soaphouse's Blog
soaphouse's posts about: juniper
Mar 22, 2008 | 6:08 PM PST
Tags: green giant , thuja , arborvitae , juniper , lorapedulum , creeping jenny , blueberry , solomon seal , viburnum , lilac , shade , autumn fern , honeysuckle , hyacinth , daffodil , double , phlox
The last couple of days have been full of wonderful spring gardening activities. We have had the most beautiful weather here lately! Highs around 70 and lows around 45, GORGEOUS! On Thursday afternoon, I had a chance to stop by home depot and check out their spring shipment. Most exciting was that I found 2 more green "giants" to replace the piddly little things from the mail order (which were starting to look like they may not make it). So, I picked those up and 3 creeping jenny plants which were such a good deal that I couldn't pass them up!
Of course, when I got home...I got to planting!
Here is a shot of the trio of green giants. I do hope they live up to their rapid growth rate I have heard so much about:
I can see them from the kitchen sink and it is nice to look out there and dream of what they may look like one day ;)
The creeping jennies went along the pathway in the back, by the nandinas:
I think they will look great mingling with the rocks and bottles too!
The next day (Friday), We had lunch with my mother and grandmother...4 generations of ladies all at one table! After a nice lunch, I got to dig up some goodies from my mom's yard. I got a nice sized clump of solomon's seal, which I have always wanted. They found a great home to the left of the newly planted camellia and will be a great addition to my shade garden in progress:
I also got 2 Viburnum Seedlings. One went just behind the existing one that is mature and the other went in the back of the azalea bed along side the newly planted lilacs. I wasn't able to get the best root system, so it will be interesting to see if they make it.
I have also been taking some time to really think about and make a list of things that are "missing" from my garden this spring and that I would like to have next spring:
More creeping phlox blooming
Add Hyacinth Bulbs in with Daffodil Plantings
Add Double Daffodils
More Crocus?
I saw some wonderful double hyacinths in the Van Bourgondein Catalog that I would like to add to the garden.
And, of course, amidst all the work, I had to take some time to have fun with my camera:
Clematis Armadii:
Spring Growth appearing on Autumn Fern:
New growth on Juniper:
Blueberry Bush:
Mardi Gras Honeysuckle (I think?)
Wax Mahonia Berries:
Lorapedulums:
Anyway....thanks for indulging my shutter bug!
Hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed Easter!
Dec 28, 2007 | 9:02 AM PST
Tags: advice , juniper , blue , sky pencil , holly
I have a spot in the front yard by my window seat that seems empty. But, then again...maybe the negative space is nice. I can't decide...
I have thought about putting a few sky pencil hollies there, or a blue dwarf juniper, or maybe just some metal yard art...or maybe it doesn't need anything. It gets full sun, but up against the wall of the house, the back of whatever is there will not do well. What do you think? I need help... THANKS
Here it is in early summer:
Mid Summer:
Jun 23, 2007 | 2:01 PM PST
Tags: harry lauder's , compost , annuals , grass , bench , juniper , laurapedilum
I LOVE compost. I know all of us gardeners love that black gold. I am so lucky that my city offers it free. Especially since what I make on my own in my backyard isn't nearly enough for the whole garden. My husband is so kind to go get truckloads of it for me. Thats what we spent a good part of the afternoon doing. I had just finished weeding out all of the running Bermuda grass (which was an ENORMOUS and seemingly neverending project), so I wanted to topdress this bed with the compost because I have found that it is a great deterrent for the grass coming back. And, the plants love it. The funny thing is that the stuff the city has for free smells really bad...pretty much like poop. So, you can imagine what my non gardening neighbors think of me. It takes about a week for the smell to gass off and once that happens I will mulch with pinestraw. This is the bed to the left of our driveway:
THis bed is one of the works in progress. i am trying to hide the view of the neighbors yard. I have planted two Laurapedalums and a Juniper around the bench. I know with a little time and patience they will do the trick.:
I was also given a Datura seedling one year and it does a great job of reseeding and they just pop up all over the bed. I divided some of my grasses this year to put near the front to provide year round interest and to take the place of the annual bed. That is too high maintenance and i am not willing to spend the money to do the mass planting it takes to make a good show so it just ends up looking pathetic LOL
And of course I LOVE my Harry Lauder's. He was the very first thing we planted here and he has done great:
Can you tell how hot it is by the picts.....glaring sun, dry soil...It was 96 today and we haven't had a good rain in months. We are in a drought and I am only supposed to water Tues, Thurs, Sunday from midnight - 10....ARGH!
But, I am all for helping and conserving our resources, so I try not to cheat too much.
Can't wait to water tomorrow :)
