| When we moved into our south Anchorage
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| | July, nurseries have little selection and
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| log home I had glorious plans for the 1/3
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| | many of the plant markers have
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| acre lot. Some previous owner had chopped
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| | disappeared. However, this is my favorite
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| down every tree counting on the
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| | time to shop for plants because the mark
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| neighboring woodlands for green and
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| | downs are practically giving plants away.
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| shade. The house was near the street with
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| | Every year since, I've added some
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| a lumpy hilly and narrow backyard that
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| | treasure from one of these sales. The
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| ended in the neighbor's goat pen. I was
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| | first was a spreading Veronica (who knows
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| young, enthusiastic and confident that my
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| | what variety), that grows so
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| green thumb could transform our piece of
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| | prolifically, I can use them for garden
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| Alaska into a glorious landscaped garden.
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| | trades every year.The third summer I
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| Now, 20 years later the neighborhood has
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| | discovered wildflower seed mix. That was
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| evolved from birch/spruce woods to
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| | the end of bare spots for my yard and
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| suburban sprawl and I'm still working on
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| | provided the original plants that have
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| the transformation and enjoying every
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| | now been moved to more organized and
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| season.It was very important in those
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| | cared for beds. Columbine,
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| early days, to work on the cheap. With 5
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| | forget-me-nots, lupin, and several
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| small children the vegetable garden was
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| | varieties of poppies continue to thrive
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| more important than ornamentals.
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| | and surprise me.My favorite plants are
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| Composting was the only way I could
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| | are the one's that were free or
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| afford to enrich a flower bed. What was
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| | practically free. The frugal gardener can
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| once a necessity became a passion -
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| | find dozens of ways to create a sea of
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| creating self-sustaining perenial
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| | color without spending any green. Some of
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| flowerbeds for less than $20/year.Twenty
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| | my most successful tips include:
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| years later, my garden is still a work in
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| | Recover/rescue. Abandoned gardens often
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| progress. I can and do spend money on
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| | have plants that will thrive with a
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| plants now. And yet, gazing at my sitting
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| | transplant and a bit of loving attention.
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| garden I'm surrounded by the memories of
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| those early days and the decendents of
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| | Divide and conquer. As your established
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| the first little slips of green I
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| | plants spread, find new homes for their
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| nurtured so carefully.Zone 3 gardening on
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| | babies.
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| a budget isn't as hard as it sounds.I
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| | Trading Treasures. When you divide a
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| started with a small clump of siberian
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| | favorite plant, set aside some of the
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| iris that grew in the loose gravel
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| | babies to trade with other gardeners.
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| driveway that first spring. One clump
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| | Search the sales. Your garden is a
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| became 5, 5 became 10 and every year my
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| | process that usually takes years. Don't
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| irises are the center point of the
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| | think your planting season is over just
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| growing season. With a little luck I
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| | because summer's nearly over. Hit the
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| won't have to divide my irises for a few
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| | nurseries throughout August for a great
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| more years, but think I know where I can
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| | deal.
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| add the next batch...Near the front porch
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| | Beautification programs. Every once in a
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| a shock of Maltese Cross is in full
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| | while, communities and businesses will
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| bloom. I rescued 3 plants from the
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| | sponsor giveaways that can really payoff.
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| woodpile behind the shed that first year,
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| | We've added several trees from Arbor Day
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| not knowing what they would be or how
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| | and Earth Day programs.A word of caution
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| tall they would grow when cared for. I
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| | though. Many areas have laws prohibiting
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| get more comments and compliments on
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| | you from digging up native plants from
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| these reclaimed wildflowers than any of
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| | wilderness areas. These natural habitats
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| the exotics I've tried. In the enriched
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| | are not free-for-alls and should be left
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| bed, my Maltese Cross grow 3 feet tall
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| | alone. When in doubt, call the
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| with fist sized red flower clusters. Over
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| | appropriate government agency and ask.
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| the years, I've easily divided these
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| | While I don't "steal" from state parks,
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| plants and use them effectively in my
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| | I've been given the go ahead to "rescue"
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| borders.More treasures that first year
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| | lilacs, rubarb, and other abandoned
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| included a rosebush that had been nearly
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| | plants from city land taken by eminent
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| choked to death by siberian peas. We've
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| | domain before a road or bike path was
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| called it a sitka rose but can't be sure.
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| | constructed.Your patch of yard can become
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| She's now a mother many times over as
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| | a garden no matter how tight your budget.
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| we've helped deliver healthy suckers that
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| | Just get a bit creative and never be
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| have grown into shrubs nearly 5 feet tall
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| | afraid to ask for cuttings. Compost for
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| and more around.Daisy's of course were
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| | black gold and remember to think long
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| and continue to be a beautiful pest. My
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| | term. You'll never be poor when you live
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| oldest son took over a small "daisy
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| | surrounded by flowers.JoMarie Thomson was
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| garden" that I was threatening to burn to
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| | transplanted to Alaska over 25 years ago.
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| the ground. Not that he had to do
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| | Editor and Publisher of she is known to
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| anything more than help me keep the
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| | run her websites and web design company,
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| daisy's from taking over the rest of the
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| | with a laptop from her South Anchorage
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| yard, flower and garden beds!The second
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| | garden. Beauty, JoMarie insists, inspires
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| summer I used my budget at a close out
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| | beauty.
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| table from a nursery in early July. By
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