I want to plant a few things this year. I have a black thumb, plus a bunch of deer that like to eat things, but I still want to give it a try. We have big columns in front of our house and the sides of the porch have built-in brick planters, so I thought it would be neat to plant morning glories and try to train them up the columns. Also, right before we moved in, the trustees took out some half-dead, scraggly bushes that lined the house, so we have some dirt patches. I want to look at ground cover or possibly some smaller shrubs. I don't want to spend a ton because a) aforementioned black thumb and wildlife and b) we'll likely be moved in the summer of 2015. I think I can deduct the "landscaping" costs from our housing allowance, but I don't want to put in a lot of work that might not suit the next family's tastes.
What are you doing in your gardens and yards this year?
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"I never understood why blessings wore disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked." - Sophia Petrillo
We just planted some gerbera daisies. Unfortunately, DD thinks it's AWESOME to pull them up. :/ So they might die pretty quickly.
I have some seeds for some other flower, I just need to get more good dirt. Our dirt sucks for planting.
I'd like to plant some cherry tomatoes. We have a lemon tree and a pomegranate tree that came with the house (renting). Lots of cactus, too. I think I've actually managed to kill some of those, I keep forgetting to water them. *blushes* I'm not a huge fan anyway, so maybe I'll uproot them all and plant flowers. Except for that whole DD killing plants thing...
I tried very hard to start zinnias from seed. Of the 25 or so seeds I got six that actually grew. Last night I planted them in one of the flowerbeds. I bought several petunias, but they're still in the pots.
Too bad about those deer, they will eat almost anything. Vinca is easy to grow and deer don't pick them as a first choice. Maybe you could try them in your planter.
Those are pretty, ES. I still might give the morning glories a shot, since they'd be pretty if they make it up our columns. I'll have to look into some safe deer repellants.
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"I never understood why blessings wore disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked." - Sophia Petrillo
I heard that either zinnias or marigolds are repellent to deer. I can't grow anything in my yard - ground hogs love the bulbs, and rabbits will hit the plants. Heck, I can't even manage a new tree - city decided to put in a sidewalk and removed it. My sister had hostas along her house on the north side - they grow very well in the shade.
I have planted so far....snap dragons, calla lilies, and asiatic lilies. Our garden was already established (making some changes) so just throwing annuals out so far....
Aardvark, you should look into jonquils. They are cheap, the bulbs divide, and deer don't eat them. Some bulbs, like tulips and crocus, are like candy to the critters, but not jonquils.
Winds, I know marigolds are repellant, but I just don't like them. I will definitely look into zinnias. We got the word that we'll be moving in July 2015, so I don't want to put TOO much work into the landscaping and not get to enjoy it. (Or have the next family hate it).
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"I never understood why blessings wore disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked." - Sophia Petrillo
I am a vegetable gardner. I have lettuce, peas, and beans planted. I hope to plant beets today or tomorrow and the rest this weekend. I don't do flowers. I kill them. Not on purpose, they just die slowly under my care.
Great. Now I've got the phrase "I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patch" going through my head. Is that some song or something from way way back?
Tonight I'm going to order some saffron crocus. They won't ship it until fall b/c that's when you're supposed to plant them, but I always forget! The bulbs are actually really cheap. You can get a package of 10 bulbs for the cost of a few pinches of saffron!
I also want to order some seeds for loofah gourds and a new clematis...and NOBODY has even 2 of the three! So I'll be ordering 1 item each from 3 different websites and pay shipping through the nose.
Now that husband is retired and the weather is getting nice, he has been busy outside.
We had an area right in front of the house, next to the sidewalk that leads to the front door. For many years we had rose bushes there but as plants often do, the bushes ran their course and were yanked out and tossed on the burn pile.
It sat empty for about a year and filled up with weeds and looked just stunning (heavy sarcasm)
Recently husband cleaned it all up and created a nice little area that kinda reminds me of the beach. And it should be relatively easy to keep the weeds out. He still needs to do some more work and we need to add more sand but I am thinking I like it.
One of the things I like about living in the PNW is the rhodies and the azaleas. I once counted and I have in excess of 50 rhodies scattered around my property.
Tonight I'm going to order some saffron crocus. They won't ship it until fall b/c that's when you're supposed to plant them, but I always forget! The bulbs are actually really cheap. You can get a package of 10 bulbs for the cost of a few pinches of saffron!
I also want to order some seeds for loofah gourds and a new clematis...and NOBODY has even 2 of the three! So I'll be ordering 1 item each from 3 different websites and pay shipping through the nose.
Are you going to harvest and use the saffron? That would much fancier than the herbs or garlic sets most of us plant.
I did find some Thai basil this year. This is the third Spring I've looked for it so when it goes to seed I'm saving some.
One of the things I like about living in the PNW is the rhodies and the azaleas. I once counted and I have in excess of 50 rhodies scattered around my property.
Tonight I'm going to order some saffron crocus. They won't ship it until fall b/c that's when you're supposed to plant them, but I always forget! The bulbs are actually really cheap. You can get a package of 10 bulbs for the cost of a few pinches of saffron!
I also want to order some seeds for loofah gourds and a new clematis...and NOBODY has even 2 of the three! So I'll be ordering 1 item each from 3 different websites and pay shipping through the nose.
Are you going to harvest and use the saffron? That would much fancier than the herbs or garlic sets most of us plant.
I did find some Thai basil this year. This is the third Spring I've looked for it so when it goes to seed I'm saving some.
Yup, planning to harvest it. Each bulb should produce at least one flower, and each flower will produce 3 stamins (that's the saffron). So about 30 in the first year. Unless the squirrels eat the bulbs. I will have to use bulb cages, which I have never used before. But from my reading, they are pretty low maintenance, except the bulb cages.
If you want to grow basil from seed, you might be better off ordering seeds. IIRC, basil is very "promiscuous" and you may get something very different tasting!
I would love love love to learn how to harvest Petunia seeds. I love them. I'm excited this year because last fall a lady was relamdscaping her yard and was giving all her plants away on an area FB yardsale page. I got the hugest most beautiful old Peony from her. I planted it, but it eventually died without at least perking up. I didn't know if it was justit's time or if I had killed. It came up thyea spring and is so beautiful and healthy! Also my 2 pink honeysuckles bloomed. I really am hoping to try my thumb at an Azaleas. They are so lovely! I think they may be out of my ability.
I decided against planting my petunia indoors, as we do not have a sun room. I gave it to my grandmother, who can grow just about anything. She used to plant the seeds from the Florida grapefruits her brother would send, although she never got any fruit from them.
Every time I go into Walmart for groceries, I pass these gorgeous yellow dahlias. I'm going to have to do a little digging (pun intended) on them and their attractiveness to deer. At least I don't have to worry about the bunnies, too. They can't get up on the porch planters.
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"I never understood why blessings wore disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked." - Sophia Petrillo
garden threads!