My 2006 Patio Garden

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Author Message   Studdlygoof  Posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 12:53 pm EST :    Was scrolling through Photobucket when I ran across some of these pictures from my patio at my apartment two years ago. It was my first attempt at trying to create a garden like atmosphere on a cold slab of concrete. All in all that year it came out pretty good. I learned some good lessons as far as container gardening goes and enjoyed myself thoroughly in the process. At those apartments we werent allowed to have anything on the patio's besides lawn furniture but the Landlord said that she enjoyed walking past it so much I could leave it. Each Spring the neighbors are always asking when I'm going to get the pond up and running agian and the local kids have become regulars at feeding time fo the Koi. These pictures were taken in the early spring so the plants are still small. It filled out quite nicely and I will try to find those pictures to post at a later time. Infact I still have all the same plants growing on my new patio now except for the Lambs Ear and Purple Fountain Grass that didn't survive the winter and a savage squirrel attack! While this picture was taken a while ago and not a whole lot is coming to my mind about them I do remember a couple things. That year the Dwarf Jaccobs Ladder Polemonium borealewas HUMONGOUS. I loved it not only for its nice flowers in the spring but its textured foliage gave a nice contrasting background for the pond. Another nice thing about it that I liked is that is was what I labled as an 'Container Alarm' plant. It was one of the first plant to show distress and wilt due to high temperatures and low water; however, it would bounce back to its original beauty no more then 10 minutes after a good watering. If it was showing stress I new that I had to water soon before some of the plants that did not respond so well to lack of water started to wilt. Two others that come to my mind as 'Container Alarms' were most of the Mint family as well as the different cultivars of the Ipomoea batatas Sweet Potato Vine. Another plant that I fell in love with that year was the 'Silver Mound' Silvermound Artemisia. I remember seeing it from across the nursery and was instantly drawn to its flowing hypnotic foliage. Anyone that has not grown one or seen one I highly suggest it. The only problems that I have had with it is it not responding well after heavy rains. Its foliage sags and I would never be able to get it back to its mounding form before the end of the season. I tried staking and hooping it but never had any real success. Anyone have any suggestions for preserving its apperance I would greatly appriciate! Well I hope you all enjoy. Like I said I will have to look for some after pictures to show. (Note: I did not grow the grill. However it was a regular garden ornament on my patio. In fact I'm suprised there are not a few beer bottles next to it to compliment its stunning features!) Studdlygoof - Maryland, Zone "Z-7"   Bunting  Posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 01:11 pm EST :    Oh My goodness This is so lovely. Pond and all on yoru deck Wow, that took a lot imgaination to down scale it like that Very very nice Bunting - NS, Zone "6a"   Sunnyday2day  Supporting Member My Favorite Photo My Weather My Time Posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 03:10 pm EST :    That IS attractive.. creative too! Sunnyday2day - Michigan, Zone "Zone 5"   Plantindude  My Garden Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 08:12 am EST :    Great work in for a "small space garden". Isn't it amazeing what a few plants can do for small spaces . I got a few Silver mound in a bed ,well I had 4 and lost 2,still don't why ? but anyway one thing i learned from a extension agent on these during a Q&A is to keep'em nicely clipped back. If you've noticed they do bloom , a real fine "flower" if you will ,will comeWell I was told to prune these off as soon as you see them,I noticed on mine as soon as it bloom it flooped open. or drooped and had a opened up in the center. So the followering years I kept them clipped into nicely groomed little mounds and noticed they did alot better and kept their shape better. I also noticed they did alittle better during heavy rains ,because of their real fine folige it's just one of the bad habits of the plant. And I'll agree,these are great plants,they have fanatastic color and folige,every that has seen them loves too touch these plants, espeacially kids ,because of its soft texture. Plantindude - Ohio, Zone "5"   Studdlygoof  Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 10:07 am EST :    Good stuff. I'm definately adding that information to my garden journal for future reference PD. Maybe this year will be the year..."Year of the Silver Mound"...has a little ring to it dont you think? Studdlygoof - Maryland, Zone "Z-7"

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