Oops forgot to answer your question as to what part of South Dakota I'm in. I live 15 miles from the Minnesota line, just east of Brookings in a small town called Bushnell. We are about an hour from Marshall, MN & 10 minutes from Brookings, South Dakota. Most people dont know where Bushnell is, but its a town with several artists as well as farmers.

Hello, you asked how much sun my rosebush needs. Right now one of its adult offspring is growing on the east sideof a building, getting only morning sun & its thriving. It put on a second year's production of large rose hips this fall. So I take it, that it likes it area well enough.

I like your slide show with your shade garden. ITs lovely! What type of mulch is it that I am seeing that is so red?

Hi Sandra,

My wonderful "anti-nibb" formula is: 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of garlic paste, 1 tablespoon of Tabasco or Hot Pepper Sauce and a pick or two of Xanthan Gum. You can find this in the Health food stores. It helps the formula stick to the plants even in a slight rain. Be careful of the Xanthan Gum a little goes a long way - it thickens up the mix. Mix the formula together in a cup of water until it is completely mixed. Pour into a gallon of water and stray. I usually keep a 2 gallon hand sprayer in the garage filled with the formula (I double it and put 2 gallons of water into the sprayer. The more it furments the better is becomes. It always works for me:)

Would love the get together this spring! I need some more ideas in developing the stream area of our property. Love our cottage and sitting out on the patio with the pit fire going and hearing the water. Nothing is better than that.

Our property has full sun, full shade and both - we have been able to fill the property with year round color for all seasons. Would love for you to see it.

Hi Sandra, Thanks for your comments.

I don't know exactly how long the stream is. It runs from the top of our property and contours with the curve. It is a pondless stream, so less maintenance for us. We have a heavy duty pump at the base that is also connected to our underground water system. That is so we don't have to continually pump water in the stream to compensate for evaporation. As soon as the water level goes down the underground system flows more water into the stream and keeps it going.

Yes, we have the most HORRENDOUS problem with animals. I have many tricks I use to keep the deer away. One is a solution I whip up in my kitchen (happens to be the exact ingredients as Liquid Fence).

I have found many plants that are great for shade and wonderful evergreens that thrive in shade also - so when winter cones my back garden is not bare.

Your photos are wonderful!! Glad to fine someone here in Minnesota!

I am envious of all your shade! I love shade gardening. When we lived in Virginia I had a large wooded lot with lots of shade. In Tennessee we have mostly sun. Enjoyed the tour of your gardens - simply beautiful.

Sandra...ahhh Deorah Iowa is THEE most beautiful area of Iowa I think. I grew up just 30 miles south of there on a farm in rolling hill country. I have gone to some bus tours of gardens before up in Minneapolis (suburb areas) and just loved the beautiful back yards. I swore after growing up out in the country I could never live in town. But Cedar Falls is such a nice small- 30,000- town and a great place to have raised our kids, I dont regret it at all. Still hoping to get an acreage. I only have so much space I can add all the plants I would love to have here in my small backyard.
That Bayers product you are talking about is what I used on my river birch tree to treat the JBeetles. I will definitely treat my ashes with it. Not sure where I read or heard that the borers for the Ash, couldnt be treated.

I really enjoyed the picture tour of your shade beds Sandra. Looks like you hauled in a couple truckloads of mulch. I dont think you can treat the ash tree for the borer that is coming. Mine have been slowly dying but I think its from the root damaged caused when they cut the curb out to put in the new street. My head is spinning with all the ideas I have now after looking at your yard. How far up in Minnesota do you live? You sure have a nice expansive area.