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Penny Carnathan
Penny’s a Nurture And Hold (NAH): Nah, I won’t pull that out yet, it’s still got a green shoot. She likes dragonflies, lady bugs and new stuff only after weeding, pruning and fertilizing.
Kim Franke-Folstad
Kim’s a Want It Now (WIN): Everything pretty, everything now. She will resort to full-spectrum insecticides in desperate situations, and believes it’s her duty and right to buy new plants every weekend.
Both advocate Plant Choice (SOMEthing besides crotons. Please!), lots of color and low maintenance. We don’t agree on everything, but we’re smart enough to learn from each other - and from you.
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A taste of clay cliff gardening makes gratitude for sand, nematodes and sun
Posted Aug 20, 2010 by Loren Omoto
Updated Aug 20, 2010 at 05:50 PM
I’m visiting my longtime friend Lori, whose house is built into the side of a hill on the shore of Lake Lanier near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia.
She’s got tall, shady trees, hummingbirds and sunshine. She also has clay, rocks and garden beds so steep, she had to rappel from a garden hose to plant one of them!
Lori occasionally comments here, and now I see why it’s not more often. Her challenges are entirely different from ours.
But when I stepped out onto her deck yesterday, I felt completely at home.
Her teacart full of seedlings includes foxglove, Joe Pye and bellflower. Mostly stuff I don’t have, though she has a few mystery plants, too. Those I can identify with.
Half of her labors go into building paths to navigate the backyard, which runs down to the lake at a 45-degree angle — at least! She builds them with her own two hands, which is just amazing to me. This one runs along the side of her house, where some very happy hydrangeas are just starting to bloom.
On the other side of the house is Lori’s butterfly garden. She had a truckload of dirt brought in to cover the clay, and slid it down to the flowerbed one bed-sheet load at a time.
In addition to these sunny black-eyed Susans, she has zinnias, impatiens, wildflowers, Joe Pye weed and milkweed, among other flowers. This view is looking downhill; there’s no flat surface except just behind the birdbath, where she built a stone path with rocks she dug up.
While we might believe Florida is the extreme weather capital of the world, poor Georgia also suffers drought, monsoon and wicked winds. This spring it rained and rained and rained here (remember all the flooding in Tennessee?) What was worse than all the water that flooded Lori’s basement was trying to deal with cabin fever. The solution? Crafts.
Lori headed to Michael’s for wooden birdhouses and Weldbond adhesive. Look what a lot of rain, a 6-year-old granddaughter, and a little creativity can produce!
Finally, while I was on the prowl this morning for the flying squirrels and foxes Lori has told me about, or a glimpse of Elvis and Patsy — the two resident hummingbirds—I found these two fellas. Some things don’t change no matter how far you travel.
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Reader Comments
Posted by (Kim Franke-Folstad) on August 20, 2010
OK, I love, love, love, Loris paths! (You know I have stepping stones on the brain because of my new walkway.)
But what I really want to know is where do we sign up to get one of those adorable bird houses?
I’m pretty sure she could market those things! Of course I’m lusting after the colorful one on the left.
I know—y’all are going to tell me I could easily do it myself.
Posted by (Janna) on August 20, 2010
I want to jump in my car and start heading north! The thought of a nature stroll down that beautiful path leading to the lake sounds wonderful. I can’t imagine how much work went into building the path on steep terrain. Lori, you did a wonderful job! And you used a garden hose to rappel to a flower bed? You’ve got my total admiration. That’s what I call a true gardener. Nice job on the birdhouses, too! I especially like the colorful one.
Thanks for sharing the photos, Penny. What does Joe Pye look like?
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on August 21, 2010
Wow! Lori is my new hero of the day. I would love to have paths all over the back yard and Love those rocks on the side of the path, but the thought of lugging those rocks makes my back ache. Ha! I think I’ll stick to the crafts for now. I adore the birdhouses. Weldbond is my favorite glue. Although, I’m with Kim on the colorful one, I just love the touch of pearls around the opening on the white one. Very cute! Glad you girls are having fun and enjoying the outdoors.
Posted by (Chip) on August 21, 2010
You guys made my day! just when you think you got it hard, oh boy! Did the kids come up with the bird house Idea? I love that. Beautiful garden Lori! all your hard work really shows..“Chip”
Posted by (Ingrid) on August 21, 2010
Hi Lori and Penny on Lake Lanier,
that is the prettiest stone path I have ever seen! What a great job!
Trumpet Creeper is a good ground cover that could keep your soil from washing away. This time of year it has gorgeous orange flowers.
Just a thought….
The white birdhouse is definitely Number one for me. Somehow it reminds me of winters in Sweden when I was a kid and built small houses of snow balls.
Posted by (Lori Pacheco) on August 21, 2010
Thank you for all the kind words. Y’all have inspired me to keep it going. The rock path was done over weeks and weeks. I would haul 5 wheelbarrows of rocks down per weekend. Otherwise, my back would ‘holler’ at me all week. Love the trumpet creeper idea. I have googled lots of ground covers but have had no suggestions until now. I will definitely look for some.
I have to say…saddleback caterpillars are NOT my friends today. I got stung while Penny was flipping them into the jar of death. I think they mistook me for her.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on August 21, 2010
hahaha——the Jar of death. I can see why you are friends. You have the same twisted sense of humor. Thanks for sharing pics of your hard work and how you achieved it. You really are my hero of the day.
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on August 22, 2010
Penny, I love Georgia, that is where I want to retire. The bird houses are just great, love the path and hydrangeas!I glad your having fun. Pumpkin
Posted by (Chip) on August 23, 2010
That all looks so nice! It has to be cooler up there. As for retiring there, there is always the snowbird option. Did you look for Yankee’s? I bet she has a few! Juniper would do very good there I bet and help hold soil. I am almost done with my compost beds and I cant wait for fall! The jar"o” death? got to love soap, bugs sure don’t, cheapest safest pest control I know of. Lori if you have some photos of your garden with snow on it I would love to see them! I bet it is pretty…“Chip”
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on August 23, 2010
Florida gardening chapter 6. Last night during the storm my neighbor tree fell over on my pond, crushing everything.Pumpkin
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on August 23, 2010
Oh my gosh, Pumpkin, that is terrible news. I hope everyone is ok. And I am so sad for you and your garden. Florida gardening does have it’s own unique challenges.
Posted by (Lori Pacheco) on August 23, 2010
Chip, I don’t have pictures of the snow. But, I will remember to get out my camera next time it snows…and it will (*shudder*). Penny is right. It gets really cold up here. I’m not a big fan of snow, past the first hour or so.
Pumpkin, I’m so sorry about your pond. How salvageable is it?
Posted by (Chip) on August 24, 2010
oh no Pumpkin! and with more rain on the way today. Did you save any fish? Lori, I am not a big fan of the cold myself. And I have never seen snow except in photos. The snow we have got here doesn’t count I think it was like snow sand and lasted till the sun came up. Just thought it looks pretty. Pumpkin If I can help E-mail me! I hope your pond is repairable ....“Chip”
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on August 24, 2010
FOD, Most of the plants around the pond did get crushed. The very cute Sausagedge coleus got smashed :( , one big gold fish bite the dust. At least with all this rain they will grow back quick.
Chip, Mr. Grumpy got out the chain saw and cut everyting up, but thanks for the offer for help. You guys are the best. Pumpkin
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on August 25, 2010
Oh, I’m so sorry, Penny. You didn’t get hurt when it fell apart, did you? So sad to lose a good potting bench that was made with loving hands. How many years did it last in the Florida weather?