A gardener never quits!

7 Jan '07 3:43 pm

You have a bazillion roses already, with beautiful companion plants. I'm quite taken with that large iris, it's such a yummy colour. Very Happy

7 Jan '07 4:07 pm

Hi, Pusslil-

I really liked your picture of the penstemons! So far, I've been unlucky in growing red ones, but I have one "Sour Grapes" plant that is in a bit too much shade but which blooms anyway. Here's a close-up of it. My other penstemons are all violet in colour - some of them I dug up in the mountains in the dry interior, and one came from the top of Mt. Rainier in the U.S., but neither has so far bloomed.

7 Jan '07 5:57 pm

I have a pentstemon the same as 'sour grapes'(what a name ! )
I really like it ,but am disappointed that it just flops on the ground ,instead of standing tall It is cut back every winter -Pusslil -Gordon -any advice on how to strengthen the stems ?
Dixie

7 Jan '07 6:30 pm

Nope- no idea how to stop it flopping. Mine does the same thing. Perhaps more sun?

-gordonf

7 Jan '07 6:36 pm

Dixie and Gordon...I need to stake mine when they get too tall... the one in my neighbor's garden is tall and never needs staking...but... it does have a different leaf to the one I have, so maybe it's a different cultivar.. I only planted 2 last year as I know they get big, but they are coming out soon as I want to add more roses to the round garden!Pennstemons do need cutting back after the first flowering... a secong comes on fairly quickly.
ANNA...that Iris is going to be divided up next month.. if you want some you are welcome to it! They have spread a lot and now taking a bit much room.

9 Jan '07 3:10 am

Wow! Well, I've just read through the last three pages of this thread which have been added over the weekend (when I can't log on!! Sad

) and I'm just amazed, Pusslil, at your courage and kindheartedness. When I read how your stepdaughter had treated you, I felt so angry, particularly (and this is no reflection on you personally - those who know me will recognise by unconditional devotion to all animals) when you described her daughter's cruelty to your beloved animals. When you went on to tell about her vindictive, petty act after you left, I then felt sorry for her and, as has been said before, you are by far the better person and you can look forward with your new, beautiful, garden while they will only look backwards with bitterness! I hope you do not mind me speaking with such candour, I'm sorry but I just can't help it!

Anyway, moving on, I'm delighted like a child to see all your gorgeous blooms in your new garden - you have made such good use of the space and have made a wonderful display!

9 Jan '07 3:39 am

What a precious , adorable Rose! The garden is lovely, Pusslil! All the photos are just joey! And that purply-blue Penstemon! What a Divine Art its exceptional colours!

I just loved this idea of units and common gardens! It is a splendid idea for people getting closer to each other! Not only splendid as an artistic and gardening result! Is it an idea practised all over N.Zealand or just a local legislation? It is really so interesting!

9 Jan '07 5:52 am

You mentioned that you would like hanging baskets ,but hooks were not allowed ...My late mother lived in a unit similar to yours at Bryant village ,and she put up three ornamental wall brackets on the front wall (two little holes for each which could be filled in if not needed )Her baskets looked gorgeous .
Another thought would be having a tall standard pole in your garden area , something like a hat stand ,and suspend baskets from that .I'll try to find Mum's photo .Have you seen the hanging baskets at Morrinsville ?
Dixie.

9 Jan '07 6:04 am

Dixie you are right, there is such a thing (similar to the hat stand Wink

) sold in garden centers. They are about 6 feet tall and you push them into the ground. They have about 5 maybe 6 hangers poking out to hang baskets on. Very cute! Very Happy

9 Jan '07 12:05 pm

I am sorry , but I really do not understand WHY it is a problem or illegal for the owner of each house/unit, to decorate the house with flowering hunging baskets! Why? I once used to live in a small two-storey house , having a common wall with a twin little house . You could call these twin houses "two units"?? The owner of these two houses, never obliged us -- the two families hiring his houses -- to express our gardening taste according to his taste!...He trusted us to do what we wished in the small gardens and the balconies! And both houses looked really nice, full of flowers! I just find these restrictions very in-humane or rude! They only prevent people from feeling happy through gardening...

A gardener never quits!

Penstemons

Pentstemons

Sour Grapes

Oh! Carolyn!!

Hanging baskets

Plant poles

Hunging buskets...