soaphouse's Blog
soaphouse's posts about: gunnera
Apr 3, 2008 | 8:50 AM PST
Tags: garden art , creek , gunnerra , gunnera , redbud , dogwood , compost , autumn fern , ajuga , grass , lawn , mow , weed eat , weed
I spent yesterday afternoon tootling about in the front yard. I mowed our "lawn" , which is really more a patch of weeds than anything. After its mowed, it actually looks pretty decent. My dreams of fescue were squelched by the drought last year....maybe this fall i can do that. Once the mowing was done, I pulled some weeds, cut back some vinca, hacked down the curry plant (it had gotten very raggedy and woody, will be interesting to see if it comes back), and I also watered the autumn ferns. It looks as though the layer of compost applied to the top of that bed last summer is really coming through for us...I have never had so many new fronds appearing at once on these ferns. It looks so pretty! Here is a view of the front yard as seen from my front porch today:
As you can see, my girl and my hubby are enjoying the freshly mowed weeds :)
The redbud looks so amazing right now as well! Also, the ajuga is blooming and is adding a nice shot of color:
The dogwood is almost in all of its glory. It is in the same bed that got the compost dressing and i do think it is helping the dogwood also, in seasons past, the dogwood has suffered from one of its common fungal diseases that causes the blossoms to fall off before they fully open. It looks like we might not have that prob this year :)
On a recent shopping trip with my mom, I picked up this cool garden art windchime and I have been enjoying it as I sit on my front porch:
Its very overcast today and a bit cool and breezy, so I am not sure if I will venture out in the garden later or not. I have been thinking more about creek planting lately and trying to decide what to plant on the opposite bank...I still have yet to have the moment of brilliant inspiration. I do need to get back there with the weedeater so that all my hard work spent cleaning everything out doesn't go to waste....it will if I don't stay on top of things back there. I am anxiously awaiting the emerging of the great gunnerra that went in the ground a few weeks ago...i check for growth every day :)
I did hear an ad on the radio that our local home depot has 5 dollar coreopsis and hostas, so i may venture down there this afternoon. Tomorrow the forecast is thunder storms, so I better do what I have to do today :)
Mar 17, 2008 | 5:32 PM PST
Tags: gunnera , fuschia , tree peony , creek , dutch bulb company
Hooray! My goodies from the Dutch Bulb Company were waiting for me by the front door when I got home from work today :)
In the box was 1 Great Gunnera, 2 Hardy Fuschias (one pink and white and one purple and white) and 1 Tree Peony.
I had ordered these back in January, but they don't ship them until planting time...which actually is quite handy. I promptly went out and planted all my goodies.
The Great Gunnerra went on the far creek bank. The 2 Fuschias went by the Lilac in the back of the azalea bed and the Tree Peony went in the new bed where we took out the maple tree this past winter.
I would have taken picts...but they were all shipped bare root, so the picts would not have looked like much. Hopefully they will thrive and be amazing :)
Jan 25, 2008 | 1:48 PM PST
Tags: nandina , mahonia , willow , evergreen shade , shrub , bank , creek , gunnera , gunnerra , ideas , chainsaw
Today, I transplanted all the wax mahonias and nandinas that I found on the other side of the creek. Turns out there were more than I thought: about 27 mahonias and 2 nandinas!
Here is a picture of the area before:
And after:
I know out of the 27...a few are bound to grow in niceley :)
I put the two nandinas in a pot that lives in the front by the gate:
I think it looks pretty nice. Plus, can't beat free!!!
I am starting to think about what I might want to plant on the opposite side of the creek, where the bank is really high. Our property extends about 4 feet beyond that. I would like to just plant some dense, evergreen shade shrubs that will help ward off the privet. Any ideas would be great!
On the far right of this picture, I will plant a weeping willow. So I need some ideas for the area to the left of that. In the low part...near the creek, I will be putting my great Gunnera that I have on order. ITS STARTING TO COME TOGETHER!!!!
Tomorrow, hubby has promised to get back there with his chain saw and take down what I can't get with my loppers :)
Have a great gardening weekend everyone!
Jan 18, 2008 | 7:45 PM PST
Tags: gunnera , fuchsia , tree peony , creek , archive
Once the weather warmed up and it dried out a bit...I headed out to do more creek clean up. It really is starting to take shape and all the dreams I had for it can now become a reality!
I have also been taking time the last couple of days to print out all of my blog entries. I find it so helpful to look back on the past pictures, successes, and failures when thinking of the future in my garden. I plan on putting all the pages in a binder and keeping them for future reference. Of course, that means lots of time at the computer, so I am looking through all the catalogs that have been flooding my mailbox and I have been ordering some fun things!
I placed a great order today with Van Bourgondein......
<
em>The main thing I am excited about is a "Great Gunnera" for the creek!
This is of course, the pict from the website, but I have very high hopes that the bare root that will arrive in the mail, will look like this beauty one day! The website said it is perfect for creek banks and likes wet feet. The leaves are said to get up to 6 feet accross!!!!
I
also ordered a Kamata-nishiki tree peony (which I have always wanted) and a collection of hardy fuchsias!
<
em>I couldn't resist all this temptation....they even had an offer of $25 off!
SO FUN!
Tomorrow
I will work on more creek clean out so that when my goodies arrive I can put them in the ground...
