From Ominous to Oasis

Oasis - After

Caveat: Many of the photos displayed will not be appreciated without viewing the "before" images.

This area of interest here had so much potential; however, it had not been maintained or perhaps, haphazardly maintained, for many, many years. 

The beauty, or the centerpiece rather, is this massive Japanese Maple with three codominant stems, each which also branch off at least once again at the lower portions of the tree...she is gorgeous.

Oasis - After

The other plants of interest are the understory Camellias and Sasanquas.

The other addition or detractor (more in a moment) is a mature Crepe Myrtle that somehow made its way into the scheme of things.

Oasis - After

If you view the before photos you will realize it is difficult to distinguish one plant from another. In fact, a fair portion of the foliage you see is not that of the plants I mentioned. It is the foliage of wisteria, Virginia creeper and smilax. I was well protected from the sun as I worked until I removed much of this unwanted growth which constituted much of the crown of both the Japanese Maple and Crepe Myrtle.

Oasis - After

The crepe Myrtle was an issue as it was encroaching the crown of the Japanese Maple and it had been murdered (arbitrarily cut back) at two different heights, but fortunately, only once. Most every cut was not a sound pruning cut as was with most other cuts with all plants, so I had to repair many cuts.

The concern was whether to remove the Crepe Myrtle or prune it for future growth away from the Japanese Maple. She is attractive from most angles, particularly from the street, so I chose to keep her.

Ominous - Before

Otherwise, there was a lot of hand-and-knee work, hand pruning - high and low and getting inside of plants.

Also, I raised the canopies of the Japanese Maple and Crepe Myrtle, while lowering the crowns of the Camellias and Sasanquas.

It's fantastic see light shining through majestic trees, which also means the air flow they so badly need.

I told the customer, on the right day, she should grab a chair, her favorite beverage and enjoy reading a good book in the midst of this oasis.

Most of this project was performed in the middle of summer, but fall is a wonderful time to address such projects and many other issues.

 

Ominous - Before

Ominous - Before

We All Are Marshall...We Persevere

It has been more than a decade since I watched the movie, We Are Marshall. 

I watched it a few weeks ago and once since, as it is a wonderful story regarding the tragedy and recovery of a community struck by death and adversity, and much more.

If you have never seen the movie or read the book, do yourself a favor and do so.

You will be left with a sense of who we all are, never left alone.

For the most part, it is all the emotions and motions of life, encapsulated. 

________________________________________

We establish relationships

We create families

We build communities

We strive

We compete

We cheer

We love

We falter...we fail

We recover

We forgive

We thrive

We hunger

We love

We accomplish...we cheer

We grieve

We survive

We enjoy

We All Are Marshall

Together, We All Persevere

It's That Time Again...Time for Some Boston Butts!

Yes, it is!

The response was fantastic in the spring, butt The MOB (Men of Bethel) of Bethel United Methodist Church are looking forward to the coming Boston Butt Bonanza this fall.

Once again, we are having our semi-annual Boston Butt Bonanza (bigger and better) and this is a wonderful time to let someone else do the cookin'.

In fact, these wonderful cuts of pork, smoked and prepared by Award Winning Smokers - DOKO Smoke BBQ - will be available just in time for fall and upcoming holidays.

Do we even need a holiday to enjoy such flavor? Heck no.

Get creative! You can freeze your butt off (in the freezer) and feed your family and friends later, host a party or have some bona fide pulled pork for your next picnic.

No ifs, ands; just butts - one of the best butts you'll ever get your hands on.

The Butt: A cooked-weight of approximately seven (7) pounds of shapely deliciousness, packaged in tin foil...Only $40.00.

If you run out of ideas (silly thought) for what to do with your Boston Butt, you can always leave a few pounds for making Chalupas.

If you are not a fan of Boston Butt or still have some hanging out in your freezer, you can always designate your purchase to go to Epworth Children's Home. They are nothing, butt fans.

Proceeds go to church and community projects including funding for Family Promise (hosting homeless families once per quarter), sponsoring and volunteering for the National Prayer Line the first Saturday of each month and funding for Sheriff Leon Lott's Elder Watch Program.

Tickets are now on sale through October 17 at the Bethel United Methodist Church office Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The church is located at 4600 Daniel Drive in Forest Acres.

OR, you can use the purchase feature below and select as many butts as you can handle.

Please enter Epworth if purchase is for Epworth Children's Home.

Pick-up for the Boston Butts will be between 4PM to 7PM Friday, October 24. Pick-up will be in the rear parking lot, off Willingham Drive.

IMPORTANT! If you use the on-line purchase feature above, please print and bring your receipt when picking up as this will serve as your ticket. Your receipt will come from dingbretsen@gmail.com, so please check your e-mail spam or junk folder if you don't shortly find this in your in-box.

Please contact Doug at 803-553-5757 if you have any questions or difficulty ordering.

Thank you, very much!

K N O W I N G,  L O V I N G,  S E R V I N G

Aging in Place and Still Growing!

 

If you are a senior or family member or friend of a senior, you may be very interested in attending this event.

Made in the Shade

Shade Plant Bed

The phrase, "Made in the Shade", has many bloviated explanations; yet, it simply means living comfortably.

Typically, when I design plant beds for sun-loving plants, particularly for a home's foundation, there may be some symmetry (not always, at all), but never just one or two plants types alternated or otherwise.

If it is to be an independent or what I call an island plant bed, in the middle of the lawn, I definitely kick up the mix of plants...much more interesting, appealing. Designing plant beds depends on back-drop, the intended appeal or pizazz, and the desires of the property owner. Yes, there is more to consider.

You may wish to read "Wow! She Nailed It!", before I ramble on.

I have been restoring and maintaining the plant life on this property for over two years. I conferred with the customer about my plan to install several plants in this area saying it may seem random, with no two plants being the same. She agreed. Planning this wasn't random, but I wanted it to look natural as this is not a formal plant bed, simply a natural area her lawn service keeps edged.

Shade plants typically aren't as showy and colorful as their sun-loving cousins, particularly in regard to blooms (if any) and foliage. But, with the proper location, they do live quite comfortably. And, most are simply pleasing to view.

Fortunately, via nature and some cultivators (plant breeders), there are many which are colorful or interesting by texture or form...very attractive shade plants.

Most of the following plants (in this location) receive some filtered sun in the morning and a little bit more in the afternoon...a month later, all are doing well and growth has been noticed.

• Heart Throb Dwarf Hydrangea
• Gold King Aucuba
• Foxtail Fern
• Sum and Substance Hosta
• Tiki Pieris
• Goshiki Holly
• Hosta (Unknown - there are only 300 species - I can't know them all)

Hopefully soon, and definitely next year and many to come, the owner will look out upon this area, enjoying, living comfortably.

Fall is soon upon us and it is a wonderful time to do so much with your landscape (more to come in later articles), particularly planning, designing and installing new plants and plant beds.

As we don't live in North Dakota, many of the plants you will enjoy, will be much happier in the ground on your property rather than struggling in a pot in a nursery. 

So, plan now, plant sooner and enjoy earlier, and avoid the spring chaos. 

Beautiful Arbequina Olive Tree for Sale

 

The Arbequina Olive Tree produces its wonderful fruit and also does very well as an ornamental plant.

The photo of this girl was taken a little over a month ago...as of this posting she is beginning to produce olives.

If you are interested in having this wonderful plant as is or wish to consider finding a place for it planted on your property, please contact me.

You can learn more about her at https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/products/arbequinaolivetree?variant=13940803207220. 

She is available for $146.00, in pot, plus delivery, and installation if desired.

The promise of fresh, healthy olives with the authentic taste of Spain. Arbequinas are popular because of their flavor, but they also have a high concentration of healthy, antioxidant-rich oils. You can get up to 20 pounds of olives each year to enjoy in your salads and add to your favorite recipes - and even make your own olive oil at home!

Plus, they grow nearly anywhere. They're seldom bothered by pests and will grow organically, no matter where you live. Even better? Arbequinas grow indoors year-round. These trees are semi-deciduous, meaning they only drop their leaves in extreme cold and tolerate 20-degree weather. Grown indoors, they'll keep their leaves throughout the winter.

Please call or text me, Doug Ingbretsen, at 803-553-5757 or use the Contact Us tab above if you are interested.

Thank you.

 

That Amaryllis...My Love

I had seen her before, long ago...a wall flower, I thought, not a wild flower.

She was and is beautiful; yet, she's unaware of such.

I plodded and trodded by her so many times as I hoped to learn more of her. 

There were conversations we had, none more than we should have. Many left un-ended and plenty left unanswered. Her beauty became more intriguing...it lingered. It still does. 

Simply being near her was comforting, whether in full-bloom or otherwise. There was a sense of compassion, content, an easiness not felt since my youth.

She will always be there. I hope, and I have...

...Hope she will always be near me.