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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Remembering

With the new year beginning, many of us are looking back at the past year and lots of my blogging pals have reviewed their year in pictures.  Since I've only been blogging since July of this year, I decided to look further back.

 
O.K. so maybe not so long ago or far away.  Do you remember a year called 2006.  It was a more innocent time in our gardens long before the two PKWs (Phormium Killing Winters;)  a time when little one gallon phormiums would grow taller than people and anchor whole beds.
 
There were even large cordylines that didn't succumb to winter's icy fingers.
 
 
 
 
 
It was a magical time full of exploration and making yard art.
 
 
The year my first cardiocrinum giganteums bloomed.

 And the "garden in a day" I put in the year before filled in nicely.

 
It's fun to remember what our gardens looked like in years past.  
It's also enjoyable to ponder what our next steps in the garden will be.  For me, major editing is in order for most of the garden along with bringing back phormiums.  It's probably a good idea to redo one area at a time and not throw everything into disarray at once.  On the other hand, I could leave everything alone, cram more plants in and enjoy whatever survives. 
 
Thanks for tripping down memory lane with me.   What projects are you contemplating for the coming season?
 
 

35 comments:

  1. It's always fun to look back at what our gardens looked like in the past...it's so easy to forget just how much things can change in just a few years time. Can't wait to see what you have in store for this year ;-)

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    1. It would be best if I could bring myself to cut down some trees that have now overtaken spaces, get rid of some weedy plants and exercise some restraint in plant selection. My buy one of everything that strikes your fancy/survival of the fittest m.o. is not conducive to creating a cohesive garden.

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  2. Gorgeous gardens, the phormiums are a star there. We had similar freezes here with the same results to the borderline hardy plants.

    A lot of new beds are still needed so that's where my focus will be along with reworking existing ones. Today is relocation day for the woody perennials which probably sounds bizarre to those in colder zones!

    With the good start you have and your love of great plants, your garden is sure to be beautiful whichever direction you go with it.

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    1. Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you! I'm thinking that agent orange might be the best direction for my garden at this point.

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  3. When I look back at older photos of my garden it makes me realize how things move around on their own (the little devils!) Sometimes I like the new look and sometimes I use the old photo as a blueprint to put things back as I originally intended. You have a lot of gorgeous arrangements going on in your pictures.

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    1. These pictures made me a little sad at how much I've let things slip. There's always another summer.

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  4. Returning to your Phormium ways are you? Very interesting. Will this be a jump into the deep end of the pool or just getting your toes wet in the kiddy pool?

    Love seeing your garden way back when, it's gorgeous of course. I've started playing with different patterns for my lawn removal project in the back garden. Just marking off different sizes/patterns of lawn and trying to imagine them planted up really underscores how small my garden is!

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    1. I can't wait to see what you come up with for that lawn project! You had some fabulous ideas in your blog post. Did you decide which one you'd be going with?

      I'm now thinking that yucca rostratas look really cool but they need careful placement or they'll just get lost in the jungle of foliage.

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  5. Nostalgia makes the heart grow fonder, for the days of yesteryear for sure. Its wonderful tripping down memory lane - witnessing the newly planted border which are responding with their their childlike enthusiasm. Remember the days when we thought they were showing off just for us? And then you realize that sadly our climates have changed - true proof of the global warming/freezing debacle that no one seems to agree about! I think I will follow your lead my friendly Outlaw and take a trip down memory lane. I've uncovered some virgin ground while cleaning up the compost pile and am planning to increase the Arisaema and Epimedium collections, as well as add some interesting new bones... Abies concolor Blue Cloak, Acer p. 'Hana Matoi', Cercis 'Forest Pansy', Cedrus atlantica 'Horstmann' and Albizia 'Summer Chocolate.' Need to find me a sugar daddy in the meantime!

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    1. I've been excited to see you must have list on your blog and am also looking forward to seeing how you'll fit all of those in! The sugar daddy idea is an excellent one. If only I had married for money instead of love...

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  6. Oh my gosh, hello? These photos are delicious! What a treat. I too remember the days before those nasty PKWs. The previous July I had concluded that my Phormium 'Sundowner' would be okay if I lifted it out of its pot and planted it in the garden proper. WRONGO! Hindsight.

    I think the days of Zonal Denial are behind us now. We either need to have a protective greenhouse or be willing to buy new plants every year. Global warming isn't happening in the PNW.

    Fortunately we've got the photos to remind us of the good times. Thanks for the memories!

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    1. I've got one phormium and some cordylines that are outside in pots ready to come inside should it get to 25. I'm going to give the couple most hardy phormiums another chance in the ground this year as last winter wasn't horrendous, the two PKW's were unusual, and I was able to enjoy those big dark ones for about 12 years (they even bloomed a couple of years) before they died. Not a bad run really. Denial is alive and well if only in my mind.

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  7. I really enjoyed this look back at your garden in the past. That was the year we moved here, and I remember being amazed at the Phormiums (and the Hebes). Little did I know that they would all die so soon after. I have pictures of my garden back east, but I was a camera dunce then. Good luck with the Phormiums!

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    1. Thanks! I have a bunch of stuff from 2008 to post someday as well. I'm thinking that we should once again embrace Phormiums and simply think of them as very long lived annuals. Besides, the new USDA hardiness map says i'm now in zone 9. The USDA said it, I'm choosing to believe it, that settles it. (Really? Zone 9? In my dreams!)

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  8. Stunning! For once in my life I'm speechless.. Well, I have something for you in my blog, Peter!

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    1. Speechless? Say it's not so! I see that you have questions for me on your blog as did another blogger. Maybe I'll combine the answers into one blog post.

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  9. Great photos, Peter! I love the last photo with bonsai spruce.

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    1. Thanks Nadezda! I hope you are staying warm and happy!

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  10. Beautiful!!!!!!! I looooooove the flax and Cordy! I believe we will return to those times. I certainly pray that to be the case. And I'm sooo happy you're blogging! It's a wonderful part of my day!

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    1. Thanks Louis! Let's hope for a few more mild winters. I'm glad to be part of your day.

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  11. As for projects... I don't have any concrete plans yet, but I hope s nice trunking rostrata is in my future plans!!! And maybe lending a helping hand (or tropical influence) to some friends.

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    1. Yucca rostratas are starting to look pretty spectacular to me too. Hope you have fun with your non-concrete plans.

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  12. The cardiocrinum is a revelation, and what a great name! Dr. Kildare performed a remarkable cardiocrinum, saving the patient's life. I have to look this plant up. Something tells me it will not grow in zone 5, though.

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    1. Hardy only to zone 7. I found you a house in a previous post so why not just move here where there is no real winter.

      Dr. Bombay, Dr. Bombay, it's a cardiocrinum, come right away!

      Dr. Kildare, hadn't thought of that show in years, what a cardiothrob! I've got a couple of little cardiocrinums started in the garden again & will call them Dr. K and Mr. Chamberlain! Cardiocrinum is monocarpic and ususally take 3 - 7 years to bloom. They produce a lot of little bulblets to continue the cycle but I replanted late and then we had some harsh winters so these will be on my list of plants to shop for this spring.

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  13. Yes, those were the days...& R just put on a Beach Boys CD.

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    1. I hope you have fun, fun, fun 'til your daddy takes the T-bird away!

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  14. Your garden is GORGEOUS! I'm adding several blueberry bushes and more perennials. It doesn't sound exciting but I'm excited anyway. :o)

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    1. Thank you but it's all a matter of where you point the camera. Your plan does too sound exciting! Blueberry bushes look great throughout the year and who doesn't love perennials, the hard working backbone of our gardens?

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  15. That's beautiful. My garden was just a twinkle in my eye back then.

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  16. OMG! Your garden is outstanding! Lush, green, full of interesting plants and combinations... I also like your garden art!

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    1. Thanks Tatyana, It's changed a lot since then sadly.

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    2. Well, that is sad! ...
      Do you still make those garden spheres (like that blue)?

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    3. I haven't made any more spheres but I was thinking of making one or two more someday.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.