tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post6513130589546347661..comments2024-01-03T02:26:23.899-08:00Comments on A Gardener in Progress: Working with what I've got.Catherine@AGardenerinProgresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001060769253273283noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-71571531737882577622009-07-09T09:28:02.850-07:002009-07-09T09:28:02.850-07:00Town Mouse - Thanks for that great list!Town Mouse - Thanks for that great list!Catherine@AGardenerinProgresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05001060769253273283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-88975485270050449512009-07-09T06:57:05.950-07:002009-07-09T06:57:05.950-07:00What a great looking garden you have. So smart to...What a great looking garden you have. So smart to work with what you have instead of fighting it.Victoria Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16014235737941054206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-44427411328397154172009-07-09T06:19:56.277-07:002009-07-09T06:19:56.277-07:00I think dry shade is the most difficult situation ...I think dry shade is the most difficult situation to work with. Your back yard looks wonderful. I especially like the Ocean Spray.sweetbayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248743114944736346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-81248289315846031192009-07-08T22:05:08.755-07:002009-07-08T22:05:08.755-07:00You are so smart making the transition and realizi...You are so smart making the transition and realizing it's easier to work with your conditions. I still fight mine. There are a few things I feel I really "need" to grow that wouldn't be hardy at all without extra TLC. I need to adjust my attitude I guess!! Your garden really is wonderful and you have such a great variety of plants.Kathleenhttp://kaseyskorner.typepad.com/kaseys_korner/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-20500103601067652052009-07-08T20:30:08.314-07:002009-07-08T20:30:08.314-07:00Very beautiful! I'm thinking about getting a h...Very beautiful! I'm thinking about getting a holodiscus, and this photo might have closed the deal. <br /><br />Try this link for more dry shade plants: <br />http://www.californiagardens.com/Lists/Dry_Shade.htmTown Mousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09777461911856383480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-65318802119715019192009-07-08T07:35:10.254-07:002009-07-08T07:35:10.254-07:00Your shady backyard is beautiful Catherine, so don...Your shady backyard is beautiful Catherine, so don't lament the lack of sun. Just enjoy! I don't have one bit of advice for you though, as my yard is nothing but sun! I spend all my time watering, even though I mostly plant xeric plants. But the veggies, pots, and non-established plants all need extra water.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-76265481558864437052009-07-08T05:55:17.450-07:002009-07-08T05:55:17.450-07:00Gorgeous photos, as usual Catherine! And I know ab...Gorgeous photos, as usual Catherine! And I know about the backyard shade thing... I also am flanked by large tree bearing neighboring yards, but just concentrate on the front. I would describe you as a "prolific" gardener, a term not usually used for this creative endeavor, but you certainly earn the moniker. <br />DavidBlind Fly Theaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09011262001970131894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-23295805007593194882009-07-08T05:48:27.561-07:002009-07-08T05:48:27.561-07:00I linked to you again...I linked to you again...Darlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09976608531478457839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-25386006395453903952009-07-08T03:09:36.898-07:002009-07-08T03:09:36.898-07:00It is best not to be at loggerheads with nature. I...It is best not to be at loggerheads with nature. I had also tried unsuccessfully to grow tulips and irises in my garden.Another flower for the shade is the peace lily-spathiphyllum.lotusleafhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02725791780240334964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-82660284869936597152009-07-07T22:17:38.220-07:002009-07-07T22:17:38.220-07:00Ahhh! I wish I had some shade here, but nada, it&#...Ahhh! I wish I had some shade here, but nada, it's all open here which makes certain plants wilt soon and also forces me not to plant shade-loving plants :(<br />Oh, can't wait to see those hollyhocks all covering those vertical stems! Wonderful shots, Catherine.Chandramouli Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06532146969497878220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-26596748351139491802009-07-07T20:50:06.602-07:002009-07-07T20:50:06.602-07:00Your garden is lovely, Catherine! I love the Hydra...Your garden is lovely, Catherine! I love the Hydrangeas you have, much prettier than the ones I see where I live. I know what you mean about trying to make a garden be what it isn't. I have noticed that a lot of things that say 'full sun' do much better in a dappled sun area or one that gets a break from the afternoon sun. I guess I'm not quite sure how many hours of sun is 'full sun'. My peas should be in full sun (which I've always learned with any vegetable)- but if I plant them in an area of dappled sun they produce much longer into the summer. I'll be giving things a lot of thought and a much different approach with my next garden. Deciding to work with what you have is smart- in fact, I think us doing as little as possible is a good idea (or at least me!) like in the permaculture books I've been reading lately :).<br /><br />Happy gardening to you! Your garden is just beautiful :)Tessa at Blunders with Shoots, Blossoms 'n Rootshttp://blossomsnblunders.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-6732055335211315422009-07-07T20:30:39.916-07:002009-07-07T20:30:39.916-07:00in the past I have dreamed the same dream, and fin...in the past I have dreamed the same dream, and finally accepted that it is not going to happen for me either...your garden is lovely either way friend!!! thanks for the tour!Tootsiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02313167135644565141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-55245873075795515202009-07-07T20:16:11.398-07:002009-07-07T20:16:11.398-07:00Shady - I just found the company on line that make...Shady - I just found the company on line that makes these faces.<br />https://www.carruthstudio.com/index.htmlCatherine@AGardenerinProgresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05001060769253273283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-63537936268391613392009-07-07T20:09:46.611-07:002009-07-07T20:09:46.611-07:00Julie - Thanks for some more great suggestions. I...Julie - Thanks for some more great suggestions. I wouldn't have thought of some of those could handle dry shade.<br /><br />Shady - I wish I could find the name of the company/artist. This is a leaf that has some fairy faces peering out a window in it. The nursery I frequent has a lot of things made by this company, all are very cute. If I can find the name I will put a link to it. I'm sure they sell it other places as well.<br /><br />Laura - Thanks! I have a Canon PowerShot SX10 IS. I love it.Catherine@AGardenerinProgresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05001060769253273283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-63065493344208979892009-07-07T19:30:25.089-07:002009-07-07T19:30:25.089-07:00Well now we all go through that process of wanting...Well now we all go through that process of wanting something we can't have. For me--it's too hot here to grow a lot of what you have. I do love the hollyhocks and mine did well this year. <br /><br />You are sure one of the gardeners I love to hear when you talk about how much you love gardening. You have the sweetest attitude about it. Everything looks beautiful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-79570976362494292092009-07-07T19:18:05.275-07:002009-07-07T19:18:05.275-07:00Everything looks so pretty. May I ask what kind o...Everything looks so pretty. May I ask what kind of camera yu have? Your photographs are wonderful.<br /><br />LauraLaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11497969475360535424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-45730683368558046762009-07-07T18:29:37.925-07:002009-07-07T18:29:37.925-07:00Catherine! Thank you for posting such a wonderful...Catherine! Thank you for posting such a wonderful array of photos of your yard. It's just Beautiful over there! I see a few things that we have in common, but you've inspired me with a number of things I don't have! And I've Always wanted to grow hollyhocks (we made hollyhock dolls when we were little). Question: What is that cute little "leaf" on your tree trunk?Shady Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05007816271406393818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-61102685986569204912009-07-07T18:13:19.209-07:002009-07-07T18:13:19.209-07:00I love your shady garden. I have a similar one. I ...I love your shady garden. I have a similar one. I relish the shade. It is always pleasant. I have to search for sunny areas for some plants but it is possible.<br />DonnaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-80189253550410185372009-07-07T17:40:36.709-07:002009-07-07T17:40:36.709-07:00It is the joy of growing and sometimes I get disco...It is the joy of growing and sometimes I get discourage about living in a climate that can get so hot and dry quickly. I have a better looking garden that most in my town but it ends up being trees and shrubs that give me a great hidden garden look. I have one neighbor who let his daughter plant evergreen trees up against my large rhubarb row and apple tree. Both items can not be next to evergreens. It gets really frustrating and the rhubarb is now all gone. Anyway, I guess I just want to encourage you. You envision what you want and that makes you an artistic painter with plants. You can just keep painting with different plants until you get what you want. You have some beautiful flowers.L. D. https://www.blogger.com/profile/02270923121962761209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-75301596930787522592009-07-07T17:35:28.399-07:002009-07-07T17:35:28.399-07:00Catherine your flowers continue to amaze me. I hav...Catherine your flowers continue to amaze me. I haven't seen or heard of that Cream bush before. It's very nice and pretty.<br /><br />I can't get over your apples. That's a beautiful picture.Susiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06270611634380137009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-43801538737029788442009-07-07T17:03:00.325-07:002009-07-07T17:03:00.325-07:00Smart of you to make the switch. I think it's ...Smart of you to make the switch. I think it's easy to tend to force plants to grow where they don't belong, we all get that disease at some point. Much better to go with what nature will allow, though, as you found. You certainly have made a lovely garden within the limits of the dry shade, so much color and texture to admire. I'm amazed at what you can grow under your cedar tree - under mine, nothing will survive as the roots are so dense and plentiful right up to the surface of the soil.Karenhttp://greenwalks.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-80414181634591600062009-07-07T15:37:16.815-07:002009-07-07T15:37:16.815-07:00When I first began my garden 18 years ago there wa...When I first began my garden 18 years ago there was nothing...an empty acre field surrounded by an old tapestry hedge. We began planting from the house outwards,and my goodness did I miss shade for the first five or so years when the garden was first developing. I love my areas of shade ;-)<br /><br />I think you are doing just fine ;-) In one border I grow -in dry shade- a mix of hellebores , ceanothus "Gloire de Varsailles",geranium endressii and pulmonaria. Plus lots bushes of Lonicera purpusii for winter blooms and scent.<br /><br />A rose I always grow because it will flower and flourish on a north facing wall-as mine is doing at the moment-is Madam Alfred Carriere. She's lovely and really trouble free. You might care to look her up in a directory/ catalogue.Joolsfwhttp://myenglishcountrygarden.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-47660524568943286732009-07-07T15:06:35.625-07:002009-07-07T15:06:35.625-07:00Thank you for all the nice comments!
Tina, Joan a...Thank you for all the nice comments!<br /><br />Tina, Joan and Bonnie - Thanks for some great ideas!<br /><br />Grace - I don't know the name of it, if you lived closer I'd give you a cutting to root. If you ever find your way up here you can have some!Catherine@AGardenerinProgresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05001060769253273283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-41081941532442024622009-07-07T15:06:31.751-07:002009-07-07T15:06:31.751-07:00Catherine, your garden shows how much thought and ...Catherine, your garden shows how much thought and hard work you've put into it. You've made it truly beautiful! I'm envious of your apple tree. We planted two on the lower edge of our yard several years ago and the deer ate them. Thankfully, they've left most everything else alone.<br />I'd love to get hold of a Fuchsia magellanica. My mother grew the most beautiful fuchsias in Australia..in the ground, as well as in baskets. I've only grown them in baskets. I think we may be too cold here for the hardy ones.<br />Your hydrangeas are gorgeous too. Really...your whole garden is a tribute to your hard work. Beautiful!Kerrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18362584475435433892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960442494452732795.post-62575312788260204712009-07-07T15:02:32.546-07:002009-07-07T15:02:32.546-07:00Working with what you have has sure paid off. You...Working with what you have has sure paid off. Your garden is gorgeous. I love the Sweet Woodruff.Janet, The Queen of Seafordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07876204203323750245noreply@blogger.com