Cottage Garden Seed Swap & Chat #43

These probably mixed too cuz I usually buy whats on sale and usually it mixes and then I kick myself afterward s cuz them I have to wait for bloosm to figure out what color I got. I got plenty of them though.

Man oh man. I ha d orange milkweed seeds I grabbe d from off an open pod and threw them on kitchen coutner and forgot abotu them. Then opened both front and bakc door to le t nic e breez e flow through and now have little cloud s of white fluff all over the place.

I ha d anothe r one of them asiatic type lily pod s that wa s starting to split open so brought it in and opene dit the rest of the way and laid it on coutner and yippe e cna see some of them actually have embryo in them.

I got some Black mondo grass seed today.
Can't believe the price they got on a gal.
I deadheaded the seeds for them. Know I'm
getting hooked on plants now.

For those who can't keep up with the chat thread, could we do what some of us have elected to do in previous years? That was to say at the top of our have/wish list that we would prefer to give and receive oinks only by dmail. I'm hoping that will be all right to do again.

Of course, dmails are good however they are done - they make a great record of wishes/oinks.

But I'd really prefer to make all my promises/requests by dmails.

Alrighty, going further back up to try and catch up.

Karen

Rides....That black mondo grass is pretty and it grow s real good to under and aroudn trees wher e sometime sit hard to get stuff to grow.

Ok, I need some help to try and figur e out what it was I bought cuz I google d and couldn't find it or figur eit out.

The scientific name on the see dpacket is Heteropappus Meyendo , just have the seale d seed packet and no outside cover or directions. it ha d to be somethign special for me to buy it, but what it is have no idea.

Anybody have any idea what seed I got?

Karen.. Ya got me confuse d which is easy right now sicne I have been 14 horus almost solid messign with seed s today and I feel liek stuffignme into a baggy. hehehehe

Folsk are suppose d ot be oinking on threads and then sendign dmails to back up the oinks. That way I can keep track of things and who got what going to wher e as a back up. That what ya talkign about?

Sittign here bounchign up and down from 42 cups of coffee so far today.

Oooohh, Ella its this!

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55097/

Do ya have lots?

The heteropappus plant called Blue Knoll
looks like a blue Crysanthemum.

Heteropappus meyendorfii ... is what i came up with too. Looks really pretty.

Karen -- I do most of my asks and promises in Dmails too, though i also do it in the chat thread.

Then when the swap is over, when i am finalizing everything... I'll reaffirm all the trades of what i'm sending to whom and the list of seeds I am receiving from whom. That way if there are any omissions, they are caught right away.

I'm good with either here or dmail. I'll mention on my list for oinkers to be sure you get a response from me acknowledging I got it down. If I don't respond, I didn't see it! Reading those posts with the first cup of coffee, my bleary eyes (and brain) can easily miss an oink.

Great job folks. : ) That's what I got. seems they forgot to put the rest of the letters on the seed packet.

Gemini... Just got the packet opened. Ha d to finish up the Dame s Rockets I ha d on oen plate and the ros e seeds on the othe rplate. I don't have any dishes left in cupboard they got seeds all on an dha d ot make room before I coudl open them.

I got 50 seeds left after I take out 20 for me to try here. so will make 5 groups of ten for the swap. Looks liek it needs cool temps 65-68F to germinate too. and cna take 2 to 3 weeks and great looks liek they not hardy in my zone. I gotta quit buyign by pretty pic s alone, but that ok, gonan giv eit a try yself anyways and hope they make it.

Yep me too that why it good to have oink on thread and dmail to back it up. That way ya covere d both ways. But don't think we ran into any problems last year at all. Everybody did good. : )

Plantfiles says they're annual, hardiness shouldn't be an issue?

Alrighty, then since everything worked out fine in the past, then I'll keep on doing what I've always done: depend on dmails for my promises and requests; that is, I'll ask everyone to dmail me with a request, because I won't catch it on the chat thread.

I'll visit the chat though to see if any newbies need me to keep them confused - lol!

karen

ps - I too have mixed dame's rocket seeds - don't know how many yet - I'll wait and see how many want them and then check with you, Star, as to how many to put in a packet. Let me know if this is a bad idea ... i seem to be full of those lately argh

On the Hesperis matronalis (Dame's Rocket) again - I collected seed from around an abandoned ruin and wintersowed it the following February in one of those drained, vented, recycled milk jug things ( www.wintersown.org for newbies). They germinated fine and I am pleased that this plant will bloom in some of my worst, darkest, rootiest places, which I have too many of (but they prefer sun or not too much partial shade). My colors are mixed with mostly pale colors.

However, that said, I once visited a garden with a long, grassy walk and matching borders on both sides backed with trellises with roses and clematis. It was May, and the main plants blooming that day were dames rocket alternating with the double white paeony 'Festiva Maxima'. Unforgettable.

Hesperis reminds me of my Grandmother, using them in vases with her white peonies for Memorial day vases, along with roses from my Mom's old Blaze climber.

I have hundreds of Calendula seedlings. Will those survive the winter?

Calendula is typically an annual (C. officinalis) if your winter weather drops below freezing. BUT it is a prolific self seeder, so at least for me, it comes back every year.

Patricia

Neil -- i too have lil ones still popping up all over. and next spring... all the seeds that fell will start popping up... i had hundreds of volunteers this year. I have to admit.. .they are still stunning. nice and bright in these gloomy days.

I wondered if it would act like Larkspur, Nigella, and Shirley Poppies, that have little seedlings that overwinter. They seem to take cold temps well. I do see a lot of seeds still laying around, so I'd say there will be plenty to germinate in spring. I saw the same thing last year with Breadseed Poppies, lots of seedlings in fall, but all killed off by winter cold, then loads more germinated the next spring.

Neal, I love those memories you share with us of bygone gardens in your family. That would make a great thread. We'll have to sprinkle the phrase "cottage garden" all through, like punctuating marks so admin doesn't move it off the CG forum.

Thanks, Karen. Nostalgia is a big part of the Cottage Garden appeal for me, I think that's a natural thread for this forum. So many old fashioned plants are popular among Cottage gardeners, I'd imagine there will be lots of good memories shared.

Gemini
The calendulas that I plant will slow down when it gets hot here and then pick back up when it cools down. I have had a lot of them blooming in december when everything is pretty much gone. But they do have to be happy to perform well and I've still been hit and miss with that part lol.

Anymore space left for another newbie? Signed up in July - is that
new enough?

Also have some seed to trade out. Mostly hib, hollyhock, marigolds,
marsh mallow and a few others.

This was my first experience growing Calendula, and they sure were happy- I just loved them. Mine have been finished for a while now, or rather were looking ratty- mostly dried stems and seed heads, so I yanked them. But lots of little seedlings out there.

Rides, does the mondo grass come true from seed? I have 2 flats of the dwarf kind ready to plant in between my flagstones.. but I sure would love to fill in with some seed.. it's going to be hard waiting for it to fill in by itself, they say 2-3 years, and the flagstones are in my front yard! (too cheap to buy more though...)

I D-mail mainly for the piggy swap too. Karen, thanks to your suggestion, I added that message to the top of my list ... which I'm pleased as punch to say is finished. smile

Has anyone ever tried to start seeds from a crabapple???
I have been noticing a small ornamental tree at work that has a ton of red berries and a ton of birds in it this autumn. It is approx. 15 ft ht full grown, red berries, with a rounded shape ... so I did some web searching and I'm sure it is sometype of Crabapple Malus.

Star, I hate to admit this, but I too found a long lost packet from last year ... it was the baggie of several types of seeds I was going to winter sow. I know I searched hard and long for those cause boy oh boy there were some seeds in that packet I really wanted and was going to oink for again this year ... but now Hurray!!!! I'm so happy your son is coming for a visit, I know you will have a nice time with him and give him lots of hugs! And as others have said, but can not be said enough, tell him Thank You for protecting our freedom!

I am so ready for 2 of my favorite days ... Halloween and then the Piggy Swap!!!!!

It is a great combination! I'm hoping for left over candy to replace meals on Sunday ;-)

The black mondo grass is so slow growing that 2 sprigs have turned into 2 slightly larger sprigs for me in about 3 or 4 years. I think I got one flower this year. So if you do have any extra for the swap, rides, I will probably be oinking, to try to increase it a little faster.

Thanks tsc ! : )

Cris316... I seem to have a spot with your name on it. : ) Welcoem to this years swap.


I been fightin with puter today.grrrrrrr.

KLStuart... hehehehehe ya that the way to do it. Then they cna eat what they want and no fuss or muss.

I saw the cutiest thing today. Went otu to check on a coupel more of them asiatic type lily pods to see if they were done and was standign there and I heard a rustle..rustle...rustle. of cours e I froze since yesterday the big huge about 6 foot black racer was out and about yesterday. Don't knwo if it was out huntign or headign for its winter home, but wasn't gonan take any chances.

When I finalyl got my eye s adjusted to where the nois e was comign from out pops two chipmunks. I knew i had one new too my yard this year, but didn't know I had two. Make sme wonder if ther e soem more hiding.

I stood there and watche d them for alittle bit. One finally found a nut it could pic up in its mouth and starte d scurry back to where evr it has its home hidden. The second one was unde r the pots of Hostas. it peeke d out around the end of the bence at me. I looke dta it. It looked at me. Ther e we stood both of us liek stature s for at least a minute then I couldn't resist had to say Hi to the little fellow and it scurrie d back unde r the Hostas to be safe. Actually I knwo it hidden under ther e so it can hopefulyl get soem Hostas seed to eat. Seems both the chippie and I both are watchign for ripping pods. So far the chippie is winning. : )

Toofewanimals.. Ya got that right. : ) The one time of the year you cna pig out on chocolate bars and candy and oink away for seeds at the same time. All the oinkign need s energy. What bette r way to get it than eating chocolate!!!!!!!!!! Yummmmmm

Ohh! Just wanted to mention, I have got tons of 'Pacific Beauty' mix Calendula to whoever wants it.

gemini_sage, Calendulas usaully survive if they are big enough(almost ready to send up blooms) and if the weather slowly decreases.

Dasiys... i'd be loving some of those "Pacific Beauties"

Ya won't see me much til tommorrow afternoon. Will just be popping in and out quick today on and off. Need to stay off puter as much as I cna until son arrives home her e God willing in the morning. Need to have lien free for phone as he calls along the way.

Just wante d folks to know incase people ask questions and wonder why I don't answer.

Oh, I can't wait. Gettign closer and closer to the time. Got some special stuff too. heheheheheheh Wanna tell ya so bad, but sittign on my hands and tapign the mouth shut for now. LOL

Happy Haunted Halloween all of you Piggies!
Got my candy and my seeds ready.

Oooooo, 'special stuff' Star, can't wait! Stand up (get off those hands) and untape that mouth ....
Star, I believe you are an hour behind us .... dont forget to reset your clocks tonight for those on Daylight savings time.
I know you are soo excited about seeing your son, it comes through the words on your dmail. smile

Daisy, I googled the pacific beauties and they are big and pretty!

Rainy here today, hope it breaks for the trick or treaters.

See you all tomorrow.

Toofew - glad you liked the idea about dmailing promises/requests as an oink alternative - perpetual oinking can be hard for those with work etc. schedules or health/eye etc problems. But, I'll be adding some oinks to the chorus

PerennialLyme - not s'posed to, but it's the day before we start, and I am a piggy, sooooo - gotcha down for that black mondo grass - I'll have more to offer to eveyone tomorrow

Star - dmailed you that I have 200 fresh, ripe seeds of dame's rockets for us piggies

klstuart - just fyi for design purposes - the black mondo grass gets about 6" tall, which makes it around 4" taller than what I have seen of dwarf mondo grass - Did you ever read Sheri Tepper's science fiction novel called Grass? Now, there's a book to read just for the scenery. I'd love to make distinct sweeps of these two mondo *grasses* among other kinds if I had more room in the sun - although these 2 mondo grasses do take a good bit of shade in my garden

toofew - There were differences between different cultivars of crab apples that Deno germinated, but here's a summary (quoted & paraphrased) of how I interpret hsi results:

-- Wash the seeds in water and clean with 3 rinses with water daily usually for 7 days.

-- The seeds seem to germinate best around 40*F in the range of 2 to 12 weeks. I don't know whether wintersowing or using a refrigerator would make a difference. Sometimes, they germinated when sown directly around 40*F, and other times, they germinated when shifting from 70*F to 40*F. On the average, Deno keeps his seeds at each of these temps for around 3 months, although there's a lot wiggle room in that. My guess would be to wintersow those seeds - starting now - but that's just a guess.

Star - luved your chippy tale. Saw one of them literally leap up out of the garden and fly across the path in front of me once - how do they do that? no wings??

Happy Halloween, dear piggies - anyone greeting trick or treaters in their piggy suit??? lol!

karen

Thanks, Karen! Will be very happy to have the black mondo grass.

I'm still watching the japanese anemone and tricyrtis. Sooo slow, but the anemone seems finally to be starting to separate just a teeny bit from the hard white core, so I think they'll be ready to harvest soon. The tricyrtis pods are growing, but still green, green, green. Aconitums flowering, but who knows if they'll have a chance to make seeds. Looks like the end of seed gathering is near.
I looked at the backsides of the japanese painted fern, hoping to find spores, but nothing at all. Does anyone know if they make spores? I haven't noticed any self-starters in the few years I've had them.

Thanks Karen for the info on the crab apple seeds. Since there are a bizzzilion seeds on the tree, I will try several ways of germinating.
Got a chuckle out of the 'piggy costume' remark.
sharon

tcs1366, oink on Sunday afternoon for whatever you want!

I'll do my best... I probably can't get on line til later in the evening... hopefully Star will get a later start. ;-)

Popping in quick here then back off line. Son just called. I swear that child of mine gonan giv eme heart attack. he left El Paso, Tx last night at midnight and about an horu ago he wa s at some place calle d Lake Charle s which I think is in Lousiniana. he running on no sleep so far cu he had all his Army dutie s all day friday then packing and now driving. Keep in yoru prayers that he make s it thes e last think he said 630 mile s more hoem safe.

Gonan sit here and do more sed s while I wait on him. He'll stop at his dad's first and unload and maybe take a nap , so I figure I may see him pop up here abotu or in the morning. That his usual thing. Beat on the door and scare the daylight s outta me and not a good night to do it either withit being Halloween.

Got all my candy and stuffe d animals to the church this morning for Harvest festival., so that done. Hous e all cleaned. Smells good in her e for a change. Ya know how them dirty socks pile up when ya so busy gardening. LOL

Heck I won't have to clean again til Sprign and then it be busy flower time so mayeb by next fall I be ready to do housework again. hahahahah

Ya we may run a bit late on Sunday. Just depends what my son schedule is., but Sunday evenign we will start for sure.

Took most of yesterday to get the rule s and such all done and then try and get most of the spellign error s out. Ya knwo they not all gonan be. heheheheh

Sheesh oh man no wonde r I dont' have room for food in fridge too many seeds. I gonan be cleanign seed boxe s otu big time then maybe I cna have a palc e to put milk instea dof eatign dry cherrios all the time.

Everybody have a good evenign and a safe one.

Sorry. Mouth still taped LOL. ; )