We have had our share of water maple roots. They tell us around here not to build a raised bed, but I did anyway and it is doing okay each year. But if I had it to do over, no maples, no pines, just lots of open space!

Not a lot going on here This is this mornings stroll.
I love Tutti Fruitti against the JM

Tuitti Fruitti Agastache is a nice one. I've planted several new Agastaches this year. All are doing well. Gotta luv 'em.

Is that rain upon your deck?? It is raining here too ... we've had at least an inch since yesterday. We were getting a bit desperate so I'm very happy. We'll take more, please.

Just enough rain to be annoying,not enough to soak or do any good.

I have managed to kill every agastache I ever planted?

I have had 3 varieties. Apricot Sprite which lasted 2 years but I found a self seed last month,hope it over winters.
Apache sunset is 4 years old and not as big this year but still OK.
Tutti Fruitti is new this spring. I have heard they are short lived.
Its wait and see on all my garden. I want so many plnts and have limited room compared to some gardens I have seen that when I loose a plant I just order the next one on my wishlist.

Love that back deck.

thanks it sold me on the house.

Can see why. My big Cedar Elm in front is what sold me on this house before even setting foot inside. The back needs WORK. Would be years before I can make it look as attractive as yours. Thank you for sharing the photo so I can enjoy vicariously.

Noticed the rain on JoAnn's deck also..Hope you get more Jo...We were blessed with over 3 inches during the night..So happy and hope it covers a lot of territory as I know so many of us have been in a drought.

I want that color of paint on my deck...It looks kind of gray in the pic..Is that correct..I am leaning in that direction...We really needed to do something about it this year but after a while I just thought Oh what the heck I will worry about it next year...

When we bought the house 4 years ago the deck was orange,my guess the paint color had some sort of southwest name.

The color is more of n Earth Green Sherwin Williams opaque stain. What a difference it makes in how lovely the planters look.
Old Deck



New deck paint

Very different. Makes a nice neutral background to let the colors and forms of the containers really stand out.

I see you have many containers too, Jo Ann. That's what has been killin' me the past month or so with all the hot weather and no rain ... keeping them all watered.

In the bottom photo up there in the first post, in the center trailing over the pot, is that Dichondra or something else?

I truly love that color..Did you have to remove the former color..I bought some cheap on sale deck paint a few years ago at Aldi's and I hate hate hate it..I am going to write that down in my garden journal as a re-minder for next year...Hubby will just have to deal with it..(The repainting) I mean....

Songs of joy. It is Dicondra
I live with my DD Aand SIL .They have been on remodle and repaire mode since March.
They powerwashed the deck and then just painted over what was cleaned, maybe sanded some rough spots.
It really pays to spend good money on anything thats used a lot. The former owners dis a cosmetic job on the deck to sell the house. It was new stain 4 years ago. We hope this will last longer.

If you figure what your time is worth and how much you save doing the job yourself itw worth a few dollars more for materials in the long run.You wont have to do the job again in a short time.

You are so right...I am going to try that next year..already made my note to myself...
Thanks.

Ahhhhh notes. I cant believe I have a decent sized file for 2012

It's what keeps us going in the winter..dreaming of what we will do next year!

yup