I'm patient :)

Meanwhile, I'll settle for a picture!

postmandug said:You're not the only one with "rock envy" ! RCN48 still takes me to task over it! Has she jumped over here yet?

Didn't need the "nudge", I finally found you (AND your rocks)! Your hillside of shade is looking very inviting.


Sorry to be late to the party, I was in Maine for two weeks and didn't have a chance to check out the new site. And YES, I did bring a few rocks home with me. I also had an opportunity to bring back some beautiful chunks of granite my mother had removed from her gardens and was saving for me. Unfortunately a last minute 'swap' of vehicles for my trip left me with a much smaller car which prevented me from bringing them home. Mom assured me that they'll be waiting for me on my next trip north though!

I returned to VA on Sunday, spent the day Monday surveying the gardens and making my lists of what I needed to catch up on in the shade gardens before returning to planting new borders in the sun. BIG OOPS first thing Tuesday morning has had me in a prone position ever since and unable to even get outside. Foot had fallen asleep while sitting at the computer and twisted my ankle on the way to the kitchen. I thought I had actually broken it when I heard the crunching of bone but X-rays yesterday revealed it's "only" a really bad sprain. Bad enough to keep me down for at least a week and I'm already going stir crazy - so many things to do!!! After two days inside I'm not sure who's more bored - me or the dogs? Poor girls missed my company for two weeks and now they're keeping me company inside...they're always with me when I'm working in the gardens. I'll probably be spending a lot of time on the computer so I'll find some photos to show off my shade.

Susie, your Japanese Maple is encouraging! My son lives in Scottsdale and has always wanted a Japanese Maple. He's hoping I can make a trip out there this fall to help him with his landscaping but I'm basically clueless regarding desert plants. I'm pretty sure he's got enough shade though in a couple of spots where he might be successful growing one?

Good to see you here Deb! I did the same thing you did a few years ago. Foot fell asleep while sitting in front of the computer and got up to walk and my foot didn't. I was on crutches for a couple of weeks. Spilled coffee all down the hallway when I fell.

Doug

Fern Leaf

Coral Bark ( newer branches turn red in winter)

Palm Leaf

Paper Bark

Miniature Maple ( I don't remember correct name )

Bloodgood
Trish these are the JM's I have seeds for all are rated zones 5-8 and like most JM's need good watering. If you would like seeds for any or all of them let me know where to send them..

Wow, Bob! Quite the collection! Your Coral Bark looks similar to my desert denizen. My leaves are only 2" wide at the most.... 4 year old tree is about 5 feet and filling out.

Love the woodland garden Doug. Nice work. Were working on making one too....but the heat is putting a stop to alot of outdoor WORK.
Were having growbacks from the shrubbery and brush that was removed to make this woodland garden. Any suggestions?? We got a maddock (I really like using this tool) and it seems to be working on getting out alot of stumpage and roots.....but time will tell. What did you use as a mulch?

I use just what nature would; chopped leaves, pine needles etc.

Doug

I just found this thread.
I absolutly love the transitions you posted Doug.
Taking nothing and transforming it into something is the most satisfying activity any gardener can do.
Here's my story.
SIL,DD and I sold our houses 4 years ago and bought big one with room foe me.
They work. After unpacking and settling in I realized I had a lot of time on my hands and began to plan the gardens here,most needed redoing ompletely due to neglect, (the house had been a rental for several years)
DD brought a half pallet of large stones from her old hous patio project.
She laid them alongside the deck.
This left a space from the driveway to the back year that wasnt big enough to mow.
She agreed to let me start a shade garden in the spot.
The stone walk from the driveway parallel to the back deck
July 2008


the big white dumpster is in the "toss it there" spot that became the Woodpile garden

Its possible to see the patch of grass no one wanted to mow,it drove me nuts.
this is a better image of the stonepath


I figured ,just lasagna the grass and make a calm spot there just within view of the deck. I added a water feature and JM


All this was 2008. This is the area now

Nice Joann. Everything grew and filled in........love the misty look of the pic.

Thanks Doug. Soon enough I will have an endless supply of leaves. Will keep my eye out for pine needles.

A nice place for pausing and contemplating, Jo Ann. Pretty.

Aguane said:A nice place for pausing and contemplating, Jo Ann. Pretty.

My problem is I keep planning places for "pausing and contemplating" but I haven't been able to stop and enjoy them yet! And the worst part is, I just looked at another area the beginning of this week and thought, now that the trees have grown so much it would be a lovely spot for a bench in the shade. How many spots do I need?

One of the bears just stopped by for a drink and to enjoy my shade garden on another hot day in NJ.

Wow.

Doesn't it just tickle you when you can provide a creature with a drink of water? I love that!

Doug, I've got to say your dry laid stonework is every bit as good as I've seen Downeast (Maine). And that's in a place where they take great pride in it! I've overheard many conversations in diners all over Maine where the guys were talking about the latest bit of wall they'd rebuilt.

Doug,

Your shade garden is so pretty! What is the dark green tree behind the blue bench? Will it survive in Zone 5, and how big does it get?

Rose

Wow is right on that bear! I am wondering if you mulch in your shade gardens? I don't because of all the leaves to clear in the fall, I was just continually be replacing mulch?

I don't use mulch for the reason you stated. I make compost and put down a layer each year.

Good idea, thanks.