What's happening in your neck of the woods? Spring 2012

We came from here : http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1240666/


Just a reminder that there are Three plant/seed swaps scheduled for our area

Sat April 28 http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1247952/

Sat May 21 http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1246741/

Sat June 30 http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1244404/

Everyone is welcome!!


A second reminder that this thread is not "restricted " to a particular topic, but mostly a way for us all to just check in and say hi when we are on line in the area! Join us!

I love that sign.

Oh, that sign. I love it!

You beat me to it, Jan23. I had to stop laughing before I could use the keyboard.

Great sign...at my age that might happen. LOL

So true.

God Forbid I should sneeze when I am cutting daffodils for the road stand. LOL I am not getting old gracefully that is for sure.. I am just glad I work at home and do not have to share my embarrassment with others.

hahaha!
The clivias-- like lumbago.. one a them ol fashinn ailments hahaha

I think we all need to get out in the sun and get better. These garden illnesses could kill ya.
Have a good evening. I am off to have dinner and bedtime. Big weekend coming up and I need to get my beauty sleep. I would have to sleep along time for it to do any good at this stage of the game. Nite all.

Good morning all.

Must say that this Spring has been quite nice. So glad we got back to the cool but confess I keep looking over my gardening shoulder for the next heat wave.

I love au naturel gardening . for fun or necessity,,, Don't many of our urges come when we are out in the woods?

Speaking of pants or was that plants....

So this is what happens when plants get leggy?

Great picture.
ROFL ecnalg!!

ROFLOL, Love that shot. I am heading out to clean up another bed. Seems that I just can't seem to get out there to work. Too much running around, I just got home an hour ago and still haven't made it outside.

***Possible frost warnings tonight in the more Western Counties....."

Bring your plants in tonight and--maybe--keep them in for the next night as well.

I sure hope this weather settles down soon. It seems so deceiving!
Summery days--and wintery nights....

All my perennial divisions will stay outside---the Foxgloves--the Astilbes--the Monkshoods--etc...
My CC's will probably come inside, as they are in tiny pots. They have been in and out--in and out---
for many weeks now. Getting tired of this.....

I am beginning to think that too cool temps of even cold-hardy plants--this early--
can have a negative effect on them. Saying that by observing my cuttings of certain plants.

We seem to be disillusioned--or screwed--by the weather this Spring.
Just have to use your best judgement and good sense to not do anything impetuous !

Gita

Thanks for the heads up! With the trees leafing out so soon, it is more tempting to me to put potted plants out. But I'll wait!

Me too Holly- THe Fed Ex guy came today, and I heard him, and opened the door so Addy could get her biscuit- he ikes Addy and other dogs. He said, I thought she'd be outside enjoying the weather, and you'd be in the yard too!. I should have--not doing indoor junk !

I did spend some time today browsing plants, and seed and supplies. Saw some New Guinea Imps with gorgeous foliage.

Finally got outside. I cleaned up the area around the fence posts where the roses and clems are planted. Worked till it was too dark to see well and then took a few minutes to move some brush. Tomorrow I expect to be outside for most of the day.

Oh what a GREAT pic of the p(l)ants!!!! That is such an ingenious idea and absolutely adorable!! And I had to LOL at ecnalg's "leggy plants" comment, haahahahahaa!!!!!

Thankfully, the only plants I have out are my Winter Sown babies, and I'm hoping all this funky weather will only help to harden them off, cause I'm not about to go dragging them in and out every other day, sheeesh! They're lucky if I remember to flip their lids. ;)

We got another couple deliveries at work yesterday. **Gulp!** I was a good girl though and did NOT come home with anything new. (is my halo on straight?) More deliveries expected today, and I'm off work, so I'm safe! =)

0 : ^)
Yup speedie your halo looks in good order !

speedie---

Which HD do you work in? Are you in garden? If not--what dept?
I am at the White Marsh HD---#2502

I will be spending Saturdays in outside garden until end of June. Holding Clinics and helping people out.
Pushing sign-ups to the "HD Garden Club" with a drawing every week for a nice, free gift
from all those that signed up. Signed up 20 new people last Saturday!
A man in Lumber is building me a Bird House that the entries will be dropped into. It will sit on my table.

Tues. and Wed. I work back in my "cage" as a Phone Operator. B-O-R-I-N-G!!!!

Yesterday I tackled tagging every single plant on my requested list.
The Brazilian Plume starts are not doing much....kind of status quo. But--they are alive.
Maybe they just did not like being taken outside??? Mama is growing like crazy by my DR window.

Today--I have to go to Sears and get my 3rd replacement of a Craftsman digging fork.
Craftsman tools are guaranteed for life--so I get a new one every 2-3 years.
They sure are not made too sturdy!

-First time--one of the tines got bent backwards.
-Second time--the handle just broke in half. It was Fiberglass.
-this time--the handle twists from left to right inside the metal part attached to the forks.
....and the man always asks--"Do you have a receipt"???? Haaaaa.....

I must be really hard on these--digging around all those tree roots.....
I will see if they have one with a sturdy, wood handle.

More frost possibilities predicted tonight.......Be careful! Still so much to do outside!!!!
Everywhere I look seems to be an unfinished project. Takes all the fun walking around the garden....

I decided to come to grips with a struggling azalea. It came from FLorida, did well for a year or two, but turned mostly yellow two years ago and has not been helped by any attempts at resuscitation. There's another azalea doing very well next to it. That makes me think the sick one has some systemic problem. So its coming out. I suppose I will stick it in the ground far away in the corner and see if I scare it into turning over a new leaf. This gives me room to enjoy a gorgeous variegated Brug there. Need to get gloves, trowel, fork...

Sally, I have some ailing plants, too. When I encounter them, like you, after trying most everything, remove and relocate before the final compost step.

With your azalea (full of good advice as I am) I would dig up, examine roots, etc, and then pot it up with lovely fresh mix and some "mike" (microrhizia) to encourage a revival to former glory. If I were to do as you propose, it would be the kiss of death as out of the way somewhere in my yard means no regular watering or attention.

Maybe this azalea could live for a year or two in a shallower pot that woud be hidden by that vinca major and give some height and contrast there with out being strong enough or having to compete with conditions and plants there????

I currently have a euphorbia and two spirea bushes that no longer receive enough sun to produce flowers.

They may become swap candidates......

So, tell us about this brug you have in mind...

What a pleasant day of total garden indulgence for me.

coleup "With your azalea (full of good advice as I am) I would dig up, examine roots, etc, and then pot it up with lovely fresh mix and some "mike" (microrhizia) to encourage a revival to former glory....Maybe this azalea could live for a year or two in a shallower pot that woud be hidden by that vinca major and give some height and contrast there with out being strong enough or having to compete with conditions and plants there????"

MMM, well, I picked a good shaded spot rather than my first thought which looked more sunny than I was thinking. Moved a knockut rose and a hearts a burstin into the sunny spot. we'll see.

Then planted my variegated brug (Gita's Maya/ peaches and cream/ whatever) in the first azalea spot. Yes I know, frost chance, the thing has been outside for 2 weeks already anyway. seems happy.

Wow Sally! Your halo seems to be in pretty good order, too. Nice brug! So glad for you having a day of total garden indulgence. May we all have them in full measure this year.

Do you need a banana plant or elephant ear to go with your tropical look? LMK.

Does anyone here know a gardener in McLean who has a large daylily collection?

She had posted an ad on craigslist for a grabbag of daylilies. I was in the area so I stopped by to see what she had. She says she has 700 named varieties of daylilies, and 50 more that she has been breeding herself. Her property was absolutely full was gorgeous plants. I picked up 3 mystery daylilies that were in gorgeous conditions. I can't wait to see what I got!

She said that she is having an open house one weekend this summer when her dayllies are blooming. I will let you all know once I find out when it is!

She had a craigslist ad for arum as well. My sister-in-law went over yesterday for that and said it was quite a remarkable yard. Sounds like you had fun.

Beautiful Sally, I too had a day of garden indulgence. I am expecting another day like that today. Great idea about the azalea.

Oh by the way my brug is still just coming from dormancy, thats last years picture.

I can't imagine keeping up with a yard full of daylilies. I have so much stuff that needs dividing. David's NEw England Aster is huge now, will divide, so is Chris' Robert Poore Phlox, and yesterday did Jill's not chocolate daisy. I moved that to a spot where most things struggle, because I hope it will simply stay more compact there due to competition.

My son has volunteered to help me in the yard today at the townhouse. When I told Sharon (who owns the townhouse), she got a deer in the headlights look, probably scared of what I might do. Lol

GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Sally---

I got a New England Aster two years ago as well---not from DG--but from a local Nursery on clearance.
Last summer--it grew and grew. I even posted a picture and asked people on DG what this plant was.
It was ID'd as a NE Aster.
Last fall--it was about 3' tall and about 2' wide. It resides in my "YUK BED"....Good for it!....:0)

Now that Spring has sprung--I cannot believe how many new plantlets it has growing in that area!!!
It is seriously mixed in with my Clustered VA Blue Bells and my Pink Evening Primrose....
Not sure what is what--nor if I should dig to get new starts....Playing it safe--and ignoring it......

Maybe for the fall Plant Swap I will have some starts...

Sally--My Brugs are still in my dark Shop.
They all have leaves on them. Should be easy to transition these to outside....
Look out for your Maya! It will go BAM!!!!

This is the year I will be root-pruning all of the Brug roots in their pots....OUCH!!!!
However--I DO know how much good this will do.....

I know what to expect.........Gita

Sunday Funnies-----

What to do when the onions in your bib start to grow green tops?

Let them---and enjoy some green onions in your salads.......:o)

Gita

Thought I'd post a couple pictures of what we did on Saturday. The flower bed had a butterfly bush in it that rotted out over the winter.That was the only comment Sharon made when she saw what we had done. Still have more to do yet.

Gita, I don't work at a Home Depot but at a family-owned Nursery/Garden Center. However, I do LOVE to shop at Home Depot, does that count? < =) I do darned near anything and everything there except payroll and run heavy equipment. :)

SS--

OH! You just sounder as someone who might be working at a large nursery. Sorry!!!
I have worked in many Garden-related jobs for more than 25 years. Seems that is all I know....
Growers--greenhouses--landscaping--Franks Nursery and Crafts (5 years) and then--HD. 14 years now...
Do not think there will be a new venue to this. I will work at HD until I no longer can. Getting up there in years...

Talk about a job focus----GARDENING!!! Gita

Robin, Very nice! !!

Nice job Robin.
Gita, my dad worked at HD till about a year or so ago. He worked in the patio and finally had to give it up because of a collapsed lung and surgeries. He's 82. I wasn't sure he'd ever retire. Ric

Ric--

We have two older men at the HD who should retire. One is 81 and slowly losing it....
Everyone is saying that he is deteriorating....can never remember how to sign into the Computer..

The other is 89--and walks like a zombie....mouth open--can't hear well--BUT! He has a millionaire G-Friend
and they go dancing at the VFW twice a week.

Go figure! G.

Hey, you youngins....I am 83, have one eye, plus a few other problems but I am still going strong. I would not consider working part or full time for anyone other than myself at this age. There are times when I just do not feel like doing anything. But, some people, especially men have a difficult time aging. I am not aging gracefully because my mind is so much younger than my body. Arthritis kicks in here and there. But, for the past month I have been out in the field cutting and bunching daffodils for the stand and now that is closed I am beginning to work in the greenhouse. I do all the deposits for the Horse Park of New Jersey and all their membership records and correspondence. Volunteer of course. I find myself getting impatient with people my age and then I remember, it could be me someday. Love you all and hope you stay young forever. JB

Guess this is our general chat thread.
I may have to go AWOL, my dad in North Carolina is not doing well. I'm considering driving there on Thursday.

Sorry to hear about you dad Sally, I know how stressful having distant aging parents can be. Be safe. :-} Ric