making nice with the neighbors

[garnetmoth]

So, we have a cottage garden (nice words for a kinda messy no mow garden) yard, and our neighbors have small plots of grass in front and back. The previous owners of our house planted flowers and a few strawberries in their side strip. They said we can go ahead and garden it too.

There were rose of Sharon (EEEEP!) that are evil and have suffered the ultimate price, and I ripped out most of the lambs ears. Im trying to replace invasive/ annoying with natives or herbs, and should make more progress this year. I also have 3 raspberries there now too.

I gave in and ordered some more strawberry seeds. The Strawberry Store www.thestrawberrystore.com/ has some stuff on sale, super quick shipping, great packaging, and great instructions on their packaging. And, now hopefully Ill be able to share some berries! (and I bought several yellow fruited plants to try those out)

[ottawagardener]

I just started three kinds of strawberries! So not a fan of Rose of Sharon. It's not particularly vigorous here.

[garnetmoth]

I read your mention of strawberries on another thread, and went through my flats and pots, (actually bagged up a garbage bag full of extra dont need to keep pots- my neighbor gives me his) and was thinking this week to start strawberries and Caucasian spinach. I ordered some red and yellow alpine strawberries, and 2 regular large strawberries......

Do you know if they are picky about soil? I have a partial bag of starting mix but im sure ive dumped old mix back into the bag and fluffed it up. Its sunny enough I think I can throw some into the solar oven and toast the possible nasties out of it.

oh and Rose of Sharon- we cut all of the big bushes down this year, but with the drought there were a lot of seedlings that I couldnt budge. Its almost warm enough (and definitely wet enough) to start prying them all out.

[Tom Akers]

Are any white? My wife wants a white one. They are about impossible to kill, but she likes them. I'd rather something else.

[garnetmoth]

some are pink, some are white. I just dont feel like allowing any of them to live to flowering, sorry! there are easily 50 in the patch next to the parent stump, and im a gettem!