Ok Mike, that's enough. You're starting to make the rest of us look bad!

really nice, Mike!

Mike, this is the first time I've seen beds created from bricks placed on end like that. I like that look! How deep are they buried in the ground?

@Muddy1, they're buried about 2-3" deep. After all the beds are in, I'm going to add another 2" of gravel for the paths to anchor them.

Great project and progress Mike!

In regards to the bird bath....I am under the impression tah birds like some sort of perches and cover near to their bath, so one or two taller growers beneath and perhaps a small tree?
Do you or will you get a good harvest of the strawberries? Love the alpines. How much work or tending do they need?

Judy's right; birds like to have cover near their bath so they're not like sitting ducks to predators.
Mike, I wasn't sure which semi-circle you meant. The one closest to your house, which already has a small tree or shrub planted in it, is also close to the large shrub by your fence. That would be a good place for a bird bath.

One thing to keep in mind if it is to be a year-round, heated bath: the closer to your house, the better, because you'll have to haul water out in the winter to clean and fill it!

To be clear, I planned on putting the bath in the middle of the yard there with the strawberries. How close should the perch/cover be? If you take a look at the design plan, I'll have a 8x8' hedge of Elaeagnus down the side, the Camellia will mature to 15x12' in the corner, and I'll have the two rows of huckleberry 4x4' flanking the bath. Is that enough? If not, I could build some kind trellis or arch around the bird bath and grow some vines there.



@MariposaMaid, the alpine strawberries I have are very productive, but it's constant as opposed to flushes. Overall I get more strawberries, but in small, steady harvests: probably about a cup every other day at its peak with 60 plants. As far as care, they're much better behaved than common strawberry. They form clumps instead of runners, and they're hardy as heck. They tolerate significantly more shade and are way less fickle about water. Best of all, they're evergreen! No pesky winter clean up. Very low maintenance.

Gee, if I were t plant alpine strawberries, the squirrel would never leave!

We have several bird baths around the yard. Three of them are nestled in amongst the shrubs and are the most frequented. One is in the middle of a huge azalea, another in a dogwood and the 3rd in among forsythia. We figure the others will get more use as the shrubbery matures.

Here's a question for @Cam ...

I know you have been singing the praises of Milorganite, and we've started using it. I would like to use it on some of our plants during the winter months indoors. I figure that those that are 'top watered', no problem. But what about those that are 'bottom watered'? All of my cactus and coffee plants are in trays. I replenish the water in the trays as needed and the plants suck up what they need. Any suggestions on how to use milorganite with these puppies? Or, should I just stick with the Miracle Grow?

If I may- I don't use any fertilizer on houseplants over winter. But if you will, I'd stick with Miracle Gro.
Actually I prefer Vigoro. I can't swear there's a difference, but I think it has the right stuff and a tiny bit cheaper than MG.
Vigoro has the right balance of NPK ( in a ratio like 3-1-2) and also the lesser major nutrients. I think. I can't find a company website

Mike, it sounds like you'll have shelter shrubs that will be close enough, but I think a trellis or arch would be a good idea, in part to provide some shade in the summer.

Good point on the shade Muddy.
Mike, there was a patch of wild strawberries down at the end of my road as a kid in Illinois of what I guess was Fragaria virginiana. They all seemed to ripen pretty much at once but we
could pick a dishpan or two each June for Strawberry Short Cakes and many jars of jam.
So yummy.

Lots of wildlife and insects feed on wild strawberries. I note that RickM has only a singular
squirrel frequenting his gardens unlike the rest of us.

No, we have a dozen or so squirrel. (It's the same word form for singular and multiple) That's not counting when they have a 'reunion' and the friends and family stop by for a garden wrecking party!

PERFECT!

The day before Thanksgiving our HVAC install was completed. It took them 5 1/2 days to get it all installed. They quoted 4-5. We had no ducts and got a heat pump with the a/c. Outside they placed the pad for the compressor below grade, which I couldn't understand. Nonetheless, I was able to tie it all into the landscaping. I think it turned out pretty good.

Nice job! You did well, given, the seemingly odd choice of setting that pad low.

Thanks! And now I have to make sure that plants don't crowd it out...

Knowing your penchant for multi plants, easier said than done!
Nice work kiddo.

How much 'air space' around it is recommended? Is that the xeric side of the house?

Looks good! And good question about the "air space"; I'm wondering what I can plant close to my compressor.