Well I was wrong..but it reminds me of June..there's a June behind the concrete bench in the pic above..just looked at it and the leaves on Touch of Class seem narrower and longer..I have no advice for your maple..never successfully grown one from a seedling..we started with trees about chest high and planted outside..I wish I could plant as fast as you do..I'm the world's slowest gardener..

Babka, I got TOC from a good dealer last year, but it got caught by late frost and I'm not sure if this adds to the strange look this year. It is a two year old plant and we will wait what it will be when mature :-) Picture is taken in May and it was crumpled and the growth of the leaves (as on many others this year) seems to be interruptedat some point (by the freeze?) and they are quite hard if you touch them.

End of August it looked like this

And this is my June yesterday, been in full sun all summer and I love it this way! Nevertheless I will try to get another one for a shady place, the difference is so big...

and my newly arranged box of seedlings from a friend beside it :-) and in the background my biggest Japanese maple...

I love that hosta filled box..what a difference full sun makes..your June is much lighter than mine..is your biggest Japanese maple planted in the ground?

I love it too..great color..those laceleaf maples stay short..yours is a nice size..

I am a slow gardener too nicholsworth55!

I love the box idea Karin. I think I just might be stealing your idea next year. We have a box that was given to us about 30 years ago. It was engraved with the wedding date of our friends. We don't use it that much, but my vote would be to make use of it in the garden. (By the way the plants in it are looking great too!) You have a beautiful Japanese Maple!

I love to use wooden boxes for gardening. Behind that one I have a wooden potato box I was gifted by a neighbour :-)

Last year I had some herbs for salads in it, now another maple seedling is growing there. I'm always rearranging:-) I will try to get more of those ammunition boxes, nice to use them for a peaceful thing like gardening!

Maybe I can get a higher one to put June and the big seedling in it. I will look for such things during the coming cold and dark time...

But we are stealing the initial thread...

nicholsworth, have you already decided which hostas you will put in the pots?

newhostalady..my husband calls me "turtle"..I bet we're neater than the speedy gardeners..

Karin..no worries..you're not "stealing the thread"..we're sharing ideas!..a perfect day and I've been out for hours but the red pots are not planted..I really am sloooowwww..

I would I could already be a slow gardener :-)

4-5 years until I can retire, then it is easy going for me, too. We had problems at work and I was sitting in the office for 11 hours two weeks long and I had those parcels coming and wouldn't postpone them to next year so I had to be quick...Normally I enjoy the process of planting much more. The primary aim this time was to get them in the pots and I will think about arranging in my next free days...

Sometimes I think about planting this and that here and there for days or weeks, but then I suddenly have an idea and I must to it immediately.

Have a look at this little guy. He planted himself right in the middle of a Lemon Lime and so far they go together well...He grew a lot this year and I think we're over the state of worrying if he will survive the next winter

Another seedling tree is what we call in Germany Robinie...

I let them grow to give the hostas a bit of shade and they look so nice together.

Those two fell out of a pine cone that I bought for Christmas decoration last year...

Have a nice Sunday!

Karin

I was always slow..retirement with the possibility of "I can do that tomorrow" has made me slower..your young trees are adorable..I'll take some pics of trees that I've planted..have a nice Sunday too!

Thanks for posting! Went online and got few pots, not the same but also on sale. Spring awaiting!

lindalana..gotta know..what color?

Nicholsworth, I love your yard and those pots! Everyone here has such great ideas. I also love hosta in pots.

Karin, I just retired and yes, you will love having the luxury of time once you retire. I am trying to get everything here under control after too many years of being somewhat neglectful. I love your pics, too, especially the one with the box of hosta! Wonderful idea.

cyn..thanks!..even though we're retired there is MORE work than time isn't there?..Karin is a master growing plants in containers..pots, boxes whatever haha..

time to attempt to get some work done..

Such a nice shady place! That would be my dream, but in Germany everything is tiny compared to your big country...So I have to use whatever I can to create more garden space for my hobby.

Found two more red Japanese Maples today, tiny 10 cm, but I try my luck:-)

hooray!..more seedlings!..one nice thing about a smaller garden..you see what's happening..it's hard to check on everything when the space is big..

Nocholsworth, you have a hosta paradise place!

So far I have several nice ceramic pots in brown, dark red and blue colors. Hoping to expand with new ones to create something interesting. Unfortunately my space is regular suburban lot...

I got blackwash resin pots, they are really nice, then Turquoise and Red/Brown, all resin as there is no delivery for ceramics.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/allen-roth-12-in-x-10-33-in-Turquoise-Brown-Resin-Tapered-Planter/999979234

https://www.lowes.com/pd/allen-roth-12-in-x-10-33-in-Red-Brown-Resin-Tapered-Planter/999979238

lindalana..love the pots you bought..in fact today I bought 2 turquoise ones just like YOURS!!..you're so right that this is a "hosta paradise place"..we can't grow roses or tomatoes but our hostas look nice..

The thing about a big garden I tend to forget...big means longer ways and that is nice if you only stroll around a little. But for gardening work you need to transport the tools and everything else :-( But nevertheless I love the filtered sun light and the sound of the wind when I'm out in the woods.

And you have to be a slow gardener in such a big space otherwise it would be work and not relaxing as is intended...

I always say gardening is my form of summer yoga, in winter it is real yoga to keep me fit :-)

Karin..I love your thought "have to be a slow gardener in such a big space otherwise it would be work and not relaxing"..my neighbors that hate gardening work 10 times faster than I do..they don't enjoy the air, birds etc..they're missing out..

The small things in life...if you are able to see them you are richer than people with money. I visited my old friend yesterday, I got my first hostas from him and it was already late in the afternoon and we noticed such nice things as some wonderful backlit heuchera leaves. They shone like rubies and the air was full of butterflies eating at the echinacea...I could go on like this, but you know what I mean :-)

I DO know what you mean..I wish I had been there too!..gardening is healthy physically and emotionally..

Nicholsworth- your property is very pretty and private looking... how big is it?

Good timing..I'm on GW now too..it's half an acre..small in the front..large in back..on a cul de sac..

Nicholsworth, you have just described one of my former homes/lot! Boy do I miss it - a cul de sac where all the kids played on the "street".... protected green belt behind (no neighbours) and in winter the middle of the cul-de-sac used to be piled up with a snow mountain....

I really enjoy seeing yours and your photos! And Karin's! This thread is like a nice visit and chit-chat with great neighbours.....I am finally getting caught up with my forum reading.

josephines..in the pic of the front if you look at the lower left corner you can see the start of our "island"..kind of oblong shape with trees at each end..one is a huge oak..just like your cul de sac they pile snow there..the neighbor's grandkids run/ride around it like a race track..our driveway goes by one of the "short" sides..the only traffic is basically the people who live here..

What a nice thought...to have a neighbour who is also interested in hostas, working together, sharing plants and having the occasional coffee after the project of the day is successfully finished...hostaheaven :-)

Today's garden work was to take this Krossa Regal out of the ground, pack it and send it to another hostaholic. Why? I have another one, even bigger than this and I need room for my big Valley's...Ken's advice was helpful!

that Krossa Regal is perfect..the new owner will love it..I KNOW if you lived here WE would work on that island..just to give you an idea of the "could care less attitude" we have a family that parks cars on that island occasionally..makes the pathetic grass even worse..there are some of us that hate this but we haven't said anything..was hoping if we fixed it up it would stop people from parking there..

Nicholsworth, You bet I would be right there with you...and Karin! ;-). That kind of project could make the work so much fun for a few people. There are two kinds of people in the world - those that do and those that don't....there are many who just like to admire a garden....preferably someone else's. Lol

Karin, nice job on this KR and the recipient is lucky indeed!

josephines..you're so right..we have 11 families on the cul de sac..5 are gardeners..2 do the minimum..4 are totally unconcerned about nature and plants..I live between a minimum and an unconcerned..when I vent my husband says "just take care of our own".."forget about them"..but it's tough..

Karin, I always love your pictures and then I always want to ask you a question so I can hear more stories! I want to see that one container where you have the wire ball open and the mini sitting inside it. Can you make me a picture of that? Then tell me a story about it! I love your garden and the special whimsical items and planters.

Hard to forget about things that others neglect when you have to deal with the consequences. I have neighbours on four sides and nobody cares much about their gardens. So weed is growing and snails and slugs find the perfect hiding places there and I have the biggest holes ever in my hostas ...and I have to use slug pellets, a thing I don't like at all, but otherwise :-( ...

When I moved to this neighbourhood more than 30 years ago they were all gardeners, people that were older and had survived war and had to rely on the products of their garden. it was like living amidst cottage gardens, flowers, vegetables, fruits, a little bit of everthing.

But with every neighbour who passed away a garden went...Sad story...it shows the neglect of really important things...the new owners don't care...today it is either weed or an easy to tent gravel garden with one gras in it...what are they thinking?

I'm trying and one neighbour now has some plants in her small garden which is only stone pavement and hosta pots are perfect for that area. Gifted her some other plants also and she likes it :-) But there will be no luck with the others...

Jo, I was thinking about my Blue Angel when I did that Krossa...But it will be easier in spring with the leaves not so big...

There are so many places that should have more plants in our town. I'm sometimes thinking of Donna with her wonderful project and maybe I can do something when I'm retired and have more time.

Enough now, I'm always frustrated with all the neglect of the world we're living on that I could go on and on...

Karin

popmama,

I was writing while you posted...Sorry to say that the container is not existing any more. I planted the hosta with some others. But the little heart shaped cage is safely stored away for the next project that might come along...

Here's a new story for you:

I filled my candelabra with new minis and small ones last week...

I will take better pictures on a sunny day!

Karin..a great comment..we're kindred spirits..we love the earth and hate the waste and destruction that we see..we work hard to take care of the bits of the earth where we live..today we watered, moved an old limelight hydrangea, then while my husband went grocery shopping I cut dead stems from a group of Annabelle hydrangeas..didn't plant any of my new plants or transplant any hostas into my new pots..if I can't get to the hostas until spring it will be fine..but I would like to do it now if I can..just moving along at my relaxed pace doing what's necessary first..like watering..

Karin..you also write faster than I do!

It is nice to start my day with such a kind of conversation! I'm a very early bird, actually it is 4 in the morning here and I'm at my second cup of coffee. It is still dark outside, which makes me a little sad, because the cold and dark times are coming that are hard to stand for us gardeners...I love to be in the garden very early when the light is coming over the horizon and the rest of the world is still sleeping...it is such a good start for the day.

My hydrangeas did not bloom much this year, the late frost might have caused this...I did not see a single bud on the white one I had moved two years ago to more sun. Last year the stems nearly could not bear the weight of all the flowers...My climbing hydrangea however did grow and bloom nicely, I will have to cut it back a little when I'm at home the next two weeks...holidays in my garden:-) I'm really looking forward to it, hope we will have gardening weather!

Nicholsworth, your project is calling out for the hostaholics here who are retired. A road trip would be grand! Think of the fun we could have.

I have learned to "just take care of our own" here. My DH sounds like yours-very zen. As I was losing it over our neighbor's cutting down all their huge old oaks (our trees were the reason we bought our house 22 years ago), he said we could just buy a couple more for our yard. When my giant hosta border began to fail from being in full sun all summer over two years, he listened to me talk (calmly amazingly enough) about moving them to the back. Then, he got up the next morning and asked me where I wanted them moved. After years of neglect due to a demanding and stressful job, I now have the luxury again of enjoying even the mundane tasks of weeding and the like. I just wish these old knees were more cooperative!

thanks again for all the great pictures everyone is sharing.

eta:. And thanks too for sharing ideas. Karin, I would love to have a climbing hydrangea. It is on my list. Enjoy your morning.

Karin..I wondered about the time difference..it's 10 pm here so you're 6 hours ahead of me..we stay up late (husband is a nite owl)..I don't have many blooms on my flowering shrubs..not enough sun but I still enjoy growing them..I hope you have wonderful weather while you're on holiday..this time of year is wonderful here..I'll post pics when I've accomplished something worthwhile..I enjoy our conversations too!..

cyn427..I couldn't live here without my husband..yours sounds helpful too..our only disagreements come because he's ready to do whatever it is and I'm "deciding" things..I overthink everything and no doubt it gets on his nerves..would be fun to get together with hostaholics but we're from all over!!..share some pics too..we love seeing everyone's gardens..sorry about those trees..I would hate that too..

I just had a look at google earth where you are located. Indy is not so far away (in means of US dimensions) from where I had relatives. They lived near Lake Michigan but now my cousin moved to a small town near Billings, Montana.

She is working for the state, something that has to do with forests, measuring of lands (don't know the exact name of that job). But the love for nature runs in the family :-)

I haven't been to Montana but I know it's beautiful..too cold for me..Lake Michigan is close..been there quite a few times..have never been to Europe but would love to see it..

Haha, nicholsworth. Same is true here. I am constantly revising my vision, moving things, etc. I thnk that means I should think things through thorougly before vocalizing my ideas!

If you are interested in knowing a little more about the small town I live please visit my ideabook 'My hometown and Garden'. There you can see some of my favourite places and the surroundings of my hometown...just to give you an idea about the size of gardens here in Germany :-)

cyn427..I'm SURE you thought it through before vocalizing ideas..sometimes the vision doesn't pan out..then when you realize there's a better way you have to make changes..people that don't garden make changes on what they do so we can too!

Karin..thanks for the suggestion..would love to take a look..

Karin..took a look..what a beautiful place..will look again when winter's here and I'm inside :-(

Karin, you really have an eye for photography. A few pictures were quite captivating...like the Queen Anne's Lace (not sure) flower umbels folding in on themselves (reminds me of fairies protecting a wee one... perhaps a football huddle, lol) ... and highlighting the tree branches with which to view the scene beyond - quite beautiful.

Thank you for a glimpse of your side of the world. I viewed every picture you have in your Ideabook and enjoyed it immensely!

P.S. How far away are you from Braunschweig?

Karin..I agree with josephines.."you really have an eye for photography"..liked every pic..

Jo, I know which flowers you mean. They grow wild in our nature preserve on very dry land. I like them a lot, especially in this form. I like to show the details, the beautiful small things and nowadays it is really easy to make good pictures with the cameras that do everything to get the best picture in every situation.

My hands are often trembling because my thyroid has been removed a few years ago, but no problem, even in this case the camera helps :-)

It was my intention to give you a glimpse at my world. It is so totally different from what you have, so small ,too small sometimes in means of gardening:-)

It is a bit more than a 3 hours drive from Braunschweig, mostly highways, I've made the drive more than once on my way to the island of Rügen in the Baltic Sea. This island is a very special place and maybe I do another ideabook next week when I'm on holidays. It is nice to go through the old pictures for me,too.

Certainly no signs of trembling hands in any photos, they are beautiful, Karin! The detail and architecture of those buildings.... makes you want to be there! Thank you for the distance information - going back to my roots one day is on my bucket list....

I hope you have a great upcoming holiday and I look forward to seeing more pictures in your Ideabook. :-)