Feeling Free in Nature
Jay 6a Chicago
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
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3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
3 years agoRelated Discussions
November buds & blooms! Please feel free to add.
Comments (16)Jan, beautiful plants! What is really cool is that you and I have many of the same species. I also have odorata, calycina, danumensis, and bintulu borneo. The first two seem big enough to bloom this year but haven't. Danumensis and bintulu borneo are really small but have really small peduncles so I'm happy about that. I especially love your naumanii. And my buotii has done the same thing as your megalaster. I still don't know the cause....See MoreHere is my growing area. Feel free to add your green house
Comments (63)Hi everyone! Thank you! Jane, Oooooh, don't get me started on squirrels. I wish I could contract eagle hitmen to deal with them.... they've ruined many an orange with one bite, chewed up many succulent leaves, then spit out the leaf in disgust and do it again the next day. The bigger hoodlums are raccoons that decided the center of all my bromeliads have hidden treats. The carnage! Plant parts everywhere and, yes. Orchids and succulents thrown down to the ground. Haven't figured out how to deter these furry gangsters..... My trees....there are 3 trees sort of fighting for canopy space. A guava above the Mary Eliz B bench. A large Australian Umbrella tree that blocks the afternoon Western sun somewhat and a 20 year old Chinese Elm I am annoyed with. They have leafed out and the shelter in heat waves is appreciated, but, they all need taming. Saving pennies for arborist..... I enjoy seeing how simply growing spaces are organized, including yours'. Love how your phalie is happy in the tree! I used to have a few laelias growing on an apricot tree, now long gone. Ariel, how humid is your climate? Seems the orchids would be happy year round....See MoreLandscape Fabric What do you think? (feel free to rant)
Comments (11)Good question! Landscape fabric works well to separate hardscape layers such as a crushed stone base for a patio or path from the soil beneath it, but that is its only real use. In something like 15 years here on the GW (now Houzz owned) forums I have read one person who had used landscape fabric in planting area for more a very few years and was still pleased with it. It needs to be totally covered to not break down in sunlight, and flapping gray edges are unattractive. Weeds root in from above from wind blown seeds and below from roots that were preexisting or that crept in from the lawn. It makes weed removal more difficult because the roots become entangled in the fabric. Landscape plant roots also get entangled in it as the roots search for the water and nutrients and oxygen that don’t move well through the fabric. It needs to be removed/cut back in order to plant. The soil loses organic matter that helps keep it healthy since the landscape fabric segregates the mulch from the soil, and then as any existing soil organic matter breaks down, there is nothing to replace it, so soil typically becomes compacted and less able to hold moisture as well as less fertile. As GG48 said, a good layer of mulch works as well and is much easier to remove weeds from, and it will slowly break down to improve soil tilth. I also like planting densely since many weeds need light for the seeds to germinate, so use a dense groundcover if you like your plants separate or invest in a scuffle hoe or light rake to scuffle up the mulch to expose weed seedling roots. Edge beds well to keep them separated from the lawn and any grass or weeds that might try creeping in from there. For now since it sounds like things are a bit out of control, see if you can hire a teenager to work with you for the summer. Weed an area and mulch it the same day, and then move on to another area. Once everything has been weeded and mulched, keeping it tidy is a matter of putting in some time while any new sprouts are still small so that weeds don’t have a chance to flower and go to seed. If it is still out of control, consider hiring ongoing help or returning beds to mown areas so that there is a size of garden that you can comfortable manage with whatever resources of people, tools, or energy you have available....See MoreCancer really does stink, feel free to skip
Comments (234){{{{Maddie Lee}}}} You do have a lot going on and had major surgeries. It's ok to have ups and downs. I'm so impressed with what you're able to accomplish so far in your healing in such short time. Just focus on the small things - which it seems like you're doing. Sounds like you have some awesome friends who understand not being up for things. Hope you continue to improve so you don't have to delay treatment, but even if you do it is ok as you want your body to have the best possibly chances to handle any additional trauma. How is your husband doing - if I remember he also had some health issues going on....See MoreIris S (SC, Zone 7b)
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
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3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoIris S (SC, Zone 7b)
3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
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3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoIris S (SC, Zone 7b)
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3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoIris S (SC, Zone 7b)
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