Plant Propagation part XXXIV based on my own experience

No, her name is Gina, not Sarah. LOL I am still trying to find a way to send this where it will not take up so much space. Here it is. Really funny if you are not involved. LOL

FROM A PERSON IN ALASKA WHO WANTS SOME GARDENIA PLANTS: The saga begins:
From: Gina Jones
To: jberger431
Sent: Thu, Apr 14, 2011 2:24 am
Subject: Gardenia's
Please contact me, as I would like to purchase some Gardenia Plants. I live in Alaska, and my number is (907) 242-4469. Thank you,
Gina Jones

My reply:
Gina, I am unable to ship out of the USA without a special inspection which to do for these small plants, is just not cost affective. I am sorry I can not accommodate you. I suggest you try Logee's. They are much bigger and may not have the same State regulations that I have here in NJ. Thank you again for your interest.
From: Gina Jones
To: jberger431
Sent: Sat, Apr 16, 2011 1:41 am
Subject: RE: Gardenia's
Hi,
Alaska is in the United States. I know it's confusing to a lot of people.
Please reply back.
Thanks,

My reply and now you can see old JB getting a wee bit annoyed.

I KNOW WHERE ALASKA IS. YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND,
I am a very small nursery. I already have to pay a fee to be certified just to ship within the continental USA, plus have the required inspections each year.
I would have to open a special account with the Dept. of Agriculture here in NJ in order to get Federal Phytosanitary Inspection Certificate. That would cost me too much money to acomodate the few orders I get from Alaska. I would have to pass that along to the buyer in order to make a profit. The same thing applies to Puerto Rico and Hawaii.
I am trying to be nice by referring you to a larger tropical plant dealer outside of NJ who may in fact already have the Federal Account and I can imagine it is very frustrating to you, but you should try to understand there is a good reason for my actions.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS.............I DO NOT SHIP TO ALASKA.
-----Original Message-----
From: Gina Jones
To: jberger431
Sent: Wed, Apr 20, 2011 2:33 am
Subject: RE: Gardenia's
I will be talking to the Better Business Bureau Mrs. Rude. Do you understand?

What I hope is a final reply to her, now I am no longer annoyed I am mad.

Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2011 10:02:20 -0400
I would suggest before you do anything you will regret, you think about it.
I am governed by my State Regulations and can not change them. You do not seem to understand, I AM UNABLE TO SHIP TO ALASKA due to New Jersey Regulations.
Gina, I am more than willing to be nice to you, but I am 82 years old and I do not intend to have someone talk to me the way you do. My attorneys will be waiting if you persist on harassing me about sending you plants I am legally not permitted to.
Please discontinue this conversation unless you want to bury the hatchet and become friends. Then I will be happy to try and help you find someone who can legally send you plants. Please get rid of the attitude. It is not becoming to a young lady.
Have a good day, and if you want the number of the Better Business Bureau I will send it to you.

The end! (I hope)

I think I am through my pre-trip crisis.

Today is beautiful. The birds are singing loudly. One of them came in the kitchen; Tony caught it and released it outside. Disappointed the dogs. I got some work done, including planting some seeds out by my outdoor bathtub and some other places. Some of the seeds are sprouting; I don't know what many of them are yet but I love a mystery. they are covered with old fan covers to keep the birds from feasting on the sprouts.

My foot does not hurt much. I began to have a leg cramp last night, took a quinine pill and no more problem.

I'm going to have a ton of flower seeds. I've spent a lot of time, energy and money on getting trees and other food plants going and I'm ready for some flowers. I also have some vegetable seeds. I have a serious whitefly problem here and have not had much success with vegetables. I have a spray which is supposed to take care of them. We'll see.

Parks is have a 20% off $40 or more worth of seeds. I may get marigolds, vincas and whatever else might do OK in this heat. Some thing like petunias of sometimes perennial.

Did some work in the arroyo. With the new dirt available we can really go to town on a couple of areas. I did plant a vetiver grass and some aloes and put some lavender seeds in with a mini-rose which is doing well in a fairly shaded spot.

My two new tangerines both look good. The arroyo becomes and oven in the summer so we'll have to watch them but if they get a good start now they should be OK. The pomegranate looks like it will do well there and I may end up planting a lot of my little poms in that area. For now I put some fertilizer in around where they have seeded themselves and I can keep them watered because they're right by my bathtub.

Dave, sorry you're having a hard time of it. I'm so grateful for a day like today because, like you and some of the others, I'm often in so much pain that my body just says "no."

And when the pain isn't killing us someone like JB's Gina comes along to see if they can mess up our day - or week.

Dana and Tom are getting ready to leave soon. Dana did ask me today how I was doing. I really do try to keep up a cheerful exterior but I have a problem when she then ignores my limping and talking about the podiatry appointment and acts like I should just get on with it.

I'm off to shop at Parks.

hugs, katie

JB, I see that latest was the 16th. Have you heard any more from this weirdo?

Very persistent wasn't she? LOL, don't you know Alaska became a state? So did Hawaii!!! Just in case you get one from there.

Well, we had a nice afternoon. Met my sister and went thru the gro barn, ended up with a lot of pots I really don't need, was doing fine without, but what the heck. Made our trip worth while.

I am tired and have to cook a quart of oysters, so will talk to you all later.

I hate oysters, they remind me of boogers. I love sea food though. Scallops and clams, mmm! Shrimp, Shark, Halibut ymm.

Dave are you ok? I hope you are. I have not been on and just got on and have to go to bed, so sorry if you answered it...I don't think that Oklahoma is good for me, between the cold and the record lowes at that, now this rash of apocolyptic storms. I'm thinking I may need to be content.

Jen, you missed this part of the post, that is why I posted it yesterday, this is what she sent me.
From: Gina Jones
To: jberger431
Sent: Wed, Apr 20, 2011 2:33 am
Subject: RE: Gardenia's
I will be talking to the Better Business Bureau Mrs. Rude. Do you understand?

The daffodil field was ruined by the storm last week. 90% of these blooms can not be sold because the blooms are not perfect, they are stripped and shredded. Just another day in the life of a flower farmer. Here is what is left and they are not worth a cent at the Market.

JB, I'm so sorry about your daffodils. It's just heartbreaking to see such devestation.

Let's hope that Gina runs up a huge phone bill trying to interest the BBB in your "rudeness."

Yesterday went quite well for me. I need to get the van cleaned up and the bed made then take it easy until it's time to leave. Tony is here and he's feeling much better.

I have lots of little plants coming up. I hope they will grow enough to be able to withstand the heat of summer.

Still not awake.

Have a good day everyone.

Dave, hope you are feeling better.

hugs, katie

Speaking of rude. Thank you dawn for your description of my dinner.


Sorry JB, I did see that but thought it was before your post of the 16th. Missed the date.

So that was her last one. Well, I doubt you will hear any more from her. Altho it appears that people from Alaska just do not EVER go away do they?

I guess daffodils are no different than any other crop. They all have their problems of one kind or another. That is too bad.

mornin. no the weather this week has been horrid and kicking my behind something fierce. The last round of storms with the tornadoes was counted as 12 and will most likely go up after they investigate all the damage.

I have never found the BBB to vbe all that effective. I know they keep notes on people when they are cheating people. once she does post something she will be relly close to slander. I think the BBB allows you to make a statement about the issue as well so let her spin her wheeels. I think I would put some blurb like she wanted you to violate the states agricultural codes and possibly end up being fined and that you try very hard to make everyone happy as long as its withing the laws of New Jersy

I am fine when we are in one pattern for a week or more. its the fronts that come in and cause the baromiter to go wacko that I don'y like. well we have fronts stacked up all weekend. sorry jb but they are coming your way.

Its time to go night night as the pain has hit 11 on the 1 to 10 scale. I did manage to plant 12 flatts of seeds in the mist house.

Dave
Dave

Goodness Dave. So sorry you are in such pain. It is hard to sleep even when you feel that way. Can't get interested in a good book or tv show even.

Those are good suggestions you gave JB. People are so weird and can really mess up another person's reputation if allowed. But, you are probably right that the BBB is pretty careful too.

I found out just how much some small thing screws up someone else by ordering my free annual credit report a couple of weeks ago. I got very good ratings from 2 companies but then a third one had a collection from a dr. Well, when I called the collection agency, they said it was for a Rocky Smith who I have never heard of. But, I think the drs. office, or collection agency, went thru his Smith files and anyone with an R, my middle initial, they smeared their credit report. Now, I was so mad I wanted to sue for slander. I don't know if the drs. office or the collection agency would do that.

The credit reporting agency is working on clearing it but they say it normally takes 45 days. Well, a lot can happen in 45 days. I could call the drs. office and ask them for a letter stating it isn't mine I suppose. The collection agency told me to let the Credit Reporting Company do it. I suppose it has to come thru them.

But, if I were trying to buy a house instead of "looking", then I would be in a heap of trouble.

ttyl,

When I moved here I got a new phone number. It turned out to be the phone number of a girl who owed God and everyone money. I got calls daily for years looking for this woman. Just the other day I got another and I told them to take this phone number off their list.

It is really a PITA when they screw up and you end up being the one who gets all the grief. The worst part is that they are relentless until it is corrected. I feel sorry for you having the name Smith......that has got to be a pain. There are other Jbergers out there and I get calls sometimes that people just do not believe me.

The garage man called. They sent the wrong clamps for my running boards and he is going to have to cut them to make them fit and blah blah blah............now he is not sure can he get it back in time. Well, he was two hours late getting here and he knows he has one unhappy camper here. He wanted to know if I minded if he waits until tomorrow to deliver it. I told him it was Good Friday and I had plans but what choice do I have. He said he will try and get it to me today. Great. #$@^%$##%Y&

This week I know I should have gone to church............nothing has gone right all week.
Oh well, may as well get used to it.

The wind is still blowing and I just can not be out in it. I am cranky as a wet hen. JB

My plumerias are starting to bloom. Also some wild white daturas.t
Tony and I did a walkabout in the arroyo, discussing where we will move the dirt after Tom and Dana are gone.

I am really happy to have some areas where the soil has been amended enough that I can plant some flowers with some hope that they will grow. I've ordered a lot of seeds, especially things that are reported to self-seed.

When I moved in here I had no door windows or roofs and only one room had a (very rough) concrete floor - the rest were dirt. And we had a hurricane two days after I moved in. Sound awful? Well, the house I'd moved from was completely under water from the hurrricane. So I thanked God and got to work. I also got dengee (sp?) fever.

As I remember how difficult the first few years were it helps to put this foot problem in perspective.

My teacher from India will be in Ca. in early June for a couple of weeks. If I need surgery on the foot I may be able to coordinate it with her visit.

That's all for now.

hugs, katie

Just wanted to say Good Night.....we have a frost warning tonight, plus rain off and on tomorrow , rain all day Sat. and Sunday rain. Isn't that great! I feel like a freakin duck.,

Katie, You have more guts than I would have. I hate dirt floors and no roofs. I do not think I could do that. Depends on the circumstances and did I have to. But, as strong as I am, I need a toilet that flushes and a shower. Not a hose and cold water. I did that outside John when we would go to our hunting camp. For one week I would hunt and love it until it came time when I needed a hot bath (which was the first day). LOL I am not a good camper. I am not afraid to admit it. At least a houseboat has a shower and a toilet. .....my kind of camping. Good luck girl.

Dave, this is very bad weather for both of us. I am hurting, big time and it just will not stop.Nothing like you and I try and ignore it so it goes away. I take nothing for it, just try and work it off. You unfortunately can not do that. I pray for your comfort and relief from pain. I hope your pump keeps pumping , honey, or you are in big trouble.

The weather is relentless. The sun was beautiful today but the wind was a killer. I can not wait to go to bed. The pollen count is so high everyone is sneezing and with the wind, it is a mess. Sinus infections and runny noses are on the menu for Easter. LOL

But, put it all together and life is good......if you make it good.....and I always try and do that. Blessings to you all in case I float away in the rain. I hope your holiday, Easter, Passover, whatever you are celebrating is happy and healthy. I am going to have some wine and a salad and go to bed. Yahoo............nite. all. JB

Ah man, can't skip a day with you guys let alone a week!

Dave sorry your getting pounded with that weather. I just saw forecast for more weather and 5 inches of rain. A bit jealous of the rain here, but none of the rest. We are so dry it's a worry.

Jeanette, how far is Spokane from where you live? I have relatives there. I even went to school for a short time in Spangle, (but them I'm undoubtedly repeating myself from threads past!)

LOL, Katiebear, ya caught my attention a ways back there with the nude comment! I can't picture the roof and dirt floors perfectly, lived there myself a while in Africa- I love camping though. Looking forward to seeing it some day. I may have plenty of time next summer! lol

We have been in the 90's already, is there ever a happy medium? No wonder people go to Arizona and Florida!

Heading to Colorado Springs next week for my little brothers 50th!.

JB, I had the worst allergies ever this spring..I think it gets worse as I get older. My poor brother has been radically allergic all his life. He has to rinse his sinuses out once or twice a day to avoid sinus infection, and still gets them frequently.

Have a great Easter all!
rj

I'm with you JB. I used to love camping but any more I have to have the modern conveniences. I'm too old for sleeping on the ground, peeing in a can that kept moving around, using a solar shower, thank God for the fire to heat water in the coffee can if the sun wasn't shining. All those good things.

Yes Dave, I remember Lorraine. How is she doing? It has been a few years since I last heard from her. Hope she is doing well. Would love to hear from her.

Well, gals and guys, think I will cut it off early tonight. I told my daughter we have got to quit buying stuff since we just have to stick it in the refrigerator and then cook. One all leads to another and then you start all over again.

ttyl,

Hey rj, thought you were caught up in tripping over all the people in the post office. LOL.

I'm a hundred miles from Spokane. Spangle is the other direction. Where are your folks now Randy? Didn't you say they were in Western Washington somewhere?

rj, I heard they were burning Texas down. How far are they from you? Do you still have your house? Is it still standing? No more hurricanes? Or spending the night in the front hall surrounded by mattresses? That was a scary one wasn't it? Bet if you remember it next time you will get out of town.

Well, since we crossposted, I will ttyl,

Sorry Jeanette, I forget that some people like boogers for dinner, raw or cooked. MMMMM! and so tastey too.

Sharon don't forget to send me a dmail if you send that box because sometimes I just get on for a minute and read emails.

Feel better Dave.

Morning Glories, The sun shined from 8 a.m. to 9:30. Rain is on the way. Just got the first of several loads of stone for the lane and barnyard to finish up and clean up the mess we had from so much snow and rain. Need to keep the water flowing in the right direction. It comes off the big barns and runs down and makes a mess.

My jeep now has stainless steel running boards . I am one classy old lady now. LOL It looks great. Next I want to get new bumpers and then I quit. I could have bought a new one but I love this old baby and if I decide to quit driving nothing will be lost and my son in law has another jeep. He and I both drive the old Wranglers. He also has a truck and a new Chevie, but we love our jeeps.

Rj, hello, I just got an order for gardenias from Houston. Hope they arrive o.k.

My friend in Tennessee said her house was missed by the tornado last week. The house across the street got trees on the roof........her comment was they needed a new roof anyhow. God. I would never get used to that kind of weather. She fell over a grandkids toy and broke her pelvis. Why do things like that happen to us?

Better get out and work in the GH before the rains come. I will come back when you guys are awake.

Ibartoo, my orchid cactus look good. Thanks.

Another night of little sleep for me. Not much pain, just restless.

But I am up and will move about outside and get the van ready to go..

Will see you all later.

kb

Hi to all
Dave---feel better please!
Jeanette, got the seeds today and I am so Thankful!!! Thanks so very much.
JB, hope you aren't moving the rocks. Or at least you have lots of help and can be the Straw Boss :)
KB Be careful and hope the feet get better soon
Linda, Hope yours are all better now
Sharon, I am watching for the peek a boos to show their little heads, but kinda hard through the snow, will let you know soon as I know.
Evelyn That poem was written about me. I was the inspiration!!!!
If I missed anyone, sorry, just trying to catch up.
I am doing a little better, have lost a few # and sugar is a little lower, still have a long way to go, but am going to try.
Well have to get some seeds started, at least put them in soil, since they don't know me, they will probably germinate just fine.
Love ya all, Lee

LOL Jeanette,
House still standing, but yes there are fierce fires north of here (Dallas area)
Very dry here. No, didn't learn my lesson from Hurricane Rita, I hid in the closet with my friend Margaret (that one did teach me). That hurricane last for hours, and roads were nearly impossible because of downed trees. Was with out power for two weeks. Now I know why the Grandparents went to bed when the sun went down, can't see or do a thing!
Hot today again, very windy too.

Good morning everyone,

I slept well for 8-9 hours last night and feel pretty good today. My right foot disagrees - the bone spur or whatever it is, is making itself known and it's hard for me to stand. The last few days have not been bad. This may be to remind me that when I see the podiatrist I need to remember how bad this can be and not let the doctor tell me to "wait and see" what happens.

Do any of you do micropropagation? I have been reading a lot about it. I'm considering investing in a kit and experimenting With some of the plants I've tried - like cashews - I've had some success but then lost whatever plants I had. I now have three little cherimoya seedling and would love to be able to multiply them (when they get more than two leaves). Anyway, that has been my subject to distract me from foot pain for the last few days.

I think one of my tangerine seeds has sprouted. Tony and I both looked closely at the little seedling and agreed it looks like a citrus. The first two little leaves also look variagated though it may just be dust. The planter they are in is under a tree that weeps sticky stuff this time of year. However, it also provides a lot of much-needed shade so I thank it for being there and rinse off anything that gets left under it. Except for little plants.

I made up a big batch of The Recipe from the brug forum and have been feeding my brugs and what ever else I come across with it, The brugs are responding well. So are the epis.

I'll be leaving Monday morning so I'm taking it easy for the next two days. I've also noticed more arthritis in my hands the last few days but I think it may be that with my foot so sore I'm more sensative to other pain. I can still do dishes and laundry and type and dig so what's a little pain.

Two pink plumarias are blooming and lots more have flower buds. I have one hibiscus that blooms almost constantly in spite of regular attacks by some white fuzzy stuff which seems to have killed any other hibs that I've tried. This plant would probably be a good candidate for micropropagation.

Time to check what is sprouting/blooming and finish laundry/dish washing if the foot cooperates.

Dave, I sure hope you're feeling better. Pain sucks. It's almost as bad as still having snow!

hugs, katie

Morning everyone! I have missed you all. It has been crazy here and the weather is unreal. You who live with the tornados and wild weather on a regular basis, I feel for you. We had a massive storm this past week and had some tornados close by, but here all we had were winds and rains. It was enough to completely wipe out all of my spring blossoms except for the dwarf coreopsis and a few salvia.
Yesterday it rained all day. My son wanted to go try for his license and we sat at dmv for about 4 hours waiting and hoping it would quit raining. Then he finally gave up and I returned home with a very frustrated boy in desperate need of having his mouth washed out with soap! I understood his frustration, but I will never tolerate language like he felt was appropriate for the situation. He had friends over last night and I ended up with 2 more teens spending the night. It never gets dull around here.
My seedlings are doing well, but they really need food. I am trying to spend more time outside but my strength and energy aren't lasting long enough to do much.
The xrays on my feet are now clear, so I can begin trying to strengthen the joints. I do have a bone spur, but there are no more breaks or cracks that can be repaired. Yippee! don't feel like playing tennis yet, but I would love to put my feet in the sand.
Jnette, how are you cooking your quart of oysters? I want to come for dinner. LOL I really like them when my brother and Burk go and harvest them from the inlet.
Sorry Dawn, they are gross, but they are also very good.

Rj, did you ride Rita out?We have ridden out many storms here. Since we don't have the birds anymore, chances are if we get major storms we will evacuate again. We wouldn't leave before because I couldn't get back in to take care of the birds. Now, we can take the mutts and my old cat with us.

If I have promised you plants, I will try to get them to you either this week or next. I will let you know before I mail them. Sharon, I know I promised you oxalis and jnette and dave, lantana. Do I owe anyone else any plants or seeds? If so, just let me know.

Dave, I wish for you a pain free day. JB, I do not think you are rude. I think the person in Alaska, needs to learn to listen and then accept no for an answer.

Evelyn,Lee, Dawn, Katie and everyone I hope this week finds and keeps you well.

Happy Easter!
Linda

Katie, I feed everything the brug food. it is wonderful stuff! Send pics of your plumies please. Mine have never bloomed.

It is another one of those days here. Storms predicted, so far not severe, the rains came in during the night and the winds are calm.

We did not finish spreading stone in the barnyard yesterday because we ran out of stone. 15 tons just did not do it, so today they are bringing another 6 ton. I guess between showers or in the rain, he will complete that project. It looks so nice. I can not tell you how big it is in size, but it is where all our customers park during tree sales and the lane is not that long. He only needs to do part of the lane because we did that during the winter when it got nasty.

I was about to relax last night when the Farm Market called and wanted another 8 doz daffodils, so I went out and cut them and they came and got them. Seems business picked up yesterday afternoon when the sun came out for 10 minutes. The late double hybrids are coming out now and they are beautiful. Speaking of beautiful, I got these flowers from my son, his family and daughter and her family. They know I love roses and can not grow them. LOL

Be back later. Have paperwork and filing to do today while it rains. Hugs and Have a great day. Jb

Good morning-
Hi Linda, yes I did ride out Hurricane Rita and Ike- Rita was a puff of wind compared to Ike. Ike was so huge, that it blew fierce for 8 hours, and then high winds on either side of that. I will go visit my parents in Seattle next time (although irony might throw and earthquake in there).

Nice Bouquet JB, from your garden?
rj

No, rj, I can grow most tropicals, but I can not grow roses or germinate seeds. I have tried over and over. That is why I got the roses for Easter. Kids know I love them but can not grow them. LOL. They had the florist deliver them.

It is still raining here. Back to my filing. JB

Good evening.... well its been a tough week. rain and storms all week. I am so ready to done with this crap.

Linda i think you have a camillia with my name on it. I did manage to go to the herbfest again this weekend. tulsa being as it is like dallas and other big cities we have a lot of small towns on the outskirts so we get a fest of somekind every weekend in the spring. I managed to get some other herbs and a couple of Beefsteak tomatoes I could not resist after all they were only a buck each.

last count we had 12 tornado's with the batch that hit the news. none since though.
I did manage to get my trays that were full of soil sown with seed so hopefully I will have seedlings sprouting soon. The Silver mound has decidied it was ready to come out of the greenhouse but I have to have the energy to do it. I really hate this weather as I have so much to stick in cuttings and have not been able to do one cell. I have been just doing the must be dones.

well back to horrizontal. Have a great easter.
Dave

Gorgeous bouquet JB. I love roses too. Bet you could grow them if you really tried. LOL, but, maybe not if you are going to have those nasty storms and crappy weather like you do.

I sure hope you can grow those seeds Lee. Better put them out of Storm's reach.

Linda, I feel for your son. Maybe the foul language isn't called for, but I can understand. Very disappointing for a guy that age.

Linda, what are you calling brug food? The mixes the people put together? I tried that on my roses and it didn't smell very good but just for a minute. While pouring it on.

My daughter, sister,and I went to several greenhouses today. It is pretty early here for plants but just can't help ourselves. They had some real good buys and we all spent a lot of money. Maybe not a lot, but for this time of year when it is too cold to put anything outside, we spent almost $200 between us. So, my sister and daughter have greenhouses to put them in and I am going to have Bob help me put ends on the hoophouse and I think then I should be able to put some out there without losing them.

JB ~ Beautiful roses. Yes, I have tried with roses here and probably could grow them if that is all I grew. If I grow them outside the fenced area, I must remember to use the deer repellant. Actually, one of my mini-roses is 6" high, much to my amazement. I must have sprayed it...LOL!! It is in the "peach-of-a-garden". I also sprayed everything else in there as the tulips have already been eaten to the ground and other things just have the buds eaten off. I don't seem to get them at just the right time when they emerge from the snow. I don't go out in the snow to spray, sorry! Then, I am the one who is sorry!

It's good that you had some daffs to sell after all that wind.

No snow lately, just a little hail and more rain. And then some more today. It hailed yesterday after I had almost finished up the last bag of mulch onto the new bed. And then it rained, I think it may have rained all night. This morning I went to get the new batch of mulch to finish this bed and sure enough when I was about done, it started to rain again. It was too wet to do anything else. So I went in and got ready to go to a memorial service. My husband went with me and we did a little shopping beforehand. Got everything on our lists. Then we went and proceeded to eat too much. Why do they serve food at these functions? I am still full! I was just so hungry! It was raining lightly when we left and rained more on the way home. (Do April showers really bring May flowers?? Well they had better!)

Jeanette ~ Did I ask you about Charles Grimaldi brug? Do you have one? Someone told me they were hardy to zone 8, or I read it somewhere, and since I never grew them before, I planted them in the ground. Lost them all. That was several years ago and I have been too busy to think about them. If they don't grow in this zone, maybe I should not try them. Do you have a nice space for them indoors and keep them going, or do you let them go dormant?

Katie ~ I sure hope the doctor is able to fix your foot. It must be terrible to be in so much pain all of the time. I know what you mean by trying to do something you love in order to distract yourself from the pain. I am glad that you are resting up for the trip.

Linda ~ Speaking of feet, I am glad that your foot is finally better. It must be a relief that you are on the road to recovery as it has been a long battle for you.

Dave ~ I sure hope that you are feeling better soon. This has gone on long enough! Well, I am sure you would agree with me on that point! Seriously, what else can you do but take pain meds and rest? Well, in any case, you are in my prayers.

In fact, all of you are in my thoughts and prayers. We each seem to have our challenges, and we are all trying to do what we can to go forward.


Please, everyone, all...have a wonderful Happy Easter!

Happy Easter. We went to church tonight instead of being in a sea of babies that we see always on Easter. Plus more seats for the once or twice a years people, so they don't leave on the count of regulars. Our church is cool, we can watch it live on the web now on Sundays at two different times, if we want to sleep in or if we are sick.

My friend had two cortisone shots and it helped her feet with spurs. She was coming to work in slippers Katie.

I hope those storms don't throw debris at your yard and cover your seedlings.

Sharon do you know anyone who may want a blue male shar pei. His owners are in Vegas and they are puting him to sleep within the week if they can't find a home. They are in Vegas and he is good with dogs and has had all the necessary surgeries, nutered and a common eye lid surgery, common to the breed. He is free. He looks gorgeous and is sweet. I can post the link on face book if you know anyone who likes the breed or is looking for a dog. Maybe they could even just foster from Vegas, if they don't want to adopt, then wait for the Shar pei rescue to find a home. His time is almost up, the people can't take him with them. He is three. He is probably posted on the www.peipeople.com site possibly on the bottom where it says Other available dogs.

I have not been able to water the last few days, so I hope all my seedlings and plants did not croak. I hand water until my h and I can be home and check out all the plants and drip heads, to see what I need. As they get taller the drip irrigation is harder to reach through the jungle. My water pressure issues haunt me.

What is the issue with my seedlings. They germinate but never seem to grow taller, so they can't survive in the beds?

Happy Easter everyone! Watched Mass on TV and the Pope give his Easter Greeting in skeenteen languages..........what a boring thing to watch. I do not like to attend Mass on holidays in church because the twice a year gang comes all dressed up and it is packed. They used to have it in the School auditorium it would bet so full. Now we have a new church and it is still packed. I hate crowds and do my best to stay away from them. I think that is why I seldom get colds and viruses. I get anxiety just going to the regular service. LOL

Started out great..........then, fed cats and walked dog and then we came inside and .Barney threw up and then had diarrhea. Just another day at the farm. LOL

It is a beautiful day, warm , sunny and no wind. The storms will be back tonight. We have our dinner about 4 PM. Already had several calls from young friends and an email from my son, saying he will call later. So nice to be remembered by the younger generation.

My kids are going to dig stumps out of the tree field after lunch, so this is just another day at the farm, as I said.

I am having coffee and a bagel today. Too much food coming later. Take care and have a wonderful day. Hugs and prayers to you all. JB

Good mornin happy easter...
Hellen: what soil are you using to start with? what is your process from filling trays to growth? It all depends on what you are growing and what conditions they get. I have columbine that are leggy and lanky. We all have to remember that seeds have only so much stored energy to get them going. after that we must feed them with a weak solution or a starter feeding solution or like sea weed or fish emulshion.
There is a balance between roots and top growth. no one really talks about it but i have noticed that often they are equal. without a good root system they cant take up all the nutritional substances available to them.
I need more info to answer the question
Have a great day. we have had rain all night and its still lightning and raining outside.
Dave

Dave, when you get the plugs are they in netting? Do you take the netting off to plant them? I have seen plants where the roots didn't grow out of it very good. What made me think of it was that yesterday I stopped in a nursery to buy some Dynamite fertilizer I knew they had, and was looking at their plants. One was showing a plug. I was surprised. Don't know why, but I was.

If the roots don't get far out of the plug I don't see how they can do well?

Well, we are doing nothing special today, read the paper and then fixed biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Now we are so full, we may not even have dinner. LOL

Guess I should see if I have any urea left for my alfalfa bales. ttyl

What I did for Easter was to give the ham I had brought back from my lst trip to Tony for his family's Easter dinner. Seemed better than to share it with the dogs though they would probably not agree. I've been cooking up chicken legs and rice all day to minimize the amount of cooking that Tony will have to do.

I'm very glad I got ready for the trip earlier in the week as I got hit with a stomach bug last night and didn't sleep much and today have a horrible headache and no energy. Fairly typical pre-trip stuff which is why I prepare well ahead of time.

I have no idea whether I will be able to come home right after the appointment, wait for a second appointment, schedule surgery or what. It's the downside of being so far away form Kaiser but I like their care and it usually isn't a hassle to make the necessary trips.

I have a couple of friends in So. Cal that I can visit if I have to stay for awhile and Tony will take care of things here. His son has email so I can keep him informed as soon as I know anything.

I don't usually drink coffee after about 10 am but I'm having a cup now in hopes that it will knock out my headache where aspirin hasn't.

I will keep you all posted on this adventure. When I return I plan to come through at Tecate. The lst hassle at Chula Vista/TJ was enough for me. After many travels through with no problems the last two or three have been very difficult and frustrating.

Hope Lee's now has melted and Dave's pain takes a vacation. And no more storms for JB.

hugs, katie

Here's hoping you have a good trip Katie, and am interested to see if you will be having foot surgery. I had one of mine reconstructed 2 years ago. You have to stay off of it 6 weeks. That is the minimum time for bone to heal. But, whatever it takes.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Katie ~ Have a safe trip. I hope everything works out well. Yes, please keep us posted of your adventures. Yes, Katie, let's hope that Katie does not have to stop suddenly while driving and hurt her foot more. Please do take care.

Dave ~ Thanks for reminding me. I need to give my seedlings a weak feed. I always seem to forget after they emerge to give them a boost. I have many seedlings. I had better make the rounds, as soon as I have my bookcase put back together.

It really needs better brackets for the shelves. It has the small plug-in type brackets that are good for about a year or so. They are not meant to hold up heavy gardening books. I was looking for some of my books as I clean that bookcase out about twice a year. In the meantime I just dust. This time the cleaning was forced upon me as the middle shelf fell into the bottom stack of books.

I was trying to get a book off the bottom shelf. Not without a lot of effort. The two ideal locations for the middle shelf have disappeared as the holes in there are not stable to hold the brackets. I will try the third, though less than ideal location. Otherwise, I will just have to have it out of my room and ask Steve for some ideas, like installing proper brackets or redrilling some of the holes. (This design does not allow for the regular type of brackets.)

I agree with Katie about having Lee's snow melt and Dave's (and everyone else's) pain to take a vacation....and no more intense storms for anyone. Let's have spring! I am ready. (It rained for most of the day plus last night as well.) At least the plants are liking it. The cool-weather plants, that is.

I just mulched the new "Hot Bed". I have a lot more to plant in there but either they have not yet arrived or the seedlings are not up to size yet. It is just as well since the ground is soaking once again. I got the mulch on just in time....

Good morning everyone:
well we got 2.88 inches of rain yesterday. broke a record. I am sure everyone is swimming in the nursery now. it lookks like I have a break in it this am so i am working on getting plants pulled for orders and shipping today.
Katie have a good trip. do you travel alone???? of course this is tv i am talking about but they say they pick out the single person vans and suv's as they usually are packed with contraband. If you are not in a hurry sprinkle dog biscuits around the truck for fun....
well not much else going on today as I have to get things done before the pain kicks back in. I can tell the storms are not done with us yet.
Dave

Dave I did use peroxide and Kelp, but they just stay tiny. The wind blew some of my survivors off a toppled table. They were strong enough to survive but I don't know today how they will look. They are tiny, tiny and nothing is looking strong. I need to put the fertilizer back on them.

I had insomnia and feel like crap. don't want to go to work.

Have a great day guys.

Here you are! I was unable to get to you all morning. Finally whatever it was is gone. I am now able to get back to the orders and "manage" them. They are all invoiced but no one wants to pay. What is going on with people? Why do they order if they do not want to pay.
Someone the other day said they thought I would mail the plants first with a bill. Yeah. I think I told you that.

Yesterday we pulled about 50 stumps and some big old trees that will not sell. Tonight they have another hour of pulling after work before dark to make the load. They are trying not to make two trips because of the price of gas. They take it to a burning pile someplace about 15 miles away.

We had a lovely day yesterday. Everyone was pleasant and we all ate too much. My son, grandson and his wife all called me in the morning, as did several of my old friends. It is nice to be remembered.

They sold out of daffodils at noon on Sat. but it was raining so hard she did not want to call me to get more. Now they are about done so I told her there will be no more. The asparagus is now going full blast.

I am going to pull some weeds. It is in the high 70s here and storms expected, so I need to get out and get moving. I think I will do it before I eat lunch. I hate bending over when my stomach is full. I always feel crappy when I work on a full stomach. Of course if did not eat like a hog and fill my gut so full, that would not happen. Yes, Jenette, I said it.
I admit to indulging in too much food at times. Ha!

Went to the base for wine this morning after I dropped off some orders at the P.O. Then stopped at the Market Place and she gave me two of the most beautiful mauve or magenta, but very dark hyacinth bulbs to plant. They were wilting and she could not sell them. I just happened to be there at the time she was cleaning up the pots. Yippee.

I will be back later. Have so much to try and get done between showers. JB