Hi, JD - That's interesting -- and a relief, because in my effort to keep the 5-1-1 for the gardenias and azaleas "acidic", I didn't add the garden lime but was recently told that it will probably cause some deficiency in the future. Perhaps my water will save the day for those. Thank you for your input! Someone on another forum said the jpg was too small. Here's the link to the PDF if anyone wants to take a look. Here is a link that might be useful: Water Report PDF

Pachysandra terminalis is the only thing that I have found that will grown under my maple, period. It flourishes and eats up leafs and requires no watering or fertilization. I doubt it can take foot traffic especially children playing. My suggestion is an area of pachysandra set into a definte constrained area with a six inch or more heavy duty edging, Roundup sprayed one or twice a year on the rhizomes that will eventually work their way under the edging and peastone or artificial grass for the kids. The pachysandra, when constrained, will fill in very thick and will earn its nickname "green mulch". Left to wander it will look unkept and straggly. That's my suggestion, good luck whatever you decide. Jon

Oh my lamb!!! You have done a great job, Santi, with your gardens I love it all. The space is beautiful. Is the precious plant in the 6th & 7th photos from the bottom up a type of Gaura maybe? Its awesome. I love your Geraniums. What's your secret to growing them? I can't. I think because it gets so humid here in south MS. I have a pale/clear pink one that I bought in a mixed basket this spring that I put in a half whiskey barrel and just about lost during the hottest part of the summer. I cut it back hard and it's looking better and getting new blooms since it's cooled off...just in time to freeze and be lost. I may dig and pot it up and put it in the garage for winter. Thanks for sharing, Leslie

Yes, I think so too. I was a bit unsure bacause in general I do not like Pungens. I do not like blue conifers in general. Hence my preference for P. martinezii and not Chihauhuana for instance. Pungens is one of those species you won't find near the coast, but it tolerates salt really well. I found a beautiful, weeping form which was quite large really close to the coast. And I have to say I really really like this one. Looks very full and healthy.