CLOSED: Free Seed For Newbies! 8/10/09. Come Join Us!

We came from here:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1024148/

Directions for Free Seeds here:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1010521/

Welcome newbies!!!

Getting a new thread won't help you hide. I found ya. Me and my new grandson gonna conspire.

LOL.. well, be prepared.. he likes to eat... everything.. event he things you think are safe in their hiding places wont escape the expert sniffing ability of 'Monkey'... hehehe

Well, I'll know what he wants for Christmas. FOOD
What is his favorite snacks?

This message was edited Aug 9, 2009 9:08 PM

ok I found you all. trying to run off again huh?

How's this for container gardening? These babies are about 6' tall. Found at a McDonald's on south Delaware Beach. The new Angus Burgers are pretty good, too.

Al

Another shot of same. They were huge, probably wouldn't have to worry about getting them stolen!

LOL. mekos - i wouldnt even attempt to narrow down any ONE food as Monkey's favorite...LOL, he just likes food...

Al - I'd say those containers are safe from any and all midnight plant thieves, for certain

Well the containers might be safe but give me a chance at the plants hehehe

Oooww, pretty, AL. Didn't know mcdonalds had such good tast. Love the containers AND plants. I got some seeds in the other day of Sago Palm and the seeds are huge. Big as a golf ball. I've never seen anything with seed that big. I got to figure out how to plant them. Soak or what. Never had any of these before. Thought I might try to grow one for a while. They won't live here in my climate and don't think I could tote a big tree in and out the greenhouse for long, so may have to trade it off next year or so, but would love to give it a try. Anyone know much about them and germination info? Maybe some of you florida peeps.

OH by the way, that seed is japanese sago palm to be precise. Well, got to go to bed. Talk at ya tomorrow. Good night everyone. Night John boy, hope you feel better soon. The peppermint and chocolate sage is going in my memory garden from john boy, Those are sure, and still thinking on the others. I'm thinking on a rounded garden arch in the middle for some blue sky vine to run on from Blondie and if Loca gets the rooted piece of her vine to go on the other side that will be from them. This is as far as I have got in the planning stage just yet. Oh well, good night , work on it more tomorrow. Love you guys.

Evening everyone. Or should I say nite nite. Been busy today.

Loved the containers Al. The hypertufa forum has been showing carved concrete containers. Soooo pretty.

Big auction Mekos! Congrats to Blond!

Thanks to Mindy and Cue for weed control lasagna. LOL

Feel like a true farmer today. Hauled manure and roasted tomatoes. Here's a pic to make you hungry. And another to wish you happy dreams.

NIte NIte

I have plenty of manure.... 5 horses get you that way, lol.. So I heard that you need to let manure sit for a year before using it in your garden.. Is that so and why?

Hi MechelleT

Fresh manure is too hot for your garden. It needs to break down first. This article may give you more info. It's nice you have it readily available. Mine comes in bags. LOL

http://www.gardenersnet.com/atoz/manure.htm

Good info Seray, Thanks! I wonder if the weed seeds die off when the manure breaks down. Don't need any more weeds around, lol

You're welcome. If it gets hot enough during it's compost time I think it will kill the weeds. We're doing lasagna gardening and comparing notes on this forum. Weed free is the charm of it for me. Hate weeding! LOL

if you are careful and make the weed (green) layer at the bottom of your pile, then the weight of the rest of the pile plus the sheer depth will be enough to 'smother' them out. they will not be able to germinate and break the surface. They will eventually compost n the lasagna bed.. However, with a traditional compost pile, one that is turned on a regular basis, putting weeds in would not be advisable as there is a risk of bringing the seed closer tot he surface as you turn it.. and more chance of them germinating.

I hate weeding too Seray.. Do I need to turn the manure to aid in it breaking down, Cue? What could I add to it to start a lasagna garden? Is this the best time of year to start a compost pile?

a lasagna bed is the best 'work free' or close to it option. there is not turning... no digging, you simply just lay a layer of cardboard or thick layer of newspaaper down and build from there, layering greens and browns until you have a 12 - 18 inch high bed (it will sink over time). you can opt to plant right away and should you choose to do this, a thick layer of topsoil will be needed to plant in. the other option is simply to cover the bed and let it break down over the winter.. so by spring, you have a nice rich bed to plant in... keeping it moist all winter, of course. if you go back thru the last thread (8/06/09) I explained how I built my layers and then planted right away.

great. im up at 1 am because my AC decided to quit on me and now its bloody 85 in the house... stoopid AC

Morning All! More Pics coming. These two butterflies were sharing a coneflower at a rest area on the PA Turnpike. Just happened to catch them on the way.

Al

Another shot, gotta Love 'em.

Morning Everyone!

The pics are great AL! You should enter the first one in bloom for a day. (not sure that's the right title) I tried to find the link. Everyone would enjoy seeing them. Maybe Robin can tell you. Thanks for sharing! Keep them coming :)

here is a pic of a Monarch laying her eggs on my milkweed earlier this summer.

All these butterflies are neat. I love them. There were a couple pictures on the auction thread this morning. So pretty. We seem to be having a lot of them this year.
Good morning everyone.
suppose to be 96 today and I assure you I'm not going out there, later on. Got to go finish watering right now and back in for the day.

OK Cue, I just read back through the last thread.. I think I have a PERFECT place to start a lasagna bed. On the south side of my house I have a "flower bed" it's probably 20 ft long by 3 ft wide. I haven't done anything with it besides weed-eat since we've been here.. lots of crab grass.. There is a 2 ft section that has some garden phlox growing, but I have so much phlox around here, I won't miss it ;-) I don't know what I will plant there, but I guess I have time before spring to figure it out. Should I use Round up to kill off the grass underneath before I start, or just lay cardboard or plastic down first?

nope.. just lay the cardboard down ( be sure the edges overlap a bit) the cardboard plus layers will kill off the grass and weeds growing underneath, thats why you do the cardboard/newspaper step.. so that you dot have to dig, till, or weed!

Do you use any type of household food garbage besides banana peels and coffee grounds?

you can use:

crushed egg shells
lettuce
veggie scraps (no potato or onion tho)
shredded newsprint (not the shiny.glossy inserts)
grass clippings
dead.dried leaves
fresh leaves
yard trimmings
peat moss or spanish moss
pine needles


just remember, the finer everything is shredded, the quicker it will break down for you... dont toss whole veggies in, they will take awhile to break down. the goal is to create a bed in a little time.. so keep things small and layered.

also, if you are waiting until next spring, make sure you keep the bed moist.. like a damp sponge.. and maybe cover it with a black trash bag or plastic to help 'cook' the bed down. but dont turn it.. just keep adding layers :)

I just burned 2 garbage bags full of shredded papers :( oops... thanks for the ideas! I'm excited to get started on it.

Hi MechelleT Welcome to the lasagna contingent. LOL There's lots of articles on the web and YouTube. Here's one link:
http://ourgardengang.tripod.com/lasagna_gardening.htm

Enjoy

Welcome Mechelle. Glad to have more newbies. Jump right in when you see an opening. We're just one big flowering family, learning from one another. (me mostly learning from them) but welcome and great gardening.

Oh mekos, You know as much as the rest of us. LOL

I second Flower on your knowledge Mekos so quit being modest it's not allowed on the nutty thread.
Welcome Mechelle hope you enjoy being with us here. And if you don't want that garden phlox you are welcome to send it my way I only have 2 right now and I'm doing a butterfly garden when the lasanga bed is ready. Pretty please. But if you don't want to that's Ok too I just love asking for plants even if I get told no.
Al those butterflies are lovely. Mine aren't here this year POUT don't know why either their wild flowers are blooming like crazy around here.
Just back from my shopping trip with friend. Didn't get the dirt stuff I was planning on we got sidetracked LOL. But she did buy me a red mandevela (not sure I spelled that right) vine. Swore up and down it was for herself to plant by her mailbox didn't even tell me she was sending it home with me either just handed it to DH and I thought he picked it up by accident. She's still laughing her head off over that surprise since I called her and told her it was here visiting. But I did get paint for the bathroom floow DH is going to be surprised one of these days when the floor changes to pool mist color. We got sidetracked trying to decide on material for a quilt for her youngest. I foung the prettiest garden girl print but was told she wanted pink not purple color. In the end we decided to have her look at it and decide if she wants it or not.
Oh and I got my beautiful chair from my friend too. She did the refinishing and the girls picked out the material and it's just what I imagined it could be. Picture later since it has flowers on it.

WOW Mindy, sounds like you had a full week today. You are a busy little lady. I'm wore out just reading all that. It's 105 degrees here today and right now at 6:12 it's still 98. I'm scorching. Too hot to go out. I fed animals outside, watered the plants and brought my two dogs in and hugged the air all day, except for going to the post office to ship some packages and back. I just don't do heat very well. UG!!! Cold, I love. Can't wait for snow. Hey Cue, You got a snow dance you can try out for me right now???

Me too Cue. :) I think you probably need snow more than the rest of us if you haven't gotten your AC fixed.

Yes CUE, I'm inconsiderate, are you ok? Did you get your air fixed? Poor baby, how is my grandson doing in this heat? I'm sorry. We'll all do a dance for you, how's that?

Hi Everyone. Mkeos it was cooler today than it was the last two days only got up to 85 and supposed to get cooler over the next few days rain due tonight or tomrorow. We had loads of fun today. I even treated myself to a hot fudge sundae at lunch.
Cue are you doing ok now I do hope you got the ac fixed.