tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post7519511532840611662..comments2024-03-07T03:36:23.060-05:00Comments on Old Country Gardens: Times of the Thyme GardenMelanie Chopayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-46242122624704609212008-03-06T22:56:00.000-05:002008-03-06T22:56:00.000-05:00As I was doing some spring cleanup on a very nice ...As I was doing some spring cleanup on a very nice afternoon (under the walnut tree) I got to thinking that maybe part of the problem might have been the shells. A lot of plants that prefer an acid soil might be really offended by the basic soil that would be created by the shells, especially since you said they had disappeared into the soil. Just a thought.Hoot Owl Hollow Nurseryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07041487294520425396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-45494715001703895972008-03-06T14:59:00.000-05:002008-03-06T14:59:00.000-05:00Hi, Melanie, I just came through the Blotanical do...Hi, Melanie, I just came through the Blotanical door so I think I booted you up to #1. Why not?? Your turn.:)<BR/>I'm glad I did. What a lovely blog, great photos, good stories. I didn't know about walnut being a pain, either. I have one in my back yard and I am noticing a tree just adjacent not that happy...hmmm. Must check into that. Thanks for all the good info. You are a great resource! <BR/>Kathryn, plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-61486567990804580642008-03-06T07:56:00.000-05:002008-03-06T07:56:00.000-05:00Aunt Debbi, those clocks were easy to make. Just p...Aunt Debbi, those clocks were easy to make. Just plain concrete stepping stones, paint and a ruler. I didn't worry too much about making them perfect, it's part of the charm (in my opinion).<BR/><BR/>Pam, flux is a good thing, I hope my gardens will be fluxing up this year as last year they really fluxed down :-)<BR/><BR/>Anna, walnut trees emit something called jugulone that makes the soil bad for many other plants but suitable for more walnuts to grow. Of course there's much more scientific things behind this but I don't write scientifically (no fun for me).<BR/><BR/>Jane! How nice to see you here :-)<BR/>Thanks for the list of plants that do well for you under walnuts. These trees are directly north of my garden so the garden actually gets full sun. They must also be thirsty trees because this soil is always the driest here in my yard. I like the idea of bulbs and I should be able to try some bleeding hearts there. Even the Mondarda I have there isn't taking over like it does out front in the daylily beds.Melanie Chopayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-9342230047206770562008-03-06T07:22:00.000-05:002008-03-06T07:22:00.000-05:00We have a large black walnut as the center of one ...We have a large black walnut as the center of one of our hosta gardens. They don't seem to have any problem with the tree. We also have lots of bulbs interplanted there for spring. Adjacent beds which are surely in the root zone have Ilex decidua, Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy', Abeliophyllum distichum, Aucuba, some small maples, and assorted ferns, hellebores, solomon seal, eomecon, Begonia evansiana, tiarellas, and bleeding hearts. All have been there a dozen years <BR/>and are doing great.<BR/>JaneHoot Owl Hollow Nurseryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07041487294520425396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-42649206906864123892008-03-06T00:08:00.000-05:002008-03-06T00:08:00.000-05:00Isn't that lovely? My oh MY...I'm drooling. I have...Isn't that lovely? My oh MY...I'm drooling. I have an oak tree that gobbled up all the moisture and nutrients in part of my garden. It also has very acidic acorns and leaves--so I gave up on that area. The new land had some--but not anymore:) I laughed at your goldilocks containment efforts--yea right. I will not let that near my new gardens. It's beautiful but loves NC. What is it in the walnut trees that is killing the plants? My husband has walnuts outside his office and the only thing growing there is nandinas. He has to park his truck in the back when the walnuts start falling--lol. <BR/><BR/>I can see how you feel overwhelmed at the moment.But when you get a new plan--it will be even more grand than before. Funny too how we forget about plants from days gone by---I look back at some pics of mine and see a plant I don't remember either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-29562734029308871892008-03-05T23:51:00.000-05:002008-03-05T23:51:00.000-05:00What a neat garden, including those delightful clo...What a neat garden, including those delightful clock stepping stones. I'm sorry to hear that it has declined, but a garden is always in a state of flux, isn't it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-86874237003155140252008-03-05T22:34:00.000-05:002008-03-05T22:34:00.000-05:00Frances, let's just say I hopscotch occasionally :...Frances, let's just say I hopscotch occasionally :-)<BR/><BR/>lintys, it's so hard to deal with something that's killing my plants. I've been growing in this spot for 12 years and now it looks so sad.<BR/><BR/>Jodi, some of the list of tolerant plants includes daylilies but that's not the case here in my garden. I do think lamb's ears, echinacea and eupatorium rugosum are still thriving there.<BR/><BR/>Thanks Gail, I love having visitors!<BR/><BR/>Lisa, I know it's going to be lots of work but I really want to get this garden back into shape this year.<BR/><BR/>Joy, I've always taken care of those pots before, I've got my fingers crossed right now!<BR/><BR/>lin and MSinclair Stevens, those clocks still make me smile :-)<BR/><BR/>Marie, thanks for visiting!Melanie Chopayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05985844123815086844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-36602356815472161922008-03-05T22:27:00.000-05:002008-03-05T22:27:00.000-05:00I love the clocks. I think I may copy cat you.I love the clocks. I think I may copy cat you.Aunt Debbi/kurts momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05663049154538571378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-7009935146072375362008-03-05T22:10:00.000-05:002008-03-05T22:10:00.000-05:00I like your clever clock walk in the "Thyme/Time" ...I like your clever clock walk in the "Thyme/Time" garden. I see what you mean about the shells.<BR/><BR/>I think you did an amazing job of transforming the space. I'm struggling with the same issue myself because enclosing a space seems wrong in this land of wide open space.<BR/><BR/>Someday I'll learn the lesson, I suspect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-2203348400808140682008-03-05T17:00:00.000-05:002008-03-05T17:00:00.000-05:00Your garden is full of fun things...love it! I don...Your garden is full of fun things...love it! I don't have as large of property (only about 2/3 of an acre) but I've been thinking of adding a hopscotch...yours with the clock faces is great!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-24566568910342897722008-03-05T12:48:00.000-05:002008-03-05T12:48:00.000-05:00melanie .. really enjoyed that tour as well. i lov...melanie .. really enjoyed that tour as well. i love the terra cotta pots 9they can be "iffy" when left outside .. I actually cleaned mine out and carefully lined them with newspaper .. believe me . doing that, was a miracle for me to do ! LOL<BR/>The gate ... wow ... I would love that too !<BR/>I love gooseneck loosestrife .. people can snicker all they want .. i am not a plant snob !<BR/>I actually found the "burgundy" cultivar and fell in love with it .. gray,blue green leaves and deep burgundy flowers .. here is a link ? http://www.hoffienursery.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=724<BR/>if you haven't seen it before.<BR/>Love the post .. a reprieve from this crappy weather !<BR/>JoyCanadianGardenJoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18130452541076704075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-625014688684638162008-03-05T12:03:00.000-05:002008-03-05T12:03:00.000-05:00Your garden is just so lovely I couldn't not comme...Your garden is just so lovely I couldn't not comment! Now that the walnuts are there it will never be the same, but I know with your intelligence and creativity that you'll find a way to make it healthy and beautiful.Catalyst Of Calamity https://www.blogger.com/profile/17110620366874646398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-2523975821381134382008-03-05T11:10:00.000-05:002008-03-05T11:10:00.000-05:00Melanie,You have wonderful flower vignettes.I love...Melanie,<BR/><BR/>You have wonderful flower vignettes.<BR/><BR/>I love visiting your garden.<BR/><BR/>GailGailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-75845851013442879392008-03-05T10:14:00.000-05:002008-03-05T10:14:00.000-05:00This is a marvelous post, Melanie, with a great se...This is a marvelous post, Melanie, with a great series of photos showing the progression of your garden. I want it in my back yard! But you can keep your neighbour's black walnuts as they're toxic to horses. I didn't realize just how much of a plant inhibitor they can be to others...I'll have to look into finding some plants that aren't so affected by them for you, because now I"m really curious. And I love the clock stepping stones!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-76618306006630791402008-03-05T09:31:00.000-05:002008-03-05T09:31:00.000-05:00I feel your pain, struggling to find plants that w...I feel your pain, struggling to find plants that will grow there now in the wake of the black walnuts. <BR/><BR/>I have similar issues in my shade garden. The cause is different - shallow maple roots, but it's still frustrating. I've never lost so many plants as I have since living here. It's enough to give a (previously) green-thumb gardener nightmares.garden girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13284047851881823280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489642.post-9754294308371037252008-03-05T09:10:00.000-05:002008-03-05T09:10:00.000-05:00Melanie, I really enjoyed your walk down memory la...Melanie, I really enjoyed your walk down memory lane of this garden. Seeing roses and black eyed susans blooming during these cold cycle hills and valleys give us a boost of warmth with the thoughts of what is to come. Good work using rather than tossing things. Do you always hopscotch on the clock faces as you enter the thyme patch? ;-><BR/><BR/>Frances at Faire GardenFrances,https://www.blogger.com/profile/03616568389165362993noreply@blogger.com