Well, I've been trying to decide over the past few days what to put in our front yard. I know I want a bed lining the sidewalk. What I'm undecided about is what to line the walk with. I have annoying neighborhood dogs that don't understand boundaries, so I'd kind of like to fence it in, though because of my driveway it's almost impossible to completely fence it in... Of course I want it to look good too - and, well, be inexpensive to do. Sure, I'm asking a lot, I know

So, here's the area I've been building my lasagna bed. At the bottom of that pic you can see the sidewalk that goes to the front door. The walk on the left is the public sidewalk...and the fence on top of the pic is the end of our property, with an alleyway on the other side of the fence.

This is the same area in the late winter

So, I was thinking of puting up fence posts with mesh fencing (like this) stretched across and growing trumpet vine all through it, or planting some crepe myrtles along the front there - but I'm thinking it may get too big for that area - it's about 20-25' from the sidewalk to the house, may be less.

EEK I hit post too quick..so let me edit quick

See all the white space on either side of the window? I hate that! I thought about some small trees or shrubs more like up close to the house on either side, but couldn't find anything quite small enough, but tall enough to fill that space (the bottom of the window is about 8' off the ground)

So, anyway, all thoughts welcome! Thanks!

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Thanks for your thoughts Lynne! I guess the trumpet vine being so invasive is why I'm reallllly thinking this through. What's up with all these things that don't bloom for years? I never heard of that till I started getting into gardening - kind of surprised me that some stuff takes so long to bloom! I'm wondering, if I take a cutting of an already blooming vine, would that make it bloom sooner? LOL Was that a really dumb question?

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Thanks Triss! I had the same concern about that wire stuff. I was looking more at the 'cheap' than the durability. Probably not worth all the work not to have it last (and look good) for more than a year (if that!) The fence in that picture is along side the house, under a tree, by the alley - so it's not real visible, and we don't really care about it while we have other more visible things to fix up, yaknow?

Anywho...sorry that I always tend to ramble when I post. I seem to be a bit manic today which makes me ramble more than usual!

I really love that idea of the kite string! I don't know how we'd get it up on the roof - no really long ladder in 'stock' yet, and it's a pretty high roof...but, I got such a great visual of what you described - that would look SO HOT! I kind of like the lattice idea too - though I'm a little leary of putting anything on top of the siding

please keep the ideas coming! I love hearing them...when all is said and done I'll probably use a combination of most all of them, I'm sure! Thanks!

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ohhhh Yeah - I like the idea of the lattice on posts...it'll help shade the bedroom window, and if I can get something sweety-smellin, that'll waft into the bedroom in the morning, I'd be a really happy girl.

Lemme rewind a minute Triss - when you mentioned the raised bed for the front by the walk, you said 'maybe a row or two high and then some kind of fence.' Where's the fence? Along the sidewalk?

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hmm not sure. you mean, rock wall with picket fence type on top, then flowers, then rock wall with picket fence type again then grass? Is that what you meant?

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Okay, I gotcha now Though I rarely see foot traffic on that sidewalk - mostly paw-traffic I have to worry about

Thanks for rackin yer brain for me....Have a great night!

I'm still tossing ideas around - Keep em coming!

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you know those broken unbrellas you got? What about doing two rows of them with the handles interlocked in an arch and then planting them with morning glories or some other type of vine? I'd do a picture but photobucket isn't talking to me this afternoon lol.

Mary if you want a plant that will cover that area go for a pasion plant. It climbs and boy does it go fast. I had 3 3 inch starts a month and a half ago it is now a good 3 feet tall and is all over the trellis. It has purple blooms, and just grows like crazy. It grew up grandmas 6ft trellis adn up a tree and over the roof

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ediblelandscaping.com/Plants/PlantImages/PASSION.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.ediblelandscaping.com/Plants/New_passionflower.html&h=39 4&w=200&sz=32&tbnid=522un-3onTYJ:&tbnh=120&tbnw=60&hl=en&start=51&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpassion%2Bplant%26start%3D40%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

Sorry that is so big I dont know how to fix it but that is a pic of one its kinda interesting actually! I didntknow you could eat it also the flowers are rather different looking too on it.

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It doesn't matter where you go in life... It's who you have beside you when you get there.

Karrie's Photos

Mary, I can't tell you the length of time between sowing and flowering for passiflora because after a year, I am still waiting for the seeds to germinate!

Please let us know if you are successful!

Yup, did all those things plus the voodoo chicken dance! Hey, Mary, don't mean to bum you out there. Maybe you'll have better luck. The plants grow like weeds some places - how difficult can it be to germinate the seeds? When you find the secret, please let us know...At $15 each for a small vine here, I'm determined to grow them from seed!

If someone can tell me how to send a cutting I will be glad to do it. I got my pasion flower from good ol grandma. We just dug up 3 little starts I brought em home and holy cow. its been 6 weeks its over 3 feet tall and getting outta controll already. I went and got a 6ft trellis for it this week. I just cant believe how beautiful it is. Its got like 8 flowers blooming on it now. Husbands mother about fell over when she saw it said she took starts like i did, and hers are still a foot and crummy looking. Of course I thought it was just her mean thumb. lol But maybe I did get lucky!

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It doesn't matter where you go in life... It's who you have beside you when you get there.

Karrie's Photos

I would be glad to do it. Just dont want to kill it or send you a dead plant!

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It doesn't matter where you go in life... It's who you have beside you when you get there.

Karrie's Photos

Well I am sure I wouldnt kill my plant maybe what I send you though! We will just have to do some reasearch, because its a shamed grandma has it everywhere and is pulling it and mowing it down, if someone wants to enjoy some of it they should. We are somewhat near Danville Ill. Where are you in regards to there? Its about an hour and a half to 2 hour drive........maybe we can take a road trip.

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It doesn't matter where you go in life... It's who you have beside you when you get there.

Karrie's Photos

You should be able to send them in the mail. Get a start like you did for your garden. I am assuming it has roots? If so place them in a baggie with some soil to protect the roots and wet it to keep it moist during mailing. Seal the bag around the stem and put it in a box and send right away. Oh and I would put some shredded newspaper to keep it from getting tosseled all over the place.

I don't see why that would not work. I am going to have to look up passion flower and maybe I will beg you for some too!

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We are all under the same stars... therefore we are never far apart.

I have an orange trumpet vine. I love it! The hummingbirds love it! It does send up shoots all over, but if you can mow around it, you just mow them down. It does need a post to grow up, will grow 40 ft tall. It does take a few years to get started but once it does, you will love it. Petuna

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Petuna