Merce's Garden Oasis
 

So, I have been living in my house for about 3 years now and I am finally starting to plan out my landscaping (thanks Richard for the inspiration). I have a few things in the ground, but want to make sure i have some organization with all of the trees I plan on planting in the next month or so. Here's a diagram of what I am planning:


It is still a work in progress, so I am open to any recommendations and please feel free to mock up the diagram. I am trying to maintain the view of the lake from the house as indicated by the brown lines, which will be bamboo trellises. also, the circle of bananas are meant to throw partial shade on my raised beds (the summer sun really does a number on my veggies).

What I have left to work in:
- grapes (back)
- dragon fruit (front/back)
- more palms (front and back)
- more bananas (front and back)
- koi pond (front/back)
- potted arbequina olive tree (front)
- carrie starfruit (front/back)
- multigrafted jaboticaba (back near lake)

Let me know what you think. I will start posting pics as i make progress.

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

Sweet. What is the water at the back of your property?

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

it's a lake with an island of cypress in the middle. it attracts a lot of wildlife (eagles, ospreys, cormorants, otters). here's a better picture:

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

Nice exotic location and cool plans! Your neighbor's oak tree might need to be "taken care of" before it get way out of hand.

My next door neighbor neglected to trim 1 of his trees before he moved out earlier this year. As a result of N.C.s last snow/ice storm half his tree broke off onto his roof and the other half: inches from my driveway. B/c he no longer lives there/around here... I took care of his tree. ;) Hasta la vista! shhh

Now, I'm curious to see what your front yard looks like without trees. Taken down to the ground or out completely?

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

thanks! yeah, the neighbor's oak tree is definitely a problem. it throws so much shade during the winter months when the sun sinks. that's the reason i only have the one side heavily planted. i need to find some shade-tolerant fruit trees/plants (i'm sticking primarily to edibles). i was thinking of putting down some ginger, but I don't know what else. maybe i will put the pond there. the oak tree also brings squirrels, aka public enemy number 1. but they've learned their lesson about wandering into my yard where there's no where for them to hide >=]

the front yard needs some work. i missed the window for applying preemergent to control the weeds so they're everywhere. must be because of the weird winter weather we had. i am thinking of planting bananas along the northern border of the front yard.

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

Some pictures:
Praying Hands


Ele Ele


Dwarf Red


FHIA-21 I have been neglecting


Dwarf Brazilian


Pesing Raja


Ice Cream


African Rhino Horn


Pitogo

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

UF Sun Peaches



Tropic Snow:


Arbequina Olive (first fruit this year):


Blueberries:

Awesome
 

Nice job George!

Not sold on citrus in FL...lots of problems...

Have more dragon fruit cuttings, bananas, sugar apples and more for you!

Chris

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

Can you pump water out of the lake to feed your plants?

Re: Awesome
 

Yeah, I am crossing my fingers on the citrus... I am going to plant them between me and my neighbor's house so hopefully they don't get infected. if they do, I'll have to uproot them. I heard on the news the other day that they discovered that citrus greening begins down in the roots. Hopefully they find some sort of treatment eventually.

I definitely want to make another run before the baby comes (2 more weeks!). Are you around next weekend?

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

My neighbor does and I want to, but I'm not sure how safe it is with the runoff from the street going in there. The lake really isn't that big but I suppose the cypress in the middle filters some of the pollutants out . Maybe I will use it for my fruit trees or ornamentals. I don't know about using it for my veggies though.

What are your thoughts?

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

little update

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

any thoughts on using lake water?

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

I'd get a salinity test done and if its good use the hell out of it.. :^)

Re: Awesome
 

Hey sorry I did not respond timely....I rarely get on the pc...

Shoot me a pm with your availability and good luck with the new addition!!

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

some turkey's that landed in my backyard... i had no idea these things flew!

bird poop caterpillar

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

so, i ventured onto the island today to scout it out but was chased off by a swarm of bees. meaning i had to jump off into 8+ feet of water and swim back. even though i haven't seen any gators, i know they're out there.

anyway, i think i am going back with full ppe next time.

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

Is that a guava tree in the turkey pic (bottom right corner)?

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

good eye! this year is the first that i am getting fruit. 3 holding on so far.

Re: Merce's Garden Oasis
 

Wild turkeys fly, tame ones are too fat lol. I would use the water for sure for the lawn, green, green lawn.