Texas Gardening: Good to know ya!, 1 by Suze_

Suze_ wrote:
1. What is your first name?
Most of my friends call me Suze or Sue, sometimes even Susan. Just don't call me late for dinner. ;o)

2. What is your favorite overall plant and why?
This year (overall), JD's Special C-Tex (tomato), outstanding flavor. At the moment, Sungold, because it is still giving me a decent amount of tasty fruit.

3. What is your favorite tree and why?
I've always liked Live Oaks, because they are just so "Southern" looking and stately. And evergreen.

4. What is your favorite shrub and why?
Evergreen - Loropetalum chinense (Plum Delight) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56040/ , or Yaupon Holly (various cultivars) because it does so well here under a variety of conditions.

Deciduous - Vitex, specifically Shoal Creek http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/84885/
(which reminds me I should upload a pic to PlantFiles)

5. What is your favorite perinnial and why?
So many I Iike, but my plant of the moment is Mexican Bush Sage/Salvia leucantha, in particular, 'Santa Barbara'.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/91020/

Knockout roses also rule for our conditions (will take both rain and drought once established), and so does Bulbine.

6. What is your favorite annual and why?
Tomatoes. I love to grow them, eat them, exchange/share information and sometimes ramble on endlessly about them. ;o)

7. What is your favorite vine and why?
Purple hyacinth bean, does well here and is very pretty.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/59092/

9. What is your favorite houseplant and why?
Snake plant (too lazy to look up the latin name), because it does well even if not by a window, doesn't take a lot of water, and the cats leave it alone.

8. Do you garden organically?
No, by organic gardening standards (technically speaking), but I do think it is important to "feed" and amend the soil with plenty of organic matter periodically.

9. How long have you been gardening?
Since I was a wee one, used to help my granddad tend and plant the vegetable garden (talk about fond memories!). He grew about an acres worth of all sorts of things. So, at least 30 years.

10. How long have you owned your current home?
One year, almost to the day. Used to live in the Metroplex.

11. Do you compost?
Yes.

12. What is your favorite insect and why?
Spiny orb weavers are rather intricate and interesting.
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=spiny orb weaver&um=...

13. What is your favorite bird and why?
Do hummingbirds count as a bird? If so, I just love to watch them. Red headed woodpeckers are also kind of neat.

14. What are some of your other interests?
I love to read, but have gotten out of the habit of late.

Playing cards.

Camping (something else I haven't done much lately).

Highly scented candles.

I also love to take long bubble baths. A favorite right now is Amber, from Bath and Body Works, very unusual and complex scent. Nice for both men and women.

15. Do you have pets/livestock? What are they?
Three cats, spoiled to death. They act like affectionate little lapdogs.

16. Do you live in the city, in a suburb, or in the country?
Sort of in the county, technically in a suburb.

17. What is the biggest problem you've had with gardening?
Trying to grow too much stuff at once, and getting overwhelmed with the upkeep and watering!

18. Where have you found the best/most information about gardening?
I honestly can't name just one source. PlantFiles as a general resource (and DG in general), Tomatoville to feed my tomato obsession.

19. Are you addicted to gardening?
Yes!

20. Post your favorite gardening pic!
So many, wouldn't even know where to begin. But see attached for one of some of my tomato harvest from this spring that a friend of mine took.

This message was edited Oct 5, 2007 6:38 PM