I have to go out and take more pictures today, because I've done a ton of stuff since I took these. This backyard is going to look so nice when I'm finally done. I keep telling myself that.
We started with one of those K-Mart pond kits for $70 back in the old house. We learned a lot about the care, which plants held up, and which ones didn't, and it wasn't a huge investment. This one was a huge investment, but we had money from selling the old house and knew we wanted this. The guy who installed it put in some very basic plantings, and it looked lovely, but I knew that I wanted to end up with "garden rooms" and a very private feel. Lots of the plants I've used were essentially free - plants that existed on the property were moved, and some could be divided and spread out even more, and my mom donated a number of cuttings, seedlings, root-running side shoots, and dividable plants. Some people can pick up a lot from reading books, some people are good at making physical plans and layouts, but I'm much more organic about it. Drives my husband nuts. It's cheaper, though. You see, I have to start with a few plants. I place them, imagining how they'll look full grown so I can move them if I need to. I plant them. I watch them grow to see how well they like the spot, and visualize what will fit in the spaces for next year. I do the same thing each year, a few plants at a time. I'm not afraid to break the rules, planting things at the wrong time of year, moving plants that I want to grow more or less to different areas of sun exposure, putting sticks in the ground to see if I get new plants, and buying the last scraggly things in the fall at 75% off and giving them special care so they come back. It's very improvisational, it's always a work in progress, and it gives me something to look forward to every year.
Yep, drives dh nuts cause I only buy a few at a time & see what happens. If they die - not much money lost, if they do well - I make a note & buy more next year.
I love your pond!! I'd like to try something like that sometime.
Kelly
mom to Caroline Macy (3/10/00) & Wyatt Thomas (1/6/02)
It's actually a lot easier than you'd think. I'm glad I hired someone, because I don't think I can dig that much anymore, but you can put together a small one in a day. BTW, the hard liners are more difficult to install because you need to level the dirt under the shelves. With a flexible liner, you make the shape you want, level it where you want, work around things you can't dig out like big roots or rocks, and then lay the liner on top.
I have to trim back some of my rhododendrons and azaleas - I'm thinking of trying to root some new ones. They're such lovely, co-operative plants!
This message has been edited by AlisonM on May 24, 2007 8:33 AM
I'm going to be adding some roses, and mulching the front. I put up a couple of pictures today, because I really need to do befores and afters - it's much more impressive that way.
This message has been edited by AlisonM on May 12, 2007 9:55 AM
