tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146568448173470202024-03-05T00:46:54.427-08:00Just a girl with a hammerAn old house and a newer garden.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.comBlogger522125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-11517729054978428682022-05-10T06:00:00.002-07:002022-05-10T06:00:00.269-07:00Not that we're counting<p>Last week <a href="http://www.thedangergarden.com/2022/05/so-many-mahonia-look-at-my-collection.html" target="_blank">Loree inventoried her mahonia collection</a>. Mahonia
is my favorite genus of plants (I wouldn’t kick most of Berberidaceae out of
bed) so I was very excited. As I read on I realized that Loree probably has
more mahonia than me and how could that be? I love mahonia so much that I made
up a hashtag to mock one of our friends who doesn’t care for it (#graceiswrongaboutmahonia).
Let’s take a look at what I have.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first mahonia I ever bought was ‘Dan Hinkley.’ It grew
slowly, it was leggy . . . I moved it twice and then ultimately composted it. I
am now trying it again in the front garden but if it doesn’t perform well it
will get the green bin.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnP09_wfBz75bsr1bBhTPUt5GlzjQEn7d-C7sgneda5IUX7fpWyz8CfQzS8b_N-CmnEY-A7PKY9mQbJ_OWmRF0QULJ5vz6TqTdkQqgJkfgiaLmvdbA7N1LszOhdXpUoaur5tkIryG3TLoTLfeBXT5Il5FqaT29MfeOmQ6Wa7qga7MRJRrA9IJ9rbing/s2048/hinkley.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnP09_wfBz75bsr1bBhTPUt5GlzjQEn7d-C7sgneda5IUX7fpWyz8CfQzS8b_N-CmnEY-A7PKY9mQbJ_OWmRF0QULJ5vz6TqTdkQqgJkfgiaLmvdbA7N1LszOhdXpUoaur5tkIryG3TLoTLfeBXT5Il5FqaT29MfeOmQ6Wa7qga7MRJRrA9IJ9rbing/w300-h400/hinkley.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The next one I purchased was <i>Mahonia x media</i> ‘Arthur
Menzies.’ I grow this in full south-facing sun in lean soil with not a lot of
supplemental water. As a result it’s shorter and chonkier than it would be
normally. Arthur is my earliest Chinese hybrid to bloom, starting in November and
lasting through February. It’s a bright shining beacon in winter. Sadly,
because it’s grown in so much sun, it drops far more leaves . . . right into my
agaves. For that reason I think I may remove it soon and replace it with a palm
tree (my second favorite group of plants). But it’s still a good one.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBNrz_OiH4lZPIn2Zdj9MnYIPyrx8hw2NxgbgSrWvrPUO6K8Zs7iVPoiJeLISxM7bkKAAQ_j3Xf40VYrAPwRmJ7AzDh6cLkxcdoPpDIQDUrJ0ivvbq4LW6skpKFnTnwPgak583a5CJZy7sYFrMkJtdQmFHvOgC1zX74SzWX4p0IcYBiTZ10Pvz3YqgA/s2048/arthur.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBNrz_OiH4lZPIn2Zdj9MnYIPyrx8hw2NxgbgSrWvrPUO6K8Zs7iVPoiJeLISxM7bkKAAQ_j3Xf40VYrAPwRmJ7AzDh6cLkxcdoPpDIQDUrJ0ivvbq4LW6skpKFnTnwPgak583a5CJZy7sYFrMkJtdQmFHvOgC1zX74SzWX4p0IcYBiTZ10Pvz3YqgA/w480-h640/arthur.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have <i>Mahonia nervosa</i> smattered everywhere throughout my
garden because it spreads by runners and it takes almost any conditions. I have
it in my front rain garden where it gets cooked in the summer and in the driest,
deepest shade. It has fabulous winter color and needs almost no care. No notes.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFpRglE3ElqY04_Y7O7JBGkjyuJ5Lr4GRoQS4zJfNInDOQaFuTniBSOv9KYLa_k5M3We48sstdfo91pG19E5lwEPWFMOl7Mf75Y1DJReCCF3H5_QdizAhaj6PvK9jiJBGzcB-lIvPe26GGZ1p9U4gyfreQLUHS0Ujkcu7T5rrEA5IqaH6JCeL2UQkRA/s2048/nervosa.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFpRglE3ElqY04_Y7O7JBGkjyuJ5Lr4GRoQS4zJfNInDOQaFuTniBSOv9KYLa_k5M3We48sstdfo91pG19E5lwEPWFMOl7Mf75Y1DJReCCF3H5_QdizAhaj6PvK9jiJBGzcB-lIvPe26GGZ1p9U4gyfreQLUHS0Ujkcu7T5rrEA5IqaH6JCeL2UQkRA/w300-h400/nervosa.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Mahonia nervosa var. mendocinoensis</i>. I got this from <a href="https://xeraplants.com/plants/mahonia-nervosa-var-mendocinoensis/" target="_blank">Xera, who promises it could be 9 feet tall</a> if I keep it happy. This one is native so I can be smug at dinner parties.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIOuTcwA2JUhH97Mx0cP9AW0RpqRMS9qG8CD5DMTY84Td15soZ_FmWDw6njzde08n1qlnLAwlafEbY-hvhNhrHDKZHk8WfOkgxTaKb52lvr9thLbeM5AyYJDCkc9xOplFOZdovcMDBnoM6grZYPegdePxDfW8xKumfRc95i1VZMWrkVSg_bkKfyWVrA/s2048/mendocino.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIOuTcwA2JUhH97Mx0cP9AW0RpqRMS9qG8CD5DMTY84Td15soZ_FmWDw6njzde08n1qlnLAwlafEbY-hvhNhrHDKZHk8WfOkgxTaKb52lvr9thLbeM5AyYJDCkc9xOplFOZdovcMDBnoM6grZYPegdePxDfW8xKumfRc95i1VZMWrkVSg_bkKfyWVrA/w300-h400/mendocino.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://kate-bryant.com/" target="_blank">Kate Bryant</a> introduced me to <i>Mahonia x media </i>‘Winter Sun.’
It apparently has a bluer cast when grown in deep shade. This one has stayed on the petite side for me.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwo63WEIMocKf5OFMmEmuanQMAOVWECakgVk1HWeeHyYkgmnH41-L8E4Arjn9ngB9SersDg7ez0ry96I5OAeShP-MU94e56e-Pu_G-dccsU1hiHshJ698qOaPMuX3iaccSSCfC-yzoThpU1J8aQ49D_ZZs-sW6vIw7RArHt0ytfgHk_StXkwnRBaLDbg/s2048/wintersun.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwo63WEIMocKf5OFMmEmuanQMAOVWECakgVk1HWeeHyYkgmnH41-L8E4Arjn9ngB9SersDg7ez0ry96I5OAeShP-MU94e56e-Pu_G-dccsU1hiHshJ698qOaPMuX3iaccSSCfC-yzoThpU1J8aQ49D_ZZs-sW6vIw7RArHt0ytfgHk_StXkwnRBaLDbg/w480-h640/wintersun.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Good old 'Charity.' This one is probably leggy because I grow it
too lean, too dry, and too shady. Literally every one I’ve seen growing looks
better than mine.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVIGf2vpUMS38RqfNbiPcDGMMzNtSXWaPcTD-K6-MtM9SmhGngOhR0s8P4YnCA2Hlrq_wQCMIfEIxVvMk8AVJH1SnbU7uuDgL8IPbdfYSHvB20EeIbiWlMKyd4x4k75x6BuNJpegAJauEkZKKNQ0lb6ilgHE7yMp1ZPdvRZHU8fqG6EYkwGPbmJDvWg/s2048/charity.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVIGf2vpUMS38RqfNbiPcDGMMzNtSXWaPcTD-K6-MtM9SmhGngOhR0s8P4YnCA2Hlrq_wQCMIfEIxVvMk8AVJH1SnbU7uuDgL8IPbdfYSHvB20EeIbiWlMKyd4x4k75x6BuNJpegAJauEkZKKNQ0lb6ilgHE7yMp1ZPdvRZHU8fqG6EYkwGPbmJDvWg/w480-h640/charity.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Mahonia x media</i> 'Underway.' Maybe my favorite of the Chinese crosses? It grows tall and narrow, it’s
very tidy and has berries that ripen unequally. Like I like my men.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVt9I8i4peZ2-B_yeV8-6ys_VaF7D6ZQOvSDdUiG2lYm4WGOfq_oPU9n7RDL9a5hhtbBKBtTCDcqApbQKL-izkUU0FeDAqrPNe-jXcptsbfw7GLzaiKJNp8_VlxPHaoGYNfWAROTmjDyGCw9bs9H1lyfI8rxBnWIecHpVMKY73YjhHyCNw6LkEKh1xQ/s2048/underway2.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVt9I8i4peZ2-B_yeV8-6ys_VaF7D6ZQOvSDdUiG2lYm4WGOfq_oPU9n7RDL9a5hhtbBKBtTCDcqApbQKL-izkUU0FeDAqrPNe-jXcptsbfw7GLzaiKJNp8_VlxPHaoGYNfWAROTmjDyGCw9bs9H1lyfI8rxBnWIecHpVMKY73YjhHyCNw6LkEKh1xQ/w300-h400/underway2.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIIVsjbM8GBUaj2qmSMB-uR8bp55TEcMfushEYI69K-ouP2l2hEmhnSUcvWJz7fbiVjqMo5zgCEkkzhqce32W31chBNEf4r5qpbZTzNGpLygfe9H1o1alUYPUujjRXvAy10VwMgckCiGzefWdAdFB-C7MVRwRgz9LFzOJXkdmFIjZY_qDAEBsbbwjSA/s2048/underway.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIIVsjbM8GBUaj2qmSMB-uR8bp55TEcMfushEYI69K-ouP2l2hEmhnSUcvWJz7fbiVjqMo5zgCEkkzhqce32W31chBNEf4r5qpbZTzNGpLygfe9H1o1alUYPUujjRXvAy10VwMgckCiGzefWdAdFB-C7MVRwRgz9LFzOJXkdmFIjZY_qDAEBsbbwjSA/w300-h400/underway.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Mahonia confusa </i>'Narihira'. This has been smashed multiple times by gigantic fallen
branches off of our neighbors’ doug fir. We’ll forgive it for looking a little
worse for the wear, it should grow out of it.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4NZsQGG2UbX9OdEvNv3oDrBjsxJG8KARkfaq-BjHeivseO0jTnfP2sehL0igLfcJm-k8sqHGFHCyY14g9ZApSkRUKxkinEtpVwaqzJE923iJE9qKhJ96_RVi8ZTYEoZ6zwtXW82tYzN3XJFQeIVDa5rJQRKDyRTVhxQhbwdKqr4rgdKqB08gPZTBsg/s2048/narihira.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4NZsQGG2UbX9OdEvNv3oDrBjsxJG8KARkfaq-BjHeivseO0jTnfP2sehL0igLfcJm-k8sqHGFHCyY14g9ZApSkRUKxkinEtpVwaqzJE923iJE9qKhJ96_RVi8ZTYEoZ6zwtXW82tYzN3XJFQeIVDa5rJQRKDyRTVhxQhbwdKqr4rgdKqB08gPZTBsg/w300-h400/narihira.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Mahonia gracilipes</i>. This got regularly leaned on by my <i>Datisca
cannabina</i>, so it had posture issues from the jump (in this photo it's being held up by that large stone). Then our late wet snow storm
in April completely put it on the ground. I pruned it rather harshly and moved
it to another spot in the bed. I think it’s time to admit that it just needs to
be replaced. Otherwise a perfect plant.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDxnbw4ARlWQXXU78I7sWMYRffMH1a4SAflBSDl1bgYKIG5Uo6IaQ_nJUrZHP4ynzN3aX2PF4HeYBK6s6dSJfWCkkgNq5dMkyGiL4mKBtmmlsgN2PRJYRzlBcij2cMj1zk65ZRJmV7MCv1Tl6pxJQt3Pltb_sAIlDuWB2ii2x4N21P4pkiP67EidNfw/s1265/gracilipes2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="948" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDxnbw4ARlWQXXU78I7sWMYRffMH1a4SAflBSDl1bgYKIG5Uo6IaQ_nJUrZHP4ynzN3aX2PF4HeYBK6s6dSJfWCkkgNq5dMkyGiL4mKBtmmlsgN2PRJYRzlBcij2cMj1zk65ZRJmV7MCv1Tl6pxJQt3Pltb_sAIlDuWB2ii2x4N21P4pkiP67EidNfw/w480-h640/gracilipes2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Mahonia</i> 'Cabaret.' I got this from <a href="https://www.farreachesfarm.com/Default.asp" target="_blank">Far Reaches</a>. It notably has pink to
purple blooms like you’d find in <i>Mahonia gracilipes</i> (one of its parents). It
has been eaten within an inch of its life by some critter and I’ve been too
forgetful/lazy to figure out how to treat it. It looks awful through no fault
of its own.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyfkDM5PQu302YVsgJ_yOVbrur9T9akqF8Xb23tFmMvlGEfEd87JshngaxerxZSTfUteliBwoZjfMfn5D31PmilyhPY3KY7tANHVCc08OK3VXgS9Xh0kL4aMVW8evzoYjBd8wTp1GJdOmr5HB9rgGkUQebu3clXMDxWo4I8nAlKn7Bhu6CfVr0QmFIw/s2048/cabaret2.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyfkDM5PQu302YVsgJ_yOVbrur9T9akqF8Xb23tFmMvlGEfEd87JshngaxerxZSTfUteliBwoZjfMfn5D31PmilyhPY3KY7tANHVCc08OK3VXgS9Xh0kL4aMVW8evzoYjBd8wTp1GJdOmr5HB9rgGkUQebu3clXMDxWo4I8nAlKn7Bhu6CfVr0QmFIw/w300-h400/cabaret2.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6n4ykDFnzgN02SThvUvRbP6eoXv0S_Bm7hZa30NmF1C9haARXLT1-vZfT22iNjXZBJyXszAO0cz51fGUk4Cj6nr9t61GDHaHygEG09GtSrC1Cb5Ae7bOKcFx8KXur-LC2yCMORlFYi1dAYo-ukqFQz_LbiMFEFTC4xCGdezE4d4yMF_abwXGbWNxLA/s2048/cabaret.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6n4ykDFnzgN02SThvUvRbP6eoXv0S_Bm7hZa30NmF1C9haARXLT1-vZfT22iNjXZBJyXszAO0cz51fGUk4Cj6nr9t61GDHaHygEG09GtSrC1Cb5Ae7bOKcFx8KXur-LC2yCMORlFYi1dAYo-ukqFQz_LbiMFEFTC4xCGdezE4d4yMF_abwXGbWNxLA/w300-h400/cabaret.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Mahonia x savilliana</i>. I saw this at <a href="https://www.millergarden.org/" target="_blank">The Elisabeth Miller Garden</a> and dreamed about it for years. I finally wrote Richie Steffens and was
like, “How do I get one?” He said to check with <a href="https://www.farreachesfarm.com/Default.asp" target="_blank">Far Reaches</a> because they took
cuttings years back. I contacted them and sure enough, they had some tucked in
the back of a hoophouse. It’s one of my favorites.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEScdDUewSR_SjEdt9YN1_ozmVydxI56Wwy3WAU5_ib6x9ArHYZq3thJvuoP0M9vWLWjIaoNma1KVpkwTcj-Zr_YwN7Du3dxSFTPzSIuImJzLWsIqKWt3WAPA9sEXQceelBrUjlLW2r8h-HIG1m4wqfRwyV2XAD2GYM_U-A-k8VX68ZUM3o7wUn8401A/s2048/savilliana.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEScdDUewSR_SjEdt9YN1_ozmVydxI56Wwy3WAU5_ib6x9ArHYZq3thJvuoP0M9vWLWjIaoNma1KVpkwTcj-Zr_YwN7Du3dxSFTPzSIuImJzLWsIqKWt3WAPA9sEXQceelBrUjlLW2r8h-HIG1m4wqfRwyV2XAD2GYM_U-A-k8VX68ZUM3o7wUn8401A/w480-h640/savilliana.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Mahonia confusa</i> ‘Cistus Silvers.’ Another favorite, I think
this one looks dramatically better when grown in quite a bit of sun. I have two
of these, one grown in morning sun (leggy and anemic) and one grown in almost
full sun (lush and full, seen below). <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDreO5Uc8u0apWF-XfFw7E2WRJf_-_qHELoF_FOD7_YVinfSW1hqKwpZvn6JqKBlFaU92hGAhHcVsWgz-3pACGT_X2rYca2shv4LnM_tfPb9hPpOr1KmnQCMDJ4p5eVEHWBXwNK3v52O778a1aEXRnENfkITe5XihM2n19Y3Y7rw2M3I6wcKcc_09UrQ/s2048/cistussilvers.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDreO5Uc8u0apWF-XfFw7E2WRJf_-_qHELoF_FOD7_YVinfSW1hqKwpZvn6JqKBlFaU92hGAhHcVsWgz-3pACGT_X2rYca2shv4LnM_tfPb9hPpOr1KmnQCMDJ4p5eVEHWBXwNK3v52O778a1aEXRnENfkITe5XihM2n19Y3Y7rw2M3I6wcKcc_09UrQ/w480-h640/cistussilvers.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Mahonia x media </i>‘JC.’ This was a cultivar grown in JC
Raulston’s mad laboratory that Sean Hogan took home and planted in his garden.
In my memory it was taller than his two-story house. I asked him if he’d ever
consider propagating it and HE DID. Maybe he was already planning on it, but I
felt like he did this just for me and I appreciated it so much. Plant people
are the best people. Mine is only 6' thus far, and it has stubbier flower
spikes than the other Chinese crosses. It’s great.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXFXN1j21lYdkHA2D8Y6eUx4YCPdxzi7VeAUPhOmJKYBii4D0oJH3IGN0WAFCaHF-P4sGaGmYjXKXvHgQhvFyho_8ExYffu9oFCXuMDFPb1MIvPh79V6hmENxrVi3Ua-51XRKx8XkTzBLcK48iT40_XsLTNzwUu8u3v1PbyacWu7Q768qjylhAutxbQ/s1212/JC.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="909" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXFXN1j21lYdkHA2D8Y6eUx4YCPdxzi7VeAUPhOmJKYBii4D0oJH3IGN0WAFCaHF-P4sGaGmYjXKXvHgQhvFyho_8ExYffu9oFCXuMDFPb1MIvPh79V6hmENxrVi3Ua-51XRKx8XkTzBLcK48iT40_XsLTNzwUu8u3v1PbyacWu7Q768qjylhAutxbQ/w300-h400/JC.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZGM3Qr9OopBZS1zOQvOLc5_5xrpfVRXhLhhL7aTJjRYKIzVFKLIbQzkduVpi3G0TasPQzWDUN8X95g79Kmo0-csiU3s1ZV2UtAvM49bBNOhkvyTFGOZeUuP_ztNncJ8-sM837nWn0RMCPsuI_mBVnirh2k1rVgAIYKI9Kv7Fhwj1GgBlu3rfvvvlIA/s2048/JCbloom.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZGM3Qr9OopBZS1zOQvOLc5_5xrpfVRXhLhhL7aTJjRYKIzVFKLIbQzkduVpi3G0TasPQzWDUN8X95g79Kmo0-csiU3s1ZV2UtAvM49bBNOhkvyTFGOZeUuP_ztNncJ8-sM837nWn0RMCPsuI_mBVnirh2k1rVgAIYKI9Kv7Fhwj1GgBlu3rfvvvlIA/w480-h640/JCbloom.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I should mention that I planted <i>Mahonia haematocarpus</i> ‘Santa Fe Landscape,’
a diminutive form. It was so small and in such an overplanted area that it was trampled
or pulled up by accident. I would buy this one again and be more careful.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBO-AR43L6LZlwcUSumW_hfag0XS7cfYPtwzydBSeCsPvgA2tM5Z8Uf_gVZQIPzb7c07WOOWy2ClHSK2ljcl4sEEm1Mr4mc8jmRgADDzQL-YnD_ciQcrFI4NxvzDwG-UwkI5URYmg0Z_6qM2bpI9zdWq3oIMz4sMeZPZZYgvOqmc0d_kJRqz2Sqb2rxg/s525/santa%20fe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="525" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBO-AR43L6LZlwcUSumW_hfag0XS7cfYPtwzydBSeCsPvgA2tM5Z8Uf_gVZQIPzb7c07WOOWy2ClHSK2ljcl4sEEm1Mr4mc8jmRgADDzQL-YnD_ciQcrFI4NxvzDwG-UwkI5URYmg0Z_6qM2bpI9zdWq3oIMz4sMeZPZZYgvOqmc0d_kJRqz2Sqb2rxg/w400-h300/santa%20fe.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo <a href="https://plantlust.com/plants/42508/mahonia-haematocarpa-santa-fe-landscape/" target="_blank">from plantlust.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’d never purchased ‘Soft Caress,’ I think because I equated
it with the poor performance of ‘Dan Hinkley’ even though I’ve seen it
countless times in other gardens looking great. Reading Loree’s post it became
imperative that I get one right away. I started texting her and calling around
and she pointed me to <a href="https://cornellfarms.com/" target="_blank">Cornell Farm</a>. Within the hour I had called them, sped
over there, and purchased two. Greg immediately declared them “super cool” and
asked why I didn’t buy more. I’ll probably buy more.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAOqdJlkPcJTC2o7SlEG8vTbiuNZFykx73Qz7RBVqwQET7t1fiaoITyJGl-Cv08D5AU3yeXfzdUx_JY9XixoUWD-O1sVYhu_6DJ0EgSK0T8eog83F186qykzaRvMZSXvjDApO7RqXJJ-N9NlUIubzS2wVhLpnPULFPuGNC9uZ3uTVEUW2KSeS5dOEQg/s2048/soft.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAOqdJlkPcJTC2o7SlEG8vTbiuNZFykx73Qz7RBVqwQET7t1fiaoITyJGl-Cv08D5AU3yeXfzdUx_JY9XixoUWD-O1sVYhu_6DJ0EgSK0T8eog83F186qykzaRvMZSXvjDApO7RqXJJ-N9NlUIubzS2wVhLpnPULFPuGNC9uZ3uTVEUW2KSeS5dOEQg/w300-h400/soft.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sean and the Cistus team have been experimenting with
seedlings and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/_sean_hogan/" target="_blank">posting teasers on Instagram</a>. I look forward to buying many more from them. Am I missing any great cultivars or seed strains? And please, feel free to harass <a href="https://instagram.com/fashion_plants" target="_blank">Grace</a> and let her know that she's wrong about mahonia. It's a great genus of plants.<o:p></o:p></p>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-44785724221787011682022-04-04T07:00:00.002-07:002022-04-04T15:22:50.525-07:00Have you heard the good word?<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hey guys, did I miss anything while I was off, not blogging?
Hoo, everything is terrible, no? I’m a weird one in that I don’t always find
solace in my garden when times are tough. For a lot of reasons (terrible
neighbors, forest fire smoke, an inexplicably bad ant year) I didn’t do much in
the garden in 2020. I didn't buy any plants or complete any big projects. I hid in the house and watched RuPaul’s Drag Race like the bible
tells us to do in difficult times. It made me feel better, even if Greg wishes I’d
stop calling him “hunty.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By the time 2021 and vaccines rolled around I was ready for
Hot Garden Summer. But jesus, NOT LIKE THAT. The heat dome hit at the end of
June and really crisped the shit out of the garden. Our back garden measured a top
temperature of 115.5. It was terrible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIajsrrPKPcSIEpEJbVLfxV6C9_aalPDPIRnmnEXImRW67oHX7r0Wg0MacSrCPsMVKsLYKxKPpp1cYx0KUk4dgApSz_eHErPQQGhf1RDIFbwRYo9GevjWmdyPXWYXlFM0F9ENsMpkOIzdha_d32DA0jZAtZecD5b4-bq16wQKlGxI4V22NVot1pnfY1w/s1410/temp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1410" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIajsrrPKPcSIEpEJbVLfxV6C9_aalPDPIRnmnEXImRW67oHX7r0Wg0MacSrCPsMVKsLYKxKPpp1cYx0KUk4dgApSz_eHErPQQGhf1RDIFbwRYo9GevjWmdyPXWYXlFM0F9ENsMpkOIzdha_d32DA0jZAtZecD5b4-bq16wQKlGxI4V22NVot1pnfY1w/w400-h250/temp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Good thing we’ve introduced a never-ending source of joy
into our lives: palm trees. Much like coconut oil in 2015, they work in any application and cure any ailment. I grew up in an area where they are ubiquitous in Safeway parking lots and gas
stations, so I took them for granted for many years. At some point I came around and in 2018 we bought some 1 gallon
<i>Trachycarpus wagnerianus</i> from <a href="https://www.rareplantresearch.com/" target="_blank">Rare Plant Research</a>. By 2021 they were still
pretty small and I decided that I was willing to shell out a lot of money for
some instant impact.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtU4yk-9ZzSWRvEG7DHj2YH3pU-I1GAoVHWtlED3YoaKIhrpKItxBbALDP-JhBpW1q7MyPtVekzxJkrOOpSPOnzQtxNXiyLLC65KF2akYVeFtlzF9itVz2gSrEMTegFit_T8bc6p8QYhVnnp2qY3rIHo7RcvoR9ntrEsHIcINrfKRCKvtbnz5HyD3yZg/s2048/IMG_2731.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtU4yk-9ZzSWRvEG7DHj2YH3pU-I1GAoVHWtlED3YoaKIhrpKItxBbALDP-JhBpW1q7MyPtVekzxJkrOOpSPOnzQtxNXiyLLC65KF2akYVeFtlzF9itVz2gSrEMTegFit_T8bc6p8QYhVnnp2qY3rIHo7RcvoR9ntrEsHIcINrfKRCKvtbnz5HyD3yZg/w480-h640/IMG_2731.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Still quite small after three years</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">At the end of 2018 we had the Home Depot yellow bamboo removed from our back garden. They came with the house and had become increasingly problematic. While it was a relief to have them gone, I had never appreciated the privacy those two clumps provided or how they anchored the back. I picked up <a href="http://bamboogarden.com/Chusquea%20culeou.htm" target="_blank"><i>Chusqea culeou</i> from Bamboo Garden</a> but it’s going to be many years before they have the visual heft we want. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvMN3lVXectTQQ030MO3eoGA_4J8Gh23T_m-i9hTRdJfZEDf4nCMxRAda9BBVaxST-swvq6f-zM7WBPStFrFjJegtbSXLRByzbeiBIc2quw6X1aixy9h_IFBgswceu7kh2ZAk_4QIVjrBf58OUKdnujezlVWtEuUm0D53Fzj4NlNtv1NS4q5dIWcePg/s2048/IMG_2892.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvMN3lVXectTQQ030MO3eoGA_4J8Gh23T_m-i9hTRdJfZEDf4nCMxRAda9BBVaxST-swvq6f-zM7WBPStFrFjJegtbSXLRByzbeiBIc2quw6X1aixy9h_IFBgswceu7kh2ZAk_4QIVjrBf58OUKdnujezlVWtEuUm0D53Fzj4NlNtv1NS4q5dIWcePg/w400-h300/IMG_2892.JPEG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Before removal</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_cGGFOfhY9nE2jFePQkpF0WbtsQ9PyuOl8PNMLhfdhYpjX-pfR2ryTYYpAsgh1XwJzvkhr9Gilg9_yyLJDQyoT4LW4Jq5q8ImFFXlH6JCvPNkYWRzXdWyN8f-Fd7-PoqT90JstrekjXSOr6K0E98FDu-VIdzHmO4P4XNytkrGR7a0nScEM4Ye6gU5Q/s2048/IMG_2902.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_cGGFOfhY9nE2jFePQkpF0WbtsQ9PyuOl8PNMLhfdhYpjX-pfR2ryTYYpAsgh1XwJzvkhr9Gilg9_yyLJDQyoT4LW4Jq5q8ImFFXlH6JCvPNkYWRzXdWyN8f-Fd7-PoqT90JstrekjXSOr6K0E98FDu-VIdzHmO4P4XNytkrGR7a0nScEM4Ye6gU5Q/w400-h300/IMG_2902.JPEG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">After removal</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbelbABNQUXu0iIlCIHSKHFqoVJ1_MxVIyJ4Uegf0hzoYM3t19_MzE3dUguofMGBmzRJPO4Innebx-n1dsulNCRIsKfvr4W5pI9rSbGDXgOy8Tk6WfA19h-5fJPB1tiWoLoLGjwL8eaCF8LSZBXMbRvq4yzdcQfFKUuehf_bHUYxnAeT2XFMWvFJ8hw/s2048/IMG_0948.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbelbABNQUXu0iIlCIHSKHFqoVJ1_MxVIyJ4Uegf0hzoYM3t19_MzE3dUguofMGBmzRJPO4Innebx-n1dsulNCRIsKfvr4W5pI9rSbGDXgOy8Tk6WfA19h-5fJPB1tiWoLoLGjwL8eaCF8LSZBXMbRvq4yzdcQfFKUuehf_bHUYxnAeT2XFMWvFJ8hw/w400-h300/IMG_0948.JPEG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The replacement bamboo is . . . sparse</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Enter palm trees. I visited <a href="https://oregonpalms.com/" target="_blank">Oregon Palm Nursery</a> and bought three palms ranging from 5-7’. As
soon as I got them in the ground, I wanted more.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8fyqUdGrwcc2JcwoHiDi6tqIVeaIrHzFBS-vYn1r_0SdGGS5lt_aUZRp2RNaHRMdiPHyE2m9TaV8n0QgXzcdKCAosdk_ZgTr7wQ0NsSQDmbv76zEmEvjYdvH6it3VYD6yivLsssGeSXUV1t2ZWLfWOGyXTkAA_NSvfDdL2-FzU1ZiflcAeF6FA1_ng/s2048/IMG_0941.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8fyqUdGrwcc2JcwoHiDi6tqIVeaIrHzFBS-vYn1r_0SdGGS5lt_aUZRp2RNaHRMdiPHyE2m9TaV8n0QgXzcdKCAosdk_ZgTr7wQ0NsSQDmbv76zEmEvjYdvH6it3VYD6yivLsssGeSXUV1t2ZWLfWOGyXTkAA_NSvfDdL2-FzU1ZiflcAeF6FA1_ng/w480-h640/IMG_0941.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDMiG-pwRJ_xHXe9YSFjQ-eAM24s2-zOZK_0U22NFdUqdBxTQpXPUQ7HH-iGgHli-L2-D73UwIi50Atas_mt42pUgYvge4gtWQJDlxLbe-_Mj_IK187BL0tdZbKNsj9RdqG6XnXYDxyCZp67lRdnmzJMty2R49YriDPsg-414lj2pQg3b9tag9fvf2Q/s2048/IMG_1006.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDMiG-pwRJ_xHXe9YSFjQ-eAM24s2-zOZK_0U22NFdUqdBxTQpXPUQ7HH-iGgHli-L2-D73UwIi50Atas_mt42pUgYvge4gtWQJDlxLbe-_Mj_IK187BL0tdZbKNsj9RdqG6XnXYDxyCZp67lRdnmzJMty2R49YriDPsg-414lj2pQg3b9tag9fvf2Q/w480-h640/IMG_1006.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUINnhNLUbsqj_-JiCTheh-71S6iI_s_8XlsQMj2lLLzxoPmUS2R4HWQL3_n0gU_sVahAu710xoxfZE94l7kPbafSdiWzcCPsVlp3yf28eqR7zgSbdTS_M23xblC-U-fqp1ZjEWoSMM8HkXOvw8LVX3DcVV0CCvrOhcxu4mygVIlBXcS_S1u8rEW5kg/s2048/IMG_1050.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUINnhNLUbsqj_-JiCTheh-71S6iI_s_8XlsQMj2lLLzxoPmUS2R4HWQL3_n0gU_sVahAu710xoxfZE94l7kPbafSdiWzcCPsVlp3yf28eqR7zgSbdTS_M23xblC-U-fqp1ZjEWoSMM8HkXOvw8LVX3DcVV0CCvrOhcxu4mygVIlBXcS_S1u8rEW5kg/w480-h640/IMG_1050.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xKIabW65xTldxYE24Q2MogN5pQsagTXrxTGOLdCxnZjZU-qnBTrQyDknAjvs57ETVl3ghh9LGhSmhy0hckYquLo-RUYB-TMaE3RqR4A6fln0qCbc7fIl1ocbiJEekqZ-IrBMZEfc6oxGxz7yO9pYfv0l0ERIJv2-ybzuOzF2VcF9-hwordNH3IuvLw/s2048/IMG_1017.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xKIabW65xTldxYE24Q2MogN5pQsagTXrxTGOLdCxnZjZU-qnBTrQyDknAjvs57ETVl3ghh9LGhSmhy0hckYquLo-RUYB-TMaE3RqR4A6fln0qCbc7fIl1ocbiJEekqZ-IrBMZEfc6oxGxz7yO9pYfv0l0ERIJv2-ybzuOzF2VcF9-hwordNH3IuvLw/w480-h640/IMG_1017.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwhzcBTzety0lIf-uU34o6yIassxwd9Qbaj_IgfvZS7QZHYc5liru9W74D4i2x1OJp9dVn7sOHQkTjCphrJOunnZbAhVqtUE_7Mqedjny_6gEGGrMzKMERGKeKO1EJ0BNvD6syjSEikpJsfmbKKTX4v-uVqpXweSKpIAwOx0DfkMAp_gKhND0GX29cg/s2048/IMG_1029.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwhzcBTzety0lIf-uU34o6yIassxwd9Qbaj_IgfvZS7QZHYc5liru9W74D4i2x1OJp9dVn7sOHQkTjCphrJOunnZbAhVqtUE_7Mqedjny_6gEGGrMzKMERGKeKO1EJ0BNvD6syjSEikpJsfmbKKTX4v-uVqpXweSKpIAwOx0DfkMAp_gKhND0GX29cg/w480-h640/IMG_1029.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Luckily disaster struck and a wind storm took out the <i>Ceanothus thyrsiflorus</i> that framed the entrance to the back garden. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4o28TLnqrXFQioCuYR0v8enftV3YoaWxRS1ByKH8tyx0SCpphqtsAT7gRn4fhu61LIftm-UMA5KeWTAnbkM8aCwgdk72vmdzOxmJKB5oHiIgPR-5NUYvrYGXa7zYvkYxdfjpWBYfcCd5ybKSKIK9kCjr96dn6Mf3aEDg-FDiEfqFJtjraPjwxUc9TMw/s2048/IMG_2377.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4o28TLnqrXFQioCuYR0v8enftV3YoaWxRS1ByKH8tyx0SCpphqtsAT7gRn4fhu61LIftm-UMA5KeWTAnbkM8aCwgdk72vmdzOxmJKB5oHiIgPR-5NUYvrYGXa7zYvkYxdfjpWBYfcCd5ybKSKIK9kCjr96dn6Mf3aEDg-FDiEfqFJtjraPjwxUc9TMw/w480-h640/IMG_2377.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A lot of people made excellent replacement suggestions but I
ignored them and planted yet another <i>Trachycarpus wagnerianus</i>. And another and
another because nature loves odd numbers and palms really can be squeezed in
anywhere. And if you’re paying a flat delivery fee, you might as well make it
worth the driver’s effort. In a fun twist, the trees were delivered one
day prior to the heat dome hitting, which meant I had to hustle after work to
get three 6’ trachys unboxed, put in the ground, and watered in. I'm not sure I've ever been that sweaty, muddy, and tired. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did I mention I was opening my garden in a few weeks, so that Ceanothus absolutely had to be replaced as soon as humanly possible?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJwpD9hWyRzX84dYoF0diLJBzFkWmRKCq5Vt-T_cwvWlQvgM-CMuQkfEpsOCfCBX8P24uyeDajIwr5mPhVAQG12xkqvFW2DXEmpH2QRiNw2nDjHAyEINco8wk2rA_MLnFyGJifBzQJEDNQF7m2VqK4yiheE4lDK_rq0qlmU2TekrZfLAfVe8XCbpUag/s2048/IMG_3054.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJwpD9hWyRzX84dYoF0diLJBzFkWmRKCq5Vt-T_cwvWlQvgM-CMuQkfEpsOCfCBX8P24uyeDajIwr5mPhVAQG12xkqvFW2DXEmpH2QRiNw2nDjHAyEINco8wk2rA_MLnFyGJifBzQJEDNQF7m2VqK4yiheE4lDK_rq0qlmU2TekrZfLAfVe8XCbpUag/w480-h640/IMG_3054.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I LIVE ON A PALM FARM</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="http://www.rhonestreetgardens.com/" target="_blank">Scott Weber</a> kindly photographed my garden this summer so I would have a few non-blurry iPhone shots of my garden.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPXYyZhzSvDtHpA7MiMc7-ZJLZrHcaQg44lRrCwCaG6HsY3Q6bIWsq3BHVhcCKNU1a2FlCteEnlJApN72Jkj9taT_giwqC0jXkKhKGI3HIM1uRSse3dMsNjpqyy-nF60W7ASlVXaUeGFdlNIB-VAbAeyHLEq8osLH6l8FSk3TnHPNMU9zRwv3yfPygQ/s5184/pavilion.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPXYyZhzSvDtHpA7MiMc7-ZJLZrHcaQg44lRrCwCaG6HsY3Q6bIWsq3BHVhcCKNU1a2FlCteEnlJApN72Jkj9taT_giwqC0jXkKhKGI3HIM1uRSse3dMsNjpqyy-nF60W7ASlVXaUeGFdlNIB-VAbAeyHLEq8osLH6l8FSk3TnHPNMU9zRwv3yfPygQ/w400-h266/pavilion.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Scott Weber</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg34a1IEqbXpwo69vXy-_3lYgGv-WhNHMeQVKn4cCM1Tvr5i9KOOn86SCr1ga98hD0aAXX2VrL2q-sw09nuYKjw358V2-aBgg88IwgZObEkMXUshxIOgdGKF-O9fnaNbxGNh-HT39lisEWhr1gYni2aASV5LW6n7y5t5QrlSxjEht3QjVKcfGJO-0kXw/s4954/IMG_1896.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3303" data-original-width="4954" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg34a1IEqbXpwo69vXy-_3lYgGv-WhNHMeQVKn4cCM1Tvr5i9KOOn86SCr1ga98hD0aAXX2VrL2q-sw09nuYKjw358V2-aBgg88IwgZObEkMXUshxIOgdGKF-O9fnaNbxGNh-HT39lisEWhr1gYni2aASV5LW6n7y5t5QrlSxjEht3QjVKcfGJO-0kXw/w400-h266/IMG_1896.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Scott Weber<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uM2Xtooga5Cv-dUADX4Bn2F5bkX7wGM07RU9045e8UCC9RL3J1h4SvfXBbLqniVA2NhpQ79LF_66LmoH6Fnx2lH5iTc8Ul4a-4GRcKuMqLW-J6S8MiCYC8igWx_kfjl2GUr2MgkQhfJj94CR0u6Hel3ovr4OqaYFPztHrI-Z3CAOHzKdLzcjIwAoOg/s5184/IMG_1892.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uM2Xtooga5Cv-dUADX4Bn2F5bkX7wGM07RU9045e8UCC9RL3J1h4SvfXBbLqniVA2NhpQ79LF_66LmoH6Fnx2lH5iTc8Ul4a-4GRcKuMqLW-J6S8MiCYC8igWx_kfjl2GUr2MgkQhfJj94CR0u6Hel3ovr4OqaYFPztHrI-Z3CAOHzKdLzcjIwAoOg/w426-h640/IMG_1892.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Scott Weber<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm not saying palms will cure your cancer but I'm not saying they won't not cure it, either. At the very least you might feel better and it's a less stupid trend than <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/gwyneth-paltrows-secret-to-having-a-very-clean-mouth-11635769617" target="_blank">oil pulling</a>. These palms make me SO HAPPY. I tend to treat them like I treat Bee, which involves a lot of staring and whispering <i>"You're so good."</i></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0t30Au5fZ47rCWMKUq1WgqSQNKNvLxGboOXWtcznnNorkVNt6vH7t4L9phdclrQ3pakOHPVG0uwyE6iXwm_-s44PUTeZfNsXnC3z8dFGLafeQ6UIbfiIyPGSAQtVpGK0InqLampQK_JWhYLiAf7ELm5BvhNveODNYM2y9YISSZ3Z7dalkQM13Bm1mQ/s2048/IMG_5599.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0t30Au5fZ47rCWMKUq1WgqSQNKNvLxGboOXWtcznnNorkVNt6vH7t4L9phdclrQ3pakOHPVG0uwyE6iXwm_-s44PUTeZfNsXnC3z8dFGLafeQ6UIbfiIyPGSAQtVpGK0InqLampQK_JWhYLiAf7ELm5BvhNveODNYM2y9YISSZ3Z7dalkQM13Bm1mQ/w480-h640/IMG_5599.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The look when you're not giving her snacks fast enough</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stay tuned for my next trend talk: <i>Fuchsias </i></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>– </i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I'm Suddenly Extremely Into These, Possibly Because They Look Great With Trachys?</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPchPW_Rg939riYP7r7vfAxwRkzFaw1wl3hVvjXIMW7O6INCiuQBqVCxFsjB578IqcGtafy1w-5haRtTB4MBX6MUq8FPXJdHtmOPswr7duuqNqb7lu1NZOG35T6JRbajs8xtEoGvHqOWx_fSJg792M1rmxHW9U8Eo0PT-XwIxnfJAVQDYUDhCSWEkoQ/s2048/IMG_3759.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPchPW_Rg939riYP7r7vfAxwRkzFaw1wl3hVvjXIMW7O6INCiuQBqVCxFsjB578IqcGtafy1w-5haRtTB4MBX6MUq8FPXJdHtmOPswr7duuqNqb7lu1NZOG35T6JRbajs8xtEoGvHqOWx_fSJg792M1rmxHW9U8Eo0PT-XwIxnfJAVQDYUDhCSWEkoQ/w480-h640/IMG_3759.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2PwUwiHLnw_-j1K-Gy00-T_P-3HfiIPx7jRf5IkVDMlB2VOMBe5C1P5bZLtR_xdbDg39IgOOP0PNBTE3phtZrB_YgF1tk_CMadhP-3QJukyCvpUgNpTkVsxyi-KJhT--be6bE8E4JJxy3jLPy3ZTR2CJSmM0kIxNZZ7v85VUGxfbxytQ91TOTq1vcA/s2048/IMG_3763.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2PwUwiHLnw_-j1K-Gy00-T_P-3HfiIPx7jRf5IkVDMlB2VOMBe5C1P5bZLtR_xdbDg39IgOOP0PNBTE3phtZrB_YgF1tk_CMadhP-3QJukyCvpUgNpTkVsxyi-KJhT--be6bE8E4JJxy3jLPy3ZTR2CJSmM0kIxNZZ7v85VUGxfbxytQ91TOTq1vcA/w480-h640/IMG_3763.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I only know how to take blurry iPhone shots</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I'm sadly very late to the game acknowledging that two friends wrote exceedingly nice things about my garden in the last two years: <a href="http://www.thedangergarden.com/2021/08/heathers-gardenfor-real-this-time.html" target="_blank">Loree Bohl at Danger Garden</a> and <a href="https://lansinggardendesign.com/blog/2019/8/18/heather-tucker-garden" target="_blank">Alyse Lansing at Lansing Garden Design</a>. You both make me feel extra #blessed.</p>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-21429265650915423002021-01-26T08:15:00.001-08:002021-01-26T08:15:14.488-08:00Book giveaway winner!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePbrtTU96euyjnFtczDKAoVe2K-E_H30B0tw8PrTe-oUi8MZGhBqEARzGBH31v39DpVJ5j4RfoEqp0O1LVk-OFRlvaqS0M6StLU4FPqvRuAeXy3lAVUdJuAoEQGPg6dBfGuec1xwBiU4H/s2048/5E48C5AF-5A96-4A0B-9941-2F58842DDAEA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1713" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePbrtTU96euyjnFtczDKAoVe2K-E_H30B0tw8PrTe-oUi8MZGhBqEARzGBH31v39DpVJ5j4RfoEqp0O1LVk-OFRlvaqS0M6StLU4FPqvRuAeXy3lAVUdJuAoEQGPg6dBfGuec1xwBiU4H/w335-h400/5E48C5AF-5A96-4A0B-9941-2F58842DDAEA.jpeg" width="335" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p>Congrats to Laurie G! I used a random number generator and you were selected to win Loree’s book. Please email me at heather [at] justagirlwithahammer.com with your address and I’ll get it shipped to you.</p>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-5574216674973469882021-01-11T11:12:00.002-08:002021-01-11T11:12:23.935-08:00Book giveaway! Fearless Gardening by Loree Bohl<p>I started blogging and gardening in 2009, during the heyday of longform content. I quickly found Loree's blog <a href="http://www.thedangergarden.com/" target="_blank">Danger Garden</a>. She introduced me to so many plants I didn't know and that I didn't know could grow in our zone. She also reframed a lot of plants that I had grown up with in California, which I thought I disliked. Her blog had a huge effect on my emerging gardening style and opened my eyes to so many new ideas.</p><p>In 2012 a reader wrote me and <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2012/05/im-officially-sick-of-digging.html">offered to swap some plants</a>. She had a number of agaves and a toddler, a bad combination. Would I want to trade them for something in my garden? </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKhfa93tsat3LffuPGuXwRUdAG4_VOfTq2Y7wl9OLRLibiB9I4C5DQMXE4tAaw9FovwL2uULhM7y3Y19E8rcTgNEnO0RnyufTh5tYL9g2VxsrpwcEQLYdXQXuiB4idOXWmuFdYuh2ZNLg/s1600/berm_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKhfa93tsat3LffuPGuXwRUdAG4_VOfTq2Y7wl9OLRLibiB9I4C5DQMXE4tAaw9FovwL2uULhM7y3Y19E8rcTgNEnO0RnyufTh5tYL9g2VxsrpwcEQLYdXQXuiB4idOXWmuFdYuh2ZNLg/w640-h480/berm_crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agaves in their original location</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I had never grown agaves before but Loree gave me permission to try them out in my garden. And I mean that literally: I emailed Loree and asked if she knew what kind of agaves they were and should I put them in the ground? She told me she didn't know but that I should plant them anyway and then she walked me through how to prep my soil. Nine years later they are the anchors of my front garden. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPDFI3nh-tXfaxiU_fq9u7KQ4tojsJv19JSyP8L_IDdutpLvw5OpavATLOyChyHKWnRIr3rdkTqdhlbRi3uIE5hARhbKWE0isXj824zCwYgZn7DEGBwISxC_kUdDq4FRnpzl6Yzi5-L5v/s4032/IMG_0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPDFI3nh-tXfaxiU_fq9u7KQ4tojsJv19JSyP8L_IDdutpLvw5OpavATLOyChyHKWnRIr3rdkTqdhlbRi3uIE5hARhbKWE0isXj824zCwYgZn7DEGBwISxC_kUdDq4FRnpzl6Yzi5-L5v/w640-h480/IMG_0238.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>If you haven't yet purchased your copy of <a href="https://www.workman.com/products/fearless-gardening" target="_blank">Fearless Gardening: Be Bold, Break the Rules, Grow What You Love</a>, I am here to tell you that it's great. It's that magical unicorn of a book: equal parts inspiring and practical. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34Bq6hYLTs_dC-8oGSkONSNsQNFlvJXcunfiMN6TJa0jHaRaAnOcTIFwbVamP4Oy4p-272u5OK85Z7FYcVgWdtH5HuBZDWk4Hnvw9SwANlYiFrenSpkzSlOMiwZDV0vODEgmwzog_hLsG/s2048/9781604699623.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1713" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34Bq6hYLTs_dC-8oGSkONSNsQNFlvJXcunfiMN6TJa0jHaRaAnOcTIFwbVamP4Oy4p-272u5OK85Z7FYcVgWdtH5HuBZDWk4Hnvw9SwANlYiFrenSpkzSlOMiwZDV0vODEgmwzog_hLsG/w335-h400/9781604699623.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>In a time when our gardens are more important than ever, she gives you permission to break the rules and grow what you want. And then she gives you great tips for how to work with any limitations you might have. </p><center><a center="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzweKsNVNDQO-1PeP98Ris1THB2IC9QHejlKqIlwVXd7ilyCEgVsMtyko4SKPHUpK_sjb_v18XZ20Gkt8V_g4uEkfcCm1IqWnbY5qKgUVly3EjDGbuEeQRiQn3ZNjWBgxzsbNU4jczvOdI/s2048/9781604699623.in01.jpg" text-align:=""><img border="0" data-original-height="1263" data-original-width="2048" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzweKsNVNDQO-1PeP98Ris1THB2IC9QHejlKqIlwVXd7ilyCEgVsMtyko4SKPHUpK_sjb_v18XZ20Gkt8V_g4uEkfcCm1IqWnbY5qKgUVly3EjDGbuEeQRiQn3ZNjWBgxzsbNU4jczvOdI/w400-h246/9781604699623.in01.jpg" width="400" /></a></center><p>I should mention that I am a librarian and, after working in an academic library for years, I stopped buying books. I made an exception to my usual rule of "just borrow it from the public library," and I'm really glad I did. I know I'm going to return to it whenever I need a creative shot in the arm.</p><p>I am giving away a copy of Loree's book. Just leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway. If you're having issues with commenting <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/p/contact-me.html" target="_blank">shoot me an email</a>.</p>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-81540164435977851112019-06-25T07:00:00.000-07:002019-06-25T07:00:02.269-07:00Diary of a wimpy gardenerI've just returned from another successful <a href="http://gardenbloggersfling.blogspot.com/">Garden Bloggers' Fling</a>, this time in Denver, CO. I had so much fun (or possibly lost so much blood to mosquitoes) that I'm still trying to recover. One of my favorite things about the Fling is that I get to explore another gardening environment and it always makes me realize that I garden exactly where I should.<br />
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Because guys, I am a wimp.<br />
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I'd never been to Colorado and I was unprepared for how much tougher it is, being at a higher elevation and in such a dry environment. I felt perpetually thirsty, tired, and unmoisturized. They only average 17 inches of precipitation per year! It often snows in MAY. The bees are absolutely enormous and their mosquitoes are blood-thirsty. YOU CAN'T BUY WINE IN A GROCERY STORE, WHAT THE FUCK COLORADO, YOUR PEOPLE ALREADY ENDURE SO MUCH.<br />
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But in that pioneer spirit, they make do. They manage to create stunning gardens even though they have a much shorter growing season than most of the country. They create fascinating topography using rock, which I suspect looks great even covered in snow.<br />
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They create beautiful vignettes in pots.<br />
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They create visual interest using unusual materials.<br />
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They seemingly spend entire paychecks on annuals.<br />
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Their porches go up to 11.<br />
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They hunt down liquor stores for a measly bottle of chardonnay, apparently. People drink wine IN CHURCH, Colorado. This feels punitive.<br />
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They plant poppies galore.<br />
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And penstemon, so many penstemon!<br />
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And the most beautiful flax I've ever seen.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonus <a href="http://www.diggrowcompostblog.com/">Jean</a> color echo!</td></tr>
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They embrace color amongst the evergreens and really squeeze every opportunity out of their growing season.<br />
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The gardeners in Colorado are exceedingly warm and generous, allowing us not only into their gardens but also their homes. Many of them provided snacks and let us use their bathrooms.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMky7T0_HgrChNvVaeGfjRJnA6zdb0YOUPylpCMV908v-NxbC1KjDMAzQYsaTcmusWnU2CjZgB_rJue5wh2ma064RCfykNTcgsai_SUP0biYUx8z5CAl3Z5EWbxjkgPqX7_Orqi7OQph6i/s1600/IMG_5268.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMky7T0_HgrChNvVaeGfjRJnA6zdb0YOUPylpCMV908v-NxbC1KjDMAzQYsaTcmusWnU2CjZgB_rJue5wh2ma064RCfykNTcgsai_SUP0biYUx8z5CAl3Z5EWbxjkgPqX7_Orqi7OQph6i/s640/IMG_5268.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I really enjoyed myself, in spite of my Pacific Northwesterner wimpery (and I'm an especially tender example). Huge thanks are owed to the organizers, who did such a fantastic job. I left inspired to up my container game and to appreciate that I can buy wine at Safeway, the way god intended.<br />
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Coloradans are creative, friendly, and far tougher than me. They make spectacular gardens.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-25361380547499313952018-11-15T07:00:00.000-08:002019-12-05T07:27:01.493-08:00Just a girl with a nail gun <div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">This spring I actually experienced spring fever for the first time in many years. I felt itchy to get in the garden and I purchased prolific amounts of plants via mail order and local nurseries. Our dog and her friends ran roughshod over the garden and I didn’t even care because the seal was broken and I! was! buying! everything!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCU15uj92XRjBLEXJY7XxQ_DR6e_FMVgll_xko0rGn2Du8AIDsM7fP7KXBgyl5NwMB-KvbJ_aO021SIfa4RtIL4HSvU6RvTRwtOQT79pUHYR_97oqXtsYLxLlCTfWsLN7l0AtHDypkNA2/s1600/IMG_1689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCU15uj92XRjBLEXJY7XxQ_DR6e_FMVgll_xko0rGn2Du8AIDsM7fP7KXBgyl5NwMB-KvbJ_aO021SIfa4RtIL4HSvU6RvTRwtOQT79pUHYR_97oqXtsYLxLlCTfWsLN7l0AtHDypkNA2/s400/IMG_1689.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I grew sweet peas (‘<i>April in Paris</i>’) for the first time and, holy shit, people, those smell as good as everyone says they do. I got my new plant babies in the ground in a timely fashion! I kept thinking, "This is my year. I'm going to stay on top of weeds and for once I won't be embarrassed to have people over."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Then I had to travel to California a bunch of times and then the weather turned hot and my brain and body lost all of their go-go. Oxalis covered everything and Greg would helpfully ask, "Do you think you should do something about that?" and I would glare at him and return to melting in front of the garden mister.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuhOXp-c5pEbtF53QnRyZ0aCp27Nvn2nXa0r_bvI-z4IALWw4wRVWbAuRgYu2tIev7tKk8-Pt0VwIhgsYVoXOSY_ulFQo03jYVrNw7sI03j1xGlfa78ZBslLIueLmWFy2-IYHBVdTG6mq/s1600/IMG_1107+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuhOXp-c5pEbtF53QnRyZ0aCp27Nvn2nXa0r_bvI-z4IALWw4wRVWbAuRgYu2tIev7tKk8-Pt0VwIhgsYVoXOSY_ulFQo03jYVrNw7sI03j1xGlfa78ZBslLIueLmWFy2-IYHBVdTG6mq/s640/IMG_1107+%25281%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">This was not my year. I didn't stay up on weeding. That said, I did achieve a couple of things. I replaced the rotting fence between us and our newest neighbors. They are delightful but they smoke constantly and they have a clear view of our yard from the raised deck off the back of their house. So we asked if we could replace the fence and foot the bill. I disassembled the old fence and built the new one in three hours one Sunday morning while Greg was gone because NAIL GUNS ARE AWESOME. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlF8DPP1yGz8-tCx0sZff_ofI0rHuX0kK7pcLGiqy_-wK_syoU8BMDeHnYyz_LaNgz6un-H_1ypkWy6fsOydWsjxXrKo8E5-dLJ5b8jw7Tfl2PFl5EpYbBaWk1zYprGud7NltdY3U3a3f/s1600/IMG_0413+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlF8DPP1yGz8-tCx0sZff_ofI0rHuX0kK7pcLGiqy_-wK_syoU8BMDeHnYyz_LaNgz6un-H_1ypkWy6fsOydWsjxXrKo8E5-dLJ5b8jw7Tfl2PFl5EpYbBaWk1zYprGud7NltdY3U3a3f/s640/IMG_0413+%25281%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAgHUl528kMyAUS1ol7wQNGQw9xkM6RU2hSIAjuDE9TnGYVkKqMsBk7RU7r4TGz-jdzABf8WWaZFNt2T0aXCJpNU3L_DSVrwbU1rFRJmZ4UU1DW8LuXJd69dv-oE1qVWEJz3XEQNAm8oW/s1600/IMG_0427+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAgHUl528kMyAUS1ol7wQNGQw9xkM6RU2hSIAjuDE9TnGYVkKqMsBk7RU7r4TGz-jdzABf8WWaZFNt2T0aXCJpNU3L_DSVrwbU1rFRJmZ4UU1DW8LuXJd69dv-oE1qVWEJz3XEQNAm8oW/s640/IMG_0427+%25281%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Weirdos from Craigslist took the old boards for reuse and I drank two cocktails at a tiki bar and took an epic four hour nap. The fence is now seven feet tall, which should also help block the view of our backyard from the three-story condos that were recently built at the end of our block. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I also reorganized our garage, which looked like the touchdown site of a tornado. Our garage is long and skinny and full of junk. It looks like the inside of my purse but dirtier and with more things that draw blood. The previous owner, a paranoid mess who wrapped every heat register in the house in tin foil (so the government can't listen in on you), installed a useless shelf with a gigantic mirror tilted back. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsguJ3cvV6O9riTCU1OW1safpc19YQwiWWrkfKJgYi0WFjmcQV10WdZGbY19XGyIYM0zWwfayvwBPnvLOhcCBIfBKHTa4C44lkEjLFzPiJBCc3zE_2T-VBEtuGZ-Vq4JuIgMv2_U7OMLXY/s1600/IMG_8993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsguJ3cvV6O9riTCU1OW1safpc19YQwiWWrkfKJgYi0WFjmcQV10WdZGbY19XGyIYM0zWwfayvwBPnvLOhcCBIfBKHTa4C44lkEjLFzPiJBCc3zE_2T-VBEtuGZ-Vq4JuIgMv2_U7OMLXY/s640/IMG_8993.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">See, I don't need safety measures like mirrors to know if someone is sneaking up on me because I left 900 nursery pots at the entrance of the garage. There's a pile of styrofoam you can fall on, too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWnX2G7eObp7jm9xZ5Qzl-OuPQEuyqTHGwOltu36MVwW6MC5C_z3R9t0Rs96TojPa1NUGWKaJG8dji69dfW_5SVnmy5fyxckE3-Crgf8di5BIozvBuRaSjWpmZu8HawXEdM7pUjpyqz9N/s1600/IMG_8999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1080" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWnX2G7eObp7jm9xZ5Qzl-OuPQEuyqTHGwOltu36MVwW6MC5C_z3R9t0Rs96TojPa1NUGWKaJG8dji69dfW_5SVnmy5fyxckE3-Crgf8di5BIozvBuRaSjWpmZu8HawXEdM7pUjpyqz9N/s400/IMG_8999.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We finally took the mirror down, demoed the shelf, and removed a weird cabinet in the corner that we used to store spiders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We moved our metal shelves to the back and I built a potting table, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb8MH9PAMk8">modified from this video I found on YouTube</a>. Men have largely convinced women that we'll kill ourselves if we use power tools but it turns out building stuff isn’t that hard and its super fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Then I added hanging storage to the walls and now sometimes I just stand in my garage and coo in this general direction. As my mother always says, "Simple minds = simple pleasures."</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTqMsf8IcYDaD-cdoq8O3PdvE4aajgStVrbC1wcYgsfiWEeCVvcWhiBwwZBpYz1GxW1tmlKemR2iL8MFeJ_5x2WTwvzY96XGqvT15Rn0OTYO635SGqvwuDBlO4LVGD4AraVe2lmvWnXDF/s1600/IMG_2154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTqMsf8IcYDaD-cdoq8O3PdvE4aajgStVrbC1wcYgsfiWEeCVvcWhiBwwZBpYz1GxW1tmlKemR2iL8MFeJ_5x2WTwvzY96XGqvT15Rn0OTYO635SGqvwuDBlO4LVGD4AraVe2lmvWnXDF/s640/IMG_2154.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Next up we’re having the yellow bamboo that came with the house removed. It has been terribly behaved, sending rhizomes through the root balls of neighboring plants, at a shocking speed. It leaves culm litter everywhere and it sucks. WHY IS THIS THE BAMBOO HOME DEPOT SELLS EVERYONE? In its place I'm planting <a href="http://www.bamboogarden.com/Chusquea%20culeou.htm"><i>Chusqea culeou</i></a>, which is a true clumper that shouldn't be quite so messy.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12pt;">Next year is going to be my year, I can just feel it. I'm going to stay on top of weeds and for once I won't be embarrassed to have people over. And I will buy a lot of plants, that I know is true.</span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-37476810595225342742018-06-06T07:00:00.000-07:002018-06-06T07:53:17.628-07:00Happy accidents when you don't know what you're doing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Lately I've been appreciating a bit of seredipity in the entrance to the backyard. Back in 2011 <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2011/07/some-random-updates-from-garden.html">I posted about how I wanted the entrance to the back garden to envelop you</a>, so you'd get a slow reveal to the rest of the yard. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3romXeCAP_pVlA53-ZkjS9W7b6ON3IQCXNZU8xAUY9Z-N6Dz8p39i-8W9Qear4Jh3_vFf3HHSEoDlt0FRusvfKD7YRe8eDFnAJAJgLKlkdtp6TZ4OIYlNPnsE8fHCjZSmfz5oJy0GfEw/s1600/IMG_8979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3romXeCAP_pVlA53-ZkjS9W7b6ON3IQCXNZU8xAUY9Z-N6Dz8p39i-8W9Qear4Jh3_vFf3HHSEoDlt0FRusvfKD7YRe8eDFnAJAJgLKlkdtp6TZ4OIYlNPnsE8fHCjZSmfz5oJy0GfEw/s1600/IMG_8979.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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After a couple of unsuccessful plantings (mock orange, flowering currant, some other stuff) I planted a <i>Ceanothus thyrsiflorus</i> in 2012 and it grew quickly.<br />
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My neighbors had a gorgeous ceanothus that spilled into our side yard and it had been trained as a tree:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOKpFXpCmfWvvJHlI9cjAXkCv89bWKyjiFaskiqJfOr34c4GcczzxBiy_mmoEdwCTJmVuemc4nZgVqbY8XA0OGyKbdv0ANzGlet7KakxASYN23P8v8-dK4BZF7FejHvuC39tciCPDSNKK/s1600/IMG_8158+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOKpFXpCmfWvvJHlI9cjAXkCv89bWKyjiFaskiqJfOr34c4GcczzxBiy_mmoEdwCTJmVuemc4nZgVqbY8XA0OGyKbdv0ANzGlet7KakxASYN23P8v8-dK4BZF7FejHvuC39tciCPDSNKK/s640/IMG_8158+%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the next door house was flipped and sold they removed this ceanothus and I lost all the shade in my side yard.</td></tr>
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I'd never really seen another Ceanothus because I was new to gardening so I didn't realize most people let them grow as shrubs. I limbed up mine too and now it provides a nice canopy along the pathway. Most visitors don't recognize what it is because, you know, it should be a shrub. Or maybe the straight species is always a tree but everyone grows <a href="https://plantlust.com/plants/12355/ceanothus-dark-star/">more exciting cultivars like <i>'Dark Star</i></a><i>'</i>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVpWxvxnMyiS1aYsFI_6qWFkHjmZBAC6v2Rvph_qnazOI866uFVkq8pArq89HD8Fgfnm78_3zqamn70pFQqF-xz-d21EoVF_dBXwVIacOXaeQe3HNG0-srD-rYYcJzcVC4BqzF1p3utsM/s1600/IMG_9557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVpWxvxnMyiS1aYsFI_6qWFkHjmZBAC6v2Rvph_qnazOI866uFVkq8pArq89HD8Fgfnm78_3zqamn70pFQqF-xz-d21EoVF_dBXwVIacOXaeQe3HNG0-srD-rYYcJzcVC4BqzF1p3utsM/s640/IMG_9557.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree sized in six years!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I don't always love this ceanothus because its bloom time is short and the flowers aren't as intensely colored as some of the named cultivars. It's also messy once the blooms die. The good news is they don't live very long so I'll probably be shopping for a new tree/shrub in the next ten years.<br />
<br />
Please also admire the color echo between the hosta and the hose junking up the photo. Based on every photo I have ever taken it looks like I live in a hose-testing facility.<br />
<br />
And since we're looking at that old post, let's do a before and after!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3romXeCAP_pVlA53-ZkjS9W7b6ON3IQCXNZU8xAUY9Z-N6Dz8p39i-8W9Qear4Jh3_vFf3HHSEoDlt0FRusvfKD7YRe8eDFnAJAJgLKlkdtp6TZ4OIYlNPnsE8fHCjZSmfz5oJy0GfEw/s1600/IMG_8979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3romXeCAP_pVlA53-ZkjS9W7b6ON3IQCXNZU8xAUY9Z-N6Dz8p39i-8W9Qear4Jh3_vFf3HHSEoDlt0FRusvfKD7YRe8eDFnAJAJgLKlkdtp6TZ4OIYlNPnsE8fHCjZSmfz5oJy0GfEw/s1600/IMG_8979.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PfYrKJ4Yc4c80aBq5_w0tBDkGgvPt6SFd5xOiqhMjzuycMSQ7q9Mpen0Wnh_7G4cpbf62ej_BG3WS_kCiJ-SYPWfyRYMIJNHTelaPOKx-mDUTtX-IGOqfrzAKL57CRQrN8cuWmt6wRif/s1600/IMG_9555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PfYrKJ4Yc4c80aBq5_w0tBDkGgvPt6SFd5xOiqhMjzuycMSQ7q9Mpen0Wnh_7G4cpbf62ej_BG3WS_kCiJ-SYPWfyRYMIJNHTelaPOKx-mDUTtX-IGOqfrzAKL57CRQrN8cuWmt6wRif/s640/IMG_9555.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Looking back at the entrance, you can see that my wine barrel has since been planted with bamboo, the rain garden was installed, and everything grew like crazy. That old bit of fence on the left was removed as well.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIMP_QKF_RPWkjzsl9kMpvNZ14hBX5x5zGM9Rbo2jAtYtYuVk3l4xX0owkFwkfKb9akkwKYMHOXUlztjtPyBEkDupDGMlq2yxdIt3zkDVhjmaFso3mFejgptNpzTdVvQntIT34NqiaqKf/s1600/IMG_9008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIMP_QKF_RPWkjzsl9kMpvNZ14hBX5x5zGM9Rbo2jAtYtYuVk3l4xX0owkFwkfKb9akkwKYMHOXUlztjtPyBEkDupDGMlq2yxdIt3zkDVhjmaFso3mFejgptNpzTdVvQntIT34NqiaqKf/s1600/IMG_9008.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGyMpxfKRFL9E0QsEcYVgqsSFQyBGYm2SSMsHOxe5E6RmzXFxAsI1WuWg1WjJmwudPISYx4VdZ3DpRG5OKMsCl8143qsSmgoet21GzJpBrDAHKkXLZ2NtmxGuGH7jaKMiHvqMJxVzr_GF/s1600/IMG_9575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGyMpxfKRFL9E0QsEcYVgqsSFQyBGYm2SSMsHOxe5E6RmzXFxAsI1WuWg1WjJmwudPISYx4VdZ3DpRG5OKMsCl8143qsSmgoet21GzJpBrDAHKkXLZ2NtmxGuGH7jaKMiHvqMJxVzr_GF/s640/IMG_9575.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Standing in the middle of the yard and looking at the back of the house you can see that we were, in 2011, considering building a huge deck off the back of the house. It's not all happy accidents when you don't know what you're doing! What the fuck were we thinking?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Eil0vL6bGalbky_XgN0leJpduuKn5XZh4iA7xcrZni1bPRIyd_FkDwpwNpXY2xEMhkiZyajBZntkzv9OoS1h5bpekPM3tKYpjYFs_zu09AlEZH9vTqQqq0zpwFWj0nrZNDJz3jwuUMNJ/s1600/IMG_8803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Eil0vL6bGalbky_XgN0leJpduuKn5XZh4iA7xcrZni1bPRIyd_FkDwpwNpXY2xEMhkiZyajBZntkzv9OoS1h5bpekPM3tKYpjYFs_zu09AlEZH9vTqQqq0zpwFWj0nrZNDJz3jwuUMNJ/s1600/IMG_8803.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmNkXceMu6w_ziAODNnyBUjXe-err1UrxVoIjvhCZpjsD2G-qMMM50vcQo32au90u0SIH_jjV0Yiq-oGyhh7dGbCPLhGVDZrLQaviSjpbYG0CsxFQ8lsTUY9UfwBVR4fJIxnPPc5-Y2u7/s1600/IMG_9577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmNkXceMu6w_ziAODNnyBUjXe-err1UrxVoIjvhCZpjsD2G-qMMM50vcQo32au90u0SIH_jjV0Yiq-oGyhh7dGbCPLhGVDZrLQaviSjpbYG0CsxFQ8lsTUY9UfwBVR4fJIxnPPc5-Y2u7/s640/IMG_9577.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Another gigantic whatthefuck was forming here with that goofy shaped bed (hinted at here with stones on the lawn). Circles and squares, damn it! None of this freestyle nonsense!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-o8JDJnf6UmEOvHZCTZC1C1ka4eFsJrCRuEaRtaAX706ldDdw9X1gTl0LycUvBMpKt4Hg4MvbwW5IZjD2aLC_nPR3VCkO-c_oTYrRuPgRR-j6bNbMfx0Vl7X0CTBLhMBSKZtlYJgP-8u/s1600/IMG_2680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-o8JDJnf6UmEOvHZCTZC1C1ka4eFsJrCRuEaRtaAX706ldDdw9X1gTl0LycUvBMpKt4Hg4MvbwW5IZjD2aLC_nPR3VCkO-c_oTYrRuPgRR-j6bNbMfx0Vl7X0CTBLhMBSKZtlYJgP-8u/s640/IMG_2680.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJ2xT4y_oHUqg6HP_F-1QQ4F_lOZqSAn4XJbWL2UJ32jsIMKh_N_YoQbnmlve-HRl0rgpAw-V8zCiqWqWkAT2L-8O3fR0AuH8hNmMRE_-7iLUDDzz8-XO7QqKr4xXWiTSLojTcoOIYhjf/s1600/IMG_9595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJ2xT4y_oHUqg6HP_F-1QQ4F_lOZqSAn4XJbWL2UJ32jsIMKh_N_YoQbnmlve-HRl0rgpAw-V8zCiqWqWkAT2L-8O3fR0AuH8hNmMRE_-7iLUDDzz8-XO7QqKr4xXWiTSLojTcoOIYhjf/s640/IMG_9595.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So the moral of the story is that you can limb up your ceanothus but you shouldn't hire Greg or I to design decks or raised beds for you. We suck at it.</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-28339803307656307772018-05-15T07:00:00.000-07:002018-05-15T07:00:11.845-07:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day May 2018So when I recently attended the <a href="http://gardenbloggersfling.blogspot.com/">Garden Bloggers Fling</a> I got to meet Carol, the godmother of Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. She has a cute illustration of a Victorian woman pushing a lawn mower <a href="https://www.maydreamsgardens.com/p/outside-of-garden.html">on her website</a> and, because I am a dolt, my brain filed this away literally. I pictured her as an older woman with flowing gray hair. She wears pantaloons and she carries a wicker basket to collect flowers.<br />
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In reality, Carol is a modern woman who wears pants and rocks a blond pixie cut. I tell you this in case you were similarly confused.<br />
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And you know what? I just looked at that photo again and it's not a Victorian woman. It's like an English woman, maybe turn of the century? It's a wonder I'm gainfully employed.<br />
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Anyway, it's so bloomy right now! This could take a while.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57hUi3U4O8y_4pLvRmzotbHYV2byuMJgoAw9F6JXwkHz_qP97Ls30jhStLqHtG4I8_KoAkTNXQe0hV5yqHkmBGp1u6-FwSMqbSOktYVdLPV9-GlYhWlXbK3MHVvi3Zxl4eHBzaAgH_h62/s1600/IMG_8657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57hUi3U4O8y_4pLvRmzotbHYV2byuMJgoAw9F6JXwkHz_qP97Ls30jhStLqHtG4I8_KoAkTNXQe0hV5yqHkmBGp1u6-FwSMqbSOktYVdLPV9-GlYhWlXbK3MHVvi3Zxl4eHBzaAgH_h62/s640/IMG_8657.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Phacelia viscida</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhDqQnvS7-JoOlEKM0crxcjXZYpQ6kUnnmnxbfLut4kPCtmwtBXA7eKVcxif_fIzBhzukLc-0sLzQro8OI25EDZCHyfUITo1_7pa7UPGZkKCcQz6vTVseL7m-yVHpeWrBo1O98wLJafk4/s1600/IMG_8674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhDqQnvS7-JoOlEKM0crxcjXZYpQ6kUnnmnxbfLut4kPCtmwtBXA7eKVcxif_fIzBhzukLc-0sLzQro8OI25EDZCHyfUITo1_7pa7UPGZkKCcQz6vTVseL7m-yVHpeWrBo1O98wLJafk4/s640/IMG_8674.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lonicera brownii 'Dropmore Scarlet'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUdxirX7heaG30PzhUPR_YC9wix9FZgsTO2qm7z6PYsHI2NEAWgWB_RK26uLj0hYsHKFICdI8MdDrxBPG-TtUtbJWKPmwsUjE-t1zYxGGZXq_Gn66hfF-9DxR5FInGHWljFsc5daNN4RG/s1600/IMG_8685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUdxirX7heaG30PzhUPR_YC9wix9FZgsTO2qm7z6PYsHI2NEAWgWB_RK26uLj0hYsHKFICdI8MdDrxBPG-TtUtbJWKPmwsUjE-t1zYxGGZXq_Gn66hfF-9DxR5FInGHWljFsc5daNN4RG/s640/IMG_8685.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Echium wildpretii</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguywlZc3g1063fFU9fhdPpNs3zln1mpxPfXm4eslx2YeTIbPhxGdhOyeOXYA_W-59AY3war3TMqn6kMtIfZfO9jRs26bOqRnSNB55_1FWOxSwuzNL4Ni_5BfDSK7qvUYBViHL_Rch8n8o/s1600/IMG_8694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguywlZc3g1063fFU9fhdPpNs3zln1mpxPfXm4eslx2YeTIbPhxGdhOyeOXYA_W-59AY3war3TMqn6kMtIfZfO9jRs26bOqRnSNB55_1FWOxSwuzNL4Ni_5BfDSK7qvUYBViHL_Rch8n8o/s640/IMG_8694.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stipa gigantea</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio75vZNLnjvnW-jwDHSc8pk_n_bVhkbYW8LtP2kifRugRVdo6t5rjbXPYORhjbRl7DQHZg78Fx9Qa3Eaxwr5ajOtSIBUzYO594Jj4kj0mwkxDqzUflFL7e2OKAyWGht0uETdFkcQwuxjBI/s1600/IMG_8700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio75vZNLnjvnW-jwDHSc8pk_n_bVhkbYW8LtP2kifRugRVdo6t5rjbXPYORhjbRl7DQHZg78Fx9Qa3Eaxwr5ajOtSIBUzYO594Jj4kj0mwkxDqzUflFL7e2OKAyWGht0uETdFkcQwuxjBI/s640/IMG_8700.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Oxalis oregana</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmmn9Trv-aJK4FtspVCT8Wk2iKCwTdXF_6N1jWZvp1Rh11JIyw8maihQo_e5HYqQZTPx-38qjR9c8SL4T6eZwJ1nOP8ZVdxRbfH5u-mvIeKkFCHknTIpGnW0Fjhd1H4sHE3S1tat5JrpP/s1600/IMG_8707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmmn9Trv-aJK4FtspVCT8Wk2iKCwTdXF_6N1jWZvp1Rh11JIyw8maihQo_e5HYqQZTPx-38qjR9c8SL4T6eZwJ1nOP8ZVdxRbfH5u-mvIeKkFCHknTIpGnW0Fjhd1H4sHE3S1tat5JrpP/s640/IMG_8707.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Calamagrostis foliosa</i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZGK-f9bPJwRzBtmGrudjj3QilFJCBSaZF3oTAOQlCsvNVdIHjipb0_pY_CnGsL53pZ5AxIBS7OtHTrSawOPhj0hQPP-5asDVWoQ9S75hkGnfZG-dFTWGCH6rhudVz3cXipvsNYcs1qOE/s1600/IMG_8712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZGK-f9bPJwRzBtmGrudjj3QilFJCBSaZF3oTAOQlCsvNVdIHjipb0_pY_CnGsL53pZ5AxIBS7OtHTrSawOPhj0hQPP-5asDVWoQ9S75hkGnfZG-dFTWGCH6rhudVz3cXipvsNYcs1qOE/s640/IMG_8712.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Festuca amethystina 'Superba'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OssCzfg1TmCzeJH8wmfk3WrktgqXDihHOB-Pd6Sv4PIJFKeuaqwjCGX7qY7H9Sq5oqfkx0BjOzXXYON0Xlqy0muEZJ-CqKZefjoyBcfDgpFntr_UOcRRE1LJjcsHc5YkJTug-g6mVs4r/s1600/IMG_8716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OssCzfg1TmCzeJH8wmfk3WrktgqXDihHOB-Pd6Sv4PIJFKeuaqwjCGX7qY7H9Sq5oqfkx0BjOzXXYON0Xlqy0muEZJ-CqKZefjoyBcfDgpFntr_UOcRRE1LJjcsHc5YkJTug-g6mVs4r/s640/IMG_8716.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Allium schubertii</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdORIETcGjbLvLKYDSn-kH5FQ4Ar2O71wUdV_Lgfg0TzvFccohyphenhyphenisUAQ48ARL5AhWCulZg1WRfp3BWBj9qf1DGw-6jT1VD0bJwSASBzBZln3sws_FrrfOiNakZexWi237vDDU7YctnVneB/s1600/IMG_8718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdORIETcGjbLvLKYDSn-kH5FQ4Ar2O71wUdV_Lgfg0TzvFccohyphenhyphenisUAQ48ARL5AhWCulZg1WRfp3BWBj9qf1DGw-6jT1VD0bJwSASBzBZln3sws_FrrfOiNakZexWi237vDDU7YctnVneB/s640/IMG_8718.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Syringa patula 'Miss Kim'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT2V2ppIVjA0lP6pvg0nI3_IjOFqmeTtQEwhwdHWKH6RygJlTPGiOtbFeQAYIdhYGxRUKsiGLpi9H2ZxSuCIvf8lesQMag_UpewEriuGId97qmG-3t3DzTQe0ECXBBuhJhH2_hUa8nMR4/s1600/IMG_8720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT2V2ppIVjA0lP6pvg0nI3_IjOFqmeTtQEwhwdHWKH6RygJlTPGiOtbFeQAYIdhYGxRUKsiGLpi9H2ZxSuCIvf8lesQMag_UpewEriuGId97qmG-3t3DzTQe0ECXBBuhJhH2_hUa8nMR4/s640/IMG_8720.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Allium 'Purple Sensation'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkbIzDFSWthegEiQTc6xCJIzRYrChJNZDI6UgW2KgA4GPROlXjg9ZMcVGWL3IB607rs4tM5l6DdDDjAvCPx-spNhZ00TdTMGYFeqBYxZ9ZY7NTk6nUmvDk1zhnW5X-pP4PMkq89OyvkC_/s1600/IMG_8721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkbIzDFSWthegEiQTc6xCJIzRYrChJNZDI6UgW2KgA4GPROlXjg9ZMcVGWL3IB607rs4tM5l6DdDDjAvCPx-spNhZ00TdTMGYFeqBYxZ9ZY7NTk6nUmvDk1zhnW5X-pP4PMkq89OyvkC_/s640/IMG_8721.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Salvia nemerosa 'Caradonna'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKQ8u_1NNk3eUuFoYBL_VTbmy06fabDUCeAtOT0MvrNMjc9qRdUGbsdOECpZaUcdlKnOpwYbz03ltdjIjMeJJp-sqCOibLJ6c28mM7L8yEyVxcOlb3HSoLd85UGGZSaN6O_nWEzYrDLr0/s1600/IMG_8725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKQ8u_1NNk3eUuFoYBL_VTbmy06fabDUCeAtOT0MvrNMjc9qRdUGbsdOECpZaUcdlKnOpwYbz03ltdjIjMeJJp-sqCOibLJ6c28mM7L8yEyVxcOlb3HSoLd85UGGZSaN6O_nWEzYrDLr0/s640/IMG_8725.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stipa gigantea 'Little Giant'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-zu9VfzCWq0W0qe3v7kHmX1dOsSTG2W6aWrMTKERFBMIatkhmO-pzFvBrcXhZ5bDO5X687ylnQBB-Z35rbGbCgj-lrb6BE4oZLDI4zlQqWEoi6OPLirq4mTGTfgtiC3_GNZsRvZo6mi-/s1600/IMG_8727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-zu9VfzCWq0W0qe3v7kHmX1dOsSTG2W6aWrMTKERFBMIatkhmO-pzFvBrcXhZ5bDO5X687ylnQBB-Z35rbGbCgj-lrb6BE4oZLDI4zlQqWEoi6OPLirq4mTGTfgtiC3_GNZsRvZo6mi-/s640/IMG_8727.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Camassia leichtlinii semiplena</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9w1XGGIf9xWSctkng6maRMMxmFsCs_xEJQvmHF6NyvQjvNL_MIzCvxWydpFogkBY46ykH43Vp-uidePXFyWaapDyP-rRJGkqxbcLq_JNEgihRsah1Id9G-mwlpR6sgjAVxKOlJuYnRdKN/s1600/IMG_8730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9w1XGGIf9xWSctkng6maRMMxmFsCs_xEJQvmHF6NyvQjvNL_MIzCvxWydpFogkBY46ykH43Vp-uidePXFyWaapDyP-rRJGkqxbcLq_JNEgihRsah1Id9G-mwlpR6sgjAVxKOlJuYnRdKN/s640/IMG_8730.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lewisia cotyledon</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNM3yXpn_t5HKHodaHbWNO0EnyoOkjIu5n078CCGbGBcI6MqDL2J36JWK_kT8yV0f8r45PaiRGgWPcS5yRlQ8Tx23SOebJFo7gR5Jvlon1K-1UpTfhmcTdiRlzMic1gbetPeGg6-96PLZX/s1600/IMG_8731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNM3yXpn_t5HKHodaHbWNO0EnyoOkjIu5n078CCGbGBcI6MqDL2J36JWK_kT8yV0f8r45PaiRGgWPcS5yRlQ8Tx23SOebJFo7gR5Jvlon1K-1UpTfhmcTdiRlzMic1gbetPeGg6-96PLZX/s640/IMG_8731.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Lewisia cotyledon 'White Splendor'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp3zF7tW7cwW4vzNpbpha0pd8r8PeYv4_RNLWO3KcdyXdoNmO_NKOxZ891J-sM5oT8TLalVTJHFvo8s_yGcf6nskhksrZOJcgXu9vVae698YGJT_9CYMFR9fhQlvbUgBeJZaDvuY7b5a9/s1600/IMG_8734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1198" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp3zF7tW7cwW4vzNpbpha0pd8r8PeYv4_RNLWO3KcdyXdoNmO_NKOxZ891J-sM5oT8TLalVTJHFvo8s_yGcf6nskhksrZOJcgXu9vVae698YGJT_9CYMFR9fhQlvbUgBeJZaDvuY7b5a9/s640/IMG_8734.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rhazya orientalis</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88kXp9iJnUTj_irIrqKSCVvwe3NHr0ntHIyNkIDM55SUOT-Seez9PAgaZGok9LD2TfO_s79EnZYYzfwOkRQaw3mis0DNamBMatTDBpeG-xHPxDCOZaxYvhPyJoSoNn0jDtKMrwvhRxbFP/s1600/IMG_8737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88kXp9iJnUTj_irIrqKSCVvwe3NHr0ntHIyNkIDM55SUOT-Seez9PAgaZGok9LD2TfO_s79EnZYYzfwOkRQaw3mis0DNamBMatTDBpeG-xHPxDCOZaxYvhPyJoSoNn0jDtKMrwvhRxbFP/s640/IMG_8737.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Parahebe perfoliata</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofS0n7T1ch7hv0q0-w2gdokdBi1ocGAkczReWPXTVXAmRx2DFx2lZMBs1SPh455rI0Qae44PfO_t1zABFma9HRicUHXo9y5r3hk3bOlAg0QDjqT74p4sTkw2kkwi8CG9brKkMNNLkGbaU/s1600/IMG_8739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofS0n7T1ch7hv0q0-w2gdokdBi1ocGAkczReWPXTVXAmRx2DFx2lZMBs1SPh455rI0Qae44PfO_t1zABFma9HRicUHXo9y5r3hk3bOlAg0QDjqT74p4sTkw2kkwi8CG9brKkMNNLkGbaU/s640/IMG_8739.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dierama pulcherrimum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktJFzy0KYHMSsnOQqp8Bisz8jphjQAgIaWCNTPuFK82EHMRuprdhJB3DNSVRRtqONxGQrNSVzt8JyzE4s2G6AU0FKGJhRQx1tJiYJiOcGIY4pfsGcqSdzRz8IydyNCtxZmJwML1LvgDfV/s1600/IMG_8741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktJFzy0KYHMSsnOQqp8Bisz8jphjQAgIaWCNTPuFK82EHMRuprdhJB3DNSVRRtqONxGQrNSVzt8JyzE4s2G6AU0FKGJhRQx1tJiYJiOcGIY4pfsGcqSdzRz8IydyNCtxZmJwML1LvgDfV/s640/IMG_8741.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Phlomis russeliana</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLX-NehiB85Ibq7AjRMA90kDoBsOClUE-WPtJWBMsVpHqzf7fy4YK-yOldBXH2ptmZE0Asns4VdATEIj0b2kTRKJoVzu8BhCTN7Gqcw-5Mrc8ZBWYZ8dI2EXKsX1yycWnIteS1g-nwifC/s1600/IMG_8746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLX-NehiB85Ibq7AjRMA90kDoBsOClUE-WPtJWBMsVpHqzf7fy4YK-yOldBXH2ptmZE0Asns4VdATEIj0b2kTRKJoVzu8BhCTN7Gqcw-5Mrc8ZBWYZ8dI2EXKsX1yycWnIteS1g-nwifC/s640/IMG_8746.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Amsonia hubrichtii</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12ujeVAUaNd-aJ7L8201Kj4meZdWzF4dmoU25Q04WQiOPHQLXtQHysMXQ7dyy9HJmIHWQK4G0hbiiyHfkvnUO-6_Zw_tD-MKeEAsJk_HHICRgmNygmou-8T-7OgU1SH_FrWSK6pI31wIZ/s1600/IMG_8748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12ujeVAUaNd-aJ7L8201Kj4meZdWzF4dmoU25Q04WQiOPHQLXtQHysMXQ7dyy9HJmIHWQK4G0hbiiyHfkvnUO-6_Zw_tD-MKeEAsJk_HHICRgmNygmou-8T-7OgU1SH_FrWSK6pI31wIZ/s640/IMG_8748.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Geranium macrorrhizum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-JruJay7NfOqIE74oGVqzId_uHDVDUNBxyhjLcazXVHZ4f_3Yg_01YO-uTL0PJGKATSVTdTMYva0jT-fd9PDxiziCfxRJfr_9IMzRylY56bGjvNyX_B_b3dP0ghaIY1nGQo1yTeOJbR_/s1600/IMG_8752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-JruJay7NfOqIE74oGVqzId_uHDVDUNBxyhjLcazXVHZ4f_3Yg_01YO-uTL0PJGKATSVTdTMYva0jT-fd9PDxiziCfxRJfr_9IMzRylY56bGjvNyX_B_b3dP0ghaIY1nGQo1yTeOJbR_/s640/IMG_8752.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Arctostaphylos 'John Dourley'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rxdkbtY3PBSVNx96H3q-AUtdPrZuqXm5G34j_Cd9OGnyRE_RDQxy1vzPeiB4yulbsgjYLi0_KKtFwQzyZSLOWtU1pGpjPHybALx5ztRCztDGSPv11eDlTxVYRAPeeVXmUhwP3YmZMFCL/s1600/IMG_8754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rxdkbtY3PBSVNx96H3q-AUtdPrZuqXm5G34j_Cd9OGnyRE_RDQxy1vzPeiB4yulbsgjYLi0_KKtFwQzyZSLOWtU1pGpjPHybALx5ztRCztDGSPv11eDlTxVYRAPeeVXmUhwP3YmZMFCL/s640/IMG_8754.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Spiraea betulifolia var. lucida</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAXAQzYDQOLzR6QvSz7DD6_9_PtB0nCyIG2J1W6XK5i-NRYFMlIuum6ss87vOJjK22cjQa-6e-zCIKGcFs9yEGtgUf3sGmSv-EoAEoV6WeY1D0Wkuepces5SVAT7slRK9bvhw9vwfbPK-/s1600/IMG_8503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAXAQzYDQOLzR6QvSz7DD6_9_PtB0nCyIG2J1W6XK5i-NRYFMlIuum6ss87vOJjK22cjQa-6e-zCIKGcFs9yEGtgUf3sGmSv-EoAEoV6WeY1D0Wkuepces5SVAT7slRK9bvhw9vwfbPK-/s640/IMG_8503.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fuchsia speciosa</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGimi2PKWChh8wcXH9hyJAD3gydqLs04TaJyLzeioio5uc6so-XqL84woswZzk4dcVQ5zFc9AEAU7m3k70rc_YNm55tU7COio6B_sjP7S34NeLh_qECw5gq-z4a19CRtzGYV7zakjD6Ws/s1600/IMG_8504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGimi2PKWChh8wcXH9hyJAD3gydqLs04TaJyLzeioio5uc6so-XqL84woswZzk4dcVQ5zFc9AEAU7m3k70rc_YNm55tU7COio6B_sjP7S34NeLh_qECw5gq-z4a19CRtzGYV7zakjD6Ws/s640/IMG_8504.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Podophyllum pleianthum</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5zGjzvLvpHNcXJRnj9EkLytq7Gz_GVU5eG9GXLCQMxEYP7MVHPIAtUGEtXK-MG8FYtvWUHZByjMr6rVT96_hLnowCwCOx45k0PU5mdI1_kH5n5dJIZrzutfcntSVazudM4Umq4cpr8NX/s1600/IMG_8542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5zGjzvLvpHNcXJRnj9EkLytq7Gz_GVU5eG9GXLCQMxEYP7MVHPIAtUGEtXK-MG8FYtvWUHZByjMr6rVT96_hLnowCwCOx45k0PU5mdI1_kH5n5dJIZrzutfcntSVazudM4Umq4cpr8NX/s640/IMG_8542.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Salvia 'Skyscraper'</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibui-XhsrIv9565BlgMuu87Pwraa1haknF7waOdI955WbHIalP6hnXFJF-EsKoL3wpFxeE2YwySv1HJQXgvFSGMt20v6OJBCnMRPA_hncm0FgMZab5XNzV8vejxFUFU_VKj3tbLhRxl7-i/s1600/IMG_8547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibui-XhsrIv9565BlgMuu87Pwraa1haknF7waOdI955WbHIalP6hnXFJF-EsKoL3wpFxeE2YwySv1HJQXgvFSGMt20v6OJBCnMRPA_hncm0FgMZab5XNzV8vejxFUFU_VKj3tbLhRxl7-i/s640/IMG_8547.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ceanothus thyrsiflorus</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZufageHE0wELvtxrjKeVFUUYB2aOJrNaOHAiSt0ZCVW_K7_H333y-v6yVZChWsnRWm9U1au6DG8LO0SL9dJj_opUUtq3tsOvZaGIXRQ6X_pmaDivQVl3XLgk9qUHbCsJYTTAZPyPwfjF/s1600/IMG_8557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZufageHE0wELvtxrjKeVFUUYB2aOJrNaOHAiSt0ZCVW_K7_H333y-v6yVZChWsnRWm9U1au6DG8LO0SL9dJj_opUUtq3tsOvZaGIXRQ6X_pmaDivQVl3XLgk9qUHbCsJYTTAZPyPwfjF/s640/IMG_8557.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cuphea x 'Strybing Sunset'</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRv4TkbQgkVxUfeGV_HuhuvVhdQcdMhPFDS3k3wmYsMgJEqmvYytvRO5V9ypF3ZmIwHpvOuxqXXSP47fZsLqNtodJzV9W6K5_N7HPRPym0XqerZQh4wVC6ceHvrAGAbHktZPk1Ygxm6vo/s1600/IMG_8650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRv4TkbQgkVxUfeGV_HuhuvVhdQcdMhPFDS3k3wmYsMgJEqmvYytvRO5V9ypF3ZmIwHpvOuxqXXSP47fZsLqNtodJzV9W6K5_N7HPRPym0XqerZQh4wVC6ceHvrAGAbHktZPk1Ygxm6vo/s640/IMG_8650.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cerinthe purpurascens</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bletilla striata</i></td></tr>
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Whew, we made it! Thanks again to our host, <a href="https://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2018/04/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-may-2018.html">Carol</a>, who is neither a Victorian, nor a Dowager Countess, who maintains her idyllic manor with a push mower and a snarky aside.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-87913836874234848432018-05-11T12:00:00.000-07:002018-05-11T12:00:12.585-07:00Bugs, booze, and brisketI recently returned from the Austin Garden Bloggers' Fling, which was so fun I feel like I could sleep for a week. I ate my weight in brisket, I got bitten by both chiggers and fire ants, and I drank gallons of margaritas. I even saw the Alamo, so I'm feeling pretty complete.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpVqYj1VWfeeVsFg_CPU1B6NfNMyn66Oui3Sss8P1P8fWp7U3-pb5li7Z_wTkSvzLG443f2SOtMGzq1qU1qhNKhtwdcptj7qq7Vcnpxho_9at9RmOkldV4GeBlCO7eIYYNLMCN-BPTFvY/s1600/IMG_7963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpVqYj1VWfeeVsFg_CPU1B6NfNMyn66Oui3Sss8P1P8fWp7U3-pb5li7Z_wTkSvzLG443f2SOtMGzq1qU1qhNKhtwdcptj7qq7Vcnpxho_9at9RmOkldV4GeBlCO7eIYYNLMCN-BPTFvY/s640/IMG_7963.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just another perfect, humongous <i>Agave ovatafolia</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguP5I7w2WrGNPv9lhikNLtzFAjm_nXKD5Wxzm4X8M75W5oGazg1IwcuQCh6RF_Tj4M6Vkmq5QGZ0J7Vyfg9y3Rc0RYs_xvdur-0O77-nHFfMTFo7LFjZzpxJ7BD4x_nm-cFPDkgfJ62o3/s1600/IMG_8001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguP5I7w2WrGNPv9lhikNLtzFAjm_nXKD5Wxzm4X8M75W5oGazg1IwcuQCh6RF_Tj4M6Vkmq5QGZ0J7Vyfg9y3Rc0RYs_xvdur-0O77-nHFfMTFo7LFjZzpxJ7BD4x_nm-cFPDkgfJ62o3/s640/IMG_8001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the garden of Pam Penick</td></tr>
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A lot of times touring other gardens can make me feel pretty down on my own but this trip felt like a good, inspiring shot in the arm. Austin gardens have something for everyone, from super modern corten steel to quirky nichos.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXE8bOiVGIDUQPQunZQU2oSEB00owN88q5fD8BcHLxfUJtOKrtOzFf7v5akPv36sJU4ndHaR8BYgYeRwTYCKz34IwmL3smKyRS13E2Q15-wy42TQhemXrptXnclmN6XFs3gjiKhOavgzB/s1600/IMG_7928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXE8bOiVGIDUQPQunZQU2oSEB00owN88q5fD8BcHLxfUJtOKrtOzFf7v5akPv36sJU4ndHaR8BYgYeRwTYCKz34IwmL3smKyRS13E2Q15-wy42TQhemXrptXnclmN6XFs3gjiKhOavgzB/s640/IMG_7928.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veg plots at the Mirador garden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YZfl0Po6xkXG1akmdrEIRsstwCYPi0CIxdowCVPPO4OXm1riwDiwsCa4Q4Sf056jzPCDh75TmKiDAUbTGflw8cuq5Qj0keoK9iC5jkuIxfZskOaeXY95tcWcLCxh85H0_rAPK6UFpUO4/s1600/IMG_8158+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YZfl0Po6xkXG1akmdrEIRsstwCYPi0CIxdowCVPPO4OXm1riwDiwsCa4Q4Sf056jzPCDh75TmKiDAUbTGflw8cuq5Qj0keoK9iC5jkuIxfZskOaeXY95tcWcLCxh85H0_rAPK6UFpUO4/s640/IMG_8158+%25281%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicho in the garden of Lucinda Hutson</td></tr>
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Austin has so many more trees than I expected, even in areas of new construction. I suspect the need for shade is so great that they work around existing trees instead of leveling everything like they do in Portland. As we're both trying to keep our cities weird, it was hard not to compare the two.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq50csMDQgRpsw2oGun-ZgxMRoZazTRmwTEHAuIerb_zNEObXcpgtcb3KH7x-BwC5Eqbah1050Ng2Tj6iEjTWFyvur4EgXzJMpW-bQskXIOQZxnwThaMtTScKZU9fLIcTalb8nMvEV2XAc/s1600/IMG_5869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq50csMDQgRpsw2oGun-ZgxMRoZazTRmwTEHAuIerb_zNEObXcpgtcb3KH7x-BwC5Eqbah1050Ng2Tj6iEjTWFyvur4EgXzJMpW-bQskXIOQZxnwThaMtTScKZU9fLIcTalb8nMvEV2XAc/s640/IMG_5869.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Construction in my Portland neighborhood. They removed six old redwoods to build these.</td></tr>
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When they say "everything is bigger in Texas" they are referring to their agaves, their margaritas, and their highway on-ramps, which are terrifyingly tall. Every time we drove over one, seemingly 1000 feet in the air, I felt like a country bumpkin. They must have gotten a huge amount of infrastructure money because all of the freeways and highways are seemingly under construction, all at once.<br />
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I found myself in love all over again with salvias of the <i>greggii </i>and <i>microphylla </i>variety. Gardeners tuck them in everywhere all over Austin and they seem to look great, no matter the color.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNlMdbvxzQQkjAptFN0f4Y1HhuD1ijtjlS_qmH4d1y0KbYLs9jeWVe8BZXhNV7QB4RR6aPWfht053rdfuyK4kkq9gBQMlAB9CBudO5CoiFQDTB20wmQQUnwrQ2ps2LN7milIM3PXVrUmi/s1600/IMG_8173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNlMdbvxzQQkjAptFN0f4Y1HhuD1ijtjlS_qmH4d1y0KbYLs9jeWVe8BZXhNV7QB4RR6aPWfht053rdfuyK4kkq9gBQMlAB9CBudO5CoiFQDTB20wmQQUnwrQ2ps2LN7milIM3PXVrUmi/s640/IMG_8173.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I also fell in love with <i>Aspidistra elatior</i>, which falls under the "useful but unexciting plant that comes with your yard when you buy a house in Austin" category. I have plenty of friends that grow this plant but it took me flying to Texas to notice it. I've said it before: everything is more magical when you go through life not really paying attention. Surprises are everywhere!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgId40bLxzg7w_rS1EuCI0rNAU5DeMTe5jGpIKdft1W-aiSMl6xkgonuXcY-f0XP2MsVbAmqJMil-iepoEuEfjTnV4d5YYK097a8UVcM2xjlkxTa5w54AeCAcguR0MKRfjMOMYX7Y6C3pgP/s1600/IMG_7979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgId40bLxzg7w_rS1EuCI0rNAU5DeMTe5jGpIKdft1W-aiSMl6xkgonuXcY-f0XP2MsVbAmqJMil-iepoEuEfjTnV4d5YYK097a8UVcM2xjlkxTa5w54AeCAcguR0MKRfjMOMYX7Y6C3pgP/s640/IMG_7979.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I was also impressed by the lack of litter in Texas. That "Don't Mess with Texas" slogan is working. Washington employs "Litter and It Will Hurt" which is somehow more menacing and yet less effective. Oregon doesn't have a slogan (that I know of), it just sits and passively sighs and glares while you litter, wishing you wouldn't. It would say something but we're polite and we don't do that sort of thing.<br />
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Now that I have a dog I am even more aware of how filthy Portland's close-in neighborhoods are. Going on walks is such an adventure now. What will I pull out of Bee's mouth this time? A Q-tip? A cigarette butt? A rotting pineapple? ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6hncFIpd2WY0BMk3v1yTNeHzI2de0eP9hHAlNM2BIXRZKMMZ9RBOxfk1JsMpOboHEyV-v2QTPrU55nQCQNv_JK7Ca0n_MEtaEOtcN7Q718FqFaHCS39OLBz5wbFWFnM0wQkMnh5Kjzuu/s1600/IMG_5902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6hncFIpd2WY0BMk3v1yTNeHzI2de0eP9hHAlNM2BIXRZKMMZ9RBOxfk1JsMpOboHEyV-v2QTPrU55nQCQNv_JK7Ca0n_MEtaEOtcN7Q718FqFaHCS39OLBz5wbFWFnM0wQkMnh5Kjzuu/s640/IMG_5902.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I eat anything</td></tr>
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I got to see gardens that I've loved online for years, including Jenny Stocker's (of <a href="http://wwwrockrose.blogspot.com/">Rockrose</a> fame), which was so genuinely thrilling I considered taking a xanax that morning so I wouldn't embarrass myself. Her garden was a revelation for me when I started gardening and it was even better in person.<br />
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I also got to see <a href="http://www.penick.net/digging/">Pam Penick's</a> garden, which was so fucking delightful and beautiful I want to live in her pump house.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSioAV_IZ0i9-MlzEScHlG27vD10qNoNbYj41ZwNmSM7TfbRllnlg6eVyKXXHFTHcDqJu0gVeabCLiV6adfwLNyt3WRvJZ8Aq2BGZny7lJ-fUgmSZmPjfOVSTUrb0OJzvuFEubPvRdHS84/s1600/IMG_8012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSioAV_IZ0i9-MlzEScHlG27vD10qNoNbYj41ZwNmSM7TfbRllnlg6eVyKXXHFTHcDqJu0gVeabCLiV6adfwLNyt3WRvJZ8Aq2BGZny7lJ-fUgmSZmPjfOVSTUrb0OJzvuFEubPvRdHS84/s640/IMG_8012.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pam can create vignettes like no one else.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Mostly I realized how much I like gardens that really go for it. I spend a lot of mental bandwidth worrying that people are judging my garden choices behind my back. I police my style because I don't want to make mistakes. I'm not a designer and I don't make a living in the horticulture industry. I'm a librarian, for Pete's sake, I'm expected to be boring and unstylish. If someone doesn't like my mismatched pots they can drink a Mexican martini in the garden of someone more talented.<br />
<br />
Because I experienced my first Mexican martini and I am HERE FOR IT.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPlBUiqFReXoKps3nrBJWkiOrJZK4xbGI8Zi4PmhzH_yNXe3Uffr4Edy95UQKEGlDQMGSzRMmtSXMJPMxWklSDzIf0d3WqTCeL5N5t5hDaXOHwT7TjsXSRq5jCaw4Al4buh-Nw3fILAfh/s1600/IMG_8412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPlBUiqFReXoKps3nrBJWkiOrJZK4xbGI8Zi4PmhzH_yNXe3Uffr4Edy95UQKEGlDQMGSzRMmtSXMJPMxWklSDzIf0d3WqTCeL5N5t5hDaXOHwT7TjsXSRq5jCaw4Al4buh-Nw3fILAfh/s640/IMG_8412.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(It's just a double margarita with an olive, served in a martini glass and a shaker on the side "because it's classy.")</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Life is short, why not make your margarita twice the size and embrace your inner mermaid? More is more.<br />
<br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-1598152251139911512018-04-15T07:00:00.000-07:002018-04-15T07:00:27.401-07:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day April 2018It's one of my favorite months of the year! In spite of a pretty mild winter, we've had a pretty cold spring and everything is just a little behind schedule for me.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYITkChM2uf7RgbgpGo_gBIj_o4mkgER_0JAV2wY5PCxHdYKBUdc-Ok3Hdz898UnrdJ1ML6OVIaCS-Q8NnttlzX4gUcLFEyDuWXbOWJY_qF0TnxAQEvdlLeLJBkwq8CDbP3geVaCQ2VI8A/s1600/IMG_7025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYITkChM2uf7RgbgpGo_gBIj_o4mkgER_0JAV2wY5PCxHdYKBUdc-Ok3Hdz898UnrdJ1ML6OVIaCS-Q8NnttlzX4gUcLFEyDuWXbOWJY_qF0TnxAQEvdlLeLJBkwq8CDbP3geVaCQ2VI8A/s400/IMG_7025.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tulipa 'Flair'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjBgXVclhq8ScQRI1YaMllHKm1O0hv8N5UOvTfvSlWYcobhnxnBZqtXGmyZRLuSUKDK_Nidhr0D5ZdpykSYjjE59XCnYMMNzr_9Acq9YV3wF6dQAidSSvdYlX0_Pc6LyKE82wxZtuq4e_/s1600/IMG_7027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjBgXVclhq8ScQRI1YaMllHKm1O0hv8N5UOvTfvSlWYcobhnxnBZqtXGmyZRLuSUKDK_Nidhr0D5ZdpykSYjjE59XCnYMMNzr_9Acq9YV3wF6dQAidSSvdYlX0_Pc6LyKE82wxZtuq4e_/s400/IMG_7027.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tulipa 'Black Parrot'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyEAj0RXkGob4UlkGtzsEdLpkHEzKQkCLd6cK1bwD5XAjT-cJuzD3wf98a4opQaZes1CRLM_Zew_RG0PVjy66n8yjr3rAdHTSYDqwzpRe2LnZgacK5wcOuzGXsXyl3HE9Jqzip1ab7kCw/s1600/IMG_7028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyEAj0RXkGob4UlkGtzsEdLpkHEzKQkCLd6cK1bwD5XAjT-cJuzD3wf98a4opQaZes1CRLM_Zew_RG0PVjy66n8yjr3rAdHTSYDqwzpRe2LnZgacK5wcOuzGXsXyl3HE9Jqzip1ab7kCw/s400/IMG_7028.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tulipa 'El Nino'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNsr9K4wLKJQs_tKZaMSziWcrFO74V7jJcO2iyiCCDXwCAT0JzVDPgYK-rWVlmCr7vpPHv5-uLAh_vzd3qZ6ivbt4lwxkI9NaJbi-kUB16QTHUxdkwA9W2KYQJ__R-tTQGU-5Da_cul83/s1600/IMG_7032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNsr9K4wLKJQs_tKZaMSziWcrFO74V7jJcO2iyiCCDXwCAT0JzVDPgYK-rWVlmCr7vpPHv5-uLAh_vzd3qZ6ivbt4lwxkI9NaJbi-kUB16QTHUxdkwA9W2KYQJ__R-tTQGU-5Da_cul83/s400/IMG_7032.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Camassia leichtlinii 'Blue Danube'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7xseqgrecAzIIErpaV_PX96ezhScQ6gogypEIxjZUO86YhgL196TL5IZOEmWG4Jqaerwkuk81cugqIzr5WfiGraw2qTW2y_VJEaEMDm8q0rVVBOqftc5vwNdCPXasfWTzGi1P9o0Jva3/s1600/IMG_7034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7xseqgrecAzIIErpaV_PX96ezhScQ6gogypEIxjZUO86YhgL196TL5IZOEmWG4Jqaerwkuk81cugqIzr5WfiGraw2qTW2y_VJEaEMDm8q0rVVBOqftc5vwNdCPXasfWTzGi1P9o0Jva3/s400/IMG_7034.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Epimedium grandiflorum 'Red Queen'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO6oupvnsKd2qUMyshQmzu3Vi6esJdlHzndwsjeE534w2K4Hk8_bupeh-to27j-MWtT9uHjeYLviEahnEPJYXbdj249KYey9Y2vcofSflog72HFc0u6JwTqTdWqZjg2rfnHQtmMEjWMUl/s1600/IMG_7037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO6oupvnsKd2qUMyshQmzu3Vi6esJdlHzndwsjeE534w2K4Hk8_bupeh-to27j-MWtT9uHjeYLviEahnEPJYXbdj249KYey9Y2vcofSflog72HFc0u6JwTqTdWqZjg2rfnHQtmMEjWMUl/s400/IMG_7037.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Geranium macrorrhizum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMtegFcSco03NA-597MAOhnAATNd-k0v1g563shMLg1CFLFIYBorA4MH4SkVqEpyGySSC_ljW17TYbmhrkqZYuOeZLPx6QVmIaKpvNMXGt7FXSdVhDeoUPxpSq34eEGAwul8HI7mEBwvz/s1600/IMG_7040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMtegFcSco03NA-597MAOhnAATNd-k0v1g563shMLg1CFLFIYBorA4MH4SkVqEpyGySSC_ljW17TYbmhrkqZYuOeZLPx6QVmIaKpvNMXGt7FXSdVhDeoUPxpSq34eEGAwul8HI7mEBwvz/s400/IMG_7040.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Epimedium 'Red Sea'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSHTn-LCMG5ehNgWyaanBqGn1y2jnc3NU_qhtARlVU5cT5hB02ku-D_jrl4k9KUkihc7LfY60SxadA5AuXlQpSfDnYs7eJmN_I5CfOa5jXk9Zywn8UXXwPCL6JjgcY0L-WHh8oMO9S8W2/s1600/IMG_7047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSHTn-LCMG5ehNgWyaanBqGn1y2jnc3NU_qhtARlVU5cT5hB02ku-D_jrl4k9KUkihc7LfY60SxadA5AuXlQpSfDnYs7eJmN_I5CfOa5jXk9Zywn8UXXwPCL6JjgcY0L-WHh8oMO9S8W2/s400/IMG_7047.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mahonia nervosa</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPD53ZIZJoR2qPXcOdcHjazD4EnfFKAPlaAQQSqingz9Q5q0Kqr4nQnafOmQmd1VAgKizMqQn428SgZJ5SCEHu5cUlDz15afCkgfKyYtY0A66BUcg4ID-AMFDRLREdHeZHSDR4ZsA-IeRI/s1600/IMG_7050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPD53ZIZJoR2qPXcOdcHjazD4EnfFKAPlaAQQSqingz9Q5q0Kqr4nQnafOmQmd1VAgKizMqQn428SgZJ5SCEHu5cUlDz15afCkgfKyYtY0A66BUcg4ID-AMFDRLREdHeZHSDR4ZsA-IeRI/s400/IMG_7050.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Loropetalum chinense 'Sizzling Pink'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTFq9vHwMMk0ZXszOcTll4LPZdUSN6V4jDy-3KZukZLHz-HlNs3ERJyno3mYDlrcDdyEdwTUDzOhJ_MHMoh-rAGIZ8g07RBCjABkknxxbXDgdVYQZjv0wvihBXWyZG31fBpYaM0bc-8Ti/s1600/IMG_7052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTFq9vHwMMk0ZXszOcTll4LPZdUSN6V4jDy-3KZukZLHz-HlNs3ERJyno3mYDlrcDdyEdwTUDzOhJ_MHMoh-rAGIZ8g07RBCjABkknxxbXDgdVYQZjv0wvihBXWyZG31fBpYaM0bc-8Ti/s400/IMG_7052.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Freesia alba</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1QHCOZIRaViN-SCtNqgFhl3o7QlHFEdHx-1Ge3J2IziYmCLN2UU-zxGruiz_Q_s8e9q4PrWhh5EDO2ppb53ylwGGCeaKXGUDijnzZOVZQJie5tnk6AFnGc0yZ-rIIOOxtR0ho5vBXoTI/s1600/IMG_7056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1QHCOZIRaViN-SCtNqgFhl3o7QlHFEdHx-1Ge3J2IziYmCLN2UU-zxGruiz_Q_s8e9q4PrWhh5EDO2ppb53ylwGGCeaKXGUDijnzZOVZQJie5tnk6AFnGc0yZ-rIIOOxtR0ho5vBXoTI/s400/IMG_7056.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eriogonum oreganum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcJWBrma0NaldwsbjHxvS1fV8R-WoYODdsJYuQ9TZttwWMaWdiOPhIkz1ZHa-j5lhLCZci8YtnF9xq6XtTCrb0RPAf18g12P50Y_MOOIkBW5EU9gW78mJUFIqdJ8MkDx-qFsut4tcpRIq/s1600/IMG_7059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcJWBrma0NaldwsbjHxvS1fV8R-WoYODdsJYuQ9TZttwWMaWdiOPhIkz1ZHa-j5lhLCZci8YtnF9xq6XtTCrb0RPAf18g12P50Y_MOOIkBW5EU9gW78mJUFIqdJ8MkDx-qFsut4tcpRIq/s400/IMG_7059.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Magnolia laevifolia</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNocoBr2Ofb2glKn8-cHndMon1MTBM_uEggwVWnVddQpooRh1dxIYWfjw9ejWWzkWzHxoCixZV2SDM1Ki1gzVsnME2St1bRXdMcaG8RgEQuPN_KHDJqqSpX0bZoCX4a_C6bqsiEEUpLaG2/s1600/IMG_7062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNocoBr2Ofb2glKn8-cHndMon1MTBM_uEggwVWnVddQpooRh1dxIYWfjw9ejWWzkWzHxoCixZV2SDM1Ki1gzVsnME2St1bRXdMcaG8RgEQuPN_KHDJqqSpX0bZoCX4a_C6bqsiEEUpLaG2/s400/IMG_7062.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum'</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh511B_JXnUDW7p_vLyrIG6CviRzjq_kQ1991idaACz-4dlmEIo1TzdEFWnOVr9h86kaGDQM0MkUbkH_ONvmd3NRUK4OnxNiJS3zNTeppss7Ni9MMrI48-VjMha3rIOE1iWWBit872DGIXu/s1600/IMG_7064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh511B_JXnUDW7p_vLyrIG6CviRzjq_kQ1991idaACz-4dlmEIo1TzdEFWnOVr9h86kaGDQM0MkUbkH_ONvmd3NRUK4OnxNiJS3zNTeppss7Ni9MMrI48-VjMha3rIOE1iWWBit872DGIXu/s400/IMG_7064.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Prosartes hookeri </i>Hooker's Fairy Bells</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsRgnJrrZXnnNop-1XJ-xLw97p_UXq8PYQQpS5FKeLkPUFsDzJ6ZCmwKKhWqmAVyxjYJdJ3oX4M9XMEUu0otaqe0ybudmoqlik_6loxjHnlOlRMJ_jaGFIaBKfccG3Y3JHXF1PZWo-G27/s1600/IMG_7068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsRgnJrrZXnnNop-1XJ-xLw97p_UXq8PYQQpS5FKeLkPUFsDzJ6ZCmwKKhWqmAVyxjYJdJ3oX4M9XMEUu0otaqe0ybudmoqlik_6loxjHnlOlRMJ_jaGFIaBKfccG3Y3JHXF1PZWo-G27/s400/IMG_7068.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Epimedium pinnatum v. 'Colchicum'</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNHt1PZWlrOtgc2SbH-QbzDb-cEdcN0Xe944XpbhGs1R3A_tdcYx3bjW4-C26msp6mx7j1RQRlI2XPmQgJFFRkZNDx8OZr2jLK4YyyfsS_RJFr-KD4DZvAFUfYUxTH9sqKr3rWVbnlZi8/s1600/IMG_7071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNHt1PZWlrOtgc2SbH-QbzDb-cEdcN0Xe944XpbhGs1R3A_tdcYx3bjW4-C26msp6mx7j1RQRlI2XPmQgJFFRkZNDx8OZr2jLK4YyyfsS_RJFr-KD4DZvAFUfYUxTH9sqKr3rWVbnlZi8/s400/IMG_7071.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Oxalis oregana</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZK5wlMfzBAvB6RW7v8gkBaOVVNF3tbaYscsYt9-q22Y21jnw_wEQ_Qr2gRh2JJKvQHsOzAofitvR7lmPdR1eUcFCPLYBR0RoohBE99Et0VQ7fRZg_4Q7NTea11SUZnL9ZXRcZdCnI1yH/s1600/IMG_7072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZK5wlMfzBAvB6RW7v8gkBaOVVNF3tbaYscsYt9-q22Y21jnw_wEQ_Qr2gRh2JJKvQHsOzAofitvR7lmPdR1eUcFCPLYBR0RoohBE99Et0VQ7fRZg_4Q7NTea11SUZnL9ZXRcZdCnI1yH/s400/IMG_7072.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Othonna cheirifolia</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJqyrDIVfPIdGAMv8_zcl61uryTwATis3oavHaqqN4YXYEaz016xodLkyY6jNFOOyvuK_xxvzy5UfUmKTXbvdRI9rBDihiYsgttfy2wJcEIEXf8kuWUbqFzcnSwtuGL6cxASD7iCOfubm/s400/IMG_7076.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Viola glabella</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJqyrDIVfPIdGAMv8_zcl61uryTwATis3oavHaqqN4YXYEaz016xodLkyY6jNFOOyvuK_xxvzy5UfUmKTXbvdRI9rBDihiYsgttfy2wJcEIEXf8kuWUbqFzcnSwtuGL6cxASD7iCOfubm/s1600/IMG_7076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i></i></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkxD5N1RYZ6hpEytOgd2MDZDwhhGSh-Uqyq7HIEgq-1xKaJJeVsq3S-EXx_Ijl9vPuExSehaQHce2fv-_ahu5xzc2UVqCB3bQ-iUsCC-rqIxbyP99OHkalSnoJrwJXctAOdlKLL9ISmy-/s1600/IMG_7075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkxD5N1RYZ6hpEytOgd2MDZDwhhGSh-Uqyq7HIEgq-1xKaJJeVsq3S-EXx_Ijl9vPuExSehaQHce2fv-_ahu5xzc2UVqCB3bQ-iUsCC-rqIxbyP99OHkalSnoJrwJXctAOdlKLL9ISmy-/s400/IMG_7075.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This motherfucker</i></td></tr>
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<br />A happiest of bloom days to you! Thanks, as always, to <a href="https://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2018/03/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-april-2018.html">our host Carol</a>.<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-38327491561313492282018-04-06T07:30:00.000-07:002018-04-06T07:30:41.405-07:00Vines, all the vines!I've been installing trellising material on every surface available so I can garden vertically this year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXP40-6Or_J7fMr6rpetn76wobEK_fijucuXQHHqr2qZPtbx29OZT2LH94xGVVU9KgOid6gWvf4qjUEApbDg18UAYYq5SLsh7ekOVuaTKwU-Vxi15LONq2lSJhUWHs0bnEtqupXVzhXFmg/s1600/trellis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXP40-6Or_J7fMr6rpetn76wobEK_fijucuXQHHqr2qZPtbx29OZT2LH94xGVVU9KgOid6gWvf4qjUEApbDg18UAYYq5SLsh7ekOVuaTKwU-Vxi15LONq2lSJhUWHs0bnEtqupXVzhXFmg/s400/trellis.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr31lWfuaFwzyvB-HGwpkajPtSYn-IL3qhG1EkgQ1M8FQ4mHcBUjc9HohDLirMtAWxRctJSqGtMC8qnw2tyfsBK4dcKd5WECw_pAK4FHO91YVllmM_bBeFOGIIvRxqIP9KUOkFD-ZGFs7X/s1600/trellis2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr31lWfuaFwzyvB-HGwpkajPtSYn-IL3qhG1EkgQ1M8FQ4mHcBUjc9HohDLirMtAWxRctJSqGtMC8qnw2tyfsBK4dcKd5WECw_pAK4FHO91YVllmM_bBeFOGIIvRxqIP9KUOkFD-ZGFs7X/s640/trellis2.jpg" width="480" /></a>L.l</div>
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I actually have a lot of vines planted in my garden, but they all look terrible because they clearly state on the tag, "NEEDS SOMETHING TO CLIMB" and I said, "Is that really important? Eh, they'll evolve or something without support. I'll just let them figure it out."<br />
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This doesn't work. They all lay about on the ground getting eaten by slugs and looking terrible. So I'm supporting my goddamn vines for once. And I'm planting a LOT more of them.<br />
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What I already have:<br />
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<i><a href="https://plantlust.com/plants/6383/akebia-longeracemosa-victors-secret/">Akebia longeracemosa 'Victor's Secret'</a></i><br />
This poor vine has been hacked back twice, once after we removed the franken-fence from the side entrance from the garden, and again when I installed the trellising. The vine had created such a complicated french braid with about a thousand tendrils that I had to cut it way back and try to salvage a couple of strands with buds on them. It's a pretty vigorous vine but not as bad as, say, Clematis armandii.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rFA8wCoMmfehqGMcHTBAw9iy1LD7pLt6vfT5JrOeGLnl4LNnzrOmMu8qA32cJmnl-Y8NfBr41Y9YSTvvULv9F0hxVEY3ZmD0oOWggQGVQR0aGajvASiBtU0VcmrpO9j_SuUeUe7XV2_U/s1600/IMG_1683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rFA8wCoMmfehqGMcHTBAw9iy1LD7pLt6vfT5JrOeGLnl4LNnzrOmMu8qA32cJmnl-Y8NfBr41Y9YSTvvULv9F0hxVEY3ZmD0oOWggQGVQR0aGajvASiBtU0VcmrpO9j_SuUeUe7XV2_U/s640/IMG_1683.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://xeraplants.com/plants/clematis-cirrhosa-wisley-cream/"><i>Clematis cirrhosa 'Wisley Cream'</i></a><br />
This is a super tough evergreen vine that blooms in winter. I think I want to plant another one to scramble up the front of the former franken-fence so I can see it from the kitchen window.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kutXumTAW01QWIL55G64s3MIopCBBOCZdsmFLsJAc4B2oRXWEgw1CS8JMBLV5Q83l9_XRH4ax993V3MBjxZlsCGHlrjLgW30m9peXIzeeHmeB8l0w1lWT102QMMZEyNanyC-WjFQSQQO/s1600/IMG_1684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kutXumTAW01QWIL55G64s3MIopCBBOCZdsmFLsJAc4B2oRXWEgw1CS8JMBLV5Q83l9_XRH4ax993V3MBjxZlsCGHlrjLgW30m9peXIzeeHmeB8l0w1lWT102QMMZEyNanyC-WjFQSQQO/s640/IMG_1684.JPG" width="474" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://plantlust.com/plants/14188/lonicera-sempervirens-major-wheeler/">Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler'</a></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqigMwdFVBRWTynbP2Qj4qcFyD-goVFvWE6RNZI7Vq1x3AJYwy2P5L6SRDfbWsid32lrG3Bg2eE4T_FMlIMpZF1FhDhO_548i5otdNYHGXO3C4JYjRy0RLfoxC2ad3ghE-MeKJTOaC7lS/s1600/DSC00862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqigMwdFVBRWTynbP2Qj4qcFyD-goVFvWE6RNZI7Vq1x3AJYwy2P5L6SRDfbWsid32lrG3Bg2eE4T_FMlIMpZF1FhDhO_548i5otdNYHGXO3C4JYjRy0RLfoxC2ad3ghE-MeKJTOaC7lS/s1600/DSC00862.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://xeraplants.com/plants/trachelospermum-jasminoides/">Trachelospermum jasminoides</a></i><br />
I planted this in 2011 (<a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2011/10/where-do-you-hide-your-trashcans.html">to hide our trashcans</a>) and it only took about four years to completely cover this trellis, maybe less. The flowers smell amazing and when I get my shit together to give it some summer water, it reblooms.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVjDGU1f94WmCCGO8oEqHZMKKgEJjfVBZSitbab_JXdCto6myt6JgACHGXTjTjPV7gMnaFmPU2nM9aU9JFxjaiIERVNr0CFch4lfe9xdEpyzIeBULIr5eVQIsfzaT5PSbUiT8hpnjMkSN/s1600/IMG_9901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1197" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVjDGU1f94WmCCGO8oEqHZMKKgEJjfVBZSitbab_JXdCto6myt6JgACHGXTjTjPV7gMnaFmPU2nM9aU9JFxjaiIERVNr0CFch4lfe9xdEpyzIeBULIr5eVQIsfzaT5PSbUiT8hpnjMkSN/s1600/IMG_9901.JPG" width="474" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://plantlust.com/plants/13939/lonicera-periclymenum-serotina/">Lonicera periclymenum 'Serotina'</a></i><br />
<a href="http://www.rhonestreetgardens.com/">Scott</a> and I were walking through <a href="http://www.cistus.com/">Cistus Nursery</a> when we got hit by the most amazing fragrance. We ran around trying to figure out who it was and I came home with this vine. Have the flowers ever been fragrant at my house? I don't think so. Do I care? No. Look at the flowers! That's good shit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzALSIm9hdHbd36kEXg9IKl-foY6BlHvXJl3dBivBUZMs1QxOi1qdDZ3jYn_PpqojWNHHPNvPyTRDq9gjlpcrTgPD3WS9gMIvcviE7vAdV1rePYh7geZKy0kWFPOi5JgkmNrXYQ63tkVG/s1600/IMG_6459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzALSIm9hdHbd36kEXg9IKl-foY6BlHvXJl3dBivBUZMs1QxOi1qdDZ3jYn_PpqojWNHHPNvPyTRDq9gjlpcrTgPD3WS9gMIvcviE7vAdV1rePYh7geZKy0kWFPOi5JgkmNrXYQ63tkVG/s400/IMG_6459.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://plantlust.com/plants/20278/x-fatshedera-lizei-annemieke/">x Fatshedera lizei 'Annemieke'</a></i><br />
I saw this vine on <a href="http://www.thedangergarden.com/2014/12/a-little-variegation-to-brighten-up.html">Loree's blog</a> and fell in love. She responsibly texted me from Garden Fever and said, "They have it, get down here now, missy." This vine is perfection and grows in complete shade. Thank you, Loree.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmS1_pxtxnBDnk-SqU0zY-mKpEbV5h4CzPBrMnTr01u8zeWzXxJpzdlvlSdTYlmmMzwBTS4mbQqTvwRdBM8Jc40OSjBgcYKwDugc-Yt0SMlwXtBi5mLFBquPtdfmtksFkdgKjjZECNqMN8/s1600/fatshedra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmS1_pxtxnBDnk-SqU0zY-mKpEbV5h4CzPBrMnTr01u8zeWzXxJpzdlvlSdTYlmmMzwBTS4mbQqTvwRdBM8Jc40OSjBgcYKwDugc-Yt0SMlwXtBi5mLFBquPtdfmtksFkdgKjjZECNqMN8/s640/fatshedra.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://www.brokenarrownursery.com/moonlight-japanese-hydrangea-vine.html">Schizophragma hydrangeoides 'Moonlight'</a><span id="goog_1343040142"></span><span id="goog_1343040143"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></i><br />
I bought this vine so many years ago but never gave it anything to climb so it has largely looked like a mangled piece of rope, trailing through a pile of Doug Fir dander. It should look like this.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HXIaGXfButWZ9TbiZFcmw4YAyqN2xXDpz9R2MFhRjZIDnowpM7BcZNj3qQeNsQ-jU_0WRdaqYMrkBTC6YQfnWBmfNGUbdkif087l6HJ_RTzouQeIgjniJROOiPjCUXlwa20NMkXARpDy/s1600/moonlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HXIaGXfButWZ9TbiZFcmw4YAyqN2xXDpz9R2MFhRjZIDnowpM7BcZNj3qQeNsQ-jU_0WRdaqYMrkBTC6YQfnWBmfNGUbdkif087l6HJ_RTzouQeIgjniJROOiPjCUXlwa20NMkXARpDy/s640/moonlight.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo source: Broken Arrow Nursery</td></tr>
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<i><a href="https://plantlust.com/plants/5185/parthenocissus-quinquefolia/">Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Troki'</a></i><br />
"Haven't I seen that growing on a freeway embankment?" you might be thinking to yourself. Yes, you have. I love it anyway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ttcmTHXJSz2XUaAEhfJEdvwSd6eFiEKtGpczoGYSOzE2Ms27fjs_-G3-xG1lXJ4cghYraZFVTxMU-KuSFhVQbQwzucoq_Z3wx7Atbm67oHt_awwIKAfYNe1ypCNNX-Td9A5usFhnm0QQ/s1600/virginia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ttcmTHXJSz2XUaAEhfJEdvwSd6eFiEKtGpczoGYSOzE2Ms27fjs_-G3-xG1lXJ4cghYraZFVTxMU-KuSFhVQbQwzucoq_Z3wx7Atbm67oHt_awwIKAfYNe1ypCNNX-Td9A5usFhnm0QQ/s640/virginia.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://plantlust.com/plants/18706/clematis-jackmanii/">Clematis jackmanii</a></i><br />
Another one I haven't given a trellis to. I also don't water it when I should. I'm going to be better this year, I swear.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoU1FCa3I0UG5__M_RX9au7s9W-UFgJOuN1oFiBLw7Ux9THZoXWIT_bEy0rUqGK0OWDl9JO2BLZxELz9FeQymRFLp6sZyerHX0IE79jPKW5iUXlq8sfSjBspHkQYMDgOu7rA-DqsJEJZs2/s1600/IMG_1226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoU1FCa3I0UG5__M_RX9au7s9W-UFgJOuN1oFiBLw7Ux9THZoXWIT_bEy0rUqGK0OWDl9JO2BLZxELz9FeQymRFLp6sZyerHX0IE79jPKW5iUXlq8sfSjBspHkQYMDgOu7rA-DqsJEJZs2/s1600/IMG_1226.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've bought and killed a LOT of other vines but I won't bore you with that. Things that I have planned for purchase include:<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=2496">Mandevilla laxa, Chilean Jasmine</a></i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fLLsHKv3JKHPoxqjCPTR-b0iMsHsm8cVmXu24jFcNzXaLSv3T8cx5T51p1DZtib_DmRXNife32qKwcjDZ1_Ohgnn4gbFk1pvdFuwdWI7PEKw-ll9Llxlkrax8RbLSz4Tv6WfBxPrChyphenhyphene/s1600/IMG_1685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="850" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fLLsHKv3JKHPoxqjCPTR-b0iMsHsm8cVmXu24jFcNzXaLSv3T8cx5T51p1DZtib_DmRXNife32qKwcjDZ1_Ohgnn4gbFk1pvdFuwdWI7PEKw-ll9Llxlkrax8RbLSz4Tv6WfBxPrChyphenhyphene/s400/IMG_1685.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo source: Annie's Annuals</td></tr>
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<i><a href="https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=2446">Passiflora edulis 'Frederick'</a></i> (I killed this once when I planted it in the wrong place and neglected to water it)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavEQjNZRdR1Hx_JGxUxQR-owHY356rPTVM2yVuUXuCxBSdS3ye8bg2KT4irKPnsS-nL6cjY7r5KhZGJoylaGgUHkSUzmOB10Nm2bN0ULTvGRCXGi3bHL3773sgTxmNETiI4DGN3KDuFcA/s1600/IMG_1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="411" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavEQjNZRdR1Hx_JGxUxQR-owHY356rPTVM2yVuUXuCxBSdS3ye8bg2KT4irKPnsS-nL6cjY7r5KhZGJoylaGgUHkSUzmOB10Nm2bN0ULTvGRCXGi3bHL3773sgTxmNETiI4DGN3KDuFcA/s400/IMG_1686.JPG" width="379" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo source: Annie's Annuals</td></tr>
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<i><a href="https://xeraplants.com/plants/passaflora-x-star-surbiton/">Passiflora x 'Star of Surbiton'</a></i> (I killed this one when I left it unprotected in its nursery pot during a particularly bad winter)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN50edVIo4KmuSgaG67g6GxDAIeQ_dEXZAc6T0iksLCjFvfsTMWPqzU28U5wb6DsU00ztMjV6B34K1MKhEoEuRYsDd_GDF9vywAR-AfXJmylfkSwCRPBLYWA9TdBP8v-Ka9Pcvn5jVzdDo/s1600/IMG_1687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="1600" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN50edVIo4KmuSgaG67g6GxDAIeQ_dEXZAc6T0iksLCjFvfsTMWPqzU28U5wb6DsU00ztMjV6B34K1MKhEoEuRYsDd_GDF9vywAR-AfXJmylfkSwCRPBLYWA9TdBP8v-Ka9Pcvn5jVzdDo/s400/IMG_1687.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo source: Xera Plants</td></tr>
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<i><a href="https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=2982">Passiflora actinia</a></i> (I'm treating this one as an annual)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpEoRZZ4-Ruh4iLdSu-gF4JQCFOPdAgnIuTrdPvBFn5c-DSnxetiIv4z-B6Ay-hT02lzXcmcpSgLSgSeUBCWGZtULLhHlRHGgqOj5Wv6uNC2lCoXKOqAXFXC-9U-zHiG0XpOwMyXxwZmW/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="326" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpEoRZZ4-Ruh4iLdSu-gF4JQCFOPdAgnIuTrdPvBFn5c-DSnxetiIv4z-B6Ay-hT02lzXcmcpSgLSgSeUBCWGZtULLhHlRHGgqOj5Wv6uNC2lCoXKOqAXFXC-9U-zHiG0XpOwMyXxwZmW/s400/IMG_1688.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo source: Annie's Annuals</td></tr>
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Sweet peas (<i><a href="https://plantlust.com/plants/47444/lathyrus-odoratus-april-in-paris/">Lathyrus odoratus</a></i>)! I've never grown them before and I currently have <i>'April in Paris'</i> and <i>'Navy'</i> in the ground.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xvBNI4AB2P8o0XvCrolz4HEHcGRDJpppEn6g21prU_X9a6ygFOMnnSaOM83lGikzHKg-POFCR88pRqTYMI29hE7CFyOgjWwt5bTgH_xs3-82eEdiJ4wLUKucd_kS7oyZkv2lIqIRt4IF/s1600/IMG_1689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xvBNI4AB2P8o0XvCrolz4HEHcGRDJpppEn6g21prU_X9a6ygFOMnnSaOM83lGikzHKg-POFCR88pRqTYMI29hE7CFyOgjWwt5bTgH_xs3-82eEdiJ4wLUKucd_kS7oyZkv2lIqIRt4IF/s400/IMG_1689.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo source: <a href="https://australianseed.com/shop/item/sweet-pea-high-scent-april-in-paris">Australian Seed</a></td></tr>
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<i><a href="https://xeraplants.com/plants/jasminum-officinale-devon-cream/">Jasminum officiale 'Devon Cream'</a></i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMs6sCwdSzqP6lnGs5ZDfhcv1EJnWyoWxnT7P8y3uakm-IJAQMKqs0gEgPnEBV0Mb9topkT2CfDBURA9NkFn7JbOqvm_R2O5goPOvRx466a9eI5qk92riG0bpUHfldoHpM8Ocb_vc1QuXu/s1600/IMG_1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMs6sCwdSzqP6lnGs5ZDfhcv1EJnWyoWxnT7P8y3uakm-IJAQMKqs0gEgPnEBV0Mb9topkT2CfDBURA9NkFn7JbOqvm_R2O5goPOvRx466a9eI5qk92riG0bpUHfldoHpM8Ocb_vc1QuXu/s640/IMG_1690.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo source: Xera Plants</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><a href="http://www.farreachesfarm.com/Holboellia-aff-chapaensis-FMWJ-13171-p/p3010.htm">Holboellia aff. chapaensis</a></i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLhhLuwIa7zRqiMFpwgiG85xrser4oFa-_qdmR-ec2QwACk9MMrXezMQCGNDiUYhlujsVyOoXzezccxrB5RI0vZI-KJystHSOLg4qmTcP4fZZcz0v4rI0V1eycuEa9IfYjz65gKPpqV8i/s1600/IMG_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLhhLuwIa7zRqiMFpwgiG85xrser4oFa-_qdmR-ec2QwACk9MMrXezMQCGNDiUYhlujsVyOoXzezccxrB5RI0vZI-KJystHSOLg4qmTcP4fZZcz0v4rI0V1eycuEa9IfYjz65gKPpqV8i/s400/IMG_1691.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo source: Far Reaches Farm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><a href="https://plantlust.com/plants/20254/hedera-algeriensis-gloire-de-marengo/">Hedera algeriensis "Gloire de Marengo.'</a></i> I took some cuttings from <a href="https://plantlust.com/blog/">Megan</a> and I'm hoping they take root.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGEJR24qzI8b40A19sApdh5cKc8t4-LXySlgTkiZiP8dgyjr0jQCR1EvtNdx7zzbReJZm_Cb6mLYh7jWRp7EJ15PddhNVX0TnQDzshGQzK7-tQ27SMxFkSmB2h7U2B7X5oMlRirIuPjXN/s1600/Hedera-algeriensis-Gloire-de-Marengo-83634-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="615" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGEJR24qzI8b40A19sApdh5cKc8t4-LXySlgTkiZiP8dgyjr0jQCR1EvtNdx7zzbReJZm_Cb6mLYh7jWRp7EJ15PddhNVX0TnQDzshGQzK7-tQ27SMxFkSmB2h7U2B7X5oMlRirIuPjXN/s400/Hedera-algeriensis-Gloire-de-Marengo-83634-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo source: <a href="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/grimpantes/grimpantes-par-variete/lierres/lierre-hedera-algeriensis-gloire-de-marengo.html">Promesse de Fleurs</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.brushwoodnursery.com/products/clematis-the-countess-of-wessex">Clematis 'The Countess of Wessex'</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDn9padKTzrG-U-kq94BK5l7_0T9BWj2waKnkNk9HGd3vWWOcsIM32PnUMwytXHOn0Wccl344bJYdkKR7cvNssy9owrkgnExfe6H0evD3-ojnkv5X864MJ08aDKLlmNWjcbN2DphmMEsw8/s1600/IMG_1692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="339" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDn9padKTzrG-U-kq94BK5l7_0T9BWj2waKnkNk9HGd3vWWOcsIM32PnUMwytXHOn0Wccl344bJYdkKR7cvNssy9owrkgnExfe6H0evD3-ojnkv5X864MJ08aDKLlmNWjcbN2DphmMEsw8/s400/IMG_1692.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo source: Brushwood Nursery</td></tr>
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Do you have any vines you can't be without? I've got trellises for days and my ears are open.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-91650905908503549932018-03-30T08:00:00.000-07:002018-03-30T08:00:22.484-07:00Life updates and plansSo 2017 was a pretty crappy year, huh?<br />
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Despite the constant feeling of doom we had some good things happen. We adopted a puppy from the <a href="https://www.oregonhumane.org/">Oregon Humane Society</a>. He name is Bee (Beezus Marie when she's bad) and she's pretty much the best dog. We adopted her during a heatwave where temperatures reached 107 and our backyard was being hardscaped. It was chaos. You haven't lived until you've scraped puppy poop off your kitchen mat in 107 degrees while some construction guy tries not to stare at you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YLZxwN3yotenhJvL387oQVT9gzjI5g0xvBPpEQ6Qq3TbqrcvJVno4G-zMsIbQyCdJGxtEBbJeKBGNFLeWCb5iBSsBZmSI_cv9IzzeAfSvCrAJjT2cH0RoSFGDRDfNISqv3x1_v0KOpVK/s1600/bee2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YLZxwN3yotenhJvL387oQVT9gzjI5g0xvBPpEQ6Qq3TbqrcvJVno4G-zMsIbQyCdJGxtEBbJeKBGNFLeWCb5iBSsBZmSI_cv9IzzeAfSvCrAJjT2cH0RoSFGDRDfNISqv3x1_v0KOpVK/s400/bee2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our hardscaping is done and I have declared 2018 to be "The Year of No Big Projects, Damn It. Just Enjoy Your Fucking Garden, Heather."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43nzmdssuFvKIAaPormZTjhTgO_DuXVk3_fXKlv9EQu3N6OAtpVytZsTZkBhabmpv06VZQmuRuLeyJCkQoMRNMjoxgstqYr_k6HsMNF-sVW8jMluwQjVu4jG-lrDo8u2SxKDp_8OWGtZt/s1600/hardscaping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43nzmdssuFvKIAaPormZTjhTgO_DuXVk3_fXKlv9EQu3N6OAtpVytZsTZkBhabmpv06VZQmuRuLeyJCkQoMRNMjoxgstqYr_k6HsMNF-sVW8jMluwQjVu4jG-lrDo8u2SxKDp_8OWGtZt/s400/hardscaping.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We replaced the franken-fence at the entrance to the backyard with a proper fence and a gate that keeps the dog in and random runaway dogs out (I can't tell you how many dogs have appeared in our backyard, meaning I spent the day trying to find their owner instead of gardening).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHBumqUtBBYS6K7ME18_3VuATBsTH2YVAoE0YcAVAhwWsdgnc0rD5UGRxH5y0h01nB-zkSpGhr7WF_hT_jtk2RYSVhrrWokamup4G-wcPgrx6Kq72a8o3-U9qYZvQOCD7ohgsmLb8uo8/s1600/IMG_9221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHBumqUtBBYS6K7ME18_3VuATBsTH2YVAoE0YcAVAhwWsdgnc0rD5UGRxH5y0h01nB-zkSpGhr7WF_hT_jtk2RYSVhrrWokamup4G-wcPgrx6Kq72a8o3-U9qYZvQOCD7ohgsmLb8uo8/s1600/IMG_9221.JPG" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweMleYFFcd0EY3qB6tYWYgwqSB8pXcwDsPFZ1uyqZuAipYfbyo5BTzEsuLayOQOwOY_Sbpw6VO9iRyyiUBbGkfUFVI1Sz5Ggs7paFexu8O2cNTKxIzfR5E_TeEwV00TO3MDo7jeop4TKi/s1600/newfence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweMleYFFcd0EY3qB6tYWYgwqSB8pXcwDsPFZ1uyqZuAipYfbyo5BTzEsuLayOQOwOY_Sbpw6VO9iRyyiUBbGkfUFVI1Sz5Ggs7paFexu8O2cNTKxIzfR5E_TeEwV00TO3MDo7jeop4TKi/s640/newfence.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
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<br />
We hired someone to do it because we are not good at building fences. The gates never close right and they're always a little crooked. This stupid little run of fence makes me SO happy every time I see it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN29kvvFvWxsqks_ri9KX59HCvQ6fwJ68Ou3TrHQGeR3zaoxQWBVIOVYK7Gnwo6OgKvcsHWTqbfmPwTcjLw3hahseLoCWHsN4vaItUjVhn29Jhypj6qrxuY3mI_peLklP4h3gETeK0T-z5/s1600/frankenfence_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN29kvvFvWxsqks_ri9KX59HCvQ6fwJ68Ou3TrHQGeR3zaoxQWBVIOVYK7Gnwo6OgKvcsHWTqbfmPwTcjLw3hahseLoCWHsN4vaItUjVhn29Jhypj6qrxuY3mI_peLklP4h3gETeK0T-z5/s400/frankenfence_back.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GJAzS0jgedjMOnpz5av9CgVwCyS3B0qT76r_aZ8BiVW9JhZksiWX8XBYA3V-r13pj_ybYWzFZfVCXxUH65A1RtlvsVI-NKNwiiozg6X12dzBTsZBFEOSe4EM0s0r9zFyRJD1sYXJPHUS/s1600/newfence_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GJAzS0jgedjMOnpz5av9CgVwCyS3B0qT76r_aZ8BiVW9JhZksiWX8XBYA3V-r13pj_ybYWzFZfVCXxUH65A1RtlvsVI-NKNwiiozg6X12dzBTsZBFEOSe4EM0s0r9zFyRJD1sYXJPHUS/s640/newfence_back.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm also planting more flowers because more flowers are more better. I am not optimistic but I am planting flowers as a way of staying sane.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-ZhzkaKVC9o_vAhFm05KwBHqsY6b7jCmy0XBdPRGS_4VN-oSL9aRnTCKmTRJS6RsU77PYsqqXuJcabhHO4lo-k277E3N_9C6U2QNvEEca3qZwAvc5g97PurkiVBzqNEmRsTfUmXtk5gZ/s1600/2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="419" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-ZhzkaKVC9o_vAhFm05KwBHqsY6b7jCmy0XBdPRGS_4VN-oSL9aRnTCKmTRJS6RsU77PYsqqXuJcabhHO4lo-k277E3N_9C6U2QNvEEca3qZwAvc5g97PurkiVBzqNEmRsTfUmXtk5gZ/s400/2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I lifted this from Facebook, the artist is <a href="http://www.abc.es/fe-de-ratas/">JM Nieto</a></td></tr>
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<br />I've also been trying to simplify the front garden. I'd like the luxury of having a bad year or two without having to worry about maintaining the public area of our house. As a result I think we're becoming "the agave house" but I don't care because I like my agaves and I have pups coming out my ears. I'm buying more of the plants I already have in an attempt at cohesion. I look forward to spending a lot of money to reduce my front garden to three plants, then changing my mind in a few years.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfEu9UHzQ_QdYVumR-ACqEw4GnAuVuIOScbjaFdcvJIJXhTFY-jua-3Zk6InxpfQcW7MPyctlKri7c9yENhc-rm9mxAIoZTLln5Ea5-kKV57sUjL9gUVljR26pnYiBlhbeDM5jHPrLvNw/s1600/front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1532" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfEu9UHzQ_QdYVumR-ACqEw4GnAuVuIOScbjaFdcvJIJXhTFY-jua-3Zk6InxpfQcW7MPyctlKri7c9yENhc-rm9mxAIoZTLln5Ea5-kKV57sUjL9gUVljR26pnYiBlhbeDM5jHPrLvNw/s400/front.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm also trying to figure out how I want to use this blog going forward. I'm considering turning off commenting so this exists as more of a garden diary. It's not that I don't want to hear from people, it's that it stresses me out to feel like I need to reciprocate and comment on the blogs I read. There's only so many times you can comment, "Gosh, that's pretty" before you start to sound and feel like an idiot robot.<br />
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Bee is going to keep widening the pathway she's put right here. Dogs are funny.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw-2F6sjHa7dRjGpKal7ALKsPvV2goUL0HgeSPY0MzTZ68Ppq3_t3jn9gD_wA5c9X0KhszUObIsiZXNxbdJWQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-88319342745615250032018-03-15T09:30:00.000-07:002018-03-15T09:30:17.839-07:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day March 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My spring fever is terrible this year, which is a pretty great problem to have. We're all euphorbias and manzanitas and hellebores and crocuses around here.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MZgwp5SEcuV8GcmXqLmvBOZ_uE1rsCRDu-l43M8PQ5Sbkn9mAJMcmNi5fbVlZFbacOdZmfRbNu6n8HZg6qbSs1FYZxIPSQiiNwXeYBy9JwD3anBo_8tGgB2YCQWl9GKR6_lnsEUM0AI-/s1600/IMG_6039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MZgwp5SEcuV8GcmXqLmvBOZ_uE1rsCRDu-l43M8PQ5Sbkn9mAJMcmNi5fbVlZFbacOdZmfRbNu6n8HZg6qbSs1FYZxIPSQiiNwXeYBy9JwD3anBo_8tGgB2YCQWl9GKR6_lnsEUM0AI-/s640/IMG_6039.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very first <i>Tulipa humilis 'Odalisque'</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_3Bnm0OBbpmXOciwVZpiCNaNWMaznv117NZpWZQElHAbPoPw9Pnp6m1tz68Uhdgp3GgSV8j1dCscAG08W99uTV2-izMWxm2iC7P5uKmIw0cak61vVmdyTOSaQF72gLAnfpA5Z6SUZ6ZC/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="1314" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_3Bnm0OBbpmXOciwVZpiCNaNWMaznv117NZpWZQElHAbPoPw9Pnp6m1tz68Uhdgp3GgSV8j1dCscAG08W99uTV2-izMWxm2iC7P5uKmIw0cak61vVmdyTOSaQF72gLAnfpA5Z6SUZ6ZC/s400/%255BUNSET%255D" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Euphorbia 'Blackbird'<br /></i></td></tr>
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEn6pyL3OUXZagJq7PpGez33P8XGoRORNgBG99jwUBb52mliYvD9brd9M968GvqmivCAkB0X9IMkA71Pch4m48UjMCl4V65U3S_ljvrAocsokBJxtwE8siORDpie7rW7R4tTp30bZ86Fn/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEn6pyL3OUXZagJq7PpGez33P8XGoRORNgBG99jwUBb52mliYvD9brd9M968GvqmivCAkB0X9IMkA71Pch4m48UjMCl4V65U3S_ljvrAocsokBJxtwE8siORDpie7rW7R4tTp30bZ86Fn/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Euphorbia myrsinites</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZar33MkNhqgf86pYlNpJFmav7Yk95-2oLCwZqp2p513s8TNiX55YPotWeaH3-U8bgnIH8C55QEPaBwD-dUaQ0kweHsR3XZ-Ha0HqvbJ88wzY8MxOZ-6Z7RHfrP4keIPJk7afHDfpRIrt/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZar33MkNhqgf86pYlNpJFmav7Yk95-2oLCwZqp2p513s8TNiX55YPotWeaH3-U8bgnIH8C55QEPaBwD-dUaQ0kweHsR3XZ-Ha0HqvbJ88wzY8MxOZ-6Z7RHfrP4keIPJk7afHDfpRIrt/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Euphorbia rigida</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Jhf_C0TU9WaiD-3-sqRCrzqNAxfQ1mbkIg2DCmTtoB8nsSR1wQrT19JAMidVYS3oAeLVEYVsup8KIoA0itlFOeb94KfYq-EcN3WedCDxFw6YP_oVmVNwiXI5vjb9k_OlpInlwHzhwRWN/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Jhf_C0TU9WaiD-3-sqRCrzqNAxfQ1mbkIg2DCmTtoB8nsSR1wQrT19JAMidVYS3oAeLVEYVsup8KIoA0itlFOeb94KfYq-EcN3WedCDxFw6YP_oVmVNwiXI5vjb9k_OlpInlwHzhwRWN/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Othonna cheirifolia</i></td></tr>
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQQjJXU_zcaVNzXXG5GEZwbF68oHZpkkOuols7Ekd3BeGre1kz7oAuN4qa_mf8E3Psc-oNON6nCplx4WQ2Gdm5MwP3jFZLQGqfCSEDxLUTXUaJ9HAhHPmK-lWaxGfEXPnpkbRXJY2rfHn/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1297" data-original-width="1297" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQQjJXU_zcaVNzXXG5GEZwbF68oHZpkkOuols7Ekd3BeGre1kz7oAuN4qa_mf8E3Psc-oNON6nCplx4WQ2Gdm5MwP3jFZLQGqfCSEDxLUTXUaJ9HAhHPmK-lWaxGfEXPnpkbRXJY2rfHn/s400/%255BUNSET%255D" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Arctostaphylos canescans var. sonomensis</i></td></tr>
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYoKRlGfvjpmlhhifqNqEaghTYYv3KpeA7qe6gFkqe5p32WLL0urlXpDIFsVJEaV_jTzbToQ1qJoQGwDTlxOTX_O-QOtjAJT2wDTfjt01CJM5DNyMFqEJ_AKXCoxEdvCjNF0qe0Ll1G46/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYoKRlGfvjpmlhhifqNqEaghTYYv3KpeA7qe6gFkqe5p32WLL0urlXpDIFsVJEaV_jTzbToQ1qJoQGwDTlxOTX_O-QOtjAJT2wDTfjt01CJM5DNyMFqEJ_AKXCoxEdvCjNF0qe0Ll1G46/s400/%255BUNSET%255D" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Arctostaphylos 'Greensphere'</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7Ug8fLZytexHfE0m22sOKk6koKdnzwWObXVyVtqg4fqUFUOYiguYxBTJFV6Dj9TwOIQaxCSlzfR3kAjO-ebJauYtEK_fR_xTcfDRWUoW6B6RH00rNkRnwpF7Sim94ffqhmN20kTh1TqB/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7Ug8fLZytexHfE0m22sOKk6koKdnzwWObXVyVtqg4fqUFUOYiguYxBTJFV6Dj9TwOIQaxCSlzfR3kAjO-ebJauYtEK_fR_xTcfDRWUoW6B6RH00rNkRnwpF7Sim94ffqhmN20kTh1TqB/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Arctostaphylos 'John Dourley'</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXF8M2AvPOPZFJKQ_8zK3d-wXGAE6aa9hBbMenzKOoszCYfABYq1qzWsLZK-bbdrbYTi-HRbsKW68QjGFxyHAVXJtS4kHLsOPgMHBoqsHSQjDqFilakGE2fkGFHI_V_Wv0xNC9sz_8ijWM/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXF8M2AvPOPZFJKQ_8zK3d-wXGAE6aa9hBbMenzKOoszCYfABYq1qzWsLZK-bbdrbYTi-HRbsKW68QjGFxyHAVXJtS4kHLsOPgMHBoqsHSQjDqFilakGE2fkGFHI_V_Wv0xNC9sz_8ijWM/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have so many hellebores going off right now, I think these are <i>'Black Diamond'</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvBQYxrV1PeSMFJT1x9pB2ad-MfqlMt4vM9pq3YKrSKDg4evP_hbGaBNUfX1t_ti1GAB1uwUQBrhyh1CrBAiWaj8qSQXImla4uB73QIAKO5TKTRtKLve9etOPviSccY-GHX3VnBX_GpdQ/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvBQYxrV1PeSMFJT1x9pB2ad-MfqlMt4vM9pq3YKrSKDg4evP_hbGaBNUfX1t_ti1GAB1uwUQBrhyh1CrBAiWaj8qSQXImla4uB73QIAKO5TKTRtKLve9etOPviSccY-GHX3VnBX_GpdQ/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Crocus chrysanthus 'Ladykiller'</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Xp6jxquM0aCgfM4WdPNBYWMLJkA7QnAht2cRdyUFA-s3ZE03NAs8hZskU64ssqwjnuN6If9OJ_vKWQGxuvHI8JnbCLOJOk88N2toWyqLn_DMvtJy1i_hkOhq0ABVsm1ZeDtiOps5K332/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Xp6jxquM0aCgfM4WdPNBYWMLJkA7QnAht2cRdyUFA-s3ZE03NAs8hZskU64ssqwjnuN6If9OJ_vKWQGxuvHI8JnbCLOJOk88N2toWyqLn_DMvtJy1i_hkOhq0ABVsm1ZeDtiOps5K332/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Loropetalum chinense 'Sizzling Pink'</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0630gAjGj94ap3AFNhcX_2PNl63OUWi4LDpk58_3MI_LWNtP9oeGyczZW6e36tPF58viOUD_NpzYHaN3HpcBRCakxFgz-lGtJ9BotbcpY2Er23n3OUKxuhJcG8oxVjcGlpBwa50b9EEX/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0630gAjGj94ap3AFNhcX_2PNl63OUWi4LDpk58_3MI_LWNtP9oeGyczZW6e36tPF58viOUD_NpzYHaN3HpcBRCakxFgz-lGtJ9BotbcpY2Er23n3OUKxuhJcG8oxVjcGlpBwa50b9EEX/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Epimedium 'Black Sea'</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T6ib-32XtpknUAdkPkQToHK-b06WVMR_G8c2VrH-N4qhoPo61eTLlx69PH1AfR79qbrLG6HZ6MX1ym973P2W7fJlwIRS-lZKIQ2-AVa9F4pY_JkL505KJ6zoNxN8lZ2DNRVwLiw60xdK/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T6ib-32XtpknUAdkPkQToHK-b06WVMR_G8c2VrH-N4qhoPo61eTLlx69PH1AfR79qbrLG6HZ6MX1ym973P2W7fJlwIRS-lZKIQ2-AVa9F4pY_JkL505KJ6zoNxN8lZ2DNRVwLiw60xdK/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata'</i></td></tr>
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Happy bloom day! Thanks to <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2018/03/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-march-2018.html">our host Carol</a>.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-23016979444459462262017-06-09T18:00:00.000-07:002017-06-09T19:04:53.478-07:00The 13th Annual ANLD Designers Garden Tour, June 17thEach year the Association of Northwest Landscape Designers holds a garden tour, showing off some of the projects their members have completed. The proceeds fund scholarships for aspiring landscape designers attending local community colleges.<br />
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I had the good luck to attend a sneak peek of the seven gardens on this year's tour. The gardens were impressive, especially considering some of the site challenges they had to address. The theme of this year's tour seemed to be underground streams. Many of the homes are situated on properties with underground water issues.<br />
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<b>#1 Terri's Garden</b><br />
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A combination of underground drains and wetland plantings combine to deal with the large amount of water flowing under this property. The garden is low-maintenance and designed to allow the owner to age in place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKLl-GwPXraVXDK4Eb9kzRF64Ay4LtPmOOg8efucfAaCdgdFZ7A7XinCSZo0QqY9ikJtgcqRVp9SinClouEwTGhzUKFhoDA4EYxvvtK5VtUUOsAaq2wQdEEkvjsYWwttYxjfTpbsT51RV/s1600/DSC06252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKLl-GwPXraVXDK4Eb9kzRF64Ay4LtPmOOg8efucfAaCdgdFZ7A7XinCSZo0QqY9ikJtgcqRVp9SinClouEwTGhzUKFhoDA4EYxvvtK5VtUUOsAaq2wQdEEkvjsYWwttYxjfTpbsT51RV/s400/DSC06252.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>#2 Letson-Gardner Garden</b><br />
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This steep yard was transformed into a spectacular terraced garden, perfect for entertaining or solo contemplation.<br />
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<b>#3 Mill Pond Garden</b></div>
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I am still marveling over this transformed property. With a 110' vertical rise in the back, the property was terraced with 380 tons of rockwork. This garden is mind-boggling.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLT6sA0xWZAD4PeXCEe1ElAiGzWrX1Y1TX-DykVSvLGOcL2uto970bKeyVv8l1-BYPcuCEAE09NrGywWa0LVUa6GWHxmBZvNbV7nFM0rHU0zsVXa-GMU75EFh1TolrkKNz99YFWFkH7UnU/s1600/DSC06306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLT6sA0xWZAD4PeXCEe1ElAiGzWrX1Y1TX-DykVSvLGOcL2uto970bKeyVv8l1-BYPcuCEAE09NrGywWa0LVUa6GWHxmBZvNbV7nFM0rHU0zsVXa-GMU75EFh1TolrkKNz99YFWFkH7UnU/s640/DSC06306.JPG" width="474" /></a></div>
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<b>#4 Myers Garden</b></div>
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This asian-inspired garden employed a number of creative solutions to manage the large amount of underground water beneath the property. It's peaceful and lovely and you'd never guess that there's an underground stream flowing beneath your feet.</div>
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<b>#5 Andora Gardens</b></div>
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This is the personal garden of Ann Nickerson, an ANLD designer. This is a small but incredibly usable garden, broken into different entertaining and resting areas. </div>
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<b>#6 Peck Garden</b></div>
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This was my favorite garden on the tour. This is the personal garden of Marcia Peck, an ANLD designer. She has installed an interesting assortment of mosaic rockwork and the plant palette was exciting. </div>
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<b>#7 Schmitt Garden</b></div>
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This garden suffered from, you guessed it, poor drainage! You'd never guess it looking at it now. </div>
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The ANLD Designers Garden Tour will be held on Saturday June 17th from 10am to 4pm. Tickets are available <a href="http://www.anld.com/">online</a>. Or leave a message and be entered to win a ticket! I will announce the winner on Thursday June 15th.<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-26535217188815415952017-02-21T13:00:00.000-08:002017-02-21T13:00:10.526-08:00Flooring!In other big project news, after eight years(!) in the house, we finally got our wood floors refinished. It took this long because I couldn't afford it for years, then once we <i>could</i> I knew we'd have to move out of the house to have it done. We also had a huge question mark about the sloping subfloor under the carpet.<br />
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We had no idea if fixing a creaky franken-floor would cost $500 or $5000. Just to recap, at one point <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2011/03/wherein-boy-should-get-medal-too.html">our dining room was two rooms</a>: a formal dining room (the side with the big window) and a kitchen nook that was 2/3 as deep as it currently is. The kitchen nook was bumped out to meet the front of the house and the wall between knocked down.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plywood removed and subfloor revealed</td></tr>
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They either ran out of money to finish out the oak flooring or got lazy? They put down plywood and slapped some carpet on top. The floor sloped and squeaked. When I moved in there was evidence of a previous roof leak (this wall is drywall when every other wall in the house is lathe and plaster and there was clearly damage to the ceiling), and the mouldings were all hiding in the garage.<br />
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Anyhoo, we finally bit the bullet and hired <a href="http://www.unionfloorco.com/">Union Floor Co</a>. In preparation I started cutting the carpet away from the wall so it could be easily rolled up the morning that work started. In the course of doing this I discovered past water damage and dried, inactivated mold. Yay! We are assuming this was from the previous leaking roof because why would you replace the plywood when you've had a leak and you could just put carpet on top?<br />
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There were a couple of reasons that the floor squeaked. For starters, when they were nailing in the plywood THEY MISSED THE JOIST. So the plywood was sitting atop the joists in places. There was a particularly bad squeak that Greg would stand on and rock back and forth, just to drive me crazy, and I would think, "Oh <i>that's</i> why people get divorced after a year."<br />
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It turns out that that squeak was caused by a nail that had been shot into our metal air duct. Every time we stepped in that spot the nail would scratch across the duct. Company that built this floor, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO REVIEW YOU ON ANGIE'S LIST.<br />
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Other issues included the weird hatch in our closet (<a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2010/01/closet-hatch.html">read more about that here</a>):<br />
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We had deep gouges in the bedroom where someone dragged something heavy across the floor.<br />
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Pet stains in the living room:<br />
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Extensive staining, water marks, and paint drips in the dining room:<br />
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They just generally looked terrible:</div>
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The dining room was leveled and patched with white oak flooring, as Siberian oak is no longer available.<br />
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We moved everything into the basement and a POD outside and I decided that we are never ever moving because we have too much stuff.<br />
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We moved out of the house for a week and into an Airbnb a block away. I was able to check in and be incredibly picky about how the floors were looking. The main worker kept saying things like, "The scratches aren't coming out in the bedroom but you lived with them before, so . . . " and then I'd feel like I was having a stroke.<br />
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I had told the owner that we didn't care how much it cost, we wanted all the scratches and stains removed, either by flipping the boards or installing new boards. It was in our contract. We didn't move out of our house to "live with" floors that weren't fixed because it was more effort. I called the owner and asked him to clarify with his employee that we wanted them as perfect as humanly possible.<br />
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And they did it!<br />
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We opted to seal the floors without a stain and they've assured me that the new white oak will patina to match the original Siberian oak. I'm skeptical, but my fingers are crossed. We did a satin finish, which is the least shiny option.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nails in the original flooring are more pronounced</td></tr>
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Other than that, the floors look SO GOOD.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OT6cFs2gDssIAUgEtefS8oGvoJUOHarusCG8ErzYZ6-_vfx3UdF6ad2gj2qtLO499f-eTzDPs7QyoocE9Xy2R3ZgEXCrflZgyKZp1azjV1ooWnpiWNcNw8iYLyDbw07QsVnAZGrLkQ2D/s1600/DSC06162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OT6cFs2gDssIAUgEtefS8oGvoJUOHarusCG8ErzYZ6-_vfx3UdF6ad2gj2qtLO499f-eTzDPs7QyoocE9Xy2R3ZgEXCrflZgyKZp1azjV1ooWnpiWNcNw8iYLyDbw07QsVnAZGrLkQ2D/s400/DSC06162.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Sc4fpbr3MuYDD83CHHNK9mtwVbULUymQM_2GyxWzp8ujv703OkG34r4F1PfqlYxvTsLEbmXxrpUN7hekFIK3CBumhLuEVIWCmJkUC4vDcQZ6Vh3L7B8c0n0TWxfpmRKuKACTto5dtVPY/s1600/DSC06168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Sc4fpbr3MuYDD83CHHNK9mtwVbULUymQM_2GyxWzp8ujv703OkG34r4F1PfqlYxvTsLEbmXxrpUN7hekFIK3CBumhLuEVIWCmJkUC4vDcQZ6Vh3L7B8c0n0TWxfpmRKuKACTto5dtVPY/s400/DSC06168.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Former closet hatch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLQgoidi-DFVNBp3tHBMjmjvL3nlpkkNNCmgVzLl1wRfqr1JPIzyNkkZfJMZYbvAtu8nWkYq8Kstel0S04ACH5S9yDMXDHvBHCIeORvcvoWqQMCHGZkZNd2LcnDTzxs59RwGRAeqd8sTK/s1600/DSC06198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLQgoidi-DFVNBp3tHBMjmjvL3nlpkkNNCmgVzLl1wRfqr1JPIzyNkkZfJMZYbvAtu8nWkYq8Kstel0S04ACH5S9yDMXDHvBHCIeORvcvoWqQMCHGZkZNd2LcnDTzxs59RwGRAeqd8sTK/s640/DSC06198.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Site of former floor gouges</td></tr>
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We're very happy with the results. We're also totally exhausted from cleaning the house and moving back in. There was a fine layer of dust on every surface, requiring a wipedown of all the walls, counters, windows, etc.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5TzAv4bqPDYXmlloinPPvknmV3vCgAGzz0YgxxAkzzWyRX2A5gmKaknNWsRWkqh62M5pG0xE4PgYckQN7QIV5rxTUcPHB_sTDtq0-OxlYYFVt6am0JaCfkB4jBvz6KgzlD95HgJmViZw/s1600/living.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5TzAv4bqPDYXmlloinPPvknmV3vCgAGzz0YgxxAkzzWyRX2A5gmKaknNWsRWkqh62M5pG0xE4PgYckQN7QIV5rxTUcPHB_sTDtq0-OxlYYFVt6am0JaCfkB4jBvz6KgzlD95HgJmViZw/s640/living.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
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I'm going to be camped out here for the next couple of weeks, until my feet stop hurting.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-75353640786194779442017-01-18T07:15:00.000-08:002017-02-21T12:58:52.143-08:00Aloha, comradesWelp, big projects have been afoot at Casa de Hammer. But it turns out that <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2015/12/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-december-2015.html">having a sibling die</a> and then going through one of the most stressful election cycles only to be dropped into an Orwellian hellscape leaves you uninterested in blogging. For me, it left me uninterested in anything but lying on the couch and wondering what the fuck was going on. I opened my garden in June and then declined to touch it again for the rest of the year. I just couldn't summon the energy.<br />
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Greg and I were still trying to figure out what we wanted to do about some sort of hard surface and some sort of shade structure in the backyard when I showed him a picture of <a href="https://gardenriots.com/2015/06/29/the-day-after-our-open-garden-for-the-hpso-study-weekend/">Lance's shade structure</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJVw5JF-rgoPo7hfOT9IyydPz-eig-pPAs7t4RpRkqaJw9kusGBGfDoyEAsmAhBO2Jqlm_ysM-o71fiZTZsuXi-w-SW-YKPkMgNqQ9OLa-mdwZyZVsMpiW2whdL1R6iux3Fkm7k8RKwBS/s1600/gardenriots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJVw5JF-rgoPo7hfOT9IyydPz-eig-pPAs7t4RpRkqaJw9kusGBGfDoyEAsmAhBO2Jqlm_ysM-o71fiZTZsuXi-w-SW-YKPkMgNqQ9OLa-mdwZyZVsMpiW2whdL1R6iux3Fkm7k8RKwBS/s640/gardenriots.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: <a href="https://gardenriots.com/2015/06/29/the-day-after-our-open-garden-for-the-hpso-study-weekend/">Lance at Garden Riots</a></td></tr>
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It was built by <a href="http://www.bamboocraftsman.com/">Bamboo Craftsman</a> and we both really loved it. We wondered <i>what if we just hired them to build us something instead of endlessly wondering what to build and then ultimately fucking it up ourselves?</i> Also, I was stuck on the couch and I am the labor powerhouse in this house, so this was the only way it was going to get done. Whoever said "more money, more problems" was a goddamn liar because being able to hire projects out is fucking GREAT.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-iMTz0iXEDy-3Md0KywIC7-VbrQN22D9IJ4wkTuu5n2t9q03OPaY0bPiEhNCvY7AANn2wMOjPJcZEIr3Jnyv2CznvatyOIhdPz5qmGouzWhE2Kiozg1NpEu0KeWCMfhbTH9D0ubCN9l9/s1600/IMG_1911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-iMTz0iXEDy-3Md0KywIC7-VbrQN22D9IJ4wkTuu5n2t9q03OPaY0bPiEhNCvY7AANn2wMOjPJcZEIr3Jnyv2CznvatyOIhdPz5qmGouzWhE2Kiozg1NpEu0KeWCMfhbTH9D0ubCN9l9/s640/IMG_1911.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scale model</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUHBvDMF94IL9XAErzLYdNoTBe_VYAFonJt8-DJ_4q7IjbcUc5pG-WdWCQjK66bMKsNHaEuZslutMqP7-dz6Amve0qMzNGXbGRcHjSIN0Y147yWIUYt9jyK8Mor3tw4aR72S0gNcryuss/s1600/IMG_1906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUHBvDMF94IL9XAErzLYdNoTBe_VYAFonJt8-DJ_4q7IjbcUc5pG-WdWCQjK66bMKsNHaEuZslutMqP7-dz6Amve0qMzNGXbGRcHjSIN0Y147yWIUYt9jyK8Mor3tw4aR72S0gNcryuss/s640/IMG_1906.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Troy, owner of Bamboo Craftsman and the designer of our pavilion</td></tr>
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As a bonus, I got to dig up all the plants I had <i>just</i> planted after <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2016/06/what-about-that-tree_17.html">having the cedar removed</a>.<br />
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It turns out that doing it yourself is rewarding and thrifty but hiring people who know what they're doing is even better.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A trench was dug for electricity</td></tr>
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We told Troy that we wanted something that felt more like old Hawaii and less like a tiki bar. I also wanted a swing so I could have somewhere to sit and enjoy the view of the garden that I might enjoy tending again someday. He dubbed our project the Island Pavilion but we've been jokingly calling it the fallout shelter because I'm terrified of our current geopolitical situation and I really want to build an underground fallout shelter beneath it.<br />
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Fun fact! I didn't know how to spell "pavilion" correctly before this project.<br />
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All of the materials, aside from the bolts and brackets, were salvage. We're gonna be so smug at dinner parties!<br />
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I know what you're thinking. <i>God, you paid someone to build you a beautiful structure and this is the best photography you can muster? </i>I don't know if you've heard, but <a href="http://www.thedangergarden.com/2017/01/adding-insult-to-injury.html">Portland has been under a foot of snow</a> and I haven't left the house in weeks. Also, I bought a pressure cooker so I'm focusing all of my energy on making different kinds of broth. Believe it or not, this is progress from 2016. I'm still sitting on the couch and wondering what the fuck is going on but now I have broth! That guy at New Seasons told me broth is "life giving." Hippies are weird.<br />
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I don't deserve this beautiful thing.<br />
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Better pictures soon.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-74875921820437500872016-06-17T12:55:00.000-07:002017-02-21T12:57:29.309-08:00What about that tree?<span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Back in April </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161012221413/http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2016/04/a-clean-slate.html" style="background-color: white; color: #7ca0a1; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration: none;">I wrote that we were going to remove the cedar tree</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"> from our backyard. A huge thank you to everyone who gave me input on removing the pieris (it's gone!), as well as suggestions for new plants in this area.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161012221413/https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbgrwvsi4Fm-CJv237m6EufiZYtQY6eoahBkGbcsYsGljM0EVJYw0_EpUjx0ztRUCAU9SLaq5OjCxZ9T7pMnpoN2KAlmNCt4SrXKbyhxLJMnJg9B55CCUUH5uVjl8VPb9P1I0eKnKGUXo/s1600/DSC05202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7ca0a1; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20161012221413im_/https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbgrwvsi4Fm-CJv237m6EufiZYtQY6eoahBkGbcsYsGljM0EVJYw0_EpUjx0ztRUCAU9SLaq5OjCxZ9T7pMnpoN2KAlmNCt4SrXKbyhxLJMnJg9B55CCUUH5uVjl8VPb9P1I0eKnKGUXo/s640/DSC05202.JPG" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;">Before: boxwood on the right, <i>Pieris</i> on the left</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">The tree came down super fast by a company I can't recommend, so I won't mention who they are. The owner hires day laborers, pays them terribly, and they trampled my plants.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Please enjoy this video of the top-most part of the tree being removed. I shot it while lying on the floor of our office. I had no idea how tree removal would work without a crane, so this was fascinating and nerve-wracking to watch.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br />
<center style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="569" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20161012221413if_/https://player.vimeo.com/video/163309110" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="320"></iframe></center>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">The company did a piss poor job of grinding out the stump (I should've used </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161012221413/http://chip-away.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #7ca0a1; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration: none;"><span id="goog_960483246"></span>Chip Away<span id="goog_960483247"></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"> like I have in the past), so we couldn't sink the new fence post halfway between the existing posts, like we wanted. Eventually everything will grow in and we shouldn't notice how stupid this fence looks.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br />
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">After we rebuilt the fence (the extra-tall post is so we can string lights from it), I had to rake up years and years of cedar detritus and all the shavings from the stump grinding. The area was a MESS.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Then I got to cram way too many plants in!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br />
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<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161012221413/https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsU72Ayu3abdX0jt7UppyEsgXvSYxJ2TiMEcovbcYy4tuar7spOqlm1hefiCBn6TVR_3fs5njk4Jg-qahqh1zobUZ3ufg3_9UCZKA6hofF-wAZS7ZmGnWdN9mOgoFQ2YPIEpc1EkoQGEi/s1600/DSC05981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7ca0a1; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20161012221413im_/https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsU72Ayu3abdX0jt7UppyEsgXvSYxJ2TiMEcovbcYy4tuar7spOqlm1hefiCBn6TVR_3fs5njk4Jg-qahqh1zobUZ3ufg3_9UCZKA6hofF-wAZS7ZmGnWdN9mOgoFQ2YPIEpc1EkoQGEi/s640/DSC05981.JPG" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">This is the least exciting photo ever, I know. It's pretty unexciting in real life, too. The structure will eventually come from shrubs that are too small to see, so everything is filled in with a mix of grasses and annuals. If this turns into anything visually pleasing by the end of the summer, I will be surprised.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br />
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<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161012221413/https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlYSEXFqVib12EOWDpJhh9noTp03S4t1ooevNB-X3_NLXw1xXKvPUc1R3G8qP8xDQSBd7XvhqaJ06M3juukon-bAPMH_auXV4f1B7I42LqD3Lqw1sXnr5PfLxZU5E_aJSNl-3P7oKwxzm/s1600/DSC05713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7ca0a1; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20161012221413im_/https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlYSEXFqVib12EOWDpJhh9noTp03S4t1ooevNB-X3_NLXw1xXKvPUc1R3G8qP8xDQSBd7XvhqaJ06M3juukon-bAPMH_auXV4f1B7I42LqD3Lqw1sXnr5PfLxZU5E_aJSNl-3P7oKwxzm/s640/DSC05713.JPG" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">In the meantime, I don't miss the cedar at all. I'm so excited about the new trees and shrubs I have planted. Our next step is to talk to a professional about building a shade structure of some sort and figuring out whether we're going to build a platform deck. We have been absolutely paralyzed by indecision, so it's time to talk to someone with experience. Then we can get down to the sweet business of drinking gin and tonics and relaxing in the backyard.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Ha ha, just kidding. I'm going to stuff more plants into this area. I'll probably take them from the area on the left, where I crammed too many plants last summer. I can't help myself.</span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-3083356551593012582016-06-15T17:00:00.000-07:002016-06-15T17:00:05.771-07:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, June 2016On this bloom day I am going to focus on the most exciting bloom in my garden, the one that I catch passerby snapping photos of on their phones.<br />
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On May 1st I noticed that my <i>Dasylirion texanum</i> was starting to form a bloom spike. I didn't even realize that they bloom!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7BHnjdWUX1HGdiBxWlSQx1wYO8gQpfzwH90VkV923uEQOpBlx4JL_q8VAkJUpVPVcV6IupxQta9nKRmDZRStgbX9llFZkItbhJU0vlPR_PyMhD5CQ7Sub68wto9wGftGP-e34kJ9yhYf/s1600/IMG_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bloom spike on Dasylirion texanum" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7BHnjdWUX1HGdiBxWlSQx1wYO8gQpfzwH90VkV923uEQOpBlx4JL_q8VAkJUpVPVcV6IupxQta9nKRmDZRStgbX9llFZkItbhJU0vlPR_PyMhD5CQ7Sub68wto9wGftGP-e34kJ9yhYf/s640/IMG_0319.JPG" title="" width="474" /></a></div>
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I planted it in May of 2012, when it was just a wee thing. I got it at <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2012/05/rare-plant-research-sale.html">the Rare Plant Research sale</a>. It's sited in a sharp-draining gravel berm in full sun, facing dead south.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4GANO0UB7-Rmz_S6qSA9t-OlH1CXcvsUC5PKXsHw6NsQtbbwg3GY_1uAiBB5IAiyv8oUugTQ3yx-pS70r7rt23iyjJr-vhqYHi5fytOSBEPnlwSwsCCuc8njgi0YLR0wAt3klHe480Q/s1600/IMG_3356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dasylirion texanum 1 gallon" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4GANO0UB7-Rmz_S6qSA9t-OlH1CXcvsUC5PKXsHw6NsQtbbwg3GY_1uAiBB5IAiyv8oUugTQ3yx-pS70r7rt23iyjJr-vhqYHi5fytOSBEPnlwSwsCCuc8njgi0YLR0wAt3klHe480Q/s1600/IMG_3356.JPG" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dasylirion is polycarpic so, unlike agave, it should be able to survive after blooming. Reports on the internet are sparse but it seems these can bloom every four years or so. <a href="https://gardenriots.com/">Lance at Garden Riots</a> reports that he has lost dasylirion after blooming, so my fingers are crossed. This is probably my very <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2014/02/dasylirion-texanum-is-my-favorite-plant.html">favorite plant in my garden</a> and I'd be so bummed if I had to replace it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc75SBdz83gXik2VRbX9Xdjop8OazSs6IT0ss1jUHaEld0aurBUx6MLVg2kIwrLvgZWuZ-pfbXH6smFX-8Tou4NYeprVlJMCZQt9RBrbmNl0mAasJ6kLwv1BtinWyHWUHFe3sHXi1F11cy/s1600/IMG_0394.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc75SBdz83gXik2VRbX9Xdjop8OazSs6IT0ss1jUHaEld0aurBUx6MLVg2kIwrLvgZWuZ-pfbXH6smFX-8Tou4NYeprVlJMCZQt9RBrbmNl0mAasJ6kLwv1BtinWyHWUHFe3sHXi1F11cy/s320/IMG_0394.JPG" title="Dasylirion texanum bloom spike forming" width="320" /></a></div>
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On May 7th, one week later:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bTfR5CjGmwpm4YY_-DmZj_cm-G2_kMMDuYAsmsQWnvWLTPJ3bq7zN6uaCsZK9ghCTxr08hpiY8Uko-lyMFJcFiMDwxoO8bGS8PDwWgoDtiv1uJ9waU7fn1bXNQg2y9QNIYhH8tr3aTmE/s1600/May_7.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bTfR5CjGmwpm4YY_-DmZj_cm-G2_kMMDuYAsmsQWnvWLTPJ3bq7zN6uaCsZK9ghCTxr08hpiY8Uko-lyMFJcFiMDwxoO8bGS8PDwWgoDtiv1uJ9waU7fn1bXNQg2y9QNIYhH8tr3aTmE/s400/May_7.jpg" title="Dasylirion texanum 1 week bloom spike" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here we are on May 19th, two and a half weeks after I noticed the bloom stalk. It grew quickly, adding noticeable height on a daily basis.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1HGvi05ndRHSmV_sUzb9ri-gvc7YKSj8Q6fLuKizxvgoYxWLdMTGmymDX_96Rjg4WuVsiwhFLCLuLTdzr4jYJ1zdbtheQS9Hhf_obksKNqRmLQhhiThbUuBC9D8h1SKDSWr6p0N4AJo7/s1600/DSC05668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1HGvi05ndRHSmV_sUzb9ri-gvc7YKSj8Q6fLuKizxvgoYxWLdMTGmymDX_96Rjg4WuVsiwhFLCLuLTdzr4jYJ1zdbtheQS9Hhf_obksKNqRmLQhhiThbUuBC9D8h1SKDSWr6p0N4AJo7/s640/DSC05668.JPG" title="Dasylirion texanum 2.5 week bloom spike" width="474" /></a></div>
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On June 5th the blooms began to emerge.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4mFTxPRhrImCwDLAyy0_UjcHU33jq2OMZ2jxdzozXFL7flpWwfOmdQpPI-Hq3lkcbidnwR75BKF_HBAjZdbNKXKdfySK8Y_Hrvr66kE3v1lZ3ZLJP5bzldvodGX66wek3alakxwd9TYH/s1600/June_5.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4mFTxPRhrImCwDLAyy0_UjcHU33jq2OMZ2jxdzozXFL7flpWwfOmdQpPI-Hq3lkcbidnwR75BKF_HBAjZdbNKXKdfySK8Y_Hrvr66kE3v1lZ3ZLJP5bzldvodGX66wek3alakxwd9TYH/s640/June_5.jpg" title="Dasylirion texanum 5 weeks blooms" width="480" /></a></div>
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June 8th.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWAUWbiBOiQGDWxznC5L2Glr4tH8eVF4LkbN3EsRn8o2072LY6kt4URoFY4oMVi3kVcAAvfJp9Iu-u2PdhzV1xy19YyWTa_KTJhX42zsHju6Vf8Das1unIHe3_6L6pTntp18Ock0EH6ER/s1600/June_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWAUWbiBOiQGDWxznC5L2Glr4tH8eVF4LkbN3EsRn8o2072LY6kt4URoFY4oMVi3kVcAAvfJp9Iu-u2PdhzV1xy19YyWTa_KTJhX42zsHju6Vf8Das1unIHe3_6L6pTntp18Ock0EH6ER/s640/June_8.jpg" title="Dasylirion texanum bloom spike five weeks" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xL-y65z_zbOAl2koNX2NnfheNnwS_KTh2WZntXv0ekiS1AV78x_AemjXE7qz1NKLVhGNo3cimIq2sD5JQ9baPs7BlEuIHSnwbyCa8HuTR8xVKeXMQAgprvg9jBBjT13wDZr_RNDnEtXO/s1600/DSC05817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xL-y65z_zbOAl2koNX2NnfheNnwS_KTh2WZntXv0ekiS1AV78x_AemjXE7qz1NKLVhGNo3cimIq2sD5JQ9baPs7BlEuIHSnwbyCa8HuTR8xVKeXMQAgprvg9jBBjT13wDZr_RNDnEtXO/s640/DSC05817.JPG" title="Dasylirion texanum six weeks" width="480" /></a></div>
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June 12th</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk6VMc-FlYFGjPooEUvJruwWFDo-Jml05v-gKr986wp_m7m0p1ap6lRBw-yZRYDBV3b-V6yJkuaAdq7rRrRlMBlotkapFmlSoAFyUbo5pRq9180UjLPPczVzaorsbUz081kWkacBENdv-/s1600/DSC06004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk6VMc-FlYFGjPooEUvJruwWFDo-Jml05v-gKr986wp_m7m0p1ap6lRBw-yZRYDBV3b-V6yJkuaAdq7rRrRlMBlotkapFmlSoAFyUbo5pRq9180UjLPPczVzaorsbUz081kWkacBENdv-/s640/DSC06004.JPG" title="Dasylirion texanum bloom spike 6 weeks" width="480" /></a></div>
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And June 15th, about six weeks after I first noticed the bloom spike.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICgvpISGTuNOAOOrG-EHA6lKGDoCsBrxkrrcAGo1XCl846q_rCjQAI56yk6U1UBmxrGzMI6gsrkZaWkAc-Pw0ka_hlbSb6nPYfNNjEpSoBA-Ga3xDpIBNV29oTOClBIig9TfksNfTE-Ef/s1600/DSC06001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICgvpISGTuNOAOOrG-EHA6lKGDoCsBrxkrrcAGo1XCl846q_rCjQAI56yk6U1UBmxrGzMI6gsrkZaWkAc-Pw0ka_hlbSb6nPYfNNjEpSoBA-Ga3xDpIBNV29oTOClBIig9TfksNfTE-Ef/s640/DSC06001.JPG" title="Dasylirion texanum 6 weeks bloom spike" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9QSqQikZUey49h8ksjxKSp7JIJbZt-6WHmtn07ATIoXrmAsOd-DPLhWlj7xEwHBTWiBj67XQddjsq0_MIOyrmmwNb13tfSP0Uf_4erJSKwEL6JALfGz9UeHDwYpt-pZG0mzvF0kyut5m/s1600/DSC06016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9QSqQikZUey49h8ksjxKSp7JIJbZt-6WHmtn07ATIoXrmAsOd-DPLhWlj7xEwHBTWiBj67XQddjsq0_MIOyrmmwNb13tfSP0Uf_4erJSKwEL6JALfGz9UeHDwYpt-pZG0mzvF0kyut5m/s640/DSC06016.JPG" title="Dasylirion texanum in bloom" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPZunCM0OV6fevujThwewSgqh0TfpZ4qT1yjoz-NzC1xlerWigUkbFaUDOayaf6R5qFYBY68zC0B5HW7OYX5NMtTsCt8TAX72CsAbMacHt4hC9P695IDD8HhlX77kVi_5cAfHByiNCDMc/s1600/DSC06017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPZunCM0OV6fevujThwewSgqh0TfpZ4qT1yjoz-NzC1xlerWigUkbFaUDOayaf6R5qFYBY68zC0B5HW7OYX5NMtTsCt8TAX72CsAbMacHt4hC9P695IDD8HhlX77kVi_5cAfHByiNCDMc/s640/DSC06017.JPG" title="Dasylirion texanum blooms" width="480" /></a></div>
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The bloom spike topped out at just over 12' from the base of the plant. The base of the plant is showing some yellowing, which I hope is normal and not a sign of the plant dying.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YatXzgJHouG8Ga78G4qAsX6HEy6H88otPwRyuEA1oSueqXmTVzZ1GF1_j5vLuBWaMcy82eHWSPNrc4zYHrDtxirnqpHikFPdWy0iLtEgP9YJ8jw-jNMeh1FGrzDt0Dwu9U-okk6IPHEQ/s1600/base.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YatXzgJHouG8Ga78G4qAsX6HEy6H88otPwRyuEA1oSueqXmTVzZ1GF1_j5vLuBWaMcy82eHWSPNrc4zYHrDtxirnqpHikFPdWy0iLtEgP9YJ8jw-jNMeh1FGrzDt0Dwu9U-okk6IPHEQ/s640/base.jpg" title="Dasylirion texanum base after blooming" width="480" /></a></div>
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The hum of the bees covering this thing is audible from the driveway, which is pretty cool.<br />
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Happy bloom day! As always, a big thanks to <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2016/06/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-june-2016.html">Carol, our host at May Dreams Gardens</a>.<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-71658465612489093022016-06-15T14:00:00.000-07:002016-06-15T14:00:32.828-07:00The winner of the ANLD tour ticket!Using <a href="http://random.org/">random.org</a>, the winner of <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2016/06/win-ticket-to-june-18th-anld-garden-tour.html">the ANLD tour ticket</a> is Kris G! Kris, I will email you about picking it up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzA-LtU1W9glvc_yKR1U9gy6jP5gHWA_z_iHcvAZp_QM97YBaX90kp-afXr3ta-v9M0fPHjbNJrKn25gTCtMWRoDNKTl-O6mAx0va7P56EClrtVFCxWaAu7M2NJIK5prcZD8KlXnJClzA/s1600/Wagner1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzA-LtU1W9glvc_yKR1U9gy6jP5gHWA_z_iHcvAZp_QM97YBaX90kp-afXr3ta-v9M0fPHjbNJrKn25gTCtMWRoDNKTl-O6mAx0va7P56EClrtVFCxWaAu7M2NJIK5prcZD8KlXnJClzA/s400/Wagner1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-84626842168448043132016-06-10T12:00:00.000-07:002016-06-10T12:00:21.287-07:00Win a ticket to the June 18th ANLD Garden Tour!I was recently able to preview the seven gardens that will be featured on this year's <a href="http://anld.com/garden-tour/2016-garden-tour">Association of Northwest Landscape Designers (ANLD) tour</a>. This annual tour is always good but I thought this year's lineup was especially nice.<br />
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The gardens featured on the tour are all on standard sized lots in the SE and NE Portland area. They suffered from a range of typical problems: poor flow, bad drainage, struggling lawns, or lack of privacy. I think this tour really highlights the problem-solving that landscape designers provide.<br />
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The Bebernes-Gawf garden was possibly my favorite on the tour. A crumbling, unused driveway was transformed so artfully into garden space that I didn't even realize it until I hit the garage door. Usable space was incorporated into a small yard in a way that makes it feel like it was originally built that way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IOKwaTGt438LDAQF_HpamgxW11LR3rZYsOnmaE6N0cJp_6nrNPvCScurQ4I5y8X85fa8D8zx6tBCfNHLqDrhpoibDXI82KAt1QBEMXdkRhbMFzfnFnx_lPetBNmiYexhNm8AwWI-fbmI/s1600/Bebernes_Gawf1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IOKwaTGt438LDAQF_HpamgxW11LR3rZYsOnmaE6N0cJp_6nrNPvCScurQ4I5y8X85fa8D8zx6tBCfNHLqDrhpoibDXI82KAt1QBEMXdkRhbMFzfnFnx_lPetBNmiYexhNm8AwWI-fbmI/s640/Bebernes_Gawf1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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That broken driveway was cut into strips and used to create a raised bed that borders a path leading to a secret garden. I LOVE when designers are able to keep resources on site instead of hauling it to the dump.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSsi6V1h6x8gbM29JquV4DvYV5DyMEzLyZmr6t8sl2zlDHLg2a2zpD_DtEcn-3x6AkaSO-fxa5RnbsmX9MFGm_2XyiJmGiJTUx_rWgI8bBpmuUlS5PBrLoBqWPYQzutTuJWGZkNw4Urux/s1600/Bebernes_Gawf3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSsi6V1h6x8gbM29JquV4DvYV5DyMEzLyZmr6t8sl2zlDHLg2a2zpD_DtEcn-3x6AkaSO-fxa5RnbsmX9MFGm_2XyiJmGiJTUx_rWgI8bBpmuUlS5PBrLoBqWPYQzutTuJWGZkNw4Urux/s640/Bebernes_Gawf3.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
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At the end of the secret garden there's a shelter where the owners can watch the rain fall and enjoy a pot of tea. Read more about <a href="http://anld.com/garden-tour/2016-garden-tour/2-uncategorised/187-bebernes-gawf-garden-designer-alyse-lansing">this garden here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaN1uRYyQ6AI6wcT-5AzvRFlsNrE8oSQzi-ieilNzP-sVHgp9fnCELdvG_ghah8bT9CoMY8DBu7ZfJp2nm0fbqREgY3slU7PEVF1aWU7kTRNKWQOJO7PLIlE4Tol9zkkmn-DTnkpLCsPss/s1600/Bebernes_Gawf2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaN1uRYyQ6AI6wcT-5AzvRFlsNrE8oSQzi-ieilNzP-sVHgp9fnCELdvG_ghah8bT9CoMY8DBu7ZfJp2nm0fbqREgY3slU7PEVF1aWU7kTRNKWQOJO7PLIlE4Tol9zkkmn-DTnkpLCsPss/s640/Bebernes_Gawf2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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How do you garden when you live beneath two huge maples that suck every bit of water from the soil and rob your plants of sunlight? What does a landscape designer do in their own yard? Linda Hannan's garden answers those questions. A garden "she would never design for someone else," it is nonetheless exuberant, beautiful, and full of great ideas for using a small space to entertain AND propagate plants.<a href="http://anld.com/garden-tour/2016-garden-tour/2-uncategorised/183-linda-hannan-garden-linda-hannan-designer">See more of the Hannan garden here</a>.<br />
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The King garden suffered from the one-two punch of a swampy lawn AND overgrown evergreens in an unremarkable lot. It has been transformed into a lush but low-water oasis, perfect for entertaining and playing with their dog. <a href="http://anld.com/garden-tour/2016-garden-tour/2-uncategorised/184-jackie-king-garden-designer-bruce-hegna">Read more about this garden here</a>.<br />
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The Langeliers garden was originally an enormous lawn on an oversized lot. The homeowner was overwhelmed with the amount of lawn and underwhelmed with the mood it created. The designers created a strolling garden full of texture, color, sound, and movement. I absolutely loved this garden. <a href="http://anld.com/garden-tour/2016-garden-tour/2-uncategorised/186-langeliers-garden-designers-lucy-hardiman-and-susan-latourette">You can read more about it here</a>.<br />
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The Ohlson garden faced a number of challenges, as it is located in historic Ladd's Addition. Onerous restrictions from the neighborhood and the city made it a challenging garden to design, though you'd never know it looking at the final product. <a href="http://anld.com/garden-tour/2016-garden-tour/2-uncategorised/188-ohlson-garden-designer-amy-whitworth">You can read more about it here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIYtaaUML0WIreN8Bv9b00uvm2cASYPdruaDiuXA3Q-al1eMjWo4OcaTXVPWaCy00jOsw_0ZV1ovGahGzZwL2JzsJgvEQTAcIjplPY6LesPhZVHXNUKK3wyi3Hyd-oAi7QMTctVRaAd7J/s1600/Ohlson2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIYtaaUML0WIreN8Bv9b00uvm2cASYPdruaDiuXA3Q-al1eMjWo4OcaTXVPWaCy00jOsw_0ZV1ovGahGzZwL2JzsJgvEQTAcIjplPY6LesPhZVHXNUKK3wyi3Hyd-oAi7QMTctVRaAd7J/s400/Ohlson2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Wagner garden was originally a moss-filled lawn, which suffered from drainage issues during the wet months. It's now a lush mix of mixed beds, edibles, and a much healthier lawn. <a href="http://anld.com/garden-tour/2016-garden-tour/2-uncategorised/189-helena-wagner-garden-designers-helena-and-dan-wagner">You can read more about it here</a>.<br />
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The Mauch garden was formerly a lawn with some rhodies, like thousands of others in Portland. The owner needed a low-maintenance garden on a small budget. The designer created a lush oasis that fit the parameters AND worked around a remodel to the back of the house. <a href="http://anld.com/garden-tour/2016-garden-tour/2-uncategorised/185-mauch-garden-designer-barbara-hilty-landscape-design-llc-apld">You can read more about it here</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiN8lq2pSNk_F-aX2YpNR_5pDZeDhB2lt9PbrQFgIFDuBAfJHfdX6gOcH1RJybVYLYgSgF0Bu9UKLQK-ZHJUN1yhwB-YZmfIprfYykzFUjTVCz85qVciuMJeDCpgSjzo3ftL-kfhNrpyk/s1600/Mauch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiN8lq2pSNk_F-aX2YpNR_5pDZeDhB2lt9PbrQFgIFDuBAfJHfdX6gOcH1RJybVYLYgSgF0Bu9UKLQK-ZHJUN1yhwB-YZmfIprfYykzFUjTVCz85qVciuMJeDCpgSjzo3ftL-kfhNrpyk/s400/Mauch1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Occasionally I've been asked by friends to design their gardens. I garden, so surely I can design one for them, right? A good designer not only has an encyclopedic knowledge of plants, they also know how to solve problems like competition from existing trees, poor drainage, lack of light, or poor access/unusable space. I can't do that. I can't even give my plants the space they need. A good designer will knock out a killer hardscape plan and a planting design that will work with your site and your budget. </div>
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The tour is Saturday June 18th. It is self-guided, so you can visit the gardens in any order you prefer. Tickets are available on <a href="http://anld.com/garden-tour/2016-garden-tour">the ANLD website</a> or at Garden Fever, Al's, Portland Nursery, or Cornell Farm. </div>
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I am also giving away one ticket. If you'd like to win, please leave a comment saying, "Count me in!" or something to that effect. I'll announce the winner next week.</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-81689330406079788502016-04-15T12:00:00.000-07:002016-04-15T12:00:27.303-07:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day April 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love April. Our front garden is dressed like a pretty pretty princess.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cornus florida </i>and <i>Camassia leichtlinii 'Blue Danube'</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Othonna cheirifolia</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sedum parmeri</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gaultheria Shallon</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Myosotis sylvatica 'Victoria Blue'</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ijZhAExQH2yHngev3qj7ggfeNdK-lZ3TidFfZfyqItAVpVV3Pn34IknLvFDq6wD_3FLRXWOk1iL3RIzGgkCsJjDEDXb71gZNYXNFxEbQ3xM-4LiX7pXJbfQ-najPlX6Xc7UavARfzSwZ/s1600/DSC05333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ijZhAExQH2yHngev3qj7ggfeNdK-lZ3TidFfZfyqItAVpVV3Pn34IknLvFDq6wD_3FLRXWOk1iL3RIzGgkCsJjDEDXb71gZNYXNFxEbQ3xM-4LiX7pXJbfQ-najPlX6Xc7UavARfzSwZ/s400/DSC05333.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Loropetalum chinensis 'Sizzling Pink'</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TDS1AU2i30F-Ck6S_F_tRV_G8lTLR2G_ZRRGoRVY0iAQrLQGqEiEqfASGsi9qjKOOMeSoXniRAh4NR1zygcqzafOXC79HY_pr13ZtAPd6bo2Oij5vKmmG1Swmc8J_YKsrAShsxob7_cX/s1600/DSC05328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TDS1AU2i30F-Ck6S_F_tRV_G8lTLR2G_ZRRGoRVY0iAQrLQGqEiEqfASGsi9qjKOOMeSoXniRAh4NR1zygcqzafOXC79HY_pr13ZtAPd6bo2Oij5vKmmG1Swmc8J_YKsrAShsxob7_cX/s400/DSC05328.JPG" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Convallaria majalis</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEwNX9XT3lEjqT19iucejtRH4nZNPyvOBRXIMbwMxuC6Vby_pMQk_utZWBjS-vMOY1wnKX9oU890ivRXiHU5FKTryuJNec_ApalvPyBbgXiluuMxKMxoeQzbkVYNpoDWZEqgVB3kp4YqY/s1600/DSC05319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEwNX9XT3lEjqT19iucejtRH4nZNPyvOBRXIMbwMxuC6Vby_pMQk_utZWBjS-vMOY1wnKX9oU890ivRXiHU5FKTryuJNec_ApalvPyBbgXiluuMxKMxoeQzbkVYNpoDWZEqgVB3kp4YqY/s640/DSC05319.JPG" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Prosartes hookeri</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWzDBFfAtyUJcsAxh0Dm995SQrebl1pyvPD-T9hnYJoyG-j9p1cuYPNrSr-OWToOmckLwz2HjQEPEG1jW7CRsm7gJLPaUAi9UNe_wd5xAKyZkAD5JqTzDg4tOL5UZGFbLHUJtuCyQukbK/s1600/DSC05313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWzDBFfAtyUJcsAxh0Dm995SQrebl1pyvPD-T9hnYJoyG-j9p1cuYPNrSr-OWToOmckLwz2HjQEPEG1jW7CRsm7gJLPaUAi9UNe_wd5xAKyZkAD5JqTzDg4tOL5UZGFbLHUJtuCyQukbK/s400/DSC05313.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Disporum cantoniense 'Night Heron'</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0nfAe8NjIjO-6vnYZ0_CfnnjuYGeAWSS0gERwP-xoOxjbEvI0DkuYoa8ItLaCB0R8CbCfOOvxYUjMhuwlzrm4qnneoq7FxwHnAdgfcqEKJmeALujoJZ82Q1iIrtydfi2nFH6Jm2IMQC2/s1600/DSC05304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0nfAe8NjIjO-6vnYZ0_CfnnjuYGeAWSS0gERwP-xoOxjbEvI0DkuYoa8ItLaCB0R8CbCfOOvxYUjMhuwlzrm4qnneoq7FxwHnAdgfcqEKJmeALujoJZ82Q1iIrtydfi2nFH6Jm2IMQC2/s640/DSC05304.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Maianthemum racemosum</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZQ_iTXY8oy5eY8Bm0hi6BXuds_UoC-bo-pdAcaUMMidj3M5M4NrUUASKsPA2H8OpCkN-s0Zj7-_ken3w2asY47UjPhIvHbPdwk9MBY3N63ZgdqLf-In8Wsqtg03onSwle1AsV-_Wuqr8/s1600/DSC05380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZQ_iTXY8oy5eY8Bm0hi6BXuds_UoC-bo-pdAcaUMMidj3M5M4NrUUASKsPA2H8OpCkN-s0Zj7-_ken3w2asY47UjPhIvHbPdwk9MBY3N63ZgdqLf-In8Wsqtg03onSwle1AsV-_Wuqr8/s400/DSC05380.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Camassia leichtlinii 'Blue Danube'</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MB2s3LTkSzBHxqej2G1fOrMeCs55VYIjYh-cSyLSlNc2hgQ3q_Wkjqmb8bXDjQepgAUx45Qm18w05a2XDbT_DUqZaG4O3hyphenhyphenw8Co2li3buFMeiwu7J_2TBBsLXBHAbpnEMeie92RPQBD8/s1600/DSC05374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MB2s3LTkSzBHxqej2G1fOrMeCs55VYIjYh-cSyLSlNc2hgQ3q_Wkjqmb8bXDjQepgAUx45Qm18w05a2XDbT_DUqZaG4O3hyphenhyphenw8Co2li3buFMeiwu7J_2TBBsLXBHAbpnEMeie92RPQBD8/s640/DSC05374.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lewisia cotyledon</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXwrutuasH7kkFc8dHae-TodEXNuWFCkJTXwCI9vdu8zuhavqvvKOWbv0-SHTBaCL8bZkwCzSqxouVp-Krnqoo1EE22t0bUUwxVZzZS36fVliZ1mqjtq7Hs740sZzeOJ0ae-spm7LT-bB/s1600/DSC05294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXwrutuasH7kkFc8dHae-TodEXNuWFCkJTXwCI9vdu8zuhavqvvKOWbv0-SHTBaCL8bZkwCzSqxouVp-Krnqoo1EE22t0bUUwxVZzZS36fVliZ1mqjtq7Hs740sZzeOJ0ae-spm7LT-bB/s400/DSC05294.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tulipa 'Black Parrot'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy7wS95WqWzVc40bbGb3yqXkXqlZ1Tu4FqOL0YeHkLgzBjQi4P_cUMSdRh-eahyaH3gB1on4aFC80_rXd_lUWnZF0s1mwCf457BvuhS7rqEMx_GNZ1UmKqzeMFle77UZM7PXzZlH-FaCT/s1600/DSC05288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy7wS95WqWzVc40bbGb3yqXkXqlZ1Tu4FqOL0YeHkLgzBjQi4P_cUMSdRh-eahyaH3gB1on4aFC80_rXd_lUWnZF0s1mwCf457BvuhS7rqEMx_GNZ1UmKqzeMFle77UZM7PXzZlH-FaCT/s640/DSC05288.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lewisia cotyledon 'White Splendor'</i></td></tr>
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<br />A happy bloom day to you and thank you to <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2016/04/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-april-2016.html">Carol, our host at May Dreams Gardens</a>!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-67108520974019000862016-04-05T21:46:00.000-07:002016-04-05T21:46:28.719-07:00A clean slateBig plans are afoot here. After dealing with a poorly sited Western red cedar for seven years, I've decided to have it removed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbgrwvsi4Fm-CJv237m6EufiZYtQY6eoahBkGbcsYsGljM0EVJYw0_EpUjx0ztRUCAU9SLaq5OjCxZ9T7pMnpoN2KAlmNCt4SrXKbyhxLJMnJg9B55CCUUH5uVjl8VPb9P1I0eKnKGUXo/s1600/DSC05202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbgrwvsi4Fm-CJv237m6EufiZYtQY6eoahBkGbcsYsGljM0EVJYw0_EpUjx0ztRUCAU9SLaq5OjCxZ9T7pMnpoN2KAlmNCt4SrXKbyhxLJMnJg9B55CCUUH5uVjl8VPb9P1I0eKnKGUXo/s640/DSC05202.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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While I was completing all the measurements required by the city, I discovered that the root flare is 30 inches from my neighbor's foundation (and getting closer every year). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCt2StmtypUGIhE-j41NhVC3FN9sdZgSNx4B3SyVoPLiS3JAss18E_Z91O-ytbeZP3O0_gND7h7fpwLGob-ggC0p5APA8xVZ6EY0b66fHgJYFcMKE68REfpsbfwJcFr-FWaOBbraTvA-qo/s1600/DSC05208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCt2StmtypUGIhE-j41NhVC3FN9sdZgSNx4B3SyVoPLiS3JAss18E_Z91O-ytbeZP3O0_gND7h7fpwLGob-ggC0p5APA8xVZ6EY0b66fHgJYFcMKE68REfpsbfwJcFr-FWaOBbraTvA-qo/s640/DSC05208.JPG" width="472" /></a></div>
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It also ate his hose bib. I feel bad now for not removing it earlier. It has created fencing challenges and I couldn't be happier to see it go. With the tree gone we can safely build <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2015/04/hardscaping-is-hard.html">our platform deck</a> as far over as we want without worrying about doing root damage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUYuHMBobTTysx6oqiiIZFkmQlZKJoxUbJYKMHis7kgi5Vbzz_ZKdX4-ZdlmmmM6yShMfjbipinODAnPUtPPVQwgVhImmjeW3WYuwy0toHLCrb9Mte1NtCcqzO9TS6MQ-Bv8P4M0SGdvQ/s1600/DSC05209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUYuHMBobTTysx6oqiiIZFkmQlZKJoxUbJYKMHis7kgi5Vbzz_ZKdX4-ZdlmmmM6yShMfjbipinODAnPUtPPVQwgVhImmjeW3WYuwy0toHLCrb9Mte1NtCcqzO9TS6MQ-Bv8P4M0SGdvQ/s400/DSC05209.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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While I'm at it, I'm going to tear out the boxwood located in the corner of the yard. I never removed it before because I figured nothing else would be able to get up to size with competition from a mature tree.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtNZDDKLiIzW83rjxaus9Wc3kRXjtdTJgiLgdPwqvn6_afVwiiyi8GpEKGAYJiXscujhmQM2xNhJsxblERRo9HwltN6XsqO08OyF2AG3rotRKIs2hSx5JOTwKr6aLgrUrhsKzamGqZK14/s1600/DSC05193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtNZDDKLiIzW83rjxaus9Wc3kRXjtdTJgiLgdPwqvn6_afVwiiyi8GpEKGAYJiXscujhmQM2xNhJsxblERRo9HwltN6XsqO08OyF2AG3rotRKIs2hSx5JOTwKr6aLgrUrhsKzamGqZK14/s400/DSC05193.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And while I'm dismantling the fence and digging up all of the plants in this area, I'm considering removing the pieris too. I'm conflicted about this one, because it's evergreen and established and it requires no water BUT I just don't love it. And as long as I'm having someone grind out stumps, I might as well have them grind that one too. It also has a filbert tree sprouting right next to it that we can't seem to eradicate.<br />
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All of this means that I have a huge new area where I can plant the shrubs and trees I've always wanted to plant. On the short list for a replacement tree is <i>Magnoila macrophylla var. Ashei</i>. I love the huge leaves and I covet <a href="http://www.thedangergarden.com/2013/11/wordless-wednesday-oh-clifford.html">Clifford, Loree's <i>Magnolia macrophylla</i></a>. My tentative plan is something like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4FtTeMLdE32XbuRGSmLKDGQncPA30cKbpCMfj1xL9y89d6JENuLA7oAOUvMZcuf5KBDDIzRCvL_KTW4VNQA_gPxONc1f-kYI_cc5rVZJfYilKrFAI6gV-nH-t6YNDK0Y7Jqc7IfFMW_s/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4FtTeMLdE32XbuRGSmLKDGQncPA30cKbpCMfj1xL9y89d6JENuLA7oAOUvMZcuf5KBDDIzRCvL_KTW4VNQA_gPxONc1f-kYI_cc5rVZJfYilKrFAI6gV-nH-t6YNDK0Y7Jqc7IfFMW_s/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to embiggen</td></tr>
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I came home from Xera with an olive tree (<a href="http://plantlust.com/plants/olea-europaea-frantoio/"><i>Olea europaea 'Frantoio'</i></a>) for the corner. Greg and Paul said it gets up to size quickly, requires little water, and has fantastic winter interest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bbDE8HuoxB-LCUPJIvmXhUJdF3ar9OlbewJaxoPdsgcz7WZb1d1ARJw2Sk88ZSUZbY2tN0Vbdu__MlNHyfS-8CQa9QIqd7JO__KbUmaVT1ApgFH_0U656SRSAMi9qweNhjRwDpNjRdni/s1600/img_2595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bbDE8HuoxB-LCUPJIvmXhUJdF3ar9OlbewJaxoPdsgcz7WZb1d1ARJw2Sk88ZSUZbY2tN0Vbdu__MlNHyfS-8CQa9QIqd7JO__KbUmaVT1ApgFH_0U656SRSAMi9qweNhjRwDpNjRdni/s400/img_2595.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/20448-foliage-and-tropical-plants-at-the-fnats-landscape-trade-show-in-orlando/">Photo source</a></td></tr>
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I had been considering <i>Arbutus unedo</i> but Paul warned me that they are very messy. Also on the list currently:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://plantlust.com/plants/leptospermum-lanigerum/"><i>Leptospermum lanigerum</i></a> (it was at Xera when I was buying the olive tree and the small leaves looked fantastic next to the olive)</li>
<li><a href="http://plantlust.com/plants/ceanothus-concha/"><i>Ceanothus x 'Concha'</i></a></li>
<li>Maybe another manzanita?</li>
</ul>
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I have two existing Mahonia ('<a href="http://plantlust.com/plants/mahonia-underway/"><i>Underway</i></a>' and '<a href="http://plantlust.com/plants/mahonia-x-media-winter-sun/"><i>Winter Sun</i></a>') that will get moved a bit. I also have a golden ninebark (<a href="http://plantlust.com/plants/physocarpus-opulifolius-nugget/"><i>Physocarpus opulifolius 'Nugget'</i></a>) that I'd like to keep in the area.<br />
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If you had a blank slate, what shrubs would you plant? Would you keep the pieris? I'm on a standard city lot, so my room for large shrubs is limited and I want to plant ones that I'll be completely in love with. Any opinions are welcome!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-25868708128481644292016-03-15T10:00:00.000-07:002016-03-15T10:00:14.416-07:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day March 2016This March feels less floriferous than usual, I think because we had such an usually early spring last year. The hellebores are still going and the daphne is winding down.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPFVnYWV0ihLrlL5I4p03sODQ8PVMr15lBlQ7IP9TsBwX2J7Zby6rhTxpe2HNzZiKUHQr62tYtB2292sQoFanOqY4XY0Q7xa1orJaebqzZ_QHtDAzvD2tyEW9iW0eYjc7FdfRF6DQuUCA/s1600/DSC05106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPFVnYWV0ihLrlL5I4p03sODQ8PVMr15lBlQ7IP9TsBwX2J7Zby6rhTxpe2HNzZiKUHQr62tYtB2292sQoFanOqY4XY0Q7xa1orJaebqzZ_QHtDAzvD2tyEW9iW0eYjc7FdfRF6DQuUCA/s320/DSC05106.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mahonia nervosa</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHdcKW0yyZLlAZd7I9bRyDolq9RpKtOGv6z_-Wx7d2oXukRO8i94s80H3owP-pRt4LLQkNxUpDc0U-zWubKFLMNDaFfOk3fmLJ0t8chd0O8XI7oBaYyJRwqVhE1TGYudi55frf2wvs2ts/s1600/DSC05113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHdcKW0yyZLlAZd7I9bRyDolq9RpKtOGv6z_-Wx7d2oXukRO8i94s80H3owP-pRt4LLQkNxUpDc0U-zWubKFLMNDaFfOk3fmLJ0t8chd0O8XI7oBaYyJRwqVhE1TGYudi55frf2wvs2ts/s640/DSC05113.JPG" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Arctostaphylos x 'John Dourley'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnHxJ7h8u_WOYE61ARxBiHKJLSD2kKvhkJKvC5ZgQeCHPmQboE4HQpXyxlF65wMEeD67dopv9aUYyVX-gVz8E_uT5iQvz4L3aYMyP2JPmD3gyt-kcbvZMs6WzJyyGXOD324jf6o8k2wWm/s1600/DSC05116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnHxJ7h8u_WOYE61ARxBiHKJLSD2kKvhkJKvC5ZgQeCHPmQboE4HQpXyxlF65wMEeD67dopv9aUYyVX-gVz8E_uT5iQvz4L3aYMyP2JPmD3gyt-kcbvZMs6WzJyyGXOD324jf6o8k2wWm/s400/DSC05116.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Geranium macrorrhizum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJzDYgq6jYT4lmBXkHYLCxjNudqqDaXk2vTdoRB6K6FtUKru-LZseKbDYwe2utL0uEDRbWNn3gibC72M_1ghbyZLmO_pvHJmZ6BCe6mIdfD8DLTxysO9oI3_iTWsoabcYUsCuox2KVG7J/s1600/DSC05120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJzDYgq6jYT4lmBXkHYLCxjNudqqDaXk2vTdoRB6K6FtUKru-LZseKbDYwe2utL0uEDRbWNn3gibC72M_1ghbyZLmO_pvHJmZ6BCe6mIdfD8DLTxysO9oI3_iTWsoabcYUsCuox2KVG7J/s640/DSC05120.JPG" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Arctostaphylos bakeri 'Louis Edmonds'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkJKgSA7NqQ-XN8JZaNo2XhgSjMAtfpzTPyE2WLfHmGw2qx_8w-no8-vfwZYQt2rzunw_wkhLmVqMUVzDPtky1oIRJsr7dxexC7RozZv0yQYcZnkbztYgubJKEXC1rG-qydC5oNxgySY5/s1600/DSC05123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkJKgSA7NqQ-XN8JZaNo2XhgSjMAtfpzTPyE2WLfHmGw2qx_8w-no8-vfwZYQt2rzunw_wkhLmVqMUVzDPtky1oIRJsr7dxexC7RozZv0yQYcZnkbztYgubJKEXC1rG-qydC5oNxgySY5/s400/DSC05123.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Epimedium</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDiQhQWqhgMq3aXzzxOquaAVEImMz-s7TjrRiXjmCw0y-1S__OvosWppaXGEvp0kvxASXmcFuQnfzXFD7XcLO_EAtip6XOATqih_y5TcU6nS-axh9GDyBjyMAyjB1PzRLJp3rJ1a63GSA/s1600/DSC05127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDiQhQWqhgMq3aXzzxOquaAVEImMz-s7TjrRiXjmCw0y-1S__OvosWppaXGEvp0kvxASXmcFuQnfzXFD7XcLO_EAtip6XOATqih_y5TcU6nS-axh9GDyBjyMAyjB1PzRLJp3rJ1a63GSA/s640/DSC05127.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Epimedium x 'Black Sea'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZAi3qrzvNZnaFQKHt4dI-qjJBIsOvICjlsfIejUkh5mIcyX2kcAZYdDxGJL6HPLLkXtE93kkc35-kGdK9m4KwkPJHkRET0hCI6jpTrvWLxtNDK8qMICB-ctVUCA6cgSgSGyYuspaTzDD/s1600/DSC05130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZAi3qrzvNZnaFQKHt4dI-qjJBIsOvICjlsfIejUkh5mIcyX2kcAZYdDxGJL6HPLLkXtE93kkc35-kGdK9m4KwkPJHkRET0hCI6jpTrvWLxtNDK8qMICB-ctVUCA6cgSgSGyYuspaTzDD/s400/DSC05130.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pieris japonica</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_eChK8xsPesHJWq534FBupYIAAU3UpqXcgHSj7StiEzX-a-7gL4G84N4pTSuYlhfEPZDB7RtPAQS3Nchgsr2pvhVoz1LQfUHNhTxDN0p8i7kTmD6L8fRTbwy4lKiK-bZeZgeB7dcPqpB/s1600/DSC05134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_eChK8xsPesHJWq534FBupYIAAU3UpqXcgHSj7StiEzX-a-7gL4G84N4pTSuYlhfEPZDB7RtPAQS3Nchgsr2pvhVoz1LQfUHNhTxDN0p8i7kTmD6L8fRTbwy4lKiK-bZeZgeB7dcPqpB/s400/DSC05134.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mukdenia rossii 'Crimson Fans'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">A happy bloom day to you! Thanks to </span><a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2016/03/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-march-2016.html" style="background-color: white; color: #7ca0a1; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">our host, Carol</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">.</span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-81348501430499077682016-02-15T09:12:00.002-08:002016-02-15T09:36:57.441-08:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day February 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A very happy bloom day to you!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BcflyDS2qP7BY-C_VQeUIjAsZZWPcSyhhIajAQLOis4Qe5ljFHgBONhjskDori4N0lMRC4TtfHLjAMbUKLpv6Xum7GGrSixW-JZq7fQ-rxi6rW2eFybiheVOEFJG5GBrjugovUqHkdXO/s1600/DSC05080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BcflyDS2qP7BY-C_VQeUIjAsZZWPcSyhhIajAQLOis4Qe5ljFHgBONhjskDori4N0lMRC4TtfHLjAMbUKLpv6Xum7GGrSixW-JZq7fQ-rxi6rW2eFybiheVOEFJG5GBrjugovUqHkdXO/s640/DSC05080.JPG" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Euphorbia rigida</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDQV2PUDH1xoJ_mW_wdz9GYTe2VyMkcOQOLcxD7mEjc07kbranQvm6Y15NTonAt1RAmJA2m2ibTL4_w1DQ-n83ByQaH9jQTTge_6ntKffsGNonh_NXMYb34FERrr7XjHT1ZFTrboajKIg/s1600/DSC05084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDQV2PUDH1xoJ_mW_wdz9GYTe2VyMkcOQOLcxD7mEjc07kbranQvm6Y15NTonAt1RAmJA2m2ibTL4_w1DQ-n83ByQaH9jQTTge_6ntKffsGNonh_NXMYb34FERrr7XjHT1ZFTrboajKIg/s640/DSC05084.JPG" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Euphorbia x 'Blackbird'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexjhTW7clAydiphfpAbQcVTtgS3nl2pMOwpnvAuHGl4vMvaBTWSNNh3HHUHir7W-MgXXJRD2_BfVg4WEvYVb-Cz3Fwbts9h77g167GLjiKoZs6unNPyWLMyfr4vNNNkzPBFGxb6o6-rsW/s1600/DSC05090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexjhTW7clAydiphfpAbQcVTtgS3nl2pMOwpnvAuHGl4vMvaBTWSNNh3HHUHir7W-MgXXJRD2_BfVg4WEvYVb-Cz3Fwbts9h77g167GLjiKoZs6unNPyWLMyfr4vNNNkzPBFGxb6o6-rsW/s640/DSC05090.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Helleborus x 'Black Diamond'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6YeZknTdQaFPMekfkDSxYwaUvRg0l1LUv9SMSNP3YH6lM0k_ZlbgTxWITSS2SxnECC_b12d0GHYrtDEXNUdK0NRWahmzaYePmIts8JCNP13pE1RzMY61xFr7BGx8NHaezB7xzN8_iDEQ/s1600/DSC05099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6YeZknTdQaFPMekfkDSxYwaUvRg0l1LUv9SMSNP3YH6lM0k_ZlbgTxWITSS2SxnECC_b12d0GHYrtDEXNUdK0NRWahmzaYePmIts8JCNP13pE1RzMY61xFr7BGx8NHaezB7xzN8_iDEQ/s640/DSC05099.JPG" width="482" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYmBjnQ7dioiFmF9t_uykpgJtBbWpqOq0fFM7DfMaStaZr700Q2K6soYWKjxu8SrWEAdr1-iKxctI1U-F7VRUusZyHQxXz08WH61_B3HPewAS_t2QDHmf850MYCt2oACypJyvFZRYJanQ/s1600/DSC05102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYmBjnQ7dioiFmF9t_uykpgJtBbWpqOq0fFM7DfMaStaZr700Q2K6soYWKjxu8SrWEAdr1-iKxctI1U-F7VRUusZyHQxXz08WH61_B3HPewAS_t2QDHmf850MYCt2oACypJyvFZRYJanQ/s400/DSC05102.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Helleborus x ballardiae 'HCG Cinnamon Snow'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And the "good god, you're STILL blooming?" award goes to Mahonia x media 'Arthur Menzies,' which has been blooming since October.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7g_Ql4kIeyi4MkcsQ83Cug2wSvotoNCMKo-ZhjF-hNgjwpQGcBZW0NJwsjD6tAyfqF-eXsipkBPGHaUChCDmOdxXZhHe4xsdF1EXZTip83OWjbXDiImGAMgYRpLsNBT377W7JQFEp78pO/s1600/DSC05094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7g_Ql4kIeyi4MkcsQ83Cug2wSvotoNCMKo-ZhjF-hNgjwpQGcBZW0NJwsjD6tAyfqF-eXsipkBPGHaUChCDmOdxXZhHe4xsdF1EXZTip83OWjbXDiImGAMgYRpLsNBT377W7JQFEp78pO/s640/DSC05094.JPG" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mahonia x media 'Arthur Menzies'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I'm getting excited for things to really start firing up next month. Thanks, as always, to <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2016/02/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-february-2016.html">our hostess Carol at May Dreams Gardens</a>.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814656844817347020.post-60837633966799297532016-02-04T19:00:00.000-08:002016-02-04T19:00:05.200-08:00Fire!Back in 2010 <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2010/12/chestnuts-roasting-on-open-fire.html">I had the fireplaces professionally cleaned</a> specifically so I could light a fire for Thanksgiving. We have two fireplaces: one upstairs in the living room and one in the finished portion of the basement. They have separate smoke chambers that run side by side in the same chimney.<br />
<br />
Our basement room started filling with smoke shortly after I lit a fire in the living room fireplace. Either the deformed damper that was permanently stuck in the open position downstairs was sucking in smoke from the upstairs chimney OR we had a crack or break in the brick/mortar between the two smoke chambers. Regardless, we never used our fireplaces again because I couldn't afford that kind of work at the time.<br />
<br />
We decided to splurge and have gas inserts installed in the fireplaces, which would bypass the need to replace the dampers or deal with cracks between the two smoke chambers. I got three bids and ultimately decided to go with <a href="http://www.allfuelinstallation.com/">All Fuel</a>. I felt like they really took everything into consideration, including how to deal with the curved front of the fireplace downstairs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZMGG9SiGH_iGnOx8DaCgvpjC9C2uKCwmNHdttM30FnDD2MtrC9fY0qJvEojrjTgY3_aK92_O1RkT6FTJ1RBu1_hRa29RmRoW8yBlxIWR_o2lJWVQ55gxssCYx_Eox-4eMyn5_qMJatRe/s1600/DSC03589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZMGG9SiGH_iGnOx8DaCgvpjC9C2uKCwmNHdttM30FnDD2MtrC9fY0qJvEojrjTgY3_aK92_O1RkT6FTJ1RBu1_hRa29RmRoW8yBlxIWR_o2lJWVQ55gxssCYx_Eox-4eMyn5_qMJatRe/s400/DSC03589.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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In order to comply with code, we had to install a hearth in the basement. We used <a href="http://www.neilsonconstruction.com/">Neilson Construction</a> and I couldn't be more pleased with the job they did.<br />
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Just for fun, let's look again at what the fireplace looked like when I moved in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKboBRm4KKq9GyDWKL71Ppv51wHCc1CQOFOu6nhdq6GOjPVavgk0KhOlb74JhNg08ZONaJutjTE3ku1Da_xFRNxsCTMFjjDYtSlLmyoZDncII-EQEsSFcgL7-DHTrbaKWKj26exK_LTpJ/s1600/9029494-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKboBRm4KKq9GyDWKL71Ppv51wHCc1CQOFOu6nhdq6GOjPVavgk0KhOlb74JhNg08ZONaJutjTE3ku1Da_xFRNxsCTMFjjDYtSlLmyoZDncII-EQEsSFcgL7-DHTrbaKWKj26exK_LTpJ/s1600/9029494-13.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The previous owner had installed a hearth, poorly and incorrectly, and <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2010/01/how-to-paint-your-fireplace.html">it broke up when I accidentally hit it with a floor scraper</a>. Hall and Oates were sort of blocking the cold air that came in because the damper was deformed and stuck in the open position.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAMFDFzd-ftDFKgQULXPq0nWPrBtINld1Ls3bB-IgO9bfYHbYpKXr5omB9qRIROffsQyzkhE7mTQMx5JoHQlwOgUnMI27SokznPNrlS0rWVOku1gTW3rMj0Iu2GupzIkaUlij-HE9j45o/s1600/IMG_1882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAMFDFzd-ftDFKgQULXPq0nWPrBtINld1Ls3bB-IgO9bfYHbYpKXr5omB9qRIROffsQyzkhE7mTQMx5JoHQlwOgUnMI27SokznPNrlS0rWVOku1gTW3rMj0Iu2GupzIkaUlij-HE9j45o/s1600/IMG_1882.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't even know, guys.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PJ5SzqgSO13LBiUEcozkXd1xX04T0EuC4izA6HaxOw753a2uPJa5KONa0SuCDbG4Pk58s7RpboBIaLgsD8H1sw1P4qTSF2b7jgHqpeHP2HqiF0wc0vqpYmw6iO58YfcQYjHtOuV5h9oH/s1600/DSC05018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PJ5SzqgSO13LBiUEcozkXd1xX04T0EuC4izA6HaxOw753a2uPJa5KONa0SuCDbG4Pk58s7RpboBIaLgsD8H1sw1P4qTSF2b7jgHqpeHP2HqiF0wc0vqpYmw6iO58YfcQYjHtOuV5h9oH/s400/DSC05018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The flooring was cut away to accommodate the new tile. You might be asking why we went with a hearth that's wider than the fireplace. When <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2010/02/hallelujah.html">we installed the laminate flooring</a> we couldn't get the flooring flush with the curved, irregular bricks of the fireplace, which left a 3/4" gap on the sides. It was too irregular to use something like quarter round (and that would've looked dumb, anyway), so I decided to have the guy tile around it. I wish I had a picture of the gap but I somehow missed that spot in the 1.4 billion photos I've taken of this house.<br />
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I also went looking on Houzz and it turns out an extra-large hearth isn't all that abnormal. Yay! This would've been a fun time to install some funky tile but I really just wanted this hearth to look like it had always been there. We found tile that exactly matched the 6" x 6" tile upstairs and went with that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zVl8xGEgmNDmiUmyR0N0PZ8QuqtP7GFPIQwmjxNlWdsYdB8yOGJqrlZzEEg0Jz80UgspWi00dAYX4lPVqhon0T9GElbKb4T0_2aXRyDAjftUSMAq_ECjl53LfL4mJV4Y_9z1qDYLxRgO/s1600/fireplace_tile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zVl8xGEgmNDmiUmyR0N0PZ8QuqtP7GFPIQwmjxNlWdsYdB8yOGJqrlZzEEg0Jz80UgspWi00dAYX4lPVqhon0T9GElbKb4T0_2aXRyDAjftUSMAq_ECjl53LfL4mJV4Y_9z1qDYLxRgO/s400/fireplace_tile.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original upstairs fireplace tile</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnm2mlj1et2Ah8-wPJOa0EoQAcSQ7bbK-mSOM9jJVUb8DZHUmgVH_j9HL6wdqUaoXcVvSkQ4DkBV3N4C57x75WTq_MuHXmWDDnnQqvkgImwKOV4t2I-QeM7T0Nj-wNVmVVoHWaGtRFrU4/s1600/DSC05031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnm2mlj1et2Ah8-wPJOa0EoQAcSQ7bbK-mSOM9jJVUb8DZHUmgVH_j9HL6wdqUaoXcVvSkQ4DkBV3N4C57x75WTq_MuHXmWDDnnQqvkgImwKOV4t2I-QeM7T0Nj-wNVmVVoHWaGtRFrU4/s400/DSC05031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New downstairs fireplace tile! It's just missing the transition strip.</td></tr>
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Tom, the tile installer, hand cut all the tiles to fit around the clinker bricks. I swear I almost wept when I saw what a meticulous job he did. I want to retile our bathroom NOW before he retires. He seriously rocked this job.<br />
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All Fuel took the wood piece we had covering the firebox and had a metal fabricator create a perfect match. They had to grind away some of the brick edges to get everything to sit flush. They told me that this was one of the most challenging installs they'd ever completed.<br />
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And here we are now.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYEFkMvVhNjAY5FAm8qtepRVNb1Jl3JgEnq8bnNHpww5w6pu2VGOCI9CeZXLmqn5Z0fSERQvVddiJPuB3q4gkVWjc6poFc4NZxwTK4UN3urw_xCu5U6afVINa65k2thAGyyEjG_01g0-n/s1600/DSC05041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYEFkMvVhNjAY5FAm8qtepRVNb1Jl3JgEnq8bnNHpww5w6pu2VGOCI9CeZXLmqn5Z0fSERQvVddiJPuB3q4gkVWjc6poFc4NZxwTK4UN3urw_xCu5U6afVINa65k2thAGyyEjG_01g0-n/s400/DSC05041.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Before:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAMFDFzd-ftDFKgQULXPq0nWPrBtINld1Ls3bB-IgO9bfYHbYpKXr5omB9qRIROffsQyzkhE7mTQMx5JoHQlwOgUnMI27SokznPNrlS0rWVOku1gTW3rMj0Iu2GupzIkaUlij-HE9j45o/s1600/IMG_1882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAMFDFzd-ftDFKgQULXPq0nWPrBtINld1Ls3bB-IgO9bfYHbYpKXr5omB9qRIROffsQyzkhE7mTQMx5JoHQlwOgUnMI27SokznPNrlS0rWVOku1gTW3rMj0Iu2GupzIkaUlij-HE9j45o/s1600/IMG_1882.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And after:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs6IbRRTY7Kzdap0dBRZR99sI06ULes_fqxkg9s4I66jKM6_iZaZ6qEjeJEWmITfZ-QkPX_4gj1phgEh5Bv155FtT_zPwNvhVrKTq_RsKhCt4LUS7ichA22Btpgvva64-i4aRvtew415p/s1600/DSC05069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs6IbRRTY7Kzdap0dBRZR99sI06ULes_fqxkg9s4I66jKM6_iZaZ6qEjeJEWmITfZ-QkPX_4gj1phgEh5Bv155FtT_zPwNvhVrKTq_RsKhCt4LUS7ichA22Btpgvva64-i4aRvtew415p/s400/DSC05069.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next project: get a mantel built</td></tr>
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Now, to the living room! Upstairs we were missing a tile.<br />
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The tile is all original to the house and it's unlikely we'd be able to find a match. We opted to pick out new tile that looked almost identical, then had them chip out the old. They left the granite corner pieces, which are still in fine condition.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0s3TMfQkxItwECCF9v8JV_malQd-7l3kRAM0IMEBOa38Yy3ILKxA5vkrspxtq2t5vYKz85LZMw4vOgTNZt-WU3fMMBDim5N78ehiBusr4pl9gmOkdHzkK7qlIlNBV3gpcIRrM53Cu3FT-/s1600/DSC05010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0s3TMfQkxItwECCF9v8JV_malQd-7l3kRAM0IMEBOa38Yy3ILKxA5vkrspxtq2t5vYKz85LZMw4vOgTNZt-WU3fMMBDim5N78ehiBusr4pl9gmOkdHzkK7qlIlNBV3gpcIRrM53Cu3FT-/s400/DSC05010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRJQq2s0zxo__bRZKBONw3Ab7gyHnVag_BawO8lAlVJNUS3DyGaILuTafBL97RXQBARBsn9izxOlPQfKCoVVoHyMLlkHbjymuoQ8JaCCPBAsl7VwVvevlSk09i3h3X0b-TXUXqjhxKJqH/s1600/DSC05013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRJQq2s0zxo__bRZKBONw3Ab7gyHnVag_BawO8lAlVJNUS3DyGaILuTafBL97RXQBARBsn9izxOlPQfKCoVVoHyMLlkHbjymuoQ8JaCCPBAsl7VwVvevlSk09i3h3X0b-TXUXqjhxKJqH/s400/DSC05013.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like it was always there</td></tr>
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Now I just need to stain the hearth grout (they informed me that it was originally charcoal colored and has bleached out over the years) and we should be good to go.<br />
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I want to reiterate how great All Fuel was to work with. We had to wait about three weeks to get a bid from them and wait a little longer for install, because they are in such high demand. Their bid was $2000 less than Jacobs and they covered all the little things that make these projects better. They wear booties in your house so they don't gunk up your floors. They put down drop cloths. They are very communicative about what they're doing, when. They are unfailingly nice and very clean. Someone picks up the phone right away when you call. The install takes three days total and this was probably the least stressful project I've ever endured (for the record, <a href="http://www.justagirlwithahammer.com/2013/10/done-and-done.html">insulation</a> was the most stressful).<br />
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Likewise, Tom at Neilson Construction was fantastic. There were several times when I asked for things (extra cuts! more tile!) that created more work for him and he cheerfully gave me exactly what I wanted. He was so easy to work with.<br />
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If you need me, I plan to be camped out right here for the next few months.<br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10404180898034770946noreply@blogger.com0