Hi everyone, I've been thinking of updating on my plants and the neighborhood, but got caught up with so many things. These days, most of the weekends I will be out in the yard trying to decide where to put each of my plants (I've added so many more ). Many of the plants that went in the ground with pots have found their new place, along with the new ones. When I am out there (before the weather got this hot), some people passing by commented that they like my garden. There is one neighbor lady who shows interest in my plants. But, I think many of them may not agree with my practices - I don't water the lawn until it becomes utmost necessity. I got a shock when I got the water bill the first two months when I had the sprinklers on ( it was around $200 each month). It hasn't rained for almost 10 days now, and it was so hot that the grass has started to dry up. I haven't waterd it, it will come back up with the first rain it gets and I expect it to be any time. One of my neighbors had the sprinklers on for the last 3-4 days almost half of the day! (their sprinklers are on a well, I believe). And I know they might be thinking that if I can spent money on plants and water those, why can't I just have the lawn watered too. But I don't want to spend any resources on the grass that I am not intending to keep in the long run. Everything is in the startup stage, they are going to take time to grow up. If they expect me to be perfect all the time, I can't live up to that. I can't have a landscaping done with all those common plants and then rest for the rest of life (that is how it can be perfect, isn't it?). On the code vilation part, after the visit to the city, months passed by without any incident. So, I thought everyone has gone back to mind their own business. But, I had another visit from the city code enforcement - this time I was home (was about to leave for work), and the complaint is - "the grass is overgrown". I had mowed the lawn a week before (actually on memorial day while I was out planting). The officer started to explain me the code that city allows a height of 6" and she looked at the grass and could not find it to be 6" (and it was raining all that week). So, we talked about the plants and she said "we have to keep our neighbors happy to live here, so just mow it in between the rains". I don't think on the spot, I didn't ask who the complainant is, and I was banging my head for not doing so after that. I don't have a fence yet, I started with the process, everybody told me that the fence contractors will know the perimeter where the fence is allowed. But I found out that is not the case. If it is a regular 4-sided lot everybody knows (even I know where the fence can be, in that case). Finally I called up the city, they said on a corner lot, on the side yard, it is 5' within the property line. But, mine is not a real corner lot, it is a 5 sided lot. I faxed in the survey for him to mark the allowed fence line, what I got back didn't seem like real - only very little of the sideyard could be fenced). The city doesn't allow fencing the front yard. I got the trimming of the trees/shrubs done and also got 2 carrotwoods removed. After the $$$ spent on that I thought I'll wait on the fence (anyway there isn't much I could fence (both my neighbors have fences up). Then I decided to remove another big carrotwood (initially I thought I might need a permit, but then I when I measured the trunk diameter, I found out that I could do it without a permit if I do it right now. So, I went ahead and got it removed. This time I got a few quotes and I realised that the first trimming guys did overcharge me (for removing this one they gave me a price of $525 whereas I got it done for $300). Now I am back thinking about the fence. Now I have a notice from the HOA asking me to "trim & thin shrubbery and replace dead vegetation" - Can it get more generic than that? When I got it, whatever I could find and categorize as shrubbery I just flattened it - there was a ficus hedge (which will be gone once I have a fence) in the back and then some surinam cherry bushes as foundation plants (will get replaced with some flowering plants as time progresses) on one side of the house. Then I called up the HOA asking for details on what they meant. He said he will come down and show it to me. I waited for him 3 days in the morning, he didn't show up and I have given up. Last week, I was so alarmed to see two of my plants destroyed by some lunatic (I don't know who it is/was). One day they made part of the damage and after 2 days they finished it - all branches on my white mussaenda was either broken or pulled apart (still attached barely to the main stem). It was planted parallel to the driveway. There was a jasmine in front of it closer to the sidewalk, that was left alone. And the firebush which is behind the mussaenda lost the biggest two branches. Both those were not big plants, I bought those 3 gal plants (mussaaenda may be little over a month back and firebush 2-3 months) and planted it and they were establishng quite nicely. Could be the work of a bored kid, but why those two plants and why did this person come back to finish it off. I just hate that person whover it is. On a pleasnat note, most of my plants are growing without any problems. Unlike last year, my plants are getting to see the sun and experince the rain and they are growing not affected by many pests/insects (though my vegetables -long beans and bittergourd- are getting more and more stink bugs on them). And I am getting to add many more plants that I wanted all the time. Nicki, you have a great garden. I want mine to be like that one day. Mickey, when you buy the house, check out for the city regulations too. I think old cities are much more relaxed and humane than the new ones. I heard Coconut Creek is going to remove one of the mobile home parks to put up townhouses and condos since that is visually more appropraite. How can a city be so rude? One day they might even decide to ask all those who don't seem visually appropriate for them to leave (there is the new law that allows them to take over the private properties!!) wanna_run_faster, thanks. Martha, I agree with you. These days I feel that I can't trust anyone, even those who acts nice to me when I talk to them. Being "socially impaired" - that is one of my attributes - I don't make friends fast, but most of the time the friends I find are real good freinds. I am hoping I'll find a real friend in the neighborhood. zeldapug, that was a good idea to talk to the city commisioner. But that never crossed my mind.

How much area does this space cover? I agree that vinca minor (periwinkle) and honeysuckle are good bank covers. You mention trees. What kind of trees, how much spread, and are there surface roots? We've had good luck on the bank outside of our fence with iris and day lilies. There is also the honeysuckle and periwinkle ground cover ( over a very rocky and dry area). Periodically it, gets cut with a weed eater. That's all. We also build up the areas under the trees with the fall leaves. We put them in piles and leave them. We usually keep them in place with welded wire cages. In spring we put on some top soil and plant in it. We have transferred day lilies , iris, and stoksia aster into a dry corner area under trees. Tiger lilies and tall phlox are also doing well there. The phlox was there when we came here 18 years ago. The only thing we have done to it has been to thin it out and cut it down when finished blooming. It is in full bloom now. I feel the most important thing is to build up the soil well enough to nurture the roots of the plants and to choose plants with shallow roots or rhizomes, such as the iris and day lilies. That also helps with the erosion. There is nothing blooming continually but the day lilies follow the iris and there has been color since spring. Many of the plants we have used have been divisions shared by neighbors. One of the prettiest gardens I have ever seen was a corner of a city block filled with zinnias entwined with blue morning glory. It might be a little hot and dry now for seed sowing but zinnias germinate and grow fast and come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. For a fast annual garden a variety of zinnias would be enough. Last fall when the zinnias had gone to seed I pulled them and piled them around a stump. There is now a patch of blooming zinnias there and I haven't done another thing to it. We also have a self sowing petunia that returns year after year and homestead purple verbena which has been very durable. Hope you will give us feed back. EP

In for sure... Barb (rosepedal) - Haves list posted Norma (bigmama4ever) - Lists posted Regina (ladygreensleeves) - Lists posted Chell (chellflower) - Lists posted Dawn (dtm1966) - Lists posted Mariann (galium) - Lists posted Dee (gardendee) - Lists posted Getting ready to cave/May be... Frances (fcoffill) Melissa (hazelnutbunny) - Lists posted Thanks everyone for participating so far in the "get to know each other" activity. It's so much fun to read everyone's answers!! Regina, that variegated lipstick is a beaut! (P.S. I have variegated lipstick on my wish list...lol!) I think I have my husband sold on the idea that we don't need electric for the pond right away. BUT, we will need to get electricity back there somehow for the winter if I want to overwinter my fish and plants in there. Here in MN, I think that the pond would have to be 6 feet deep or more in order for it not to freeze to the bottom! I'm not sure what the exact depth is, but it would have to be very large and deep. Thanks for all the info!! Your pictures make me so jealous!! Beautiful!! Mariann, I think that people probably hesitate to give technical advice because they may not know enough to explain it well. I've been in the business for 11 years and have worked with varying degrees of users, some with hardly any computer knowledge. I've also spent a lot of time writing lots of time writing detailed user documentation. I guess it all comes with experience. If you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! :-) I don't have a greenhouse, oh how I wish I did though!! Frances, great website and awesome art too!!! Art is one of my many hobbies too, but I don't have time for it now that I'm in school. Now I only do paintings when I decorate one of my rooms. I wish I could win the lottery and retire so that I would have time to indulge in all of my hobbies!! :-) Thanks for adding the extra tip, that's a great one!!! BTW, everyone is encouraged to include a tip if they think of one!! I will be posting another tip early next week. Oh, I almost forgot...after reading you talking about the bulb planter, I ran out and bought myself one last night!! LOL. I used it today to get my new tropical garden planted and it's AWESOME!!! Thanks!! Barb, renting a trencher is a great idea and hitting all corners of the yard is a great idea too!! Thanks for the advice. The only problem is that we have an underground sprinkler, so we may have to dig it by hand after all. We don't know exactly where the water lines run. If we cut a line, it's pretty easy to fix them. Just more work! bluespiritartist, why don't you go ahead and post your full list and we'll see what you've got. If nothing else, perhaps someone would want to do a side swap with you! :-) And yes, we will definitely be having another tropical swap before the fall...hopefully more than just one!! Hi Heather (divahethr), good to see you!! Hope you're doing well. Chell, looks like you got a great box from bigmama!! And your greenhouse looks great, it's really coming along! Your rooms full of plants look like mine! I have that exact same mini-greenhouse in our spare bedroom. BTW, what ever happened to Redheaded Stepchild? She was great! So, after I ate dinner tonight, I got up the energy to get my tropical garden planted!! it's mostly bulbs so not much to see now. I can't wait for it to start to produce, it will be beautiful!!! I took some new pictures of my other gardens last night. I will get some pictures posted soon. No time tonight, I'm pooped and ready for bed! I don't know what was up with the forum yesterday, it must have been something major though since it took them so long to get it back up! LOL, I was thinking that lots of people were probably suffering from withdrawals like I was too!! Dawn, I don't think that you will be disappointed with this swap!! This group has been trading for a few months now and everyone has been very generous so far!!! I am so glad that you decided to take a chance with us!!! Good night! Amy

I’ve had good success with the junk plastic ones. I have one of those hoses that puff up with water and extend in length. Can’t remember what they’re called. I love love love love them. After I’m done watering they shrink back up, are easy to carry, and even easier to store, and no kinking. But, I’ve found out that the canvas coating on the outside wears as you drag it around, and when it rips the flexible tubing inside balloons out like a hose hernia. I had those plastic repair things for the middle of the hose on hand, and no plans to head out to civilization to a store for a new hose, so I fixed my bursts one with a few of those. Then I duct taped everywhere that the fabric looked worn. I felt like an industrious homesteader. My plastic-repaired duct-taped hose is lasting pretty well, and looks homey besides. (Actually, it probably looks more homely than homey.) I actually spent big bucks on an extension-type hose on Amazon with industrial fabric on the outside. It’s so thick it actually interferes with the hose stretching enough unless you have high preassure. But, it’s holding up wonderfully. And compared to the cost of a standard hose, it really wasn’t big bucks.