Sorry artinnature, this is totally unrelated to your questions - but do you have a water feature?? Ooooh! Ahhhh! I'd love to see it if you want to post about it (maybe another thread). I tried to do a small galvanized tub one a few years back but I didn't have much luck.

Okay sorry, continue with machilus thunbergii....

:)

Dee

I researched Machilus thunbergii in the past, since I was interested in broadleaf evergreen trees that could grow in the Pacific Northwest (climate zone 8 ).

It is actually native to Japan. But in Japan, it is sort of seen as an "inferior" version of camphor tree. However, Machilus thunbergii is more cold tolerant than camphor tree, and can grow in colder parts of Japan; although the majority of the population in Japan (such as in Tokyo) lives in areas where camphor trees can grow.

The foliage of Machilus thunbergii reminds one a little bit of some Chinese evergreen magnolia trees (which are rare in cultivation, but not completely unheard of in the U.S.)

There is also "Japanese cinnamon" tree (Cinnamomum tenuifolium) for anyone who is interested (though it is a smaller tree, and evergreen leaves not as pretty).

I don't know why the Japanese would complain - they have plenty of BLEs and a summer wet climate that supports them. The hardiest Cinnamomums are surely as hardy as any Machilus, but they might not be commonly cultivated in Japan. It's actually a little surprising that Japanese gardeners (vs. forest managers or whatever) like camphor trees, because they get so gigantic! I think of gardens there as being smallish.

Honestly, on showiness alone, the flowering Castanopsis of Japan might be prettier than any Cinnamon or Avocado family member! I ONCE AGAIN failed with the Castanopsis seeds Sheffield was offering...not sure what I'm doing wrong, and feel like an idiot at this point. At least I got some other rarities to germinate, like Pinus gerardiana, and Nomocharis aperta. 3 out of 15 seedlings survived in trays this summer, so hopefully I've selected a 'heat tolerant' clone of that Himalayan beauty! (the lily seed was from Jelitto, not Sheffields)

"we're very lucky to live in a place where anything will grow, whether it likes water or not. For those types that need regular water, just add it and stand back!".

Yeah, now, I'm 'used to' a summer wet (usually) climate, which isn't to say I'm not jealous of what people can grow in the PNW. But the problem with a summer wet climate is you can't turn it off! The reason one saw rhododendrons growing near the bottom of swales at Greer Gardens, (or Sonoma Hort for that matter) where they would never be able to survive around here, isn't JUST the cooler nights in summer...it's that because any summer water is water you're turning on, yourself, there's no way to drown them as can happen around here after a hurricane. As I've said before, around Hurricane Irene in 2011, I got close to 30 inches of rain in 40 days. It did kill a few rhododendrons (including a big gorgeous R. rex I'd driven across the country from RSF) but fortunately, most of mine are planted on a gentle slope and it prevented an absolute carnage. They get just enough drainage help from that. This was really a happy accident, when I bought this lot in 2006, I had no idea I'd get 'smitten' by rhodies by driving to Rarefind in NJ that spring. I never knew you could have an 'english looking' rhodie garden in the eastern US. (FWIW Rarefind was on pine barren sand, and had a very sophisticated irrigation system with a deep well and large pump house, so actually closer in that respect to the PNW, than my garden.)

OH well, sorry to take over the thread, but it's interesting to compare gardening practices PNW vs. East coast. I love the summers I can coast by without having to water a damn thing even once, even newly planted stuff. But we pay the price when the spigot won't shut off! (And of course, have to water in dry summers like 2024 and 2025.)

I love them and have really appreciated them this year especially, when so many of my annuals were kind of duds (along with everything else in the garden lol).

I've never had any reseeding that I noticed, but I may have weeded them out early in the season.

Mine are a bit floppy, but it may be due to my neglect (getting them planted late, leaving them in milk jugs as they stretched for some light lol, etc) but I have them in a bed where I have my red, yellow and orange flowers, and they really add a nice touch to the bed. I even like the spent blooms - kinda cool!

I have tried a few varieties, always by seed. This year it's Neon, and they have indeed been in bloom for most of the season.

:)

Dee

I've liked them when I've grown them, but they peter out for me, too -- definitely cool-season plants. Would make a very nice alternative to mums for fall displays.

@rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a) they self seeded and overwinter. When they self seed, the seeds sprout in the fall as temps cool off and overwinter. They are very hardy and actively grow and occasionally bloom throughout the winter. When they fry out with summer temps, I yank them out and replace them with zinnias.

I think you've done a nice job so far!

As MG said, it would be helpful for us to be able to make suggestions if we knew where you were - zone 7 covers a wide area! We don't need your address, lol, just the general area. For instance, I'm in zone 6 CT between New Haven and NYC.

I also agree with moving out the sidewalk, but I also know how reality affects our gardens. I've been wanting to move MY front sidewalk for 30 years now. :) Barring that, I think I would make the bed between the sidewalk and the street deeper/wider, at least if you want to add plants. I'm really not sure you have much room to add anything else as it is now.

My first thought on seeing your photos is that you need height. I think you've already done a good job addressing that with the trellises. When your clematis grows in and fills the trellises I think it will make a big difference. I also think that was a good way to address the height issue considering the bed along the front is so narrow. Two birds with one stone, and all... And for next year, some nice annual trailers in the window boxes would help soften all that brick too. You could intertwine some annual vines for longer-season color on the trellises too.

You don't need a LOT of height in the front beds (and probably wouldn't want it, as it would hide the bed along the house, but perhaps just some variation in the heights of your plants - some one-footers, two-footers, three-footers, etc. And you've got a start on that with the irises, for instance.

Another thought - how about some evergreens? What does this whole area look like in your winters? I believe liriope is evergreen (I'm not sure as I've never grown it and I'm in a different zone...?) There are lots of wonderful smaller evergreens out there if you want to keep things low. There are hollies and boxwoods that stay at about 3 feet high (although I personally would stay away from boxwoods due to blight issues - hollies are a nice substitute), and some thujas/arborvitaes that get about 2-3 feet tall, dwarf yews, etc. Even one or two of these strategically placed would give you some winter interest. And perhaps some evergreen growers on the trellis... eunonymus? Maybe on one trellis?

For full season color, even edging the front of the beds towards the street with annuals would look great. I line most of my (mostly shade) beds with white impatiens and I feel like it gives some cohesiveness and ties things together, and they are easy and reliable for the most part, and make the beds look decent even when nothing else is really going on. A house in the neighborhood does a similar thing with a split rail fence they have along the street. Daffodils in spring the entire length of the fence, and then annuals - this year it's red impatiens I believe (I drive by so I can't stop to look lol) (the New Guinea ones which usually get bigger) and even this small touch makes it look really pretty as you drive by.

The mention of daffodils reminds me that you can use bulbs to start your early spring season... and also for later season interest, like alliums, as sherrygirl mentioned, or fall-blooming crocus.

Lastly, some garden art maybe? Even just a birdbath might look nice and add some interest.

Good luck and keep us posted. We all love to see before and after photos!

:)

Dee

edited to add - a nice obelisk or one of those pyramidal obelisks with an annual vine would add some nice, eye-catching interest and height without being big and heavy and blocking anything visually, and it wouldn't be permanent if you wanted to move it around or changed your mind. They could be nice elegant metal ones, or I'm thinking of someone here on the forums who has a very lovely garden, and she has three wooden ones which are painted in shades of purple and pink, which look gorgeous in her garden and tie into her color scheme. They really add to the feel and look of a garden and give it color even in winter. Gosh I wish I could remember who it was so you could find her posts.... but anyway, just another thought!

Such a beautiful garden! I am in zone 8 and have a tall trellis inbetween our garage windows. Star jasmine does a good job filling up the trellis, but i added some morning glory seeds last year. wow! Year round theres greenery and spring through late fall we have flowers. This year they came back, i guess self seeding. For another winter blooming plant we have an Edgeworthia plant. It smells amazing and blooms in February or March. Have fun planting!

There will be some height when those trellises fill up. I would add some other plants with height as Dee suggested. Makes for a more interesting garden.

I would also connect and expand the two beds in front of the walk.

Maybe consider Hellebores, Heuchera, and Heucherella in the beds in front of your walk. They are evergreen which is nice. Asters, Anemones, Sedums, and others bloom in late summer to fall. Some Hellebores bloom in Fall and through the winter, too (hence their nicknames of Winter Rose and Christmas Rose). Always a welcome sight.

A small shrub or three in the front beds (dwarf shrubs maybe?) would be nice too and complement the perennials. You are off to a good start. Looking forward to seeing what you decide to do. :-)

rouge you must have disturbed some dormant seed when you made the bed. I'm not sure I would call that little guy "out of place". That red really pops and looks great with the purple and yellow!

gardenho, how very lovely! Almost a literal primrose path - I guess it's a portulaca path lol! They literally invite you to keep walking down the pathway!

:)

Dee

Thanks Dee! It was such a pleasant surprise. Makes me want to get more for my other pathways. Just not sure if they would do well though as they aren’t as sunny…

"I fully get that some people don't like pink flowers ..."

I don't! LOL

Okay, just kidding, everyone has their likes and dislikes and that's fine. I just love pink so much!

UpperBay my neighbor had a large grass that, looking at your picture, I assume was some kind of pampas grass. It was next to his garage and for years I loved looking out the window at it, from my desk, especially in winter and especially at sunset, when it cast long shadows on the garage. The new neighbors don't take the same care of the yard and I don't know if they removed it or it just got overgrown with something but I don't see it anymore. I'm kind of afraid of grasses lol and hesitate to plant one of my own!

jim1961 I've seen pictures of your front garden before but never your house. What a charming house!

:)

Dee

Thanks Rouge. I guess it’s not something I can ’ tuck in’ here and there lol.

Late sown Zinnias are just getting started and the seed griwn Dahlias are fun. Never know what you’ll get.

Good to know! Thanks for the update!

:)

Dee

The most powerful rust removers have fluoride based reducing chemistry. (rust is oxidized, so a powerful reducing agent converts it back to a soluble form) This including the spray-on version of Iron Out porkchop mentions, and one even stronger called 'Whink'. Make sure you wear gloves as they can cause deep tissue burns that might not be immediately felt or spotted, especially Whink. The Spruce https://www.thespruce.com/best-rust-removers-4174196 breezily states "Also, be sure to have a set of cleaning gloves on hand and keep a window cracked open. This is a heavy-duty spray with a very strong chemical scent." On hand? They should literally be on your hands!

My lingering question is how did the product affect the non metal components of said sprinkler?

That's a good question. I really don't know the technical answer, but I'd probably rake back the mulch and put teh compost right onto the soil, unless the bark has decomposed to the extent that there's little left.

Agree with GG -- keep the compost and the mulch off the crowns.

Ditto. I would pull back the bark mulch, put the compost onto the soil, and replace the bark mulch. And yes, keep the mulch off the crowns.

:)

Dee

OMG, you don't have to tell me twice! I'm right there with you commiserating! I'm sure you've seen me kvetching here the last two years about the local utility company, cutting down every tree on the street! Every tree around town - and neighboring towns. It's awful. Huge old oaks, maples, and many other smaller trees just gone. I used to live on a tree-lined, tree-canopied road, and instead of driving under a lovely green canopy, as one drives down the street one sees nothing but a row of telephone poles, one after another after another. Sigh...

And it's not just utility companies. I guess I'm just not a sun worshipper or a lawn junkie, so I don't get why people cut down perfectly good trees. When we first bought this property, our neighbor (perfect lawn, sunny yard with pool etc) came over and one of the first things he said was, so, are you going to get rid of some of these trees? (our not-quite-one-acre lot had over 50 large trees). We looked at him in some confusion and said why? One of the reasons we bought the house was because we loved the lot!

And whether it's a neighbor, or a utility company, or the municipality, yes, cutting down a tree (or planting one!) often affects more than just that property owner. A tree, especially in an area with smaller lots, affects lots of properties.

I'm also in the same boat about replacing things and having to worry about the overhead wires. I won't get my lovely shade back, but I am trying to plant shrubs that get about 6-12 feet tall under them. There is an intersection at the corner of my property where some trees were lost and while I don't get road dust like you do, there is traffic, headlights, etc., not to mention wind, etc and of course just the need for privacy. I put in some hollies (a mix of deciduous and evergreen) some chamaecyparis, and a couple of viburnum. They are still small but I am hoping they do the trick!

Good luck with your situation and let us know how you proceed!

:)

Dee

I hate that this happened to you @porkchop_z5b_MI. This has always been a fear of mine. It’s unavoidable and in many cases inevitable but it still hurts.

Could you offer to replacetve tree with a different one perhaps more to their liking? Do you know the readon they removed it?

A bowl of dahlias grown in my garden this year.

Beautiful colors! My dahlias stink this year! I don't know if it's too much rain (would that be such a thing for dahlias?) but I'm just not getting a lot of blooms. :(

Yes, earwigs here too. Lol although not this year. There are so few blooms I think the earwigs said forget about this place, let's try somewhere else!

:)

Dee

Jay your echinacea are beautiful. I also tried pallida and paradoxa from seed years ago but they never flourished for me and I lost them. Perhaps I will try again. I really love the bloom form of them.

christie I have the same problem, especially this year with the rain. I have a lot of leaners too lol. Most of my yard is shade so some things do lean toward the sun, and then with all this rain, lots of things - especially my daylilies earlier in the season - literally were laying flat on the ground blooming!

:)

Dee

I don't cut back to encourage re-bloom, per se, but rather I deadhead to tidy up, especially annuals -- zinnia, geranium, heliotrope, salvia, marigold are the annuals that pop into mind. A lot of perennials, too, if I have the time and feel like putzing around. I did notice this year that balloon flower will reward you with light re-bloom if you deadhead.

What I cut back hard is catmint and perennial geranium -- after the bloom flush in late May-early June they get cut to the ground to encourage fresh foliage. Otherwise, they tend to look messy. They fill in again very fast and look fresh the rest of the season. No rebloom on the perennial geranium, I can't say as though I've noticed with the catmint -- it's tucked away out of view so I haven't paid attention.

I leave the spent blooms on my Joe Pye and "Herbstonne" rudbeckia. The birds relish the seeds, and because the plants are so tall I can enjoy the feeding show at viewing height out the window. I might have to cut back this year, though -- even though they are hoop-staked with very tall hoops, the storms a couple nights ago did a number on them and other things, I'll have to wait to see if they bounce back upright after drying out or if the stems are broken. Same with the PeeGee hydrangeas. Actually, I am going to cut off the blooms on those because the branches will stay bent out of shape from the weight of the huge flower trusses if left too long. The birds don't care about those, though I do. :0)

I LOVE sedum but I go for the small groundcover ones more. I just love the foliage!

I bought an .... Autumn Joy??? - YEARS ago as a new gardener. It was the only one I saw regularly in the current catalogs. I liked it okay, but now see all the different cultivars with such nicer bloom color. I still have my original Autumn Joy (and have shared lots of it) but have been pondering getting a newer (at least to ME lol) variety. I just have so little sun and as usual I suffer from analysis paralysis.

This one's a beauty FB. Love the light pink. I think I almost like it better in bud than in bloom. And I AM a sucker for variegated foliage.....

:)

Dee

When I really like something, I can't help be a sucker for propagation! These start very well even at this time of the year and only need a bit of root formation prior to going into winter, though can come indoors and under lights to put some good roots down. I hate to already be speaking of winter, but in my region the cooler air is already here, has been such a very crappy summer, immennsely rainy and ohhh, so strangely frequent overcast like doom and gloom is upon the world, sorry to say but it really feels that way with all that's going on! :(

'Elsie's Gold' or mabye is 'Autumn Charm', they're so very siimlar I can't tell them apart! This is an evening photo thus looks a bit dullled out, another sedum variety I like having all over the place!

'Neon' is a beauty!

'Carl', very similiar, though a bit more smaller of a plant, is a must have front of the border gem!

Yes, Diggerdee, there really are some wonderful newer sedum varieties to get one's hands on!

Laceyveil, the deer here love these especially when they're just getting up and running out of the ground, at that time I then just toss some prickly dead dry rose or spiny barberry branches upon them ... but, yes, deer are tiresome!

Hmm, I'm willing to bet the farm that I did try Blue Bedder, and it never got that tall. My favorite annual salvia is Victoria Blue, but it never got very tall, and always bloomed JUST after the roses I planted it with (or was it JUST before...???)

Anyway, that's why I tried Blue Bedder, since it was supposed to be taller. Not in my garden.

I do now (for the last two years) grow Big Blue, which I also like. It's much darker, and quite late-blooming in my garden, and I don't grow it with my roses, but I do like it - and so do the bees, especially when Big Blue is one of the last things standing!

:)

Dee

Markay, The wild form of Annual Sunflower grows along the highway in these parts. Im guessing that the reason it persists is it's abilty to outcompete the local invasives Teasle, Poison Hemlock and Crownvetch. I'd happy to share seeds with you.

Thank you @Jay 6a Chicago. I would love that!