Oh Ryan, how horrid. Surely your family know you well enough to know your garden is precious to you! And your s.dads response that it looks better now was just mean! If he set her on (esp if she's still only young and/or not a gardener) he should at least supervise and offer help/advice - in fact some company at the least - so was it just an attmept to 'get her off his back? Get so.e time to himself'...sorry getting cross now and not knowing your family that's wrong. I really hope some roots (not weeds) have survived and will come back to bring you joy. Enjoy choosing some lovely replacement plants, wipe the slate clean, and make the most of a brand new planting project! X
When you started writing I was expecting you to say that you returned to find an amazing garden make-over, but . . . . what a shock. I'd have felt nurderous. Bet you didn't know where to turn. The only good thing is that there's a new start ahead of you, perhaps with a plan. Re your buddleja 'Buzz' wish - I wouldn't bother. We've found they're gimmicky and grow out. There are better established forms available, 'Lochinch' 'Summerhouse Blue', and the latest more reliably dwarf ones, 'Blue Chip' and 'Lilac Chip'. HC
Definitely make the most of this in every way you can. People here will give you great suggestions, like hortum. Make it clear you expect them to pay for it, your family I mean.!!
Oh Ryan how sad. Did your s sis dig the roots up or just cut back. Hopefully some may grow back. Surely she should have asked if she wasn't sure what a weed looked like. And knowing you work in a gc and do the garden they should have asked you first. Ryan I would be so upset if it were mine, sendind hugs.
Being young is a distinct disadvantage in a household Ryan. At least you've learnt now the importance of keeping the weeds at bay yourself (and making a point of telling everyone the weeding has been done already) if you want a vested interest in the garden so that "good intentions" can't get to the precious flowers scattered between the millions of dandelions! I can't really blame your sister - to be truthful to me a weed is any plant that is in the way I could well have ripped up some treasures in this garden and never known about it. So for your sister all those plants not matter how beautiful you thought there were are in fact just weeds in the way of her getting some cash.
I learnt (through my mother thinking me stupid and offering me a piece of weed filled clay trapped garden and letting me dig it all out, hump rotted compost from the bins and horse manure from the neighbours paddock until my arms must have dragged on the floor, saving up my newspaper round money to buy soil conditioners and then while I was saving up to buy the plants I had carefully chosen to put in it sticking some horrid gastly plants in MY GARDEN while I was at school before offering me another area of garden weed filled clay trapped.... like I'd fall for that one) that unfortunately like it or not if your name isn't on the deeds to the house that no matter how passionate you are in the garden if you want peace and harmony in the house (you know - as much as you can when you have a sister) you have to accept that their idea of "tidy" "pretty" "neat" in the garden will be completely different to yours and so plants that you care and nurture are indeed just in the way for them and will get ripped up if they decide a bird bath is going there or that we really do need a log pile where you keep your pots of strawberries. Perhaps if there are plants that are especially important to you you can keep them in pots so signify they're not for pruning (and so they can be easily moved should the family decide they want to do something in that area).
I really feel for you Ryan - but tomorrow is another day.
My pregnant neighbour grew a wonderful row of runner beans and watched the flowers multiply daily, anticipating the crop to follow. She then dozed off in her garden chair, to be awoken by her toddler daughter bringing her a bunch of flowers - pretty red flowers - she has picked every one of the flowers off the beans!
Try to use the situation to educate your sister - take her to the garden centre and let her help you choose the replacements - make her responsible for daily watering and point out every bit of growth that occurs - help her to take pride in the results of her labours - and don't forget those labels to mark what is planted.
Good luck - hope to hear how it all turns out later.
Posts
When you started writing I was expecting you to say that you returned to find an amazing garden make-over, but . . . . what a shock. I'd have felt nurderous. Bet you didn't know where to turn. The only good thing is that there's a new start ahead of you, perhaps with a plan. Re your buddleja 'Buzz' wish - I wouldn't bother. We've found they're gimmicky and grow out. There are better established forms available, 'Lochinch' 'Summerhouse Blue', and the latest more reliably dwarf ones, 'Blue Chip' and 'Lilac Chip'. HC
Definitely make the most of this in every way you can. People here will give you great suggestions, like hortum. Make it clear you expect them to pay for it, your family I mean.!!
Trouble is, with Ryan being so young I dont suppose he gets much say.
Maybe we have some plants you want, you could post a list, I remember sending you something before.
Oh Ryan how sad. Did your s sis dig the roots up or just cut back. Hopefully some may grow back. Surely she should have asked if she wasn't sure what a weed looked like. And knowing you work in a gc and do the garden they should have asked you first. Ryan I would be so upset if it were mine, sendind hugs.
if they have been dug up have you tried salvaging the root balls from the rubbish and repotting? with some TLC they might come back
Being young is a distinct disadvantage in a household Ryan. At least you've learnt now the importance of keeping the weeds at bay yourself (and making a point of telling everyone the weeding has been done already) if you want a vested interest in the garden so that "good intentions" can't get to the precious flowers scattered between the millions of dandelions! I can't really blame your sister - to be truthful to me a weed is any plant that is in the way I could well have ripped up some treasures in this garden and never known about it. So for your sister all those plants not matter how beautiful you thought there were are in fact just weeds in the way of her getting some cash.
I learnt (through my mother thinking me stupid and offering me a piece of weed filled clay trapped garden and letting me dig it all out, hump rotted compost from the bins and horse manure from the neighbours paddock until my arms must have dragged on the floor, saving up my newspaper round money to buy soil conditioners and then while I was saving up to buy the plants I had carefully chosen to put in it sticking some horrid gastly plants in MY GARDEN while I was at school before offering me another area of garden weed filled clay trapped.... like I'd fall for that one) that unfortunately like it or not if your name isn't on the deeds to the house that no matter how passionate you are in the garden if you want peace and harmony in the house (you know - as much as you can when you have a sister) you have to accept that their idea of "tidy" "pretty" "neat" in the garden will be completely different to yours and so plants that you care and nurture are indeed just in the way for them and will get ripped up if they decide a bird bath is going there or that we really do need a log pile where you keep your pots of strawberries. Perhaps if there are plants that are especially important to you you can keep them in pots so signify they're not for pruning (and so they can be easily moved should the family decide they want to do something in that area).
I really feel for you Ryan - but tomorrow is another day.
My pregnant neighbour grew a wonderful row of runner beans and watched the flowers multiply daily, anticipating the crop to follow. She then dozed off in her garden chair, to be awoken by her toddler daughter bringing her a bunch of flowers - pretty red flowers - she has picked every one of the flowers off the beans!
Try to use the situation to educate your sister - take her to the garden centre and let her help you choose the replacements - make her responsible for daily watering and point out every bit of growth that occurs - help her to take pride in the results of her labours - and don't forget those labels to mark what is planted.
Good luck - hope to hear how it all turns out later.
Ohh Ryan I really feel for you, best get shopping, nothing like a bit of retail therapy .
Pansyface, wish some one would chuck my clothes out and buy nice new ones lol