New House Files, Part 3: Plant Hoarder?
I've become a plant hoarder.
I cannot help myself.
I see this moderately large patch of grass in the new house's front yard and I envision a much different looking landscape. I see the nasty English laurel hedge trimmed and managed. In my minds eye I see the front grass ripped out.
I mean, all of the grass ripped out. I envision yards of fresh dirt dumped and then raked out with spots of height for dimension, carefully tiered.
So, I can't help myself when I visit a nursery. I mean, let's be honest. Some of the plants I want, surely are only going to be available now. And, certainly there is a better selection as the new arrivals pour in....now.
You see, I have myself convinced that I am in the right frame of mind.
The reality is that I'm stuck inside, scraping paint and old wall paper off of every wall in the old house and
I'm dreaming of the day when I can begin to tear out the lawn and put these pretties in the ground.
My recent plant finds include:
Daphne O. 'Aurea Marginata
Chameacyparis Lawson Lana? 'springtime' and 'blue surprise' (slow growing dwarf conifers)
Thuja Occidentalis 'Golden Tuffet' Abovite (dwarf conifer)
Calluna Vulgaris 'Sir John Charringtow' (this is like a summer heather with pretty reddish/yellow foliage in winter)
Thuja Plicata Filiformis - Threadleaf cedar (dwarf)
Azealea 'greenwood orange' and 'mother's day red'
Hellebore 'Pink Spotted Lady'
Winter Heather Erica Carnea (darker to magenta), Mediterranean Pink and Mediterranean White.
And another dwarf conifer that I sadly didn't get the name of, something from the cedar family.
I have already planted two varieties of Japanese Maple last fall, as well as a combination apple tree. I have a combination pear tree, service berry and blue berries to plant soon in the back yard.
The front yard is part sun and will be perfect for so many of the pretty plants I have in my current home. They're coming with me.
Dreams and plans while scraping paint and wallpaper.
Cheers, Jenni
I cannot help myself.
I see this moderately large patch of grass in the new house's front yard and I envision a much different looking landscape. I see the nasty English laurel hedge trimmed and managed. In my minds eye I see the front grass ripped out.
I mean, all of the grass ripped out. I envision yards of fresh dirt dumped and then raked out with spots of height for dimension, carefully tiered.
So, I can't help myself when I visit a nursery. I mean, let's be honest. Some of the plants I want, surely are only going to be available now. And, certainly there is a better selection as the new arrivals pour in....now.
You see, I have myself convinced that I am in the right frame of mind.
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| Jenni, the plant hoarder. |
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| Service Berry and 2 Blue Berry varieties |
I'm dreaming of the day when I can begin to tear out the lawn and put these pretties in the ground.
My recent plant finds include:
Daphne O. 'Aurea Marginata
Chameacyparis Lawson Lana? 'springtime' and 'blue surprise' (slow growing dwarf conifers)
Thuja Occidentalis 'Golden Tuffet' Abovite (dwarf conifer)
Calluna Vulgaris 'Sir John Charringtow' (this is like a summer heather with pretty reddish/yellow foliage in winter)
Thuja Plicata Filiformis - Threadleaf cedar (dwarf)
Azealea 'greenwood orange' and 'mother's day red'
Hellebore 'Pink Spotted Lady'
Winter Heather Erica Carnea (darker to magenta), Mediterranean Pink and Mediterranean White.
And another dwarf conifer that I sadly didn't get the name of, something from the cedar family.
I have already planted two varieties of Japanese Maple last fall, as well as a combination apple tree. I have a combination pear tree, service berry and blue berries to plant soon in the back yard.
The front yard is part sun and will be perfect for so many of the pretty plants I have in my current home. They're coming with me.
Dreams and plans while scraping paint and wallpaper.
Cheers, Jenni
Bless your heart. Pretty soon you'll have a lovely home inside, with lovely gardens outside. Hang in there. Keep on dreaming and planning and it will become reality.
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs ~ FlowerLady
Thank you FL! I am dreaming away!
DeleteWe have a daphne flowering at the moment which we didn't plant - the birds did!
ReplyDeleteYou're going to need lots of plants to fill all that space and the heathers look lovely.
Thanks Sue! I fell in love with the scent of the daphne at the nursery. teehee, this plant purchase is only the beginning!! :)
DeleteOh, I laughed out loud truly at your first sentence "I am a plant hoarder." That is me to a T. I have a bunch of plants sitting on my patio that I never got around to planting last fall, and now I am starting a brand new collection for my new garden area. You found some wonderful plants, I love heathers!
ReplyDeleteYou do know you don't have to take out the grass, right? If you do lasagna beds, you can leave the grass, just cover it with cardboard and lots of compost materials, and it will turn into a basically weed-free bed very quickly. I did a lasagna bed in my old house, and it worked really well.
Hey Alison, I've thought about the lasagna bed for the front yard, but I'm concerned about wanting to put in border stones and do some more sculpted edges and create a tiered system. Hm, this is a good point to ponder.
DeleteWow, you have lots going on there! I like your ideas for the yard. I have been doing some self talk about not getting so many plants this year, and actually dividing some to move around. We have a loan I want to get paid off so I can have more options as to when I can retire.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya Sue! I have many plants that I will be dividing or digging up entirely in my current home. I want to be careful with my few $$'s to spend on plants.
DeleteYes, yes, yes! Oh, I agree - you need to buy now! These things aren't available in the fall. And I know you'll be through painting eventually, and getting that grass out will be next - and putting in all those plants you're hoarding! Rent a sod cutter - you can get it out in a day (if you have a helper with some muscle!). I hope you have fabulous soil!
ReplyDeleteHG, my thoughts exactly!!
DeleteKudos to you for buying them when you see them! Just think how much worse the scraping and slaving away indoors would be if you didn't have all those happy plants outside!
ReplyDeleteNo doubt DG! A girls got to have a little something to look forward too :)
DeleteJeg kom bare lige forbi.
ReplyDeleteRigtig gode billeder af alle dine planter.
Tak for kigget.
Ha` en god søndag aften.
Sometimes musing and planning is what helps us keep our sanity when we're in the midst of things we'd rather not do, such as scraping paint. I know it's what I do and look at me...No wait. Scratch that last part. LOL
ReplyDeleteI can totally see those beauties adorning your sans-lawn front yard. Your before and after photos are going to be priceless. I'm so glad you got a Daphne. That scent is to die for.
Hang in there. Hugs.
I think you're smart to be buying them when you see them. I started doing that last year before we started our front yard project. It gives you hope that you'll get it done it eventually. At least the weather is bad while you're doing the scraping and painting and hopefully by the time you're done the weather will be nice.
ReplyDeleteWhen you love the outdoors it's so hard being inside! Sounds like your itching to get out! Hope the inside work goes quickly. There's plenty of time for the outside.
ReplyDelete