Al

Happy 4th Everyone!!

..... if you're the BIG toad.

Al

The pine tree besides the big toad looks really interesting. It looks like a giant bonsai.

It's only been in the ground for about 3 years & it's a pine that's slow to establish, so I've done precious little pruning. I'll be able to be a little more aggressive in its training next year. I planted it too close to the flag light though - it already blocks some of the light. Oh well .... ;o)

Al

Al

http://thefamilystore.net/ToadHollow_Mugglys.htm

Cut/paste - see the super jumbo toads half-way down the page:

http://thefamilystore.net/ToadHollow.htm

It's an old one - lots of knock-offs available now, but I don't know if you can find them that big. The little flat guy under him used to have a thermometer attached so you could hang it on the wall, but I need another thermometer like I need a hole in the head, so the thermometer went bye and the flat frog got appropriated as a garden prop. Everyone giggles at it when they see it.

I WISH I was that talented ... to be able to make a toad like that from hypertufa. ;o) I'm not very artistic - took me over 10 years to develop a decent eye for bonsai, and at times I still struggle mightily.

Al

I WISH I was that talented

me too. I hate some of your container displays simply because they work so well together. And the whimsical stuff you add for effect... beyond me.

I am still stuck on the stage of trying to get plants to perform optimally, nevermind how they look together ;)

Still, I was in love with this giant, unpainted frog/toad thing at Wal-Mart this year, but they wanted $40 for it and I was like 'Dude, this is Wal-Mart, it should be less'. I waited for it to go on sale and it simply sold out. LOL. One of these years.

The best I could do was this sad looking turtle trying to say hi.

Tapla, nice pics.

bernie

Damon

Al

Xuan

I think it's pruning & thinning. I/m always deadheading as I water & walk around scouting for weeds in the garden (there are a few I refuse to let get out of control because the consequences are an exponential number of NEW weeds). If I notice something in the container is stealing the show, I'm not bashful about reducing its presence in the container by cutting it back as hard as necessary, or thinning it out.

Another 'toad abode':

4 kinds of mint, kept tidy by pruning:

I really like Streptocarpella (don't know if there is a common name), but I couldn't find it this year:

If you look closely, I think you'll see you're getting mooned!

The front deck. I'm ruining it with the plants ..... and don't think I don't hear about it!

A look at one of the bonsai benches I use for growing on material:

Happy Independence Day, all!

Al

It's the first time to see your plants. You don't just know your mix, you have the sense of beauty as well. I like all the arrangement of your container plants. They are stunning. But what inspired me the most today is your bonsai benches. I have so many containers which I have to put them here and there, some on the lawn directly which will destroy the grass in the long run. The bench is really a terrific way to organize the containers. Did you make it yourself? Could you show more pictures of it?
Thanks for showing.

My steady companion. He's getting soo old now:

A comma plant - Juniperus horizontalis "Wiltoni" (blue rug juniper) that I grafted to a volunteer J. virginiana for kicks:

Wren's nest in the shade & shelter of a Picea pungens (blue spruce)

Al

Your pictures are encouraging in the midst of our 100+ temperatures.

Happy 4th to ALL . . .

I don't have any garden frogs, but I bought myself a little gnome, and he talks to me if I press his button! I turned off the motion detector... you can see him on my home page...

Ok, off to go find a recipe for the oodles of swiss chard I harvested today (from the garden plot, not a swc :( )

Most, but not all, of the people that drop by are serious gardeners and feel a sort of camaraderie before they even get out of their cars. They rarely feel bashful about stopping because they already know they'll be welcome.

I also work on my bonsai trees in the driveway. I have a really cool cart with a wooden box on it and a drawer in it. I use it for potting, repotting, working on trees, and as a portable work table.

It's adjustable for height & a real work saver:

As many people stop to ask about the trees as they do about the garden. I've had 4 or 5 people stop and ask about bonsai just between last Sat & today. The garden's kind of ugly in the spring, huh? ;o)

A couple more container shots:

Taking shelter from the sun:

Al

Xuan

Hey, Al. It's some such thing as you suggest, that Northern Tool peddles to repair shops or anyone who wants to buy them. I think it set me back about $100 a few years back, so I don't know how much it would be now. I bet you could find one at Harbor Freight and not have to worry about the shipping. I built the box on top of it. I keep the most commonly used bonsai tools in the drawer & most of the common sizes of wire I use for wiring trees hang on the outside of the box. It's a really handy gardening/bonsai accessory. You KNOW you want one. ;o)

Al

Absolutely beautiful...I am envious of your frogs..Not the fact that I have none, but of the contentment seen on their faces in your beautiful yard and their wonderful surroundings!
I still wouldn't mind having one though..lol
I love your different looking pines..WOW..Amazing

Thanks for helping us to be just a successful as you..:-)

Mike

Marlene - Ticen is a standard poodle, and I think was delivered into the world a perfect gentleman. He'll stay where I command for hours unless I say 'ok', and walks everywhere with me, at heel if I wish, w/o a leash. He's a constant companion in & out of the house (at my feet as I write now). I've had lots of dogs over the years, but never loved one as much as I do him. He's old, at 13+, so I won't have him a lot longer. I'm already deeply saddened about that, but we're enjoying our time together as long as we have it. ;o) I know you'd enjoy his company - everyone seems to.

Cobweb houseleek with lotsa healthy babies in a tiny salter:

Another container:

Succulents in the gritty mix:

A tiny sedum in a mame size bonsai pot:

Al

Please take good care of Ticen so he can stay with you many many more years and don't let him go. Dogs have a very special place in my heart. I love them all.

Thank you for sharing.

Xuan

Thank you so much for showing us your beautiful garden:) I love your doggy. He is just gorgeous. You are blessed to have him for so long and so I don't have to tell you to enjoy every minute you have with him. We are dog lovers too and have 2 dobbies, a male and female and we love them like children. Thank you for giving him first Billing on the Garden Web.

Dusty

Thanks for the sentiments about my pal, too, Huttnem, Xuan, and Dusty. You are each very kind. It's no wonder that I enjoy this forum so much. ;o)

Thanks again!!

Al

Love your color choices in the planters,and all your little garden frogs and toads.TFS
Kathi

The streptocarpella photo launched me back into a massive fit of nostalgia. I had a gorgeous specimen a long time ago, I think I'll need to track one down again soon...

Have (easy) more than 100 frogs & toads - some in their little inconspicuous hidey holes & some right out where they can be easily seen. They're kind of fun.

The Streptocarpella responds really nicely to pinching, & off-shoots from the stems you pinch are usually blooming their heads off again within a week. It strikes me as a very feminine plant, and I think that's why I like it so much - that, and it's so easy to grow & keep tidy. It comes soo easily from cuttings, too

Alison - I treat the Coleus & Fuchsia like annuals, even though they're perennials. It's just too much effort (for me to want to make) to over-winter them here.

Al

Al, I see that all your frogs/toads etc. look right at home in your garden beds. How was that done? Is there any rules to place them (or any other garden decorations) in the bed?

I have some small animals (frogs, toads, deers, etc.) but... they always look out-of-place wherever I put them :-o(.

Please share. Many thanks.

Xuan

When you walk through the gardens, you see all the obvious, big frogs & toads, and maybe a FEW of the more natural ones. It's only after you really start looking closely, that you start to see all the smaller, more natural looking little guys waiting to surprise you. If you ever get to Michigan, Xuan ..... ;o)

YPA

Thanks for your comments.

Xuan