Teri. that bed and the way you made it sounds great to me.

Newyorkrita said:

Thank you.It took me years and was done in stages.

Rita, it is really gorgeous! Did you set the steps first and then plant it? Would love to hear more about how you did it.

Actually there used to be really ugly concrete falling apart steps there in front and that was the last thing I did. I had it all redone in lovely pavers. But only after all those terraces and stone walls were put in.

oh my! It sounds like quite a process! With all that you must have learned doing that, I'll bet you'll have lots of insights to contribute to the 'yard projects' thread!

Right now in my "yuk" bed I have tiny:

Crape Myrtle
Oak Leaf Hydrangea
Cityline Hydrangea
Sambucus Nigra
Deutzia (SpP
Caryopteris
Nandina
Endless Summer Hydrangea
Rose of Sharon
Spirea
Butterfly Bush
Crossvines
Castor Bean Vine
Minature and Floribunda Rose Bushes
Coreopsis
Echinacea
Oriental and Trumpet Lily Bulbs
Hosta

and more

What a wonderful selection Roses! I am looking forward to seeing photos!

@newyorkrita, I love all the stonework you did. I read somewhere that you should start with the hardscaping, then plant tree, then shrubs, then perennials. I guess that makes sense when you have unlimited funds, but when a perennial costs $5 and a stonework costs thousands, it's easier to just start with the plants first!

ssgardener said:@newyorkrita, I love all the stonework you did. I read somewhere that you should start with the hardscaping, then plant tree, then shrubs, then perennials. I guess that makes sense when you have unlimited funds, but when a perennial costs $5 and a stonework costs thousands, it's easier to just start with the plants first!

It took me 12 years to create the gardens here and that includes plants and hard scape. It was a lot of work and looking back I don't know where I had the energy to get it all done.

I very seldom take pictures of the yuk bed with the tiny little bushes etc. in it. The next time I'm down there I will. It's quite ugly and wild.

I have a few more pictures of my yard, a little closer in like Catmint asked for:



I'll put pics of individual flowers on the other pics and chat thread.

thanks, Typ--it looks beautiful! I love the way you mix colors! I'm looking forward to seeing more on the chat & photos thread!

Just love all the pictures.
Typwc, Your garden might be small but it is lovely.
Catmint, I have beds scattered all over, too. Is that a Contorted Filbert in the first pic?
Roses, So nice to see some pics of the newer beds. Boy are they coming along so nicely. Been such a long time since I saw your gardens in person and you sure have done a lot of work. Those Roses are spectacular.
Rita, You sure do have curb appeal and I love that little terrace looks so imitate.
JB, Just love those Rhodies.
This article on our garden was done 2 years ago and we have done quite a bit since then but I thought you might like to see this. I will post a few newer pictures as well when I get the chance.
http://garden.org/ideas/view/S...

hi, Holly, so great to see you here! Your gardens look so beautiful--I am really looking forward to seeing them in person!!

That is amazing that you were able to formulate a plan all those years ago, and then realize your vision over the years! That bathtub water feature is super cool! And the Secret Garden sounds wonderful! That huge wisteria especially looks like a place I'd just love to sit and sit in the spring time. Which kind of wisteria is it?

Yes, that is a Contorted Filbert! When I was trying to pick a center tree for that garden bed, someone suggested a Harry Lauder, and I was taken with it, so got a young one and planted it there. It's a fun tree to have. The only problem with it is that the Japanese beetles love it, too.

Really looking forward to having everyone here in Sept. I have a Contorted Filbert, too. Just love it, pretty young maybe about the same size as yours, you will have to take a look at it when you come. Not sure what type of wisteria it is I've had it for more than 30 yrs/

Looking forward to it, Holly!

Hollly, your gardens were magnificent when aI saw them at 2 of your swaps. The variety is staggering and they all looked so healthy!! My cream colored marigolds that I get from you each year are really brightening up my garden!!

I love the Sweet Cream marigolds too Holly!

They are a great favorite of mine. I got so many of my annuals in so late that they aren't near the size that they should be.

They look good to me, Holly! Here is a recent photo of one that I got from you at the spring swap:

Well, in the spirit of participation, I went out this morning to take shots of front and back yards, but ended up taking too many pictures of areas I am not even working with yet! So I am trying to decide what to share here.

As it is not my house, but belongs to my cousin who is my housemate, most of the choices about how the place is laid out were either hers, or had been done before she bought the house.

So.... Most of what I photographed are really like "before" pictures, IMO.

Here is the front. It is far more formal than my taste but it's nice anyway:





To the right, toward the areas I've been working with:




Hannah's corner, and the through the gate toward the back:




Here's where it gets interesting. The bed to the right, down at the end is where that calamint is, and the whole grassy section, or most of it, we have agreed to turn from lawn into an expanded bed:




And panning to the left of the above view, you can see the shed in front of which is the Green Man bed and to the left of which is my composting area:



Green Man bed is here:



Farther toward the left is the shaded side which I won't show because there's not much going on there just yet. My cousin wants to turn the lawn into garden eventually but as we all know, it's a lot of work to do that! so we're taking it a section at a time.