Omoshiro, part 2: the waiting

banana, everytime I had a new husband, I learned a new trait. The last one was Jack of all traits, so I learned lots of stuff from him, how to put on wire fence and put the cocrete around them. He had built me the picket fence, my son said it is not strait, I said it is keeping the dogs from pooping all over my flowers, so it is good enough for me. Two Christmases away, I had treated my self with a present, I hired painters to paint the fence, it is about 200 ft. both side. they did a job that it would take me 2 months sitting on the bucket with the brush in my hand.

Such pretty Agastache! The folks at the round up will love them.

I enjoyed your line about learning something from all your husbands! I could use a few extra husbands right now to help me in the garden.

Last year I got a lot accomplished with my helper, Neri, and never could have done it by myself.

I love your fence. I have always wanted one like that and set back leaving just enough room to put some plants. Beautiful!

My husband made 8 feet sections, put the posts in concrete and then nailed the sections on post. For a plumber, not a bad job. you can do it, just make sure use treated lumber. He used 4 x 4 x 6, put 2 feet in ground with quikcreat and I have 4' fence.My father told me if you have a garden, do not put tall fences, let everybody enjoy it. I brought home two palets from Lowe's, I have a pattern for easy bench, all you have to buy is 2 of 2x4 treated for the legs. One of these days I will have time to finish it. I managed to learn how to use a electric saw, so it is easier.

You are right Kiseta, handy men are best! My wonderful Hubby is 3/4 way thru fencing the yard, building in place due to elevation issues. But I have to paint it! Planted DA roses in front of it, unsure how many made it thru this lousy winter.

Good news , everybody, I did not kill my Confederate rose, I have seen some leaves on it. Also, I am still waiting for my shipment. I will get a package from the clematis people, bluestone perennials and vincent garden, she will shipp me some salvias. Ordered some hot lips salvia, it should be interesting. Today was a good day, after the 4 day rain.Last week I made another trellis for my clilmbing hydrengias, pretty soon l can make in my sleep. It turned out well, jut have to paint it.I hate to use pestiside, but I had to spray my whole back yard plants, looks like Japanies beatles are eating my holly bushess. I used some Bayer spray, hope my dog will be ok. Where are you all clematis people, Here in Ga I have seen a home having clematis and they are already blooming and 4 feet tall. It will be soon for me, hope next week will be a good one, I am working for the Masters golf turnament , making me some more flower money.

Kista have a great time! I have worked at the Ct golf tourny, a small one on the tour in the EMS tent and had a blast. Met some great people.

That's great news about the Confederate rose!

What did you use to spray for the Japanese beetles? We get them here on July 3rd every year and I just remove every rose and every bud so they will hopefully go elsewhere but many do hang around.

What are you doing for the Masters? Cooking?

My Brushwood clematises arrived and are wonderful. I had to put an additional stake in one pot. That vine has to be over 2' tall and has buds. I'm thrilled with them.

I started putting down nematodes last year and was delighted with the results. I also hear Milky Spore is even supposed to be better, but I really don't want to use that around my pond. I will be putting down the nematodes again this year......

Hi Pirl, how are you, long time no see. I just got home from cleaning, I have decided to only clean this year for the golfers and visiters. Here people rent they house out to guests and golfers, and they always need to clean behind them. If you lived here, the way I see your house, you can get about 10,000 doll a week, 35 if you have tickets to get in. It is a big business in Augusta. Last few years it got littlebit slow, but for some reasons this year it picked up. It is a nice golf course, but not for that kind of money.
I have worked on my back yard and sprayed it with Bayer advanced 3-in 1 insect desease and mite control, that hooks up to the hose.I noticed that my holly bushes are all chewed up, so after reading different things, I tought it was a Japanies beattle that eats at night. I hope it works.
Last night I got a phone call from a old friend, I mean havant talked to her 31 years. She said she was looking for me, and her husband got on the internet and after serching found me. Even after all the different last names I had because of marrieges.Then I started to thing what was the reason I did not want to talk to her all those years, and remembered my first husband funeral in 1979. Some of the friends (so called friends) pulled me aside at the service, and told me that I should know that this long lost friend was messing around with my husband. I said why now you telling me, he can't defend him self, and she was already married. I never said to her a thing, just when I moved away, never called her. Now she wants to be friends, I dont think I have a big enough heart to pritend nothing happened. Then she asked me if I had a picket fence, I said how you know, her husband zoomed in on Google and could see my fence on the internet. That is to much loss of privicy, it feels spooky. I told her I guess I have to put my close on from now on. Life is crazy.

Kiseta -

It is creepy, isn't it? There is no such thing as privacy anymore. I know that I had found on one of these threads about a month ago or so, there was a new website that gives out all your information - it is www.spokeo - you can delete yourself from the website, but you are only allowed so many deletions. I tried to delete my whole family, but it wouldn't let me. So, instead, I emailed them all with a link to the website and told them all to delete themselves..... A good reason to have a big dog in my book.

What are you going to do about this ex friend? Do you think she will call again? Sounds like you worked hard today and then came home to the phone call. I hope tomorrow is better - If I lived in your zone, I'd be spending my Sunday in the garden.

Carolyn, that is what am planing to do. Tomorow I will be in the garden and enjoy my self. The friend called again and talked for 1 hour. I feel like talking to a old friend but keep thinking about the past. I guess after all these years, things are not as hurtfull, but sometime we can't believe what people can do. I learn not to dwell on things, she is older then I am, and I can just feel sorry for her if she has a guilty heart. I refuse to keep anger in, it just destroys you. I have my good memories, and hope she can live with hers.

Kiseta, that is great advice, I always enjoy what you have to say!

Etelka - I'd wonder why those "friends" gave you that information at the funeral. That seems to be so very hurtful. I might feel more suspicious about those people than the one who went far out of her way to find you.

Enjoy your good memories and don't let anyone spoil those memories for you.

Sometime you think if you among your own people from the old country, they would make better friends. These "friends" where history for me when I realize they backstabing tactics 30 some years ago. I have not talked to any of them , I guess for reason. Now this friend, I think she is lost or something, she just can't believe that she is 65, that she is still nice and slim, that I look good on picture but just a little bit overweight, blah, blah, blah. I guess I will have to screen my calls, so she don't think she can call everytime she have a urge to tell me her perfect life.
Hi pirl, I am sending a picture of my famous 25 feet trellis, today I worked in the back yard, replanted some large leaf hostas, will plant some more fern. I have found a sprinkle nozzle that I learned to adjust so my bushess will be watered without me spending time with them. If I can only corntrol those large grasshoppers.

A few years ago I gave up a friendship of 60 years when I realized what had been going on behind my back, too, Etelka, so it's not just you. Beware of people who call to tell you of their "perfect life". You're better off with the friends you have right now.

That looks so good! When it's covered with blossoms you'll love it and I bet when you look at it now you're thinking of the blooms to come.

Ask at your local garden center about the grasshopper problem. They should be able to help you. If not call your local County Extension agent - it's listed in your phone book under County agencies.

Here it is:

►Fulton County Extension Office | UGA Cooperative ExtensionFulton County Extension Office. Welcome to Fulton County Cooperative Extension! ... Atlanta, GA 30350-4845. Phone: (404) 613-7670. Fax: (770) 551-7672 ...

I am aware of the county agencies, I had workd for the Valdosta agency, south Ga, teaching low income families nutrition. this was in 1987-88. I have burned out on the job in 18 months, after realizing some people are not teachable, even if you stand on your head trying. Here in my county they told me use malathion ?, but it did not work. Hand picking is the best, and it it is nasty.
My new little friend comes to see me every day, he rolls on the grass when I talk to him. I nemed him Bubu, I don't know why Every time I touch him, latter I itch all over, is that arergies?? I am getting ready my front porch to be able to put my seedlings out at day time, starting tomorow.

I'm not sure but I believe Malathion isn't allowed to be used on Long Island, if not all of New York. Maybe a local nursery would be more helpful to you.

They are selling it in Lowe's, I guess it is leagal.Now we have a police for that too, this country is going to the dogs. ...

Here's an article about Malathion and the dangers to humans:
http://www.purezing.com/living/toxins/living_toxins_dangerouspesticides.html

Thank you for your article, I will study it. Pirl, can you tell me if I want to plant 3 clematis together, my all american clematis, how fahr of each other should I plant them. I bought today a neat thing, it is package of 2 garden gates, dark green heavy duty wire, 42 inch high. If I attache some posts to it and make it a trellis, I can eather put one of the gates or both. Both would be 72" wide and 42" high. I can raise them and make them 60" high.. What do you think about this.. I have the place for both. It is very ornate and lookes better then any wire trellis I have seen, and both where 21 dollars together.

So much of what we all used in our gardens is now deemed unsafe for the unborn, for children or pets or else the environment that we're left with all natural products that quite often are not as effective although they are much safer.

As long as you don't plan to move the clematises you could plant them in a V shape with two in the back and one in the front, all about a foot apart. Dig a big hole and add a lot of aged manure and aged compost and plenty of bone meal for them. Add a very good handful of Epsom Salts and rose fertilizer (as long as the clematis don't have buds yet) and remember to mix it all up and backfill with more manure and compost and then add more manure and compost on top as mulch. You will be planting the clematises 2" deep and angled toward the gate on which they'll grow, right? Don't forget to water them well but don't drown them!

Please take a photo of the gates so we can all see them and we can give you our thoughts. My first thought is they'd look great here in my own back yard!

Thank you Pirl, You are always so helpfull, I will take picture tomorow, I was very happy to find this gate, last year I bought some heavier black iron gates and fence from Lowe's, it worked fine to make a enclosed pattio. They where higher priced, also it only comes 3 feet high. Have you ever planted English daysies? I have planted 4, and it looks realy nice in a half shady place,
I think I am becoming a flower horder, but I have noticed that my once shaby neighborhood, some people planted flowers, and keep they yard better. I hope it is changing, I pray.

You're quite welcome, Etelka.

Where did you buy the newest gate?

I do have the very low English daisies and right now I can't be sure of the name but it's something like Bellis Perrenis. Yes, I just went to Google and even at this hour I did spell it right. Here are photos of the one we've had for a very long time:
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&sugexp=llsfp&xhr=t&q=bellis+perennis&cp=6&rlz=1R2GZAZ_enUS418&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&wrapid=tljp130188310548408&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&sa=X&ei=5yiZTbi6OsPZgQejr73GCA&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQsAQ&biw=995&bih=457

If your gardens and flowers have shown the neighbors what one determined person can do to beautify her garden then maybe it's catching on with others. Let's hope so!

Good Marning Pirl, thank you for the English d. pictures, that is to one I bought, 2 dark and 2 licght pink.
About the trellis, I went out to take a picture of it. The mesurments are 43.9 high x 35.8 wide and you get two panels, with 2 anker posts. This Lowe's had them in black and dark green. We have 3 lows in the area but not all carry them. Made in China. Distributed by L G Sourcing Inc.www.lgsourcing.com
on the lows scaning ticket was #0320832
I hope it is enough to see localy. Got to go to scrub some house, the guests are coming this evening. Have a nice day, it will be beutiful in Augusta.

The English daisies form nice little clumps and spread nicely. They are not invasive or aggressive.

Your fence is very pretty. At 43" tall I wouldn't do anything to make it appear taller. You can let the clematis grow up one side and down the other if you want. You might want to angle the fence in the lawn so it's more pleasing to the eye and an unexpected treat.

This clematis grows up a trellis (you can't see the front of it here) and down the back, then across the compost piles. Remember that you won't see the gate when it's covered with the clematises.

Our nearest Lowe's is an hour away but they are building one that will be 30 minutes away and it just can't come too soon.

Happy scrubbing. I'm off to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned. It's rainy here so I doubt I'll do anything outside but might clean more of the garage.

I am back from cleaning the crud. I don't like this last minute cleanings, you can always miss something. I got a headache I finnaly figured out why, I have skipped lunch because it was no food in the house. Instead of having fruitbasket, cookies and lots of goodies for the guests,
this lady always clean her house out, they wont even have coffee in the morning. She would make a lousy Hungarian.
Pirl, I always go to you because you so smart, some of my seedlings are kind of skini streched out, I read it is because the light is to fahr, but what can I do with them, one of them is my favorite penstemon Electric blue, can I do something to revers this or wait till I put them on my porch to grow in outside? I would hate to loose them, I went trough process of cooling them in frig and then I put them in a zip loc bag, and when 2 leaves came out put them under light, but they are very skini and looks like they wont make it. Help.

The seedlings are stretching for light. Do you use any lighting at all for them? If so, get the plants close to the lights, not a foot away - more like 3" away. Do not overwater them!

They are not a foot away, but 4", but now I moved them closer, tomorow I will set up on the front and back porch in shade for them a day time, so I can plant some more seeds under light, or it is best to wait for 3 more weeks and plant outside in the soil. Thank you for your advice.

Do you have a basement?

No, I do not know anybody in our area to have basement, I think we are to close to the underground water line or something, oh yes the 215 year old church I work in has basemant, but that is it.

It's easy to set up a plant factory in a basement but I bet with your talent you could adapt this for a closet or a spare room. Then you'd have lots of lights for all your plants.

Zinnias, cosmos and cleome can all be started outdoors (here around Mother's Day) so tell me what you want to grow and I will try and help you.

I have a feeling that the problem is that I left the lights on 24 h. and they did not developed rooting, just long little stems. Tomorow I will plant my penstemon in indiviual cups and see what happened. They already have they 2 leaves.
For outside I will grow some zinnias, wave petunias, coleus and lupin. also marigold and cosmos . It should be enough since today I went and bought a flat of dark pink short zinnias, I grow them every year and I love them alot for the sunny front yard. Thanks for your help. We will have in the 80 this whole week, so hopefully we are done with freezing.

Zinnias prefer having the seeds planted directly where they will grow. You can plant the seeds for the some of the others inside but lupine should be planted direct and cosmos, also.

I'm still waiting to get in the garden while you have 80 degrees!

Wait when it gets 102 and you have nice breeze and 89, that is the south I got used to it. The worst heat I ever had was in Cleveland, Oh, the humidity was terrible. Thank you for your advice. Tomorow I will only have about 2 h of work and I will be playing in the dirt.

That's hotter than I like it, Etelka. My limit is about 80 unless I can work in the shade and have a breeze.

Happy gardening.

You are surranded by all thet ocean, how does it feel when the hurrican hits, that is why I don't want to move on the Outerbanks of NC.

We don't get many hurricanes here and we are not open to the ocean. The bay is at the end of our block.

I am not waiting anymore, got three of them today from Bluestone. Soon I will get three more from Brushwood. I will wait for about a week to plant them, I also got some Angelonia plants, looks like it will be a nice plant to plant around clematis, it is purple and 18" tall. Got it also for my large flower pots, got to figure out what to plant with it. 18 plants only 6 bucks, can't beat it. I always wanted to plant Forget-me-nots, I got 3 of them from Bluestone. All the plants look healthy but small, but larger then what I am growing from seed.