When I posted photos of our new fence like this one…
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I intentionally cropped them at the point where the color changes on our neighbor’s garage. I wanted you to be able to appreciate the fence, and not be distracted like I am every time I walk into the back garden. Of course in the interest of full disclosure the real ugly was pre-privet removal…
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Closely followed by our new view.
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Yes it’s hideous. Yes it screams 3rd grade child let loose with crayons. Yes I should march right over there and ask them if I can paint, after all it’s the back of their garages which they never see. However, I’ve learned there is no solution quite like the one you own. So I throw $60 of paint and 20 hrs of my time at a nice paint job. Then one of the houses sells and the new owner repaints, AUGH! So while I may still inquire about painting I really needed to take steps to conceal the ugly within the confines of our own property. Thinking thinking thinking…
A kind friend offered a chunk or two of Chusquea culeou 'Gigantea'– pretty much the dream of an instant screen. Ugly garage? What ugly garage?
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A smart person probably would have gone for this option (free, instant, lush). However I just couldn’t shake the feeling this plant was too big and too shaggy for my small urban garden. I gave up the perfect screen in favor of a long term solution I would be happier with.
Yes, really. You read that right. Me, the gardener with no patience, chose a long term solution. No, hell did not just freeze over, at least I don’t think so.
So Andrew signed off on buying a specimen size plant. I started researching. I schemed and schemed and I changed my mind. This is the second crazy thing you’re going to read in this post. I had the okay to spend serious cash on a new big plant, but I chose not to. Instead I went shopping in my own garden. It turns out there is a hidden benefit to planting things too close together and in places where they don’t belong. You can liberate them! This poor loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) was planted too close to our house.
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It was a small thing when I planted it, but 4 years later it was growing and obviously not in a place for long term success. Here it is shortly after purchasing and before planting (April of 2011), I was waiting for the house to be painted before planting.
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This photo is from last summer…lush!
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And there it is in its new home…
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Fingers crossed that I got enough roots and it will make the move okay. Closer…
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It’s got a little growing to do, I’m working on that patience thing.
All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
I intentionally cropped them at the point where the color changes on our neighbor’s garage. I wanted you to be able to appreciate the fence, and not be distracted like I am every time I walk into the back garden. Of course in the interest of full disclosure the real ugly was pre-privet removal…
Closely followed by our new view.
Yes it’s hideous. Yes it screams 3rd grade child let loose with crayons. Yes I should march right over there and ask them if I can paint, after all it’s the back of their garages which they never see. However, I’ve learned there is no solution quite like the one you own. So I throw $60 of paint and 20 hrs of my time at a nice paint job. Then one of the houses sells and the new owner repaints, AUGH! So while I may still inquire about painting I really needed to take steps to conceal the ugly within the confines of our own property. Thinking thinking thinking…
A kind friend offered a chunk or two of Chusquea culeou 'Gigantea'– pretty much the dream of an instant screen. Ugly garage? What ugly garage?
A smart person probably would have gone for this option (free, instant, lush). However I just couldn’t shake the feeling this plant was too big and too shaggy for my small urban garden. I gave up the perfect screen in favor of a long term solution I would be happier with.
Yes, really. You read that right. Me, the gardener with no patience, chose a long term solution. No, hell did not just freeze over, at least I don’t think so.
So Andrew signed off on buying a specimen size plant. I started researching. I schemed and schemed and I changed my mind. This is the second crazy thing you’re going to read in this post. I had the okay to spend serious cash on a new big plant, but I chose not to. Instead I went shopping in my own garden. It turns out there is a hidden benefit to planting things too close together and in places where they don’t belong. You can liberate them! This poor loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) was planted too close to our house.
It was a small thing when I planted it, but 4 years later it was growing and obviously not in a place for long term success. Here it is shortly after purchasing and before planting (April of 2011), I was waiting for the house to be painted before planting.
This photo is from last summer…lush!
And there it is in its new home…
Fingers crossed that I got enough roots and it will make the move okay. Closer…
It’s got a little growing to do, I’m working on that patience thing.
All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.