stupendous dave ....

your will to work like a dog.. is overwhelming to us mortals ...

is that some of the grass torn out for the irrigation project ... already recovered???

ken

Yes Ken. Irrigation project and new sod installed and complete. The old sod was trashed as you can see in the photo. The grass you are looking at has been down a week. The dog days are over. No more huge projects. In fact kind of burnt out and time to step back and enjoy without a watering hose.

Sweet Dave, thanks for the inspiration!

dave , it's only congested if you try to walk quickly thru it

like the cumpressa next to the (orientalis?)

did you say you got lots of these as larger specimens ?

ron

3. gal is as large as I go for plant size. Anything larger their survival chances go way down. Root issues become a problem as most of you know. B&B I don't do at all. Some of these cultivars in the photos are 15 years old.

Dave, you have a lot to be proud of. Actually, 15 years seems like a relatively short period in which to accomplish all that you've done. Your garden must be one of the top conifer gardens in the country. I remember your threads from several years ago laying out, bed by bed, all of the inhabitants. Quite an epic work.

A couple of questions if you don't mind: does your irrigation system cover the lawn only or do you have the beds covered in separate zones? Also, how would you characterize your native soil?

maple...since the sod is new I water every other day, once a day, for 15 minutes. for the rest of the growing season. The islands are on their own zones and come on 2 times a week for 15 minutes since they are established. As I observe the growing habits of the plants and sod I will probably change these settings in time. This is all new to me and will bare watching to conserve water and don't over do it. I will shut it down in October and start anew this spring. My soil is very good and years ago was a potato field. Rich and brown/black.

Ok...so I have a stupid question. Do you just plan on letting these grow and when they are mashed into each other in 5-8 years, remove and replace? Or are they all columnar specimens? I'm revamping my backyard to hosta and conifers almost exclusively and your conifer pictures are my inspiration. (Your color placement - WOW!) I can't quite figure out if everything is so beautifully spaced b/c you pinch back candles...everything is young...everything is fastigiate/columnar/dwarf forever....or what?? lol

Dave, did you over saturate the photos for the effect?

Mike

Sitting back and watching is a great place to be at. I'm getting more and more near... it's approaching.....

Mike, I'll bet he took that photo in shade and that's how it came out. Auto camera mode. That's what I'm saying.

ademink. If I may Dave, ...he's been moving conifers as the larger-growing-specimens gaining in width became 'problematic'. I think he may of completely removed his Picea orientalis 'Aureospicata'. Surely, he will have to pinch back growth as time continues and he'll continue shearing his 'Gentsch White' or similar hemlock, annually.... and he'll go until the day arrives that he can no-longer contain something and it will have to be removed and either replaced with another or, removed simply for space for others in proximity.

Correct me if I'm wrong Dave, but, that's the 'natural progession' for any garden...... that wasn't given space allotments for 50-years per specimen, i.e.

Dax

You're probably right, Dax.

It's happened to me. I now try to take pictures on overcast days. Since I'm in western Washington State, that's common.

Nice garden, Dave. I applaud your changes. Some people have a hard time making changes like that in their garden. It takes some real commitment.

Mike

I think Dax answered everyone's question here. The redesign was tough and unrelenting and then to come back and do irrigation and re sod took a toll on me. I do 2-4 moves a year in October. Some relocate in the garden others I have given all away to upcoming collectors. Slower growing dwarfs and fastigiate/columnar are my main plantings now. I only shear the 'Gentsch White' and practically no pruning done on others. The photo was taken as Dax said. The pebbles are still wet after a light shower then the sun came out. The 'Aureospicata' in right back ground. I can probably keep it 5 more years. Could be someone else s worry then. I never enhance photos. Late evening or cloudy days after a nice rain make for best photos.

Thank you...so it is always a process. Just gorgeous. One of the most lovely and well thought out works of art I have seen.

Wow. I wouldn't say it's congested. All the colors pop out nicely and I enjoy the contrast of the whole green scene. Nice work.