New Bees Chat - Friends old and new, come on in! 7-11-11

Really enjoying this cooler weather. The plants flowers and shrubs are too!

The whole gang is back again! How's everybody doin'?

Al

I know .. 'bout time!

It is Nigella, Love-In-A-Mist! The seed pods are as cool as the fleurs!

It's hot as crap here again - lots of wind, dust but no rain!

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/weather/weather_news/photos%3A-storm-causes-damage%2C-outages

We heard Phoenix got caught in a giant dust storm, hope you're alright Kelly! It's been on our news lately.

Al

Three this year - crazy! But no rain, just dirt. I think I'll have to hose the plants off - lol. Last one I got caught driving in it - that was a little nerve wracking to say the least. It's like driving in a white out for those of you familiar with snowstorms!

We're glad you're alive and well! Hope it cools off soon.

Al

oh so humid today alwost like rain. but is still very hot out sidehope it is cooler tomorrow. we coukd all use some cool down love and hugs nettie talk later.

October Al, October... I pray it comes soon - lol...

Goodnight Everyone.. Wishing you all a good week full of pleasant weather and lots of flowers :-)

ok people had no 69 today and i got some nice things new flower tea cup gives me chance to purchase new house plant which i don,t need but im going to get one anyway. im thankful for every day i have with my family and friends love and hugs to all of you have a good nighy and better day tomarrow.nettie

This message was edited Aug 22, 2011 12:04 AM

OMYGOSH it's Nettie's Birthday (Saturday)! I didn't see your name in the birthday file, but it's in the addy list.

Have a great day Nettie!

Al

This message was edited Aug 22, 2011 9:26 AM

Sorry, I was a little out of focus for a minute...

Al

This message was edited Aug 22, 2011 10:10 AM

Happy Birthday Nettie !

Happy Birthday Nettie! Have a wonderful celebration! Wish we could all be there to help you celebrate in person!

We're eating real tomatoes in NY!! This is this mornings pick. Salads and salsa tonight for dinner!

Al

You are so-o-o-o lucky! I'm still hoping mine ripen before we get a freeze, lol! They look wonderful!

ai everyone thank you for the biryhday wishes i love all of you and miss you when i don,t get a chance to get on line to make sure you are all doing good and not sick i feel bad when i don,t know how all of you aredoing nettie im going to go to bed soon so talk later.

Have a good night Nettie! Sweet dreams!

All you plant smart people, I have a question. I threw out some zinnia seeds late this spring, and they are blooming and looking awesome. What I need to know is, do I have to pick the seed heads off and save the seeds, or will they reseed themselves and basically winter sow on their own. Keep in mind, we are zone 3/4, so it will freeze hard and they will be buried under snow. I love the way they look in the corner of the fence, but they are in with a spirea bush and cannas. The cannas I have to dig, and they will not be able to go into the corner next year, as the spirea will be too big for them in the same spot next year, but the zinnias will still look great there, so want to have more growing there next year. Also, my yard doesn't have enough smelly things, lol! I need more fragrant plants! Any ideas? Perennials would be great, but I always have plenty of annuals too.

Sandi, I haven't known zinnias to reseed themselves as long as I've grown them. The seed pods from the female plants are easy to harvest and save over the winter to plant next year. I usually wait in the fall until they are completely hardened and dry on the plant before picking them from the stem. I trim the dried flower petals from the seed pod with shears before flicking the arrowhead shaped seeds into a cool-whip container for winter storage. There will be some chafe, but don't worry about it too much. You can make a mountain of zinnias simply by replanting in the spring. My daughter even uses them as a "scatter-patch" garden for cut flowers. Couldn't be easier.

Al

Thanks Al! Good to know, since I've never gathered seed from them before. I've always just had extra seeds, so never worried about it, lol! And glad I didn't throw them out on the ground hoping they would come back next year. I have a fridge where I store all my seeds anyway, so another container full won't matter. Do you keep them cool and store them in the fridge? Or room temp?

Just make sure they are completely dry after separating the seed. I store in sealed plastic containers (cool-whip or cottage cheese type), no refrigeration is necessary. I do marigolds pretty much the same way. They will last for several years if kept dry with stable temps. I still have a few left over if anybody wants some.

Al

This is another generic short marigold called "Sparky". I grew a small bunch last year and saved a whole container full of seeds to try this year, I now have a huge patch of them (and more seeds to share).

Al

Those are great Al! I always plant marigolds every year in and around my maters and such, and for some reason unbeknown to me, have never thought about saving the seeds, hahaha! I like marigolds, but some people just can't stand the way they smell. Doesn't bother us any and great bug control! They are a must have in the gardens for us! How tall are your short Sparkies? Love the bright orange!

This is my overwhelmed back porch and trellis. We have morning glories all over the place. The Sparky marigolds are left of the walkway, only about 12" high and spreading. I transplanted them in clumps about 2' apart and they filled in nicely.

Okay - I'm getting hits on this... The odd shaped tomatoes in the basket picture above are "Costoluto Genovese". They are an heirloom tomato imported from Italy by Pagano (brand) and Lake Valley Seed Company. They taste as good as they look, and I have extra seeds.

Al

Send me a dozen seed AL, I'll try to remember to plant them next year. How big ddo the vines get??? Could I plant them in a container?????

Oh Al, I'd love to have a few seeds too, please! They look wonderful! I'm so happy I have 1 tomato that's starting to turn color now, so assuming we will get at least 1 mater to eat this year, teeheehee. Actually, we have had several little cherry maters ripen, so did get to enjoy a couple of those too. :-)

Al. you all want some hairy morning glory seed, I'm going to have Oodles.... Let me know, everyone. Just send me a note....

Hairy morning glory?

Brazilian Morning Glory.
They have a stiff little hairy stem, but it is soft. Lavendar blooms, no scent that I can detect but Bees love it.
Here is a bloom and the stem shows too.

rrm that is a verry pretty bloom does it set seed i wou;d love to have some of them. i have to keep some promises ive made to people or they are going yo think i make false promises. that wduld be bad love nettie i just can,t remember.my age dh says and he should know. we havr had each other for 45 years this year. don,t know how i would get along without him.

I forget too, Nettie. I made a list of folks who wanted these and misplaced it. But got two pods in mail today. I'll save you some nettie. I started new list and I got a lot of seeds forming.

My porch is being smothered in a morning glory jungle right now, I think I'll pass on that offer thanks. That's a pretty one, though.

I'll get some tomato seeds in the mail if ya'll want. The rest I'll send to Corey for the newbie packs.

I bought a new Nikon L22 last week. It's just a simple pocket camera I'm trying out. This is GD Livey visiting our garden yesterday.

Al

I had to google those brazilian mg's! They are fascinating! Very pretty! If you have a few extra seeds, I'd be happy to send you an envy, but I do have mg's blooming here, so am hoping to get some seeds from them for next year. I really only try to save a few, mostly because they seem to do pretty fair reseeding on their own most times. But I would love some if you have a few extras.

Al, do you still need some Shasta Becky seeds? I have several plants blooming and can sure try to harvest some seeds for you if you want. Charleen, you don't have much on your want list. Is there anything I can send you? I don't have much, but you're sure welcome to what I do have.

Just wanted to share a pic of the same flower above. Raining like heck here now! No complaints.. We need every bit of it!

Is that some sort of coneflower variation? I've never seen one quite that color. Beautiful!

Al

Its Echinacea 'Sundown' I love it too!

Is that one you have extras of Mechelle? I love the orange color!

Yes Sandi it is :-) I have plenty of Sundown, Hot Papaya, Summer Sky and Little Annie. Even though its late in the season, I still have a ton of Coleus left too. But you know how that is, they overwinter nicely in the house. Also have lots of Heuchera-Christa, Citronelle, and a few Palace Purple. I have all of them here at the house now. Lots of Clematis too. I haven't really told anyone but I am closing the nursery. I hate it but it just didn't do well enough to keep it going. Just lots of issues with expensive things breaking, employees breaking equipment and sales just not enough . Mostly just not enough of me to go around. 1500 power bills. Just nuts! But I loved the experience. I sure learned a lot and met a lot of good people. I plan to tinker around here a little and keep busy :-)