Tuesday, November 17, 2009

THE WELL-PLACED RAKE

With wood tines this rake was bought for ornamentation. To create vignettes. Then realizing this is the rake to use on a bluestone terrace. No scratching of your stones with metal tines.
In the foreground, above, is a Pee Gee hydrangea. With dried blossoms, by the rake, is an oakleaf hydrangea. After this picture was taken I added 'Anna Belle' hydrangea.
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Oakleaf/'Anna Belle'/Pee Gee, tolerate full-sun in my zone 8 garden. Oakleaf's bloom early summer, 'Anna Belle' most of summer, Pee Gee late summer.
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The burgundy foliage? A Weeping Cut-Leaf Red Japanese Maple. Bought for 90% off at Lowe's. A hand-written sale sign for all shade trees several fall's ago. Ha, the cashier said this tree wasn't included. Hunger, lust, desire, dahlings, I had to have this tree. Yes, a $200 tree for 90% off. Had to ask the cashier for the manager, to get the sale price. Wholesale, trees this size are more than $200. Sold, $20 !!!
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What you can't realize about this vignette in my garden? It's at the front of my tiny property and neighbor's houses are EVERYWHERE. But, la-ti-da, I have my little Cotswoldian idyll and don't see them.
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Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
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6 comments:

  1. TerryNovember 17, 2009 at 8:56 AM

    $20 maple? Good grief.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Living the life in The Little CityNovember 17, 2009 at 9:10 AM

    Tara,
    I've been snagging some great deals on plants at Home Depot. Same goes for my local garden center. Exhilarating!
    Kathleen
    houseitemsandroomsilike.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tara DillardNovember 17, 2009 at 1:23 PM

    Terry,

    Yes, Rob Browder, www.precisionpruing.com, does all my pruning. He's the best in the city.

    The Weeping Cut-Leaf Red Japanese Maple is well taken care of!

    XO T

    ReplyDelete
  4. KateNovember 17, 2009 at 8:56 PM

    how tiny is your property? From the various photos, in comparison to what I'm trying to work with, it reads huge! I have neighbors homes very close too, but alas, I can see them all too clearly.

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  5. Tara DillardNovember 18, 2009 at 8:52 AM

    My lot is 'pie' shaped, fat wedge at the street tapering, literally, to a 'point' in back.

    Less than 1/4 acre, 8500 square feet including house, drive, patio.

    Built my house, 1986, in a cluster home subdivision. You know, starter home, here 5 years then leave for bigger/better.

    Ha. I Love This House & Garden !!

    XO T

    ReplyDelete
  6. the gardener's cottageNovember 18, 2009 at 11:17 AM

    Hi Tara,

    What beautiful hydrangeas! You're right it looks like a little cottswald garden.

    ~janet

    ReplyDelete