Like scully, I think I have fruit trees in the garden. I see trees, it's just that I rarely see fruit. The "Snow Queen" Nectarine is kept very small so I can wrap it in wire, bird netting, and upside down vaseline-covered plastic pots at the trunk to keep out the squirrels and rats. That never works. We got one nectarine last year. The avocados are too big for that- so I eat squirrel-bitten avocados. I stand a fighting chance with the Oro Blanco grapefruit and the sour oranges that are supposed to be Valencias, because the squirrels find them unpalatable. I'm growing ground cherries this year- we'll see if I get to try one before they are stolen. You'd think the little wretches would be content with the endless supply of peanuts they steal from the scrubjays, the vegetables from the potager, my sunflowers, and the chickenfeed, but I guess they need dessert. Renee

My new garden is all veggie cottage garden. Well, it will be :) I've got the raised beds in, just layed out in a grid. Surrounded by some shrubs (currently undergoing more renovation to make it even more enclosed - now it is surrounded in roses which is lovely but does not provide enough screening (in my neighborhood, screening from food is a good thing...) On the other, wider side of the yard I'm working on a circular pathway surrounded by raised beds. Along the more organic oriented sides there will be fruit hedging. Along the sides where the neighbors use chemicals on their grass I have a red camellia hedge to go in, and a berm to absorb their nasties. All around this circular walkway will be climbing roses intermingled with climbing melons and beans. In the very center will be a cascading strawberry "fountain" I also have a fig tree planned for the area to provide a bit of shade in the hottest months for the strawberries. Against the other fence that will enclose the area will be the brambles. The brambles will slightly shade two beds in the summer - filled with perennial alliums which like a bit of shade in hot summer here. There will also be the first apple tree...then more beds full of perennial vegetables. In shadier areas things like rhubarb, and some oldworld perennial root vegetables, then some beds of asparagus that will go down the hill, boxes for potatoes...artichokes on the slopes (for good drainage) - on the slope will go lots of fruit trees - apples, pears....there's a medicinal herb rain garden going in, and another slope perfect for growing fruit and nuts here with underplantings of peanuts, sweet potato and other low growing vining veggies (winter squashes, etc). I now get far more compliments on my cottage style veggie garden than I do on anything else. The arbors are filled with lovely beans in yellow, purple, red, snake gourds, vining spinaches... it's lovely in the mid summer.

I love questions such as this. They allow me to research and revisit the work of such talentented designers as Lutyens. My thoughts on your questions: 1. I find many references to Lutyens returning to former houses he designed and working on the landscapes, including the addition of a Japanese garden in some situations. He is credited with the ability ..."to build in a style that combined the best of the east and the west". He is also known to have a love of paradox...contrary to common sense. Plus, estates of that period had many types of gardens and it is not uncommon practice. So...if you are in the hands of a good LA well grounded with Lutyens and his brilliant career the addition of a Japanese garden should be acceptable. 2. You are fortunate to obtain the old marble parts to construct an herb garden. Your planned use arranging them into a formal shape works. Too bad that you could not also purchase the marble urn. Somewhere the right urn or statue lurks to replace it. With some searching you will know it when you see it. I am surprised that your LA has not given you guidance on planting an herb garden. Usually they were bordered with a low, neatly trimmed boxwood hedge and planted with culinary herbs and flowers. Lots on on-line information to aid your selections. 3. There is a Hydrangea Forum here on GW with many knowledgeable gardeners posting. Suggest asking this question there where you should find all sorts of suggestions and advice.

g'day paradisi, for me i can't understand why we should expect the authority to solve our gardening problems. water is getting to be a scarce if not a very expensive commodity and from what i see and read behind the picture portrayed by the administration on tv it is going to get a whole lot worse and there is no qick fix, may never be a fix at all? the way i see it if we want gardens then we have to do gardens that need little or no water (basically survive on rain water alone), to get the best result then you will need to have some understanding of your micro climate as that will play a major part in what you can successfully grow in a near waterless garden. eg.,. if you have a western aspect then your micro climate will be far more extreme than someone with a northern aspect. some steps to get real serious about are: 1.. install at least 1, 3,000 gallon tank 5,000 gallons is even better and 2 will be even more so. you don't have to pay to have pumps or gutter pipes fitted that is DIY stuff so very easy, just have the tanks delivered and sited where you want it/them. 2.. i've said this before and i guess i'll keep saying it because it works! your gardens will have to be very heavily mulched with spoilt hay type mulches and as the mulch breaks down redo it, on vege gardens keep it around 10"s thick around trees and shrubs around 20"s 3.. in hind site you may find your cottage type annual gardens are going to be very resource wasteful (just like lawns) or high in use at least so minimise them and keep those plants in one spot of your landscape. we all love ferns and stag's and tropicals of any sort but they are becomming impracticle as they often consume large amounts of water. 4.. get real about capturing and using all your waste water, the system doesn't need to be expensive, yes it may take some effort on the gardeners behalf but it is going to get valuable water to your plants, mostly for your vegetables as it is very difficult to make vege gardens that waterless as most veges need good moisture levels to produce. guess a lot of bad habits from affluent times are going to have to be changed, but good habits can become part and parcel just as much as bad habits are. there are businesse around that will supply recycled water and water your gardens for you so if you realy want to continue with your gardening style maybe that is a way for you, that way you alone pay for the excesses not others in the community. from all media i have seen from the administrators they are clearly saying grow indemic native plants in your landscape, they are not promoting anything else. all i have written above i have already done so i know it works and i will continue to do so even back here in the burb's, water restrictions aren't concerning me in the least. maybe it's bit the bullet time?? maybe go from pretty to practical?? if you need some help or advice or some analising of your situation or some lateral...