For an anniversary gift for my son and daughter-in-law, they had just moved and have a renewed interest in gardening and landscaping. I put together a 3-ring notebook for them, divided up into several sections. I used the plastic sheets in the notebook and placed pictures of landscapes, plants, flowers, articles, taken from the many magazines I receive. I even added pictures of how to style their front door along with lights, welcome mat, flower pots, garden benches, etc., all taken from my magazines. The other sections included my own gardening tips from over the years, a list of garden centers in our area, and from the internet I copied pictures and descriptions of plants, trees and shrubs. These all went into a Word document, which I printed and I think it was about 18 pages long. That way, they could go thru the notebook and select the plants they like for their new yard. While they were away one weekend, I measured their yard and created an actual planting plan for them on a poster board, referencing the plants in the notebook. I used plants that were appropriate for the type of light in each portion of their yard. Putting the notebook together took some time, but it was a labor of love! I also included a list of RUclips channels on gardening that I follow, so they too can learn more. Linda, this is starting to sound like your book, which I assume will be a collection of your experience over the years. Would a first edition or draft copy of your book be ready to gift to them for their wedding? A mini-greenhouse would be a nice wedding gift for them.....they could always take it wherever they move over the years and have it as a cherished memory of their wedding day.
When my best friend married I gave her a gift of a peegee hydrangea tree. She loves hydrangeas and was so surprised. She has moved twice over 15 years and transplanted the tree each time. Since your happy couple will be needing an indoor present I might suggest a citrus tree. Every year when they harvest the fruit it can be a reminder of their union.🙂
I tend to not finish each project before it’s time to come in due to heat or whatever. I put piles in each area where I think I want them….but this year since I’m redoing things i now have a ‘staging’ area! I also like buying the plants and not planting! And that begonia in hanging basket is beautiful!
I give an Eastern Redbud tree. The beautiful tree can be purchased in a small pot for a porch size so it has time to grow. After the flowers bloom, it comes out with heart shaped green leaves. It is not too messy either, probably could last about three years is a large pot.
Yes! You hit the nail on the head. We tend to do what HAS to be done but put off what should be done. I keep my supplies on the patio for convenience, especially in the spring and early summer when I use it constantly. I need to get it moved to the proper place!
I love your garden Linda, really! I admire how beautiful and peaceful it is, and I’m a fan of more shaded gardens. I used to only be able to do shade plants when I lived in an apartment in the north facing side and I always wanted to plant more sun loving plants for the blooms, but now that I live in a house with no trees, I miss it. My favorite place to be is anywhere I have shade, on the north side the house. I’m loving things I used to be sick of, I honestly don’t like the full sun and heat, I’ll take my hostas and begonias and be in my happy place!
I did the flowers and made quilts for my daughters' weddings. A couple of times, when their long-time school friends married, my husband made garden benches. We designed them simply and something like that might work in their loft apt as a rustic console table, or to hold plants in front of her great windows until they have a garden of their own. We topped the benches with wood we reclaimed from the floor of the school they all attended together. Including a personal historical component like that made them really special. We all still use them (of course I got one, too! Used it just this morning)
My biggest mistake is procrastinating on dividing plants and I have a big mess to clean up this fall because of it...especially lilies and irises. They will take completely over if you let them.
Wedding gift: I’m a crafty person so I’d probably refinish a beautiful old fashioned bird cage and then find a way to turn it into a hanging planter, complete with some beautiful spillers already inside. :) Either that or an aerogarden for greens/herbs. My father got me an indoor mushroom grow kit but you have to be a seriously committed mushroom person to grow those inside. 👀
A gift I would give is your small basket with quality house plant tools and flower snips with a really splendid house plant. Then in your larger basket I would put all quality garden hand tools and gloves, ties etc. And I buy the large tools like a rake, edging tool etc. and give them to them on the day they move into a house. Just an idea. Hope you are going to show us your wedding ensemble. Thank you as ever for your interesting videos : ) : )
Linda, you were talking to me about the #3 Garden mistake today. In previous years I would never have done this. But this year I have these messes everywhere. As I was watering today I was feeling guilty about this today. Thank you, I will spend tomorrow on clean-up duty.
Beautiful basket or pot with a house plant and picture promise cards of items for their future home. Weed eater, garden tools, garden cart or patio set with umbrella. That was my daughter and favorite son-in -law gift. I also leave my projects but always thinking about exactly what and how the end design will be. This spring I purchased several big hanging baskets. Like your tree and broken limb snow situation my normal display limbs were broken. Planted hanging baskets in big barrels. Made a beautiful display for back porch. Thanks for all your tips. Love your necklace.
I keep a lot of records and plant tags but so often there’s something that through the season I fall in love with that I didn’t keep the plant tag for!! When I am full on gardening some of those record keeping tasks get skipped.Maddening!
I make mistakes also. I realized this year that if I can’t get to everything, that means that I have too much to do. So I’m cutting back. I’d rather enjoy a smaller well kept garden, then struggle and be anxious over a bigger garden that I can’t properly take care of. And for me, yes the heat is an excuse. I live in Texas and the heat and humidity has been awful. I’ve already experienced heat exhaustion once this summer, so I have to be careful. So for me having a smaller garden that I can take care of and enjoy is the best. Thank you for your videos.
I have some of the same problems with my "work area". I spent some time cleaning it up the other day after finally up-potting some roses I had propagated. I felt like I was just re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. We had a neighbor who had a variety of large planters - 15 or so - beneath a large maple tree planted with lots of different things. It was always well kept and yet never quite looked neat. One year she emptied all the planters, painted them all the same shade of green and then planted them with impatiens and hostas - one variety to a pot and added a single Adirondack chair. It looked great! A cool peaceful retreat beneath her maple.
Thanks for making me feel more normal. I have an annoying pile also and after watching this video, you have inspired me to get it cleaned out. It will be my first project tomorrow Saturday morning. You are a great inspiration Linda and I really enjoy your videos - especially your honesty.
Wedding gift: 1) Solari Bells (Paolo Solari from Scottsdale and Arcosanti, AZ) or 2.) other wind chimes. 3.) Beautiful sculpture that can transfer someday to the outside.
My husband and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this fall. We recd a beautiful sounding wind chime when we got married and he just replaced the original string this year. Many many years of peaceful music in my gardens- great gift idea if they enjoy wind chimes!
Linda, how real of you to point up your gardening procrastinations. We all have them! One of mine would have to be spraying Neem oil on my apple tree. For years I’ve dealt with tiny worm holes in my apples. I have all the equipment….but just can’t seem to do it when I’m supposed to. 🤪 And, of course there’s weeding. When the Bermuda grass and the bind weed start taking over my front bed, I will get on it, but not today because I have some deadheading and watering to do, which I MUCH prefer! 😜 Thanks for letting us know we are not alone!
Thank you so much Linda. It’s so nice to know that I am not the only one with unfinished projects. One of the things I enjoy most about your channel and your con tent is how relaxing it is to look upon your manicured and beautifully composed garden. This video was just as nice seeing unfinished projects.
Substantial wedding gift ideas: a artist-created or designer iron bench, pair of chairs or bistro set, a teak bench with a plaque with a small saying or poem and their names and wedding date. Something like “Side by side we shall always be, their names and date”. Smaller gifts: custom-made garden stones with small saying and their names, plaque for their entry or gate.
Yes one of my mistakes is having “piles “ mainly of nursery pots where I have planted things. I actually just cleaned up those piles before I came in and watched this video. They really bothered me🤨. Thanks Linda. It’s nice to know we all do some of the same things❤️❤️❤️
Love the video. Congrats early on your son's marriage. I think one of your beautiful garden baskets filled with your favorite hand tools, gloves, seeds and maybe a garden book, would make anyone smile. You look lovely, too. Love your outfit. love, hugs,prayers.
Thank you for relaying your procrastination about spraying and dusting your plants. I dislike the smells and don’t want the chemicals on me. We have so few days without wind it is difficult to handle that chore.I am a neighbor of yours to west in Yukon and just recently discovered your videos. Thank you for all your advice I have learned many things already. Your a joy to watch😃
My daughter is getting married in August. She loves all my concrete & terra cotta pots & planters. I plan on getting her a bunch & we will plant them together. Maybe even some glazed that can stay inside. I will have cards in each showing what I think will be beautiful. Lovely pots are expensive. I already have them a copper watering can. Saving the kiddos money where I can. Love Love Love your garden Lady Linda! Hugs from Alabama! 🥰
I love the vintage glass doored cabinets that have been retrofitted with grow lights. For gifts that could be used in or outdoors, some nice planters or a water feature would be great gifts.
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with those compost piles waiting to be tackled but constantly delaying because there is no easy solution apart from rolling up the sleeves and getting stuck in. I think I might just use it all as it is as an over wintering mulch on the veg garden.🤫
I just moved some things this morning and it looks so much better. Sometimes it just takes some time to think through stuff. I dont have any wedding gift ideas but lots of suggestions in the comments. You will figure it out and it will be a magnificent gift. I would think you always have magnificent ideas for gifts.
Thank you, Linda. Your content is always so rich, informative and practical. Don’t be too hard on yourself that you make those mistakes. I like the first mistake - putting a plant in a position that’s pleasing to you rather than helping the plant. Thank you for acknowledging that “I’m too busy” is not an excuse. I get so tired of hearing that line. I adapted a terracotta theatre thanks to your style. I had a few terracotta and then got rid of all plastics and replaced them with terracotta - like you say it’s more pleasing to the eye. Love from sunny Sydney, Australia. BTW Love your blue dress and the beautiful necklace from your mother-in-law.
So relate to this video on every point I have a necklace similiar my precious mother in law gave me so nice to see u wearing it!! Good luck with wedding shower,, gift ideas I have are the cool wind chimes from north country wind bells they are made USA and mimic many harbors in USA I LOVE THEM Google NORTH COUNTRY WIND BELLS YOU CAN PICK YOUR SOUND BASED ON A HARBOR... use to live in San Francisco then moved to Pensacola...for hubby birthday gift I got the San Francisco sound harbor wind chime... he loves it and they are very unique both in quality and special sound! Encourage you to check out site they are based in maine I think
Definitely with you on the composting. I have 3 bins and use 1 for kitchen veg scraps. It looks great, is full of worms but I hate to spend time emptying / using it.
Hi Linda! I use the Lee Valley 10 year journal you recommended to keep track of all my plantings and varieties. I absolutely LOVE it!! Another idea if you don’t want to write all your plants down is to keep the tag that comes with and bundle them by year and or type. I found these ideas helpful over the years to jog my memory.😊❤️
I haven’t given a garden wedding gift - But a coworker received gorgeous copper wind chimes ( that were huge ) - She hated them & gave them to me. She actually was a gardener too !!! That was in the 90’s. I used them in several home gardens until they fell apart. Now I use the copper as a hose guard in my potager. Works perfectly!!!!
I can most definitely relate to putting off spraying for pests and diseases because it’s not enjoyable. The heat and humidity in Dallas has been unbearable, as well as the mosquitos. Like you said, it’s no excuse though! As for the gift, maybe a gardening/landscaping book made for Colorado (if that’s where they plan on staying) as well as some garden tools, fertilizer, pots, etc.
I can relate to your compost dilemma,,,,I've been growing Vegetables on the Bay for 12 years.......still no viable compost. I've created piles in different areas around our property...and what I've noticed is the trees love me that much more as their roots grow into my compost.
Make them a gardening starter kit. Ie seed storage box full of seed packets for flowers and veggies. Toss in a few recipies sections like all the seeds to make salsa or an alchaholic drink. Gloves, set of hand tools and good pair of trimmers. Watering can with beautiful bouquet of flowers in it. Put all these things in a beautiful decorated veggie collecting garden basket. You can add what ever you like. Maybe even a knee pad and gardening hat. Possibilities are endless. But the seeds are the fun part! Oh and dont forget a gardening journal ! Have fun with it!
I can relate to the many plant baskets,my gutter broke on one side of the house and I had to clean up to give the guys space to work and it looks so much better now
So happy to hear you have the ignore the project clutter. I have a plan...but need a kick somewhere to implement it. Maybe I just got that kick? We'll see...
Ok gift for you SON & DAUGHTER IN LAW. Definitely plants. If they have a patio look at these patio orchard trees. The fruit grows in the middle by the trunk they start to fruit their second year and do great in pots. Maybe some sort of self watering pot. Once they move to a house they can plant them in the yard. I have 5 different apple trees a peach and a pare. They don’t get too wide or too tall and are very ornamental. I love plants and trees that give back their love.
In California we have green bins that we fill with our yard cuttings and leaves (green waste) that are picked up weekly and taken to a green waste facility. There is no reason to save these at home if they are not being utilized, or create work that nobody wants to get to. Keep it simple.
I agree, composting is just depressing & who wants to devote valuable real estate to an ugly pile of stuff. Haul it off & buy compost, it’s really not that expensive.
Not sure where you are but compost where I live in California it is expensive - but they also regularly test for herbicide which I think drives up the cost considerably. There are a couple of community compost programs (where they take restaurant waste and build compost that you can pick up), but they *dont* test for herbicide and frankly with everything about round up/corteva ending up in down market hone gardens, I’m just not willing to risk my entire garden on cheap compost. 😔
@@melissasullivan1658Miracle Grow organic compost is $5/bag (more than what 1 tumbler would produce) and it’s great! My flowers love it & bloom their heads off.
Sounds weird, but in 1984 a great friend gave me a small hand cart/dolly for a wedding gift. I still have it and use it every year, and it’s 2021. The color has faded, but has never needed repair. An unusual gift, but cherished and I never forget who gave it to me. I’ve moved 12 times and used it for moving and in the garden. I’m a practical person and thrifty and think it was a great gift for me.
I just love Michael Carr’s designs , especially his strawberry planter. I’ve seen your video where you visited your son and his fiancé and bought a planter. I believe his planters would fit beautifully in there home. It could be used for herbs or I saw it planted with succulents.
The plant in the wrong spot is a constant issue for me. The extreme heat here cooks all flowering plants easily. The best garden gift I have done is a unique planter with succulents, a book, food, gloves, disease spray, gorgeous watering can and a written note with hints and love.
My No.1 mistake: not taking into account how large a plant will ultimately grow. Like discovering your size 8 feet do not fit a size 6 shoe! A painful lesson.
O yes! I do that all the time. Somewhere in my flowerbed has to be a rose - you can´t see her anymore. I must take care of her and all the other overgrown beauties in the fall. Also I struggle with Lindas # 1 and #5. (And with a tight budget.) Love from Germany ♥
Oh, yes, done all of the above. I have a small compost bin that I now use instead of a large one. Our city picks up our big green recycling container, so I make enough compost to top off my pots mostly. I have learned to move my pots around and out of the harsh sun when needed and I actually have two plants I’ve forgotten the names of, but it’s ok. I have a messy side yard no one sees and I cringe when I go looking for a pot because like you said it wouldn’t take much time to clean up if it wasn’t for the mosquitoes and heat! My main excuse.
Yes, my mistakes too have been putting plants in the wrong place more for the aesthetic & design rather than the plants needs - hence more work moving everything around to rebalance!
It seems apparent that you have been successful in your gardening not only because you have worked at learning it, but also have allowed yourself the pleasure of it. I know we all need more discipline, however I think sometimes you're a little hard on yourself. All the things you're involved with take a lot of work and planning and now this silly fashion stuff from people who evidently are not real gardeners is now taking up your time. Somewhere I think you need to let up a little before you get really stressed and then you'll have to let some things go to survive. Not to be critical, but just to offer advice as I see it. Love the show. Ann Clark
I saw your video when you visited your son & soon to be daughter-in-law in their loft. I remember the corner with so many indoor plants & was thinking a really upscale & cool fountain would be a great addition to that area for your garden wedding gift. I have a fountain in my reading & plant nook & so enjoy having it on. I love your necklace with your blue dress 👗💙
When I moved into my house in 2005 the yard was mostly grass. I made the decision to keep track of all the plants I would add. I used a large three-ring binder filled with heavy duty cardstock and then taped all the plant labels and tags as I added things to my garden. I have it divided by year. It is becoming rather bulky and heavy, so I may need to add volume 2 soon. I also make notes next to the labels if something dies.
I think beautiful outdoor pots would be a wonderful gift and would coax them outdoors to plant! Congratulations on the engagement! You have a lot to look forward to! I keep a binder that I throw all my plant tags in for later reference. I’ve gone back to it many times to figure out what I’ve planted. 🌸🌸🌸
I love this video. And yes, I relate to All of them. It’s so great that such a great gardener such as yourself, would be so honest! I just love everything about your style and grace. Thank you from Minnesota.
Cold composting is much easier. I do it for years. I don't have to tumble things around, or make sure its the right amount of green and brown material. It takes more time to compost, but less effort . Your garden is so tidy and neat. Everytime I watch a video I think, I should clean up my garden more. So yes, I'm quilty of most, specially number 3 and 4. But also a lot of other things. I let annuals grow wherever they want to come up, although its sometimes in my 'way'.
An array of garden tools are always a hit. I usually put it in a garden bag or tackle box with garden bits, like twist ties, plant tags, etc. I also add a gift card to a local nursery or Lowes/Home Depot. Always a winner. 🤗
I can relate to the cluttered areas that need to be tidied up, because I have "garden stuff" everywhere, although my gardens are neat and pretty, I only have a small, plastic, outdoor garden pantry (for lack of better terms). Even though I beautifully painted a 60-year-old wrought iron picnic set, the tabletop and chairs are full of my gardening stuff! We have no garage or carport. Nor do we have any entryway closets by any door. Eeeks! I need storage, but also need to de-clutter.
I love your videos ! I think a great gift for an apartment couple would be a beautiful pot , or 3...... with herbs, or maybe a gardenia , you could hang a nice pair of pruners with a garden poem or note or a blueberry plant with a note for jam....it would really depend on the pot (S) you find.Think of a slow grower that can later be planted in the ground of a home.
I used to be bad about losing the names of plants. Now I put their tags in a binder, in clear sheet protectors. I can go to my binder for their names, how big they'll get, water usage, etc.
Don’t you just miss your boys so far away. I’m in SoCal and my oldest son moved to Tx and I am heartbroken my sister moved from CA to Kingman, AZ I still have my other son and grandkids and brother here but I don’t see much of them since the pandemic so it gets lonely. That a great wedding present is plants.
Although I have watched many of your videos I really can relate to this one. I, like you have areas that bother me, and again like you ignore it to do the things I like to do. I am going to try and take a leaf out of your book and force myself to do better. I am in zone 4/5 Canada so can't have the pots outside all winter as it can get below 40 here. Also, I live in a rural area and am on a well so watering everything is out of the question for me. I am currently growing boxwoods from cuttings and hope to practice some topiary once they are big enough, and and already cutting mature ones into balls , well kind of balls, lol Practice practice practice. Thank you for your honesty and information
Linda.I put plastic stickers next to them..with the name and variety.Linda you beat yourself up for NOTHING.You cannot do it all.It is what it is.You can remove the extras etc , but I love the way everything looks.Very natural ,not fake.I like that.I make my own brew for pests. .Water,white vinegar and a smitten of dawn.Has worked for me for years.Soapy water will help.I start using my remedy the minute I plant them... and therefore prevent a lot of pest issues.I love the way you present your garden.Please carry on the way you have..🤗😃.that made it special to me.Nobody can be in control of EVERYTHING.It would be no fun ..trust me😍
You may want to check out the Joraform composters. They have large ones with 2 tumblers. Seems to be a favorite among those who are serious composters. Very well made they say and does a good job. New materials on one side while the other is working. No transferring from one to the other. Similar color to your small one. Made in Sweden.
I always forget plant names but I save all my receipts or leave on the tag at the base so that helps alot. Also Wilt Pruf is said to work really well on spider mites.
A gift of all your QVC baskets as they could be used indoors for other things like a laundry baskets or blanket holders and then when they have an outdoor garden they can use them for plants, etc.
If they have a lot of plants inside.....they will enjoy a nice GROWLIGHT..They come in all shapes and sizes and are looking nice in your home .I purchased 2..they are clip ons in black..each has 3 long thin arms .You can time them etc.They blend in very well with the plants and furniture.I love them and my plants thank me every day.😍🤣A great gift for a plant lover.
Love the dress and necklace!! I forget the varieties and cultivars too. I focused this year at keeping the tags. I have the same situation with my compost pile. I throw stuff in but can’t turn it.
I have an old Mrs. Field’s cookie tin that I throw all of my garden plant tags in. I go back I look through them when I can’t remember! The lazy way! I garden in Virginia, 7a.
A “making memories together” book/picture frame, etc with yearly pass to Denver zoo, history or art museum, sporting events, red rocks,etc. Gardening wise, Denver botanical gardens so they are aware of Denver’s unique native plants and cooking class for all their future gardening.
Ripple jade can take full sun, at least in California. The only thing is you need temper it to full sun. Either slowly move it from filtered sun to full sun or put it out in the full sun location in spring and let it get use to full sun naturally.
Sometimes I’ll move the plant pot where it needs to be for it to be happy and then move it back to the spot I want it to be for company and my sense of design
I don't know if this is their thing, but a subtle, natural material Budha for indoors or out has been a hit gift. Also a large Bonsai is lovely. Have fun at the shower! 💕
I live in Aurora, Co which is almost Denver and it is very dry here so I would suggest a beautiful recirculating garden fountain that they could put in the loft before they move into a home. It would bring in moisture. Good luck with the shower and have fun.
Re the gift: I gave my son a planted full herb garden in an antique French copper fish kettle or fish poacher (plenty on Etsy.) I did not poke drain holes as I figured when he gets a house he can clean it out and use the poacher! He has thoroughly enjoyed it in a sunny windowsill. Has that vintage vibe you like, but in a gift...
The mistake of, project material laying about. Guilty, Indoor and outdoors. Leaving things about for the project gives me the false idea that I will start it, but the guilt of passing it everyday is rough. Glad to hear that you have some of the same little faults we all do. One of my worst is falling in love with an impulse plant. Get home, now where and how to incorporate it into my garden. Thanks. Nicole in Menlo Park. CA
My daughter lives/works in Denver and I recently visited. Think about a membership to the Denver Botanic Gardens. Great location for them-and with a membership they can visit anytime it’s convenient. Great place for a picnic and summer concerts!
Speaking of cohesive looks, I second the idea of gifting nice pottery (a planter theater of sorts), perhaps with some myrtle topiaries in them. You can add a new pot at each anniversary. When the couple moves into their new house, a follow-up house-warming gift of (locally-resilient) heirloom roses would be nice. It's something I received when I moved into my (then) new house, and I cherish those roses several years later.
Maybe someone has already suggested this re remembering the specific cultivars but you could take a pix of the plant and it's corresponding tag. You have all you need to know on your phone in your gallery to pull up when you need it!
I think a collection of Peter Wakefield Pottery would be a wonderful gift. Those pots are to die for .
I agree 100000000%
Great idea. Or a Jack Barnwell Design Aquapot (self watering container) from Proven Winners.
I can relate to all of your “mistakes”. I am guilty of them all! No more excuses. Thanks for the push!
For an anniversary gift for my son and daughter-in-law, they had just moved and have a renewed interest in gardening and landscaping. I put together a 3-ring notebook for them, divided up into several sections. I used the plastic sheets in the notebook and placed pictures of landscapes, plants, flowers, articles, taken from the many magazines I receive. I even added pictures of how to style their front door along with lights, welcome mat, flower pots, garden benches, etc., all taken from my magazines. The other sections included my own gardening tips from over the years, a list of garden centers in our area, and from the internet I copied pictures and descriptions of plants, trees and shrubs. These all went into a Word document, which I printed and I think it was about 18 pages long. That way, they could go thru the notebook and select the plants they like for their new yard. While they were away one weekend, I measured their yard and created an actual planting plan for them on a poster board, referencing the plants in the notebook. I used plants that were appropriate for the type of light in each portion of their yard. Putting the notebook together took some time, but it was a labor of love! I also included a list of RUclips channels on gardening that I follow, so they too can learn more. Linda, this is starting to sound like your book, which I assume will be a collection of your experience over the years. Would a first edition or draft copy of your book be ready to gift to them for their wedding? A mini-greenhouse would be a nice wedding gift for them.....they could always take it wherever they move over the years and have it as a cherished memory of their wedding day.
When my best friend married I gave her a gift of a peegee hydrangea tree. She loves hydrangeas and was so surprised. She has moved twice over 15 years and transplanted the tree each time. Since your happy couple will be needing an indoor present I might suggest a citrus tree. Every year when they harvest the fruit it can be a reminder of their union.🙂
I tend to not finish each project before it’s time to come in due to heat or whatever. I put piles in each area where I think I want them….but this year since I’m redoing things i now have a ‘staging’ area! I also like buying the plants and not planting! And that begonia in hanging basket is beautiful!
Lol totally guilty of this one! But my excuse is that I’m in 9b - sometimes I’m literally running inside hiding from the sun. 😂
I give an Eastern Redbud tree. The beautiful tree can be purchased in a small pot for a porch size so it has time to grow. After the flowers bloom, it comes out with heart shaped green leaves. It is not too messy either, probably could last about three years is a large pot.
Yes! You hit the nail on the head. We tend to do what HAS to be done but put off what should be done. I keep my supplies on the patio for convenience, especially in the spring and early summer when I use it constantly. I need to get it moved to the proper place!
I love your garden Linda, really! I admire how beautiful and peaceful it is, and I’m a fan of more shaded gardens. I used to only be able to do shade plants when I lived in an apartment in the north facing side and I always wanted to plant more sun loving plants for the blooms, but now that I live in a house with no trees, I miss it. My favorite place to be is anywhere I have shade, on the north side the house. I’m loving things I used to be sick of, I honestly don’t like the full sun and heat, I’ll take my hostas and begonias and be in my happy place!
I did the flowers and made quilts for my daughters' weddings. A couple of times, when their long-time school friends married, my husband made garden benches. We designed them simply and something like that might work in their loft apt as a rustic console table, or to hold plants in front of her great windows until they have a garden of their own. We topped the benches with wood we reclaimed from the floor of the school they all attended together. Including a personal historical component like that made them really special. We all still use them (of course I got one, too! Used it just this morning)
My biggest mistake is procrastinating on dividing plants and I have a big mess to clean up this fall because of it...especially lilies and irises. They will take completely over if you let them.
Wedding gift: I’m a crafty person so I’d probably refinish a beautiful old fashioned bird cage and then find a way to turn it into a hanging planter, complete with some beautiful spillers already inside. :)
Either that or an aerogarden for greens/herbs. My father got me an indoor mushroom grow kit but you have to be a seriously committed mushroom person to grow those inside. 👀
I received a wheelbarrow of garden tools as a wedding shower gift! So appreciated!
Beautifully illustrated and informative garden books would make a lovely gift.
A gift I would give is your small basket with quality house plant tools and flower snips with a really splendid house plant. Then in your larger basket I would put all quality garden hand tools and gloves, ties etc. And I buy the large tools like a rake, edging tool etc. and give them to them on the day they move into a house. Just an idea. Hope you are going to show us your wedding ensemble. Thank you as ever for your interesting videos : ) : )
Linda, you were talking to me about the #3 Garden mistake today. In previous years I would never have done this. But this year I have these messes everywhere. As I was watering today I was feeling guilty about this today. Thank you, I will spend tomorrow on clean-up duty.
We wouldn't want you to be perfect!! None of us are, I can relate! I really like your videos. Thank you!
W
Beautiful basket or pot with a house plant and picture promise cards of items for their future home. Weed eater, garden tools, garden cart or patio set with umbrella. That was my daughter and favorite son-in -law gift.
I also leave my projects but always thinking about exactly what and how the end design will be.
This spring I purchased several big hanging baskets. Like your tree and broken limb snow situation my normal display limbs were broken. Planted hanging baskets in big barrels. Made a beautiful display for back porch. Thanks for all your tips.
Love your necklace.
I keep a lot of records and plant tags but so often there’s something that through the season I fall in love with that I didn’t keep the plant tag for!! When I am full on gardening some of those record keeping tasks get skipped.Maddening!
I make mistakes also. I realized this year that if I can’t get to everything, that means that I have too much to do. So I’m cutting back. I’d rather enjoy a smaller well kept garden, then struggle and be anxious over a bigger garden that I can’t properly take care of. And for me, yes the heat is an excuse. I live in Texas and the heat and humidity has been awful. I’ve already experienced heat exhaustion once this summer, so I have to be careful. So for me having a smaller garden that I can take care of and enjoy is the best. Thank you for your videos.
I have some of the same problems with my "work area". I spent some time cleaning it up the other day after finally up-potting some roses I had propagated. I felt like I was just re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
We had a neighbor who had a variety of large planters - 15 or so - beneath a large maple tree planted with lots of different things. It was always well kept and yet never quite looked neat.
One year she emptied all the planters, painted them all the same shade of green and then planted them with impatiens and hostas - one variety to a pot and added a single Adirondack chair.
It looked great! A cool peaceful retreat beneath her maple.
I don’t think u r lazy!U r human and ur home is so lovely!I enjoy ur videos so much .Just bought some of ur products on qvc😁
Thanks for making me feel more normal. I have an annoying pile also and after watching this video, you have inspired me to get it cleaned out. It will be my first project tomorrow Saturday morning. You are a great inspiration Linda and I really enjoy your videos - especially your honesty.
Wedding gift: 1) Solari Bells (Paolo Solari from Scottsdale and Arcosanti, AZ) or 2.) other wind chimes. 3.) Beautiful sculpture that can transfer someday to the outside.
My husband and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this fall. We recd a beautiful sounding wind chime when we got married and he just replaced the original string this year. Many many years of peaceful music in my gardens- great gift idea if they enjoy wind chimes!
Have these and Love them!
Linda, how real of you to point up your gardening procrastinations. We all have them! One of mine would have to be spraying Neem oil on my apple tree. For years I’ve dealt with tiny worm holes in my apples. I have all the equipment….but just can’t seem to do it when I’m supposed to. 🤪 And, of course there’s weeding. When the Bermuda grass and the bind weed start taking over my front bed, I will get on it, but not today because I have some deadheading and watering to do, which I MUCH prefer! 😜 Thanks for letting us know we are not alone!
Thank you so much Linda. It’s so nice to know that I am not the only one with unfinished projects. One of the things I enjoy most about your channel and your con tent is how relaxing it is to look upon your manicured and beautifully composed garden. This video was just as nice seeing unfinished projects.
"Form vs. function" is a constant balance in my garden AND house decor.
Substantial wedding gift ideas: a artist-created or designer iron bench, pair of chairs or bistro set, a teak bench with a plaque with a small saying or poem and their names and wedding date. Something like “Side by side we shall always be, their names and date”.
Smaller gifts: custom-made garden stones with small saying and their names, plaque for their entry or gate.
This video speaks to Linda's garden journal thats coming out. We all would benefit from this product.
Yes one of my mistakes is having “piles “ mainly of nursery pots where I have planted things. I actually just cleaned up those piles before I came in and watched this video. They really bothered me🤨. Thanks Linda. It’s nice to know we all do some of the same things❤️❤️❤️
Love the video. Congrats early on your son's marriage. I think one of your beautiful garden baskets filled with your favorite hand tools, gloves, seeds and maybe a garden book, would make anyone smile. You look lovely, too. Love your outfit. love, hugs,prayers.
How about a pair of teak garden or porch chairs for their future yard or patio. In the meantime perhaps they can use them in their apartment
Love this idea. Along those lines, maybe a teak bar cart they can use indoors (for plants or spirits) then move outside when they have a yard.
Thank you for relaying your procrastination about spraying and dusting your plants. I dislike the smells and don’t want the chemicals on me. We have so few days without wind it is difficult to handle that chore.I am a neighbor of yours to west in Yukon and just recently discovered your videos. Thank you for all your advice I have learned many things already. Your a joy to watch😃
Yes! Thank you--we always have the wind to blame it on!
My daughter is getting married in August. She loves all my concrete & terra cotta pots & planters. I plan on getting her a bunch & we will plant them together. Maybe even some glazed that can stay inside. I will have cards in each showing what I think will be beautiful. Lovely pots are expensive. I already have them a copper watering can. Saving the kiddos money where I can. Love Love Love your garden Lady Linda! Hugs from Alabama! 🥰
I love the vintage glass doored cabinets that have been retrofitted with grow lights. For gifts that could be used in or outdoors, some nice planters or a water feature would be great gifts.
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with those compost piles waiting to be tackled but constantly delaying because there is no easy solution apart from rolling up the sleeves and getting stuck in. I think I might just use it all as it is as an over wintering mulch on the veg garden.🤫
I just moved some things this morning and it looks so much better. Sometimes it just takes some time to think through stuff.
I dont have any wedding gift ideas but lots of suggestions in the comments. You will figure it out and it will be a magnificent gift.
I would think you always have magnificent ideas for gifts.
If I were your daughter in law, I would love a topiary-maybe in a handmade clay pot from an artist or maybe a Berg’s pot.
👌
H Potter Wardian Case(terrarium). Great indoor garden gift.
Thank you, Linda. Your content is always so rich, informative and practical. Don’t be too hard on yourself that you make those mistakes. I like the first mistake - putting a plant in a position that’s pleasing to you rather than helping the plant. Thank you for acknowledging that “I’m too busy” is not an excuse. I get so tired of hearing that line. I adapted a terracotta theatre thanks to your style. I had a few terracotta and then got rid of all plastics and replaced them with terracotta - like you say it’s more pleasing to the eye. Love from sunny Sydney, Australia. BTW Love your blue dress and the beautiful necklace from your mother-in-law.
LU Pink.
So relate to this video on every point I have a necklace similiar my precious mother in law gave me so nice to see u wearing it!! Good luck with wedding shower,, gift ideas I have are the cool wind chimes from north country wind bells they are made USA and mimic many harbors in USA I LOVE THEM Google NORTH COUNTRY WIND BELLS YOU CAN PICK YOUR SOUND BASED ON A HARBOR... use to live in San Francisco then moved to Pensacola...for hubby birthday gift I got the San Francisco sound harbor wind chime... he loves it and they are very unique both in quality and special sound! Encourage you to check out site they are based in maine I think
I really appreciate it when you share these things.
Definitely with you on the composting. I have 3 bins and use 1 for kitchen veg scraps. It looks great, is full of worms but I hate to spend time emptying / using it.
Hi Linda! I use the Lee Valley 10 year journal you recommended to keep track of all my plantings and varieties. I absolutely LOVE it!! Another idea if you don’t want to write all your plants down is to keep the tag that comes with and bundle them by year and or type. I found these ideas helpful over the years to jog my memory.😊❤️
I love David Austin roses as a possible gift even climbers
I haven’t given a garden wedding gift - But a coworker received gorgeous copper wind chimes ( that were huge ) - She hated them & gave them to me. She actually was a gardener too !!! That was in the 90’s. I used them in several home gardens until they fell apart. Now I use the copper as a hose guard in my potager. Works perfectly!!!!
I can most definitely relate to putting off spraying for pests and diseases because it’s not enjoyable. The heat and humidity in Dallas has been unbearable, as well as the mosquitos. Like you said, it’s no excuse though!
As for the gift, maybe a gardening/landscaping book made for Colorado (if that’s where they plan on staying) as well as some garden tools, fertilizer, pots, etc.
I can relate to your compost dilemma,,,,I've been growing Vegetables on the Bay for 12 years.......still no viable compost. I've created piles in different areas around our property...and what I've noticed is the trees love me that much more as their roots grow into my compost.
Make them a gardening starter kit. Ie seed storage box full of seed packets for flowers and veggies. Toss in a few recipies sections like all the seeds to make salsa or an alchaholic drink. Gloves, set of hand tools and good pair of trimmers. Watering can with beautiful bouquet of flowers in it. Put all these things in a beautiful decorated veggie collecting garden basket. You can add what ever you like. Maybe even a knee pad and gardening hat. Possibilities are endless. But the seeds are the fun part! Oh and dont forget a gardening journal ! Have fun with it!
I can relate to the many plant baskets,my gutter broke on one side of the house and I had to clean up to give the guys space to work and it looks so much better now
Thank you for your authenticity. We are all in the same boat🛶
So happy to hear you have the ignore the project clutter. I have a plan...but need a kick somewhere to implement it. Maybe I just got that kick? We'll see...
Ok gift for you SON & DAUGHTER IN LAW. Definitely plants. If they have a patio look at these patio orchard trees.
The fruit grows in the middle by the trunk they start to fruit their second year and do great in pots. Maybe some sort of self watering pot. Once they move to a house they can plant them in the yard. I have 5 different apple trees a peach and a pare. They don’t get too wide or too tall and are very ornamental. I love plants and trees that give back their love.
In California we have green bins that we fill with our yard cuttings and leaves (green waste) that are picked up weekly and taken to a green waste facility. There is no reason to save these at home if they are not being utilized, or create work that nobody wants to get to. Keep it simple.
I agree, composting is just depressing & who wants to devote valuable real estate to an ugly pile of stuff. Haul it off & buy compost, it’s really not that expensive.
Not sure where you are but compost where I live in California it is expensive - but they also regularly test for herbicide which I think drives up the cost considerably. There are a couple of community compost programs (where they take restaurant waste and build compost that you can pick up), but they *dont* test for herbicide and frankly with everything about round up/corteva ending up in down market hone gardens, I’m just not willing to risk my entire garden on cheap compost. 😔
@@melissasullivan1658Miracle Grow organic compost is $5/bag (more than what 1 tumbler would produce) and it’s great! My flowers love it & bloom their heads off.
Sounds weird, but in 1984 a great friend gave me a small hand cart/dolly for a wedding gift. I still have it and use it every year, and it’s 2021. The color has faded, but has never needed repair. An unusual gift, but cherished and I never forget who gave it to me. I’ve moved 12 times and used it for moving and in the garden. I’m a practical person and thrifty and think it was a great gift for me.
I love this SO much!
I just love Michael Carr’s designs , especially his strawberry planter. I’ve seen your video where you visited your son and his fiancé and bought a planter. I believe his planters would fit beautifully in there home. It could be used for herbs or I saw it planted with succulents.
The plant in the wrong spot is a constant issue for me. The extreme heat here cooks all flowering plants easily. The best garden gift I have done is a unique planter with succulents, a book, food, gloves, disease spray, gorgeous watering can and a written note with hints and love.
My No.1 mistake: not taking into account how large a plant will ultimately grow. Like discovering your size 8 feet do not fit a size 6 shoe! A painful lesson.
That's mine all the way....my garden is packed and space is an issue because all my plants grew up. 😁
O yes! I do that all the time. Somewhere in my flowerbed has to be a rose - you can´t see her anymore. I must take care of her and all the other overgrown beauties in the fall. Also I struggle with Lindas # 1 and #5. (And with a tight budget.) Love from Germany ♥
Oh, yes, done all of the above. I have a small compost bin that I now use instead of a large one. Our city picks up our big green recycling container, so I make enough compost to top off my pots mostly. I have learned to move my pots around and out of the harsh sun when needed and I actually have two plants I’ve forgotten the names of, but it’s ok. I have a messy side yard no one sees and I cringe when I go looking for a pot because like you said it wouldn’t take much time to clean up if it wasn’t for the mosquitoes and heat! My main excuse.
Yes, my mistakes too have been putting plants in the wrong place more for the aesthetic & design rather than the plants needs - hence more work moving everything around to rebalance!
It seems apparent that you have been successful in your gardening not only because you have worked at
learning it, but also have allowed yourself the pleasure of it. I know we all need more discipline, however
I think sometimes you're a little hard on yourself. All the things you're involved with take a lot of work and
planning and now this silly fashion stuff from people who evidently are not real gardeners is now taking up
your time. Somewhere I think you need to let up a little before you get really stressed and then you'll have
to let some things go to survive. Not to be critical, but just to offer advice as I see it. Love the show.
Ann Clark
🙏🙏🙏
I saw your video when you visited your son & soon to be daughter-in-law in their loft. I remember the corner with so many indoor plants & was thinking a really upscale & cool fountain would be a great addition to that area for your garden wedding gift. I have a fountain in my reading & plant nook & so enjoy having it on. I love your necklace with your blue dress 👗💙
Something they can transplant into their garden when they move. Evergreen a must.
It’s not very glamorous but a collapsible hose is my favourite garden implement. They don’t kink, are really lightweight and store compactly.
Oh I loved the one I had…but my cat found it nice and chewy. She made it into a soaker hose for me.🐈⬛
When I moved into my house in 2005 the yard was mostly grass. I made the decision to keep track of all the plants I would add. I used a large three-ring binder filled with heavy duty cardstock and then taped all the plant labels and tags as I added things to my garden. I have it divided by year. It is becoming rather bulky and heavy, so I may need to add volume 2 soon. I also make notes next to the labels if something dies.
Wow!
I think beautiful outdoor pots would be a wonderful gift and would coax them outdoors to plant! Congratulations on the engagement! You have a lot to look forward to! I keep a binder that I throw all my plant tags in for later reference. I’ve gone back to it many times to figure out what I’ve planted. 🌸🌸🌸
I love this video. And yes, I relate to All of them. It’s so great that such a great gardener such as yourself, would be so honest! I just love everything about your style and grace. Thank you from Minnesota.
Your necklace is just so beautiful and looks fabulous on that dress! Wow!
I LOVE to know you too have those things in the garden that procrastination wins out😂♥️
Cold composting is much easier. I do it for years. I don't have to tumble things around, or make sure its the right amount of green and brown material. It takes more time to compost, but less effort .
Your garden is so tidy and neat. Everytime I watch a video I think, I should clean up my garden more. So yes, I'm quilty of most, specially number 3 and 4. But also a lot of other things. I let annuals grow wherever they want to come up, although its sometimes in my 'way'.
An array of garden tools are always a hit. I usually put it in a garden bag or tackle box with garden bits, like twist ties, plant tags, etc. I also add a gift card to a local nursery or Lowes/Home Depot. Always a winner. 🤗
I can relate to the cluttered areas that need to be tidied up, because I have "garden stuff" everywhere, although my gardens are neat and pretty, I only have a small, plastic, outdoor garden pantry (for lack of better terms). Even though I beautifully painted a 60-year-old wrought iron picnic set, the tabletop and chairs are full of my gardening stuff! We have no garage or carport. Nor do we have any entryway closets by any door. Eeeks! I need storage, but also need to de-clutter.
Oh this is so good.
#1... I just moved unhappy front porch plants to a happy spot on the back porch. My potted plants said "thank you very much!"
I love your videos ! I think a great gift for an apartment couple would be a beautiful pot , or 3...... with herbs, or maybe a gardenia , you could hang a nice pair of pruners with a garden poem or note or a blueberry plant with a note for jam....it would really depend on the pot (S) you find.Think of a slow grower that can later be planted in the ground of a home.
Beautiful grow lights shelves from Garden Supply. Perfect for the apartment and for the new home to start seedlings.
I used to be bad about losing the names of plants. Now I put their tags in a binder, in clear sheet protectors. I can go to my binder for their names, how big they'll get, water usage, etc.
Don’t you just miss your boys so far away. I’m in SoCal and my oldest son moved to Tx and I am heartbroken my sister moved from CA to Kingman, AZ I still have my other son and grandkids and brother here but I don’t see much of them since the pandemic so it gets lonely. That a great wedding present is plants.
Oh I do!
Although I have watched many of your videos I really can relate to this one. I, like you have areas that bother me, and again like you ignore it to do the things I like to do. I am going to try and take a leaf out of your book and force myself to do better. I am in zone 4/5 Canada so can't have the pots outside all winter as it can get below 40 here. Also, I live in a rural area and am on a well so watering everything is out of the question for me. I am currently growing boxwoods from cuttings and hope to practice some topiary once they are big enough, and and already cutting mature ones into balls , well kind of balls, lol Practice practice practice. Thank you for your honesty and information
Linda.I put plastic stickers next to them..with the name and variety.Linda you beat yourself up for NOTHING.You cannot do it all.It is what it is.You can remove the extras etc , but I love the way everything looks.Very natural ,not fake.I like that.I make my own brew for pests. .Water,white vinegar and a smitten of dawn.Has worked for me for years.Soapy water will help.I start using my remedy the minute I plant them... and therefore prevent a lot of pest issues.I love the way you present your garden.Please carry on the way you have..🤗😃.that made it special to me.Nobody can be in control of EVERYTHING.It would be no fun ..trust me😍
You may want to check out the Joraform composters. They have large ones with 2 tumblers. Seems to be a favorite among those who are serious composters. Very well made they say and does a good job. New materials on one side while the other is working. No transferring from one to the other. Similar color to your small one. Made in Sweden.
Love that you shared all of this. Affirms my own assessment of my weaknesses and helps guide future decisions.
I always forget plant names but I save all my receipts or leave on the tag at the base so that helps alot.
Also Wilt Pruf is said to work really well on spider mites.
Wedding gift idea - an indoor/outdoor sculpture or water feature they can easily move and enjoy in a new home they buy
A gift of all your QVC baskets as they could be used indoors for other things like a laundry baskets or blanket holders and then when they have an outdoor garden they can use them for plants, etc.
Linda is also on QVC? I don't get QVC but love baskets. I don't do TV for 25 years now.
Wow, great idea! ❤️
If they have a lot of plants inside.....they will enjoy a nice GROWLIGHT..They come in all shapes and sizes and are looking nice in your home .I purchased 2..they are clip ons in black..each has 3 long thin arms .You can time them etc.They blend in very well with the plants and furniture.I love them and my plants thank me every day.😍🤣A great gift for a plant lover.
Love the dress and necklace!! I forget the varieties and cultivars too. I focused this year at keeping the tags. I have the same situation with my compost pile. I throw stuff in but can’t turn it.
I have an old Mrs. Field’s cookie tin that I throw all of my garden plant tags in. I go back I look through them when I can’t remember! The lazy way! I garden in Virginia, 7a.
A “making memories together” book/picture frame, etc with yearly pass to Denver zoo, history or art museum, sporting events, red rocks,etc.
Gardening wise, Denver botanical gardens so they are aware of Denver’s unique native plants and cooking class for all their future gardening.
Ripple jade can take full sun, at least in California. The only thing is you need temper it to full sun. Either slowly move it from filtered sun to full sun or put it out in the full sun location in spring and let it get use to full sun naturally.
Excellent info!
I can relate to every one of those. Love southwest jewelry. Like your dress also.
I save all my plant tags and tape them in a notebook. I make notes about how they do. Going on 3 years doing this.
Sometimes I’ll move the plant pot where it needs to be for it to be happy and then move it back to the spot I want it to be for company and my sense of design
Me too😉
I don't know if this is their thing, but a subtle, natural material Budha for indoors or out has been a hit gift. Also a large Bonsai is lovely. Have fun at the shower! 💕
I live in Aurora, Co which is almost Denver and it is very dry here so I would suggest a beautiful recirculating garden fountain that they could put in the loft before they move into a home. It would bring in moisture. Good luck with the shower and have fun.
Re the gift: I gave my son a planted full herb garden in an antique French copper fish kettle or fish poacher (plenty on Etsy.) I did not poke drain holes as I figured when he gets a house he can clean it out and use the poacher! He has thoroughly enjoyed it in a sunny windowsill. Has that vintage vibe you like, but in a gift...
The mistake of, project material laying about. Guilty, Indoor and outdoors. Leaving things about for the project gives me the false idea that I will start it, but the guilt of passing it everyday is rough. Glad to hear that you have some of the same little faults we all do. One of my worst is falling in love with an impulse plant. Get home, now where and how to incorporate it into my garden. Thanks. Nicole in Menlo Park. CA
My daughter lives/works in Denver and I recently visited. Think about a membership to the Denver Botanic Gardens. Great location for them-and with a membership they can visit anytime it’s convenient. Great place for a picnic and summer concerts!
Speaking of cohesive looks, I second the idea of gifting nice pottery (a planter theater of sorts), perhaps with some myrtle topiaries in them. You can add a new pot at each anniversary. When the couple moves into their new house, a follow-up house-warming gift of (locally-resilient) heirloom roses would be nice. It's something I received when I moved into my (then) new house, and I cherish those roses several years later.
Wedding gift suggestion: A beautiful stone (antiquey) garden decoration. Something that you would put in a European garden.
Maybe someone has already suggested this re remembering the specific cultivars but you could take a pix of the plant and it's corresponding tag. You have all you need to know on your phone in your gallery to pull up when you need it!
Give them one of your beloved topiaries.