Petty Vents

[Aunt Bea]

I lost my humongous tree that transformed my backyard into a shady, urban forest oasis during the summer. The tree covered my backyard with lovely shade. All of my plants love shade. Now it is sunny and bright and...well....ugly. I can see the shopping center behind my house over the brick wall now. I have zero idea what to do with the yard. I won't live long enough for a tree to grow to give me the canopy that I had. Perhaps a mini grove of dwarf fruit trees? I really have no idea. The tree had to be taken down because it was rotting from the inside out and had already dropped a branch that left us without power for two days. The trunk was four feet in diameter. I had babied it for 15 years with cables, etc. in hopes of it recovering and living out a second lifetime with me. Anyhow....ideas are welcome.

How about a grape arbor/garden room?

 

[dragnlaw]

Kathleen, sorry for your loss! Around here, it is the same. I'm of mixed feelings. Knowing the destruction caused when they fall down, the city finally removed several trees from the cemetery next door. But these are hundred years old, beautiful trees and it broke my heart seeing them come down. At the same time, I understand the danger, we are still repairing things around here, when like you, one came down.

I wish I had a suggestion, let us know what the landscapers come up with.

 

[GotGarlic]

What about planting bamboo? I don't know if that's a good idea. I don't know if it is invasive. I know it grows fast and tall. I know that some people use it in their yards. I have read that in some environments it can become invasive. I just thought I would throw that out there, since you want something that will provide shade and hide the shopping centre.

Bamboo is very invasive where I live. It gets very - like a good 30 feet/10m - tall and thick and spreads by underground rhizomes, so it's extremely difficult to eradicate.

 

[medtran49]

Clumping bamboo is not invasive, even in South Florida, and is great for privacy. There are a lot of bamboo varieties, some are clumping, some are running. You have to do your research and make sure which variety you are planting.

However, since @Kathleen lives in the mid Atlantic area per her profile, that's also going to determine what, if any, type of bamboo that would be good for her to use because of winter temperatures.

 

[dragnlaw]

I'm sick! I HATE being sick.
Went back to bed and just got up. Shaking, freezing, drinking a mug Beef Bovril. Little space heater aimed at me with 2 blankets on.

Just a thought, check my messages... egads, son sent a text asking me to pick up kids at 3:40 = cause he got an appointment for bum shooulder.

What's a gramma spoused to say?

 

[taxlady]

(((Hugs))) dragn. I hope you don't make yourself picking up those kids. God bedring (Danish for good bettering).

 

[medtran49]

I'm sick! I HATE being sick.
Went back to bed and just got up. Shaking, freezing, drinking a mug Beef Bovril. Little space heater aimed at me with 2 blankets on.

Just a thought, check my messages... egads, son sent a text asking me to pick up kids at 3:40 = cause he got an appointment for bum shooulder.

What's a gramma spoused to say?

Didn't he know this surgery was going to be happening prior to today? If so, very poor planning on his part.

You obviously have a temp with what you describe. Is it worth the risk of passing on? Especially since I understand flu cases are rising up north.

 

[Kaneohegirlinaz]

Hope you feel better soon @dragnlaw

 

[dragnlaw]

Thanks guys for all the good vibes. Have dobbied myself up with meds and I will survive. I hate taking meds so guess that's why I was soo miserable yesterday, but gave in last night and took some.

medtran, my sons shoulder was a last minute cancellation. Otherwise next appointment was in late March. Not surgery, assessment consultation.
And as for passing on.... humph, got it from them in the first place! LOL I don't interact with anyone, I stay in the car, hopefully near their exit (if I go early enough to get a place) and they come find me.

 

[taxlady]

Thanks guys for all the good vibes. Have dobbied myself up with meds and I will survive. I hate taking meds so guess that's why I was soo miserable yesterday, but gave in last night and took some.

medtran, my sons shoulder was a last minute cancellation. Otherwise next appointment was in late March. Not surgery, assessment consultation.
And as for passing on.... humph, got it from them in the first place! LOL I don't interact with anyone, I stay in the car, hopefully near their exit (if I go early enough to get a place) and they come find me.

I was guessing that you would stay in the car, so the only people you might give it to live in the same house as you. I didn't realize you had gotten it from the little germ factories.

 

[dragnlaw]

little germ factories.

so true! I was never sick on the farm - I guess I was just lucky the gf's lived far enough away they didn't visit while sick ...

 

[Kathleen]

@dragnlaw Sickness seems to find me easier with each passing year. I agree with you of being sick of being sick. I also get tired of being tired! ?

 

[dragnlaw]

totally Kathleen, totally.

 

[Phaedra]

 

[dragnlaw]

Phaedra! you look very young for your age! I am sooo jealous.

 

[Phaedra]

Phaedra! you look very young for your age! I am sooo jealous.

Computers hadn't been invented when I was that young! This is me now...

 

[Kathleen]

Landscapers tell me that I can empty all my savings accounts and throw it their way to make my yard pretty. I may end up picking and choosing parts to be done over time. One suggestion that I like is to grow Pyrocanthra along my wall. It grows quickly, looks pretty, is related to apples so the berries can be used to make jelly, and will encourage the people in the shopping center behind me from jumping the fence when running from whatever. My tree prevented trespassers before, so maybe firethorns will prevent them from coming over the wall when it is made.

I've always wanted fruit trees, so am thinking of a pair of dwarf fruit trees as well along with a crepe myrtle. I want to see which plants return on the hill so am delaying that for now. Since I am getting this all done, I hope to put in a wrought-iron railing along the steps to the second patio, a small stone landing in front of my shed, and extending stone work to the front yard. I have patio lights so want them to secure some tubes so that I can better secure them. When done, I will take some before and after pictures.

@Aunt Bea I love that arbor. For a while, I was considering putting a fireplace next to the wall and a sitting area very like that. However, what would happen is it would become a late-night hangout for those loitering in our nearby open drug-market (aka back-of-the-house-shopping center parking lot after dark.)

 

[medtran49]

@Aunt Bea late-night hangout for those loitering in our nearby open drug-market (aka back-of-the-house-shopping center parking lot after dark.)

How about a couple of well placed very bright spot lights with wire mesh covers to prevent bulb breakage aimed to illuminate your backyard and beyond to start.

Failing that, multiple nightly anonymous calls to the police at night about scary activity back there until the PD gets tired of them and forces the shopping center to install security lights.

 

[Aunt Bea]

Landscapers tell me that I can empty all my savings accounts and throw it their way to make my yard pretty. I may end up picking and choosing parts to be done over time. One suggestion that I like is to grow Pyrocanthra along my wall. It grows quickly, looks pretty, is related to apples so the berries can be used to make jelly, and will encourage the people in the shopping center behind me from jumping the fence when running from whatever. My tree prevented trespassers before, so maybe firethorns will prevent them from coming over the wall when it is made.

I've always wanted fruit trees, so am thinking of a pair of dwarf fruit trees as well along with a crepe myrtle. I want to see which plants return on the hill so am delaying that for now. Since I am getting this all done, I hope to put in a wrought-iron railing along the steps to the second patio, a small stone landing in front of my shed, and extending stone work to the front yard. I have patio lights so want them to secure some tubes so that I can better secure them. When done, I will take some before and after pictures.

@Aunt Bea I love that arbor. For a while, I was considering putting a fireplace next to the wall and a sitting area very like that. However, what would happen is it would become a late-night hangout for those loitering in our nearby open drug-market (aka back-of-the-house-shopping center parking lot after dark.)

I understand, we have similar issues in my neighborhood.

“It’s another world at night…”
- Jackson Browne

 

[Chef Munky]

Landscapers tell me that I can empty all my savings accounts and throw it their way to make my yard pretty. I may end up picking and choosing parts to be done over time. One suggestion that I like is to grow Pyrocanthra along my wall. It grows quickly, looks pretty, is related to apples so the berries can be used to make jelly, and will encourage the people in the shopping center behind me from jumping the fence when running from whatever. My tree prevented trespassers before, so maybe firethorns will prevent them from coming over the wall when it is made.

I've always wanted fruit trees, so am thinking of a pair of dwarf fruit trees as well along with a crepe myrtle. I want to see which plants return on the hill so am delaying that for now. Since I am getting this all done, I hope to put in a wrought-iron railing along the steps to the second patio, a small stone landing in front of my shed, and extending stone work to the front yard. I have patio lights so want them to secure some tubes so that I can better secure them. When done, I will take some before and after pictures.

@Aunt Bea I love that arbor. For a while, I was considering putting a fireplace next to the wall and a sitting area very like that. However, what would happen is it would become a late-night hangout for those loitering in our nearby open drug-market (aka back-of-the-house-shopping center parking lot after dark.)

Decking screws drilled straight through the fence. Or you could be nice, unlike me and go halfsies pointy side facing out is a great deterrent. Cheaper than a security system. Just hear someone yowling and you'll know it worked. Adoptable yappy dogs are also a great deterrent from jumpers. They can be on that fence in 5 seconds We can't. LOL!!
Just sayin'

Munky.