tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post1399183012762702136..comments2024-01-21T11:55:43.853-08:00Comments on Just a girl with a hammer: Are we done yet?Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-12914961241098000252012-06-04T22:50:40.769-07:002012-06-04T22:50:40.769-07:00I don't think I dealt with anyone over the age...I don't think I dealt with anyone over the age of 18 at Oregon Decorative Rock during my multiple visits. They were awesome but holy smokes, they were all so YOUNG. The guy was confused when I spoke about mulching with gravel. "What do you mean by mulch?" I think you're being generous thinking that they know what petunias are. :)Heatherhttp://www.justagirlwithahammer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-21434816882204710512012-06-04T20:44:59.219-07:002012-06-04T20:44:59.219-07:00I don't need to add a thing since Laurrie, Sco...I don't need to add a thing since Laurrie, Scott and LeAnn have already called it all out. Oh wait yes...I will add...as much as I love Oregon Decorative Rock...WTF do they know about plants? Not much. And this is coming from someone who has spent a bloody fortune there...those guys are great with rocks but they probably like Petunias.Loreehttp://www.dangergarden.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-66338951430591537272012-06-04T12:27:08.389-07:002012-06-04T12:27:08.389-07:00Ooh, that's a really good idea. I think a benc...Ooh, that's a really good idea. I think a bench under the dogwood would be nice. My eye has recently been wandering to that area, where I'd planned to incorporate meadow plants. A piece of shade, a cold lemonade (maybe with whiskey in it) . . . that sounds nice.Heatherhttp://www.justagirlwithahammer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-50744224512021854332012-06-04T12:18:43.300-07:002012-06-04T12:18:43.300-07:00You have done so much Heather! It's really com...You have done so much Heather! It's really coming along. Speaking of work....it wasn't until a few years after developing our front gardens that I figured out putting in a bench, and it was the single best thing I did out there. Facing towards the house and garden, it's a place to sit, relax and TAKE IN the hard work you've done, have a glass of wine with the one you love, or interact with people walking by. It might feel exposed at first, but it won't after one season....and you can actually relax instead of working out there.LeAnnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-73030156108539356722012-06-04T11:09:25.760-07:002012-06-04T11:09:25.760-07:00Thank you, Scott. And you are totally right about ...Thank you, Scott. And you are totally right about the rocks. Not only are they all the same size, they are all the same color. It really looks like the bottom of an aquarium, as my brother so nicely pointed out.<br /><br />You know they revoke your Portland card if you don't grow your own veggies or make your own pickles or brew your own beer, right? ;)Heatherhttp://www.justagirlwithahammer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-5306357164353597632012-06-04T10:42:58.811-07:002012-06-04T10:42:58.811-07:00I totally agree with Laurrie, on all accounts. Hon...I totally agree with Laurrie, on all accounts. Honestly, it's usually right around this time of year when the plants in my garden are finally large enough to pretty much conceal all the mulch. The first year or two are tough, as it seems it will never fill in, and then, suddenly, you can't even see the ground...which is glorious! Once those plants knit together, it'll look fab. I like the wall, it look's to be just right...and I was also thinking maybe you could extend the swale into more a dry creek bed...with some larger rocks mixed in. That's one thing a lot of people forget, in nature, there is rarely a large area of rocks that are all the same size...so our eyes are trained to recognize "consistency" of size as "artificial". As always, variety is the spice of life!<br /><br />That's the funny thing about gardening in Portland, the first thing Portlanders ask me when they find out I garden is "Do you grow veggies?" I always respond that if by "grow", you mean "buy at Fred Meyer"...then, Yes...indeed.<br /><br />Oh...and you'll never be done...NEVER!!!!!<br /><br />;-)Scott Webernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-13830806384256421242012-06-04T09:50:53.827-07:002012-06-04T09:50:53.827-07:00Laurrie, you rock. And you are totally right about...Laurrie, you rock. And you are totally right about the pebble swale. Thank you!<br /><br />By the way, the hesperaloe you recommended has quickly become one of my favorite plants. Your advice is always spot-on.Heatherhttp://www.justagirlwithahammer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-19480122927476492702012-06-04T09:10:00.467-07:002012-06-04T09:10:00.467-07:00Here are five things, no lies:
One - The little r...Here are five things, no lies:<br /><br />One - The little rock wall and gravel patch is fantastic. Organic, natural, low, right sized and right curved.<br />Two - The pebble swale is nicely shaped, and will soften with plant growth, but needs bigger rocks or boulders scattered about as you already know.<br />Three - The pebble swale needs to be bigger (longer and a little wider I think). Small is the enemy of good hardscape design, especially once the plants bulk up.<br />Four - The cedar chips and gravel will want to mingle, they just do. It will be ok.<br />Five - Plants grow.<br /><br />My dry creek bed annoyed me no end and I must have moved every rock in it at least five times and then I took out a third of them, and one day two years later it looked gorgeous with just the right edging plants, mix of rock & pebble sizes and lushness around it.<br /><br />You have done all the right things to get there, including nice contour & slope in a small area. I wish I had built in more levels, contrasting areas and more depth like you did.Laurriehttp://laurries.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com