Monday, March 11, 2019

March 9, 2019 / Spring projects

Today we started working on the yard, a bit early and the temps were a brisk 27 degrees when
we got started around 9:30am.  It was nice to see the truck pull in and we were ready to roll.
Since Allen had surgery late last night he sat the morning out and did some work inside  So I
started on the front and had a request for photos.











The first load of mulch
15 cubic yards.   The driver did great keeping it
all on the tarps!!

Before photos: 




As you can see the mulch is about gone and we have learned every three
years new mulch needs to be added.

After photos:










We work the outer edges and leave a space to run the wheel barrel along, this is 
done so we don't run across the grass and kill it or leave ruts.    We stopped around 4:30 pm
so clean up could be done and will finish the front today.   I have around 10 more wheel barrels 
to finish the front yard.  Then it's off to the back and the last 10 cubic yards of mulch will arrive
around 2 ish.   Yes that is 25 yards of mulch to hopefully do the yard.  Out back we have a circle
bed and last year we added some black mulch to add a difference in color.   So this year we are
going to be doing the front oval bed the same way beside the area at the curb will also be black.

More photos to come.



Monday, January 14, 2019

It's a New Year and...........

Here at karma 'Happy Toes' Garden, we are going to be doing things differently!!

First:  We are going to start using 'CHEMICALS'!!  I can just hear, WHY??   It's due to the lack
of care our neighbors' are doing!   After years of less chemicals and seeing last year what we had to
deal with, it's time.  I truly understand now why folks turn to chemicals if their neighbors fail to take
care of their property!  It is time to become vocal and we will show you what we had to deal with this
past year!!      Photos to come!!

Secondly:   Our gardens will only be open by appointment only!   No more drive by or walking visits!  We may or may not open the gardens when we have our yearly sale.  Sorry we didn't have one last year as we waited for the County to surly seal our roadway, it hadn't been done in 20 years!!

Thirdly:  We are making some changes to our yard, so if you make an appointment and we say no, you will know up front that we are working on these changes.  Why the changes, let's just say it's due to neighbors' not taking care of their property and we have to deal with the damage it's causing ours.

Fourth:  Some of you have asked why I'm so not sharing information, again there is the appearance my silence is due to my neighboring issues.  It's been brought to our attention they too read but don't care.   It is also my understanding that if things come into our yard and it's not ours, they need to be returned in a timely fashion and that is what we do now!  Clark County information states, "that if you have trees in your yard, you are responsible for them!"  If your leaves blow into the street it's your responsibility to pick them up and they shouldn't blow into your neighbors yard nor should they
have to pick them up!   Nor should they land on adjacent property have to pay for their disposal.  With the County only sweeping the streets once a year in many locations it's time folks do their part and pick up after their trees.  It's bad enough that adjacent properties have to deal with the mess your tree cause them.  We started last year to return all of it to the property where it comes from.   We keep our gardens clean so that our visitors have a great experience when they tour our gardens.  Yes, we know just how bad the properties around us are!  We had a gardener from Canada email us and told us what they saw when they Googled our gardens.  If you don't believe me, just Google or use a mapping program and check out your property.  Even the Cities and County's website have photos, some maybe out dated but still it gives you a chance to see what others see.  You can find these photos under the GIS dept. for your address and take the tours of your neighborhood.  This is for the public to look at.

Sorry I have not been here, but had to deal with a family members medical needs these past few weeks.  After spending the full day at SW WA Peace Heath Hospital on the 26th we know know what is going on and hopefully put this to rest.  But we came home to find one heck of a mess due to the east winds!   I spent my Wed. morning cleaning up what my neighbors' trees tossed into our yard.





This is a mild (40 mph) wind storm and the whole north and east sides of the property was littered with sticks, branches and pine cones.  It had to all be raked to get it all picked up.    This stuff flew all the way into the back garden beds.  The roof will be cleaned off when the weather permits.   In the fall these neighbors had tree trimmers out to cut down trees in their yard and we just shake our heads at the events, yes these guys were out on two occasions so far.  Here are the trees and how they were left after removal of the huge maples that were planted over the septic  drain field.  Yes they are scalped on the east side and the one in the front is scalped on three sides.  Now you can see why we just shake our heads.  These folks have done little to their yard for years.   We watched at the trees were cut and sorry my yard isn't going to have their trees cut and dropped in our yard!  We keep our yard clean of our neighbors stuff for a reason and if you see what is blown in you would understand why the use of chemicals.  We also didn't appreciate them sending their tree trimmer over to talk to us and them wanting to drop cut limbs into our yard.  There is no need to do so.















This is how the back yard was left after the trees were removed.  As you can see these trees leave
a huge mess if not cleaned up. We try to keep our side of the fence clean as this is the area where we allow our dog to do her business.  We deal with sap and her trying to eat everything.



Just one of the leaves that we have taken photos of.












Here are some of the photos that we have taken so folks can see what we have to deal with.  It's not just the east side but the north and west, too.





















This is what blows down to our driveway as no one in our area picks up their leaves.





















Many folks put tree right along the property lines as they don't want to take up space in their yards. As these trees grow due to lack of care they can cause damage to adjacent properties.  We currently have issues with our fence due to the roots of the adjacent trees.   In one area we have our fence bowing due to the roots of trees and another area the fence is tilting.   There is also the reoccurring issue of tree limbs falling and causing damage to our fence due to those trees aren't wind sailed and we know of only one time they were professional trimmed.  We were warned by that tree trimmer that they were only allowed to do a little trimming and those neighbors refused to allow them to fix the issues at that time.  Hence we have had now our fence his three times, you will find we have covered this issue in the past.  We will also tell you to check with your insurance company on what is covered and what isn't.    We also deal with roots into our yard as they search for water.  Do you water your trees?   This past year with the heat we had, we are seeing confers and other trees die.  Ya know all one can do is shake their heads with you see the lack of care we are seeing.   How about you go without water and see how long you last??

I was asked what is the best time to remove trees.   When they are dormant. 



More to be added later when time permits as I have to pick up/ clean up the yard today!




Friday, December 7, 2018

Happy Holidays!

From our Family to Yours!  Enjoy the Season.

Friday, October 5, 2018

Variegation!!

In January of this year I harvest 4 seedpods from our B. Shorty's variegated.  For years I have heard from both Brugmansia groups that variegated Brugs seedpods will be solid color and variegation is
not carried forward. 

So since I got Shorty's variegated I have not released any of her seedpods.  I have planted each year and tossed many of them since I have B. Hunter and B. Jutner Peachy Cream that I keep growing and enjoying the fragrances.  B. Shorty's has a fragrance that will knock you over when she has all the blooms that she puts off.


Back to the 4 seedpods for 2018.  Each was planted in a pot labeled with the seedpods letter.  To my surprise by March we were seeing the pots fill up with little plants.  I noticed some with variegation and thought no, that isn't what I have been told.  So I sat on them and not a word until now.  Today
10/5/2018 I decided to strip the leaves to get ready to put them in their own pots for the winter months.   I have a spot for them up under the grow lights in the Brug House.

These are from seedpod A:


 


Shorty's plants are huge if allow to grow naturally the first 6 months. 

A little history on B. Shorty's, it was found at a local nursery.  I purchased 2 and they told me
when I returned a few days later that they weren't supposed to sell them and they wanted to
buy them back.   I questioned the history and they were only labeled variegated.  While at ABADS I was told to purchase all the variegated plants that were known and I then started the task to compare them all to Shorty's.  Shorty's out grew them all and needed full hot sun to thrive.  None of the others had her fragrance either.  I did share her with a lady back east and hoped if I lost ours she would be able to replace ours.  I was also at Dave's Gardens and shared her with folks that wanted cuttings.  I was told not to share her after ABADS found out I was as I didn't know the history.    I trade lots of cuttings and after the first year we decided to stop sharing her.  I will tell you I did take her down to Terra Nova to have her tissue cultured.  She collapsed and they were unable to tissue culture her.  I was told she was probably someone tissue culture how she reacted.   I have been growing her and another tissue culture from TNN and they have matched in growth and they both throw off about the same sports.  They range from Albinos to solids, even the albinos will show green on them.  Here is the Shorty's albino for this year:



Yes you can get them to grow as long as they stay attached to the mother plant.  Our first Shorty's had one that we were able to get to seedpods and the new babies were all albinos which lasted upward to a month after planting. 

B. Shorty's is a special plant!!  She is hard to start but it can be done. 

Thursday, October 4, 2018

2018 B. Shorty's Variegated






Here is B. Shorty's placement in her big pot for the summer months.   October 3rd she was removed and placed on the driveway so she can be stripped of her leaves before being placed in the greenhouse for the winter months.  She was in full bloom, with 8 seedpods and way to big to go in the Brugmansia house.  I had a few other brugmansias  that I was going to over winter in the tropical house but they had to be moved so she could go in.   We now can say all the Brugmansias are in their winter spots.  We now can start the huge cut back of the yard and this weekend if weather permits we will be putting on the tarps for added protection.   Right now the fragrance is really strong and so I limit my time in there.   More over the winter months.



Datura seeds



I have these Datura seeds  and here is what I have:

2007 Datura inoxia, small B pod from a small plant.
2009 Datura ferox
2002 Datura tatula 'La Fleur' Lilac
2009 Datura 'Sugar and Cream' from Europe Pods 1 and 2
2010 Datura that is Wild in the PNW

2007 Datmansia X Reverse Variegated Pod B and C-----Pod A sent to Cheryl
2007 Datmansia X D. MM Pod with dark seeds and the other with lite colored seeds, Pod C & D this seed were huge
2008 Datmansia x Datmansia Pod A normal size, Pod B pale seeds, & Pod C were light colored
2008 Datmansia X open Pollinated Pod A dark seeds, Pod B normal color, & Pod C light colored
2008 Datmansia X open pollinated, darkest seeds off pod D
2009 Datmansia self-pollinated Pod A
2009 Cheryl's project Datmansia X Jamaica Yellow gift pod #2
2009 Cheryl's project Metel cross X her Brug looking Datmansis Pod #1
2010 Datmansia X ferox
2011 Datmansia X Datmansia Pods A and B light color seeds, Pod C normal
2011 Datmansia self-pollinated Pod A and B normal
2011 Datmansia X Shorty's Pod A cream colored, Pod B whitest seeds

We have not saved seeds on any of the pods since 2012 but the plant returns, we just enjoy her.  She smells of peanutbutter.


Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Closing The Gardens For The Winter Months!!

It is that time of the year to put all the plants away.  So we are closing the gardens
until next spring. 

Come visit us next April 15th when we reopen.   Watch for our spring plant sale.

Thank you for your support and we hope everyone enjoyed our gardens this year.