Comments on: Behind the scenes – the awful truth

By: Cassidy

Cassidy — Wed, 01 May 2013 04:59:28 +0000

I totally know how you feel! I have had my fair share of garden problems in the last few weeks but the "perfect" parts keep me going.

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:28:29 +0000

Kaveh, 3 acres might be too much, if it is all planted, but it all depends on the design, I guess. I do know people who have 3 acres with shrubs and borders of interesting plants. When it comes to the sort of plantings we like, however, it does get a little crazy. Now that that would stop us, of course.

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:26:01 +0000

Nordicmountain, hey, at least I don't feel alone now! Today they finished eating the Crambe cordifolia ( a perennial fav – maybe because they are from the UK,and they think it is Crambe maritima (which I have seedings of outdoors, but they have not found yet!). Oh – and 6 new holes in the lawn.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:59:36 +0000

We went from a very well tended hillside specimen garden here in San Francisco, presided over by a very well-behaved 15 year-old Tibetan terrier, to three wild Tibetan terrier puppies and a garden overwhelmed by weeds and destruction. First order of business: two of the puppies had pulled up and demolished most of our carefully placed plant tags within a couple of weeks: now we no longer know most of the plants' names. I got so bogged down supervising and coping with dogs that I neglected the garden for a year and a half–only now am I beginning to bring it back from oblivion. Now I no longer allow dogs in the garden except one at a time, under strict supervision. I can really sympathize with your situation. Luckily we have a garage (converted into a dog playpen) and an upper deck (dog restroom). I'm even thinking about adopting rare plants again, but it took nearly two years! Actually your photos look pretty good.

By: Mlle Paradis

Mlle Paradis — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:05:09 +0000

you have your hands full!!!!! and i thought two cats on my furniture and an attic full of bees was too much already.

By: Jean Campbell

Jean Campbell — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:04:00 +0000

Too Much Information. 😉 Sometimes it is better not to show the lowlier parts of the garden. My Mother-in-Law spent much energy in 'hiding' the cow lot and such. I just plant something in the line of sight between me and the tractor shed.

I'm glad your dogs are able to run and play despite the aggravation of having favorite plants run over. Working around the pets is a labour of love.

I can appreciate working in a garden that evolved over so many years. Nature has taken out 3 big trees for us; fortunately they fell in auspicious directions.

By: Kaveh Maguire

Kaveh Maguire — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:55:18 +0000

This helps cement the idea in my head that the thought of buying a property with several acres is probably a bad idea for me. I looked at a farm house on 3 acres recently and seeing it in person made me rethink everything. Too much for one person. Too overwhelming.

As much as I love the idea of having room to plant long borders and lots of shrubs and trees I know it will probably just end up a mess.

Back to looking for houses in my town near the ocean where the larget lot I am likely to be able to afford is a quarter of an acre like the one I am renting now.