nuts , remember your yard from last year ,,,looking good ! nice finished look,,,

you make me sick,,ha

ron

Nice juxtaposition of colours and textures.

A lot of nice plants, but I'm having trouble coming up with a definition of the design.
mike

Very Nice!

2nd pic, tree on right, above the 05 27 of the date stamp.

Picea Omorika 'Pendula Bruns' ?

Yes it is Picea Omorika 'Pendula Bruns'. Good eyes! :-).

Very well manicured! Good choice of texture, shape and color! My property is a jungle comparatively!

I like it. Your neighbors should subsidize your efforts for the beauty you have given them!

totnado,

On the contrary, they dislike what I did ;-). Envy? Maybe.

I don't think it's envy. I think it's the fact you didn't conform to the rest of the neighborhood. That's the reason I like it!
mike

Mike,

You sound like a rebellious type like mine :-). I'm not a conformist either. Heck I did it without HOA's approval. More than two years later, HOA went down to my house and told me that there were complaints from my neighbors about my "nursery" and that I went overboard.

I told HOA that it was too late now to change/apply for permit. Get over it! :-). HOA agreed and leave me alone.

Only then I knew some of my neighbors disliked what I did :-). But I love the fact that some of them do not like it :-). I really love it. :-). I'm surely a hole.

bamboo_nuts, I think you should change your screen name to "bamboo_who's neighbors are nuts!

Good for you on the HOA, I could never live in a place like that. I'd tell the HOA to go poop in their hats!

I saw a thing on TV where a guy spent 2 days in jail because his lawn was brown. He had lost his job refused to spend money to re-sod his lawn while being behind on his mortgage. I thought that was TOTAL BS! How could a HOA have the right to have someone imprisoned for dead grass? UNREAL!

Yes, HOA has all the power in the world. The HOA guy who came to house, insultingly and sarcastically, told me that I can't have a "nursery" in front yard like that. I quickly corrected his language and he backed it off.

About the house, no choice for me here. I got to get the house at that time where the housing boom was nuts, I really like the house but did not know that HOA has so much power, otherwise I already backed out.

Anyhow, I enjoy this house, just wish that the lot is a bit bigger so I can go full-tilt on it and drive more of my neighbors to mental institutions.

i dont think i have seen a more economical use of such a small space .. per plant ratio ...

thx for the pix

ken

Your yard is well manicured and cared for. Your neighbors should be thrilled. Some folks want to be machines where everyone has to match exactly. Maybe in a few years after you've given your neighbors tips on what to plant or shared anything with them that is outgrowing your space they'll come around.

toronado,

You're such a good, kind, understanding man. I wish I could have some one like you as my neighbors.

OM goodness, I love your yard. Everything looks so well thought out, neat and healthy. Nice job! I am so thankful I live in the country. I would be in prison if I was told I could not plant what I wanted.

Your place is GORGEOUS!

ladylotus,

Thanks for your compliments. I'm glad you enjoy the pics.

Speaking of living in this country. Same here. I feel blessed every single day to be living in this country. I'm a political refugee from VN.

Since the moment I came to this country in winter of 1986 I alway feel grateful that the U.S has opened her arms to take me in from a refugee camp, allowed me a chance to rebuild my life and breath the air of freedom and liberty.

And I wish someday, somehow, in a meaningful way, I would be able to repay my debts to this country who has given the greatest gift: freedom.

I treasure it and will defend it with my life.

I'm so proud of being American.

Looks great! What's the name of the tall weeping Green tree next to the red maple and yellow plant? its in the 4th and 5th photo.

stuartlawrence,

It is Picea Abies 'Gold Drift'. The gold coloration does not show on the plant in zone 7a/b. Most people in these zone experience the same issue. It shows just a hint of gold though if you look closely.

I staked it up because I have a small space. but I will let it drift/droop down after it reaches 20ft.

I would think that at least one of your neighbors would ask about some of the trees and maybe plant some in their own yard. They have a nice selection to look at.
Uncle Bac

stuartlawrence,

you see the 'red dragon' maple. Now you don't see it :-).

Mike,

You would think they want to plant some in their yards? No they don't. They're so cheap and they don't care. Look at their yards around my house. None of them plant anything to improve their curb appeal.

Now a funny story, a neighbor across the street came to me one day and said: you have lots of beautiful plants.. I was wondering if you can give me some plants for "free". I was like numb and did not know how to asnwer her request.

Heck! They are all wealthy, she and her husband make more than 300K/yr and she asked me to give her "free" plants? What are these people?

I don't think she understands the difference between a perennial garden where dividing clumps of plants is common. It's easy to give away babies. Not so with most conifers. They're purchased individually, and usually not easily propagated, especially from a collector's garden.
They are two different worlds. Where it would be socially acceptable to ask for free plants from a perennial garden, it wouldn't be as acceptable in a collector's garden. We 'trade' plants.
It would have been more polite of her to offer something in trade, and then you could have explained the value of what you have. Maybe you can start a dialogue and explain to her just what's involved......money, labor, etc.
Mike

Mike,

You're such a reasonable person and you gave her the benefits of the doubts. That's I understand too.

But here the second part of the story: My response to her request was: "well I do not have any plants to give away, But I can sell to you with a much cheaper price than what I've paid for ( I did not tell her how expensive the plants are thinking that what I said might offend her or make her think that she is "not" able to afford them). then she said to me: No, I won't buy any even with cheaper price. Free plants, yes I'll take them, otherwise I'm not paying for them… and I was stunned and numbed…. :-).

Then a few months later, a friend of mine , who happens to love plants too, bought some plants from me. Knowing that the guy won't be able to afford most of my collections, I gave him 4 truck loads of rare plants for free. My neighbor saw it. stopped by and chat with my wife. My wife told her that I was giving away free plants to my friend… and since then she never talked to me again.

I'm glad she did that :-).

I give away free plants to friends also. A friend is more valuable than a rude neighbor. You can choose your friends. You can't choose your neighbor. Not talking is better than fighting.
Mike

I would be thrilled to have you for a neighbor! All that beauty to enjoy without me having to lift one finger, shovel or wheelbarrow! It's gorgeous!

It's magnificent. Short for words here.

Dax

Looks awesome. Would love to have you for a neighbor.

Really love your landscape and it is the ONLY thing that stands out amid all the copycat houses in the area! The container plantings by the curb are a great idea. Wish more of your neighbors saw the value of it.