Swapping Huckleberries
Himalayan Honeysuckle ( Vaccinium glauco album) Himalayan Honeysuckle ( Vaccinium glauco album) has been an attractive feature along our north-facing foundation since I planted it in 2016. You will have to take my word for it since I cannot locate a photo although I know one exists somewhere in the realm of the Internet or floating on a cloud somewhere. I did locate a photo of how it looked when it was first planted - It took a few years to fill out but it did so nicely to an attractive mound about 2 feet high by 3 feet wide. Last year, it started to look bad. I cut it back but it had not improved and this is how it looked a few weeks ago - I decided to rip it out and plant another huckleberry - this time Vaccinium ovatum , more commonly known as the "Evergreen Huckleberry". This is a plant that I've wanted for ages and kept putting off getting one because I could not find a good place for it. By most accounts, this is an amazing plant, a native one and excellent for
How wonderful to have a nearly blank slate.
ReplyDeleteIt is good that you don't have to remove everything and you still have pretty much a blank slate to work with. I am with you about the chain link fence. UGH... I know I know, I installed some here but it was only because I couldn't afford a wooden fence all around our garden. Had to keep the dog in... That apple tree might bloom nice in the spring. I don't know if that is enough to keep it but all sorts of wild animals, butterflies, bees etc don't mind rotten fruit.It is exciting to see the "before" pictures. I hope your belongings arrive soon. I would be worried too. It seems like they should have given you a date for arrival?? Good luck.
ReplyDeleteA lot of birds use the tree right now, just for sitting. The movers said Feb. 10 but said it could be up to 3 weeks. So I will give them a few more days.
DeleteWelcome to Washington, Phillip and Michael!
ReplyDeleteI read a couple of you previous post with the pictures of conifers; I adore dwarf confers and it looks like you are taken by them as well. I had seen the transformation of your previous garden, in Alabama, and I can't wait to see how you transform this garden. And by the way, Primroses are a welcome sight this time of year even if they never look as good outside (after the slugs dined on them) as they do in the nursery:-)
Maybe you can give me some advise when selecting some!
DeleteI enjoy all your posts and am looking forward to seeing your plans for your new garden space unfold!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to have that much privacy!
ReplyDeleteI like my neighborhood and my property, but the only development is only around 10 yrs old and most people seem content to have expansive lawns, so there's not nearly enough privacy for my tastes.
I've been experimenting with adding screening shrubs, but I was overly optimistic when I began. I now realize that good screening takes time ... particularly if you're looking to create a mixed wildlife-friendly naturalistic hedge with an emphasis on native plants!
Phillip, I am so excited to see what you'll do with your blank slate. I know it will be stellar. As you said, you're so lucky to have such nice screening hedges. Do you know if that wisteria is one of the invasive varieties? Are the Asian ones even invasive up there? I hope not! I'm with you about chain link fences. :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is invasive. I am not sure yet about the invasive factor. If I replace that fence, I don't know how I will get the wisteria off of it!
DeleteLike everyone else, I'm excited to see what you do with your space over time. I'm happy that you're enjoying your new digs and hope you're not too homesick for the south.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll whip that garden into place in no time! I'm always bothered by trees with other trees sticking out of the sides of them like your cherry laurel/apple tree. I always think "why did you let that happen? you could see them growing together, be bold and cut one down!" I'm serious, I always notice it. Ha ha!
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