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Jun 23, 2014 12:52 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jeanie
Minnesota (Zone 4a)
Replace your lawn with a garden!
Bee Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sedums Garden Procrastinator Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Native Plants and Wildflowers
Region: Minnesota Hostas Heucheras Butterflies Cat Lover Daylilies
I did virtually no gardening until 2007. I had an area along my alley that was nothing but buckthorn and Japanese knotweed. I finally decided to clear it out. With the help of a neighbor who had a chain saw, I cleared the brush - filled my boulevard 6 feet high three times over. Then I realized I had a lovely view of all the neighborhood trash cans, so I decided to plant some perennials there to hopefully block that view. I had no idea what I was taking on - not until later did I realize I was planting under black walnuts, under a huge double- trunked cedar tree, and in everything from full sun to deep shade. With a good measure of sheer luck, most of it worked, and I was hooked. I have revised parts of it over time to deal with changing sun/shade conditions, among other things. This was the first of my three major projects - stay tuned for the other two after this one. Here goes - from the tear out to how it looks today. Please excuse the older photos - my photography has improved over time along with my gardens.

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Old gardeners never die. They are just pruned and repotted.
Last edited by foraygardengirl Dec 7, 2015 5:20 PM Icon for preview
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Jun 26, 2014 4:21 AM CST
Name: Veronica
zone 5b
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Art Butterflies Irises Region: Indiana
Hummingbirder Hostas Dog Lover Daylilies Cut Flowers Clematis
Great beginnings. Now onto the next chapter!!!
My attitude determines my altitude
A truly wise person uses few words; a person of understanding is even- tempered. Proverbs 17:27
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Jun 26, 2014 6:10 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jeanie
Minnesota (Zone 4a)
Replace your lawn with a garden!
Bee Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sedums Garden Procrastinator Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Native Plants and Wildflowers
Region: Minnesota Hostas Heucheras Butterflies Cat Lover Daylilies
Thanks Veronica. There have been many chapters since I started this garden. I would say it was literally life-changing, and I have loved every minute of it!
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Old gardeners never die. They are just pruned and repotted.
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Jul 6, 2014 4:07 PM CST
Name: Geof
NW Wisconsin (Zone 4b)
Dahlias Region: Wisconsin Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 1
I love to see these kind of transformation photos. I have been going through and organizing old pics of mine. This looks beautiful!
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Jul 6, 2014 4:43 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jeanie
Minnesota (Zone 4a)
Replace your lawn with a garden!
Bee Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sedums Garden Procrastinator Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Native Plants and Wildflowers
Region: Minnesota Hostas Heucheras Butterflies Cat Lover Daylilies
Thanks Geof!
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Old gardeners never die. They are just pruned and repotted.
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Jul 6, 2014 4:56 PM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
I agree I agree I agree
It’s okay to not know all the answers.
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Aug 3, 2014 9:37 AM CST
Name: chuck k
S.W. PA. (Zone 6b)
Plants are as good as Dr's therapy!
Wowwwwwww!!!!......What changes.....So glad you really got into the "gardening groove!"......Absolutely great pics!!!!......Chuck
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Aug 3, 2014 12:45 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jeanie
Minnesota (Zone 4a)
Replace your lawn with a garden!
Bee Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sedums Garden Procrastinator Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Native Plants and Wildflowers
Region: Minnesota Hostas Heucheras Butterflies Cat Lover Daylilies
Thanks Chuck!
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Old gardeners never die. They are just pruned and repotted.
Avatar for typwc
Aug 4, 2014 8:40 AM CST
Name: Karen
Baltimore, MD (Zone 7b)
Incredible transformation! It looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!
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Aug 4, 2014 11:36 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jeanie
Minnesota (Zone 4a)
Replace your lawn with a garden!
Bee Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sedums Garden Procrastinator Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Native Plants and Wildflowers
Region: Minnesota Hostas Heucheras Butterflies Cat Lover Daylilies
Thanks, Karen!
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Old gardeners never die. They are just pruned and repotted.
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Aug 4, 2014 1:40 PM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Words fail me! Fantastic job, well planned and executed. I'm applauding you!
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Aug 4, 2014 2:26 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jeanie
Minnesota (Zone 4a)
Replace your lawn with a garden!
Bee Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sedums Garden Procrastinator Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Native Plants and Wildflowers
Region: Minnesota Hostas Heucheras Butterflies Cat Lover Daylilies
Thanks Arlene. It beats being the eyesore of the neighborhood!
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Old gardeners never die. They are just pruned and repotted.
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Aug 4, 2014 2:56 PM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
It's so much more than a remarkable difference. You must be thrilled and so must your neighbors.
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Aug 4, 2014 4:13 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jeanie
Minnesota (Zone 4a)
Replace your lawn with a garden!
Bee Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sedums Garden Procrastinator Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Native Plants and Wildflowers
Region: Minnesota Hostas Heucheras Butterflies Cat Lover Daylilies
Arlene, thanks so much for your very kind remarks. this particular project started me on my gardening binge, or perhaps I should say major lifestyle change. It may now be bordering on an illness.... Rolling my eyes. At any rate, I was very happy that anything grew other than buckthorn and knotweed, as were my neighbors. Funny how things go however...we now have a new neighbor who took my place as the do-nothing-and-let-all-manner-of-weeds-grow homeowner so now everyone has something to complain about again nodding nodding nodding
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Old gardeners never die. They are just pruned and repotted.
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Aug 4, 2014 4:21 PM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
Hilarious!
It’s okay to not know all the answers.
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