[GPI]

Lilith, I have taken the liberty of giving you your own thread to post about your ongoing project.
You can return here time and time again to post about your garden, members will also be able to comment, help and cajole you.
For the benefit of all the Irish members I have included pics of two weeds you mentioned which are not present in Ireland.

This is Lilith original post that started this tread..........

It's a huge area. Several acres that were overgrown pasture, of which a total of about 3 was cleared for the house, septic lines, etc. All of the huge plants, like poke, lamb's quarter and such, have come back even thicker than before since the bulldozing very neatly spread all the seed around. Some areas are covered with morning glories of all colours (which I rather like) growing along the ground. There's a section with old apple trees and a huge chestnut tree where I've been eyeing a shade garden.

The immediate area around the house is clear of trees, bushes, etc. but the site is bordered by forest on the back and one side about 50 ft. away from the house.

I'll see if I can get enough pictures to give you an idea of the spaces. I've been mentally making spaces or areas for planting because trying to think too much of the whole thing is just overwhelming. I figure if I can focus on one or two small bits at a time, I can keep from going crazy.

My goal is to have it all be as low maintenance as possible, with perennial and self-seeding annual flowers, a windbreak on the NW side, and as little area as possible that has to be mowed.



Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)____________________________Lambs Quarter (Chenopodium album)
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[Lilith]

This thread may unfold over several years,you know GPI.

At this point, all I have is some daylilies, and a few very tiny "other perennial things." My goal this year has just to keep things tidy and mulched well around them, and deal with the rest as I can.

I have a fair amount of young things growing pots - hydrangea, some old varieties of fragrant roses taken from cuttings at a very old house, wisteria, and some culinary and medicinal herbs.

I started a small patch behind the house with blueberries, and against the house that is in shade till late afternoon, have some baby calycanthus (sweet shrub), siberian ginseng (which can become a huge shrub), a few hostas, and some ferns.

I'm dithering...it will make more sense when I get the pics.

I will post some pics of the long bank that is a sea of tall lambs quarter, and some of the tree-size poke that have grown up. Poke comes back year after year on the same root, which can get enormous...I mean REALLY enormous.

[GPI]

[Lilith]

You're a dear and patient soul, GPI.

[Sugar_Ape]

Will be following this thread Lilith Looking forward to the progress!

[Bugs]

Great idea GPI , Lilith's " little" landscaping project , I'm looking forward to contributing
Bugs
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[Ms Nomer]

You might try envisioning different kinds of gardens or garden rooms on the lot and break it up into sections. It is sort of like building an outdoor house (not an outhouse) on the lot. Do you want a dining/ outdoor cooking area? A contemplative area? A water garden? A shade garden? A chic garden shed? Trees and shrubbery are the architecture of a garden. that define the areas. So, if you can lay out patterns with trees and shrubbery, then you can work in your paths, flower beds, water effects, and create outdoor rooms etc. It sounds as if you have lots to work with and a very able husband. Good luck! [/i]