What's new in your garden this year?

carnation · #1 06-02-2005, 10:20 PM

So what's new in your garden this year?

I'm trying some pink Knockout roses in front...they say that they hardly get diseases. I'm also trying lavender and rosemary; the rosemary at school blooms all through the winter.

Has anybody had any luck with heath?

honeychile · #2 06-02-2005, 10:33 PM

After ten years of my mother trying to grow a crepe myrtle, she gave up. For some stupid reason, I've decided to pick up the torch.

Realize first that I have not one, but two brown thumbs. I can kill silk flowers! On the other hand, I have been known to start a few rose bushes via RootTone and mason jars. So, this is a major undertaking for me. Oh, I also have neighbors who are such maniacs about their yard that not only has it been reseeded this spring, but I've watched them pluck ONE blade of grass that somehow offended their yard. The urge to grow dandilions & wild violets was quite strong, indeed!

I've picked out the crepe myrtle that I think my yard can handle, and will pick it up in two weeks. I will have the transplant hole all mulched and ready to receive said crepe myrtle. It's in the sunniest part of the yard, not exactly where I want it, but where it stands the best chance. You'll probably see this listed in the Prayer Concerns of our forum the day it's planted!

I'm also trying the groundcover roses on my hillside!

carnation · #3 06-02-2005, 10:45 PM

Oh, I hear you about the neighbors! We're surrounded by retirees who either have lawn services or spend 23 of 24 hours in their yards. Then there's um, us. I'd dearly love to have a beautiful garden but hey, with a job and all these kids, something has to give.

The neighbors are probably horrified by all the touch football games and multi-cheerleader back handspring practices in our front yard. If they ever find out I have a doctorate in horticulture, I'll crawl under the porch.

tinydancer · #4 06-02-2005, 10:49 PM

I have crepe myrtles all around my back yard. I swear I never do anything to them and they bloom every year. I just ignore them. I am not a yard-work person per se, so it's just a miracle that they grow at all.

AOIIsilver · #5 06-02-2005, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Realize first that I have not one, but two brown thumbs. I can kill silk flowers!

Honey, I can top that. I have killed silk greenery!!!
Silver

honeychile · #6 06-02-2005, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AOIIsilver
Honey, I can top that. I have killed silk greenery!!!
Silver

And you're sure we weren't separated at birth?!

I am really, really worried about this crepe myrtle thing! I've had one nursery not LET me buy one! And they are just so beautiful! FWIW, what finally let a seller realize I meant business was that I have a Mountain Laurel on the side of my house which is literally taller than the house! Sending the photo was a great idea!

lifesaver · #7 06-03-2005, 02:54 AM

I'm growing some random ass tree that just sprouted in the dirt in my very small backyard. Damn thing is growing like a weed. I have no idea what kind it is. Bout 15 feet tall now tho.

aephi alum · #8 06-03-2005, 09:03 AM

I put down some new bulbs last fall, so I had plenty of daffodils earlier this spring.

A previous owner of my house did a beautiful job in the garden, so I've had to do very little. Over the past few years, I've put in a few roses, some hostas, some lady's mantle, the aforementioned bulbs, and that's about it.

I mainly grow annuals, and mainly do container gardening (*#$&@#$ deer). I'm trying a new breed of tomato and several new herbs this year.

That crepe myrtle is an interesting idea. Maybe next year I'll give it a try, if I'm not too far north.

cashmoney · #9 06-03-2005, 09:19 AM

My Bamboo I got from the store is growing well.

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #10 06-03-2005, 09:28 AM

crepe myrtle?

aephi alum · #11 06-03-2005, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu
crepe myrtle?

http://www.floridata.com/ref/l/lager_i.cfm

Darn it, I am too far north.

ISUKappa · #12 06-03-2005, 11:15 AM

We planted quite a few things last year which are really starting to take off now. I had two peonies bloom (one little blossom each!) that we started last year from root; two of our hydrangeas are getting huge; I had a good showing of iris this spring and the hostas we separated from my grandma's garden are coming up nicely.

For containers, our peppers are finally starting to sprout (jalepeno, serrano and anaheim) and my chive is looking much better.

honeychile · #13 06-03-2005, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by aephi alum
http://www.floridata.com/ref/l/lager_i.cfm

Darn it, I am too far north.

The newer varieties will grow (or so they say) in all 50 states. I'm literally on the border between zones 5 & 6, so you'll have to take a few more precautions, but supposedly, it can be done. This is what I have waiting for me:

aephi alum · #14 06-03-2005, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by honeychile
The newer varieties will grow (or so they say) in all 50 states. I'm literally on the border between zones 5 & 6, so you'll have to take a few more precautions, but supposedly, it can be done. This is what I have waiting for me:

Ooh that's pretty!

I'm also on the border between zones 5 & 6. I tend to err on the conservative side and stay away from anything that isn't hardy to zone 5.

Please let me know how yours works out... if they really are that hardy I may try one next year.

cashmoney · #15 06-03-2005, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu
crepe myrtle?

Those plants are so ugly.