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TheCabinCalls
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# Posted: 15 Feb 2013 12:28pm - Edited by: TheCabinCalls
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My quick search didn't yield any topics already here.
It is that time a year (I think spring fever comes sooner for us cabin lovers). This time a year we always get to thinking of all the things we need to do on the exterior of the cabin. Aside from maintenance on the shell there is always landscaping things we want to tackle before the summer heat and enjoyment time comes.
So my question to you all - do you have pics or ideas of your landscaping. We are trying to stay as true to nature as possible. We'd like to add a few walking trails/paths. Some kind of patio/sitting area. And we'd love to plant a few trees to start the cycle over.
There just isn't much resource out there for landscaping in the wilderness. Even landscapers don't get it. I want native plants, things animals won't eat and things that will help ground the cabin and make it feel like part its surroundings.
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 15 Feb 2013 10:17pm
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Here are some photos of small cabins with patios, pathways and more natural looking plants that are deer resistant. I know what you mean, I've not had much luck either when I've searched ideas for our cabin. Most landscape photos are WAY to formal and grand looking. I have enough landscaping at home to keep up with, so I don't want a lot of upkeep at the cabin too.
Maybe these will give you some ideas:
cabin_landscape1.jpg
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cabin_2.jpg
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cabin_3.jpg
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cabin_4.jpg
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 15 Feb 2013 10:18pm
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and these too.
cabin_5.jpg
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cabin_6.jpg
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cabin_7.jpg
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cabin_8.jpg
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 15 Feb 2013 10:23pm
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I like the idea of the 'tree trunk' slices for the patio in pic 1 but wouldn't you think they would rot?
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hattie
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# Posted: 15 Feb 2013 10:47pm
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We are making path stones out of concrete poured into a mold that Bob built. Eventually we want each of our grandchildren to have one with their handprint in it and their name and the year. We have found using marbles to outline their names works really well. Originally we used pebbles, but they are hard to read.
We have one for our old dog, Fergie (now passed on), one for our eldest grandson and one we made last year with the footprints of each of our grandsons in (done when they were all here for a visit). This winter we will make one for our dog, Molly.
Bob coats the inside of the elongated octagon wooden mold with wax to make sure the concrete doesn't stick. Once we have made a stone, we leave it in the mold for a few months to make sure it has really hardened up well before we remove it and put it in the ground.
We learned (the hard way) that you really have to make sure you mix the concrete properly. Don't just eyeball it. The first stone we made with our eldest grandson, fell apart because the water hadn't been measured properly. The entire stone just crumbled to dust after a few months. Now we actually measure everything according to the bag's instructions.
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 15 Feb 2013 10:51pm
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That's really cool Hattie! Do you have pictures? We will be doing a patio and I would love to do that.
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hattie
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# Posted: 15 Feb 2013 11:46pm
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I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow. I think the snow has melted in that part of the yard. *S*
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Hinezy
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# Posted: 16 Feb 2013 08:22am
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I really like the tree trunk slices too! I wonder if they were coated with a sealant how long they'd last? I would still think they'd rot quick being in moist soil like that.
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naturelover66
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# Posted: 16 Feb 2013 09:13am
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I used natural landscaping materials around the cabin ...rocks and logs...then planted lots of perrenials....i planted gladiolas..tulips..daffodils...burning bushes and low maintanence ornamental grasses....
I planted a small orchard and creates natural paths...then painted stepping stones made from concrete...i used molds from planter bottoms.. You can find' them in the dollar store.
I used acrylic paint and marbles.. They held up so far!
I searched online for deer resistant varieties.....most are still there. ;)
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hattie
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# Posted: 16 Feb 2013 12:15pm
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So, of course, we woke up to snow this morning. I brushed it off the stones and Bob took a photo. The first is of the mold. Bob will be getting it waxed in a few days so we can do Molly's footprint. *S*
We still have 3 grandsons to make hand print stones with, but we wait until they are old enough to understand the concept. Hopefully this summer we will get the next oldest to do his. *S*
Stepping Stone Mold that Bob made
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Our three stepping stones
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Martian
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# Posted: 16 Feb 2013 06:24pm
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Quoting: trollbridge I like the idea of the 'tree trunk' slices for the patio in pic 1 but wouldn't you think they would rot?
Depends on the wood. What we call Hedge, others call it Bodark and Horse Apple, last for a hundred years in contact with the ground. There are fences built around here with hedge post that have been up for at least that long.
But, its too good for firewood to use for a patio, IMO.
Tom
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:53am
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Whaaaat??? Better for firewood than a patio??? Psssshaa, at least the patio would bring years of enjoyment vs. a cozy couple of hours of heat 
We don't have that wood here  Do you have any thoughts on preserving other kinds of wood? Soak each slice in water sealer?
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Martian
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 11:12am
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End grain is hard to seal and water will eventually penetrate everything. But, lots of woods will last 5 years, or more, even laying on the ground.
I guess one could sit in the cold while looking at the patio, but I'd prefer to be warm and look at rocks, instead.
Tom
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Just
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 11:39am
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trollbridge
I did one with 2 in. ceder end cuts set in 3 in of pea stone, still there when we left 8 years .
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 11:56am
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Rocks are very appealing...I love rock....but handling them all is exhausting!
Permanent though-hard to beat that!
That's what I was thinking too, Just. Laying in pea gravel would help with drainage.
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Dillio187
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 12:41pm
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I'd love to hear some plant and flower species that the deer won't eat, I think adding some basic landscaping around any cabin would help to add to it's appeal. I know from gardening that deer don't like marigolds, anything else?
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 12:56pm
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Hi Dillio.
At home we have lots of deer. They don't bother any of my hosta-and they do great in the shade. Also Iris, peonies and daylillies aren't bothered by deer. Roses and chrysanthemums, and phox are some more that I have no problems with. Forget about tulips, they gobble those right up!
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Martian
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 01:06pm
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Quoting: trollbridge Forget about tulips, they gobble those right up!
As they tip-toe through them?
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 02:34pm
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Quoting: Martian As they tip-toe through them?
Yes...as a matter of fact 
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 02:42pm - Edited by: trollbridge
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Thanks Hattie! The stones are really cute and thanks for the tip about following directions for mixing the concrete! Directions are sometimes overlooked here
Here is another photo of a "cookie" tree path. I'm really liking the looks of it!
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dvgchef
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 08:45pm
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I'm intrigued with the tree ring path too - perhaps Spar varnish on the bottom to add life span?
Last year I finished the decks - I have a sloped property and wanted lots of room to hang out on flat ground, so decks were my choice.
I'm thinking of native plantings to surround the decks that the deer don't run to - it is a short list! Black Eyed Susan, Bee Balm, Echinecia, perhaps some native bushes....
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 09:36pm
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The nice thing about decking or a boardwalk is that it gives a dry, mud free place to hang out when everywhere else is a mess. i do really like the idea of that, but am nervous that the tax man will like it too looks real nice dvgchef!
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dvgchef
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 09:51pm - Edited by: dvgchef
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Each panel of deck is less than 150 sq feet, our zoning rule.
I'm about 1/4 mile from the nearest parking place, so i have my fingers crossed.
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hattie
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 11:29pm
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One thing we have learned about deer is that they didn't read the books that say what they don't like to eat. We have had them eat our iris plants, our roses, they LOVE tulips (especially red ones). They will eat pretty much anything if they are hungry enough. One thing they don't seem to like is daffodils.
I have had some luck using cut up fabric softener sheets on the plants they are fond of (apple trees especially). I have found if I tie pieces of fabric softener sheets to branches, they seem to stay away. The only down side is that the sheets must be replaced after rain and I have learned to change the scent. If you use the same type of sheet, they get used to the smell and it doesn't work anymore. I change the types and it seems to work pretty well - not fool proof, but better than nothing. The stronger the scent the better they work.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2013 11:55pm - Edited by: MtnDon
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The tree slabs look nice. How long they last will depend on species as mentioned, and also a lot on the amount of moisture. But I would think those will act like sponges with all the end grain, as martian mentioned.
We have used some 16x16 precast concrete "patio" stones for the walk from the cabin to the shed / outhouse. They're a tan color and don't stand out so much like grey would. One thing I've found though is they are not the greatest surface to shovel snow off.
We made several hiking paths, zigzagging up and down slopes somewhat like the FS and NPS do. We edged them in 4 to 6 inch diameter pine. The pine will last many years here because we don't have great moisture. But they will deteriorate. I cut and scaped the path route with a "McClead" tool. Google should find it... a forest fire fighter tool. In places we "planted" 12x12 concrete stepping stones (where the slope increased).
We also mined some pumice from our pumice pit and used it to "demud" some walk areas. Those may need repenishing every few years, but we have a mountain of it.
It has been difficult to get native plants growing where we wanted them. We have found areas where we burned off the duff have come up green on their own. Can't choose what wants to grow though.
Ditto the advise on the concrete; it is critical not to over hydrate as well as to not make the mix too dry. It helps to cover with plastic after the surface is hard to touch. There may be some temporary surface marking, but it usually goes away after a time. Here at home O also lay out 6 mil plastic on the ground before placing the mixed. That helps prevent water from being "sucked" into the soil. Concrete cures best when mixed just wet enough and then kept damp.
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 18 Feb 2013 10:28am
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The deer annihilated my purple lilac. I never got to enjoy the blooms until the bush grew tall enough that they could no longer reach them.
Spirea and clematis do fine in my experience, as well as morning glories. My purple coneflowers also don't get eaten.
This is making me want spring to come!
Hattie, what color iris have they eaten?
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dvgchef
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# Posted: 18 Feb 2013 12:07pm
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I've been wondering what has been chomping on my lilac - the plants can't even grow, much less the flowers!
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hattie
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# Posted: 18 Feb 2013 12:40pm - Edited by: hattie
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Quoting: trollbridge Hattie, what color iris have they eaten?
hahahaha....well it's been so long since my iris plants have been able to flower I can't really remember. I think one might be purple and the other orange, but due to deer munching, it has been many, many years since I've seen an actual flower on them. *S* I suppose I could try the fabric softener sheets near them, but there isn't anything to tie them to. As soon as the iris plants start to grow, they get chomped off.
Yes, they love our lilac bushes as well. I think I read somewhere that deer didn't like lilac bushes - hmph. Try the fabric softener sheets. We had flowers last year when I put those on the bushes. The only lilac bush the deer ate last year was the one I forgot to put sheets on.
Something I have NEVER seen deer eat is lily of the valley. My absolute favourite flower!!! They spread like crazy and need basically no maintenance. They like shade. They smell heavenly!!
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 18 Feb 2013 02:14pm
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Oh yeah...I completely forgot about lily of the valley! Mine are towards the side of my yard under the trees-also where the deer frequently hang out and they leave them be. I agree with you, they are simply divine!
I've heard that if you place a cinder block near your plants the deer will stay away...only thing is the cinder block is suppose to have the scent of human urine on it (oh hubby! Lol). I've never tried it-just heard it works  maybe someone here has first hand experience and could let us know? I personally don't think the deer around us would care. They are so use to people.
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TheCabinCalls
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# Posted: 18 Feb 2013 02:20pm
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We took some native rocks and placed some "screenings" inside as a patio and it worked fine for a short while. Then we realized that the screenings were getting tracked in the cabin. Then we noticed that no one really used the space...I think it isn't a very inviting type of material. so we are looking for something to put down there. I like some ideas mentioned here.
This website was helpful: http://didibrush.com/landscape-design/residential/lake-champlain-cabin/
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After, but before plantings
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