Well Ric, what a bummer :( You need to take it easy.
I'm over run with stink bugs again. Every time the temp rises, they crawl out from wherever they've been hiding. Bouncing off the computer, landing on me, they are everywhere. With the snow and cold temps coming maybe I'll have a reprieve. UGH... Somebody needs to figure out how to exterminate them once and for all.
Neck of the WoodsChat Count down to Spring 2013
Teri--
have you heard/read about the traps you can make out of 2L soda bottles?
You cut the top third of the bottle off. Put a small LED light in the bottom of the bottle and then
replace the top INVERTED (open cap side down) into the bottle and tape it to the cut rim
so there are no openings left.
Tape some rough tape to the outside to make it easier for the Stink Bugs to crawl up the sides.
They are attracted to the light and will crawl up and drop into the bottle, but will not be able to
get back out (the inverted top).
Put these anywhere in the dark corners of your house, your attic or basement.
You will have loads of them in the bottles the next day.
How you dispose of them is up to you. Freeze them in a baggie---flush them down the toilet---
drown them all in a bucket of soapy water---etc...
Good luck! Gita
You got it Gita, They work very well. If you put the light under the bottle instead of in it you can put a little bit of water and dish detergent in the bottom that will kill them as well as trap them.
Well, It sure was a lovely day. Both Ric and I spent some time outside today. It was 36* when I went outside this morning about 42* when I came back inside, it was blue skies and sun shinning. It felt so good that I stayed out there. Did a bit of yard clean up cut back some dead stalks, burned off that small patch of Ornamental Grass and took down the Christmas Greens that were still hanging around. Ric had plenty of his own projects going, one was to prune the Apple Tree in Alfie's fenced yard. Did a bit of work inside as well, carried up a few plants from the GH that are going to bloom soon, potted up an Orchid and did a bit of house plant rearranging.
SallyG: you got the right idea stock up on firewood and hunker down . Ronnie chopped enough firewood for couple days, stored it by the fireplace, we are set and in case of power outage at least we will be warm. We are just going to do nothing other enjoy the fireplace and do relax and enjoy the snow , so far not much just some mixed with rain not much more. Anyway good excuse to stay inside and start all the vegetable seeds. Happy snow day
Orchidfancy and every one
We have a Special Edition Chat thread to talk about our snow day!
Come join us over here to report on your day.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1301301/
DIL is out of surgery. Went well, surgeon said there were no surprises when he got inside. However, he suffered a torn ACL on the weekend and is walking around in a brace and on crutches. Standing for 4 hours for the surgery must have hurt. Now for the recovery.
Glad to hear the good news report!
Thank you!
Great news Jan, and still waiting on the sweat test results?
Thank you for reminding me, dear. Got word yesterday the sweat test came back negative for cystic fibrosis and the sleep study showed no major issues, but they are still going over the whole thing.Praising God.
Good News Jan, How are you doing out there?
Okay, thanks. Learning my way around. DDIL is in a lot of pain, but it is surgical pain, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel. My REAL work will begin when she comes home.
The oldest grandson is leaving this afternoon with his granddad for the NASCAR race in Las Vegas. Nick is a huge Carl Edwards fan. Last year granddad took Nick's cousin to St. Louis for a cardinals game. Wonder what trip the granddaughters will get. Guess we'll find out on Christmas. My DDIL's father loves to travel and is trying to pack in as many adventures as he can. Bill has Parkinson's and seems to be deteriorating pretty quickly.
Sounds like your Grandson & his Granddad will have a wonderful memory.
Glad things are going well. Can't wait to see you this spring.
Think we need a spring flowers thread.
Am at the hospital now. DDIL had a rough night and is having LOTS of pain and spasms that shoot down her legs. Combos of painkillers don't seem to be touching it. May do an MRI to see if there is a hematoma. They got her turned a bit ago and this position seems to be pretty good for the moment. She isn't crying anyway. Please pray for comfort for her and relief from pain.
I will.
Oh poor thing!
Comfort for her, wisdom for the docs, hope a good resolution happens right now.
Amen Sally. Hugs to you Jan. So glad you are there, Bless you.
DS just called and Royale was just taken down for an MRI. Will keep you updated. Thanks for your concern and love.
Results show a leak of spinal fluid so it is causing pressure on all her nerves. Not a hematoma. She will be headed back in to surgery in the morning. No wonder the pain meds were ineffective!!.
This message was edited Mar 7, 2013 11:24 PM
Latest update, surgery will be 2 pm PST to drain an area 5x4cm of spinal fluid and blood. Amazing how much pain this pressure caused!
Going to the zoo after lunch since the kids have a day off from school. Should be in the mid 50's and SUNNY. There is a baby elephant that was born in November.
Relief should be soon at hand for your poor DIL. I am sure it will go well, and you all will sleep much better tonight, crash probably. THe zoo should get the kids minds off Mom.
Sending up prayers now.
And a reminder to all that DayLight Savings Time begins this Sunday.
SPRING FORWARD!
Monday morning when its again barely light as the alarm goes off- I fall back, into the pillow !!! UGH!!!
And too bad our dogs and cats don't observe Day light Savings time! (Or, for that matter, our kids!)
http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Family/Modern-Parenthood/2013/0308/Daylight-savings-time-and-my-three-sons-at-home-the-exception-futile-and-outdated
This message was edited Mar 8, 2013 6:08 PM
Amen to that, coleup. Heehee
Thank you all for the prayers and support. The zoo was great fun. It's that time of year, hehehe! We met the new baby elephant, Lily. She was born the end of November. Very cute. Markus's favorite were the giraffes. Glad he didn't realize what the male had on his mind.
Got a call from DS that surgery went well. The surgeon put a drain in cuz apparently she is very juicy for lack of a better term and the void kept filling up as the surgical team watched after looking for spinal fluid. Turns out it was some blood and just tissue fluid that was filling the cavity causing all the pressure on the spinal fluid which in turn was putting pressure on the nerves. He wants to keep her in until Monday when he gets back from a conference in Phoenix. Best place for her. Can't imagine dealing with this just yet.
happy for you all Jan.
We went to Antietem Battlefield Nat'l Park today, out near Hagerstown. Too cold to walk around but we did get out to walk down the hill and see the Witness Tree at the famous stone bridge over Antietem Creek. IT's a beautiful peaceful wide stream, for a place of such sad events.
Battle was in 1862; here is a drawing of the battle. Look for the same tree at the end of the bridge- mid left of the sketch as the sketch is from the opposite side of the bridge. In the skecth it is maybe thirty feet tall? Now the diameter must be over six feet. THe sycamore now towers way over the bridge.
Very interesting, Sally
I need help with root rot!
In one planting area, I've lost several shrubs (Japanese pieris, rhododendron, camellia, azalea). And heuchera and begonias planted nearby did not do very well, where they did beautifully just several feet away.
All this time I thought it was the voles/squirrels disturbing the roots, until yesterday when I realized that the entire planting area is likely infected with phytophthora root rot fungus. I've looked up the symptoms and I have them all!
Unfortunately, I didn't come to this realization until I planted another camellia in the same spot yesterday.
The area had compacted clay so it was very heavily amended with compost, pine bark, and leaf mold.
I've researched on line, and the only option seems to be using fungicides, besides cultural practices.
Has anyone else dealt with phytophthora? What's worked for you?
Phew- I have never done enough careful analysis to know if I had root rot. Sorry! Kudos to you for research. I had an ailing azalea right next to a lovely healthy one so I blamed voles also.
Wow -- I had never heard of phytophthora root rot fungus. Good detective work. From what I read, poor drainage is often a culprit, but I don't recall that being an issue in your yard (other than that you have heavy clay-- but you amended it). So that makes me wonder.
Phytophthora root rot fungus is supposed to be triggered by warm soil temperatures -- I see it described in North Carolina and California. We have a slightly cooler climate. Have you called the Maryland Extension Service or a local nursery to see if it is common here? It could be that even though the symptoms are the same, you might have something different. What level of watering did the plants get? Is it possible they were overwatered or underwatered? Maybe a bug?
Also -- I remember that you got compost from Takoma. Is it possible there was some kind of herbicide in what you were given?
But I know the frustration -- I have an area in my yard where i have never been able to grow perennials -- though some azaleas are doing ok there. (The main thing I've tried to goown in that spot is Begonia grandis). I've long wondered if something might be wrong with the soil, and no idea how to figure it out. (I've had the soil tested, but that didn't reveal anything. I think there is something odd going on, like maybe Black Walnut nearby, except there isn't. Maybe this summer I'll try to put more plants in there to see if I am imagining it.
i like what happy said.
i have one death spot- and handful of potato chips, so pardon lack of caps- my death spot dries too much i think tts tree and shrub roots and prob a huge rock underneath
Sally, I'm on my lunch break - so late I had to get something from the vending machine. I'm eating potato chips too - now my keyboard keys all greasy ewwww.
ew mark would not be pleased if i did that!
SSG, I have no experience with that either.
Really over did it at the Orchid Show yesterday but the house smells just wonderful.
Gita, I thought the show was smaller also. And not near as interesting plant material but the water features were really good. I will say that Ric and I were rushed for time as we needed to get back home in time for Lily's Judo competition. We spent a good bit of time at the Orchid Show so we really only did a quick one hour tour around the landscaped displays at the Garden Show. Didn't look at anything else
Lily had 2 matches both were with the same girl, she was bigger than Lily but not as experienced as Lily is. She won both matches. Here she is pinning her opponent.
Forgot to add the picture.
I started planting in that area before I kew anything at all about gardening, so the pieris went straight into the compacted clay.
After it died (most likely of phytophthora), I amended it pretty heavily and raised the bed a few inches. This was before I started getting the free Takoma Park mulch, so that's an unlikely culprit. But everything else in that general area kept dying.
Happy, I think you saw the unhappy rhododendron and azaleas in that spot before they finally died. And the camellia I got from the group purchase last year died. I just pulled out the plant, and the roots had all the hallmark signs of phytophthora.
Apparently, after the phytophthora takes over an area, it lives in the soil until fungicide is applied. I'm actually pretty bad about watering, so my plants are more likely to die of thirst than to die of overwatering. This is the highest spot in my yard, so it dries out pretty well, even though it's in the shade.
I just *knew* there was something weird going on when the Dragon Wing begonias next to the rhododendron looked half dead, whereas the other DWs were so lush and full that they were crowding each other out. Apparently, begonias are susceptible to this fungus, as well.
Holly, that is too cute - her little face shows so much determination LOL. I always forget to tell you, but I absolutely love the name Lily for a little girl. What orchids did you end up getting? Post pics if you get a chance.
Too cute!!!
DDIL is doing well today. Surgeon removed the drain this afternoon, will be able to take a shower this evening. We have been very impressed with the care she has received and the staff. When she wants her meals she calls room service and orders and it arrives within a half hour and is freshly made. She is moving much better. Probably will come home tomorrow. I had some time today, so went home and took a shower.
Jan, Such good news. She will be up and running in no time.
Lily is such a sweet child, very gentle and caring. But.... She is a real competitor. In practice you kind of take turns each partner lets themselves be thrown at some point giving way to the other person. Each practicing throwing and getting thrown as well as the holds. So many of the other parents were a bit surprised during the practice for the tournament, they told Jen that was the most aggressive they have ever seen Lily. Of course they have never seen her play soccer. LOL She is just a little peanut usually smaller than the other kids in her age group. But she is fast and determined. This picture is very fuzzy but I just love the look on her face. This was taken just as the call to engage and this one receiving her medal. You can really see the satisfaction on her face. Matt says Judo is called the gentle way you don't hit or kick. Just grab, trip, use your body weight and balance. Then hold them down. Watching those kids I will say that it isn't like Karate hitting and kicking but I'm not sure I would call it gentle.
just found DG has an attempt at least of a database on garden products. Who knew?
Here is the Cobrahead weeder some body mentioned
http://davesgarden.com/products/gp/view/2/