Swimpy's Landscaping Thread

this is handy for just about any gardener in North America interested in plant/seed exchanges

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/exchind/

Thanks for going to all that trouble, Beth. None of the exchanges are very close to where I am, but I'll keep the links for future reference. I was overwhelmed yesterday when I thought about all the work that this yard needs. In addition, hubby hurt his back pruning the Japanese maple in the back, so he's not available to help me for a while. I need to focus (focus, focus) on replacing the boxwoods and adding about six interesting plants to the hosta beds, three on each side. I can do that (I can.)

I'm going to get the veggie garden planted this afternoon (I will!) as soon as the rain stops. (THAT was not in the forecast!) Then I can focus (focus, focus) on the front.

(I sound like a crazy woman, don't I?)

No, you sound like a sane woman who has a challenging yard.

I relate. Oh, do I relate. (I put in enormous amounts of work on my accursed back slope a few weeks ago -- wouldn't know it to look at it now. More enormous amounts required, stat. Sigh.)

You can do it, Soz. (Said for my benefit as well.) I really want the yard to come together. We are having a family reunion to celebrate my mother's 100th birthday in June. Not at my house, but still people will be over to visit. I'll just do what I can to make it presentable.

One small triumph! I got the tomatoes, peppers and some kinds of unidentified cabbage type plants in! Taking a small break before planting lettuce and spinach seeds.

I was out for a walk tonight and saw some dwarf hydrangeas planted at the nunnery. Now I have to have them! I'm on a mission.

Smiles...

so, how were they planted that they succeeded this well..

let me guess as a swath...

I'm a big swath fan.

Check out where they are re the sun, and overheads.

They were just planted along the road, not in any particular fashion. I just liked their size. Small round and compact. They were the white ones. what excited me the most is that they probably were purchased locally. Now my challenge ( should I choose to accept it) is to find them. I have a good notion that they were gotten from one of the local nurseries, not a garden center.

What would constitute a swath, btw?

Glad to see you here! There are lots of landscaper in Iowa. I suggest you to prefer some popular local listing websites like, yelp, yellowpages etc. and call them.

The OP most likely will never benefit from your post as not been active here in years. You might want to check the date-stamp of posts in the future. Swimpy has last posted a year ago but the thread was last posted to 6 yrs ago.

sozobe, it may be years too late, but for your super shady back yard have you put in some hellebores? I have found them to be amazing! They are very forgiving in terms of soil and water conditions as well.