Let's Talk about Gardens

Hi mayofeb2020,
What is a money tree? I could use one.
As a kid, if I wanted or needed something my mother always said money does not grow on trees, to bad she’s no longer living,I’d love for her to know there are money trees.
Are they large growers?
Sure hope the wild life leaves your daughters vegetable garden alone.
Funcountess

@fiesty76. My money tree didn't do well indoors so I have to move them outside. They seem to be happier! I'm surprised you heard about this plant. I think every Asian family or businesses have one. Hahaha.

@funcountess. This is the one i have in my planter. It was so sickly I almost threw it away but decided to stick it in the ground, and it like the spot. It's an evergreen plant, I don't fuss over it. Doesn't like too much water which is great because the other plants by it are jade plants. It doesn't get sun at all. Last winter when we have rain and strong wind, it lost all the leaves and I thought that's it. But look at it now! Usually they are indoor plants, the growers would braid the tiny stems before they get hardy. If you Google Money Tree you will find the botanical name. They are expensive online but here in Southern California, you can find them pretty reasonable in Asian markets. One year I even find a tiny bird's nest in my potted money tree. Double luck!!

@mayofeb2020, Would never suspect this lush producer was puny! Amazing and look at the size of those bright new leaves! Smart momma bird to nest in that "prosperous" plant...yes! dble luck...anyone know the history of the bird's nest in the X-mas tree? May have heard it at one time but gathered a nice collection of the hand crafted ones for our tree over the years.

Where did all the gardeners go? I have been frantically trying to finish my projects before hand surgery on Tuesday, tomorrow should be the end of it - so here is my report for the week.

Last week I reported removing a huge patch of lily of the valley - Saturday it was replaced with a half dozen beautiful hostas rescued from where they were misplaced around the yard, and lots of lovely mulch, creating a serene little oasis in the center of a 100' back fence garden. While I was planting, a colleague came and dug many misplaced and/or exuberant native plants from around the yard to populate one of the educational gardens at her school district, leaving more calming spaces and showing off some of the unique plants I have acquired over the past 30 years.

And after I saw how lovely it looked, I couldn't help myself! Next to the lily of the valley spot, the 10' X 15' overgrown patch of ditch lilies (aka common orange daylilies) mixed with common purple iris and bee balm, all in a tangle, just had to go. Tuesday I dug and pulled and hauled for over 5 hours - taking out a large compost container-full and 3 - 35 gallon bags unwanted of plants. There must be a special place in gardener hades for people who plant these aggressive buggers in the middle of a suburban garden - even for free, you can't give them away around here.

Yesterday, I scouted my gardens and found a dozen filler plants, then made a quick trip to 3 of my favorite outdoor garden centers and found a half dozen new plants to add. I came home and started planting, but before I finished the job, my body said "no more." So today I will add the last few plants.

While I was doing all of that, my gardening fairy (aka the girl next door) was weeding, Preening and laying down mulch - 75 bags worth - or 6 cubic yards. What a worker she is! Her Dad stopped over to admire the renovation, and commented "I've never seen bare ground in your garden since we lived here" - 22 years...

The adventure will end tomorrow with a (safe) visit from my grandsons and daughters, during which the 4 year old will get to help his auntie repot a bunch of rescued houseplants, and help me plant some marigolds in a stump in our yard - he's been bugging his Mom to let him plant something for weeks. Auntie has found a plastic pot in her collection, so he'll be able to take a plant home too - you can't plant the gardening bug too young!

What is everyone else doing in the garden?

Sue

@sueinmn, Sue, I've been wondering the same thing...Reminds me of a song: Where Have All the Flowers (Gardeners) Gone? has it gotten to hot and avid dirt players are out before dawn ???

Really hoping your hand surgery goes exceedingly well on Tuesday! Let us know...and if you've mentioned what is to be done, I've forgotten...mind goes MIA with more regularity it seems these days?

In an earlier post you mentioned the plants that outlined your fence. All were unfamiliar to me so I looked them up and saw they did best in more moist, humid areas. In bone dry, clay "enriched" soil sigh of West Texas, I celebrate umbrella plants along one short arm of rectangle fence, multi-hued holly hocks lining the longest fence and passion flower vines covering the other short fence arm.

I celebrate the return of "controlled" Dames Rocket and heavily pruned forsythia, May Night and Autumn Joy? (pink & red) Salvias, Turk's Cap, New England Asters, and a lacy silver herb, whose name I can't recall and won't take time to look up! for shame! all fronting the taller sentinels. Multi-hued daylilies, multi-hued yarrow, 3 small ornamental grasses and 2 larger focal eye catchers with creeping flox, dianthus, snapdragons, zinnias, Mexican petunias, feverfew, blue flax, coreopsis, varieties of cosmos, nasturtums, convolvous, and others I can't recall at the moment. Keeps me busy and out of mischief caring for and sharing with others. Not on your scale but still very satisfying.

I've been working on my gardens for years as well and can still remember the glee I felt the first year some gifted orange day lilies bloomed. No idea they were referred to as "ditch lilies" but they started my acquisition of more "refined" ones. Much as the gifted first purple day lilies that led to more exotic varieties. Also enjoy bursts of bee balm that has to be bought or seeded here as well. Gallardias which are so magnificient blooming early spring along central Tx highways and bluebonnets are other specific "breeds" that require planting by desire here.

I've donated annually to our Arboretum and wild flower park. Also set out "shares" on my driveway with "Free" signs and all are quickly taken. Climate, soil are such predictors of what flourishes and doesn't, yes? Both Austin and here are 7a and 7b...No chance of us seeing the gorgeous propagations here that grow so abundantly in the state capital. And then there is Houston with its glorious outdoor poinsettias and tropicals..just 'taint fair!

Remember telling the owner of private nursery when first starting out that I wanted the "English garden" look....after she stopped hooting, she managed, Well I wish you all good luck. Nervy doncha' think???? Smiles and don't forget to let us know how your surgery goes.

Gotta admit I'm green with envy that you'll be having in person help with your daughter and grands in the gardens. I started my grands with tiny "tools" when toddlers. The 14 yr old caught the grammer gardening bug but the 10 yr. didn't get as much "seasoning" time before they moved out-of-state.

@sueinmn and @fiesty76 I love reading about the gardening adventures here! I decided to sit out a year to watch light and shadow habits [thanks, Sue, for that idea]
The roses already in place are blooming, lemon yellow, salmon, dark red. The oldest and biggest rosebush is being shy, but is growing real tall; I think it is a fiesta coloring. The cement and stone raised small bed in back has sedum growing over the edge, and the zinnia and sage starts from my neighbor are happily getting used to that area. She tried to get sunflowers started for me, with no success, so I have a large sunflower plant to get into a container today [bought at semi-local nursery]. Colorful geranium is on porch, plus a hanging basket of petunias. I love pops of color!

I am putting in a rock feature in front yard. Scribed out a 9' circle with lawn edging, anchored with homemade pegs. Center of circle is my wind whirler. Killed the lawn inside it. We have a lot of large rocks on south and east perimeters of fence, so they will be moved into that circle, which will have a weed cloth type barrier. Husband wants rocks off the fence.

Still deciding where to plant our little pine tree that was last year's Christmas tree. Along the chain link fence on driveway, there are three Japanese barberry plants that need company to be planted between them, and considering boxwood hedging [good color contrast].

The area at bottom of the slope on north side will be a while. It is literally "out of sight, out of mind". Eventually it will be fenced in, with a little garden spot, bench and place to relax.
Ginger

@gingerw. I love to hear from all you gardner's some plants I use to have also keep posting

@gingerw I had a year of sitting out when I had two hip replacements the same summer - it indirectly led to this year's renovations as I had time to consider my options. Covid-19 was the catalyst since I have to stay home and can't be out doing all my community volunteer activities - but I can't sit still either!

After a short walk this morning, I met my neighbor in our road and she joined me for a stroll through the yard to see what I've been doing, then a short chat by the splashing fountain in my little pond. It was heavenly. She and her husband tend to be stay-home types, and she said even for them this is getting old...I'm thinking of planning a "street party" for 4th of July since most of us won't be having our usual family trips, etc. We have a number of gardeners on the block - maybe a little garden touring too?

Sue

@sueinmn Look! My orchid cactus bloomed! In previous years it had white blooms! What a surprise to see this.
Ginger