Re Love of the Dungeon

Happy Saturday Everyone.

Right beyond these patio rails is a dark secret place.

Right beyond looking down from the rails of our backyard deck is a dark hole I call the dungeon!

These steps lead down to the dungeon!


There it is the Dungeon.  The pathway leading to the downstairs entrance into our finished basement.  Scary, ugly, damp and gloomy! 

 It is in need of a makeover.  So Terry and I are working on this project this weekend. 

That is in between some wicked rain storms and other yard work.  Stay tuned I will have the after re love of this space to show you soon.  Just need this rain to hold off and let us work our "magic".

On a more above ground and brighter note.  Have any of you ever planted Brown Eyed Susan's?  I got these and would like to plant them in the backyard.

This is the backyard area I am thinking about.  See that clearing under the trees.  I was thinking there and then around this tree they are sitting in front of right now. 


They get light all day.  Hot sun in the late afternoon to sunset. 

 Have any of you ever planted these?  Do they get big and spread out?  How far apart should I put them and do you think these areas will be a good fit for them?

 I am slowly getting more and more perennials planted.  I thought they would give a smile to this back part of the yard. 

I need a little color back there and thought these might be a good fit.  So if any of you have ever planted these please share your thoughts.


Looks like they still do not have the comments coming into our emails fixed yet.  Ugh!!! This makes things so much more complicated and frustrating.

 Please know I read your comments and will leave replies to your comments and questions back here on the post.  So if you have asked a question or just want to see I have read your sweet comment you can come back to visit to see what I have replied back to you.

I hope they get this fixed soon.


Have a good weekend and I will be hopefully back soon to show you what we do with the "Dungeon"!!!
xoxo
Kris


37 comments

  1. Hi Kris! I have a lot of experience with Rudbeckia (also called Brown-eyed or Black-eyes Susan). They are super easy to grow and will spread. Plant them about 18" apart. You'll want to remove faded and dead flowers to encourage continued blooming. They'll give you years of beauty in your yard, and you may find that every few years you need to divide them to keep them from crowding. Also, if you cut them back after they've stopped blooming you may get another round of blooms before the end of the season. Great choice for your yard as they're prolific and don't require a lot of water. Can't wait to see what you do with the "dungeon". hehe Hugs!

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    1. Thanks Nancy so much. I will private email you to ask a few more questions.
      Happy Saturday.
      xoxo
      Kris

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  2. Hi,
    Have fun with fixing up the dungeon.
    I see Nancy has explained your lovely Rudbeckia. :-) I will add they make great cut flowers as well. I have had bouquets last for 2 weeks!!
    Love, Carla

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    1. Thanks Carla so much. I am excited to learn more about these. They make me smile so I am happy you guys with experience love them and say they are easy growers.
      xoxo
      Kris

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  3. I know it will look amazing when you get through with it.

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    1. Thanks Marty. Hope you are in that pool enjoying. Seriously if I lived closer you would see me out in your pool all summer long. Happy Saturday.
      Hugs,
      kris

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  4. I love what you are choosing for your yard! I've never been aware of Brown Eyed Susans. Happy to learn that. :)

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  5. Hi Kris, the stairs down to our basement look just like this. Can't wait to see what you do! I've always called them Black Eyed Susan's. I love them. Here in UT they seed and don't always come back in the same place, but you always have them. They just like to move around. :) They can get big and need to be planted 18-24 inches apart. I hate that comments aren't coming to e-mail as well!!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  6. I don't know if Brown-eyed Susans and Black-eyed Susans are the same thing, but if what you have is Rudbeckia, it will self seed like mad. I love them anyway :) Good luck with your project!! xoxox

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  7. Looking forward to seeing what you do with the dungeon! I have never planted those susans….

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  8. Hi Kris,
    I am amazed by all of the work that you and your husband have been doing to your lovely house. It is so much work and you two are putting your love into it. I love the brown eyed susans. I have never had them but they look so bright and cheery. They will look great near the fence. Good luck with the dungeon.
    By the way someone has told me that in the comment section where it says notify me that you can click that box and you will receive the comment notificaitons in your email in box.
    I have done that to my last blog post and it's working, I am receiving email notifications in my email inbox. You just have to click that box everytime you do a blog post. The blogger will be no-reply but you still get the notifications. That might be a solution for the time being and hopefully it will go back to the way it was before.
    Take care.
    Hugs, Julie

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  9. Hi Kris, I hope the rain will stop, so that you get to work on the dungeon. Your backyard looks beautiful and the brown-eyed Susans will be a lovely pop of color.
    Have a great Sunday!
    xo Julia

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  10. Hello, sunshine!!!!!!

    Oh Kris, you and Terry are going to perk up that stairwell and it will be great. I've also never planted these flowers, but they will add that wonderful summer look. I usually am not a YELLOW lover, but these are stunning. We also have found another British Netflix show we love. It's an offshoot of "Escape to the Country" and it's called "Escape to the Continent." You must watch it; the first episode and second home in FRANCE where they take the potential buyers converted my aversion to yellow. The house is my French country dream and it as many yellow accents!

    ANYHOOOOO......yesterday, it was a bust as far as the weather; we got rain too but we managed to get a small project started early in the morning and if the weather cooperates today, we'll finish!

    More in email...

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  11. Good Morning Kris
    I have these pretty flowers, yes they spread but oh how fun it is to have big bouquets, they are such a happy flower
    They will look great where ever you decide to plant them. I can't wait to see what you will be doing with the dungeon* have a great weekend Kris
    deezie

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  12. I planted them last year, but they didn't come back this year as I thought they would. My coneflowers never come back either.
    Brenda

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  13. I’ve never planted those flowers and it sounds like people have had mixed results based on the comments, but I have a feelings yours will do just fine.

    If anyone can make that stairwell look inviting, you and Terry can!

    xxx

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  14. Kris, you and your hubby are super busy transforming your sweet home. I am looking forward to seeing your scary dungeon transformed.
    The flowers are lovely. Your garden is looking gorgeous! Happy Sunday. xo

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  15. My Mom had Brown Eyed Susans bordering her veggie garden growing up and they were huge and bloomed all summer long. You'll love them! Can't wait to see how you brighten the dungeon.

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  16. First of all, I've never grown your pretty flowers...I've always wanted to try them so it's good to read what others have said. And I can't wait to see the re love of the dungeon. I know you will make it look all better! I hope they fix the comments soon. It's a pain for all of us!

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  17. The dungeon! Ha! You are so funny! I can't wait to see how you transform the space. And thanks for the information about the flowers. I am always looking for new perennials and those are beautiful. Lots of great information regarding them in the comments. Now I am on the hunt!! xoxo

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  18. I can picture lighter colors with paint leading down to the dungeon and flowers "growing" upon the walls on either side going down!!!

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  19. Hi Kris, what everybody has said about the black- or brown-eyed Susans is true....they are perennials that will spread....until they don't. Mine are 14 yrs old, and they have withered out, both because I never divided them when they got too thick, and also because weeds took over and choked them out. I have divided and replanted mine this year. What Brenda said about her coneflowers not coming back was also true for me....until they came back about 4 or 5 years later! Last year I transplanted those, and they've come back fine. Sometimes I think it's the amount of sun.....both coneflowers and the BES love the sun.

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  20. Kris,
    Your flowers are looking beautiful! Can't wait for the dungeon transformation!

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  21. I hope you get your comments--Blogger is insane.

    I love what you are doing in your back yard...Black Eyed Susans are very easy and spread very well.

    Our whether is nonsense. Keep your fingers crossed!

    Jane

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  22. The stairs to the dungeon look like a challenge! It will be interesting to see what you two came up with. Love the black/brown eyed susans. I have the traditional type that are smaller and they’ve been growing for years. Yours look like sunflowers they’re so large!

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  23. Can't wait to see what you do with your dungeon. xo Laura

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  24. Oooooo, scary! lol But not for long, thanks to the amazing Kris and Terry! Can't wait!

    I've never grown Black-Eyed Susans, but they sure are happy-looking flowers! I'd love to see them while sipping my coffee each morning!

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  25. Hi Kris, I tried commenting here yesterday but after I wrote it all it wouldn't take it?? Hope it works today. I have no doubt that you and Terry will work your magic on the dungeon and make it beautiful. I love black-eyed Susans. I think they will do very well in that spot and probably just about where you have them placed now. They are such an old fashioned flower and make the most beautiful bouquets..Happy Monday..xxoJudy

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  26. I bet you and Terry turn the Dungeon into a palace!....I have not planted Black-Eyed Susans, however my neighbor has and they are just gorgeous in the summer!...she plants them in her front yard and it has a western exposure....

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  27. I'm looking forward of seeing what You do
    Hugs

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  28. Good luck with the dungeon lol Our first house came with brown eyed susans planted around the mailbox. They came up beautifully every year and we didn't have to do a thing! You'll love them! xo Kathleen

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  29. I can't wait to see what you and Terry do with that dark staircase! I have brown-eyed susans in my butterfly garden and yes, they sure do spread. Not quickly - it takes a few years. But spread, they do.

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  30. Hi, I am so curious about your Disney trip. Planning one next year with our big family and was hoping you could share your info about that darling house!?
    Thanks so much, Beth goodvariety@yahoo.com

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  32. Didn't you have water problems on one of your yard? I hope you got that fixed.

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  33. I hope the black eyed susans are working out.

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  34. Stunning, Fantastic its looks so astounding. Much obliged to you for sharing this article and keep doing awesome. flooring dragon martvinyl

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