Why I haven't been online much lately

Been trying to up our curb appeal! ;D



We rented a tiller from the Home Depot on Friday and started ripping out the entire pond area, which is everything between the sidewalk and house as you can see. We also ripped out the backyard garden and doubled its size, but I don't have a pic of that yet. We tore almost everything out of the ground except for the hosta and a couple of the lily plants, even drained the pond and took the liner out, cleaned it up, and refilled. This year we decided to scrap the waterfall and just go with a simple fountain. The unfinished retaining wall is also new. I've basically been doing nothing but digging and planting since Saturday. LOL.

I seriously underestimated the amount of work that it would take to get this done. I've never done any real landscaping before so it did come as quite a shock! I still need to finish the retaining wall, plant a few more plants, and mulch everything. I also want more pond plants before it turns into another algae factory. I'm picking up water lettuce this weekend and I can't wait!

I'd love to hear any thoughts/comments/suggestions. As I mentioned I am very new to this so I'm sure there is much to be improved upon for the future.

Oh, and I'll try to post a nighttime pic later on this evening. The gazing balls are actually solar powered LED color changing lights.

 

OH!!! interesting!!! good luck with the changes!!!

 

I think it looks great! Once the flowers and plants grow out, it'll really pop!

 

Looks great! I would love a pond like that!

 

Very nice, looks like a lot of hard work!

 

I KNOW how much work that is. I love to garden/landscape, but it's become too physical for my body. Looks very nice. Are you planning strips of grass or seed around the pond?

 

Thanks for the kind words folks!

Psalm- our plants are going to get a good bit larger from what I understand, so we are just going to mulch over the Weed Block fabric. All are perennials except for the 23 marigolds, lol. We decided to put in that retaining wall to keep the mulch off the sidewalk and driveway. If you have any suggestions for other plants I would love to hear them! Now is definitely the time to get them into the ground. Anything we choose needs to tolerate plenty of sunshine and heat. LOL.

 

Looks great Makes me think that I need to go on a rock hunting trip for flat rocks to go around mine too... It's just warming up enough now for me to start thinking about pulling out the pond shell from the garage.....

 

You have a beautiful pond area! It will be even better once the plants grow in. Are you going to be mixing perennials in with the marigolds? But then again, marigolds may not die out in Georgia like they do here in Oregon.

Your yard will be very relaxing once it is finished. Great job!

 

You have a beautiful pond area! It will be even better once the plants grow in. Are you going to be mixing perennials in with the marigolds? But then again, marigolds may not die out in Georgia like they do here in Oregon.

Your yard will be very relaxing once it is finished. Great job!

Thank you!

All the plants other than the marigolds are perennials. I've got tickseed, silene, pincushion flower, salvia, and a few others that I can't remember the name of. The marigolds are supposed to bloom into the fall here, but this is my first experience with them since childhood so I can't say for sure until I try. Is there a reason that I shouldn't mix them, other than they will die and I'll have to dig them up? Haha sorry, new at this! ;D

 

How about some bee balm for height. Mine do fabulous in full sun. Plus, they come in a few colors.

It looks great. My husband would love the little row of marigolds because he loves order and symetry. I love chaos. My gardens are full of all different perrenials and I swear there's not a single row of anything. ;D

 

Bee balm- never heard of it! Time for Google! LOL.

I didn't know what to do with that curved part other than put a row of flowers there. Overall I am happy with the results so far! ;D

 

https://www.altnature.com/gallery/beebalm.htm

Also called monarda. The stalks will grow to be 3-4 feet usually and hummingbirds are HUGELY attracted to this plant. If you deadhead, you can get a second bloom from it, sometimes double-blooms which are cool. Our fat bumblebees really love it, too, and they do a great job pollinating our garden.

Edited to add: you could always get a low creeping perrenial for your stone wall, if you'd like to add another kind of texture and color. Scroll down this page to see it on a stone wall... (hope the link works)

 

It looks even better in person, but I'm so glad you posted pics!

My marigolds don't last long (they get choked out by petunias), but my mothers bloom well into the fall.

 

Cool, thanks for the link!

I don't know what you mean by "deadheading" other than the fact that I am a Grateful Dead fan. LOL!!!!

That's awesome about the hummingbirds, I just bought a feeder to go next to the pond and we have bumblebees everywhere down here so it sounds like this plant would be a great choice!

 

The hummingbirds have arrived. My mother has some and she suggested you get your feeder mix set up as soon as possible so you can enjoy them longer

 

YAY! Thanks for the tip, I already have some solution to mix up and I'll do it today! ;D

 

Cool, thanks for the link!

I don't know what you mean by "deadheading" other than the fact that I am a Grateful Dead fan. LOL!!!!

This type of deadheading has nothing to do with Jerry Garcia or the ice cream named after him....

Deadheading is when you cut the bloom off the flower just as it begins to fade. It's already hit its peak but hasn't yet died. I cut at least 1 inch below the bloom and within a very short time, I'm blessed with a second blooming. I deadhead most of my plants. Some reward you, some don't.

 

Ohhhh, ok! Thank you for the explanation Lynda!

 

Looks great!!

 

I put some monarda/bee balm in my perennial garden- last summer was the first flowering season and I got a double bloom. I thought it was so cool, and didn't know it was common with that plant. I'll try to dig up a picture.

I know we are in totally different climates, but if you are looking for anything to kind of spread out and cover more of the ground, my lamb's ear is growing like crazy. Also, nasturtiums are lovely - same color palette as marigolds, and if they do well in your soil they will spread and re-seed themselves.

 

Looks good!

 

One thing to watch out for with Bee Balm...it spreads like crazy. Bee Balm is also susceptable to mildew (especially if you have humid summer evenings). Jacob Kline (a very common veriety) is the most mildew resistant. It has red flowers that as mentioned previously, humming birds love.

 

You could throw in some seedum in there, it's a succulent, some of them spread some of them dont. They are like hostas, only sunny, their leaves are way cooler than their flowers. I don't know if you get snow where you are, but Dogwood looks great in the winter. Once all the leaves drop the twigs will be bright red and they really stick out against the snow. Provided you get snow. Spireas are cool, or barberrys have pretty foliage. Or coleus is really pretty. Although most of them are shady there are some sunny varieties. You could even do cacti, prickly pear will grow most anywhere, even when it snows.

 

YAY! Thanks for the tip, I already have some solution to mix up and I'll do it today! ;D

You can save yourself money by mixing a sugar-water solution that is 1:4 in solution. I even mix it 1:3 in the colder months and the hummers go for this mix before the mixes with dies and preservatives added.

One thing to watch out for with Bee Balm...it spreads like crazy. Bee Balm is also susceptable to mildew (especially if you have humid summer evenings). Jacob Kline (a very common veriety) is the most mildew resistant. It has red flowers that as mentioned previously, humming birds love.

Another thing to be aware of. Bee Balm gets it name from the fact that it attracts bees. I shouldn't be planted in a high traffic area unless you are willing to put up with the bees.

Sedum Autumn Joy is a nicely shaped, compact plant that has flowers in the spring/summer and colors up in the fall (at least in my climate).

Other options you may want to consider that come to mind are: Gerbera or other daisies, Asters, Balloon Flowers, Stargazer Lilies, lobelia, herbs, even a variety of bulbs.

 

OMG you have a BEAUTIFUL pond!!!! I sure hope I can have one like that someday

 

Thanks for the kind words folks!

Psalm- our plants are going to get a good bit larger from what I understand, so we are just going to mulch over the Weed Block fabric. All are perennials except for the 23 marigolds, lol. We decided to put in that retaining wall to keep the mulch off the sidewalk and driveway. If you have any suggestions for other plants I would love to hear them! Now is definitely the time to get them into the ground. Anything we choose needs to tolerate plenty of sunshine and heat. LOL.

I highly suggest using wooly thyme as a green mulch. It grows low and looks like velvet when it grows in. Golden creeping jenny is a more yellowish green mulch that spreads just enough.

 

Comment from FailedSlacker:
I highly suggest using wooly thyme as a green mulch. It grows low and looks like velvet when it grows in. Golden creeping jenny is a more yellowish green mulch that spreads just enough.

They say "talk is cheap" and now you are finding that advice is absolutely FREE! Hope you don't mind a little more.

As for wooly thyme, I'd support it too, if you lived in a cooler climate like ours. I'm not sure how it would fare in hot Southern sunshine, but sedum should do well. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is a tough little vining plant with tiny yellow flowers; it apparently does well around ponds.
Now I would add a Joe Pye right in front of that beautiful front window! l And if you like hummingbirds, maybe a trellis with a morning glory vine somewhere on the side. Oh, the joys of planning flower gardens!

 

When we bought our home about 9 years ago, I had a pre-dug garden but nothing was planted in it. I knew that it would cost me about $2000 to get the garden full and up to snuff, even with young plants. Then, I wandered into free cycle asking if anybody had plants they were dividing. I ended up filling my entire garden plus for free with a diversity of mature, glorious plants.

Just figured I'd mention it.

 

I feel your pain Harpua, I spent all weekend tilling the back yard (about 50' x 8') so I could plant some border trees at the fence line.

It definitely takes a long time mostly when you have no help. Since most yard work is done in steps. Someone could be digging while you are mixing your topsoil..someone could be cleaning the trees off and checking for bagworms etc. When you have to do it all by yourself it sucks :-\

I wish a pond was part of my weekend work though

 

Beautiful job Harpua!

I have the same Led Light Gazing Balls. They were a Christmas gift this past year. Each one changes colors. Very pretty.

Thanks for sharing!

Ken

 

ken you love to disco!!!! what a party animal!!!

 

Maxima if you only knew! Well let me tell you...

When I moved into the house I'm in, there were two mirror disco balls hanging from the ceilings and a sound system from a local bar that was inherited. All of the lighting to go with it all over the house. The house has an open floor plan. This was in 1998! After the New Years Eve party, I took it all down. It was time to let go. LOL

It was fun for a while. Now these new disco balls are outside! Just like Harpuas.

Ken

 

Ken, I love these things! Did yours also come from the Home Depot? ;D

 

Looks great!!!! Good job and a pat on the back!!! Now as for my pond ohh boy, try digging a 3,000 gallon one.... Consider your self lucky.

 

Hello Harpua,

I'm not certain since they were a gift. I figured they came from Lowe's or Home Depot though. I really enjoy them too. I know they look great at night around your beautiful pond

Ken

 

ken you love to disco!!!! what a party animal!!!

Who knew......

there were two mirror disco balls hanging from the ceilings and a sound system from a local bar that was inherited. All of the lighting to go with it all over the house.

I would've rewired it all into the bathroom and hung the mirror balls over the jacuzzi...... :anim_40:

 

Looks great. We are in process of finishing ours too. :-[ oops I said something I wasn't supposed to reveal yet.

 

Pond looks great. I love the nice flat natural rocks!.