It was BELOW 70 degrees outside this morning and raining. I'll take it! Chantell, the plants must indeed be rejoicing.
A couple of our Stargazer lilies were on the ground, so Greenthumb brought them in, and you smell them before you see them in the kitchen.
Your Neck of the Woods Chat Summer 2012 Part 1
Only enough rain here to dampen the bottom of the rain gauge but much appreciated.
Didn't get cool here until about two hours ago. Very slow moving cold front...thanks Canada!
Pat----
I have a weird question---and please do not mind....
How come you always refer to David as "greenthumb" in your posts?
And sometimes David refers to you as "ecnalg"?--with your real name in parentheses?
We all know by now that he is David--and you are Pat.
Just curious.......................:o)
Then again----HMMMM.....How come I always sign my Posts with my name??????
when my name is in my DG user name.....GITAgal....
Is there some "heavy psychology" behind one's self identity?
Gita............YEAH! That is ME!
Gita,
I do it for anyone who might be reading and not know who David is. We have some new folks on board, plus some not so new who could find it confusing. After the last swap, for example, Pippi asked who Pat was. If David was not also a member, I'd probably just use his name or DH.
So nice to be able to be outside today and not be miserable! We had a significant amount of rain. Sorry it did not get shared uniformly, coleup.
Pat
It seems like a quarter inch measured, but it seems to have really refreshed and moistened everything. Blessedly soaking rain.
Ditto, nice out..or much much nicer. Skeeters!
Boy we had a fun day. Critter came up with Joyanna to have a play date with my grandchildren. Both Deb with JR and Jen with Lily & Lucas came. Lily and JR went home with their arms full of cut flowers. I don't usually cut flowers to bring them in but Lily was so excited that Grams pretty smelly flowers were "Lilies".
^_^
Ahhhhh! Love kids, puppies and plants...esp when together
For those interested in non-deet alternatives for a skeeter spray....rec'd this in an email from Moutain Rose herbs today - http://mountainroseblog.com/noskeeter-spritz/
I created this No-Skeeter Spritz recipe several years ago after my first Arnica harvesting experience. The air was so thick with mosquitoes while clipping the young flowering stems, that I broke down and begged for that toxic DEET-based stuff. There seemed no other way. When I got home, I immediately went to work researching an alternative. I discovered that the essential oil found in Catnip can be more effective than commercial repellent. If you’ve got fresh Catnip growing in the garden and the essential oil is a bit out of budget, try using a high alcohol tincture instead, which is what I like to do. Pure grain alcohol (95%) will totally dehydrate the Catnip, extracting the oils in about a week.
This formula changes a little bit each time I make it, but always turns out highly effective against the pesky little monsters. Generally, my recipes follow a “less is best” philosophy when it comes to essential oils, so please feel free to reduce the amount for less severe environments. However, if you are looking for a potent alternative to commercial bug spray, try this recipe and make any necessary adjustments in future batches.
No-Skeeter Spritz Recipe
Ingredients
4oz fresh Catnip Leaf tincture (made with 95% alcohol)
4oz Organic Witch Hazel Extract
20 drops Organic Cedarwood Essential Oil
20 drops Organic Eucalyptus Essential Oil
20 drops Organic Lavender Essential Oil
20 drops Organic Rosemary Essential Oil
10 drops Organic Lemongrass Essential Oil
10 drops Organic Lemon Essential Oil
Directions
Pour catnip tincture and witch hazel extract together in an 8oz glass spray bottle. Slowly drip each essential oil into the bottle, counting with care as you go. Mix all ingredients in the bottle by shaking vigorously. Shake well before each use and reapply as often as needed.
This message was edited Jul 9, 2012 10:55 PM
Chantell, do you make the catnip leaf tinture?
Sounds great! I have a natural spray, commercial, that contains lemon and eucalyptus.
Or, rub your self with a branch of fresh catnip for a short term aid. Not saying I am sure it works...
I would love to make some but alas I have no catnip....hmmm might go 'find' some this weekend. Gita - do they carry that at HD?
I don't think I see catnip for sale widely. I have it self sow though! I'll try to gather seeds. And I'll try to remember to pot up a smaller one. I've tried in past springs but I usually to to cram big roots into a small pot when they first sprout, and that doesn't work too well.
Catnip is a mint--right? Wrong? So--, all you would need is a few cuttings and start your own.
The place you would look for catnip at a HD is among the Bonnie Vegetable display among the Mints..
I have seen it a few times. Bonnie people have no rhyme or reason what they fill the display with.
During the hype of early gardening season--they come every day to re-fill, but it is seldom
all the same stuff.
My old neighbor used to have Catnip Mint growing all over--but had no cats...
Wonder if they sell dried catnip in a big pet store--like Pet Smart? Like--to make your own cat toys...
Gita http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/herb/catnip/
Hmmm wondering if the pet stores carry it? LOL Thank you Sally and Gita!!
BTW - I, not knowing anything about them, was talked into growing a ghost pepper plant LOL I'd simply wanted a couple of cayenne plants (for culinary and medicinal use) and went ahead and grabbed a chili pepper for cooking purposes. Then I read up on the ghost pepper. OMG!!!! http://www.bhut-pepper.com/ I may have told y'all this already. Any who...should anyone want me to keep some aside for seed purposes (or if you want a pepper) let me know, please.
This message was edited Jul 10, 2012 11:37 AM
Yes to you'all Pet Smart and and a few stores sell catnip,catnip toy's for kitty. For the gardening genera among us who refer to it as, and prefer to call it catmint. I will be harvesting and drying some of mine anytime now,through whenever.
Well at the moment could not seem to find the catnip plant photo so here is the reason.
rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain
rain rain rain rain rain rain rainrain rain rain rainrain rain rain rain rain
rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rainrainrainrain
rainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrain
rainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrainrain
rain rainrainrain rain rain rain rainrain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rainrain rain rain rainrain rain rain rain rainrain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A smidge under one inch and soaking in.
I am intoxicated with the smell and sound and feel of this blessed rain in my neck of the woods! Judy
ROFL!
That's funny, we had just the briefest of sprinkles up here, today, so close! We had some (1/4) the other night so don't feel bad for me.
Had to water today, probably again tomorrow
The tree removal company came with the crane today to remove the huge chestnut oak that was partially uprooted during the storm and leaning over the house. What a relief to have that down. The crew was amazing.
No rain here either. Wonder if it will come to restrictions about hand watering. Hope not. Lots of things still waiting to bloom. We have had guests staying with us and their friends from the area stopping to visit. The easiest things to grow (All kinds of lilies) are making the biggest hit and getting all the ooohs and aaaahs.
Roses----
Your Blushing Suzy vine is growing so well. Can't wait to see it bloom! Thank you!!!
It is up to the top of the trellis. Such a delicate looking vine. My Red Epi hangs high above it.
Please tell me how you propagate it. Does it make seeds? Where are they? In the spent blooms?
There is an Estonian Clematis behind it called "Piilu" (Little Duckling). It has small blooms and can tolerate a bit of shade.
The Clematis bloomed so well! It is now long out of bloom already. Both are in big pots-one each side of the pole.
Everyone---There is a grower in Estonia that grows all these amazing Clematis.
Brushwood Gardens carries a lot of them.
In this link--you also get to see the "Neck of the World" that I am from on the map.
Latvia is just below Estonia. Then--Lithuania. All three are collectively known as the "Baltic States".
http://hummingbirdfarm.net/kivistik_clematis.htm
Gita
I.m feeling quite 'perked up' after last evenings rainfall.
Holly: love the river trip pictures! Hope your shoulder is working optimally again. Glad you had some down time respite from all those projects! Lily loving lilies sure brought a smile to my face and a review of all the times in my life my arms have been full of flowers and my home and yard perfumed. Ain't life grand!!
Jen: Hope your friend Beckah is bouyed up with loving support and help in this needy time for her family.
Jan: Can't believe you made it to the West Coast so quickly! Here's hoping for a great visit and safe return.
Can't wait for a full report from you on the state of the country as seen from your journey across it. See any storms? And how are all those stars we here on the East coast can't see anymore because of light pollution.? They are still there, ehh?
Chantell: Thanks for sharing skeeter repellant spritz! I have frech catmint but none of the other ingrdients!
Sallyg: Always amazes me how quickly mosquitoes emerge post rain. Do the eggs have to morph to adult before puddles dry up or can they lay in wait for the next rain?
Juhur: Your kitty is adorable. How old? Two of the feral kittens that live out back are grey like yours. They thought it was a special treat to have rain moistened kibbles for their breakfast! They are creeping closer and closer to our human activity everyday, especially when Wayne barB ques!
aspenhill: Terri, if I am relieved that your hanging cabled tree is safely down, I can scarcely imagine how you must feel. Will the tree be used as lumber? I don't know about anyone else, but I seem to have a sence or strong visual memory of big old trees that are no longer there...as if their presnce still remains long after they are gone.
Roses et all: I am working on gathering info on "survival watering" for the droughty conditions we are facing so far this summer. Will post a kind of info thread as soon as I can with specific suggestions and watering requirements for plants trees and shrubs in our area.
Seems I'm gonna have to get some lilies into my mix here!
A BIG thankyou to everyone for checking in post storm and daily. That's what this chat thread is for.
Judy
Camo"s a feral also,showed up under the house back in 2002 or 2003,so he's been with us for a while now.Not real friendly or trusting though.He follows me around in the mornings and evenings like he's a dog instead of a cat. Likes help me dig in the garden and things like that (LOL) Every so often he likes attention and purrs and starts playing like a kitten,he also likes to help me harvest,especially the catnip!!
Soooo ,in answer to your question maybe 9 or 10,he was a little fellow when came here.Evidently he likes us.
ROFLOL Coleup. I could use some here. Looked like we were going to get a little but it just driped on us. Still a chance that I won't have to water later. Shoulder isn't quite right I tried to give it a good work out this morning, shoveling sand and carryng bricks. Now it hurts so I think the next step will be an MRI.
There is a new little project going on so I was able to put that shoulder to work.
And what would your new "little" project be (not that you ever do things on a little scale)? Inquiring minds want to know!
LOL it isn't big but it is a water feature. LOL You can't have too many water features.
Do I hear an "amen" from the congregation?
Survival Watering thread is up here
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1270476/
lol Holly 'sand'," bricks", and "shoveling" automatically go on the big project list down here!
I, too, have a new water feature...
Heehee, glad you got some rain coleup.
We did see some storms. At one point we felt like we were storm chasers. Actually was looking for funnels. Temp dropped 20 degrees it seemed in a matter of minutes, but went back up after driving through the storm.
Today we went to Cannon Beach near Haystack Rock. Anybody remember the movie Goonies? It is the big rock sticking out the ocean. Pretty cool tidal pools. The plantings in town were gorgeous. The fuchsia are to die for.
We are looking forward to the trip home and doing more camping. Hoping to see more stars especially in Big Sky country.
Water features - are such deeeelightful things. Would love to have one or two.
Now's the time we join hands and start singing Kumbaya
Lolol!!
Coleup, any takers on your mister yet? Hummingbirds?
LOL Coleup, I think those misters are really neat. That would be so nice seeing the Hummers playing in the mist. I haven't been able to get them interested in any of my water features even though they like my feeders and plants.
Chantell - Catnip is currently in bloom (white) and commonly occurs in large clumps and drifts along country lanes. You can harvest bushels of the foilage, leaving the roots of this non-native to continue growing.
...and I found a small catnip plant in my garden I will try to have in shape for swap.
++
Yes I really need to open a thread to set a date. September, thinking weekend AFTER Labor day, or the one after that? Not too early but not too late, transplanting wise? Although, one of my main goals is just that we all transplant our bu#s together for social time! Ponder those dates and look for a new thread later today/ tomorrow.
We definitely cannot do Labor Day weekend. The rest of the month is iffy so don't plan around us, though we'd love to do it -- we have to make a number of trips to Florida this fall, plus will have a kid in college who wants to come home a lot of weekends to see her BF....
We have something on Sept 8th but like Happy don't schedule around us.
As always, we all want everyone to come..but we'll have to just plan more things! Sept can still be pretty hot but many things could still be dug and planted, right? Plus, bring your unwanted houseplants and see if you can guilt somebody ELSE into hauling them indoors...
Womens retreat that weekend
I also have a retreat the weekend of the 8th.