They are, but I was thinking the LotV would be something fragrant for near the front. I don't know. Maybe clusters of hyacinth for fragrance?

I just meant the LOTV seem unlikely to strangle larger plants. But my experience is limited, as mine have not taken off the way people describe!

hyacinths aren't the only option for fragrance -- many daffodils are fragrant, whole classes of them in fact! Grape hyacinths are fragrant also, and they make a long-lasting green border, usually from fall until around now (mine are just finishing up after producing seeds). It's not as tidy a border as liriope, though... muscari leaves are kinda floppy.

Are we meeting next Sunday (6/23) to do anything around the middle area (by the new rhodie) of Larry's Garden?

LMK if you want to come out this coming week or next week to dig daffs while leaves are still visible... There are thousands of daffodils in our yard, and most could use thinning. If you pick a day, we'll see who else can make it. Things on my schedule next week would take me away for 2 hours or less, so we could work around them.

LOTV CAN run, guarantee it, and for that I am strongly prejudiced against it for a 'public' garden where I feel natural 'neatness' is preferred. Maybe that is just me. If it is used, I'd start it in its own distinct patch that you could edge every year, along part of the brick path perhaps. Could even be in a corner where kids might cut the corner and trample a bit- very tough plant. I can't picture what it does when it dies back for winter, I never cut it off, so I guess it dries up and blends with fallen leaves.

Planting a clump at the "entrance" and "exit" corners sounds like a good idea... until it does take off, you can fill in with bright annuals (not so tough but hopefully less likely to be trampled if they catch the eye?)

Something I was thinking of doing here at home fro bulbs might work as well... pots! If I put a bunch of holes in the bottom, a layer of soil, bulbs/LotV, top off. It should keep things contained. Eventually, the pot would need lifting to thin out the cotent, or in the case of bulbs, replacement something or other.

I need to stop thinking about it. I'm starting to get too complicated.

I have a small Deutzia strawberry fields that I was thinking about for the driveway end. It would give a color splash, but would be easy to keep tame with regular pruning.

Sunday sounds good. Also, I'm supposed to be off on THursday, the 20th. Maybe that would be a good day to dig daffs?

If they water in a way that pots would get watered also, then containers are a great idea... large ones can go longer between waterings, especially with a little shade and lots of moisture crystals.

Thursday is the only day I don't have to take anybody anywhere, at least not until leaving for Joyanna's guitar lesson at 7. Perfect! We'll hope for a break in the weather. Showers off and on are fine for digging, thunderstorms not so much.

Terri and I were planning to get together for lunch Thursday, which means I can draft her.

What time?

10:30 or 11? We can start earlier in the morning if it's looking like afternoon thunderstorms.

Is anybody else available to dig daff bulbs this Thursday? LMK I'll tree-mail you a finalized starting time Wednesday night (after checking the weather forecast one last time) along with directions to my house.

I think it's still pretty easy to see the foliage, whether it's still green or has dried up, so you'll know where to dig without my flagging clumps. Dig & separate, put half back and the rest into a paper bag. If other people join us, they should take a share for their own garden... trust me, there are plenty of bulbs to go around!

This has needed doing for several years, so some of the clumps got really crowded, meaning bulb size is small. But they will grow and bloom, just might not bloom next year.

Flying to Asheville this week so won't be able to join daff digging exploits but will attend 4H ceremony Friday June 28.

Ashville -- hopefully just for fun! Are roses still blooming at Biltmore?

I'm OK but spent some time in the ER yesterday and need to take it easy (no digging or vigorous weeding). You're still welcome to come up Thursday, whatever time after 9 works for you, but my role will be limited to pointing and bagging.

Terri and I are planning to come Friday June 28 also. (She sent you her address; I figured on being her +1)

Rick, what are you planning for Sunday June 23? A central planting around Larry's new rhodi? What time? Do you have the plant material you need?

I still have that kaleidoscope abelia, lopsided but not unattractive. I don't know if you want japanese ferns or native ones (or at least native-looking), but I do have 2 big ones (ghost & pictum) and 3 little japanese ferns from Donner-Sally. I can probably find one or two japanese ferns that can be divided while you're here Thursday if you want. We can look at hostas, too, and discuss some other possibilities (like the double japanese kerria that's definitely thriving in part shade here).

Bummer on the ER trip! But, pointing and bagging works just fine. I think I have some flags that you can place in the various locations and we can move from one space to another.

So far, I have...
- Several types of hosta
- 2 large heuchera
- 5-6 small heuchera
- 3-4 Christmas fern
- 1 or 2 cinnamon fern
- 1 Dwarf oak leaf hydrangea
- 1 rhododendron Capistrano
- 1 or 2 Deutzia Strawberry fields
- 1 small Kerria flora pleno
- 4 or 5 hellebore
- 3 or 4 small hellebore

The 'small' stuff is no more that 6" tall currently, like 1 or 2 years old.

I figure we can talk more about design/layout on Thursday. I've got graph paper, 1"=1'

The hosta that I have are:
- Lancifolia (short and green) 5+ small clumps
- Blue Mouse Ears (short and blue-grey), 2 small clumps
- Golden Tiara (short w/ green leaves w/ gold margins), 2-3 small clumps
- Krossa Regal (Tall blue-grey vase shape), 2-3 small clumps
- Dancing Queen (Yellow-green) 1 clump
- Hands Up (Short with upright leaves) 4-5 plants

That's all I can think of at this point. I need to spray the hosta pen for skeeters before I venture in there !

I should mention that I would like to label as many plants as possible. The goal is to create a map of what's there in terms of perennials and shrubs. Eventually, I'll create a map, complete with QR code links to the plant database here on Garden.org

Well, we should be able to figure out many of the daffodils once they bloom, and I can make a good guess about many just from the area they are in... but the double daffodils and butterfly daffs were mostly not labeled to begin with, although some are easy to ID. However, on a map like that, keeping track of bulbs may be too challenging anyway unless we (heaven forbid) stick to just a couple varieties.

Well, the marker arrived today for Larrys memorial garden at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center. It's perfect. The only thing that would make it more perfect is to not be needing it. It's too dark to take a picture, but I'll put one up as soon as I can.

The marker itself is black granite. I picked up some white marble pieces the other day to create a border for it. It will give an extra 2 inches all the way around that should help prevent it from sinking into the dirt, excuse me, soil, below.

I'm glad it turned out just as you hoped.

I agree, not needing it would be best of all, but I'm glad you're pleased with the way it turned out.

With the rain Thursday being "maybe" in the morning and almost definitely in the afternoon, Terri and I thought 9 am would be a good start time for digging daffs. Does that work for you?

catching up on all the threads - i wish i could join you all for this event. I will be on the road to WV in the morning- probably passing the general area around 9 AM ish lol. I will wave. Man- i could have brought so many different daylilies too. late to bloom for me this year- it has been decidedly weird weather. Not used to getting daily "pop up" t storms and tornado warnings when it is only in the 80's.

Of course the weather is supposed to be spectacular over the weekend- and i won't be here for it. Back monday afternoon. sigh.

I have been reading about the above---all good ideas. Sorry to not have been able to help at all. Now I just remember what could be a nice addition. I went with the Falls Church Garden Club to the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens a few years ago. The garden has an area for succulents. What I think is different and beautiful is that many of them are planted in pots that are buried into the ground only the rims of the tops showing. It can be made as a border, maybe in the corners, so people will not step on the corners of the plot. I have very limited hens and chicks, but I can get some if you all think it is a good idea. Or surrounding the marker, so no overgrown plants cannot cover the marker. ----Just an idea. I will not be able to help at all until the fall swap-

Love the idea of half-buried pots for anything that needs extra good drainage. Partly burying a pot also lets it soak up moisture from the surrounding soil.

The corner furthest from the building probably gets the most sun... I think Rick described most of the bed as "dappled shade."

Cardiologist told me this morning to be very careful not to overdo until we do the imaging to see whether or not I have blocked arteries that need fixing. So knock the shovel out of my hand tomorrow if necessary LOL.

I hope he suggests you to take aspirin or other medications to thin your blood. --Good luck, Jill. Take care of yourself.--