Yeh, dad helped me build a 10X12 last fall, and kept telling him it wouldn't be big enough. Sure enough, everything was crammed in, with enough space for the heater. Shakes head. The plants did well, but there was no room to move and I wasn't able to start seeds.

Had a major crop of tomatoes this year, though they were slow to start! I planted cherries, romas, big boys, and they've done really well. The cherries usually get eaten right off the vine, LOL, and never make it in! Did containers, want to shift into the topsy turvey ones, maybe next year.

It's a lot of fun! Hard work, but fun. My back wishes it could remove itself from my body sometimes. LOL!

hey deb, glad you've found a hobby in gardening. i wish i had a large backyard so that i could do landscape/architectural design which is my real passion. i can only imagine the beauty of your yard when it's all done. i think ornamental grass would be great for the stretch down to the lake.

i've been outside for the better part of a day pruning the wisteria tree. while i was in florida, my parents said that whenever the wind blew they thought it would take the entire deck with it.

Thank you Lisa!

I really have enjoyed the gardening so much! Darrel has been great about building the areas for the gardens. There was quite a bit of wood in the garage rafters so it didn't even cost!

I would LOVE to do some grand stuff here...and I agree that the ornamental grass would be great!! I have one tuft of it out front now. People say that it does not do well here...who knows...

How big is your Wisteria tree..I want on so bad! I think they are just gorgeous!!

I have learned so much about various plants...i think it is a good thing that I don't have any money!! OMG!!! the gardening websites...

we want to turn part of the front yard into some raised gardens...thinking of rock walls...

it is a good thing that Darrel has a strong back!!

National Home Gardening Club http://www.gardeningclub.com/Main/default.aspx

Is what I subscribed to when I first started out. It provides a magazine, online forums and product testing! If you don't mind paying a little bit of money, this might be worth it!

Marijuana

right now I cannot afford anything extra at all...

when I finally get a job again, I will look into it for sure!!

Thanks!

Try the local library for gardening magazines or books!

And there is nothing wrong with walking around the neighborhood and talking with the neighbors.

Thanks!

Yuppers!! I have also ordered all kinds of free catalogs as well..

We drove into Marquette (I live out of town) and we took a bunch of pictures of some gardens around businesses and some condo's...and we ran into the gardener that takes care of them!! lots of information!!

it was fun to do!! and free too!

try to find and plant native species for your area.....most are or have been wiped out by non-native species....

I will look into that.

I am very fortunate to live in an area that is fairly pristine. Only about 8-10% of the land in the UP of MI is settled or developed; the rest is trees and wild plants, animals, lakes, streams, waterfalls, of which most is protected.

there are areas of wetlands that have revived many native species of plants and animals as well...

Great idea!!!

oh the up???!!!! Right on!

best blueberries I have ever eaten......the bears enjoy them, as well...you live in a magical place...I have not bee there in 30 years or so.......found memories abound......

The Blueberry Festival is in Marquette this weekend!!

Yes, I do live in a magical place...I call it "somewhere over the rainbow"...

I moved here about 11 years ago and I hope to not ever leave...

I bet that much has not changed in those 30 years in some places up here!!!

I bet that much has not changed in those 30 years in some places up here!!


I hope not.

I don't know if anyone is interested, but there are many flowers that are also edible. Nasturtuim leaves are really good in a salad with leaf lettuce and spinach leaves. And dandelion greens are great with hard cheese curds and vinegrette dressing.

I miss Marquette!!!! I went to Northern my freshman year! I keep saying that I want to make a trip back up there! I will definately make it up there before I end up leaving the state (if I leave state).

if you do, I would love to meet you! I have a home on the sugar sand beaches of Lake Superior a little way out of Marquette! it is a very peaceful and Enchanted!!



(and you can tell me what you think of the gardens too!!)

Never heard of sugar sands beach... but I didn't get to explore that much up there... unless you count being drafted to drive a stick-shift (with little experience) from Marquette to Barga because the other girls were already drunk and wanted to go hang out with the boys! LOL

I absolutely love Lake Superior! It was fun getting to swim in it. Never got to do the cliff jumping though. Missed the Aura. But got to see a meteor shower!

The sand on the beach is very fine, like sugar...there is about 50 miles of it from east of Marquette to Munising. It is not as fine as the sand in the Caribbean, yet it is so clean and great for the feet!!

The skies are great here for viewing any of the wonders of the Universe! there is so little light pollution, even in town...out here, where I live...none! the stars are in the millions!!

~~~~~~~~~~~

I finally have all the plants I got planted! I will have to wait until next year to really see the labor of this love!

It has been rainy here for the past week and I really miss being in the gardens everyday...

I did get books from the library and I received THREE catalogs in the mail!! WooT!! even if I cannot buy anything, it is so fun to look!!

I like those that make my outside pretty and welcoming...especially perennials that keep on coming back. They are always a 'surprise' when they come up despite knowing in the back of my head they are there. Annuals on the patio...herbs in pots just outside the door. Anything that once established takes little care/little water in my dry/hot environment. I don't mess around with many indoor plants. It's all about my outside space.