General Discussion & Chat: Best/ worse/ ? did you learn today #28visit with friends..., 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Shar,

Love your verbal eloquence!!!!! No wonder you are writing all these articles for DG.
Please tell me WHERE I can go and catch up on all the ones I have missed? Are they under "Extras"?
I usually realize how many I have missed when I get the DG Newsletter. Then there they all are!

The Aboriginal thing you can't think the name of is a "diggeridoo". Now--WHAT is it again?
I love all their unique expressions! I bought a small book when i was there that has a lot of these in them. Like--we all know the song "Waltzing Matilda"--but do you know what that really is????? Laura--you can't guess! NO fair!!!
When they talk about a "Barbie"--do you know what that is? Hint--it is NOT a doll! Geez! I should get my book out and give you a quiz a day!

It is SNOWING so beautifully outside!!! BIG, FAT, CLUMPY snowflakes!!! Thanks, Ruby! Did you huff and puff and blow it this way? I just stepped outside my front door and took some pictures of the street. Also one out my BR window (closed, of course) of my neighbor's yard. Will post them shortly. Have to upload them. Later I may go outside and take some more--before it all changes to rain and slush. It will be like the clock stuck midnight and the carriage turned back into a Pumpkin.

Shar, I read your article on Birches. VERY interesting and educational!
I have a clump Birch in my yard. It has those inverted "v" thingies on the trunk. I forget, but was that one called a "European Birch"? It has several main trunks ("clump birch--dah!"). It is now about 30 years old. Reincarnated several times......

I know they are not long-lived, but every time I see that one of the trunks is dying, I choose a well-placed shoot/sucker and allow it to grow into a replacement one. One of the original trunks is now dead! Started dying last Summer. It is big and tall and curved! Will have to find someone with a chain saw to cut it down this Spring....Cut up Birch logs make pretty firewood--like, for display only! The "chosen" sucker is already about 1/2" in diameter and asserting it's place in the "family"....

In my country of birth (Latvia) the birch bark was used for many things. The ancient people made shoes out of them. They are called "Pastalas" in Latvian. Birches are so popular in the Northern European countries. Very much part of our culture, folk-arts and folk songs. Birches are very near and dear to all our hearts. Too bad we here cannot grow the big, stately Paper Birches. Just too warm!
You could drive down any street here and tell where someone lives that is from one of those countries. They will have a Birch tree somewhere on their property. And--So I do as well......Not a 100% sure diagnosis, but very likely!

You know--If I did not sit here 10 x a day to see who has posted what, I think I would get a lot more done!!!! YES!! I admit! I am addicted to you all and to DG!!!! THERE!
I also admit that you all have become a significant part of my life.

For whoever asked if I do anything special to/about my Camellia--NO! I do not! I can tell you though that Camellias need protection fro harsh winter winds. So, it is best to plant one in a very protected spot. They do not need full sun or even morning sun. Mine is right next to my front steps and is "protected" on both sides by tall shrubbery. There is a 10' tall Canadian Hemlock on the W. side (the windy side) and a good sized Yew on the other side. It seems to like it there.
It starts making next year's flower buds in the late Summer/Fall, much like a Rhodo, and they just sit there all through the Winter in a suspended state--s-l-o-w-l-y getting a bit plumper. Then when the weather breaks, they just swell and swell and then burst open in the most amazing, beautiful bloom!
I just wanted to warn you all if you go to a Big Box Store and buy a Camellia. Make SURE it is a hardy one!!!!! They will all sit there mixed up. Some of them are not all that winter hardy! If it helps any--the hardy ones have bigger, sturdier and shiny leaves.

SO! Here is a close up of MY "Baby"!

Love, Gita