Typwc, I think the most important part about hosting the main mid-at swap is the parking. :) We need an efficient way to unload and reload a dozen (probably more?) cars that are full of plants.
But smaller local swaps happen all the time and in very small yards. :)
July blooms
Typwc: Yards like mine -- with a lot of steps up to get from the street -- don't work well for swaps because everyone would have to lug their stuff up and down the hill. Jan23, HollyAnnS, SallyG, Critterologist and lots of others have perfect locations. We certainly hope you do too!
SallyG: That would be wonderful if you (or anyone else) were to host a fall swap! I'm ready to mark it on my calendar!
LOL Judy, the hat did turn out pretty nifty, huh? And it only took about 10-15 minutes to do it! =) Oh, and thank you, YES, it's the Persian Shield that I was referring to in Gita's BIG pot. Man oh man that thing is pretty!
Ric and I would be willing but we do so much traveling in the Fall that finding a date might be a problem. But we could do it if no one else can. Also most of you have seen our gardens, it is always nice to have them at a place where we haven't been yet. The new Arbor should be up by fall and the new small addition to the water feature.
speedie---
Just FYI---I took cuttings of my Persian Shield last fall and had them under lights for the winter.
Di really small cuttings--just the growing tips. The rooted quickly--but as with all the other cuttings--
keeping everything "happy" over 6 months indoors and under lights became frustrating.
By spring--the PS cuttings were just sticks with a few pale lavender leaves on top. Not very promising!
BUT--I planted them anyway in my beds--and--BEHOLD!--as they sat in the sun, more and more,
they turned the bright silvery purple and are growing wonderfully. NEVER give up!
These are now in my small front bed going to town! There are three of them here.
Gita that is exactly what happened with our PS, Ric took cuttings they rooted well but looked really rough by spring. They are just beautiful now. PS, is a bit hard to find in our area and pricy also. So I think we will try it again next year.
OR----You two can make a trip to here and i will take you to the Wholesale GH to do all your shopping..
The money you save will pay for the gas...Mid to end of April would be good....
Their premium annuals, in 5" pots are usually $3. with a bit of savings if you buy a full tray of 8.
Then--we can all go to Casa Mias again.....Gita
Oh just twist my arm, Wholesale GH and Casa Mias. LOL
Gita -- what is the wholesale GH? Does it have perennials?
Managed to take a few photos today:
Compass Plant - Silphium laciniatum - native wildflower, grows 6+ feet tall.
Wild Petunia - Ruellia humilis - native widflower
Joe Pye Weed
Blackberry Lily
Another in our NoID Phlox collection.
Happy--
This GH is called "Maryland Flower and Foliage" and yes--they are wholesale growers but are
open to the public as well.
YES! The sell all kinds of perennials (pots out on the field) as well as annuals in 4-pack market packs and, the
premium kind, in 5" pots. Nice plants!
They also have tropicals like Hibiscus, Mandevillas,(both red and pink varieties) Palms, Black eyed Susan vines,
and more....It is about 3-4 miles from my house.
It is all self-serve--you grab a cart and wander all over the place and load up on whatever you want.
Having a full tray of annuals and Perennials will save you a bit of $$.
When done--you pay whomever is by the door collecting the money. Cash or check only! NO credit cards!
I have talked here about this place before, and I wanted to take Holly there the time she had to
cancel hervisit here. She would have liked it...
Right down the road from them is Richardson Farms--another place I have mentioned.
A nice, Country-style grocery store--but 100% up to date and computerized.
Fresh chef-cooked food, a deli, fresh chicken and eggs, produce and all kinds of things...
Fruit, Dairy, home made pies, caakes, Honeys, "butters", Pastas from PA, etc..etc...
You should see the lines there at lunch time! Their food is amazing! Cooked on the premises too...
If you go to one--it is easy to stop at the other as well....Both are family owned and operated.
Google "Maryland Flower and Foliage"
"Richardson Farms" (in White Marsh. ) They have a downtown location as well--)(Monument Str.)
In the fall--all their open areas are filled with Mums of every color in 8" pots.
They sell to a lot of shops and businesses and other Nurseries, florists and such.
Believe me--it is worth the trip! Gita
Wow, Gita, the wholesale GH sounds fantastic! Another reason to make it out your way sometime soon!! :-)
I'm also really looking forward to the fall swap. Since this will be my first swap, can someone tell me a little about how it works? Just wondering what I should think about bringing!
I second that, catmint.
Perhaps someone could start a new thread on the subject of the fall swap? how it works? spoken and unspoken rules?
I would not want to be the Noob who committed every party foul in the book...
voila, see this
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/pf.php
Sally, I think you meant to post this link:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1325750/
CatBird: Here is the first thread for the last swap, which was at Jan23's. It includes links to the related threads. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1305618/?hl=swap
thanks ssgardener!
Beautiful blooms everyone! In my garden, it is just the lilies blooming now. I'm still trying to get more than one lone spot of color going throughout the whole season. I can't wait until next year when all those lilies I planted from Jill's group buy join the July party.
1st photo - noid double pink oriental from HD
2nd/3rd photo - spectacular 'Casa Blanca' oriental
4th photo - balloon flowers
5th photo - 'Black Beauty' oriental
Thanks, SS and Happy!
Aspenhill, beautiful orientals and balloon flowers! Bet that hammock's a very peaceful place to lie down!
African mask.
Unknown? Help.
Black stem from Judy.
It was very thirsty, a few days WO water.
Terp, the Black stem (fontnesii) can live in water so set your pot in a container that will hold water or build a water feature for it! I've also used inverted 2 liter bottles filled with water. They sure do like to drink. It is amazing how much water they store in their tissues. Most of mine bloomed last year so yours may do the same.
Muchos gracias! I need to rig something up.
Paul,
This year I planted mine up in those $2 trash cans from Ikea:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10096417/
They work great, plenty of room for all those roots, and you don't even notice the "pot" b/c its black. I drilled holes in mine but regret it, going to have to get two more to nestle the ones I have. Mine are very thirsty too, one leaf got all crispy and fried on Monday (day 1 of heat wave). But it has bounced back alright.
Will post a pic later if I remember.
What a great idea.
Here's the pic. My EEs are stretching for the sun as they're too shaded. But I love them where they are and don't mind if they get a little leggy.
Ok so I tried lots of different ways to rotate these pictures but couldn't do it. Sorry. You'll just have to rotate yourself or your computer.
Windows 8 is AWESOME! (not).
I have, finally, chosen an Avatar.....
This is a pastel chalk drawing I did of this Faerie from the book:
"The Faeries".
It is like a carbon copy of the one in the book...like many things I have done...
It will be IT for now.....may change it later....Gita
Really nice Gita. I should look for one myself.
That's quite a lovely Avatar, Gita, especially since you created it!!
Gita, I didn't know you were an artist!! wow, nice work. Just showed Harry too. I knew you were a creative person by your writings.
Gita, that is fan tas tic!
Agreed!! Wow!
Great Googley Moogley that is just fan-shmabulous Gita!!!
OH! ... looked at Typ's EE's... now I've got a crick in my neck.. heeheeheee JUST KIDDING!!!! < =P
OOPS!! I have to apologize to you all---that is the picture from the book--
NOT one I did.
I will post, below, the one I did--but it is very dark...Need to photo shop it a bit
brighten it up....
It is the same picture--just not that awesome.
I will still keep this as my Avatar, though.
Here is the darker one I did....sorry about the misunderstanding...
I thought myself it looked too good......Gita
However--I CAN paint and have done lots of paintings in oil.
Long ago----Trying to redeem myself here.....
Here's a few....I did about 35 total--back in the early 80's
Took classes twice a year for about 3 years. then stopped.
Haven't painted anything since..
I make pretty signs at the HD.....:o)
Gita
These are AWESOME, Gita!!!!!
Oh man, the one of the wolves is fantastic... love how the fur bristles!! Super super great!!! You have redeemed yourself nicely! =) .... as if you needed to. =P
speedie---Thanks---
Everyone wants the one with the wolves......
It will be going to my daughter and her DH--he LOOOOVES it!
G.
WOW, Gita!! I'm sure you'll get back to it some day.
Gita, what beautiful drawings!! I especially love the first one.
My Plum Crazy Hibiscus bloomed this morning--yay!! Still several unopened buds.
