Be prepared, Sherry. I started carving out islands. Just islands...I thought. My house went from this:


To this:


...and I'm still carving.

Too much grass Debra!

, Yup, Tom's right again!...Looks really nice ,Debra!...Arlyn

@lovemyhouse ..I love your house! But I could totally see that strip of lawn becoming a bed packed full of Iris. I know a few places that sell Irises that could help you with that.

I've cut out good sized beds from the lawn over the years. This place was all lawn and 3 trees in the garden when I moved here. This upper lawn is regrettably going to die. We put it in 6 years ago for my daughter's wedding.


The rest of the lawn wraps around the house.. so we're going to try to keep two sides alive w/ spring and creek water. The first picture here with the stairs, the lawn will die on either side and around to the right. I'll spot water the trees, which I've already heavily mulched. There are some nice blue Noids along the fence that I'll take up this year and divide.

...Arlyn

Oh, my, Sherry, your place is just gorgeous!!!

What a lovely home Sherry!! What kind of tree is that in the second photo, right next to the gazebo? It's beautiful!!

Where you sacrifice lawn definitely put in some irises. Drought tolerant and much more lovely than barren area where grass dies and weeds grow. You have really created a beautiful garden Sherri.

@muddymitts The tree is a dogwood. Cornus controversa 'Variegata'. It was only a few feet tall when I dug it up from my last house and moved here. I dug up 3 or 4 trees that I couldn't bear to leave behind.

I've got an undeveloped area that I was thinking about doing an iris maze. There has been predictions that next year will be an El Nino year (lots of rain). I may not be able to water the lawn this summer, but I can plant a new garden on a prayer of water in the winter. Gardeners have to be eternal optimists.

Got a little off course with the historic thread. Here you go- Maiden bloom of 'Plumeri' with my garden helper.

I like Plumeri, but I LOVE the garden helper.

Well Sherry -- I thought it had the form of a dogwood, but couldn't see leaves or blooms to tell for sure. It's a beauty -- and I'm impressed that you were able to transplant it. I have no luck with dogwoods at all.

Your puppy is adorable!!

Dogwoods rely on Mycorrhizae -a good fungus in the soil - for almost all of their nutrients. When taking up a dogwood get a lot of the soil around it. The top small roots are the ones feeding this particular tree. I used to give talks on soil and the symbiotic relationship between plants and mycorrhizae. It is amazing.

"We " have a Dogwood growing here, outside it's climate range (slightly), and growing in "sweet" soil, directly over an old railroad (the ballast is crushed limestone), drenched in enough "Mir-acid" every year to float a battle ship ( which does get the soil ph to "close' to what is supposed to be ideal). Once in a while, it will throw a blossom of two ( not this year ,though, as I think those bitter wind chills over the winter froze all the blossom buds !), it hasn't grown much, if any, in size, but does seem to always leaf out and appear "somewhat" healthy. I wish it would just die! But "We " will continue to baby it, I'm sure!.....Arlyn

I live in Dogwood-land. Very acidic soil here -- perfect conditions for them. EVERYone has Dogwoods. Except for me. They just don't like me and I've given up trying to change their minds. Pick your battles, I always say!!

I love the Eastern Dogwoods, but they don't have a spot that has shade *and* water.. This Himalayan variety seems more tolerant of less acidic soil, and I'll be finding out this year how little water it can get by on. I also grow Cornus Capitata, which seems pretty tough, and drought tolerant as well. It's in bloom right now. The first picture is the C.controversa Var. foliage & flowers, second is C.capitata flowers, and third is it's fruit.

Deb and Sherry, I Love the photos of your yards! I also love your little dog Sherry and how he/she is just sitting there and posing for a photo next to your iris.

Here's my favorite "Historic", today at least !


Joseph's Coat Katkamier
this is "maiden bloom" ,for me, and I've been waiting a while to see it ! It was a toss-up, though, as Indian Chief opened for the first time today, also:



Indian Chief
Hard telling what my favorite will be tomorrow ...Arlyn

@underthesun I love seeing pictures of people's yards too.. Everyone has their own personal spin on it.

@crowrita1 Wow! I think I gotta get me some "Joseph's Coat'.... I've dug up tons of 'Indian Chief' to make way for other Iris, but I will always have it in the garden. It's so reliable, tough, and beautiful too. Can't wait to see tomorrow's favorites

Love them both Arlyn! Really need to pick up Indian Chief. This forum has been tempting me sooooo much. Spent time this afternoon just standing in the back yard planning beds in mind.

Too many historics to pick just one favorite, but here are a few:
Mme. Henri Cayeux


Gay Hussar, just opening


Gypsy Queen