We are in the process of creating a new neat space for relaxing out back. We want a little patio right outside the back door where we can sit, grill, and chill. Since the area is our driveway and is cement, we are considering some container gardening. We're thinking of creating some type of privacy hedge by planting bushes in containers. Anyone know what types of bushes, or small trees that do well in containers? We also want to leave them there through the winter.

Here are some sites that may be useful Dotsie.

http://www.ames.com/thenewpatiotrees.html

http://www.mountainmaples.com (click under containers) They have some great ideas and you can order a catalogue. I would take their ideas and buy locally if I were you.

Dotsie,
My suggestion to you would be to go to your local Home Depot Garden Dept and ask someone there what types of plants would be best for your area. They are usually pretty knowledgeable about these things. Also, I have a sister-in-law that lives in your neck of the woods who does a lot of gardening, I can check with her.
gerri

P.S.
Be sure to check out the gardening magazines also, they are great for inspiration and advice.
gerri

Dotsie if you have a mild winter you could plant olive trees in the containers. They give a natural bizarre look and a bit of an Italian flair. Also a Buchsbaum ( don't know what they call this in English) is the most thankful. It's always green, grows in a pot, and you can leave it out in the wintertime.

We are redoing our patio as well. Everybody has been getting splinters from our wooden deck, so Hubby attacked the deck and pulled the wooden boards off.

We are now having sand coloured granite stones laid. They are large stones and are easy to take care of. But like always one thing leads to another. Now we have to lower the flower beds, since the new patio is lower. We decided to do flower islands with little pathways between. I just love planning this stuff, but the backbreaking work I leave to others.

Any plans taking shape for the garden, Dotsie?

Buchsbaum
Its a Box plant...I have several and even the trimmings grow with some tlc.
Box stands the Scottish winters and can be trimmed in July to any nice shape.
Mountain ash

Box plant; okey, thanks Mountain Ash.

We're going to a huge garden shop today. I get the same giddy feeling there as I do when I go to a book store.
Just love it. Hope the grandchild doesn't eat the daisies. Ha! Remember that song from Doris Day? " Please please don't eat the Daisies"….

Chick, I ordered a catalog from the mountainmaples site.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'm narrowing down containers. I think I'm going with dark green wooden boxes, and I'm considering planting cherry laurels. What do you think?

Hannelore, do you have any pictures of the new look? You're so good at posting photos.
I also love garden and book stores!

Dotsie,
You know "Watson's" up the road is having a sale on all there planters an pots and plants , you could aske them also what you should plant during the winter . I went up and bought some plants and a flower pots that were on sale and a Sheperds hook for to put my chimes on and plants .

Or just give them a call.

I'm leaving for AZ tomorrow and will get a chance to investigate the yard at the new house. However, it was up to 118 degrees but they tell me they are having a cool front of 110 degrees! Ha! I'll be gone a week so you gals be good.

Enjoy your pool Dianne! Make big splash bombs so you won't have to water your garden. Hah!

Dotsie, when we get our new fence, I'll post a picture. We ordered a white wrought iron fence. I love it when flowers grow out between the iron rods.

I wish more of you would post pictures. It really isn't hard. I assume you all take digital photos. If you have that, then 90% of the work is already done. It would be great to see all your gardens. Just to give you a little idea…here is a 'before' picture:




boo

Diane ,
Are you all on the move again. Where in AZ . Love Az when I was there in the 60"s . Winter's are mild .

Emyjay, your pond sounds like out of a picture book. Koi fish are very expensive here. They are a luxury item, and have even been stolen out of ponds!

Jeez, 0ur pond is sooo small that our goldfish have turned into cannibals. We have one speckled fish; his name is Robinson Crusoe, and he's always on the run. Run? I mean swim.

A pussy willow bush is just perfect at the edge of a pond. The rocks along the edge of our pond are just beginning to get covered with the low plants that we planted in between. I know what you mean when you say it will look so much better when the plastic edge isn't visible anymore. I bet you have water lilies too. We have minature water lilies. I love them cause you don't have to water them. Ha!

Do you have a water fountain? We have a teeny water fall that trickles down some rocks and has a huge free fall of about 5 inches into the pond. What I love the very most is our water fountain. It looks like a big soft umbrella falling into the water, and it changes it's shape when the wind blows. Grandbaby and I can sit for an hour just watching it together.

If I had the land, I would love a Japanese Garden with a huge swim-pond, and stepping stones leading zig-zag across.

HL that sound butifull both what you have and your dream.

i was once luckie enough before my split up to live in a 100 yard by 60 yard garden with mature eucaliptise tress at the bottom left hand corner was a hugh chestnut tree, i had a little seat their for the occasional day drea, and cigareat break, the wonderes thing was behing our house was a golf course and they had a stream, which ran the back of our garden, so sitting their under the protective brances of that great tree listening to the trickling of the stream was magical some days and hazie summer evenings. i miss that lifestyle for that tree.....pitie i don;t miss the relashionship but hay thats life lol....

i been so busie with trying to get the inside of the house presentible i not had a chances to get my hands in some dirt, god love lucien he onlie so far planted window boxes with me but still got the pride out of watching "his" flowers grow. A love of plants is one thing i hope i can pass onto him.

the land heer is small its more like a yard but maybee some rased decking and lowered flowerbeds at the edgies for big shrubes and minie treass.
well at lest i can dream and read heer for some bits of inspirasion.

Hannelore, I get such a kick out of you.

Aw Dotsie. I get a kick out of you getting a kick out of me.

I am sitting on my patio, surrounded by shades of pink, purple and white impatience and petunias. It's my favorite spot to catch up with you gals. The day is overcast and it feels so good out here. During lunch, I will run to the Farmer's Market to get lots of fresh fruits and veggies, and I will stay away from the bread stand where I usually buy a fresh baked almlond coissant. I wish you were all here and could go with me

Dotsie, you make me want to be there, sounds so cozy. There must be something really special about the New England states.
I have read so many books that take place in that part of the country, they make it sound so wonderful. And I have a sister-in-law that lives on the Eastern Shore and writes about the deer coming right up to her office window at home, having to stop and wait on foxes, deer or other critters to cross.
She has sent some beautiful pics of Chesapeake Bay (where she and hubby sail) and other parts of Maryland. I have been up there, but it was a long time ago, 1980 I think? We went to Annapolis to visit a foster brother in the Naval Academy. It was early June, and I do remember it being beautiful there that time of year. I don't think I could take the winters though.