Vintage Landscape

[Bungle Oh!]

Hi all,

I've have almost every issue of Cottages and Bungalows magazine and have read them cover to cover. I find them to be a very useful resource and am glad to hear that there's now a forum too.

On the topic of curb appeal, I'm unsure about landscaping. Is there a good resource for information on how original bungalow front and back yards were designed? I'm aware of Grace Tabor's book The Suburban Garden but I'm looking for more specific regional info. Any ideas?

Thanks

[Nikki]

I have a book called Outside the Bungalow: America's Arts and Crafts Garden. I haven't read it all the way through yet, but it might be what you are looking for.

[Meridon]

I've read the Outside the Bungalow book (got it from the library) and found it very useful. However, it may be more useful to you in the long run to study what grows well in your area. As someone who just spent the last two summers nursing a newly landscaped backyard through a record drought, I have new appreciation for not only what looks good and what I like, but what's native to my area and drought tolerant. My house is also new construction, so I've spent time driving through older neighborhoods with mature landscaping to see what has grown well over time to help me avoid costly mistakes.

Another thing to think about is that unless the original homeowners worked with a landscape architect, they planted what they liked, just like we do today. Just like a bungalow originally built in the teens or 20s would have had a mix of furniture styles, people's yards were most likely a blend of what they liked, what was already there and maybe whatever the builder threw in. You may also be able to check with public gardens in your area, especially if you get lucky and one dates from the same era as your house.

Anyway, I enjoyed the book and good luck with your project!

[Breezy]

Meridon that's some excellent advice. I'd love to add more to this yard but not sure what to do with it. When we moved here there were already roses, daffodils, tulips, day lillies, crocus and some others I'm not sure of. We've been here 3 yrs and each spring/summer was a beautiful surprise as different plants came popping up.

[rubyslippers]

I am forever sending people to Dutch Gardens ... just google the website. They offer fabulous growing zone information as well as pre-planned gardens to cover x-amount of square footage. They have shade gardens, butterfly gardens, foundation gardens, etc.; of course, you may want to be really historically accurate about your garden. However, cottage gardening for me tends to include some sort of climbing roses and/or grapevines. I also imagine a nice "cutting garden" for randomly gifting fresh blossoms to friends and neighbors. A "kitchen garden" in the summer is also usually in the works. Even something as simple as some sweet-cherry tomato plants and a container of basil can liven up a salad with home-grown flavor. I cannot wait to see what you decide to do.

This is fun ...

[Meridon]

Wow...I think it's really cool that you have "surprises" come up every spring that help tell the story of your house. It reminds me of my grandparents' farm that had sharecropper cabins on it many years ago. The houses are long gone, but the jonquils come up every spring and show where those families once lived. I don't have any bulbs planted yet. We had a rabbit problem last year and I just didn't get to it this year in time.

[Bungle Oh!]

Thank you for the great ideas!

I just found another book to dive into, Bungalow Planting Guide by George Wyman (1922). Even though there aren't any formulas or rules to this, I think it could be fun to find out what was popular at the time. A trip to the library may be in order too.

I'm curious about the principals they used in planting for shade, wind protection, drainage, etc. as well as beautification.

I'll post anything I stumble upon.

Glad to be part of a new group.

[memmey]

Bungle oh you have best name ever. Glad to meet you and we are all happy to get to meet everyone here.

[CohenCottage]

We had a veggie garden in our side/front yard this year, and it was so much fun. I'm not sure what is historically accurate, but the messy tomatoes and other veggies had a real cottage look and blended nicely with our other landscape plants. We did this b/c we didn't know what we wanted to plant in those beds and didn't want to commit to a longterm plan yet. Now, we are planning to do some square foot gardening in our other sunny areas. If anyone is interested in veggies, "Square Foot Gardening" by Mel Bartholomew is fantastic!

[memmey]

I read an article by Martha S. once and she said to plant curly parsley underneath your roses and it hides the canes. Formal rose beds seem so serious for such a gorgeous flower.
I am always looking for shade ideas, dry shade. That is so tough.

[CohenCottage]

We have dry shade in the majority of our front yard, and it IS tough. All the shade plants like wet feet! Helibores, christmas fern, and soloman's seal have done well for us. We also have a ton of hostas, but they've been pretty puny with the drought.

[SusiesQs]

Memmey, we have dry shade as well and you're right- it is hard.

I'm reading some books on native plants for the southeast and if I find anything that really works, I'll let you know :) I think we're in the same zone -

Susie

[anneandkita]

I'm looking at the dutch gardens website, and I'm not seeing the pre-planned garden ideas other than the two shade ideas. Am I just totally missing them? I'd love to take a look at some ideas for gardens! (How many projects can I tackle at once without being classified as insane? :rolleyes: )

[Lisa S]

I think 1,000,006 is the exact number.

[memmey]

I concur.....

[rubyslippers]

Okay, if you go to the dutchgardens website, you can click on the "collections" tab ... then, you can click on the "planned gardens" tabe. Right now, I only see the small/large shade garden options. However, this is the time of year they are restocking everything for springtime. They normally have butterfly gardens, drought resistant gardens, woodland gardens, etc. - - don't give up on them - - they are great. It is just a transitional time of the year. Let me know if you find what you are looking for ... good luck.

[anneandkita]

Oooh okay, that's where I was looking but I only saw the shade gardens so I assumed I had messed up. I'll definitely keep checking back, that's such a great service!

1,000,006 leaves me at room for at least 2 more projects! :p

[Gigi]

I have to laugh when "PROJECTS" are mentioned....

This is my life---clearing the kitchen table from a measuring tape, paint can, nails, tools, etc...just to make room for two plates....I've been married for over 30 years and things haven't changed in all this time. :rolleyes::eek:

[Zuzu's Garden]

This is my life---clearing the kitchen table from a measuring tape, paint can, nails, tools, etc...just to make room for two plates....I've been married for over 30 years and things haven't changed in all this time.

All you need is a bigger table. :p

Zu

[Gigi]

OMGoodness ZuZu- you cracked me up! Hey I can use the putty on my table to fill that too! :D:p;)
[
QUOTE=Zuzu's Garden;1830]All you need is a bigger table. :p

Zu[/QUOTE]

[Zuzu's Garden]

Just wondering. anneandkita asked (How many projects can I tackle at once without being classified as insane?) Lisa replied 1,000,006 and Memmey conccured. So, if I was about to start #1,000,007, would I actually have to finish one first? :confused:

OK, back to Vintage Landscaping! I LOVE the Dutch Gardens website! Between painting the outside of the Tiny House last summer, I took breaks and grabbed a shovel, walked the property and brought up wild strawberries and perennials and started planting them. I would love to mix a few favorites in - perhaps foxglove, bleeding heart, Lily-of-the-Valley, delphiniums... The Dutch Gardens website has a "Deer-Resistent" attribute, so I stand a chance of choosing plants that might actually bloom! :)

Thanks, rubyslippers!!!

Zuzu

[rubyslippers]

Okay, we had our first day of pretty weather here (please note it was freezing and snowing two days ago) ... anyway, my Dutch Gardens catalog showed up and I forced my husband to go through and put sticky notes on the things he liked; then, I sticky-noted the things I like. I am literally drooling.

I have so much yard work to do at our new house I do not even know where to start. You see, we need to kill the ivy out of the backyard; then, I think we will just work on getting grass to grow there. I believe any real "plans" will have to wait until next year. HOWEVER, the front yard needs windowboxes filled, beds prepared, grass improved, and I want FLOWERS ... and tomatoes and peppers and roses.

(For those of you who do not know me, I get a little gardening zany. My husband and I have been in rental property until this year and I became a master container gardener. I learned to force all kinds of things to grow in zany places. However, I'm getting better about sort of doing what you are "supposed to do" so-to-speak. With that said, now that I have a yard, I think I'm going to flip out. I know I am supposed to wait and watch what happens (blah-blah-blah) ... yeah right ... I need to save my next three paychecks ... forget the scary wallpaper, sweet little yard ... here I come!

[ChapterTwo]

So, if I was about to start #1,000,007, would I actually have to finish one first? :confused:



Oh, Zuzu, I'm SO glad you said that! Makes me happy that I'm apparently not the only one who doesn't finish one project before starting another. Starting is easier than finishing, sometimes, I've found...:o

[Evelyn]

Ruby slippers, How are you going to kill your ivy???? I have an ivy problem here. It started by the mail boxes (planted by a well-meaning neighbor) and is infiltrating my woods. I fear it will take over in the night......I don't use chemicals but if there were something for this....I would :o

Evelyn

[ChapterTwo]

It's so funny how we all have something we want to get rid of! I have ivy on the side of my house (by a sidewalk), and I trim it a couple times in the summer and it's well controlled.
HOWEVER...I have wisteria that's totally out-of-control! It actually sent up a vine to my huge maple, and had curled itself around a major limb before I saw it and cut it!

I'm looking for suggestions how to kill the wisteria too...as soon as the nicer weather comes (and before the leaves start), I'm going to hack at the vines, but I know that's only a temporary solution.

[Deb D]

Another gardening addict here...

Two of my favorite sources for plants are:
http://www.bluestoneperennials.com

and

http://www.highcountrygardens.com

They both have information about sun and water requirements, and deer resistance. I also really recommend visiting nurseries, and paying attention to what grows well in your area. This can save you a lot of heartburn in the long run.

I love nepeta and calamintha at the feet of roses.

[rubyslippers]

Hey there Evelyn - - as for the ivy, well let's just say it has yet to be killed. I have been doing a lot of research. This includes the Internet, garden centers, etc. I have learned that I need to rescue two of my large trees before they become cauliflower/broccoli victims. This involves gloves - - some form of clippers - - and patience! You need to start at your waist and cut as many sections as possible pulling and freeing the bottom of the tree. Then, the tree needs a 6-foot radius of safety. Ultimately, the stuff above your head should theoretically die.

Also, for the stuff that has just taken over. A good old fashioned weed eater is how we are going to start. In theory (once again, this stuff is MUCH tougher than it looks) you can cut sections and literally roll it into ivy logs while weed eating underneath it - - like cutting the tendrils that tie the carpet down.

Other people say that you can cut sections and then purchase evil chemicals and soak towels and such in them and wrap them around the edges you cut. The idea is that the plant will "drink" the poison and start dying as well. I don't love using chemicals, but some good old fashioned nuking of this stuff is going to be called for in my situation. I may or may not let some of it climb the fence ... I have yet to decide about that. It could tear the fence down, but the entire backyard is overrun at this point.

So, those are the theories I have. Right now, all I have done is spend about two hours rescuing one dogwood. It could be awhile. Anyway, as for the rest of my gardening plan, I think I am developing a color scheme for my front yard.

The house is a khaki color at this time. This is not a very imaginative color; however, with the woodland background to the home, I cannot say it isn't appropriate. This is one of the things that I am "living with" until I see what blooms. I know I have some white and pink blooming trees in the front yard - - dogwoods, maybe a couple of Crepe Myrtles, etc. Because a very large tree had to be removed, I intend to plant a couple of other things this year. I love redbuds and weeping cherries, so these will probably be permanent additions. I also know I have Iris bulbs in the yard (we cut last year's remnants) ... I may make this more dominant. However, if the East side of my home actually gets some good morning sun, I think I might really go for some of the serious pink climbing roses. I think pink and green against the khaki (and maybe some white) would be very pretty. Then, in the backyard, I will just focus on any possible grass and the beds will have to wait until next year. In theory.

Okay, I am rambling - - the weather is beautiful and I actually need to work this afternoon. Take care in bungalow land.

Bye all!

Welcome back Deb.

[chyna]

Deb is here!!!!!:D

Vinegar (boiling hot or just hot) is supposed to kill weeds/grass. I haven't tried it myself yet but a lady at work did last summer and she said it works well on grass at least. Don't you have a bunch of plants over at your parents house to bring home too? YOu might want to see how that fills things in too before you get too many plants. Like a person can have too many flower/plants. :p

[Lisa S]

I don't know how this would work, but we just bought a propane powered weed burner. We actually bought it to melt the ice from the foundation of the house that we're building, but I'm betting it's pretty good for it's intended purpose too.

[chyna]

Oh now you've done it. Deb and I will both be over at your house to borrow that burner. :p Did you ever get the weed burner Deb? I still haven't got one but I continue to dream about going out back all Rambo and killing weeds. :o I better get one to end this fascination. :eek:

[CohenCottage]

The instructional video that came with my Whitewing steam cleaner said you could use it to kill weeds and noxious plants. Haven't tried it for that purpose yet, but I will let y'all know this spring.

[Lisa S]

That should definately work. I kill my weeds with boiling water.

[ChapterTwo]

Knowing how bold and nasty my wisteria is, it'd probably thrive on boiling water. HAHA!

Funny about the weed burner, Tanya! I remember the gleam in your eye back on the CL board when you talked about that!

[rubyslippers]

Hey Chyna,

Thanks for remembering the container garden at my parent's house. The couple of climbing roses are going on three years old this year. They should have been in the ground last year according to all of the gardening "experts". So, they may or may not live up to their potential to be honest.

Their roots cannot possibly have developed as deeply as they certainly should have to reach their full growth potential; however, they were pretty healthy last year. Also, my parents permanently adopted portions of that garden. Then, I also already moved some items over here. So, we'll take it slow.

As for all of that hot water / vinegar steaming stuff - - if anyone tries it - - please let me know. Right now, I don't really have a back "yard" - - the ivy has invaded. I'll get some pictures up here when it warms back up again so you get a good "before" and "after".

Bye all ...

Jenny

[CohenCottage]

We have some ivy on our front bank that we would like to kill, but I don't want to do it until I'm ready to replace it with something else so that we don't end up with bank erosion problem. Does anyone have any ideas for a bank that is dry shade in zone 7b? We do have drip irrigation, so I could run a line at the top of the bank so that water drips down the bank.

[memmey]

Dry shade is the hardest thing in the world. I would surely want to know what does well in the south, in the heat, in the dry,in the deep shade??????

[annielinz]

I've never grown them because I don't have a lot shade, but what about hostas. I was visiting a gardening board and they talk about them all the time.

[CohenCottage]

It's been pretty frustrating b/c our hostas and ferns are doing okay but not great, and anything that requries sun won't work well. Also, a corner of the yard only gets a couple hours of sun, but it's afternoon BLAZING sun. We wanted to do an all native garden, but I'm starting to be tempted. So far, all of the non-native plants we have were free and none are invasive.

We may pull everything out of the front beds (helibores/hostas) and put in more native grasses to continue the theme from the back yard. Our soil is terrible (hard red clay on granite bedrock), but we had our entire yard vertical mulched last year to increase permeability and air flow, and then we've been mulching with high quality composted mulch. So, things may improve as our soil does, and drip irrigation helps (but we have MAJOR watering restrictions).

Here are two pics of the space... the first one shows the front yard from an angle. It was taken when we were planting shrubs (dwarf wax myrtle and itea virginica) in the sunny corner of the front yard. The goal is for those shrubs to screen us from our neighbors eventually. The second one was taken during path installation last winter, and you can see the front yard as it looks in the winter (bleak). If you look at my avatar photo, you can see the front beds in question...

[CohenCottage]

oops, i loaded the wrong photo! here is the real second photo. and i threw in one of the side yard that ties the front and back yards together. it's where we park and there is a path to the front and to the gate that leads to the back. in this one, you can see the vines on our fence, the itea shrubs, and a bunch of open space. there are wax myrtles behind the iteas (again for privacy). We need to figure out what to put in the bed on the right (in front of the iteas) and also along the house (all that stuff has been removed b/c it was getting messy and out of hand).

[Nikki]

I don't know how this would work, but we just bought a propane powered weed burner. We actually bought it to melt the ice from the foundation of the house that we're building, but I'm betting it's pretty good for it's intended purpose too.

My boyfriend bought that thing last summer. Just a warning....it can create a LOT of smoke. Our neighbors weren't too happy when he went on a weed-killing spree in the middle of a beautiful day, when everyone was outside enjoying the sun. Otherwise it seems to work pretty good. We used it on the driveway mostly, and it left lots of black burnt patches which didn't look very nice, and we dug those out. Be VERY careful not to get the torch anywhere near plants you want to keep.....he got within a couple feet of a clematis and killed it with the heat.

[Deb D]

No, I never got a flame thrower. I've been using boiling water on weeds. For larger areas, I am a big fan of the wet newspaper mulch method that I learned from Lisa. Dip newspapers in a tub of water, and lay them on the ground an inch or more thick. Then cover with at least two inches (preferably more) of bark mulch. You may need to pull out a few persistent weeds, but this takes care of most of them.

I think a khaki house would look good with white and pink flowers, with highlights of purples and yellows. Also plants with silvery foliage.

Hostas need a lot of water and slugs eat them. I live in a semi-desert, and hostas are out of the question. For dry shade, what about hardscaping? I've had good luck with gravel and stones. I love to let woolly thyme creep through that. Other good plants are some of the low veronicas and yarrows. Violets will thrive (and you will end up with a colony of violets, but you can yank out what you don't want). Lamb's ears do pretty well.

[rubyslippers]

Hello Deb (and everyone else of course)

I honestly have no idea what is going to magically "crop-up" in my yard. I feel confident we have some form of iris. I also know we have dogwood trees, etc. -- there also seems to be form of creeping flox on an embankment. However, I just feel uncomfortable spending a lot of money on "new" plantings until we see "what is what".

A very large tree had to be removed from our front yard because it was very dead and very tangled in the power lines prior to our purchase of the home. So, I believe there are some plants meant for "shade" in the front yard that will not longer have the extent of mature shade they have had in the past.

In my heart, I know this will be a year of enjoying, observing, and most likely digging and moving things that need to be relocated because that tree is now missing. There is some lovely hardscaping in the front yard that will require some new mulch and some various creeping somethings.

However, I do think I may plant some multi-colored iris bulbs. I found a website that sells older "rhizomes" that will perform nicely this year. They are a little spendier; however, now that I am in a home, I am okay with a couple of small splurges this year. (Especially if they are perennials known to thrive in my growing zone. I just want to get started NOW!

Anyway, thanks for the feedback Deb. I am sorry to hear about your sore tendons (I read that on the other thread) - - keep us posted gardener buddy.

I also wish I had known about the Valentine's sooner.

Bye everyone ...

[Deb D]

In my heart, I know this will be a year of enjoying, observing, and most likely digging and moving things that need to be relocated because that tree is now missing. There is some lovely hardscaping in the front yard that will require some new mulch and some various creeping somethings.

This is an excellent attitude! I am still discovering things in my yard, and I have been here four years. Two years ago, I learned about Stars of Persia, which are a kind of allium. I think they are old-fashioned. Anyway, they bloom in summer and keep these big dandelion-like seed heads (remember I am a texture person...). I did research to find out what they are--recognized them in a book. Last fall I planted more bulbs in strategic spots, and am looking forward to seeing them come up this year.

While you are observing this year, Jenny, think about the use of space and flow in your garden. How do you physically want to move around in it, and how would you like to move the viewer's eye around? Where are the spots to linger, and where are the spots to travel through? How do you connect these areas? This will not come to you all at once, so be patient. Pick one area to work on this summer. This might mean just moving some plants around after you figure out what you have. It's also time to consider structure--pathways, fences, patios, etc.

I am so excited for you! Your own patch of dirt!

[rubyslippers]

Hey Deb,

Yes ... I own dirt ... I played in it today.

Bye,

Me

[chyna]

When we bought our house the yard looked pretty barren and well sad but I saw it as an opportunity to plant wherever and whatever I wanted. Imagine my surprise when flowers would should up that I didn't plant. :o:p I did eventually give away a couple of the plants. They were this light purple asters that just reminded me of weeds so I gave them to the drug house across the street.

I was told by the old owners next door that the lady that I bought my house from bought the house from her parents and they had a beautiful yard so I know there are things out there just waiting for some lovin'.

For as nice as your house looked Ruby slippers I wouldn't doubt that there are some jewels out in your yard. Waiting and seeing is a good idea. Think of it as free plants. :)

[rubyslippers]

Yeah ... I think the front yard will hold a lot of fun surprises. The backyard, however, is the great abyss of ivy. I keep "planning" to work on it, but "old man winter" keeps rearing his ugly head. I hope we don't have a big freeze in the next few weeks killing some of the early spring "finds" in my yard. I also like the idea of "free plants" - - this will be a fun year. As this was our first Christmas in our house - - soon to be our first spring in our house - - etc., I keep relishing the moments. I am making some plans for the windowboxes in front of the house though ... I feel pretty confident they will be shady and I want them to be multi-dimensional. I am thinking of something easy this year like white impatiens with some tall hot pink salvia and some dangling/dripping illuminating vinca with some other little treasures here and there. I did not do well with begonias a couple of years ago; but, I think this will work nicely. I need to replace the "liners" for the windowboxes. I do not think I will actually "change" the entire boxes this year. I love the more sturdy windowboxes; however, this seems like a wait-and-see color scheme type of thing.

Thanks for the response.

Rubyslippers

[chyna]

Everytime someone talks about weed/plant invasions I think of renting goats or sheep to eat the weeds. There is a lady in my area that does that on people's land. Of course it is usually a pasture but if somehow the goats would get loose in my yard......:eek::p