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  Nick Steele June 17, 2009 at 6:24am

  Or just do a Christopher Lloyd and lob anything in!
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  pete June 17, 2009 at 6:34pm

  Hi Claudia, we (Karen and I) do mostly garden maintenance but I sometimes wish I could design a garden, and I can't deny that I'm envious of the designer lifestyles. As Andrew says in his blog "what is a gardener", in some ways, we are partly doing it. I don't worry too much about choosing the right colour, but how about the shine of those satin-soft flowers when the suns on them: eschscholtzia, ruby flax - always a thrill - as for me is the scent of acidanthera, and the leaves of lemon verbena in a different way - lemon bon-bons! I've only seen one big one which wasn't too pretty, do designers use this?
  We do the gardens for a lady that rents out houses, when one becomes vacant we clear out and tidy, last time I came home with some echinops and a big pot of agapanthus I found underneath nettles, I've not grown this in the open border before, but have now got, optimistically, a 40' row lined out - we're building up stock (just starting with shrubs) plants on our allotment - rudbeckia, veronica, doronicum, sidalcea, achillea pearl, iris, geraniums, acanthus, phlox, peony, asparagus, physostegia, penstemons, phlomis russeliana - and anything else thats coming our way - It all goes out - all at once if we're doing a new bed - (can I hear you cringe?) - we've lots of eschscholtzia and nigella seed for meantime in between. An old friend went off round europe years ago, he's now selling bulbs from Hollland - 500 Shirley tulips, (less now) coming up through forget-me-nots in the spring is a picture - and like Mr Lloyd we'll lob in a teasel or two and edge it with chives, parsley --- but you can do that with garden maintenance.
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  claudia de yong June 17, 2009 at 8:40pm

  I like the idea that us designer's have a different lifestyle! Have you read my 'G spot' blog! Not sure what you are envious of. I design yes but I also do all the work. I can use a spade you know!! I dig, prepare and sit on diggers, get soaked in ponds , fall in mud regularly, have my hair yanked by thorns in bushes, am exhausted most days, have a family, pets and all the other normal things to do when I get home too!
  
  Maybe I am missing something- a brain perhaps! Sounds like you have a wonderful allotment full of herbaceous gems. Well done.
  
  pete said:

  Hi Claudia, we (Karen and I) do mostly garden maintenance but I sometimes wish I could design a garden, and I can't deny that I'm envious of the designer lifestyles. As Andrew says in his blog "what is a gardener", in some ways, we are partly doing it. I don't worry too much about choosing the right colour, but how about the shine of those satin-soft flowers when the suns on them: eschscholtzia, ruby flax - always a thrill - as for me is the scent of acidanthera, and the leaves of lemon verbena in a different way - lemon bon-bons! I've only seen one big one which wasn't too pretty, do designers use this?
  We do the gardens for a lady that rents out houses, when one becomes vacant we clear out and tidy, last time I came home with some echinops and a big pot of agapanthus I found underneath nettles, I've not grown this in the open border before, but have now got, optimistically, a 40' row lined out - we're building up stock (just starting with shrubs) plants on our allotment - rudbeckia, veronica, doronicum, sidalcea, achillea pearl, iris, geraniums, acanthus, phlox, peony, asparagus, physostegia, penstemons, phlomis russeliana - and anything else thats coming our way - It all goes out - all at once if we're doing a new bed - (can I hear you cringe?) - we've lots of eschscholtzia and nigella seed for meantime in between. An old friend went off round europe years ago, he's now selling bulbs from Hollland - 500 Shirley tulips, (less now) coming up through forget-me-nots in the spring is a picture - and like Mr Lloyd we'll lob in a teasel or two and edge it with chives, parsley --- but you can do that with garden maintenance.
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  Graeme @ BGS June 17, 2009 at 8:56pm

  And there was I thinking you just done the fluffy stuff :-)
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  claudia de yong June 17, 2009 at 9:04pm

  I do- have the hair to prove it!
  
  BGS LTD said:

  And there was I thinking you just done the fluffy stuff :-)
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  pete June 20, 2009 at 3:15pm

  Ok Claudia, maybe I was being a bit provocative - I'm sorry I upset you, actually I'm not envious of designer lifestyles (or gold medals) - 'twas just a coy way of saying I'm envious of the money you designers can make. Maybe you're the head gardeners and we're the journeymen, but like I say, I would really like to be able to design/build a garden.
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  Graeme @ BGS June 20, 2009 at 3:28pm

  I fear you may be off someones christmas card list Pete :-)
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  claudia de yong June 20, 2009 at 6:40pm

  Well Pete, i would love to make the money you think us designer's make! I must say only from my part I undercharge and that has always been my problem. I need to focus on it being a business and less of the creative side which is the bit I do enjoy but as I said I am involved in every level. So unlike some designers that do do just the design, I carry the whole thing through and undercharge!! So don't be too envious. I am not upset but slightly amused!
  
  yes BGS, he is off my list!!!
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  Graeme @ BGS June 20, 2009 at 6:49pm

  Sounds like you need to check out https://landscapejuice.ning.com/forum/topics/networking-accountability