nice looking place you have there and so many possibilities. It may be worth the money to have a "good" landscape designer come in, evaluate your property, discuss your likes and dislikes, and do a plan for you to work to

You have a lovely place and it really is not in that bad of shape. Personally I would first identify what is what...weeds versus plants. I think once that is done and the beds are redifined you can decide what you might like to do. You obviously have daffodils that are dying back...as they should be. You have a lot of hostas crowded around one of the trees....it might be best to try and get them thinned and moved out some. They look like they are right up against the base of the tree. Your shrubs....I would give them a trimming back...no more than 1/3...otherwise they would go into shock. There really is not much that will grow under pine trees....the needles can be used as mulch around plants that like acid. I am no expert by all means but I would be glad to come look at some time and help....Meanwhile as you drive or walk the neighborhood see what you like...

Thanks for the compliments ladies! I just fell in love with this house as soon I saw it - I couldn't help but see so much potential.

mrgpag - Unfortunately, we have so many other projects going on that hiring someone is probably not going to happen right now, and perhaps selfishly, I would like to see what I can accomplish on my own, just for fun ;-)

marciagay - I would be thrilled for you come by and have a look! I had thought about raking up the pine needles for use, just hadn't figured out the application yet. We are having 2 bathrooms remodeled in the next few weeks so I have the perfect excuse to work outside for a while. I'm usually home all weekend and work 9-5/M-F. You can email me to let me know when you have some time and I will give you directions. Meanwhile, I will definitely get more weeding and trimming done! Thanks!!

Angela

LADIES! Well maybe some are but not this GUY ;)

mrgpag - So Sorry! Don't I feel silly :-P
When I had my son, I was addicted to the BabyCenter pregnancy forum, naturally all women ;-)
I forgot for a minute that assumption doesn't work here,
so correction...Thank you ladies and gentlemen!

Hope you won't hold that against me!

Angela

I'll think about that ;) -- and good luck with your new yard

Marshall

Angela,

Welcome to Garden Web, and the wonderful Ohio Velley Forum.

Just viewed all your pics...you did good! It looks like you have the best of a lot of things...sun, shade, open areas, little defined areas, and the basis for a wonderfully showy place. I loved the glassed in porch(?)...or the room with all the windows...'almost' like being outside.

I attended the swap at Marcia's last week, and she is a wonderful shade and sun gardener. She has a really nice looking home and grounds...so you can't go wrong with any suggestions from her.

I say don't rake up those pine needles, until you are sure just how and where you want to use them. They pay good money for them in the South to use mulching beds.

Sorry you missed the swap...it was great! I have been gardening and collecting for a number of years, but came home with so many wonderful things I didn't already have. I was quite pleasantly surprised.

I think some Trillium and Jack in the pulpit (to greet you each spring) would do wonderfully under the pines. Also possibly some Celendine (native woods wildflower) poppies. Mine started blooming in late March, and are still going strong.

I can put some of all 3 things aside for you.

There is a swap Aug 2nd (Perennials Plus group) at 6:30pm.
flowerchildky (Linda) passed out the info at the swap, and possibly can start a thread about it later.
I'm planning to attend that, so maybe you could too, or I can bring plants to you at that time.

Once you get an idea of what you would like, and where, (with help from others here if need be) feel free to let me know of anything you might want from my trade list, and we'll make arrangements to get it to you.

There is presently another swap in the early stages for sometime in Sept...hope it happens and you can make that as well.

OH! pic 17 (I think) is a pic of what looked like chickweed (a weed)...but don't destroy it until someone verifies that...lol

I look forward to meeting you and getting to help you fill your gardens.

Sue

Thanks for the lovely welcome Sue!
It's very sweet of you to offer to set some things aside for me. I will definitely plan to come to the Aug swap, although, I'm not sure I'll have anything desirable to trade ;-) I have about a million daylilies but that's about it.
I'm still having some trouble trying to differentiate between what is weed and what's not, and need to get a better book on identification. Would love some recommendations on a good one.
Thanks again everyone for taking the time to look at my pics and offer suggestions!
Angela

Well, I have never been to the Perennials Plus swap, so I don't really know what to expect myself.

Has anyone been by (Marcia)to make any suggestions for areas? or any plants that would be good (appropriate) for them?...or do you have anything in mind? I remember you saying that gardening is all new to you.

There is a wonderful forum here and the folks are really, really good. It is Name That Plant...and they can help you identify whatever you may be in doubt about. It is best if you just post one or 2 pics per post if possible. I don't know how to do it with Shutterfly but possibly someone can help with that. I store my photos with Photobucket, and have learned how to post a pic in a message.

Are your many daylilies blooming, or going to bloom this season. I'm curious if you have a variety of them...wink wink.

In the meantime, I will pot up a few trilliums (they are getting hard to find as they are going dormant now) and some Jack in the Pulpits as I think you have someplace where they would be wonderful.

Your pic #25 looks like an Emerald and Gold Euonymous (shrub)...being invaded with poison ivy, but I have been known to be wrong.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Name that plant Forum

Thanks Sue, I'll try to figure out how best to use the Name that Plant forum. I'm also going to hit the bookstore today ;-)
Glad I didn't try to weed that shrub yet, I didn't notice that was poison ivy in it! That would have been fun ;-)
I haven't heard back from Marcia yet but anyone who has the time and wants to take a look is welcome!
My daylilies have buds but only the few in areas with more sun have bloomed so far. Those have are huge orange flowers that my sister said looked like tiger lilies but I'm still fairly clueless on the numerous varieties...? I will try to take pics of them as they bloom to get a better idea. The rear bed (shadier)is huge and desperately needs to be thinned (not bloomed yet) but have no idea what to do with all the excess bulbs. I dug what looked like just a few of them in the side beds and ended up with a box full of bulbs that will probably end up in the garbage since I could only replant about a fourth of them, and wasn't sure what to do with the rest, so I left them sitting in the box. I hated to waste them but I could give them away by the bucket full and still have a ton!
By the way, Marcia suggested I thin out my hostas but I'm not sure what the best way to do that is? Do I dig up the whole bunch and separate, then replant a few sections somewhere else (maybe in pots to trade later)? I don't think they will bloom so I don't guess it matters when I do it?
I also think there are some desirable wildflowers in the informal bed in the back yard but without identifying anything yet, I'm afraid to start weeding it too much. You're welcome to come check things out and see if there is anything you recognize and/or might like to have for yourself.
Angela

Hi Angela,

If that tree with hostas is in your front yard I would wait until the fall or next spring to divide the hostas... only because sometimes hostas can look a bit ratty or misshapen if you divide them during the summer.

They're really easy to divide in general. You can either dig up the whole plant and split it in half, or dig just half of it out of the ground to move it then fill in the open spot with dirt.

Looking at that tree, I'd be careful of doing too much digging around its roots since the hostas are planted so close. And definitely think about giving the tree some supplemental watering if you do...

Thanks blackswamp girl, I definitely have plenty to do so the hostas can wait a while (they are in the front yard). I appreciate the instructions!
On the daylily note, I noticed a couple of blooms today in the big rear bed and they are orange as well so I looked closely and then did a little search online. I believe they are the hemerocallis fulva. Seem to be pretty popular in my neighborhood but I get the idea some people don't care for them. I actually think they are quite pretty, and evidently very hardy, but there are just so darn many of them that I'd like to trade out some for other varieties and mix them up a little.

Angela, I emailed Marcia to see if she would like to meet me to come to check out everything some eve.

I agree, I like the orange lilies...but like a mix much better. I can share some different ones, a bit later after they bloom. I have pics of several of them. Maybe I can share enough for you to have for yourself and to have some to trade.

Rather than waste the daylilies, you might try offering them up on Freecycle. It is a Yahoo group where people offer up things they have extra, rather than throwing them away. You might meet some local gardeners that way also.

I recently dug part of a hosta, and used a root saw to cut off a part of it. The ground was good and wet, and the part taken up and the part remaining never wilted a bit. I think that may have been just luck though.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Louisville Freecycle

Sue, you're an angel! I'd love to have you, and Marcia, if she can make it, come over and have a look-see. Just let me know when you might like to come and I'll give you directions.
Thanks bunches!
Angela

Sorry folks...it has been awhile since I checked in....had a little "health scare" but everything seems to be O.K. I am still game to see what the yard looks like....when do we want to do it?

Marcia, sorry for the scare, and glad everything is OK.

How does sometime next week sound? Wed is out for me and Tues is the Fourth of July.

I had thought this week maybe, but I've been living life in the fast lane...just too many DR and Vet appointments.

Angela/Marcia, would you like to pick an afternoon/eve? Possibly we could first do a walk around, noting suggestions for plantings, and then maybe do some hands on work?

Let me know...Angela, if you will email me your number, I can 3 way call us all together and we can pick a good time for all of us. I have Marcia's number already.

Anyone else wanna attend the Design Angela's Gardens gathering, and offer hints, tips, and possibly extras if you have them sometime later after a plan is developed?

Sue

Marcia -I'm so sorry about your scare! I had begun to worry when I didn't hear anything. So glad everything is ok now!

Sue - Thanks for coordinating! I will email you my phone # next.

Unfortunately, I will be out of town this weekend, returning Tuesday evening. Then - yippee!!!! - going to Hawaii for 12 days :-) We will be leaving the 8th and returning the 20th. My boyfriend's mother will be coming in town the 5th and staying with my son for a week of our trip (she's from Minneapolis) and she is the only other gardener I know, so she would probably love to have a gardening evening. She had already offered to help me if she could but is not familiar with a lot of our natives being from so far north. However, our timing is so short I'm not sure how we'd fit it in. Thursday is Mom-meet-Mom dinner so Friday evening would be the only one we might be able to do it. Is it terrible to wish I could postpone the trip to work on my garden ;-P
If Friday doesn't work out, I hope you'll still want to come when we get back. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your both offering to take the time to help me out!! And of course, anyone else who would like to get involved is welcome :-)
Marcia - stay well!!
Sue - emailing now ( oh and I tried freecycle - got rid of quite a few bulbs so thanks for the tip!)

Angela