tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-879533546985256779.post3157525480369191262..comments2024-02-23T01:09:56.509-08:00Comments on Garden Porn: I used to have a lawn , now I have balanced diversityDeviant Deziner, aka Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10469269749640113223noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-879533546985256779.post-66551364038318143782009-09-23T13:41:19.219-07:002009-09-23T13:41:19.219-07:00What utter gorgeousness! Color me inspired!
Than...What utter gorgeousness! Color me inspired! <br /><br />Thanks for breaking it all down for us - a big part of the whole sustainability issue is our time working in our outdoor spaces, isn't it? I find that is often overlooked in the whole equation of 'greening' up. We need to be realistic in balancing our goals and desires, and if we plan well we CAN have it all, in bite sized chunks.<br />Love your SMART lawn choice, and so agree with Rebecca - we CAN have lawns as long as we change our perception of that "perfection"<br />Kudos to you, wonderful Michelle! Your balanced diversity is marvelous!Germihttp://thegerminatrix.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-879533546985256779.post-26166495294899608352009-09-15T21:10:02.641-07:002009-09-15T21:10:02.641-07:00Hi Rebecca,
Nice of you to drop in and say hello.
...Hi Rebecca,<br />Nice of you to drop in and say hello.<br />I enjoyed seeing your garden that Michelle Gervais photographed for Fine Gardening Magazine.<br />She did a nice job ( no surprise there ) <br /><br />I hope that you have a chance to drive up this weekend to view The Late Show Gardens in Sonoma.<br />I've had a chance to do a sneak peek and it looks like it is going to be a thought provoking and visually exciting event.<br />Bring your sunscreen, I heard it is going to be in the mid 90's. <br /><br />Hope that you can attend and that we might bump into one another .<br /><br />MichelleDeviant Deziner, aka Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10469269749640113223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-879533546985256779.post-20181545972363301512009-09-15T20:58:11.332-07:002009-09-15T20:58:11.332-07:00I visited your garden this Spring and can attest t...I visited your garden this Spring and can attest to it's un-manicured, slightly wild, thoughtfully designed and it's all-over stunning beauty. I agree, wholeheartedly, with you that lawns don't have to require THAT much maintenance if you're willing to let your perceived notion of the 'perfect lawn' go by the wayside! My planting beds (perennials & evergreens mixed) use up 75% of my gardening time and resources - though, they're worth every minute and every penny!<br /><br />Thanks for such a great blog (and for your awesome compost response - very helpful!)Rebecca Sweethttp://www.gossipinthegarden.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-879533546985256779.post-40301344150841083242009-09-14T21:26:10.821-07:002009-09-14T21:26:10.821-07:00Compost. Such a versatile word.
In my neck of the...Compost. Such a versatile word.<br />In my neck of the woods there are a ton of agricultural farms and retail soil specialty suppliers.<br /><br />Most people are dumbfounded by the variety of soil amendment mixes you can purchase at just one soil supplier.<br />I often purchase a mix called Walt Whitman Mix which is a mix of humus, forest fine, rice hulls, sand and chicken compost.<br />It's about 37 bucks a yard.<br /><br />Sometimes if I am having a cheap attack I'll go to the local mushroom farm and pick up a yard of steaming hot mushroom compost for 10 bucks a yard.<br /><br />If I'm feeling a bit more flush with cash and don't want to deal with waiting for the compost to settle down ( age ) then I pick up a blend called 'Lawn Mix', which is mostly sharp sand, some green sand, chicken compost and fine ground forest bark ( mostly redwood ) for about 40 bucks a yard.<br />This is what I use on both my mixed lawn and heavy clay soil beds. <br /><br />At my local soil supplier there is no less than a dozen and a half different soil mixes to choose from.<br />Something for everybody and every garden type. <br />Lawn amendment mix<br />Cactus and Succulent mix<br />Rhododendron mix<br />Veggie mix ( no bio solids )<br />General mix<br />Super Harvest Mix<br />Walt Whitman Mix<br />Clod buster Mix<br />Vineyard Mix <br />and a bunch more.<br /><br />And then there are dozens of different types of mulches to choose from. Every thing from Grape seed hulls, to cocoa bean hulls, three different grind forms of shredded redwood ( fine, medium and rough ) <br />Three different chipped grades of chipped bark and different varieties of wood to choose from.<br /><br />It can be a little overwhelming.<br /><br />I've never had such availability of choice before.<br /><br />In the winter I make my own compost by layering all the fallen oak leaves with bags of chicken compost and what ever is left in the back of my truck from other jobs.<br />By the time spring rolls around it is all broken down and ready to spread in the mixed borders.Deviant Deziner, aka Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10469269749640113223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-879533546985256779.post-44937190236397605282009-09-14T20:00:03.917-07:002009-09-14T20:00:03.917-07:00I like the way you break down the time, resources,...I like the way you break down the time, resources, and water needs of each element of your garden, Michelle. Inspiring pics, by the way.<br /><br />In central Texas' hot, dry summer climate, our St. Augustine lawns require quite a bit more water than xeric perennial gardens. But they require much less physical labor, in my opinion, to be kept looking good.Pam/Digginghttp://www.penick.net/diggingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-879533546985256779.post-4606995220979369972009-09-14T19:31:52.874-07:002009-09-14T19:31:52.874-07:00Since we bought our sponge...er, Casa...We have sl...Since we bought our sponge...er, Casa...We have slowly been replacing the lawn with a mix of natives and tropicals. Sometimes I wonder. 'Cause it feels like way more weeding...<br /><br />Talk to me about your composting...what? where? when?<br /><br />Pretty please. Cherry on top.Linda@ Lime in the Coconuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04551293394719390382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-879533546985256779.post-86638235216702768592009-09-14T16:11:07.024-07:002009-09-14T16:11:07.024-07:00Great example of a nicely balanced yard.
Like yo...Great example of a nicely balanced yard. <br />Like you, I spend very little time, energy and no resources (compost, water etc- none) on my lawn. It is very big, but takes up so much less than my veggie garden (Which always seems to need something) and my flower gardens. Even though we expend so little on it, the lawn pays us off by giving us a place to play, lounge, enjoy the view and a frees us with the sense of open space.<br />thanks for sharing!!Terrinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-879533546985256779.post-76426266135727073632009-09-14T12:35:38.670-07:002009-09-14T12:35:38.670-07:00Hi Danger,
The clover mixed lawn blooms at various...Hi Danger,<br />The clover mixed lawn blooms at various times during the year.<br />I don't mind the flowers.<br />The alyssum tends to bloom the most.<br />I also have a patches of chamomile and it too blooms in intervals.<br />The clover can become problematic if it has a chance to dry out. Then the dried velcro like burrs become stuck in my dog's coat, making us both unhappy with the burr picking process.Deviant Deziner, aka Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10469269749640113223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-879533546985256779.post-9091890514677136132009-09-14T12:28:05.891-07:002009-09-14T12:28:05.891-07:00Thank you for sharing more pictures of your garden...Thank you for sharing more pictures of your garden, and the break down of energy spent. Does your mixed clover lawn bloom at the same time or in intervals? Do you mind the flowers? That is the hardest thing for me to accept in our clover and grass mixed lawn.danger gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09227500551609537140noreply@blogger.com