The soil is definitely glacial till. Some yards in the neighborhood have gargantuan boulders just sitting in not opportune spots. I have mainly gravel with some larger stones. Our house in town was in an area where the fine soil was laid about three feet deep. Glaciers did some amazing things to the landscape. I am pleased with the paths. I can now access the hillside safely. I am hoping the BC Ginger will eventually become predominant as a ground cover. That will take a lot more transplanting and time to outcompete the weeds. I brought in some lilacs today from the two very old bushes. One has an unusual flower (to me). I’d never seen a double flower on a lilac before. Of the three bushes there are at least two varieties of lilacs.
Meid— those are beautiful Syring blossoms. How long to they last with you at home before they wilt? But what really caught my attention was the Indian pottery. I really like that. You are a girl who just keeps on surprising.
@Sjoerd no idea how long the flowers will last. Had better check the water The pottery is just souvenir pots from maybe the 1940s. They were all my moms. The storyteller is newer. My mom loved everything western. They lived on the Yakima Nation reservation for a while so I have a few interesting bits. My brother inherited the Navaho saddle blankets and saddles that were my grandad’s. Thank goodness, have no idea what I’d have done with them.
Today was a day to look at the hedge and fence line. I did a little hedging but the ground needs some fill dirt to complete the yard’s perimeter. Looked at some bushes we cut back earlier this spring. Like the plants that were pulled blackberry roots and wild roses, baby trees are entwined in the crown. We’re thinking about having them all pulled and starting over in this area. Am in need of using some stones so will be hauling them from this area. Lots to choose from the old retaining wall. Some were already here. This is a young tree under the evergreens and along the west fence. I need to look it up. Nice flower sprays for being so shaded. The wisteria in the same area is a mess. Had a quick pruning last summer but needs a hard cut back. We will put it on the list. The flowers were unimpressive The one raised bed is very much in the shade of the big leaf maple. The scarlet runner beans, kale and greens are doing ok though. We are use the bunny fencing to help protect the plants.. Last interesting purchase for me was the foxtail lily starts. One plant will have a couple of flowers. Sounds like our rocky well drawing soil might be perfect for them. Now into town for more bark. The hillside needs more if it is going to support the kind of vegetation I want.
@Pacnorwest thanks for the id on the tree. Really appreciated. I get overwhelmed after walking the property line with all that needs to be done so I completely forgot We will have to hire someone to prune the wisteria, and bring in fill. I hate hiring people. Haven’t found the right people yet, so it’s always a coin toss or do it yourself. Don’t want the household to end up like this
Your new property really is coming to life, isn’t it. You are making it very special. Interesting about the Indian souvenirs. I find it such an attractive style.
Jewell you’re welcome .. your chain tree blossoms are gorgeous. As the perimeter and property touring goes it is easy to get overwhelmed everything screaming at you at the same time. Like lil toddlers begging for help. So much seems to be a normal overwhelming felling when it’s all growing out at once in spring. The wild blackberries here drive me crazy… they pop up in the crowns of so many plants and spread like wildfire. Speaking of wild fire we have already received notice that the power company will be shutting down our power again this summer due to fires. Last summer it was a nightmare. No water . No power for 3-4 days at a time. The garden plants have suffered and lost so many. The freezer food has also been hit hard. Need to plan better this summer.
Sjoerd thank you for your concern.. I think I need to get a different type of portable generator other than the one we currently have. We have a portable generator that takes gasoline to start and run . It is set up on a separate fuse box to run various appliances just to fit the generator wattage capacity. All is needed is to just plug it in once the generator is started. But it’s a pull starter type. I can’t always get it started with my shoulder issues. Thinkin about a different type. Just weed spraying the property waving my arms about using the sprayer has set the shoulder joints off again. We don’t have gas pipped to the house and a propane gas tank as fuel would be the only other than for the auto start generator alternative. Estimates run from $15,000-20,000.00. A bit too spendy ..Yikes…
@Pacnorwest glad the the power companies are taking some responsibility. Friend in Oregon was saying that fallen electrical lines were starting more fires a few years ago. They had fire all around and lost a new home on their property. Met someone who was burned out of their home in the Paradise Fire in California and then burned out again in the Oregon fire. Have you thought of solar? I have a Bluetti that I use for camping. It was the 2nd biggest at the time that was portable. Now they have whole systems of course. I’m totally not technical so needed something all in one. Probably should say “wanted”. I keep it charged for power outages as well as camping and with the 340 watts of portable solar panels it can run the chest freezer and maintain a full charge with very little direct sun. When camping it’s just for the 12 volt frig, USB lights and electronics, convection cook plate and charging a little e-bike. My brother had his house totally decked out in solar. There were tax subsidies to help with the costs. A lot of the schools and some public buildings seem to be going in that direction for supplemental power. ‘I’ve gone electric for all my tools, even the riding lawnmower and small chainsaw. I’m too old and lack the incentive to mess with gas engines. With just a little solar I can keep the batteries charged. What I like best though is the battery runs out of charge just about when I really need to take a break.
@Sjoerd i do like indigenous styles, from all over the world. My music area has artifacts from the 1930s that were my moms, even a doll from the Inuits. Some might be considered kitschy but as a totality putting together Afghanistan kilims, paintings of Mongolian herders, and Navaho potters, Guatemalan masks, purchases of PNW totems and masks from museums in British Columbia with 50s western themed odds and ends with a ton of house plants goes together creating my weird home style.
Pac— you have a situation there. It sounds like you are thinking of ways to make your life better there with your power. Jewell— I remember seeing your home decorations from your previous home. I really liked what I saw— the sorts of things that I would have. BTW—I wouldn’t call your homestyle weird, I’d call it interesting and full of memories.
