Share your "MUST HAVE'S" and "MONEY WASTERS"

Julie, 'To Sir With Love' is a beautiful flower. That is just so special to name a creation like that for your dad. All your daylilies are lovely, but that one especially.

The moose garden site has some pretty ones, but my oh my, the PRICES!!!! $200 for one plant!!!!! Never seen anything like that before.

I for one will not be buying a plant for $200.00. I am way under-qualified for anything like that! I may as well just toss 200 one dollar bills out of the car window on the freeway.......

Laurie, I was a high heel woman IN THE PAST but now, not so much. Being retired means I can wear whatever I want, and that includes comfy shoes. And I'm not into lipstick, but I love wandering around the make-up counters in department stores. They hold such promise! All those wonderful colors and miracle potions! But now I'd rather buy plants and dig in the dirt. Well, I do have some socks with ruffles and lingerie but certainly not in specialized drawers! Right now I am sitting in bed watching reporting from the Olympics and I'm wearing a pair of flannel cowboy boxers.

Julie, your To Sir With Love brought tears to my eyes.

Thanks for the compliments on Dad's daylily. It means a lot to me, just as it meant a lot to be able to have a special way to honor him.

Laurie, I think that Pixydish is a wonderful name for a daylily. As a matter of fact, I think that it would be a wonderful idea to incorporate all of my DG friends into my garden names. I should have well over 50 seedlings blooming this spring, and I think that I will post a thread next winter when it is gloomy and yucky with pictures of my un-named kids and let people choose the bloom that they would like to bear their name. It will take at least a couple of years for the seedlings to be large enough to divide, but if people stay in contact long enough for me to be able to split them, they could even be able to grow their namesake in their own garden!

You guys would not believe what "real" daylily addicts spend on plants. It makes me feel so much better about my garden purchases! I have a very good DL forum friend in New York who has purchased several "current year introduction collections" over the last several years. She has worked hard and has established a successful business for herself, so she has the money to indulge her love of daylilies. The collections average $1400 to $1600 per collection. More than one collection purchased... more than one year in a row. I actually bit the bullet and spent "gasp" $50 on one plant that I wanted to use for breeding last year. And I still can't believe I did it......

I am imagining the combo of socks with ruffles and cowboy boxers and giggling....

Ultrasol, I grow a lot of hydrangeas, but I wouldn't know the first thing about recommending them for your climate. I know you'd want to protect them from too much hot sun, and give them plenty of water, but after that, I'd say stick to the macrophyllas. Unless you are really going to get 'into' hydrangeas, they are all going to look much the same. The color is going to depend largely on the Ph of your soil, unless you get a white one. Nikko Blue is an old standby, for good reason. You can generally get a good deal on one of those. Even though the current wisdom is to not heavily amend soil when planting, I would recommend you use plenty of organic matter and make a good sized hole if you plant a hydrangea in hot country. They do grow beautiful hydrangeas in the south, but it's humid there. You might check on one of the southern forums to see what they recommend. You might also consider one like 'Endless Summer' because it blooms on new and old wood. That would make a difference since you get hard freezes.

Pixydish would be a cute name for a dwarf or small variety of daylily. It would be the only thing 'small' associated with me.

I have had three straight days of getting back in gear in the garden! It is wonderful to feel better and to catch up on pruning! As I did the early spring shaping up, I came up with a few more things I would not be without for the 'bones' of the early spring garden:
Dwarf yellow barberry - exceptionally cheerful as it is leafing out
The different Spirea japonicas like 'Magic Carpet' - ditto
all the Primulas

And here was me thinking I was an extravagant plant buyer - yards more space there! I 'chose' Doeskin for my favourite and held my breath as I looked up the cost - a mere $10, but it didn't say size. Mighty nice looking blossom that one.

Oh, Portland, you get even girlie-er - boyfriend outfits. But my goodness, I hadn't realized men were such petals needing FLANNEL boxers - they must really suffer from drafts.

Julie, I love the idea of a DG naming party for DL. Now you are a good soul. Posterity for all.

I'm off to get some new sport leggings (mine have a definate draft in the most uncomfortable place - ) I think I'll search out some nice ruffled socks too.

Ultrasol, when I visited the Midwest last summer (Vermillion, SD and Minneapolis, MN, I was totally impressed with Annabell (?), a gorgeous white that was thriving in both locations. I covet it but haven't found it here yet. You have me now tempted to try some of my blues over in the EWA house. I have plenty of pruning to do so can do some starts. I do have a watering system over there, so water will not be an issue. Mine here do need quite a bit of water, as Pix suggests, but too much kills them too.

Laurie, if only I had the boyfriend to go with the boxers!

Aren't they more sleeping boxers than undie boxers? I've seen them for men and women.

Yes Willow they are sleeping boxers made for women. And they are oh so comfy. Not the sexiest thing I own, but comfy! They have cowboys and horses on them.

Do they twist and ride up and catch in places?

This is a brillant conversation - really chuckling. I love the cowboys image, and the 'hitching up'

Hey Pixy,... if you're pruning and want to send cuttings I have postage!! ;)

I just stuck about 100 rose cuttings. Also,.. ordered 20 split stem roses from roguevalley and they came yesterday. All look GREAT.

Ultrasol, what would you like cuttings of? Much of the pruning is done, but there is still more left. What are you looking for? Hydrangeas, roses?

Hydrangeas mainly. If I start enough and try them in enough areas, I'll find an area, and a type, that works.

Although,....what roses do you have? Roses do so well here. I am quite excited about the old fashioned roses from Rogue Valley. Of course, the thornless rambler I was really excited about is the *only* rose that sustained damage in shipping and looks iffy. I'm babying the heck out of it, so we shall see. If you want to pm me a list, I can send you a list of what I can divide/take cuttings of now and what I will have available as the season progresses,.

Also,.. just to be an uber-nerd about things-- it wasn't a typo. My handle really is ultasol. It's the soil order in my favorite place- which is in upstate NY.

Ooops, I'm the one with the typo. sorry, it's just late.
I'll take notes of what I still have and dmail you. I know I have plenty of cuttings from this one because I just hacked it way back two days ago and the trimmings are still on the ground. This one is Madame Plantier. It blooms once, but it's a long bloom time and it is always just covered with blooms. I just love this rose. I cut it way back every year.
I know I can also do cuttings from Jude the Obscure, Teasing Georgia, probably Abbye de cluny, and Climbing America as well. I don't think I've done those, yet.

In terms of hydrangeas, I have many....If you are just starting out with them and don't know what is going to work, why don't I just send you a selection of macrophylla cuttings of different varieties and you can go from there? You can certainly look at the ones I have, but you will not be able to tell what they are going to look like in your own garden, because the color is very dependent on your soil Ph. It takes them several years to settle in. I'll walk around tomorrow afternoon and take some notes about what I have available to take cuttings from. I know I have some old standby types that do well almost everywhere.

ultasol - interesting idea to have a favourite soil, what are the characteristics of ultasol?

Lynn, they do not twist and ride up and catch in places - unless you are doing some gymnastic moves in bed. But then, your would have removed them.......

cowboy closeup

Portland, that made me laugh. Unfortunately, I think my "gymnastic" days are over.

Very funny. Cute pants

Inquiring minds want to know: why are we talking about boxers?

Here's a fragrant memory from last year. I think this one might be Evelyn.

We are talking about boxers because I clearly have my "must haves" confused.

Maybe it was that raspberry lemon martini you had at dinner?

I am absolutely chuckling

It's just that I love those boxers and I worry that they will someday wear out and then what will I do? The angst!

Tomorrow I am going to buy the ingredients for the martini.

get another pair, hide them in your closet - or better yet, in your attic and then come across them when you least expect it!

She has found the solution for her angst, anyway. I say go to the fabric store and find matching fabric. Make yourself a pattern and go from there.

I'm not usually one for martinis, but my husband made a most marvelous one last night -- all the regular stuff plus a skim of Grand Marnier and an orange twist. It was heavenly.

I do not know how to sew, and I don't want to learn! I do crochet and enjoy that a lot. Making cowboy boxers would be a disaster for me. When my beloved ones begin to get threadbare (I now try not to wear them too often) I will contact the company to see if they still have them. P.J. Salvage - I think.

Bonehead, that martini sounds great. It's weird but I get tipsy from half a glass of wine but not from a vodka martini. I don't drink them very often because I have to have vodka made only from potatoes since I have celiac disease, and most places do not have that. The touch of Grand Marnier is lovely!

Laurie, if I hid a pair I would forget where I hid them!

I have never had a martini until we went to a classy Christmas party at the house up the road. It was a real dress up event. I even wore a dress! And sparkly jewelry! They served peppermint martinis and I thought they were the most glorious things I had ever had. I had two of them. It's all I could do. Had I done more, I would not have been able to have a decent discussion with anyone. That's not really the effect I was going for that night. The house was incredible. It deserved better of me.

I have been doing quite a lot of sewing lately and have bought a new machine! I have been helping out with the costuming for the musical production at Andrew's highschool. He has a part, and his girlfriend has one of the lead roles. I'm very busy making 1950's party dresses, some of them from vintage Vogue patterns. I had forgotten how rewarding sewing is, and also how difficult some of it can be. Some of the fabrics we have now did not even exist when these patterns were invented. But I just finished the most beautiful dress: all crinkly blue/black silky fabric, sort of a shiny metallic but not too much, with a black lining. Fitted around the waist, very, very full skirt... here's a photo. I still have finish work to do. It's quite a lot of fun, sort of like dressing live barbie dolls! I can't believe how much time I am spending making dresses that I could have never worn myself.

Portland, if you love those boxers, don't wait. Order now!

My thoughts exactly - buy more boxers now.

Melissa - beautiful dress. You are quite the seamstress.

Oh that dress is beautiful! So is Andrew's girlfriend that you told us about a few months ago?

Yes, same girl. She is a sweetie. So let me tell you about their date yesterday: Asian Art museum, walk in the park afterward to watch the sunset, then a very nice Italian restaurant (white tablecothes, candles, entree separate from everything else, valet parking - no, I didn't pay for it). DS asked for cranberry juice to be served in wine glasses. He soooo wants to be able to order a glass of wine with his dinner. My son, the one who never plans for anything, right? Finds the restaurant on line, makes reservations, finds out how much valet parking is going to be, etc. What???? Are you kidding me??? Is this normal? The love of expensive restaurants he gets from his dad. It must be in his genes.

Kathy, it truly is a dress to die for. If only I could EVER have worn that dress. Oh well. Like I said, it's like playing live barbies. All the girls in the show will be wearing very cool dresses with lots of petticoats.
I'm working on the girlfriend's costume, too. It's a gold wrap dress, pleated in the front,, very fitted bodice with the pointy bra thing. I have a big chunky rhinestone bracelet that was my grandmothers in the perfect caramel color that will just match it. So much fun! I just love beautiful fabric.

Oh, Pix, you are just a marvel! Portland, when they wear out, Pix will source the fabric, make the pattern (any alterations if necessary), and zzzzzzzz up another pair. All you have to do is (pretend) to try to get them now, shed a few tears/swear a bit, and when the time comes Pix will come forward. Don't let her see this message or she will tumble to the plan.

It's just another of my many personas: dresspins on magnetic band on wrist, mussed up hair, eyeglasses on nose, measuring tape hanging round the neck, marking chalk in hand...talking to self like a twee little old lady... you get the pic.

Well thank you Laurie for the suggestion! I went to the P.J. Salvage website and they no longer have them. I may have to fake an "episode" in order to get Pix's sympathy.

When my 5 sons were growing up, I could always tell when they were first becoming interested in a girl. They were always in the shower washing their hair and their nails were clean. One of them, who is now 26, just became engaged. We are all excited because this girl has been in our family since they were in high school. She was a regular on our ski trips and at family functions. Paul went off to Berkeley and Tess went to UCSB so they dated others for a few years but when they finished college they got back together. Anyway, Paul went to the high school principal and told him he wanted to propose to his sweetie by her locker where they had their first kiss. He said "Look, all 7 kids in my family graduated from this school and we own it." The principal moved the student in the locker, Paul filled the locker with roses and champagne, took Tess to run on the school track where they have been training for a half-marathon, then said let's go walk around the school. Of course Tess saw that there was no lock on her old locker, opened it, and Paul got down on one knee - and the rest is history. Paul's older brother Sam, who now with his wife has 4 kids, proposed by putting the ring in a seashell and placing it on the beach where he and his sweetie were walking - they were both oceanography majors at UCSD. I continue to be surprised at the romantic side of my boys! Pix - isn't it fun to watch them!?! Enjoy every minute because, as we all know, once they are on that maturing trajectory, it goes by ever so quickly.

I think we have taken over this thread and veered off subject terribly. I have been thinking this was the Apropos of Nothing territory. Oops! I apologize. But to redeem myself - a must have for me is a giant watering can for the potted plants on the front porch. And one of those padded mats to kneel on!

Whoops! I thought we were 'apropos', too. I get so confused, so 'twee' of me, i suppose. Yes, things do go by so fast. Including the time I have on break from my office so I better get outside in this sunshine.

Go ahead and 'fake' some sort of 'episode', Portland. You'll get little sympathy from me! I might be amused, though.