Worked my ASS off the last 2 days!
Really, I did! We have this huge property that we tend to once a week. There is a corner of the owner's property by the pool that in horticulture-speak is "Part-shade" to "shade". Part-shade is like 2-4 hours of sun, and let me tell you right now, this part of the garden doesn't even get 2 hours.
SO, the client was not happy with the way this area looked. So all last fall and winter, my colleague would email him with ideas and lists of plants, but he would NEVER respond! Finally a month ago he did a walkabout with him and the tree-guy and many shrubs and trees were tagged to be removed. AND, this little area that I'm going on about had 2 shrubs to be taken out with one viburnum to be left in the center. And, our task (the gardeners' task) was to then re-plant and fix this area. SO, we moved plants around, got some new plants and created a lovely shade garden filled with ferns and hosta and ligularia and such. It was lovely.
BUT alas. The crazy home owner said it is not what he wanted. he said he wanted an English border garden! He wanted really tall plants! AND, he said, please take out that viburnum! Wait, what? You wanted it to stay just 2 weeks ago!
Anyway, besides that, to have an English border garden, you need SUN!!!
SOmetimes the client just wins. We researched tall plants that would tolerate part-shade conditions.
Here is the shade garden- torn apart to make way for the tree guys to remove the enormous viburnum
Now, the unfortunate thing is, I do not have any pictures between this one and the finished planting! Here is the final planting (although, still unapproved by the client!):
It was a mostly cloudy day today so hard to tell exactly how much sun it will get and if these plants will survive. Cross fingers for the butterfly bush, the daisies, the lilies, the hollyhock, the phlox, the filipendula...and more.
But it really is a lovely property. I'll add some photos of it in the next post. RIght now, time to put my feet up and pour a bit of wine :-)
Happy Gardening Everyone!
SO, the client was not happy with the way this area looked. So all last fall and winter, my colleague would email him with ideas and lists of plants, but he would NEVER respond! Finally a month ago he did a walkabout with him and the tree-guy and many shrubs and trees were tagged to be removed. AND, this little area that I'm going on about had 2 shrubs to be taken out with one viburnum to be left in the center. And, our task (the gardeners' task) was to then re-plant and fix this area. SO, we moved plants around, got some new plants and created a lovely shade garden filled with ferns and hosta and ligularia and such. It was lovely.
BUT alas. The crazy home owner said it is not what he wanted. he said he wanted an English border garden! He wanted really tall plants! AND, he said, please take out that viburnum! Wait, what? You wanted it to stay just 2 weeks ago!
Anyway, besides that, to have an English border garden, you need SUN!!!
SOmetimes the client just wins. We researched tall plants that would tolerate part-shade conditions.
Here is the shade garden- torn apart to make way for the tree guys to remove the enormous viburnum
Now, the unfortunate thing is, I do not have any pictures between this one and the finished planting! Here is the final planting (although, still unapproved by the client!):
It was a mostly cloudy day today so hard to tell exactly how much sun it will get and if these plants will survive. Cross fingers for the butterfly bush, the daisies, the lilies, the hollyhock, the phlox, the filipendula...and more.
But it really is a lovely property. I'll add some photos of it in the next post. RIght now, time to put my feet up and pour a bit of wine :-)
Happy Gardening Everyone!
Beautiful garden, sometimes you can't please some people :)
Some people are so picky! I think it turned out beautiful!
thanks @sgnsteems! Turns out he emailed my colleague and he loved it!
Oh that's wonderful! That must feel great :)
you really turned that area around. It looks like it should thrive.
Now next year, when you have to move all those plants again because the customer is always right, you'll need a whole bottle of wine.
so true! I figure it will have to get re-done no matter what since some plants will thrive and over-take others. Time will tell...I'll be sure to blog about it!
That is a very beautiful garden. I too hope it survives but I don't know. It's amazing how some people won't listen to reason.
They just think they will get what they want if they want it bad enough...and demand and fuss.
exactly! thanks for reading!
I can relate!
what if they don't approve ?
will you have to redo them?
sighs .. that would be working your ass off 2x
We haven't heard back from him yet, but this time around, we will tell him he has to wait, be patient and let the plants grow and acclimate! And as for working there...it's a constant 'work your ass off' time!!! lol
Hey! We just got an email back from the client and they "couldn't be happier"! woohoo!
wow, what a beautiful selection of flowers..... Looks great! :)
Holy cow that looks incredible!
Do you have a landscaping business by chance? I am considering pursuing a master gardener certificate myself.
I've been working for 7 years with a good friend who started her gardening business (we don't do lawns!) about 10-12 years ago. We do re-design, maintenance of gardens and shrubs, and installation of same. her husband works with us too.
With Master Gardener you'll learn alot, but I have to say that working everyday on the job plus some classes down at Rutgers arboretum in NJ, we have become quite qualified! Also, my friend is amazing with remembering all the latin names of just about EVERY plant and tree and shrub, and she has a way with putting together color that is extraordinary.
Good luck with the Mater Gardener certificate!
Wow nice job guys, I wish my garden looked like that
Followed and upvoted
thanks @cheekybuggy. It's not that hard....well, it is hard! but it's just work :-)
Work, that four lettered word...
Thanks
Beautiful bed in the picture. We have a lot of shade around our house so we had to learn what plants did well without sun. We have a lot of pachysandra and ferns. I've been doing mostly post on my vegie garden but eventually I'm going to do one on our landscaping. Good post. Following you.
thank you @garden-to-eat!
Wow, sure hope it survives because it is beautiful! Yes, we understand shade here and it is a lot of trial and error for me finding just what will and will not work. I do know that potatoes will do fine with even no direct sun and even rosemary, which typically needs full sun, can survive in part sun as long as it is protected from too much rain fall. Interesting what one can learn if they just try and not just go by the book on things
So true! thanks @raincountry
Nice work! Enjoy that glass of wine! You totally deserve it!
thanks @amy-goodrich ;0)