Voicelessness and Emotional Survival > Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board
Yard
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
lighter:
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.
Lighter
lighter:
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.
Lighter
lighter:
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: )
Lighter
lighter:
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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