Thursday, February 6, 2014

Our new view…

The privet is gone. As in outta here, no more, history. What should I post first? The “before” which you’re all familiar with, or the “after?” Oh heck...before...

After…

Before…

After…

Before…

After…

Before…

After…

Before…

After…

Here’s a process shot, I wanted to take more but didn’t want to make the guys who were working so hard self-conscious. They did an amazing job and for an equally amazing price.

So this is pretty life-changing, you know...from a garden perspective. I had measured the space, and I knew how big it was...theoretically. But that bare soil patch is MUCH bigger than I expected. And the sky, we see a lot more sky now.

Here's a peek into our neighbors back yard. I'd love to keep the borrowed view of their palm, but once the fence goes up I think it'll be gone. See that concrete block wall between their upper and lower yards? That's exactly what ours looked like before we replaced it. Wait, scratch that. Theirs is in better condition than ours was and I think we had even more lawn than they do.

This is a crazy new view, looking back at the shade pavilion, in "greenhouse" mode. Our patio looks so small.

Also new (the view), I'm hoping that loquat will take off now that it has more sun, space and probably even more water. Although it's also now exposed to our current frigid temperatures and wind, not great timing (the work was all done Monday, just before the much colder temperatures and strong wind hit).

The new fence will go up right about inline with that lovely stripe on the back of that garage. I hate this view just as much as I thought I would.

Although I have to say from this angle my overall feeling is that the garden looks so much cleaner! Yes...this was a good move...

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

62 comments:

  1. Having seen it person I can honestly say, good move Loree! It looks fantastic. And I can't wait to see how it evolves. -Bridget

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    1. Thank you, and thank you for the Ranulfo recommendation!

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  2. Wowzers! OMG! Holy cannoli! But seriously, that makes a huge difference. I'll be watching to see your new fence and new plantings. Keep warm today - brrrrrr.

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    1. hahaha...I've always wanted someone to comment with "Holy cannoli!" (brrrr for sure)

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  3. Those big shrubs do take a lot of space, I see at this time of year, I have a line of old shrubs at the side of the house. I can see a good eight feet of potential planting area…If I ever decide to do the deed. Happy planting!

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    1. Wow that's a lot of new space possibilities Linda!

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  4. Shocking at first, but good move. If you reverse this post and look at the "after" images first, you see the "before" and think "ooh, what a mess!". This will be the best garden-related decision you make all year I bet.

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    1. Yesterday, coming home from pre-snow errands, was the first time I looked out there to see the privet gone, having forgotten that it was. WOW. Shocking indeed. And it was messy! I will not miss the leaves, the flowers, the pollen, or the stink! I do hate that I took away a spot the hummingbirds felt safe resting in for a bit.

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  5. I agree, much cleaner, and it makes that back terrace look enormous. (I didn't know there was deciduous privet.) Happy, happy planting, Loree.

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    1. Some leaves held on, and in mild winters even more did. I will miss the random stripe of variegated foliage that ran up the middle of the planting.

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  6. You must be drooling over all that new gardening space. Who would not be envious of a blank slate like that to work with. It looks great and so much cleaner. Have fun with it.

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    1. Drooling and a bit intimidated. Of course the beauty of it is I can plant trees! Well except for Andrew said "trees, we don't need trees...there are already enough in the neighbors yards"...what???

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  7. Wow, what a huge difference! All that space, bare earth, potential!! Looking forward to seeing how you will develop this space. From what else we can see your garden looks fab even in the depths of winter btw :)

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    1. Thanks guys, I was actually surprised how could a couple of these pictures looked. When I'm out there all I see are the dead and damaged plants.

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  8. It's going to be very interesting to see how that bit gets planted up and grows over time.

    You must be getting itchy planting fingers at the moment!

    When does the new fence go up?

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    1. Everything is currently under about 5" of snow, with more coming this afternoon. And then rain next week when we finally warm up. So it will be a bit before things get started. That's the downside of starting in February. The upside is as soon as it's time to plant I'll be able to! (almost like I planned it that way...)

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  9. How exciting! What a difference this is. I'm excited to watch you unveil this new exhibit! I am quite anxious to get started on some of my garden projects. First and foremost, removing the giant nasty holly tree in my back yard so I might replace it with a eucalyptus pauciflora debeuzevillei!!!! This weather has broke my stride a bit, but this post has lifted my spirits!
    Cheers!- Kiersten

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    1. Yay, glad I could help! There is a borrowed view of a eucalyptus in the distance, in another neighbors yard. It's hard to tell if it's alive or not right now as the color is way off the usual lovely blue green. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is since that's as close as one will get to my garden (the husband does not like them). Lucky you!

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  10. OMG...this is SO EXCITING...I can't believe how much room you have now...and how much visual weight is gone...you are going to have so much fun planting that!!!

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    1. Visual weight, perfect descriptor of the change!

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  11. That is very exciting. A good project to start your spring off.

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    1. Now if spring would just hurry up and get here...

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  12. Can't wait to see what you do with it!
    Jim NE Portland.

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  13. Oh, what a relief it must be to have it done. Starting big outdoor garden projects in the middle of a Big Freeze -- you and me both. It is exciting to see how much room you now have. Have you settled on a fence type?

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    1. It is Alison, and no broken branches on the loquat! (my main concern) Of course I still have a ton of ivy roots to dig out...and some where in there is a bunch of holly roots too. We have decided on a fence, I'll share that soon. How is your greenhouse project going?

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  14. Exciting! I agree with Denise -- your patio looks even bigger to me. And I'm digging that borrowed view of the redwoods (the two-tone garage behind your lot, not so much). The privet was a nice screen (who knew you had no fence back there?), but I think it wasn't really Danger Garden style. I look forward to seeing what you do with that space instead.

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    1. There was a wire fence, to keep the doggies (theirs and ours) on the right side. The privet had grown up and through it so it came down at the same time. That garage is such a thorn in my side!!!

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  15. Oh Loree, the potential...the bare soil just begging for plants! Girl you are going to have so much fun with this! The peeps did a wonderful job. Please keep us posted on the progress.

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  16. Oh my gosh, this is so exciting! You're going to have so much fun filling it.

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    1. I am...Andrew said the bank account is already hurting.

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  17. Wow, my jaw dropped. First I thought that lawn is yours too, then I realized it's your neighbor's. I love fences, I'm glad you're getting one. Much more privacy and less grief. I don't know how people in the Midwest and the East are getting by without fences...

    Looking forward to the next phase!

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    1. I was joking with the neighbors I wanted to annex their backyard, they didn't seem to like the idea. We've always been friends with the people who live in that house (current and the one before) but yes, a fence is a good thing, a very good thing.

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  18. What a gift, new real estate to garden in (even if you already owned it)!

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    1. True, I don't suppose many people are so lucky to discover new planting area right in front of their nose!

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  19. Wow! A blank canvas. I can't wait to see what goes in there. So many options!

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    1. Indeed, hopefully I'll make the right choices.

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  20. What a brilliant move Loree...look at all the real estate those privets were hogging. All you have to do now is prepare for the traveling VIP dignitaries in July. No pressure of course...

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    1. Since I've been planning this project I'm not as concerned about those VIP's with cameras here as I am with all the other holes in my garden from winters destruction...over planting has it's advantages when Mother Nature unexpectedly edits.

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  21. Looks great! What a huge difference. That bare soil makes my fingers itch to plant it though! My mother called from home tonight saying it was snowing there. I saw it was snowing in Portland, too. At least the snow (and the clouds it's falling from) will help insulate things so it shouldn't get as cold as I know you were worried it would. Good thing you didn't go up to see the NWFGS, though! Seattle in the snow, yikes!

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    1. Yes indeed, the lowest I've seen here in the garden for this go-round is 19.5F, a lot better than the 13F they were predicting. Of course the evil east wind has thrown in another element of pain for the garden. Lots of snow out there this morning...and more on the way...(very glad I stayed home from the show!).

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  22. What on earth is going on with that two toned garage? Oh well. Worth it for all the room you have to plant new stuff!

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    1. The two "new" McMansions behind us share a garage, of course the builder had to split paint it so each could claim ownership of their side. Imagine if you came home one night and forgot which side you were supposed to park in? Color coding works! (but why, you might ask, did they need to paint the back too???)

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  23. Clean slates, I love them! Makes me want to rip out all the hedera, hackberries, ligustrum and other trash the birds have planted in my back yard. I need to find me some of those brush-clearing guys! Thanks for the inspiration.

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    1. Wish I could share their name with you, but I don't think Texas is in their travel zone.

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  24. HUGE difference - it hardly looks like the same garden! I'm sure it's exciting and just a bit intimidating at the same time. It reminds me of the impact removing our 60 foot Eucalyptus had on our yard - I was in shock for awhile but now I think it's about the best thing that happened to our garden. Enjoy all that new planting space!

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  25. Wow. Just—wow. Cannot wait to see what you do with it!

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  26. Amazing! It looks so very different! You should talk your neighbors into letting you take over their lower garden. Doesn't look like they really use it anyway. Maybe they'd sell the partial lot. Think of the things you cold do with all that space...Whatever you do with your newfound space will be as stellar as everything you do pal!

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    1. Ha, I mentioned it to them but they didn't seem to excited about the idea, and it serves a purpose as it's their doggie potty run. (thank you)

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  27. I removed some equally overgrown riotously random vegetation last fall too, finally. While the view of the ridulous two-color garage is upsetting, it does have such a neat clean look. I'm just going for more mown lawn to reduce maintenance, but you can have such neat plant choices. I like your bamboo in containers.

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    1. Thanks Hannah, that bamboo is the subject of today's post...

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  28. Wow, now you´re going to have so much space for plants!! It does look good but the two colour garage is odd.

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    1. I might see if they'll let me paint the back, if I can work up the courage to ask that is.

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  29. I can't wait to see what you do with all that new space!

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    1. Speaking of...come to Portland for the Garden Bloggers Fling!!!

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  30. Mama used to have a yard man who grubbed out every speck of Nandina he came across. I feel the same way about privet. Good move.

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    1. Your mama's yard man was a good man. Wish he'd come take care of the ivy and vinca roots for me... (that's one thing the guys didn't do...)

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  31. Can't really call this before/after: more like before/during, with the after all in your head. And what a head it is. I'm sure we will all be waiting with bated breath to see what comes out of that idea incubator of yours. Judging from the photos alone, I liked the lacy background of bare branches, but the borrowed landscape is quite nice and why would neighbors object to a paint job on the side of their garage they never see...

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  32. Consider inviting over both neighbors who own the two tone garage for drinks on your patio. Ask them if they would consider letting you paint that one wall of the garage one color. It is difficult too tell from the photo's perspective if they even have views to that split wall. It is worth a shot and I always advocate neighbors having drinks together
    CheyDesignGuy

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