The Hateful Areas
Oh you hateful areas, how you smirk at my despair, knowing that I am galvanized into inertia in the face of what a transformation from dreadful to pleasing entails. When touring gardens (and there have been many this summer) I habitually look for the hateful areas of others-surely they are acceptable in my own garden if open gardens have them ? Of course they are never seen, because those who open gardens have a plan that hides, or fixes the more godforsaken regions of their plot- It's the outdoor equivalent of putting up a decorative folding screen to hide the litter box... pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
Here are mine...confession is the first step towards rehabilitation.
The RV parking parking space, which does not have, nor will it ever have an RV. Look at all the concrete ! I will say that a few months ago ago this looked much worse, featuring a falling over fence and many piles of discarded lumber and other crapola that didn't fit in the trash toter. Since concrete removal is not in the budget this year, or the next, I am toying with the idea of slapping a raised bed right on the tarmac .And incidentally, why do I keep buying pots ?
.
This outside the fence (and thus for all to view) portion of the RV features many cracks and is prime garden real estate..full sun all day ...and in perfect position for a border of shrubs and large grasses to hide any unsightly debris next door.
This hateful bed has undergone an exposure change due to the removal of a listing patio cover and two large limbs that dropped from the likewise hateful liquiambar . It has that worst of all exposures , all morning deep shade, and blasting afternoon full sun. This is the first thing I see when I come out the back door , but I have become adept at averting my gaze. I am formulating a plan as we speak. This weekend I chopped down a mature 'dwarf ' euyonymous whose stump I fear is a permanent fixture as the roots are a dense fibrous shovel-proof mat and I hesitate to use explosives so close to the house. Stump and digging attempt are seen in upper right. Perhaps a can of spray paint and it can pass for garden art ?
This is my so-called entry garden. Not only do I get to view a moonscape every time I go out my back door, I get to view this mish-mosh when I go out the front door. This unlucky spot is under the dripline of my last remaining Birch, which sucks up all the water as soon as it's applied.Rainy season (if we have one) is the only time this area looks passable. The Birch is on the hit list , and the red twig dogwood lies in wait in it's attractive 5 gallon nursery pot.
Removal of the Birch moves down the list because of this sorry corner of gloom, in which I foolishly planted a Japanese Maple many years ago before the neighbors Ash tree had acquired its' present gargantuan proportions and turned this corner into the Black Hole of Calcutta. Check out that Anabelle hydrangea---nice huh ?
I know what success looks like and this isn't it !
Here are mine...confession is the first step towards rehabilitation.
The RV parking parking space, which does not have, nor will it ever have an RV. Look at all the concrete ! I will say that a few months ago ago this looked much worse, featuring a falling over fence and many piles of discarded lumber and other crapola that didn't fit in the trash toter. Since concrete removal is not in the budget this year, or the next, I am toying with the idea of slapping a raised bed right on the tarmac .And incidentally, why do I keep buying pots ?
.
This outside the fence (and thus for all to view) portion of the RV features many cracks and is prime garden real estate..full sun all day ...and in perfect position for a border of shrubs and large grasses to hide any unsightly debris next door.
This hateful bed has undergone an exposure change due to the removal of a listing patio cover and two large limbs that dropped from the likewise hateful liquiambar . It has that worst of all exposures , all morning deep shade, and blasting afternoon full sun. This is the first thing I see when I come out the back door , but I have become adept at averting my gaze. I am formulating a plan as we speak. This weekend I chopped down a mature 'dwarf ' euyonymous whose stump I fear is a permanent fixture as the roots are a dense fibrous shovel-proof mat and I hesitate to use explosives so close to the house. Stump and digging attempt are seen in upper right. Perhaps a can of spray paint and it can pass for garden art ?
This is my so-called entry garden. Not only do I get to view a moonscape every time I go out my back door, I get to view this mish-mosh when I go out the front door. This unlucky spot is under the dripline of my last remaining Birch, which sucks up all the water as soon as it's applied.Rainy season (if we have one) is the only time this area looks passable. The Birch is on the hit list , and the red twig dogwood lies in wait in it's attractive 5 gallon nursery pot.
Removal of the Birch moves down the list because of this sorry corner of gloom, in which I foolishly planted a Japanese Maple many years ago before the neighbors Ash tree had acquired its' present gargantuan proportions and turned this corner into the Black Hole of Calcutta. Check out that Anabelle hydrangea---nice huh ?
I know what success looks like and this isn't it !
Oh dear, oh dear...I don't feel so bad now. I definitely have my share of hateful areas. What a bummer that your RV parking area is tarmaced. Mine was gravel, and I turned it into a gravel garden by adding soil and planting in it. I sincerely hope if I ever have an open garden that people don't look behind my shed. Or along the north side of the house. Or along the fence near the veggie beds. Lots of ugliness there.
ReplyDeleteooo, 'behind the shed' ...I bet everyone who has a shed, has a behind the shed.
DeleteThat unused RV space would frustrate me to no end! Could you stick some extra deep raised planters there? Sometimes the project list is enough to send one out in search of a lottery ticket, isn't it? You have the vision to know the changes you'd like to see but insufficient funds and manpower to get the job done. In my own case, I'd love to terrace my back slope, extend the stacked wall in the southwest corner of the property, yank out the remaining lawn, expand my drip irrigation system - the list goes on but, absent a lottery win or an unexpected inheritance, all I can do is chip away at the ugly bits.
ReplyDeleteI'm seriously considering a couple of raised beds Kris. A temporary fix !
DeleteI've got that expanse of concrete on the east side, so I feel for you! Did you see what Annette did to her driveway? It might be on the Potted blog or maybe it was the LA Times...but involves renting a cement saw and cutting out sections that can either be graveled or planted. You could noodle around and draw up a plan for cutting up the concrete into whatever pattern/grid you like. People swear it's no big deal with the right tool...
ReplyDeleteI went and looked at Annettes project and I remembered seeing it before. I can't rent a concrete saw (impossible logistics) but I can rent a concrete contractor..Still pricey ! I've put many a chalk drawing down, but realistically I think I will have to settle for just the front --hiding the neighbors stuff has more urgency for me !
DeleteTarmaced RV space, quite tricky! Hopefully you'll find solutions to your frustrating areas soon. We all have these sort of areas but sometimes the solutions just pop up when you least expect it.
ReplyDeleteI will prevail at some point. Might have to take baby steps but at least that will be progress !
DeleteI was going to mention the same thing Denise did. You can build charming raised beds with your resulting bricks of urbanite! http://www.pottedstore.com/post/garage-remodel-with-a-potted-flair/
ReplyDeleteAs for hateful areas in general I've been obsessing about a couple of my own. One an easy fix and the other requiring a much larger undertaking. But that's gardening right?
I saw no hateful areas in the Danger Garden ! You are adept at hiding them. Either that or your hateful areas are so much less despicable than the average, no one recognizes them as such !
DeleteExpanse of concrete = awesome outdoor dining room?
ReplyDeleteDon't rent concrete saw. They are scary. Rent cute guy with concrete saw and supervise.
Concrete saw is not in my future Hoov..definitely a hire-out job !
DeleteMy whole garden looks like your hateful areas so I empathize. I sometimes contemplate possible solutions but think moving might be easiest. I'm seeing a great collection of succulents in pots like in Danger Garden or JJ's place on your R.V. parking area. These could surround the outdoor dining room that Hoover suggested.
ReplyDeleteMany ideas percolate ... Your entire garden can't possibly be hateful Peter..can it ?
DeleteHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry Kathy I simply could not help myself. You should create a "Hateful Area" Meme to challenge the rest of us to share our reality. Love this post my friend. That cement would SERIOUSLY drive me nuts.
ReplyDeleteDeanne, I'm afraid you are out of the loop when it comes to hateful areas. They are very well concealed ! Ply me with enough great food and wine and I;ll never find them !
ReplyDeleteI glumly stared at several hateful areas of my garden after the Fling. Still staring, percolating ideas. I bet you'll come up with some good solutions for your H.A.s too.
ReplyDeleteYou have a stump. You have lots of extra pots. Invert a pot over the stump and showcase another pot on top of that. Do this raised on inverted pot trick with several pots and you suddenly have a little melody going...
ReplyDelete