Getting way to long over there, let's pick up here!
We came from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1314969/
This message was edited Jun 18, 2013 8:14 PM
Neck of the Woods CHAT Summer 2013 Part 2
You two really get us excited about so many different projects!! Wish we had your energy!
That 'careless love' coleus looks great! Mine are not doing so well this year. Well, some are, but most are way too leggy. I guess I gave the best ones to my daughter. They always look so beautiful around her stone foundation and she loves them. I still have plenty for me though and must have 50 yet to plant (though they are the way too leggy ones).
I've been enjoying my hydrangea. I always try to get them to be blue but usually they turn pink. This one is in a different area and is staying blue. I put aluminum on all of them. This blue one is out near the stream and the soil must be less alkaline out there.
Wind, you sure have a beautiful blue one outside your door. Take some pictures and post them if you get a chance. It is such a DEEP blue. Gorgeous.
wow, love those hosta! you have a nice arrangement going. I can see where you'd want blue rather than pink there.
Seems like around here, they were always blue- and then seemed like I hardly ever noticed traditional blue hydrangeas in anybody's yard. THe first pink one I saw shocked me. It was on Solomon's Island and probbly surrounded by decades of oyster shell. People used to use oyster shell for driveways.
Sally--
Did you see the picture I posted of my neighbor, Samirah's flowers?
She had just purchased a pink Hydrabgea. REALLY all lpink!
OK! have to get outside and mow my lawn!!!!! G.
Oh wow, that pink one is beautiful. My pink ones are a darker pink. My blue one looks darker now than it did a couple weeks ago when I took that other shot. I have a dahlia up already, yea. I have a lot of hostas out there as it's very shady and I use to think that was the only thing that would grow in shade. The hydrangea seems to be fine in the shade though.
Boy that 2nd pic is really beautiful your gardens are just beautiful.
beautiful coleuslover!! what are the red blooms in between the hostas? can't believe you have dahlia blooms already!! our tubers are just starting to emerge... no where near blooming yet.
Those look like the dark leaf dwarf Begonias that I grow are they?
Yes, the red plants are dark leaf begonia. I think they help brighten up the area. That area is at the back of my yard and there's a stream in back of it. It is very heavily shaded and I have to be careful what I put there as it doesn't get much light. I also cannot plant anything too valuable further back as sometimes the stream floods and covers things with mud. It's usually all ok up to the hydrangea line though.
I put some of the begonia's in the front yard too (as in picture below) since they'll still bloom in shade. The front of the house is shade also. While it doesn't have all the big trees that I have in back, the house is 2 story and faces due north, so the front beds are all shaded most of the time. That dahlia actually came up from last year. I decided it was too much trouble to dig them up and keep tubers over winter as last time I did that most of them rotted. It came back on it's own!
Your area looks beautiful Holly. It looks like you have a lot of shade too! You have some interesting plants there.
I don't have large shade trees but I love shade plants so I have created pockets of shade using structures and large bushes. That bed is on the North side of the potting shed and I shaped a very large quince bush to create that bed. It is a favorite of mine other than the maintenance of keeping the quince suckers out of it. Which I knew would be an issue.
Here are the other two ends of that bed and an overall of the bed. A few years ago this whole bed started out as a small area behind the potting shed where I overwintered a few plants.
I dug a little more stone from the driveway and laid 40 or so brick. Awfully hot so I started some PPFO post planting frenzy organization, in the garage. Holly and I both tend to carry in stacks of freshly emptied pots and set them wherever. Soon there isn't room to turn around and the stacks just keep growing. This year I'm making an attempt to keep up, a few hours here and there may avoid a day long job in the fall. We're getting a light shower right now and could use some more.
so humid. But not terribly hot here unless you'reworking. Sorting and stacking pots by size and shape really saves room . And then I decide I want an assortment of all sizes and shapes handy for any plant...
I figured I would call it a day. Pretty sore from yesterday. Did a bit of work this morning but I am kicking back now.
Ric on the other hand has moved on to the pond project.
I potted up those cylinder planters we finished last week. Ric is right they do look nice in front of the Gazebo.
For the majority I want standard sizes, I do keep a selection but all odd balls go to recycle. I also concentrate my efforts on square pots, they are so much more efficient when watering and feeding, as well as maximum use of space in the GH. I believe a square hold almost 20% more soil and doesn't encourage root wrap.
such lovely yard and garden pics guys...
love the mosaic additions H and R =)
I'm hanging here wondering if Jan is going to stop by. Haven't heard from her yet. It's humid/hot and we got a shower here too. I was hoping to mow our in dire need front lawn... oh well
Holly---
I love when all kinds of plants just "grow together"--melding into each other...in a pile of color.
That is what my garden beds usually look like half way into summer...
Beautiful mounds of asst. colors....NO plans---NO monochrome ideas--just colors.
I see you have some Swedish Ivy growing in your cylinder planters..
Might they be progeny of some Swedish Ivy i have shared with you?
I have a bunch of pots going of this plant for the swap.
Sally---
YES! It DID get humid after those brief rain showers today.
I was dripping--working in garden today (at HD)....My last Sunday out there.....:o( sob...sob...
However--her's what some people will always remember me for--at least from today.
Spent a half hour talking to a nice man--very social and funny--so we were a good match.
-He was looking at some pepper plants--and I said; "Can I help you?"
-He says, "No--I am just looking....." Typical reply.....OH, yeah!
-I say--"If you have any questions--I can really help you!"
-He says--"What do you know about peppers?"
-I say--"Not a lot--as I really do not grow them". BUT.................
And--then the chatting started....Hegot his 4 Peppers. Also--he had never grown Eggplant--and I helped
him find 2 pots that had 3 plants in them--NOT one. I said--"I am very frugal. Good to get 2 or 3 for thew price of one"
He agreed.....We went on to talk about Cucumbers and i said I make dynamite Pickles....
Now he was interested! What kind of Cukes? What do you put in them.....How do you make the broth?
Time is ticking--We have now been yakking for almost 1/2 hour. I found him a pot with 4 Cukes in it...(typical).
I tell him--over and over how to make my Pickles----He keeps asking more and more Q.'s...
I said: "If you care to give me your e-mail addy--i will send you the recipe.
He did--and I will.....Tonight. ***Cultivating a customer101.
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Second story from today-----(bear with me--I know many of you will just breeze over all this---)
An older couple--looking for some plants...I help----.NO biggie....easy peezy....
--Then she asks me: "Do you know where i can still get webbing for lawn chairs?
--I say--Whew! You are talking ancient history by now!" They are no longer available--for YEARS now!"
--The husband says--"I need to fix an old rocking lawn chair that belonged to my Father It means a lot to me".
--I say--"I can bring you some. I have a bag-full of webbing." As they look at me like I had 2 heads...
I ask: "What color would you like? I know I have yellow and white". More astonished stares!
--Sh says: "You mean we even have a color choice? Green would be nice--if you have it" etc...etc...
They want to pay me--I say "No way!"...I will be glad to give some to you to fix your dad's chair.
I give them my work schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday this week and promise to bring it to them....
***Cultivating another customer102. BUT--
To me--it just comes naturally. I am NOT after anything....but I HAVE everything--being a pack-rat...
So making someone happy with such a simple gesture is very cool to me. And--they won't forget it!
I LOVE---LOVE when i can help people this way....
I will miss these kinds of interactions out in garden--and I know no one else there will take the time.....
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OK! You may now return to your regular "sponsor"......your DG Thread.....Summer Chat 2013....
Gita........:o).........:o) .........
Gita, Yes that is the Swedish Ivy I got from you I think the solid green really looks nice with the blue tiles and reddish brown of the Cordyline. Don't think I would like something with a variegated leaf or bright flowers near as much. Thanks. Loved your work stories.
yup fun stories Gita.
Last time I bought webbing, it was Walmart. I still have two aluminum chairs- might buy some of that from you!
My first official day of Library Lady- man comes and wants Death of a President by William Manchester- Written the year after the assassination of JFK. . No we Library do not have it too old. I had just read our personal copy few months ago and looked to sell it on eBay. Nope, many copies out there for a dollar. So I say to the man, I have it, you can have mine..Ok he leaves , will return the next day for it. Then I suffer in fear - afraid I may have trashed it--until I got home and got mine out. It seems he picked it up, I haven't heard any further. but heck, maybe he got something out of it.
THis year is fiftieth anniversary of JFK assassination
RIC- I agree, I like square for my own for space reasons but have to keep a whole range of round for setting in pots with no drainage, or just lining other pots. It's almost a relief when a pot finally cracks and I can give it up.
Gita: Are you going to stop working at HD altogether? I thought you were just stopping working on Sunday. That's terrible if you'll be stopping completely.
Sally---
I am officially, freaking out--as i cannot find the bag with the webbing....
I have, pretty much, checked any nook and cranny downstairs, Thought I had it in the Shop.
NOPE! Checked the shed--again---Nope!
Only place left to check is the attic. I feel so bad--as I have no way to contact this couple
and tell them i am searching.....with NO luck!
I KNOW I would not have given the webbing away--as I have 8 webbed lawn chairs and they
all will need re-webbing soon.
WHERE oh WHERE could i have stashed this bag....
Another weir fact----I have now been up since 4AM--and am still up.....crashing soon, though...
Started watching another sob-story on Hallmark--and you can never just turn these off....sob...sob...
OK! I AM going to bed..........NOW!!! Gita
Gita: If it is any comfort, I was able to find it on ebay -- see, for example, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Misc-Lot-of-Re-Webbing-Materials-for-Vintage-Lawn-Chair-or-Chaise-Lounge-/200935396982?pt=Patio_Sets_Picnic_Tables&hash=item2ec8aed676
Happy---
NO WAY i am stopping working......WHY?
It is just that I work in Garden on Sundays between mid April and end of June....
It started 5 years ago---and I DO love it....I will still be working my usual days.
However--Garden is slowing down--and the hours there are getting a bit sparse.
Since I am NOT officially, a garden employee--I will be back in the Phone center as a
Phone Operator....my "regular" job at HD. This happens every year.....
Back to "My Cage" to sit and be bored...... Gita
edited to say Thanks for the e-bay find.....I will hang on to it as a last resort...
They sure are ripping us off.......
This message was edited Jun 23, 2013 11:23 PM
Gita, I am pretty sure that one of the Lowes I worked at last year or the year before did sell just a small amount of it as well.
Gita -- Thanks for clarifying -- I'm glad you'll continue there. You have so much knowledge about gardening -- I wonder if a local garden center might need occasional extra help?
Happy--
I am happy with my work and days as they are. Do not want to go looking for more jobs.
I am scheduled, usually, 16-18hrs. a week. Tues, Wed. 4 hrs. and full day on Sunday.
I enjoy my days off and being home. At my age--R&R is nice to have.
Takes me a lot longer to get everything done--especially all this gardening stuff.
OH, BTW, I found the chair webbing...WHEW!
G.
Gita: Well said -- you should enjoy your time off! I don't know how you do everything you do as it is! And hooray for the chair webbing find!
David---
After telling you how well my Monkshoods are doing--they are starting to show the
striation in the leaves that, usually, leads to the rotting out/Fungus.
Not all of them are doing this--just some.
Gave some to my daughter--and her's is doing the same thing.
Do you have any advice?
Any guesses what this is?
Should I spray/treat the roots with some kind of fungicide? I just believe it always starts in the roots....
It certainly ends up there......
Gita
Gita,
I will have to check mine. It is in the middle of a bed far enough away that I can't see that much detail in the foliage.
Paul---
I have two in the itsy-bitsy bed next to the WS bed. One each side of the Proteus Clematis.
The Monkshood to the right has this--the one on the left does not.
I know David said he barely waters his--but since I have other plants around there--
mine gets watered more regularly.
Will check all my others....G.
I have not watered mine at all but it does sit below a down spout.
Gita, our Monkshoods are doing fine, about 5 feet tall and no lower leaf discoloration. None of our in-ground plants have received supplemental water yet this season, so moisture may indeed be part of the problem.
Five feet?? Mine is ten inches. If it survives the summer I better find it a new spot.
Love yr gnome home avatar gt
Three plants from Gita, back of bed, mostly high shade, a little bit of direct sun, slightly elevated portion of bed, no supplemental water, ranging from 4.5 to 5+ feet, taken today.
Mine is prob 4+. I have done nothing to it, it sits in deeper shade than greenthumbs.
Greenthumb99, do you know what species of Aconitum Gita's Monkshood is?
Mine is no more than 3'.
Both of them in the tiny bed (next to the Proteus Clematis) have the leaf striation.
Too much water--I am sure.
Here is the one I planted in the pot--and sunk the pot in the bed as per David's
recommendation 2 years ago. This one is way in the back of the bed--behind the ferns.
It does not "catch" too much water. Leaves on this one are OK.
Also--check out how big the begonia grandis is getting--all because there is NO Dr. Seuss to block it.
The 3 little Monkshoods from Gita grew very fast and bloomed at about the same time as the white Anemone last year. I moved the Monkshoods closer to the Anemone, hoping to have a blue and white combo. The flower buds of the Anemone have been eaten by deer this year :-(, but the Monkshoods are doing gerat, 5' tall now. I am hoping the Anemone will grow a few more flower stalks... maybe not?