Daylily Blueberry Sundae

Open Question: Pruning and shaping a Chilean Mesquite tree?

Hi, I have a tree that I planted about a year and a half ago. They grow so fast wow!. I want my tree shaped, like trees I see around my house some are like split where it looks like the tree has had alot of branches removed when it was young so that its got barely any main branches, and then the foliage is on the places where branches are left. My tree resembles say a Christmas tree that isnt all bushy. You see lots of brances, some larger than others growing from the main stalk, and some of those larger branches Id like to keep and get rid of the rest. Ive been reading up and got the impression that you dont remove more than 25% of the tree at one pruning (a year). It was pruned last year, basically thinned out, but now it doesnt look that way anymore, the person kinda left the branches and took off what was on the branches. Theres no trees around that look like mine, mines more a tall wide shrub instead ofa tree now. Any suggestions on how to get a more, almost Bonsai effect, meaning alot of room between branches for a more controlled look? Thank you. I cant find specific info online as of yet. Plus how far from the bottom can the branches be removed? I mean like I said, the trunk is covered in branches almost right down to the ground. The tree was in a 5 or 10 gallon bucket and only 3' tall when I got it.

Resolved Question: i am writing a novel i am sending you a page for comments should i go ahead?

The Sun was sinking slowly in to the pool of colors, emanating from the contours of its own ancient being. Under the crimson shadows of this twilight, a shepherd was trying to gather the herd of sheep and goats. He was tall smart and well-built man in his thirties. He was looking and running all around along with his Moty the dog to assemble the animals at one place to drive them home. Amazingly, the shepherd was commanding and the animals were following his commands. He and his dog were running after the goats and sheep at the same pace and coordinated directions. Tiredness was still far away from his face. Wearing well-oiled moustaches, he had an oval face with healthy cheeks and brown black piercing eyes: With long curly hairs, he was looking like a Greek knight without a sword. Along with a cloud of dust , smell of animals and a little noise of the tiny hooves of sheep and goats, Sanwal entered his mud house built in the middle of nowhere in this semi-desert landscape. He diverted the first row of the sheep towards the shed, which was a little hedge of shrubs. The following rows followed suit. Next thing on his mind was his mother waiting in the middle of the courtyard sitting on a charpoy. Under the Bunyan tree, she sat like that always. He always felt at home with the first sight of this old woman in her eighth decade of living unconsciously as animals do. Her face was full of wrinkles each written with the toil of her life. She had got married to his father Gaman more than half a century ago. Father died a quarter century before. Bringing Sanwal up was the only thrill of her life even before his birth. She waited for seventeen long years to conceive. Shah Mehrbaan was the only hope to let her dream come true. She visited the sanctuary of shah Mehrbaan several times with her husband Gaman. But fate played a game with her at this juncture. She exchanged his husband for his son; she used to say after the death of her husband. ‘Souls are exchanged they never die’. It was her belief. Once a religious man asked her to change her belief, as it was a sin to think so as it was against the laws of God. She replied with a straight face that she couldn’t afford to think otherwise about her dear departed souls. “Let me live with this sin, God is great and more gracious than his laws”

Voting Question: Red/purple shrub plant with white hairs?

I was in the woods today and I saw the creepiest looking plant. It was a shrub with long branches. The branches were red/purple in color, somewhat thick, and completely covered in white hairs. The surrounding plants were thornbushes and trees completely covered in vines. I live in new jersey. Any idea what they could be?

Voting Question: Are there any medium sized native californian trees that provide shade?

I'm working on a design for my architect landscape class, and what I seem to find are just trees that are way too big, or just a shrub. I'm looking for native medium sized tree of California. Not too big as I only have about 20 square feet to put it. Something that can provide shade and give off that "desert" Californian feel. I've already looked into the redbuds, desert willows, they all seem too big. Please help, landscape design desert in a crisis! Thanks in advance!

Resolved Question: why dont more people in the nice neighborhoods in the USA have more florals and accents in their landscapes?

have noticed that many ,,especially in the huge "Mc Mansion" style neighborhoods..have all very similar landscaping layouts and shrubs and trees, etc.. why this is? and it looks like most have very large beds with heaps of mulch on them..and many evergreen shrubs, trees, etc..like Hollies, etc. BUT NO OR NOT MANY perrenials...like in a English perennial garden style. it seems so "materialistic" to me this style..and why people like this? IS IT THE SAME WAY IN THE UK OR BRITAIN? (OR ONLY IN USA MOSTLY) when, when became popular? IF WERE TO BECOME A LANDSCAPER...WOULD SPECIALISING IN FLORALS AND GROUND COVERS AND PERINNIALS BE A BIG HIT? (AS MOST PEOPLE HAVE THE BASIC "FOUNDATION" PLANTING DONE..THEY JUST HAVENT ADDED THE ACCENT LANDSCAPING YET..WITH THE CHARMING FLORALS , ETC. WHY SO?

Resolved Question: why don't people use manure to fertilize their shrubs, trees and plants, instead of chemical fertilizers?

why use chemical fertilizers? are they not really good for the plant in long term? also, how well manure does just as good of a job in the short term in comparison to chemicals? why so many spray chemicals too on the plants? why not spread around the base? when started this way and why? WHERE TOO? IS MOSTLY IN THE USA THAT DO THIS? WHY? TALKING ABOUT THE SHRUBS..NOT THE LAWN (TO FIRST ASNWERER)

Voting Question: Please read this short story?

I've already asked this, but I want some more opinions please! Hehe, don't call me crazy- because I already am! My fingers were itching to write this, and viola! I'm only thirteen, so please don't expect too much- so, please read this and tell me how you like it? :) Thomas looked up into the sky, his eyes stung as his gaze penetrated the sun. He arose when he could not look anymore. The boy furrowed a brow and pursed his lips. The girl beside him- Anna, looked to him and asked, "What's wrong, Tom?" The boy let one side of his mouth twitch into a lopsided grin. "What?" The girl chuckled to her friend. Inside Thomas' mind, ideas were bubbling. Inside that child's mind, it was bright. Brighter than the sun. Inside that child's mind, it was big. Bigger than the Universe. And when things were bubbling inside his mind, many times those things brought forth good things. Inside his mind a huge sphere appeared, squishy and lumpy. Inside where many other spheres, erratic and simply restless. They argued and were very tired of each other, for they had not seen light or another soul in a very, very long time. They rested in darkness since the end, and only was just approaching the beginning. Finally one sphere exploded, sending the others into a frenzy. Eventually, they ripped the huge sphere in half. They were free. Each little sphere imploded, a bright light shine throughout their dark prison and they rejoiced. Being free, they were allowed to do whatever they choose. Each one laughed with delight and shone vibrantly. Soon another sphere was formed, it's surface green and blue, wisps of white here and there. On that sphere the little ones morphed happily, creating something that they named 'life'. After a while they grew bored of each other once again, the outer darkness sending things to corrupt their world. They let the darkness destroy their world. It came back more beautiful and luscious- vegetation was everywhere. The morphed themselves into something they called, "Man." They liked this form. Soon, they became too fond of themselves and forgot all about the things they had experienced. A cycle evolved; Morph, Reproduce, Die, Morph, Reproduce, Die and so on. They became viscous beings, taking their world for granted and using it's animals for their own evil doings. They were soon consumed by the darkness, which they desperately struggled to be free from. With time they developed weapons with which to hunt animal, and soon with which to hunt themselves. They pointed fingers and guns at one another, bringing forth their own downfall and a new type of darkness. Thomas snapped from his thoughts, Anna's hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" She murmured, her curly brown hair haloing her face. Anna's green eyes narrowed. "What are you thinking about?" Thomas let a loud laugh burst forth, slinging his arm around his neck. "That's for me to know," He hopped across a log and ran into the nearby forest, "And for you to find out!" He teased, disappearing beyond many trees and shrubs. Anna chuckled airily while swiping a stray hair behind her ear. She ran after Thomas, determined to find out what he was thinking about. "I kind of like," Thomas thought to himself as he darted throughout the forest, "being what other people call 'crazy'." Sorry guys, I didn't really know how to introduce what was going on in his mind- I would have used an italic font, but I don't think I can do that on Y!A. x)

Voting Question: Please read this :) ?

Hehe, don't call me crazy- because I already am! My fingers were itching to write this, and viola! I'm only thirteen, so please don't expect too much- so, please read this and tell me how you like it? :) Thomas looked up into the sky, his eyes stung as his gaze penetrated the sun. He arose when he could not look anymore. The boy furrowed a brow and pursed his lips. The girl beside him- Anna, looked to him and asked, "What's wrong, Tom?" The boy let one side of his mouth twitch into a lopsided grin. "What?" The girl chuckled to her friend. Inside Thomas' mind, ideas were bubbling. Inside that child's mind, it was bright. Brighter than the sun. Inside that child's mind, it was big. Bigger than the Universe. And when things were bubbling inside his mind, many times those things brought forth good things. Inside his mind a huge sphere appeared, squishy and lumpy. Inside where many other spheres, erratic and simply restless. They argued and were very tired of each other, for they had not seen light or another soul in a very, very long time. They rested in darkness since the end, and only was just approaching the beginning. Finally one sphere exploded, sending the others into a frenzy. Eventually, they ripped the huge sphere in half. They were free. Each little sphere imploded, a bright light shine throughout their dark prison and they rejoiced. Being free, they were allowed to do whatever they choose. Each one laughed with delight and shone vibrantly. Soon another sphere was formed, it's surface green and blue, wisps of white here and there. On that sphere the little ones morphed happily, creating something that they named 'life'. After a while they grow bored of each other once again, the outer darkness sending things to corrupt their world. They let the darkness destroy their world. It came back more beautiful and luscious- vegetation was everywhere. The morphed themselves into something they called, "Man." They liked this form. Soon, they became too fond of themselves and forgot all about the things they had experienced. A cycle evolved; Morph, Reproduce, Die, Morph, Reproduce, Die and so on. They became viscous beings, taking their world for granted and using it's animals for their own evil doings. They were soon consumed by the darkness, which they desperately struggled to be free from. With time they developed weapons with which to hunt animal, and soon with which to hunt themselves. They pointed fingers and guns at one another, bringing forth their own downfall and a new type of darkness. Thomas snapped from his thoughts, Anna's hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" She murmured, her curly brown hair haloing her face. Anna's green eyes narrowed. "What are you thinking about?" Thomas let a loud laugh burst forth, slinging his arm around his neck. "That's for me to know," He hopped across a log and ran into the nearby forest, "And for you to find out!" He teased, disappearing beyond many trees and shrubs. Anna chuckled airily while swiping a stray hair behind her ear. She ran after Thomas, determined to find out what he was thinking about. "I kind of like," Thomas thought to himself as he darted throughout the forest, "being what other people call 'crazy'." Sorry guys, I didn't really know how to introduce what was going on in his mind- I would have used an italic font, but I don't think I can do that on Y!A. x) Also, please excuse any typos- I was in a rush to write.

Resolved Question: What is the best groundcover that is the least invasive (for shady areas)?

I have read reviews on Vinca Minor, Wintercreeper Euonymus, Creeping Jenny, and Asian Jasmine and find they are invasive, taking over shrubs and other plants. Reviews say they are difficult to remove. I want to plant something in my front yard under my big shady oak trees where grass just won't grow. It needs to be something that can handle the leaves in the Fall and be mowed to maintain a height of no more than 5 inches. Also, I think I really like the look of Vinca Minor and Asian Jasmine. Just HOW invasive are they? If my yard is bordered by gravel will they stop there? Okay, my heads spinning. Lol! Forgot to add, that I live in zone 7b. (NE Georgia) @glenn t: I thought about Dwarf Monkey Grass as it's not invasive and is low growing. They would be quite expensive to cover the entire yard with them, though. But, I suppose any of the others would, too. Trying to keep the cost down as much as possible. Just getting some ideas here. Thanks. ;) Hi, Emmaean! So Asian Jasmine can be controlled fairly easily? I looked at a picture of it and it's beautiful. We have a mower to keep it from getting too tall. I think it would be beautiful as the main part of the yard and have beds of Hostas and other shade lovers in some areas. it will look so much nicer than that brown ground with dried up leaves. Lol! Thanks again, for your expertise. ;) for ?: Creeping Jenny is very pretty. I do have a pot of it. It would be nice in a separate area or just some hanging pots. Love the way it wisps down the sides. Thanks.

Resolved Question: What are some woodland-like plants I can plant in the desert?

I just love and miss the woodland. I want to see if I could plant some oak trees, apple, cherry, peach, and some other trees there. Also, why is it popular in desert places to put rocks and gravel as a lawn? It's just a shit excuse to go without growing grass. I want to go again and lay down in a field of grass and look up into the clouds. People don't seem to talk about the weather much out here either. Or the clouds or the breezes. It's just the latest in technology, hm? Then why don't people think about alternate energies, like steam? Er....off topic. But the trees and shrubs?