#landscaping — Public Fediverse posts

Seeing all the yellow lawns in the UK via vloggers right now, it gets across to me that now would be a perfect time to sheet mulch them or solarize them and do some soil building, but people would probably complained about how it looked (as if dead turf grass is much better...)

#ClimateChange #Drought #Horticulture #Landscaping

Lakes Country Landscaping expands – Perham Focus https://www.allforgardening.com/1938242/lakes-country-landscaping-expands-perham-focus/ #GardeningMinnesota #landscaping #minnesota

Lakes Country Landscaping expands – Perham Focus https://www.allforgardening.com/1938242/lakes-country-landscaping-expands-perham-focus/ #GardeningMinnesota #landscaping #minnesota

Western Hills Garden for Sale: Why I Dream of Buying the California Landmark https://www.allforgardening.com/1938188/western-hills-garden-for-sale-why-i-dream-of-buying-the-california-landmark/ #backyard #garden #Home&Garden #landscaping #RealEstate #WestCoast #WestCoastBackyardGarden #WestCoastBackyardGardening

Troops in DC encounter few crises, but plenty of walking and yard work https://www.allforgardening.com/1937601/troops-in-dc-encounter-few-crises-but-plenty-of-walking-and-yard-work/ #AirNationalGuard #bowser #CirculatedAirForceTimes #CirculatedArmyTimes #CirculatedMilitaryTimes #Costs #DcCrime #DistrictOfColumbia #GardeningDistrictOfColumbia #landscaping #MilitaryTimes #NationalGuard #NationalGuardDc #TroopsInDc #trump #WashingtonDC

Troops in DC encounter few crises, but plenty of walking and yard work https://www.allforgardening.com/1937601/troops-in-dc-encounter-few-crises-but-plenty-of-walking-and-yard-work/ #AirNationalGuard #bowser #CirculatedAirForceTimes #CirculatedArmyTimes #CirculatedMilitaryTimes #Costs #DcCrime #DistrictOfColumbia #GardeningDistrictOfColumbia #landscaping #MilitaryTimes #NationalGuard #NationalGuardDc #TroopsInDc #trump #WashingtonDC

The Kindness of Strangers

Another week has slipped by without a post from me. Some of the recent daily writing prompts have been thought-provoking, but I needed time to ruminate on them. By the time I thought of a response, it was too late. The prompt had moved on to a new day. One such prompt keeps poking me right in the heart. So, I will write about it now.

“What is the best thing that someone ever did for you?”

I got stuck on the semantics of it (as I often do). “Best” implies that I have to choose a winner out of all the kind and surprising things that others have done for me. “Ever” suggests that I have to search the archives of my brain from now until my earliest memory as a child. The task was overwhelming! Of course, the first and best thing that came to mind was when Jesus died on the cross to save me from my sins. Nothing else compares to that! But, several other people already posted about that. I have been so blessed to have many kind people help me throughout my 50+ years on this Earth…how do I choose the best? So, I decided to tweak the parameters of the prompt (as I often do), and share about two vivid memories of strangers showing up to save the day.

A few years ago, my oldest daughter called me in distress. Her car had run out of gas (her gas gauge was glitchy), so she asked if I could fill up a gas can and bring it to her. She was stranded downtown. I said, “Sure! I’ll be right there.” I couldn’t find a gas can in our garage or shed, so I stopped by a local convenience store. They just happened to have one gas can left in stock. I bought it and filled it up with gas. When I arrived at her location, I saw that she was stuck in a left-hand turn lane of a busy intersection. I had imagined that she would be safe, pulled over on the side of the road. That was my first “AHHHH!” moment! I pulled up behind her as cars whizzed by, got out carefully with the gas can and tried to pour the gas in her tank. That’s when I had my second “AHHHH!” moment! The gas can’s nozzle was defective. It wouldn’t extend into the opening of her gas tank. I just wanted to pour enough gas in to get it started and out of the road. When I tried to pour, gas gushed all over the side of her car, but hardly any ended up in the tank. While we were freaking out, trying to decide what to do, a huge truck pulled up behind us. The door opened and a petite lady jumped out of the driver’s seat. I had expected a muscular 6’5 mountain man with a bushy beard to climb out of that thing! She yelled, “What are you doing? This is so unsafe! Forget about the gas for now…we need to get you two out of the road. Then, she started barking orders. You, get in the car, put it in neutral and get ready to steer. I’m going to block traffic with my truck as soon as it’s clear so we can push it into that parking lot. You (pointing at me), get ready to push on my signal. Fortunately, her truck was so large that it blocked both lanes of oncoming traffic perfectly while we pushed the car to safety. I couldn’t believe how quick and simple the solution was – we just needed someone to stand in the gap for us. We thanked her profusely, and then she disappeared. Would you believe that no one else had stopped to offer help in the 45 mins my daughter was stranded there in a dangerous situation?

The next thing a stranger did to help me was totally unexpected and anonymous. I was preparing for some VIP relatives to come stay with us for one night as they traveled cross-country. I had not seen these family members for decades, and they had never been to our house. I just wanted everything to be perfect for their stay. I cleaned all those nooks and crannies that you don’t usually bother with when friends come over. I wanted so desperately to make a good impression on them, that I was filled with anxiety. The last thing to do on my checklist was to clean the front and back yard. Pull weeds, trim bushes, cut grass, pick up dog doo…you know, the things that are difficult to do in 115-degree heat. I was dreading it! I left for a physical therapy appointment, where my PT said, “What is going on with you today? I can feel the anxious energy radiating out of you!” I told her about every worry that I had about this impending visit from relatives. She said, “You’ve got to let this go. You can’t control what they think of you or your house. Why does it matter? They’ll be here for less than 24 hours. Just breathe. You’ve done all you can do. You need to relax now.” So, I drove home feeling a little better, but still wondering what I could do to make things presentable. The first thing I noticed when I pulled into the driveway was that the front yard looked…different. The weeds were missing, and the bushes looked manicured. Was this just my imagination? I walked inside and looked out the window to the back yard. There were some grass clippings in the pool. “Oh great! Now, I’ll have to clean the pool too!” I thought. But then, it dawned on me! The entire backyard was clean and organized! Bushes had been trimmed, weeds were gone, grass mowed, and the pile of bulk trash that we had collected for pickup was GONE! I screamed with joy! I asked every family member and friend if they had gifted us this landscaping experience, but everyone said no. I expected a bill to arrive in the mail, or a landscaping truck to stop by and admit that they come to our house by mistake. Now where’s our money? But, I never discovered who did this for us and never had to pay a cent! Maybe God sent a team of angels dressed in overalls to make my day? The visit turned out to be wonderful, and I had absolutely nothing to worry about after all.

The Kindness of Strangers

Another week has slipped by without a post from me. Some of the recent daily writing prompts have been thought-provoking, but I needed time to ruminate on them. By the time I thought of a response, it was too late. The prompt had moved on to a new day. One such prompt keeps poking me right in the heart. So, I will write about it now.

“What is the best thing that someone ever did for you?”

I got stuck on the semantics of it (as I often do). “Best” implies that I have to choose a winner out of all the kind and surprising things that others have done for me. “Ever” suggests that I have to search the archives of my brain from now until my earliest memory as a child. The task was overwhelming! Of course, the first and best thing that came to mind was when Jesus died on the cross to save me from my sins. Nothing else compares to that! But, several other people already posted about that. I have been so blessed to have many kind people help me throughout my 50+ years on this Earth…how do I choose the best? So, I decided to tweak the parameters of the prompt (as I often do), and share about two vivid memories of strangers showing up to save the day.

A few years ago, my oldest daughter called me in distress. Her car had run out of gas (her gas gauge was glitchy), so she asked if I could fill up a gas can and bring it to her. She was stranded downtown. I said, “Sure! I’ll be right there.” I couldn’t find a gas can in our garage or shed, so I stopped by a local convenience store. They just happened to have one gas can left in stock. I bought it and filled it up with gas. When I arrived at her location, I saw that she was stuck in a left-hand turn lane of a busy intersection. I had imagined that she would be safe, pulled over on the side of the road. That was my first “AHHHH!” moment! I pulled up behind her as cars whizzed by, got out carefully with the gas can and tried to pour the gas in her tank. That’s when I had my second “AHHHH!” moment! The gas can’s nozzle was defective. It wouldn’t extend into the opening of her gas tank. I just wanted to pour enough gas in to get it started and out of the road. When I tried to pour, gas gushed all over the side of her car, but hardly any ended up in the tank. While we were freaking out, trying to decide what to do, a huge truck pulled up behind us. The door opened and a petite lady jumped out of the driver’s seat. I had expected a muscular 6’5 mountain man with a bushy beard to climb out of that thing! She yelled, “What are you doing? This is so unsafe! Forget about the gas for now…we need to get you two out of the road. Then, she started barking orders. You, get in the car, put it in neutral and get ready to steer. I’m going to block traffic with my truck as soon as it’s clear so we can push it into that parking lot. You (pointing at me), get ready to push on my signal. Fortunately, her truck was so large that it blocked both lanes of oncoming traffic perfectly while we pushed the car to safety. I couldn’t believe how quick and simple the solution was – we just needed someone to stand in the gap for us. We thanked her profusely, and then she disappeared. Would you believe that no one else had stopped to offer help in the 45 mins my daughter was stranded there in a dangerous situation?

The next thing a stranger did to help me was totally unexpected and anonymous. I was preparing for some VIP relatives to come stay with us for one night as they traveled cross-country. I had not seen these family members for decades, and they had never been to our house. I just wanted everything to be perfect for their stay. I cleaned all those nooks and crannies that you don’t usually bother with when friends come over. I wanted so desperately to make a good impression on them, that I was filled with anxiety. The last thing to do on my checklist was to clean the front and back yard. Pull weeds, trim bushes, cut grass, pick up dog doo…you know, the things that are difficult to do in 115-degree heat. I was dreading it! I left for a physical therapy appointment, where my PT said, “What is going on with you today? I can feel the anxious energy radiating out of you!” I told her about every worry that I had about this impending visit from relatives. She said, “You’ve got to let this go. You can’t control what they think of you or your house. Why does it matter? They’ll be here for less than 24 hours. Just breathe. You’ve done all you can do. You need to relax now.” So, I drove home feeling a little better, but still wondering what I could do to make things presentable. The first thing I noticed when I pulled into the driveway was that the front yard looked…different. The weeds were missing, and the bushes looked manicured. Was this just my imagination? I walked inside and looked out the window to the back yard. There were some grass clippings in the pool. “Oh great! Now, I’ll have to clean the pool too!” I thought. But then, it dawned on me! The entire backyard was clean and organized! Bushes had been trimmed, weeds were gone, grass mowed, and the pile of bulk trash that we had collected for pickup was GONE! I screamed with joy! I asked every family member and friend if they had gifted us this landscaping experience, but everyone said no. I expected a bill to arrive in the mail, or a landscaping truck to stop by and admit that they come to our house by mistake. Now where’s our money? But, I never discovered who did this for us and never had to pay a cent! Maybe God sent a team of angels dressed in overalls to make my day? The visit turned out to be wonderful, and I had absolutely nothing to worry about after all.

Get up to $5,000 to replace grass with water-efficient #landscaping for a limited time - #Sacramento City Express https://sacramentocityexpress.com/2026/09/01/get-up-to-5000-to-replace-grass-with-water-efficient-landscaping-for-a-limited-time/ #LawnReplacement #DroughtTolerant #CAWater #Climate

Crossover landscaping can enhance wildfire resistance and save water https://www.allforgardening.com/1936279/crossover-landscaping-can-enhance-wildfire-resistance-and-save-water/ #Codes&Regulations #DroughtResistant #GardeningMontana #landscaping #Montaña #wildfire

Want to help Oklahoma weather the impact of extreme heat? Try growing more native plants.

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://tulsaflyer.org/2026/09/01/culture/post/native-plants-can-help-oklahoma-weather-impact-extreme-heat/

Weather is cooperating today, so I'm out tackling the wonky stacked-paving-stone stairs. I've also got a batch of sourdough I started yesterday and then stuck in the fridge for a slow rise overnight. It's formed up into loaves and into the oven shortly.

So I'm doing that combo landscaping/baker labour today, as one does. Just need to be careful I don't get crushed stone in the bread and I'll be okay.

#DIY #landscaping #breadposting

2 CT locales make list of Most Stunning Front Yards in the U.S. https://www.allforgardening.com/1935009/2-ct-locales-make-list-of-most-stunning-front-yards-in-the-u-s/ #ConnecticutNews #CTNews #FrontYardGarden #FrontYardGardening #FrontYard? #HartfordCourant #landscaping #LocalNews #outdoors #WasteRemovalUSA #WestCoast #WestCoastFrontYardGarden #WestCoastFrontYardGardening

Another day of paver & drainage stuff, some concrete coring. With progress there, I started tackling the wonky steps. Whew, heavy pavers there. Will have to pace myself and save my back.

#DIY #landscaping

University of Florida: New UF/IFAS App takes guesswork out of choosing the right plants, supporting pollinators and saving water for Floridians. “The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program (FFL) has launched the FFL Plants & Pollinators App, a comprehensive new resource that brings together plant selection, pollinator […]

I pulled a bunch of pavers up and got some drainage pipe in place today. I'm eager to finish that work tomorrow before any rain arrives.

We also had a fortuitous find – my SO discovered that a mystery drainage outlet comes from a convenient spot, and that will save me doing a bunch of other work. Yay that.

#DIY #landscaping

Had a customer come in today who wanted to replace some mountain laurel that had died after a few years in his yard (context: this is in the coastal plain of Virginia, definitely outside the preferred habitat of mountain laurels). The ones we had in stock had been cut back because they were looking rough from the heat and humidity. I explained that Kalmia grows much better in the higher elevations of the Piedmont, in almost rocky soil; but he insisted he wanted to replace several that had gone kaput. Even after me telling him they struggle outside the mountains in this part of the country. I would have offered up Pieris or Clethra as alternatives, both very shade tolerant and less temperamental in zone 7 heat. #plants #landscaping

Hey plant people, do you think this "Certificate Program in Ecological Horticulture", "a systems approach to sustainable land stewardship", is worth anything? Like, would this help me get people to listen to me, or pay me? https://experience.morrisarboretum.org/Info.aspx?EventID=48

It costs ~$3000 for 12 classes and a personal project, which can be completed in a year or at your own pace. I want it to mean something but it seems pretty new, I think starting in fall 2025? So it may have no track record.

#horticulture #landscaping

California Fuchsia growing in daisy and ceanothus ground cover.

#Plants #CaliforniaFuchsia #Fuchsia #Fuschia #Landscaping #NaturalLandscaping #Blooming #BloomingNow #Bloomscrolling

South L.A.’s amazing home gardens https://www.allforgardening.com/1931813/south-l-a-s-amazing-home-gardens/ #AfricanAmerican #AfricanAmericanNewspaper #backyard #BaldwinHills #BlackNewspaper #CommunityNewspaper #crenshaw #garden #gardening #JasonDouglasLewis #JasonLewis #LaderaHeights #landscape #Landscaper #landscaping #LeimertPark #LosAngeles #MidCity #newspaper #ParkMesaHeights #photographer #south #SouthBackyardGarden #SouthBackyardGardening #SouthLosAngeles #ViewPark #WestAdams #WindsorHills #writer

A high-end garden designer with political roots in South Africa https://www.allforgardening.com/1931673/a-high-end-garden-designer-with-political-roots-in-south-africa/ #backyard #gardening #landscaping #south #SouthBackyardGarden #SouthBackyardGardening

How to start landscaping your garden yourself, and why it doesn’t have to be too costly https://www.allforgardening.com/1931294/how-to-start-landscaping-your-garden-yourself-and-why-it-doesnt-have-to-be-too-costly/ #backyard #Budget #garden #GardenTips #gardening #house #landscaping #NewBuild #SoilTypes #south #SouthBackyardGarden #SouthBackyardGardening #trees #yard

Grow Your Own Downton Abbey-Inspired Garden With These Tips https://www.allforgardening.com/1931001/grow-your-own-downton-abbey-inspired-garden-with-these-tips/ #CottageGardens #CountryGardens #design #DowntonAbbey #EnglishGardens #FlowersPlants #FrontYardGarden #FrontYardGardening #FrontYard? #gardening #Home&Garden #landscaping #NlOutdoorLiving #NlWeekender #West #WestFrontYardGarden #WestFrontYardGardening

Opinion: California is naturally brown and beautiful. Why are our yards green? https://www.allforgardening.com/1930935/opinion-california-is-naturally-brown-and-beautiful-why-are-our-yards-green/ #drought #FrontYardGarden #FrontYardGardening #FrontYard? #landscaping #water #WestCoast #WestCoastFrontYardGarden #WestCoastFrontYardGardening

Amid drought, some Utah homeowners receive city notice to address brown lawn https://www.allforgardening.com/1930191/amid-drought-some-utah-homeowners-receive-city-notice-to-address-brown-lawn/ #AgriculturalPests #AmyTieu #FrontYardGarden #FrontYardGardening #FrontYard? #GardenPests #gardening #grasslands #groundcovers #LandscapeArchitecture #landscaping #lawn #LayneMorris #sally #UnitedStates #utah #weed #West #WestFrontYardGarden #WestFrontYardGardening

The 12 Best Trees for Front Yard Landscaping https://www.allforgardening.com/1929568/the-12-best-trees-for-front-yard-landscaping/ #EastCoast #EastCoastFrontYardGarden #EastCoastFrontYardGardening #FrontYardGarden #FrontYardGardening #FrontYard? #gardening #landscaping #RealEstate #TreesShrubs

English garden charm | Home + Garden https://www.allforgardening.com/1928849/english-garden-charm-home-garden/ #backyard #BackyardGarden #BackyardGardening #BuffaloSpreeJune2026 #Decorating #DedicatedGardener #garden #gardening #gardens #LandManagement #LandscapeDesign #landscaping #LeoRodriguez #MarkWeppner #OutdoorLiving #Planning #Williamsville #yard

Wilmington, Delaware: Where Gardens and History Bloom https://www.allforgardening.com/1928617/wilmington-delaware-where-gardens-and-history-bloom/ #AlexandriaLivingMagazineStaff #delaware #events #Food&Drink/Restaurants/DiningOut #gardening #GardeningDelaware #landscaping #shopping #travel

250-plus exhibits at this year’s Nebraska Builders Home and Garden Show https://www.allforgardening.com/1928108/250-plus-exhibits-at-this-years-nebraska-builders-home-and-garden-show/ #BalloonArtist #garden #GardeningNebraska #HomeBuilders #HomeBuildersAssociationOfLincoln #HomeImprovement #landscaping #Lincoln #Nebraska #NebraskaBuildersHomeAndGardenShow #Remodel #SandhillGlobalEventCenter #Spas #wildlife #WindowSupplies

Wisconsin Yard & Garden: Native ornamental grasses https://www.allforgardening.com/1928078/wisconsin-yard-garden-native-ornamental-grasses/ #gardening #GardeningWisconsin #landscaping #OrnamentalGrasses #outdoors #wisconsin

Avon Gardens Owners Carry on a Colorful and Lasting Legacy – Avon – Towne Post Network https://www.allforgardening.com/1927028/avon-gardens-owners-carry-on-a-colorful-and-lasting-legacy-avon-towne-post-network/ #Cover #florist #GardeningIndiana #Indiana #landscaping

Minimalist Arizona Garden with Rain Drainage https://www.allforgardening.com/1926570/minimalist-arizona-garden-with-rain-drainage/ #2024WellnessIssue #arizona #drainage #GardeningArizona #GreenLiving #landscaping #monsoon #rainwater #SavingWater #sedona

Retaining wall cleaning https://www.allforgardening.com/1925319/retaining-wall-cleaning/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

brick apartment building in Skokie

A classic brick apartment building in Skokie - standing quietly

#photography #photo #architecture #condo #brick #appartment #blackandwhite #blancoynegro #bnw #bnw_lover #bw #monochrome #noir #noiretblanc #skokie #urban #urbanex #suburb #citystreet #box #utility #apartment #garden #pathway #windows #building #landscaping #symmetry #exterior

What kind of edging can I roll with? Adamant about adding raised edging due to mulch spilling over and causing a mess… (gifting gold) https://www.allforgardening.com/1923881/what-kind-of-edging-can-i-roll-with-adamant-about-adding-raised-edging-due-to-mulch-spilling-over-and-causing-a-mess-gifting-gold/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

How can I cover/replace these posts and gravel boards for a nicer looking upper patio? https://www.allforgardening.com/1923365/how-can-i-cover-replace-these-posts-and-gravel-boards-for-a-nicer-looking-upper-patio/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

Grass in flower bed https://www.allforgardening.com/1922909/grass-in-flower-bed/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

How to fix this disaster https://www.allforgardening.com/1922431/how-to-fix-this-disaster/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

I’ve reached the limit of my talents https://www.allforgardening.com/1921935/ive-reached-the-limit-of-my-talents/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

How would you do it https://www.allforgardening.com/1918964/how-would-you-do-it/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

What should we do? https://www.allforgardening.com/1918492/what-should-we-do-5/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

Raised Garden Bed- how should it be done? https://www.allforgardening.com/1917009/raised-garden-bed-how-should-it-be-done/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

New house. Tons of (mostly small) stumps. Best route for DIY removal? https://www.allforgardening.com/1916495/new-house-tons-of-mostly-small-stumps-best-route-for-diy-removal/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

Want to turn my backyard into a safe space but not sure where to start https://www.allforgardening.com/1915994/want-to-turn-my-backyard-into-a-safe-space-but-not-sure-where-to-start/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

Mission Impossible? https://www.allforgardening.com/1915524/mission-impossible/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

Pruning Privacy Shrubs (NC) https://www.allforgardening.com/1915059/pruning-privacy-shrubs-nc/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

How do I make this gable end beautiful? https://www.allforgardening.com/1914554/how-do-i-make-this-gable-end-beautiful/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

What to do with bare-ish ground around tree? https://www.allforgardening.com/1913585/what-to-do-with-bare-ish-ground-around-tree/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

Looking for advice on small yard section https://www.allforgardening.com/1912616/looking-for-advice-on-small-yard-section/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips

Pine trees https://www.allforgardening.com/1911626/pine-trees/ #gardening #landscaping #LandscapingTips