New type of garden

[PlantSwap]

I think I'm working on a new type of garden. I call it the vigorous indigenous garden. Basically, it is comprised of plants that refuse to die and choke out all other plants in my garden when left un-attended. My vigorous indigenous garden has been growing almost completely unabated since the Spring. I'm almost scared to dig around in there right now.

[Joan]

Now that's funny! I am thinking about switching my small garden, 3 by 9, to a herb garden. Now after thinking about what I cook, I might fill it with just garlic.
Joan

[PlantSwap]

Well, I finally spent a weekend removing the weeds, err, vigorous indigenous garden and filled 8 contractor sized hefty bags. It was way past time to clean those beds up.

I love fresh herbs. Basil does real well for me.

[txbeyer]

Since moving to NW Austin from SE Houston, I realized how different gardening was in dryer, hotter, Edwards plateau region, so I went with the flow and did a cacti and succulent garden.

[PlantSwap]

That must be a photoshop. It can't be real because there are no weeds anywhere.

It looks great.

[txbeyer]

I have battle scars from weeding this bed with all these 'attack' plants. I think each one of them took a poke at me.

[Gram18]

WOW that is amazing Txbeyer. To have something that looks that good, takes alot of work. AND I do believe you when you say about the poking. OUCH OUCH OUCH!!!!!.......................Admin I have some plants like you`ve been talking about. Seems like the darn things just take over on thier own! One of these is that darn yarrow. I love the flowers,but oh my it just comes up everywhere and chokes lots of other plants out.

[rosequeen]

> Thanks for sharing.

[Vicki in West MI]

I like this view of your garden Bob. I also saved the other view (from Landspro).

Gram, I had a whole bed that was taken over by the white yarrow (which is considered a weed here!) probably everywhere. So I've resisted the urge to plant other cultivars of it.

But I do have an ideal spot for a hot, dry, full sun garden, hmmmm. . . . .

[txbeyer]

Just out of curiosity - you folks in the north - do or have any of you tried a specialized garden featuring dwarf conifers? These are coniferous plant that don't grow more than 4' in 20 years by definition. When I lived in northern VA and Chattanooga TN, I absolutely went wild over these plants and had garden areas that featured them alone. The Gothelli Dwarf Conifer garden at the National Arboretum in D. C. was my favorite garden to visit. I like dwarf plants in general - can fit more different varieties in a smaller space. They provide something evergreen and eyecatching to look at during the winter months. Unfortunately, doesn't get cold enough for them in central TX, plus we are devoid of conifers in general due to the alkaline/limestone soils in which only Junipers do well.

[Vicki in West MI]

I only have a dwarf alberta spruce. I surely would love to add some more different types of dwarf conifers, but the nursery selection here is not so good.
I did google and find a nursery-http://www.mountainmeadowsdwarfconifers.com/
they have some lovelies here.

[Gram18]

I`ve never been into the dwarf aspect of gardening. I suppose if you could find and grow them in your region, it would be something to see.

[PlantSwap]

[txbeyer]

There are dwarf forms of many of our commonly known garden plants in addition to conifers. I have a super dwarf Crepe Myrtle which was developed by the USDA Ag. Research Svs called "Chickasaw" and I know there are several other similar ones such as 'Pokomoke" that get only 2' tall and as wide, have tiny leaves and blooms heavily in summer. Compare that to a 10-20' shrub or small tree form. This plant would grow up north. I have a super dwarf Cavendish banana that gets 2-3' tall and as wide that can be container grown for a tropical look and overwintered easily. My dwarf singapore plumeria stay very small for easy overwintering. I love the dwarf Pomegranite that stays under 4', miniature roses, even miniature daylilies. So, if you say you can't find dwarf or miniature forms of plants, you haven't looked hard enough.

I don't recommend Gnomes however - they are in the category of pink flamingoes Tacky, Tacky, Tacky

[Vicki in West MI]

Well I for one am going to check out some dwarf plants. Sounds cool. They would look good around my pond. I like the 7 dwarfs my sister and I made many many years ago when we were teenagers. My Mom gave them to me last year
but I didn't put them in the gardens, I need to clear coat them first. I'm going to set them around the pond. Hiding in the flowers