Newbie from Texas

30 May '07 5:09 pm

I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. I joined a few days ago and already love this place. I am in Texas, a 40 something mom of 2 high school teenagers,(1 girl and 1 boy) and of course I love flowers. Now that the kids are older and more involved with their own activities, I find I have more time for my dream of a beautiful garden of my own. I have always kept a few flowerbeds, but now I can get a little more serious. There are so many lovely gardens on here, who knows what they will inspire me to create.

30 May '07 5:55 pm

Your avatar gives an intriguing glimpse of your former garden - like peeping through a keyhole. Could you show us more pics of it pleeeeeze?
Dixie.

30 May '07 9:10 pm

Here are some pics of the old garden, I am surprised and dissapointed at how few I have. They are not the greatest shots and are of a work in progress, but then I seem to find all gardens are that, at least for me. I always have more to add or changes to make. Now remember. I am not up to the standard of gardening excellence of most people here.
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Hope I did this right, hard to figure out how to post the pics. I resized the big ones to what it claimed to be thumbnails, but they did not appear to shrink to me. I just let them off till I can figure out the resizing thing.

31 May '07 6:06 am

I can see here a happy, colourful garden!! If somebody had told me that I could be moved to a house with THIS garden, those difficult balcony appartment days, I would have flied up to the moon out of joy!! But believe me, the joy and LOVE I felt for my pot garden those narrow balcony days, was exactly the same, with the joy and LOVE I feel for my present garden! So! Every garden is a blessing, no matter how big, how small, luxurious or not , "manicured" or not, stylish or not !! Our gardens are gardens of the heart! That is why we feel so close to each other in this Forum-garden meeting place!! Welcome, dear new gardener friend!

31 May '07 12:50 pm

I love the colours in your garden -I have a canna the same colour as yours -a bright coral and it is so cheerful and rewarding.
Believe me - the photos we show are when our garden looks good ! -I would be embarrassed if someone came to visit some other times ! !
Dixie.

31 May '07 3:09 pm

I really like the color combination of white with the deep purple flowers. With the blue flowers and green as background, the overall feeling for me is very calming - similar to what you might get with a white garden, but more interesting to look at on a daily basis.

The coolest thing for me though is the birdcage structure. It being white too allows it to fit in seamlessly while adding a whole lot of whimsy and personality. I'm not usually fond of much artwork in the garden but when it works it is delightful.

Now you have a new canvas to paint! I started my garden in my early 40's. I'm sure glad I did because when I think about how I used to blast away for days on end back then, well I don't think I could do that now. If I work really hard in the garden all day -like digging and moving a lot of soil or lifting a lot of stones- now I can't count on being able to go again the next day.

When I first started I would draw up plans on paper mostly thinking about the color of the flowers, but not really anticipating how it would work sculpturally, you know, as you look at it head on. It always seems that if you can take one or two steps, you can see more clearly what to do next. This is exciting or scary but you'll have more fun if you decide you want to develop your own aesthetic garden taste and just go for it. It's all process, it never ends and its fun - much more fun than worrying about what it is supposed to look like.

1 Jun '07 6:31 am

Thank you all for your kind replies. I did love that little garden, luckily the lady that lives there is a friend and I get to visit and help her out. I have known her for 6 years and she turns 83 every year, LOL. The weeding and digging are hard on her now days so it is fun to go over and spend a day with her in the garden. Well, she is such a great lady, it is fun to spend a day with her doing anything actually.
I just seem to gravitate to the blues and whites, kind of the same way in interior decor. I do try to add other colors but invariably if it comes to a choice between a flower color, I go for the blue or white, alot of pink too. I have to add more colors to the pallette this time. Here are a couple of pictures so you can see what I have to work with now, any ideas?
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A very shady backyard and a nice sunny side yard with a view of the pond across the road.
The grass is sort of shaggy and the day overcast, we have had rain every day for more than a week, glad for it, it has ended our 2 yr drought, but a little sunshine now...please!

2 Jun '07 4:07 pm

Beautiful pictures! I'd never ever forget the colour green - in fact all the colours of the rainbow, I reckon, if you have a larger space. You can get away with the most awfully bright things if there's lots of green space and lots of fresh air! (well, I try to!)

Colour phases are interesting, too, when you're building up a new garden. When I first planted roses I went all silly over whites and pinks. The result was a garden that looked like a sprinkling of marshmallows and icing sugar. Then I was only allowed to buy red and yellow roses, and tones inbetween. So it looked like a fruit salad. Oh boy!

It's lovely to meet you and see your pictures. Happy gardening!

2 Jun '07 7:32 pm

Thank you for the welcome. The yard is pretty already, I think, with just the trees and grass but I have to have flowers, lots of flowers. I am thinking ferns and hostas mainly for the shady backyard with some shade blooming plants like bleeding heart and lily of the valley. I think I want quite a bit of white, to brighten it up, maybe some white hydrangeas? The side yard I will want some roses, just because I can't help but love them and a large perennial border full of sunny bright flowers, to block the view of the road but still allow me to see the pond. Still just in the thinking stages really, tho I have planted alot of summer annual seed that is popping up nicely along the side of the house. I thought some color and flowers to enjoy while I am still planning and getting things started. I know it is going to take some time to get it all together. The annuals will give me quick results that won't be permanent so I can decide what I want and where.

2 Jun '07 9:47 pm

Welcome aboard! Smile

Never worry how you'll compare to the other board members, if they'll accept me as I am they'll take anyone. Very Happy

My garden is embarrassingly 'raw' considering how long we've been here (3 years) and I don't have a lot to show for it so I'm betting you'll be streaks ahead of me and I'll be hoping to get ideas off you. Smile

Newbie from Texas

Newbie from Texas

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A happy, colourful garden!

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Colours

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