia palms by the wall and they look great. Just FYI there is some kind of disease that is wiping them on the east coast. On the I95 exits in Pompano beach, there vere literally hundreds planted with other assorted palms and the Bismarkias are all dying off. It seems every day I drive by there's a few less. These are big plants they were all at least ten feet tall and looked great the first 4-5 years they were planted.

Not trying to scare you, just be aware and if there is any kind of prevention available, I would take it. If I find out any more details or anyone else here knows, please do-tell....

Ladybug, I just bought the Royal Poinciana at Walmart about a month ago for $50, but it seems like it's grown about a foot since I bought it. I can't really say how old it is.

Ben, I hadn't heard about the bismark disease. Maybe it hasn't made it to the west coast, hopefully. I would like to know more if you hear anything. Thanks.