Beautiful, Jon. Outstanding work.

Steve

Thanks Steve. It has grown and grown from simply the wooden / cast iron bench. There is just no room to get any bigger.

Jon

Beautiful job! I love the Japanese maples with the hostas under them. The frogs are cute to! Marg

Great job, beautiful.
James

Thanks Marg, I just need to find something for the inner ring to replace the impatients I used to put there. Coleus....I don't have much success with them.

I'll have to look around when I go back to get a few more Minutemen. It needs some color in the middle. My hope is the the MM will have room to mound and make a nice border.

Jon

Your hostas all have lots of space to grow and show off, and you have space to stroll and enjoy all your hard work.
Well done!
Jan

Thanks James and Jan...no rest for the wicked, I've got to get 4 more MM and something for around the bird bath. It just doesn't look complete.

Jon

Good job,Jon! You certainly left enough room for the hostas to expand. My garden has no room like that,but I still find places for a few more. Phil

Very nice Jon . It does feel great especially when you are done the crappy work but then it looks so good after. I love your frogs on guard You need a sign I saw that says" frog crossing all others will be toad" I want one but may have to make it myself one day. Now for your bench rest even for just a minute or two!
Faye

This post was edited by almosthooked on Wed, May 15, 13 at 23:39

Phil, thanks; I have the room and I like individual planting rather than wave.

Faye, I will rest tomorrow after I plant the MM...and the 4 Whirlwind I got to fill out around the bird bath. It won't take long and then I can rest. ...until the afternoon when I go to RI to play with my grandson. Not rest, but it sure is fun, beats the heck out of hauling mulch down that hill !!!.

Jon

You deserve your rest- a beautifully laid out garden! Can't wait to see photos when it all matures.

Thanks MadPlanter, I will be sure to post more pictures.

Jon

Oh, how you've inspired me. I can only dream. That's it, I'm buying a rototiller.
Thank you for the pics. WW

Love the pics and the asian elements are beautiful. Where did you get them?

You have an amazing sanctuary there Jon. Your statues and such add a nice touch - love the froggy family!

WW, no roto-tiller. It would have killed the big pines that surround the 'oasis' Because the roots are all on the surface they don't seem to be a problem.

Both pagodas are available at Toscanoes (mail order), but I bought the larger one at Home Depot...good price, free home delivery (at the time anyway)
I am planning on building a concrete base and/or another rock mounting base for the smaller one to give it more presence. They have larger sizes as well.

Jon

Wow, am I learning a lot on this forum. I don't know how I have anything growing considering all the mistakes I've made these last 15 years. Most of my gardens are raised beds around the house and backyard fence, but I've been dreaming of a meditation / serenity garden around 8 trees in my backyard. The ground is moss (love it) covered clay. No way could I ever work that area myself and i wouldn't want to hurt the tree roots. Suppose I'll have to settle for my cruddy benches, pots, and a Buddha FROG I have scattered about. Thanks for the insight, WW

WW,

My Cascades, AKA Area 51, last year. It doesn't have many trees in the planting area to worry about, but it would be a huge undertaking to try and make it look 'manicured'...if I wanted to. I don't anyway. I just dig out the really rough soil there and amend it with compost, manure, peat moss...whatever. I leave the moss, some grass and the rocky, bumpy surface. Beautiful, naturalistic. No cottage garden for me.

It is exactly how I want it and I think it will look great when done. The rustic look is not for everyone, but I really like it. No grass to mow, weeding done with Round Up. When it matures a little I will post another thread on the area.

Jon

Jon, I love your Area 51 ( I read the book) aka Cascades, it is beautiful. My backyard is pretty natural. Not much grass if you can call it that. One year I picked up a bag of grass seed at a discount store in hopes that maybe a few blades would grow. Now I have the prettiest little yellow, purple, and white flowers growing everywhere. Wanted grass got flowers, so much for discount grass seed, buyer beware! Actually, I kinda like it. It took me 3 yrs. to amend one bed before any hosta would grow. I threw more crap in there, it was like a big garbage dump. Think I will leave the tree area alone and enjoy your pics and everyone else's beautiful gardens. WW