Excited pees…😝 yes definitely sounds like something you could do without. Julie, that’s beautiful fabric! What is “Garden Answer”?

Liasch it is on facebook you can follow her..it is the photo dsimber posted.

Julie, how exciting that your landscape photos were featured on Garden Answer!

Lia, I saw a video on youtube and grabbed that screenshot. I meant to add more images to the post. I'll need to come back to that later. Errands today.

Love the photo of your sofa fabric, Julie! Thank you so much for sending and for looking for the name. I'd like to see it irl, so the name would help a lot.

(I haven't ruled out Vanguard Icon Snow, but I might regret settling on something I don't absolutely love. I want to enjoy this for years.)

One of my errands today is to finalize my choice of a specimen tree to be viewed from the larger, lower level window in that family room.

The tree I wanted, a particular yellow magnolia, is not available. What about this for a medium height tree with a spread no wider than 15' and year-round interest? Zone 5-9. Have any of you had this tree?

I like this a great deal based on the photo and the information I found.

https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/heptacodium/temple-bloom-seven-son-flower-heptacodium-miconioides

Temple of Bloom seven-son flower is a beautiful, easy to grow small tree which simply can't be matched for year-round beauty. In spring, the handsome leaves emerge, each sporting dramatically deep veins that make the plant stand out in the landscape. As the season progresses, the leaves grow larger and develop a long, twisting tip. Come August, when everything else is winding down, Temple of Bloom seven-son flower is just coming into its own, as it becomes covered in big clusters of fragrant white flowers that hummingbirds and other pollinators flock to. They last for weeks before gracefully falling to the ground to reveal vivid red, fan-like bracts, which make it look like the plant is blooming again in a completely different color. As winter comes and the leaves drop, the plant's elegant frame is revealed, along with amazing light tan peeling bark.

>dramatic deep veined leaves in spring

>white blooms, late summer into fall
>red, fan-like bracts* follow bloom

>elegant frame and light tan peeling bark

*Temple of Bloom™ Seven-Son differs from other Heptacodium on the market in that the bracts (actually sepals) develop a much deeper red color.

Pretty I have never seen or heard of it….would you ever consider a japanese maple? so many types and sizes..we absolutely loves ours..beautiful spring, summer and Fall….. the leaves open very early spring..took that photo just now…zone5-8

Julie- how do we find your garden on Garden Answer?

Oh, and I saw your drapes in your bedroom. Absolutely gorgeous and elegant. I still love that black caned chair too.

Julie, I love Japanese maples! Surrounded by the green hedge, yours is striking! So glad you shared.

Sadly, maples are being overused in Iowa communities, and tree loss is occurring from insects and disease. The Iowa DNR is strongly encouraging diversity.

Nevertheless, I requested a dwarf Japanese maple in my back yard plan. Crimsom Queen. Hard to choose leaf type and color, but I chose cutleaf and red.

We had one near our patio under our deck in Maryland, and it leaned over our little garden pond. It was spectacular! So this is for sentimental reasons, too. YS chose it. (From age five, he was such a nut about trees! I love that he still is. This is the beginning of the third year in their first home, and he has planted at least five trees in his back yard. It probably helps that, in his research, he uses trees to remediate water quality issues, so he's around trees all the time! The trees in the indoor lab start out as 6 inches. Haha. Larger now that his project is also in the field. Might not be a coincidence that this is his chosen specialty. 😉)

I'd love to know the other specimen trees you chose. 😊

We added a river birch in the back yard another beautiful tree and it loves all the water in the lower back yard area when it rains…and absolutly huge hydrangia bushes..I think they are 10-12’ tall!

We are having a vintage snowball viburnum tree/bush planted in the side front yard in the fall.. very strong…easy care grows just about anywhere.

I've had river birch at my last three properties and loved them! I especially like the clump form, but have had both. Your hydrangeas sound wonderful, as does that snowball viburnum.

My redbuds are leafing out. They are my favorite of all trees for their beautiful pinkish lavender buds. This and another were planted in the middle of a drought last summer, along with shrubs and perennials, and I thought I'd die keeping them watered in the terrible heat. 😩 So happy they survived! Looking forward to their [rapid] growth. Photo is from April 15.

I should have been out there sooner to remove dead foliage on my grasses. Hard to do with knees that don't like to bend. Boxwood coming to sit at the top of the retaining wall. (A little showing of the corner of the wall on the left.) Then underplantings.

Just for fun, can you see my globe blue spruce, below? 😂

Taken from inside. The only snow we had, but almost continuous for a week in January. Cool carving by the wicked winds we had. Happy that my new little redbuds survived this, too.

Beautiful trees in these pictures. Living in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona we don’t see these types of trees. We are redoing our back yard and because we live in a Natural area Open Space we are very limited in what we are allowed to plant. Anyway off topic, just wanted to say I love seeing these lovely spaces.

Hi Cubby. Aren't we always attracted to plants we can't grow!

I hope you'll share some photos of yours!

Coincidence today, Julie! This is the one person I follow daily. Today he shared a snowball viburnum from his mom's yard, and he was cutting stems to take into the house. They're blooming like this already? Wow!
(southeast Iowa)

Another coincidence today with Snowball Viburnum!

Posted today by Shannon O'Toomey on our local gardeners FB group:

"Todays Blooms & Branches: Snowball Viburnum, Smokebush, Iowa Phlox, Flax (this is how we get flax seeds!) & Henbit."

She frequently posts creative arrangements; her garden must be amazing!

Hey Dsimber……do research on the native plants in your area. There is a solution that will benefit the ecosystem, I am sure.

Your landscaping is already so nice dsimber, but the additions you're planning will be great!

Needed a distraction today & been thinking about your thoughts of painting the shiplap, also painted the walls with Bleeker Beige (a little odd without natural shadows though).

Beadsnsew. That looks fantastic! I like the charcoal drapery panels with the painted fireplace shiplap. It elevates the ceiling in a lovely way.

I am not getting notifications. So just saw this.

I love Redbuds, clump River Birch and Japanese Maples. So wonderful in landscapes. Everything you have done is so nice!!

Beautiful mock up beads!

Viburnum!! so pretty…beautiful flower arrangement she made…beads that is so close to the visual of the inspiration photo..I love the dark drapes all warm neutral furniture in different shades.

Beads! You made the room so much warmer with those changes! A "thank you" seems insufficient to express my gratitude. Julie had the vision for the drapes! I have to agree with Flo that the dark charcoal drapes together with painting the shiplap the same color is a really nice look. (And Flo recommended that from the beginning!) Those changes help define the living area, and it makes it look much more interesting. Almost a feature wall! Makes the black lampshades work better, too. Thank you so very much, Beads! <3 (no emojis today)

Does anyone know if the spaces between shiplap boards can be filled in before painting? Is there a product that would stay there?? Or can tile be applied to it???

Julie, I saw on someone's thread a short time ago that you recommended your dark area rug. Do you think it would work in this room, or do you think a lighter rug is needed?

Hi dsimber…well I think a dark rug would be gorgeous…I love the way it grounds the room and really gives a inviting cozy feel…We absolutely love our dark rug from Arhaus..it is one of the top items that visitors comment on…..it is variegated enough in color so nothing shows on it ever.

not sure you could fill in shiplap without some kind of lines showing when painted..but painted out gray or wall color would look nice….I honestly would not worry about it..once you add art it will look just fine…not sure it is worth the expence. I think once you add all the new furniture, drapes and art you will appreciate that fireplace as is.

Thank you Flo, Lola & Julie. You are welcome dsimber! I really enjoy creating your mockups 😊.

Agree with Julie - all in - it is going to be so beautiful you won’t notice the shiplap!

Given that it’s going to be painted a dark colour I think the lines on the shiplap are pretty much going to disappear due to the dark color. They show up now because of course white shows every single bit of texture.

There's always Shadows

That’s a gorgeous arrangement; I love the Smokebush in it. Thanks for sharing it on my thread… Somehow I spaced out on the person who shared it so just giving you a heads up that I loved it! I wish I could grow viburnum here on my property but as yet it has not been successful.

Yes. Dark colors recede and so less shadows. Go for the darker fireplace wall and the shiplap. I think this is really coming along. As to rug, I think things might get too heavy with a deep color rug. A medium tone that works with new sofa is worth considering. The rug in Julie’s has other supporting features such as a lot of natural light, a high ceiling so the darker rug works well. Food for thought.

That makes sense, Flo. Thanks. Charcoal drapes, charcoal fireplace, floor to ceiling. Still a tv in the room. A lot of dark in a room with small windows.

Julie, thanks for telling me where I could find the rug. I'm reminding myself that my plan is to look locally first. Easier for me to try and return. I definitely want to experiment with different tones.

A win for Julie on the drapes, and a win for Flo on the shiplap. Wink.* Two wins for me! Lol.

*My emojis keep disappearing!

The winner is you dsimber. That’s the best.

Girl you are moving foward that is great! it will be lovely…any tone rug that you love will add interest and warmth and ground the space. Like I said Have Fun!🤗😉

The charcoal dominance on that wall, does make it like a feature wall, and cozy. It can work...I have done it in my place, in the winter, with small north facing windows. But drapes were still lighter weight. I switched, seasonally. Now, I prefer lighter all year. I found heavy look in summer bothered me. You don't want to be messing with drapes, so you may want to consider what you want, year round. You may not be concerned with seasonal mood in the room. I find I am, so needed to find what worked all year.

Drapes are far down the road though...lots of time to think about those! There is a big difference between a mock up and being IN the space. It isn't all visual.

Liasch you switch out drapes seasonly?

Julie, I have done so for years… but my drapes are rod pocket and I live in a small cottage style home so it’s not as bad as it sounds. And that’s only for the main living room. I have no window coverings in the kitchen because I don’t need them. I have craftsman style windows with muntins and no need for privacy.

…

I have heavier fabric drapes in the winter usually for drafts and lighter weight, more sheer in the summer.

I still switch out the drapes on the patio door; last winter I did not do the two north facing windows as well but that might change.

Bleeding Hearts. "The other pink flowers are Wood Cranesbill Geraniums." --Shannon O'Toomey. I.C. Garden Club

She certainly has a beautiful collection of vases. 🥰

And a very good eye for arranging…

How is the landscape design coming along?💐

Hi Glassy. Last week my landscape designer and I exchanged ideas several times via email. The plan from 2022 needed some modifications based on the fact that some trees have since developed problems. Namely, the River Birch. I don't recall if I've shared that. I think it could be finalized tomorrow. Barring storms, the irrigation system will be installed this week..

What's going on in your world?

Ah yes, River Birches are susceptible to insects and disease. You will need proper treatments for these especially when getting established. They should replace them. Might be they got stressed during summer due to insufficient water, and that made them vulnerable to disease or insects. Be sure you check that out. Hoping weather holds so you can get that sprinkler system in. 🤞🏻

I am glad your irrigation system is getting installed this week. I wish we had one at our lake house. OH has been working hard to get grass established in the front yard in a certain are. I would not be surprised if there was a bunch of construction trash buried about a foot under the clay/dirt.🙄 This past week I have been able to get out and shop for a few piece of new clothes. I was able to bundle up 9 blouses to drop off at the donation center today. I also bought new shoes and flip flops for the pool. Last year I only got downstairs to the pool 3 or 4 times because it was so breathtaking hot! Last Saturday evening, friends invited us over for drinks/ happy hour. I asked if I could bring something and she didn’t reply. So I racked my brain. It was Derby Day! Run For The Roses! So I went to the grocery store and grab a bouquet of red roses. Then went to the thrift store a grab a gift vase.she was thrilled with the bouquet! I was happy for her. 😊 Today is my Newcomer’s luncheon where we give out scholarships to 5 seniors, and grants to several nonprofits.

I hope you have a lovely day!

Flo, I need to edit my last post when I have access to my MacBook. Sorry for the confusion. Any trees I’ve ever had on any property have been healthy. I’ve been fortunate! and want to keep it that way! Nothing was installed in 2022 because the weather delayed the schedule. Last year, I only had the front plan installed. So this, I hope, is finally the year for the backyard installation. When I wrote “some trees have since developed problems,” I meant that these trees IN GENERAL now have problems. I chose River birches on all three homes since the early 90s and never had a problem, so these are relatively new issues in my area. Now I’m wondering if this will be true of all birches. The White Spire would have such natural appearance along the back property line beyond which is a wild area of grasses and wildflowers, then a tree-lined creek and the pond. Aspens would be beautiful, too. Has anyone had success with aspens in the Midwest? Our soil in Iowa is heavy clay in many areas.

The sprinkler system is being installed as I write!

Glassy, I’m envious of the community social life you have! Taking roses to your hosts on Derby Day was a great idea. Did your horse win???

Aspen are a favourite but short lived. I still let them grow. Forty years, I won’t be here.

However there’s nothing to equal the sound… So it’s a trade-off.