New thread.....
we came from here -- > http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1112423/
Seed Swap and Chat #59 - dog dayz of summer
Lea, I use the insecticidal soap whatever time of day I notice insects ravaging my plants. It's supposed to be less environmentally unfriendly than lots of other insect killers.
Hello everyone ! lost ya'll months ago and I finally relocated you but I gave up on even attempting to read all the posts. Life got in the way and I didn't get a lot of seeds planted this past winter,..... did end up spring sewing a few things and have several nice plants. The heat here is doing a number on everything - watering doesn't seem to do a lot of good.... :( but hopefully this heat will break soon - although they are calling for triple digits all week and into the next ....
Just wanted to say hello and tell everyone that I appreciate their generosity. Love walking around my beds thinking of all the things that friends have shared.
Genna
In HOT South Arkansas!
Thanks Sharon forgot to watch this thread :) If you don't think it will hurt the butterflies I'll go ahead and spray them all of my rudbeckia blooms are hanging now on the plants and I only put two plants in still have a couple more to plant but don't want to if all the blooms are going to be ruined it's not happening on the other side of the yard so strange!
I've noticed that too Genna I can water but with this humidity it doesn't do much good for them growing and it worse with the seedling in pots that I have yet I really need to get the seedlings in the ground that I have left but we are having triple digits too this week and August is our hottest month of the summer so don't look for it to be any better the rest of the month just hope we don't go right into winter like we did last year after summer so I can get more plants in the ground it's just too hot to get it done now!
A good day to wast in town at the grocery today it's getting to heat index of 111 :) Yesterday I was out in the early morning and then went back out at 1:00 and my lungs said WOW! lol
Sure is the dog dayz. We're back to thick air and sweat. No rain for days. Had to hide out in the ac most of yesterday, but got some seeds sorted. Today I have to make myself water at the community garden.
Lea, I can't vouch for the insecticidal soap doing no harm to the butterflies.
Again I ask, as I've only grown rudbeckias since last year, and my mayas didn't return, are a lot of these really annuals? Which are annual and which are perennial? Does anyone know?
Hooray. Once again my little rain dance of watering at the community garden has worked. As soon as I got home it started pouring, so at least I don't have to water the yard. Maybe I should water my community garden plot more often.
The first blossom just opened on the double blue balloon flower I started from somebody's seeds over the winter. It's actually purple, not blue, but is lovely anyway.
Oops. Seems to have stopped raining after only 5 or 10 minutes. Oh well....
Yes I think the balloon flowers are more purple too. Although some are a little bluer than others, but still more of a purple with a blue tint.
I'm still looking for the elusive true blue balloon flower, but alas, it may just not exist.
We did have a delightful torrential rain today. Hope you all got some too.
Yes we got some rain, doesn't sound like we got any where near as much as you, but I'll take any right now! :)
Any is definitely good these days!
I know I should post pictures - but I have no idea where DH has put the camera. Anyway, after years of trying (with NO success), I finally have hardy hibiscus in flower! Actually, 4 bushes - all from seeds generously given by folks in the seed swap. Thank you so very much!
I also have FOUR butterfly bushes from seed - they sprouted last year and this year they have really taken off. One white, one pink, and two purple! Good thing we are going to do a butterfly garden at the college in the spring.
Meanwhile, a question . . . . What is eating my lanimum and heuchera leaves right down to the stalks? I have looked for slugs - but I don't find many. Besides, it has been soooo hot and so little rain, I doubt that slugs could thrive. Are there other culprits I should consider?
I have had a lot of plants savaged by pests - but I am relunctant to resort to insecticide - the garden just hums with bumble-bees, and we have lots of butterflies . . .
I have been squishing Japanese beetles and earwigs with my bare fingers but if I have to keep doing this, I really will be tempted to spray . . .
Hope everyone is having a great summer. I have already started saving seeds ^_^
Se-andor.
I know we have earwig problems... they munch leaves and do as much damage as slugs can. that could be your issue.
huge congrats on the bushes!! i'm envious... but i'd have no idea where i'd put a shrub, as i'm so out of room.
I was supposed to be going home for the weekend, but with Buddy's [the dog] surgery, i've decided to stay, as i have 10 days off at the end of the month -- and i'll be going home for sure.... just found out about a week ago that my dad is not cancer free and has to start radiation on Tuesday. IN talking to my sister, when she first found out [dad was keeping us in the dark about this one] Deb made it sound like he was 2 days from death.... but in talking with dad, it's not that severe. though any cancer is sever -- he just has a very positive attitude -- and i think that counts for a lot.
When DH was home last week, he picked some of my tomatoes... so i guess they are doing OK will neglect. I dont think i've seen my plants in 4-5 weeks now....
OH.. heck, i forgot to take pics of the "flag pole" garden when i went down to weed and trim last week. It's doing pretty well. the Swamp MW is huge... i had to trip some of it back. The scarlet MW got chewed by something -- "cats" maybe, we do have quite a few butterflies. We tend to have a lot of swallow tails... i will have to add some Fennel next year. The Cosmos looks really good, and one of the Limara Lemon's survived and is blooming. I will have to make sure i save seeds from that one.
Many of the Zinn's i got in the swap from Ella are blooming -- I have all of them up by the pool in small beds. there's white, pink and a pale yellow i think. I can't seem to locate the other zinn's i grew.... i know i had a whole tray of the California Mix, and i can not find any blooms. **sniff sniff**
Hey guys, where are y'all?
Sorry about your dad, tcs. And I'm in the same position as you with regard to space. I couldn't fit a shrub anywhere, unless I take one out.
Y'all would have been proud of me today. I was at a nursery and saw some lovely fluffy seedheads starting to burst on anemone multifida "Annabella". I lurked until no one was nearby, and snatched them up, one at a time and put them in my pocket. Anything for piggy food.
I'm a bit more brazen. I keep baggies, labels & a marker
in my purse. Also been known to take pics of the plant
I take seeds from.
Don't think too many of the people who work in the plant
departments actually know anything about them if judging
by the sorry state most plants end up in after a few weeks.
I will have quite a few Hardy Hibiscus seeds to share with someone or put them in the swap.. These Hibiscus were started from seeds from LeBug about 3 years ago.. several different colors.. If someone would send me an address?
Congrats on your brazen-ness, Cris. Wish I could be so bold. Even though the seeds would be wasted otherwise, I had it in my head that the nursery might not be happy with me scarfing seeds off plants, as they want me to buy plants and seeds.
chris your after my own heart !!! always prepared,I do the same,I never feel guilty because I spend enough money on plants and whatever.Seed in most peoples eyes are like dead leaves.....= }
was this the thread where i mentioned the Red Spider Zinns??
well they are finally blooming and they are darned cute. The blooms are tiny, but they have multiple blooms per flower stalk. While i was originally disappointed in the size, I really do like them.
I'll have to try and get a photo. The one image that i've seen somewhere -- the blooms look huge ,like the California Mix ones.
Indeed huggergirl one can always justify that it will help
the plant rebloom if one deadheads or culls the pods.
I also feel it makes up for all the times I've answered
customers questions about a plant that the idiots they
hire have no clue about.
Lovely offer Kathy and if I wasn't inundated with them
myself I'd oink some from you.
Would enjoy seeing those spider zinn's tcs.
Aw those little zinnias sound cute Terese are ya going to save any seeds to them? he he he How is Buddy doing hope he's starting to get around some :)
Do you all have as many lady bugs this year I don't seem to have any and aphids are taking over on my milkweeds I can tell they aren't around!
Kathy save your seeds for the swap :) I had a pretty one this year that was different for me it was a dark pink but a soft pink with a red center, I grew several seeds and still have about seven to flower for me before I plant them or I'll have to over winter them I want a Blue River II and a Turn of the Century but they never turn out :( This pretty pink one came out of some TOTC seeds I planted.
Thanks Lea... Buddy is doing better daily. it's minuscule improvements, but we notice. Being home is good. He's able to walk out the door, down the 2 little steps and go and roll around in the grass. He needs help getting back up the stairs... but with all the walking he's doing, the surgically repaired leg is getting stronger... we see the vet next week, to hopefully schedule the other surgery.... then start the 'road to recovery' again... but thankfully for the last time.
[for those who have no idea what we're talking about.. our dog blew out both ACLs' in a months time]
forgot to take the camera out this evening.... I've been pulling weeds and grasses that have invaded my beds ... i probaby have 80% done so far... they were a MESS. I actually found my BLue Salvia that I WS'ed... and they were blooming.
Yes, I will try to get some Red Spider Zinns. I need to move two orange ones... they may be Profusion, but i think the blooms are too big... but they are buried behind larger plants.
took some Aleves... off to bed -- more beds to clean tomorrow.
I'm glad he's doing good just hate it because he has to go thru this again poor baby!
I thought i was the only one that planted shorter plants behind taller ones :) I lost my Stevia I can hardly see where it is lol My pintas are under conflowers and daturas some under milkweeds and they are still blooming LOL I can't believe it they can't be getting any sun!
I started cleaning this one bed out that I've cleaned out a few times this year, had it cleaned out and it got hot again and just couldn't bare the skeeters to get back in there to clean anymore! They have been nasty this year I hate to say it but I 'think' I'm looking forward to fall for a change? It was so full of taller crab grass reaching for the light and the verbena purple top I had more of that in another bed so I just yanked on it but not finished yet...I have had a trellis in that bed for several years from big lots and there was a mg that reseeded there from last year on it had to pull it so my other seeds near by would come true and part of my trellis fell apart guess it's time for a new one.
Not sure if I lost some columbine in that area they were at the end by the porch not in the weeds and I was cutting old stems away and the whole plant came up from the ground didn't see any roots hope they are still there :( I'm sure it will reseed but they won't bloom until 2012 I have such a nice stand of the Yellow Star there I'd hate to lose them.
i loose columbine every year ,but they always are popping up every where,I do hate it when Iam cleaning up and the whole plant comes off . tcs I love zinnias,I dont have any special ones ,I just love them ..they amaze me..silly huh = }
I've seen some very pretty zinnias but mine won't stand up so I just grow the profusions. That ones very pretty huggergirl :)
Mine are just huge and towering over everything,well except for the peatunias which have grown straight up n the air... not real neat and tidy bed this year oh well...Iam not sure why I cant get a photo that is not washed out ,I took this photo after 8pm..arrgg. are there specialty zinnia seed ?? I am soo loving them
This message was edited Aug 25, 2010 8:14 AM
I don't know that much about zinnia seeds they do have a lot of nice ones in the catalogs, there is no way I could try and have a stand like that of them with so much wind here on this hill :(
I did get photos of the Red Spider ZInns this morning... was out early with Bud... nice and cool out at 6am.
i have to admit... i HATE cleaning ZInnia seeds. with a passion. One reason i dont trade mine, is there is usually chaff with them. hopefully the "spider" ones will be easy as the heads should be small, as the blooms are.
i'll get the images edited later today...
I was wondering about that,cleaning seed .I doubt I will be trading any seed !!! unless you are willing to clean it yourself LOL...
Beautiful photo huggergirl!
I don't know how to avoid planting short stuff behind tall stuff... seems I never know how tall a plant is going to get. Maybe in a few years I'll have a clue. I had salvia coral nymph in a bed and pots last year that stayed right at about 18". This year I put it in the new bed, in about the middle, and the crazy things got to be about 30" and huge! uggh.
Lea, I think of you every time I come in the front door... I planted your tall begonias in the boxes on the front step last year. Well they had a lot of seed (as you know) and I collected it all, so let it go to seed big-time without deadheading. Well, now everyone is getting a laugh, because I've got a couple sweet little begonia plants growing in the cracks between my steps, they're even flowering! Luckily they don't appear to be inclined to get as tall as their parents!
Kelly
Kelly I was surprised that Coral Nymph got so tall I had mine in a pot with my Electric Blue penstemons so it really didn't matter but that thang in the pot is 30" at least the EB's were planted around it but my EB's aren't blooming much don't think they like pots I planted two (EB's in the ground and my plants in the side yard shaded them and they died :( Soon as it cools off a bit I'm transplanting the EB's in the ground away from the other plants lol
I have a CN in the ground on the other side of the house it's only about 24" but I planted it late.
That's so sweet that you think of me every day 8-) I have a purple top verbena and black prince snaps that reseeded right by my side walk and with the purple top it's like coming in a gate to walk on the walk way you have to push the PT sideways before you can get by it lol
I found my Coral Nymph today while weeding... it's about 30"
and i just love the White ones you gave me.... oh heck, cant think of the name... alba something....
I actually think i put it in the ground next to another Coral Nymph... the white is doing great.
I think i took a photo of it.... i still have not been thru the camera yet.
OH... this photo turned out better than i thought...
so many different colors!
the Red Spider Zinns are looking cute here....
Two people D mailed me and wanted the hibiscus seeds.. Thanks..
Lea -- it was Snow Nymph that i was thinking of....
here is Penstemon Red Rocks
"Bonfire" Salvia
a few Agastaches
Terese your flowers are pretty! My bonfires are just now starting to bloom from reseeding, every year I think they are on their way out and they keep coming back here and there where I don't expect them too :)
My snow nymphs and forest fires this year haven't done very well in this heat and the tub where I have most of them, Tony cut the grass and didn't turn the lawn mower the other way and they got covered in grass from it I have crab grass coming up in it every time I go to pull it I pull the salvias up with it :( Haven't been able to get any seeds off of them this year :( I'm going to have to replant that tub all over again I probably need to freshen up the dirt anyway it's been in there for years. I told Tony he could take the grass catcher off if he watched throwing grass on my plants well he didn't lol
The red rocks is the only penstemon that I got moved this year so it didn't bloom a whole lot wish I could get the knack on saving those seeds!
Those Agastaches are pretty too can’t wait until next year when the ones I got from Ella this year bloom for next year they are blooming now but Summer Love is suppose to have pinkish purple blooms I think and these look orange it’s probably because they are so small.
I love those little red spider zinnias!
I got my Victoria Blue salvias planted late so don’t think I’m going to get much seeds out of those this year either. I planted them by the road so I’m hoping they are going to come back for me this year.
I was 'out back' looking at stuff... when I got a good look at the Spider Zinn..... Now i understand why they must call it "Spider"
I noticed this red looking 'almost' vine rambling thru the Cone Flowers .. then i noticed a mattering of spent Zinn blooms... it dawned on me that it was the Spider Zinnia meandering thru the flower bed... with little blooms everywhere.
[OH -- the viney thing was red!! ]
When i checked my spreadsheet, i saw I only had 5 Spider Zinnias [i'm sure i've used up all the Summerhill seeds]
I can find 2 of the 5. I planted them in the back side of the beds, assuming they were going to be tall, like the California Zinns... they seem to be more of "ramblers" -- or at least they are in my flower beds.
I'll do my best to harvest all the seed heads for those who want to try them.
Zinnia seed is one I don't worry about cleaning or receiving cleaned.. Just make a note "with chaff" if you want. I just make up plump little baggies so I'm sure there are plenty of seeds in with the dried petals. The extra chaff just makes it easier to see where you've sown them!