#350
June 5th, 2006 at 03:05 AM
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Garden Gnome
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OP
Garden Gnome
Joined: Feb 2004
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Episode #20... The Bus StopA Wild Willy Sequel As I stared at that ugly, ugly bus for the past twenty some years, the only thoughts and vision I had was to extend the lawn by simply raking the area planting grass seed... However, reality set in when I saw the damage to the immediate area and adjoining lawn caused by the dozer and bus as we pushed it it to its new location. It was a mess, to say the least! After carefully assessing the situation, I came to the conclusion that it would be easier to patch the scars in the lawn and cover the bare dirt where the bus sat with garden bark, adding a small path, bench and just a few special plants. I thought that I might even add a small water feature, just for fun! Inexpensive, quick and easy.... Yep! That's all I want to do! I began doing the prep work in early February. The billdozer seriously gouged the lawn area all along the right edge, making a simple rake and re- seed impossible, so I removed the damaged sod and extended the area that was to be barked. There were literally tons of rocks to remove, and the roots from dozens of salmon berries and black berries to dig out. Suddenly, my simple project was turning into actual work! The soil that was directly under the bus was in terrible shape due to the lack of light and water for so many years, so I dragged out <a href="https://www.agardenersforum.com/old/ultimatebb.php/topic/32/173.html#000002" target="_blank" title="soil sifter image">my trusty sifter</a> to remove debris and amend the soil by adding some compost and sand. A few larger boulders took considerable digging and effort to remove, and left large craters in their absence. One of these craters eventually grew to four feet in diameter and three feet deep! Sigh.... What have I gotten myself into this time???? March 11, 2006To be continued.....
Last edited by Gremelin; March 12th, 2020 at 08:17 PM.
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#351
June 5th, 2006 at 03:25 AM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Wow, that's a lot of hard work Bill--I can't WAIT to see the continuation of the bus stop! I'm excited!
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#352
June 5th, 2006 at 03:47 AM
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Official Problem Child
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Official Problem Child
Joined: Mar 2004
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Oh, man..... Talk about taunting and teasing us!
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#353
June 5th, 2006 at 03:51 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Nov 2003
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One of these craters eventually grew to four feet in diameter and three feet deep! Sounds like a pond in the making to me, Bill! That surely is a lot of hard work! Can't wait to see the glorious results!
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#354
June 5th, 2006 at 04:54 AM
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Garden Gnome
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OP
Garden Gnome
Joined: Feb 2004
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<font color="#006200">
When I first showed you the bus and subsequent photos of the naked ground, several members suggested that a small pond or waterfall would look nice in the space. However, I already have several ponds down yonder and three "waterfall" type water features around the gardens, so I decided that I needed something a little different at the bus stop. I did a lot of searching and shopping to find a thingy that seemed right.... I found a Roman style urn that I liked for the fountain but I wasn't sure of what would look right for the reservoir until I discovered some Roman stack stone at my favorite rock store. I used the stack stone to create a six foot circle which I lined with heavy rubber pond liner. The urn was set on blocks to lift it above the rim of the circle. The water circulates via a 400gph submersible pump.
[align:center]<img src="http://www.thegardenhelper.com/photo/busstop/03110004.JPG" width="400" height="300" alt="how to fill a crater" border="0">
Unfortunately, electric pumps require electricity to run, and I was already very tired of digging so for the first time ever I decided to allow someone to help me with some of the work involved in creating one of my gardens. I sent a message to a gnome who lives in the Cedar grove just south of Cedar Hill, and Digger Don agreed to help me out... <img src="http://www.thegardenhelper.com/photo/busstop/diggerdon.jpg" width="200" height="273" alt="Digger Don the neighbor Gnome" border="0"> It didn't take long for Digger Don to dig the fifty feet of trench from the power supply to the pump, so I had him continue beyond that point to where I had decided to add a street lamp to the garden. Somehow, my simple plan seems to be turning into much more of a project than I ever anticipated... <img src="http://www.thegardenhelper.com/photo/busstop/march14.JPG" width="400" height="300" alt="damage to the lawn" border="0"> At this point, my addiction to buying plants was beginning to haunt me, and I began to add a couple shrubs and flowers to the Bus Stop. (55 tall Bearded Iris, a couple Rhododendrons, a Goldenchain tree, a dwarf Forsythia....) I also came across a gazing ball and antique concrete planter that begged to be part of this garden.<img src="http://www.thegardenhelper.com/photo/busstop/march18.JPG" width="400" height="300" alt="some hardscaping and plants added" border="0"> I began using the hundreds of excavated rocks as a wall so that I could create different levels of raised beds throughout the garden, and in a moment of weakness I hit the nurseries again.... (a couple more Rhododendrons, 10 assorted Heucheras, a spiral Arborvitae, some Junipers, a Golden Fir...)<img src="http://www.thegardenhelper.com/photo/busstop/march24.JPG" width="400" height="300" alt="too much!" border="0"> March 24, 2006 So much for my plans of keeping this project SIMPLE!!To be continued.....</font> [/align]
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#355
June 5th, 2006 at 04:59 AM
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Official Problem Child
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Official Problem Child
Joined: Mar 2004
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#356
June 5th, 2006 at 05:05 AM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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OMG, I'm LOVING it!
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#357
June 5th, 2006 at 05:07 AM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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#358
June 6th, 2006 at 07:25 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Apr 2006
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Awesome...can we get some close ups of that fountain in action?
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#359
June 6th, 2006 at 08:46 AM
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The Garden Helper
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The Garden Helper
Joined: Aug 2002
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Before I'm done, you will be able to see closeups of most of the plants and hardscape features!
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#360
June 7th, 2006 at 12:56 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Apr 2006
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Patience has never been one of my strong points
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#361
June 7th, 2006 at 01:18 AM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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This project is coming along GREAT,Bill I cannot wait to see more pics!
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#362
June 7th, 2006 at 02:21 AM
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Official Problem Child
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Official Problem Child
Joined: Mar 2004
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Originally posted by Xetox: Patience has never been one of my strong points Me, either..... :rolleyes: "Are we there yet?"
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#363
June 7th, 2006 at 04:47 AM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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Patients Grasshopper...Patients... When it is time to snatch the pepple from Bill's hand, it will be time for you to see... Loooooks great Bill.. Very nice indddeeeeeeed!!!
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#364
June 11th, 2006 at 11:05 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Aug 2004
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Love seeing it all come together. Cannot wait for more!
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#365
June 12th, 2006 at 08:46 AM
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Member
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Joined: Apr 2004
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Looks great Bill, I can't wait to see more. Ya have me on the edge of my seat!
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#366
June 14th, 2006 at 01:45 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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Looking good Bill, cant wait to see more
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#367
June 14th, 2006 at 02:56 AM
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Official Problem Child
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Official Problem Child
Joined: Mar 2004
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.....yeah, waiting patiently here......
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#368
June 14th, 2006 at 04:21 AM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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Meeeeeeeeeee toooooooooooo
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#369
June 14th, 2006 at 05:20 AM
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Official Problem Child
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Official Problem Child
Joined: Mar 2004
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Originally posted by weezie13: Patients Grasshopper...Patients... When it is time to snatch the pepple from Bill's hand, it will be time for you to see... I am declaring it time to snatch the pebble!
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#370
June 14th, 2006 at 06:27 AM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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#371
June 14th, 2006 at 06:36 AM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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The suspense is killing me!
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#372
June 16th, 2006 at 03:44 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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Checking in for an update but there isnt one yet
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#373
June 16th, 2006 at 04:30 AM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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cant wait to see more Bill
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#374
June 16th, 2006 at 04:35 AM
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Anonymous
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#375
June 16th, 2006 at 05:25 AM
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Official Problem Child
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Official Problem Child
Joined: Mar 2004
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#376
June 16th, 2006 at 06:16 AM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Show it all, show it all!
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#377
June 16th, 2006 at 07:14 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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quote by weezie" JUST HOW MUCH MORE OF BILL DO YOU WANT TO SEE?????? This is a family gardening site you know!! WEEZIE
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#378
June 16th, 2006 at 03:22 PM
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The Garden Helper
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The Garden Helper
Joined: Aug 2002
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I honestly don't think you handle seeing any more than you already have!!! Be good Cindy!
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#379
June 17th, 2006 at 02:51 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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#380
June 17th, 2006 at 03:00 AM
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Official Problem Child
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Official Problem Child
Joined: Mar 2004
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Originally posted by Bill: Be good Cindy! Why does he just tell ME to be good?
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#381
June 17th, 2006 at 03:24 AM
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Member
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Joined: Sep 2005
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#382
March 8th, 2007 at 04:45 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Mar 2007
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That was quite a job . From the pics you post later it turned out quite nicely . You did a great job and the imagination is wonderful . Keep up the good work .
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