That's b/c once again I forgot to add the link. Duh.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/2105...

Sorry about that.

Cool, I am so glad I am among people that aren't perfect. thanks for the tip.
Open for all suggestions, I was thinking today I have fought so hard this summer now it is fixin to get cold. A gardeners work is never done.


Blessings

>> people that aren't perfect



That's me, waving my hand over my head, but the sign should read:
"That would be me!"

You're very welcome, Sandra! I looked at prices for "snow fencing" ... oh, well, not cheap.

But I saw someone who advocated leaving a few rows of corn unharvested to serve as a snow fence ... would your yard layout allow for a few cornstalks south of the flowers? Or some other tall plant that's very sun-tolerant, maybe pole beans on a support? Of course, they would kind of hide the flowers ...

Sandra, I am not sure that I would worry about what the shade structure looks like. In a month or two, you probably won't need it any longer and, by next summer, your plants should be acclimated so you most likely won't need it then, either. Just MHO, though

I wonder if Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts still earn merit badges in lashing and agriculture ?

Yes!
http://www.scouting.org/meritb...

If you know someone with a child in Scouting, you might ask them to ask around if anyone wants to earn credit in an area like these, by doing a small project in your backyard. If they want a bigger project, they could practice on you and then set up shade lean-to-s all over town, wherever plants are being scorched.

Architecture and Landscape Architecture
Landscape Architecture
Basketry
Environmental Science
Farm Mechanics
Gardening
Pioneering
Plant Science
Soil and Water Conservation
Woodwork

I wish someone would build me a pea or bean trellis / sun shade! Not that I need a sun shade, but I would love a rustic pea trellis made from bamboo poles! My attempt was pathetic, but I only had really skinny poles to work with.

Look for someone who is trying to earn their Eagle Scout ranking.

Oh my now I know I fit in. My neighbors would have me committed for sure, they think my sun screen is silly and ugly now I am planting corn what??? Oh my I am looking to the day when my garden shows the fruits of my labor and theirs is still ugly..... Sorry lost my self.. I love all the ideas and will troll for scouts in my circle. I planted some pink pentas and they are waving at the sun oh so pretty. I can really grow flowers and not just weeds. Rick, Greene, old gardener, for staying with me..

Blessings

Sandra, your garden is going to be absolutely divine! - I just know it!!!

It's not silly if it makes your flowers survive and thrive through the summer, Sandra. Let the neighbors say what they like.

As you say, another month and you won't need it anyway. Just let the plants get established and the weather cool off some.

Flexibility and adaptability are two necessary life skills, especially for gardeners. As soon as you find something working for you, things change . . . and your garden is always changing with the weather.

>> Oh my now I know I fit in. My neighbors would have me committed for sure,

Absolutely yes!

What the rest of the world calls "crazy", we call "adaptable and inventive"! Let the good times roll!

My previous neighbor looked at my whimsies and just smiled and said "I used to live on a farm".

My current neighbor made trouble for me with the park management until (I guess) she made herself so unpopular with them that they stopped listening to her. Any time the manager asked or told me to do anything, I did it right away and asked what else he would like done.

Thanks Elaine and Rick for the revelation of my neighbors lack of taste. At least I did not plant a row of sunflowers. Rick thanks for acorn and I am so excited about this website and wake up every morning just to check my mail and see what my buds have to say and share. I am trying to get some pics to post but, another day.

Blessings

They just don't appreciate your gardening genius!

I think my favorite gardening-crazy moment was when i was doing some major excavating to put a drainage pipe BELOW a walkway that is sunken beneath and alongside a raised bed.

When I stood in the trench digging, the raised walls of the bed hid me at least waist-deep. From a distance I think they could only see my upper torso as if I were half-buried. But none of them said anything!

Back then I had more garden-friendly neighbors, including Atilla The Gardener. She mostly buys plants instead of starting from seed, and her rule is that she will give a plant that doesn't thrive right away ONE more chance. She will re-pot it or transplant it to ONE other location, but then KKKKKKK - (making throat-cutting gesture). I'm so wimpy about killing plants that I immediately named her "Atilla The Gardener".

When Atilla saw the yard of crushed stone / grit / coarse sand I bought, she went crazy, running her hands through it and crooning about how NICE it was. A woman of taste and discernment!

With apologies to those who have seen this as I have posted it on ATP before but, for the benefit of our new friend with opinionated neighbors...this photo has the title 'Two Opinions of Beautiful'.

I can appreciate that my neighbor thinks his yard is beautiful but for some reason he thinks I grow weeds. Heck, the hummingbirds and lizards don't complain.



If the plants are legal and your gardening style does not conflict with local 'rules and regulations', be happy - plant what you love.

I think I am gaining the right neighbor attitude my neighbor made a statement about flowers and them dying and I pointed to her garbage can running over and ask her what was she growing in her container garden, I think she got the message. I don't remember when I was a kid that neighbors were this busy bodies. Oh well I don't braid my hair anymore either. I have been looking for a climbing Don Juan rose bush and I must be too early cause I can't find one. Was that your garden you posted or neighbors yard. Looks like natural grasses.

Blessings

You may want to wait until bare-root season to plant a Don Juan rose. I believe @lovemyhouse said that would be February in your neck of the woods.

I know I really want one bad.

Blessings

It is a beauty!

Thank you, OldGardener. Sandra, yes, February is the best time to plant roses, here; however, because we have such mild winters (usually!), you could plant in September if you wanted to. Plenty of time for it to establish a good root system. Just don't fertilize until Spring. If it will help maintain enthusiasm against the 'container' gardeners around you, go forth and plant! If anticipation will help get you through the brown and crackly winter months, wait until the week after Valentine's Day.

If you decide to look for a Don Juan now, Chamblee's in Tyler might have it. These are own-root and will most likely be smaller than grafted when mature, and the initial size you get might look small to you. But they are always healthy, priced right, and no one in our area knows more about growing roses than they do.
http://www.chambleeroses.com/o...

Keep in mind Girl Scouts, too, when looking for volunteer help.

Thanks ladies and good morning. Starts my day when you hear from friends with news. I have contacted some rose places and they have advised it is too early to know what they will have for 2015. Will check with Chamblees and then show a little patience. (Who am I kidding?). Hard when you wait. All is well with my summer plants and am enjoying the view. Look at all I can learn while chilling... Have a great day and bloom where you are planted.

Blessings

Sandra

Forgot to comment on the sunflower: Ya know, there are some right pretty ones out there that don't look like the scrimble-scramble wild ones in the field, although those do have a charm of their own. Velvet Queen is one of the prettiest, I think. Mine have not become fully mature--too much shade and not enough water (who knew sunflowers need watering?). But you might want to think about using some to simultaneously annoy the neighbors and provide for bees in your yard.