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May 25, 2015 2:21 PM CST
Name: Jonna
Mérida, Yucatán, México (Zone 13a)
The WITWIT Badge Region: Mexico Garden Procrastinator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Ponds Tropicals
Enjoys or suffers hot summers Plumerias Plays in the sandbox Dog Lover Cat Lover
Coming from SF, I don't think I would want a concrete or concrete block house in an earthquake zone.
A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.
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May 25, 2015 3:00 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lee-Roy
Bilzen, Belgium (Zone 8a)
Region: Belgium Composter Region: Europe Ferns Hostas Irises
Lilies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
extranjera said: I tip my hat to you. Incredible work guys!! It's looking really good. Roofs (and walls and floors) are generally concrete here where I live too. Nothing to burn, nothing for termites to eat, cool in the heat and Becky, they are really safe in hurricanes. I don't even carry fire insurance on my house, there's nothing but some furniture and cabinets to burn and I can't imagine how it could catch on fire.


Here fire insurence is obligatory by law, no matter what materials the house is made of.
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May 25, 2015 3:06 PM CST
Name: Jonna
Mérida, Yucatán, México (Zone 13a)
The WITWIT Badge Region: Mexico Garden Procrastinator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Ponds Tropicals
Enjoys or suffers hot summers Plumerias Plays in the sandbox Dog Lover Cat Lover
In the US as well I think. Here, the govt is less intrusive but also I think a lot of those requirements in the US are from the banks issuing the mortgage. I have no mortgage so there is no one else's money involved.

I'm curious because you said you will have a 2nd kitchen?? Is there a reason to have 2?
A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.
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May 25, 2015 3:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lee-Roy
Bilzen, Belgium (Zone 8a)
Region: Belgium Composter Region: Europe Ferns Hostas Irises
Lilies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Well the first reason is that when we eventually begin renovating our current one we still need place to cook so we bought a second-hand one for the mean time.
Second reason is that our 'master' kitchen is on ground level and our garden lies even with the first floor so in the summer time it'll be much easier to just use the kitchenette on the first floor to prepare food for BBQ's and garden parties etc than to have to walk up and down the stairs to the master kitchen all the time.
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May 25, 2015 3:39 PM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
Smart thinking. Thumbs up I tip my hat to you.
It’s okay to not know all the answers.
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May 25, 2015 8:03 PM CST
Name: Becky
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Daylilies Hummingbirder Butterflies Seed Starter Container Gardener
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Birds Ponds
Jonna - I didn't realize you originally were from SF. I agree that a concrete home in an earthquake would be most dangerous. Just curious ... why did you decide to move to Mexico?

Lee-Roy - You certainly have a great plan on how to utilize your home once the renovations are completed. Sounds like it's going to be used a lot for entertaining. I think it will wow all the guests once the home is finished. It will surely wow all of us on this forum, too! I can't wait to see more. It's going to look REALLY nice! Thumbs up Thumbs up Thumbs up
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.
Garden Rooms and Becky's Budget Garden
Last edited by beckygardener May 25, 2015 8:04 PM Icon for preview
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Jun 7, 2015 12:56 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lee-Roy
Bilzen, Belgium (Zone 8a)
Region: Belgium Composter Region: Europe Ferns Hostas Irises
Lilies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Hi everyone. No major gardening work done lately. But here a few pics of some of my plants etc, just to keep this thread up to date ^^

My lavenders I planted last summer are doing excellent. They've tripled in size and will be blooming this summer. My iris have also seen major growth, but no flowers this year I'm afraid. In between them and the Pennisetum are two rarspberries which are shooting out nice foliage/runners and the zuccini is also growing strong!

My calla bloom is amazing and long lasting it seems; I'm a happy guy Smiling The Trachycarpus is also in bloom and it's a sight to behold (don't know if it's female of male yet)

The bush rose that used to stand in a pot in front of the house was rehoused last summer. We had neglected it for years (no feeding, almost no watering, no pruning etc). This spring I pruned it back hard to about knee hight and now there's 30+ buds on that sucker :D I'm not a fan of roses, but this one has stolen my heart and earned its keep.
Also, the rescued ferns from last year are doing great as you can see :p
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Last edited by Arico Jun 7, 2015 1:04 PM Icon for preview
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Jun 7, 2015 1:08 PM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
I tip my hat to you. I tip my hat to you. I tip my hat to you. I tip my hat to you. I tip my hat to you.
It’s okay to not know all the answers.
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Jun 7, 2015 1:59 PM CST
Name: Becky
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Daylilies Hummingbirder Butterflies Seed Starter Container Gardener
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Birds Ponds
Wow! A green thumb without even trying! That's what a good garden location will do for plants! It's so nice to start with new beds and a blank garden canvas. Everything is looking terrific!!! Glad you posted as I was wondering if all was well with you. (No construction injuries ... thank goodness!) Thumbs up
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.
Garden Rooms and Becky's Budget Garden
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Jun 15, 2015 2:03 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lee-Roy
Bilzen, Belgium (Zone 8a)
Region: Belgium Composter Region: Europe Ferns Hostas Irises
Lilies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
beckygardener said:Wow! A green thumb without even trying! That's what a good garden location will do for plants! It's so nice to start with new beds and a blank garden canvas. Everything is looking terrific!!! Glad you posted as I was wondering if all was well with you. (No construction injuries ... thank goodness!) Thumbs up


Well Becky, I may be a novice gardener, but I do believe in two things: a penny for the plant, a pound for the ground & right plant in the right place (though you CAN cheat/experiment on this which I also encourage; so that's quite a dilemma/ironic :p )

Nothing major happened, just planted out my Crocosmia lucifer in the narrow bed which came partially available again since they were outgrowing their pots. The plan was - and still is - to have a beech hedge in it to hide the jacuzzi and create some more shade for shade loving plants, but it seemed such a shame to leave it empty.

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We also added another set of stairs at the far end of the garden for easier access to the rainwater barrell and the back of the shed. Don't have a pic of it yet, but I'll remember to take one tomorrow.
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Jun 17, 2015 4:10 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lee-Roy
Bilzen, Belgium (Zone 8a)
Region: Belgium Composter Region: Europe Ferns Hostas Irises
Lilies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
So here's the pic of the stairs as promised. Took me a little longer; my computer is acting strange
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Jun 17, 2015 4:18 PM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
They look great. I tip my hat to you.

Love the dog. Lovey dubby
It’s okay to not know all the answers.
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Jun 17, 2015 5:37 PM CST
Name: Becky
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Daylilies Hummingbirder Butterflies Seed Starter Container Gardener
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Birds Ponds
Lee-Roy - Looking so nice!!! I really like the steps using the cider block. What material are you using for the actual steps? Granite? Looks fabulous!

I would die to have raised beds like you've created! It looks like a professional job. The results are beautiful!!! Keep those photos coming. It's inspiring to see what you started with and where you are now! Thumbs up Thumbs up Thumbs up Thumbs up Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.
Garden Rooms and Becky's Budget Garden
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Jun 18, 2015 10:48 PM CST
Name: Elfrieda
Indian Harbour Beach, Florida (Zone 10a)
Annuals Foliage Fan Herbs Hibiscus Master Gardener: Florida Roses
Salvias Sedums Sempervivums Enjoys or suffers hot summers Ferns Dragonflies
Altogether -- an absolutely fabulous job. Well done both of you. Something very satisfying in looking back at a massive project and saying "I did it". Thanks for sharing the journey.
“I was just sittin’ here enjoyin’ the company. Plants got a lot to say, if you take the time to listen”
Eeyore
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Jun 27, 2015 5:08 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lee-Roy
Bilzen, Belgium (Zone 8a)
Region: Belgium Composter Region: Europe Ferns Hostas Irises
Lilies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
beckygardener said:Lee-Roy - Looking so nice!!! I really like the steps using the cider block. What material are you using for the actual steps? Granite? Looks fabulous!

I would die to have raised beds like you've created! It looks like a professional job. The results are beautiful!!! Keep those photos coming. It's inspiring to see what you started with and where you are now! Thumbs up Thumbs up Thumbs up Thumbs up Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!


They're just simple concrete steps Becky Smiling But at 138kg a piece not taken lightly :p

And thank you all!
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Jun 30, 2015 2:51 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lee-Roy
Bilzen, Belgium (Zone 8a)
Region: Belgium Composter Region: Europe Ferns Hostas Irises
Lilies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Not much happening at the moment. I've just been digging away the last mound of earth today in soaring hot sun.
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Jun 30, 2015 3:10 PM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
Thumbs up
It’s okay to not know all the answers.
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Jun 30, 2015 3:49 PM CST
Name: Becky
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Daylilies Hummingbirder Butterflies Seed Starter Container Gardener
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Birds Ponds
Lee-Roy - It will eventually ALL be done and you and your partner can sit back and enjoy the beautiful garden and home that you have renovated! One area at a time, one day at a time, and lots of hard work that will be a big reward when it is completed! And you can proudly say you did most if not all the work yourselves! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.
Garden Rooms and Becky's Budget Garden
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Jul 11, 2015 4:28 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lee-Roy
Bilzen, Belgium (Zone 8a)
Region: Belgium Composter Region: Europe Ferns Hostas Irises
Lilies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Hey guys and ladies. Nothing will be happening coming weeks I'm afraid. My man broke his leg from falling off a ladder :s :p I did get busy planting a bit more, so I'll just show some pics of that.

I bought: 5x Agapanthus africanus 'albidus' , 7x Iris sibirica 'Snow Queen' and about 10x Pennisetum alopecuroïdes. Yesterday I had two other Agapanthus (bigger and in flower), but they were evergreen and not hardy, so come winter I'd have to have them lifted and stored indoors which I couldn't bother with. So I went back to the garden center and turned them in for 5 smaller, hardy, deciduous ones ^^

I also planted 7 Iris sibirica around them (big mistake). One loves water, the other doesn't. I have other Iris (germanica), but they stood in the bed directly above which would do great there next to the Agapanthus; both drought tolerant and lovers of full hot sun. Buuut... that meant digging ALL iris out and changing places.

And yes I did :p Not to be recommended; digging up and transplanting in mid summer. So I had to take drastic - and very painful - action as you can see in the last photo :p =°/ I nearly cried.

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Jul 11, 2015 4:54 PM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
So sorry about the broken leg! Sad

Gardens are always works in progress, I think. Smiling
It’s okay to not know all the answers.

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