I'm anticipating the threads coming up from the new literate gardeners who typically pick up from an article or discussion such things as these and will start with "I know I need to blend my static items with my non-static items, but I need help ...". This is one more phenomena, or tool, which we can choose to emphasize or choose not too. A great and broad subject, but we seem to be focused on minute bits and pieces objects and not looking at what else there is. What about a place like Central park that was originally planted with trees small enough to be moved and planted that would have been relatively small and delicate compared with the bulky stone bridges and other visually dominant structures that are now dwarfed by some of those trees and are being absorbed by vines and shrubbery? How about the subdivision that was brand new that you grew up in with dinky trees and dinky shrubs with the wide road and sidewalk that is now a canopied tree tunnel shading that once stark open road? Then there are those residential landscapes that we did 20 years ago that have the same walk and stone retaining walls and patio, but the growth has changed the whole flavor of the place. What about a place that you did three years ago? This project could have easily been described (and often was) as a wall with plants. Now it is more likely described as a garden that has a stone wall in it. This is the interpretation I made from the thread title. I don't know if I'm narrow in that, but concrete geese are too alien a notion of hardscape for me to envision on my own. They just do not seem to be items meant to be permanent and I think of "hardscape" as something that has the intent of being permanent (although nothing is permanent). It reminds me of some of the old photos from my area. This land was completely cleared by early settlers. Many of the churches were put on higher hills and often show up in old photos, even as unintended distant objects in the background. Now there are a zillion houses, but there are trees everywhere. One particular church in Yarmouthport can be seen from many places (Sandy Neck in Sandwich, Chapin Beach in Dennis, Exit 8 ramp in South Yarmouth, ...). It is now seen as a steeple sticking out of a tree canopy rather than an entire church in a barren grassy landscape. It is almost a measuring stick of time against a big landscape. I don't know that this fits into the discussion, but those are my thoughts. ... that and one of those plywood plumber grannies with the polka dotted bloomers, of course.

I have an update on DF: it appears that he tried to escape the VA home yesterday and threw a wheelchair at someone, missing them of course, but he did injure his own ear somehow. The doctors believe that he has Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, going back to WWII. This does not surprise me, and I know that he suffered from it severely during the early years of his marriage. The bad thing is that he has PTSS, but the good thing is that because of the diagnosis, his care will be paid for by the VA. I definitely believe in veterans getting this kind of benefit, since they sacrifice so much for everyone when they have to go to war. DF does not like to accept help from anyone, which has made his life and his family's life more difficult than it needed to be. Here's a picture of the phalaenopsis that we got at the orchid store. Lars

Very much enjoyed your travel story, Annpan. I like the way you put yourself into your dog's perspective. I am convinced she must be a happy dog to be so well understood. Donna, it does not take much to upset my perception of left and right. A mirror will do it. Backing up the car can be nightmarish if I am tired or stressed. I avoid it when possible. For a moment I can grasp the concept of Stage Left and Stage Right but then it glides away. I believe this to be a mild and very common learning disorder. I have met a number of people who report the same, along with others who can't imagine why we don't just get it. Also responding to Donna, my DH loves the ocean while I love mountains. A perfect place for us would be a mountainside near the sea. However it unlikely that we will move from our present location (Silicon Valley) any time soon, if ever. In any case both are within reasonable reach for us here. Harborrose, I just loved your dream-come-true story. I hope your new home continues to bring you joy as long as you live there. There is some magic in life, and it comes only to those who are open to it. Woodnymph, I have often marveled at how different a landscape looks to me when it is brand new and still a bit bewildering; and how it looks to me when I have become familiar with it. Neither is better or worse but they are barely recognizable as being the same place. I remember a 'eureka' moment that happened when we first moved here 25 years ago. I was driving around looking at the gold and olive hills, suddenly saying with astonishment "Why, this looks exactly like a painting by Cezanne!" So it did indeed, and so I remind myself when I think of it. Then just for a moment I get an echo of the wonder of that day. Rosefolly

Threading back for a bit, I want to cover my couple visits to garden centers in the Dandendongs. This was the only place on the trip to AU & NZ I had the chance to drop in and see what a GC looks like. At Emerald Garden Center I took more pictures, but talked more to the very nice people at Paddy's Plants. They were super friendly and interested that an American knew something of the region, horticulturally speaking. Here's a view of the main sales area at Emerald. Although NH (going to start using that as an abbreviation for Northern Hemisphere!) plants are, along with all other plants from outside AU, highly restricted, they obviously got plenty of good ones in before the quarantines. You can see a lot of colorful maples here. I think I also might spot Toona 'Flamingo' which was a common ornamental, and in fact the first place I saw it. They were gorgeous pinky-orange throughout the mountains and coastal parts of Victoria. Mine only colors if we have a perfect 'slow motion' springtime; if it gets too hot too fast, like this year, the pink color doesn't form as well and quickly vanishes. They surely perform better in the PNW. And one more picture from the coast, of Nasturtiums being weeds. I envy the places where even the weeds are beautiful, which is also the case of the UK and their much hated Impatiens glandulifera. I didn't get a good picture but Watsonias are planted in many Dandenong private gardens, and obviously spread very aggressively, as plain-old orange daylilies might around here. Before we leave the coast, one more picture of the Southern Ocean. I did visit "Twelve Apostles" and other attractions of the Great Ocean Road, but figure they will be well covered by many other travel sites/instagram feeds/whatever. I'm glad I briefly swung by the interior town of Ballarat. It's amusing that it's considered to have a very harsh climate - at least by Victorian standards - but is still mild enough for date palms. I spotted this fine Sequioadendron in an old church yard. The airbnb I had in Wangaratta had a superb view of the distant "Victorian Alps". These are the home of the 3rd or 4th hardiest gum tree, Eucalyptus neglecta, which has become somewhat popular in the US. Alas I also had a really annoying issue with this Airbnb, that started my long slow souring on them...such that after 2019 I won't stay in one unless it's an emergency. But I digress. Another thing not quite related to horticulture but I am ethically obligated and I daresay, spiritually bound to point out. IF YOU EVER GO TO THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, REMEMBER TO GO OUT ON A CLEAR NIGHT AND LOOK AT THE STARS. Perhaps, due to a paucity of the ethically obligated AND well-traveled in my life (haha), *nobody* told me this. THANK GOODNESS on a lark I went out to get something in my car and looked up. My jaw dropped. TBH I'm surprised this is not more written about in travel literature - but - I'm not even into astronomy but my mind was absolutely blown away by 1) how different it looked and 2) how much 'starrier' it seemed. I think what I saw was the Carina nebula...in any case, I wasn't really able to capture with my camera but here's a pic anyhow. (This being a very rural part of AU obviously reduced light pollution.) (And I had never tried to do astrophotography, before, or since! Take me word for it...it's impressive) Here was sunrise over the 'Alps' LOL. On the drive towards the Snowy Mountains and the VIC/NSW border, I saw various pine plantations. I believe in Northern Spain, there are Eucalyptus plantations to return the favor. 🤣 I spoke above about the maddening variety of AU Proteaceae and Myrtaceae at the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra. I could do a whole thread with my pics - but, of course, they have limited relevance to most of us, in terms of what we can grow in our garden - but I'll just add one. This is Melaleuca fulgens of Western Australia. Various plants of WA have to be grafted to grow in NSW or VIC, because of the climate differences. This one might be ok on its own roots just because Canberra has a reputation of being 'chilly' and a bit dry. In fact, in the woodland valley that is something of the centerpiece of the garden, there's a discrete misting system to keep the trees ferns happy. But still it would seem like an incredibly mild climate to any American not from coastal California!