New Bees Chat - Friends old and new, come on in 4-15-2012

Yeah, I think it's Oenothera fruticosa - it's a native plant which is why I know it - that's a fairly large specimen you must have to be 6'-7'!!! Mine only ever got to be about 3' or so. It IS a weed, but most weeds to me bear scrutiny and if they are native wildflowers, then they get to stay.

Glad to help.

Enjoy it - ours have finished blooming for the season. :)

Yours is something different entirely I guess. The common evening primrose is a biennial which gets that big with yellow flowers. The foliage is a little lighter than that of the picture you posted, but for sure it's a primrose.

This message was edited Jul 10, 2012 4:48 PM

Good morning everyone. We have been getting a slow rain for last two days. It's so nice not to have to drag water hoses around but I miss not getting to be outside playing in the dirt.

It's been so hot around here that even my hens and chicks are in bloom! Everyone else got rain, but we're still drier than a bone pile. Our city has cut back on lawn sprinkling but we have a private (uncertified drinking) well and sump that we can use for the garden.

Al

This is the first pick of our Tumbler tomatoes grown in 5 gal recycle pails. July 19th is early for us, but seeds were started early in March and we moved the pails in and out of the back porch. I also yanked part of the garlic patch this morning just so I could stink up the entire kitchen.

Al

I like Garlic. I don't think it stinks. I think it smells great. Especially on Garlic bread....

I love it too, especially when fresh pulled from the garden. Chunk it up into spagetti sauce even makes the canned stuff taste better. We also use it in our fresh bruchetta, which is coming soon when our tomatoes get more productive in August.

How's our mule friend doing in this hot weather?

Al

Oh, Charley is doing great. Just getting older and thinking he is starved. The heat wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the humidity.
You and your family doing great???

We're going to have the whole family, including babies, here tomarrow for a city-wide yard sale (dear God). Beleive me, this is the mother of all yard sales. Everbody is staying over until Sunday so it will be hectic for a couple of days. I'll have new pictures by then. Oldest son Richie and girlfriend Kristen are recently engaged, another weddding in late September. Nice girl, she's a gardener,too.

AL

Lordy, Al - they do keep you busy.

It wouldn't be a zoo if it weren't for the animals...

Al

Dry as a bone pile here too Al. And HOT. 15 over 100* days so far and 7 more in the forecast. Our brutal summer last year we had 44 total, of course it depends upon where in the city they take the reading too. I had more than that at my house. Didn't keep track, but they would give the temp as under 100*, but my thermometer under the shade would say over. I just keep praying for an inch or two of rain and some relief in the temps. So goes life in Oklahoma. I sure miss the well I had in Kansas. I watered my garden from it, plus the house stuff. It was the only water we had. Checked into having one dug here, and it was going to be about $2000. I don't have that kind of money laying around. Will just keep paying the city $100 a month to water.

So many yardsalers out today we actually had traffic jams right here in downtown Hornell! Okay - so we're really not that big here for being a city. I didn't even buy anything, but the kids had fun picking up baby stuff cheap. We had a little rain Friday, but Saturday was beautiful for shopping.

Al

Here's the latest pix of my garden girl Olivia. She's now almost 5 years old and starting school in September. She was helping me pick off the tomato plants, but "only the red ones, Grandpa.. the green ones have to stay on".

Al

Cute Al !

Al Olivia sure has grown.She is a pretty young girl and the picture setting was fabulous. I love those big dahlias, and the gladiolas. What has the big leaf to the rt of the picture near the ground?

Hope everyoe is else is doing ok. Its really dry again here and the temp hit 108 for a couple of days, yesterday was just 99 which almost seemed like a relief..No rain here since mid July.(not much then) I've been dragging the water hoses every since. This sand sure dont hold water for any length of time. I really need to build my beds up with compost but mostly I just plant it and worry aboout watering when the time comes.

Here is my Isabelle bloomimg again.

This is my north corner nearest to the back porch and patio. There's a overhead trellis arbor there with heirloom Genovese tomatoes on the side rails and a huge Butterstick squash plant in the middle behind Livey. Also a tall Sunflower in front that sort of reseeded by itself. The old lighthouse was terribly rusted out on top so I had to replace it with a painted flower pot and new solar light that works better. Probably looks kind of crude though, my garden is sort of a mismash of flowers and veggies right now.

Al

Al she looks really happy being in your garden..I myself prefer the mishmas look becase im not talented enough to it look sculptured..I plant and If I dont think it looks right this year next year I move it or sometime during the first year. As long as im happy with it and its blooming im ok with that..I think that was a fine way to repurpose your lighthouse...

This thread is really slow now days huh? I jump from one place to another trying to figure out where everyone is and what they are up too lol...

I think a lot of folks are just gone or haven't renewed their subscription. The economy has been rough on some people. I see Charleen sometimes on the Aussie thread.

The garden is looking great, though it's been quite a bit cooler the last couple of weeks. Got tomatoes coming out my ears, ready to boil down another batch this week for freezer packs. Your plants are adjusting to their new home, and surviving well. Hope you're well read by now.

Week after we're traveling north to the Canadian Maritimes and Nova Scotia, eventually into Halifax. We have been to Maine, New Hampshire, and Mass, and Conn. but not quite that far into Canada. Should be beautiful country up there this time of year. I will have my laptop and camera so maybe I'll still be able to connect, we'll see.

Al

Hello - still here and lurking. Just not a whole lot to say I guess. I've started a new job and now classes for my master's degree are back in swing so my garden, although very wild nature to begin with, is suffering mildly.

It's a jungle out there. We've had a fair amount of rain for which I am glad, but it is not good gardening weather, especially in a garden like mine where wildflowers are so dense the ground doesn't dry out for good long spells at a time.

Don't give up on us! Most folks will reappear in fall. OR you'll have to lurk on some other website to see if they've jumped ship.

xox
A.

Sounds like a great trip you have planned Al.

I got the "complimentary pass" from DG as my subscription was actually due to expire the 12th, so I will at least be on here untill the 27th. After that, I may not be around for a while.

Our temperatures have finally gone back to where they should be. Mid 90's with some high 80's once in a while. Getting a little bit of rain..... 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch here and there. We are over 6" behind in rainfall this year. They have increased our drought amount. Now 93% of the state is in the Exceptional drought conditions while the other 7% are just below us in the Severe catagory. We really never recovered from last summer! I have a large water bill as DH said we were going to at least have a green back yard this year, and he has been watering it.

That is about all I know so TTYL.

hi everyone it is so dry here it is crazy my houseplants on the front porch look bad. the fish and game drained bluemountain lake this year that was not a good idea but its to late to stop now just need to keep praying for rain. im happy with every drop we get. love and good night lots of hugs all around nettie.

Miss seeing you nettie. Guess we are never on at the same time!

Al the trip into Canada sounds wonderful. A few years ago my Dh and I and kids flew into Bostaon and spent 2 weeks wandering around the New Englands states, and went up into Canada for a few days. Its really pretty country up thru there..We were there during 3rd week October and the fall colors were beautiful...We have gotten rain several times this month..Thank goodness because after my lil stint on the motorcycle I wasnt able to drag the water hose around. I finally had surgery on it this past week to relieve pressure from a huge hematoma on my rt calf..I shouldnt have been so hard headed and had it seen about before 3 weeks went by but......It is feeling better today not nearly as sore as it has been.We got a really nice rain yesterday.A slow ground soaker and the temps are cooler than they were so that has been nice also..Well im off to go to church, hope to see you all around again soon...

I am back!! Nettie, I sure have missed you! I have been very bad this year and let my gardens go to weeds; I am working all getting everything cleaned up this fall and have made a vow to NEVER let this happen again. I was working nights in the oilfield hauling saltwater until recently; somehow working nights and sleeping days does not allow for much time in the yard.

Gosh, I came back and no one is here! Did I scare everyone off or what?

Hi endi, nice to see you back..You are right working graveyard shift leaves very little time for anything else..It has been so dry for most of us this year I think we all are struggling..We are predicted to get 6 inches of rain from the hurricane. I want a shower but not 6 inches worth lol. The lakes and rivers are about dry tho so I guess what ever we get will be benificial to those. It will prob just make the weeds grow here..The thread is slow for now hopefully it will pick back up soon. Nice to have you back..Trish

We're traveling in Bangor, Maine at the moment. The trip across NY and Mass went well with some minor rain. Heading into Canada tomarrow but roads will be slower. Talk to ya'll later.

Al

gosh honey, hope you don't drown!! Al, good to see you are still traveling!

Thanks Endi not much chance of drowning but we might get our feet wet..We are having wind gust between 25-30mph now but the sun is shining and it beautiful outside..

Wow, it is hot here and we didn't even have a breeze earlier. I see the willow tree moving now so maybe I will go try to pull a few more weeds...I have lots and lots of weeds!

Crossed the Canadian border yesterday afternoon, now in Ste. Johns in New Brunswick. Weather has been great, hope our friends in the southland are doing okay with Isaac. Keep your hat on Charley, it could be windy outside!

BTW, they make the world famous Ganong Chocolates at a huge factory right here in St. Stephen. We just had to take the tour, they were serving chocolate samples throughout their entire history. Impressive tour indeed! Very quaint little town on the seaside to walk around, too

We're still on our lighthouse quest, will try to post some when I get a minute.

Al

This message was edited Aug 30, 2012 11:46 AM

Thanks Al - love it when you take us traveling with you. :)

For me, still working the butterfly garden with 7 Monarchs released today. It's always a special moment.

Hope everyone is enjoying the last weeks of summer!

A.

Having a awful time bumping up these pictures. They just seem to disappear after I get them all loaded. Okay-I'll try once more...
Having a beautiful vacation.

Al

This message was edited Sep 4, 2012 9:47 AM

I brought you all a shore dinner from the Lunenburg Nova Scotia pier. Lots of fried Shrimp, scallops, and battered haddock. We are now in Halifax NS for the next 4 days.

Al

Wow Al, that looks yummy!

Beautiful scenery and great food Al. Looks like you all have having a great experience..Endi I understand about the weeds, since not being able to get out and work outside for a month now I just closed my eyes when I drove by my flower beds yesterday. Thank goodness most of what I grow is fairly drought tolerent. Heat index up to 110 yesterday and supposed to be the same the next 2 days but Sat we are supposed to have a cold front moving in..I cant wait!!! Saturday we are having a birthday party for my Granny who willl be 97 on the 11th so that should be fun....

We're now in Halifax, Charley is with us on our trip across the Fundy Bay on the big ferry boat. It's been a little rainy and cool here, but we're enjoying the museums. Halifax was one of the closest ports to the Titanic accident, many survivors were brought here, many of the victims buried here. Interesting history in WWII here also.

Al

Oops, forgot the big boat, Charley would never forgive me his most interesting ride so far.

Al

Okay - We're back in the USA, just passed the Border and now in Albany NY above NYC for one last night before heading home tomarrow. Losts of pictures to sort out, will print up an album later for all to see. If anybody really wants to smell fresh air they have hundreds of miles of it in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In fact, they have hundreds of miles between fuel stations even. Nothing but trees, sky, and a really long roadway.

Al

Al glad to see you all made it back to the USA safely..Looks and sounds like you had a great time...Thanks for sharing your pictures with us...