This is the east side garden 2009


and yesterday

The tree was cut down in January

Very beautiful. I love stepping stones in a garden. Also the birdbath and trellises. You got it all girl.

You've done a nice job, Jo Ann. It's looking more like an established, mature garden.

Karen

Ahh yes indeed..looking Good

OOOOOOO the stones. I am saving to have a nicer path put in. I talked to a landscaper and he is getting back to me with an estimate. I want to use some of the stones that are there and have recycled materials added maybe a brick edge.
I hope this guy does me a favor. The last steps and path I had done was major construction and cost a grand.
I had to move many plants for that job,but its beautiful and much less dangerous on the Woodswalk Hill now.

Virginiarose, your Fall activities sound a lot like mine!

Last year, I did manage to tag everything in my newly replanted front yard. Then the plastic tags heaved out in the freezing and some even blew away.

I am DEFINITELY switching to names planted on stones. Dunno how long it will take me to get it done, but I'm DEFINIITELY doing it! And clearcoat sealing them, too. Marine varnish comes in a spray can, I recently learned here on some forum or other.

I saw a tip somewhere that you can cut open aluminum cans and scratch the names in there and they last forever. I had done good with the ones I did with the plastic sticks, I pushed them all the way down into dirt except for one inch at top and they went nowhere and didn't fade. Good thing is they are cheep and will not cut you.
I got in a rush and messed up for sure!

I got in such a rush fall before last that I haven't completely "fixed" it all yet!
Barely missed everything dying of freeze in little pots....

Metal that's thin enough can be written on , pressing hard, with a ball point pen.
The ink fades away but the inpression is left.

I like stones tho, they are pretty in the garden just as stones and they willl NOT heave OR blow away!

My choice is made, just have to DO it.

I want to do painted rocks, too!!!

Maybe once it gets hot out...

oh, my; that sounds like a good plan...

(It was supposed to be my winter project!! )

But, but, but. How do you write on stones??

Stones are pretty, can you paint the names on there??

My winter project was supposed to be to make stones. I have a hundred pounds of concrete

Maybe we can make stones and engrave the names into the stone. Let's get a little professional and go all out!

Actual PAINT paint.
Like outdoor paint from hodepo.
Then a coat or two of clear marine varnish.
Mind you I haven't tested this outdoors yet.
But the stone is porous and the sealant is a sealant....
SO.....

Don't spend any big money on it until one of us tests it, but I think it'll work....

I'm thinking "river rock" type stones, as large as I can find.

I don't approve of removing them from their rivers, but when there's development ruining the river anyway, scavenge....

I been a rock hound since I was very young.

Have a decent collection to use in aquarium someday.
They're always prettier wet.
clear sealant mimicks wet.

I have been wanting to do a border with river rocks. ( I live up the street from stone yard). I actually have some small river stones. Soooooo, just some black latex or green would be more pleasant.

That's what I'm saying.

So after you paint the name on the rock and clear coat it. You just sit it beside the hosta? Sounds way cool.

on the ground wherever you can read it when you need to read it.

If you write in pencil on the plant tags it usually stays thru bad weather but no help if tag blows away, I got some of those metal marker but have yet to use them for id yet just to mark where I planted something, I have noticed I trip over them too much


hubby moving our condensing unit for our a/c, so I had to move mums, daylilies, allium, Oriental lily, geraniums, and newly planted coreopsis and cut rhody back

Yeah, I broke a couple plastic ones trying to step around them, too.
And a coupla years ago I almost killed myself on a hill in a friend's garden by tripping over one of this type:
http://www.womanswork.com/cata...
Somehow part of my shoe got caught in there.....

STONES, I say, STONES!
Safer AND prettier.