Yard

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Tupp:

I vote you cover the little front area in pots and cultivate things you love to eat and look at. I have poppies and veggies going.  Poppies make me so happy!  Cleaning up the alleyway should happen only if it costs you nothing physically. though the idea of cleaning it up appeals to me a good deal.  Making things feel special, after they've been neglected a long while, is so satisfying, IME.

If you don't have enough pots...  have you considered planting in bales?  That used to be a thing... right?

About your little mossy area.... maybe leading to a secret fairy garden.  I'm going to choose a dense area in my yard where I can pretend it comes out in your little mossy garden. That brings me so much joy to picture you just over there.... on the other side of a hedge..... happily tending your little patch: )

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Hops:

I hope your blueberry bushes are productive and happy when you finally get a look at them.  Did you say you fertilized them? 

It feels like this stay at home time has given you more joy and connection with your house and garden, Hops. No matter what happens with M.... that connection will enhance it. IME.  It always makes me feel good to read M is helping you with your projects.  With your space. 

As for the house hunting..... meh.  Who says you have to have any conclusions to try things?

What rules say you have to do anything?  Are there rules?  And if there are, are they your rules, or rules inside your head?

You don't have to make ANY PLAN and stick to it if it's not working.  You can have a different plan today, and tomorrow and the next day.  If you feel like spending more time with M.... you do.  Less?  Less.

Is the image of Auntie Mame (Rosalinda Russel, of course) pointing out where new very tall planting beds should go, before readying herself to spend a night at M's (in her own beautiful blue study/bedroom) an odd thing to pop up just now?

Hopsy Mame, digging into life, enjoying it deeply, confident M wants to enjoy it with her.  If not now...  when?

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[Hopalong]

PS Let's head over to the Relationship thread (where I am grateful, as here, for Relationship responses) to leave YARD in its glorious own space.

Hugs
Hops

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I had a fantastic day digging up tons of huge Hostas from very generous neighbor's yard.  His Hosta grow like mad..... I can take all I want.  It would cost hundreds of dollars to purchase the specimens I filled my truck with today.  Like a dream!  The plan is to replace all the moss in the front yard... I have large stone circles around the trees.... all will be Hosta inside circles soon. 

My back is feeling about normal again.... thank God. 

I also picked up 4 55 gallon rain barrels for 12.00..... they were Dawn dish soap containers originally, repurposed to hold water at a hunting camp without a well.   I had to make 2 trips, but worth it.   The guy selling them was full of gardening information and had beehives!  BEE. HIVES.  So much happiness in those discussions. 

Lighter

[Hopalong]

How neat, Lighter!
Especially rain barrels.
I'm sure you've installed them before...one thing that turned out to be crucial that I learned (belatedly) was the importance of mounting them on a good base of say three cinderblocks in height, minimum, to have adequate flow from the hose. I had one installed by a confident amateur at my parents' house and it leaked and eventually cracked the foundation. Oof!

I have lots of huge hostas along my patio. Deer used to eat them before but now that it's got funiture and two gates, my yard is finally deer proof. Well, not the front yard, but all the rest.

M took a big order from me for a garden center and brought me huge bags of potting soil, and some of my favorites: lobelia, portulaca, and geraniums. I've got more seeds and some old spring-flowering bulbs (weird tall flowers, forget the name) and I'm going to give them a go. One thing I lack is adequate water source on that side of the house which means I have to lug a watering can from my kitchen sink out to the patio over and over and over, which is uncomfortable for my back but likely good for me.

Your rain barrel made me think: hmmm, just one on that side could change a lot. But the leaky one of yore makes me pause....

Enjoy!
Hops

[Hopalong]

Hi CB,
Most of the annuals will go in planters on my sunny side patio. A couple in big pots on the front porch (deer snacks).

We have LOADS of deer. When I moved here 8 years ago one twilight I puttered down the street toward my new house, behind a sauntering group of TEN adolescent deer. And at first (before my deer fence), I found that five of them were sleeping all night outside my back window by the patio fence. I felt badly that when I twitched open my white curtains, it spooked them.

They were entering my big back yard from the side -- my English gardener neighbor's side. They would hop into her yard, then over into mine. She got fed up and installed deer fencing and we arranged for it to be added atop my back fence (chain link) at the same time. It's green wire, blends in, and cost me only $200. No deer here now since, out back or on the sides, because that did it. Out front, small yard with dogwood, crepe myrtle and a few azaleas and other small things...lots of irises....deer will walk up and eat the flowers right out of my two front porch planters. Don't ask why I plant things there anyway! Someone gave me a big grass plant, maybe that'd be fun in a planter. Probably deer dessert.

The weird old bulbs are for patio planters (lemme go grab them): blazing stars and freesias, which I'll put together in a few big planters. Have a few ancient tulip bulbs too. No idea if these will work but we'll see. My goal is mostly to have flowers in pots on my sunny side patio, since that's another place I can safely sit (social distancing) with friends. The front yard has some flowers by the sidewalk but not many, since deer like them too much. The azaleas and irises seem pretty safe.

Feel free to have an out of body experience and come help me weed!

Hugs
Hops

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CB:

The moss in the front yard is...... perfect, which means it:
Looks a little like putting greens at a glance.  When I first planted features around the trees they were amazing!  I put in many upright growers, and they added height and texture... I planted different seasonal things with them... and arranged large stones in among to anchor.  Just amazing.

Then the upright growing moss began dying.  I suspect it's bc they weren't drying out between rains and waterings. I replaced the upright growing moss with moss from my back yard, which is a horizontal growing moss.... very thick and happy, and much of the tiny little round moss that stays moist so long..... tiny star moss, but all very low and flat.  Not much of a feature anymore, so prompts me to re think that space.  I adore the thick tall Hostas, all shade plants make my heart happy. 

Since I have unlimited access to amazing Hosta.... it's a no brainer.  I'll move most of the moss, but leave much in place to keep weeds down. 

There's a patch of moss in the back yard... well, many patches of moss that look yellow.... like bears pee there.  Not attractive. I've replaced that moss ONCE and now have to re think what I'll do next.  I have to figure out what's causing it.  IS it a mildew or mold or something in the soil?  Any ideas?


Most everyone around me wants to kill moss, not heal or plant it!  I love how you enjoyed opening boxes of moss and handling it.... cherishing it....keeping the small piece on your desk.... finding little hitchhikers with joy... ferns and frogs.  I have many tiny ferns I want to give more prominence.

In Japan tending to moss is considered an honor.  I feel that way about it.  Yesterday I did a rough hand fluff on one side of the house to remove all the little things the storm dropped out of the trees.  In those moments I was content... to my core...  and SEEING the happy moss I'd tended, clean and vivid green.... up against the moss covered stumps (BEAUTIFUL!)..... just pure joy.

The Hemlocks and Hosta and Rhododendrons and Azaleas speak to the forest and mountains, rather than a traditional Japanese garden.   I've made peace with that and it's easier to just let go of the features around the trees and let them be Hosta.

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Hops:

The yard I dug up Hostas from has these very tall, Dr. Seuss round ball orange flowers on top of 5 foot tall stems.... amazing!  Just popping out of the Hosta, like a whimsical dream.  I don't know the name, but I'm going to find out.

You seem to be enjoying M jumping and giving some attention to gardening with you.  I'm glad.  About the rain barrels.... I pretty much have barrels I let rain fill.  They sit under imperfect places in my gutter system now.  These new barrels will go in the garden to collect rain, which we've had days and days of recently.

I'm happy your deer problem is under control in the back.  At my father's, the deer defy gravity, hopping easily over tall fencing around the garden. I hope your deer aren't just messing with you...lulling you into a false sense of security!

Having lots of bulbs and flowers would be lovely. 

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CB:

The moss has definite cirlcles of yellowing moss in a yard of perfectly green healthy moss.   It truly looks like bears are peeing in those spots.   Maybe they are.  Neighbors with perfect moss yard suggest I change out yellow moss for healthy moss,  which I've done in the past. I really wanted to figure out the cause though.  Maybe something in the soil as this has starred around a tree stump downhill from the original area.  I realize I've been pretty upset over this, when I can just change our the moss and release my need to understand and solve the original problem.

I have to admit... the big orange ball flower is really a large cone looking thing in the neighbor's yard.  I looked up the lily you suggested and it's just what I was picturing, but I remembered it wrong.  Red Hot Poker Torch Lily.... more of a cone shape, less round is what's actually there.  I think they both have that Dr. Seuss feel. They're so unexpected.

I adore touching happy moss... esp the ones growing in little tight mounds.  Even if I can't grow that kind in my yard... I always touch them when I find them on rocks or in the forest. We have little green tree frogs...  I've only ever seen 1 in my yard.  It felt like finding a fairy.  Working with moss would, and getting paid for it, would be a dream job for me, CB: )

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Yesterday I moved 7 big Hostas to my neighbor's planting bed.  I'm still plotting and planning what I want to do in my yard.  Everyone has an opinion and I'm interested in discerning what I want.  Until then, I'm feeling a bit paralyzed. 

My moss gathering visit with new friend was nice.  We talked about my yard, then hung out with her husband in her yard... they pointed out all the new projects and moss and stone paths and trees.... very industrious, they are.  At some point her husband will come by and share his thoughts on my yard.  I'm looking forward to it.  90% research.  10% execution.

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[Hopalong]

CB, your moss was your FRIEND. Sounds like a plant puppy to me.
Soft and alive and if it had a tail, it'd be wagging, right?

Lighter, wacky idea you'd have to Google. If Nature's Miracle (the enzyme stuff you spray on puppy accidents, which neutralizes the pee and doesn't harm the wool) is safe for plants....AND you're sure it's bears peeing, maybe you could try that on the yellow spots?

Hugs
Hops

[lighter]

I suspect the fungus answer is the likeliest answer, CB.

I'm thinking about pulling up the moss, treating with a fungicide, letting that sit for a while, then planting healthy moss back.

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[Hopalong]

Got the Google itch:

https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/20/what-animal-is-killing-my-lawn-with-stinky-pee/

EVERYBODY else is selling bear urine products to deter unwanted dogs.

Oh well, not much help. Hope yours are imaginary bears. I know they exist in suburbs and they do here as well, but I'm not sure they're a major cause of lawn/moss damage.

Could be, though! Night vision cameras, there's the ticket!


Hops

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We have lots of bears,but they can't be peeing in my yard THIS much.  Can they?

I do think it's the fungus, but googling leads to ways to kill moss, not heal it.

I posted on a Bonsai tree board today, just in case someone, from Japan maybe, knows something they can share.

I've been resisting DOING something about this.  When I act, I want to solve the problem.

Digging up some of the dirt would be best, CB.  I have this perfectly smooth moss..... digging and refilling to level, so it doesn't sink, is a PITA!  I can hear my inner baby whining away. 

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I've tried to attach a photo of the yellow circles, but the file is too large.  Hmmm.... it would be so helpful. 

Anyway, I worked in the garden today.  I have tiny little zucchini, yellow squash, spinach, lettuces and cucumbers and bean seedlings coming up.  Planting tiny emerging seeds was a PITA, but it's pretty much done.  Not very organized, particularly bc of the pounding of many days of heavy rain, but they're coming up!.  I love gardening!  Travel kept me from doing more of it and being distracted or whatever, but I'm back gardening, baby! 8 beautiful tomato plants.  This is JOY!

I worked with the neighbor's tomato plants a bit... pulled off yellow branches and fertilized them.  Then we chatted a bit.... I haven't been drinking beer with them for months, for several reasons.  Firstly, the habit began when we were tasting their home brews. They DRANK all their home brews in a matter of days.  Too quickly.  Shockingly quickly.

 Second... I'm FULL all the time. 

Thirdly, I don't like being around people who drink over a certain amount.

Fourth.... the husband is really healing up and becoming more of the bawdy cowboy with his cowgirl wife.  SHE almost peed her pants today laughing at a"children's" book called BARBARA'S BEAVER NEEDS A BARBER. This book is by the company REACH AROUND BOOKS who put out other titles such as SPANK THE MONKEY LENDS A HAND, DO YOU WANT TO SWING WITH US and PUT TORY's NUTS IN YOUR MOUTH...... SUZY LIKES TO LOOK AT BALLS.... all by REACH AROUND BOOKS.  I mean.... that's funny stuff, right?   Maybe I'd pee my pants laughing if it wasn't THEM?

::shrug::

I think I'm just having more fun with other neighbors.... the BBQ bunch from Saturday night, the new family with 2 little blue-eyed toe head baby girls... 3 and 1yo.  They're cultivating moss too, and introduced themselves today.  I met the daddy's father on Friday, next door to the cranky lady neighbor who tried to be cool with us collecting moss from behind her yard, on the walkway under the powerlines, but just couldn't get there.   Anway.... they'll be asking for advice I'm happy to give.  Moss friend Lisa and her husband are great.   

It always feels like I'm being groomed when people talk about sex and bring it up all the time.  Even in book club at church.... I was always uncomfortable when the elderly members thought everything was about sex. I refused to comment when they went that direction.   

I guess I just have to admit I don't like the neighbors from 2 doors down as much now they're feeling more their normal selves and I didn't know them well before they were ill.  The healing/nurturing/protector spirit in me is rocked back on her heels.... I'm not judging them.  I'm just thinking about other neighbors when I'm with them.  Hee. That looks funny to write.

There's one other person on these doggy playdates.  A married man with a crazy new puppy who's out of control much of the time.  He sometimes talks about not having sex with his wife, but I pretty well nipped that in the bud. What is it with people, SEX SEX SEX. I've about lost patience with him allowing his dog to run wild.  Today he was terrorizing a little boy.... maybe 4yo, on my property.  I had to stop gardening and take him 2 doors down to where the adults were playdating.  I really like them all.   I'm just feeling  some frustration and figuring out how to find more balance with them.  I want the big crazy puppy tied to an overhead line, but that's not happened in all the weeks we;ve determined we have the line and can do it. 

I have all that Hosta to plant tomorrow.  Last night I went to bed and got up this morning thinking about what I want to do with it.  I have a better idea now.

Lighter