My garden

[bobm]

This year has NOT been kind to my garden. Between dry fall, then frost, lots of rain, freezing, HEAT wave followed my more freezing, then a month long dry spell followed my higher temperatures and a long period of drizzle moisture made for an environment for all manor or pestilence to take their toll. First , I had an invasion of moles that killed off a good half of my step-able thyme lawn substitute, then my River Birch tree was attacked by tent caterpilars and 1/4 of the tree sucombed. I lost my 8' - 10 ' tall Black Lace Elderberries and, 2 of my Japanese Maple trees to verticillium wilt with 3 more showing severe bark loss. All of my 14 kinnikinick were attacked with a killing virus, and 9 of my heathers started to show stem die back and started to die. I pulled 5 mature lavenders due to root damage from the moles. I was in the final stages of digging all of the dead and dying plants and cleaning up and pruning back plants that needed work , when yesterday out of the blue , the Clark County Garden Tour representatives showed up. They said that every garden that they toured was in similar voes but not to worry, they LIKED what they saw of my boulders and remaining plants of what I had left and planned to replant and they invited my garden to again be included in this year's garden tour . So now, off to see my finance minister to finance plant shopping , a chiropractor , consult the old Farmer's Almanac ( kindly provided by NYboy) and dusting off the planting shovel I go.

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

Wow! What a horrible fate for your garden to lose soooo many things! I'm glad the Garden folks were kind and gave you a reason to replant!

 

[Nyboy]

I often joke I am going to name my garden Death Valley. Bob your garden must have great bones and hardscape even after heavy loss it still good enough to be toured. Be proud !!!!

 

[catjac1975]

This year has NOT been kind to my garden. Between dry fall, then frost, lots of rain, freezing, HEAT wave followed my more freezing, then a month long dry spell followed my higher temperatures and a long period of drizzle moisture made for an environment for all manor or pestilence to take their toll. First , I had an invasion of moles that killed off a good half of my step-able thyme lawn substitute, then my River Birch tree was attacked by tent caterpilars and 1/4 of the tree sucombed. I lost my 8' - 10 ' tall Black Lace Elderberries and, 2 of my Japanese Maple trees to verticillium wilt with 3 more showing severe bark loss. All of my 14 kinnikinick were attacked with a killing virus, and 9 of my heathers started to show stem die back and started to die. I pulled 5 mature lavenders due to root damage from the moles. I was in the final stages of digging all of the dead and dying plants and cleaning up and pruning back plants that needed work , when yesterday out of the blue , the Clark County Garden Tour representatives showed up. They said that every garden that they toured was in similar voes but not to worry, they LIKED what they saw of my boulders and remaining plants of what I had left and planned to replant and they invited my garden to again be included in this year's garden tour . So now, off to see my finance minister to finance plant shopping , a chiropractor , consult the old Farmer's Almanac ( kindly provided by NYboy) and dusting off the planting shovel I go.

Wow, more incredible fortitude.

 

[Collector]

@bobm, congratulations your hardscape must be awesome

 

[so lucky]

That says a lot for your landscaping, rockwork and "bones" of the garden. Glad you made the cut in spite of the bad luck.
Here's to a good year for growing plants, not pests!

 

[Nyboy]

Bob how is your wife doing ?

 

[bobm]

Thanks guys .... the majority of the selected gardens are by Master Gardeners, 3 installed at high end homes by professional landscapers, a 15 acre farm where the owners work full time there for their income selling organic honey , eggs, and produce. Then there is little old me ... with tons of boulders as retaining walls / sitting rocks , and more tons of river rock for a meandering dry creek bed then an additional 7 tons of crushed rock for pathways I pruned most of the bushes and shrubs to the nubbin and severely pruned all of the trees. I hope that they rejuvenate in time for the tour to not be an imbarasement.

 

[baymule]

That is some devastating losses. You have dealt with hardship before and I admire your “dig in and get it done attitude.” You can do this.

Pictures would be nice, before and after!

I echo @Nyboy how is your lovely wife?

 

[bobm]

Bob how is your wife doing ?

Thank you for asking NYboy ... she has improved by leaps and bounds , however she does have pain at the surgery sites and has to apply cortisone cream several times a day.