Yikes! I like a manicured au naturale myself. Ideally that's where I'll get our yard to be in the future. You know the look; like it will look woodsy and natural but in reality there will be hours of tireless weeding and primping. Almost like a woman that spends hours in front of the mirror but the end result is that she rolls out of bed looking that way.....just like the movies.
It didn't sound too bad until you started saying things like mulberry, poison ivy, virginia creeper, wild grape.
2015 Fall Plant Swap General Discussion Thread
Mine is definitely au natural! Without the manicure! :-D
"It didn't sound too bad until you started saying things like mulberry, poison ivy, virginia creeper, wild grape."
Not as bad as it probably sounds IF you get them while they're small!! Unlike housecleaning, I really know the value of frequent little maintenance to prevent occasional big nasty jobs. (In the house, I say let it get really visibly dirty...) (kidding) ( sort of)
Yeah, the house is a different story. People only see that when they are invited in. Darcy does 96.5% of the cleaning; and a great job at that! I would much rather do yard maintenance than cleaning the house. Yard work is much more gratifying and you get a nice tank top tan while doing it. You can't put a price on a nice tank tan....
My arms and face are pretty tanned too--spending so much time watering
in the Garden at the Home depot. Short sleeved tan---as well as tanned legs
between my knees and socks. Looks weird if I wear some summery shoes w/ no socks.
Have to follow the dress code at the HD. G.
I wear long pants outside to do any sort of yard work. Two reasons, one so I don't get a goofy tan on my legs, and two to protect my legs and skin from pricks, bugs, scrapes, etc. Sock tan just looks no good with heals right G?
Oh Sally I know that so well, for years I did a once or twice annual clean up of the hedge row on the other side of the lane. Back when it was still a farm. Of course the Farmer didn't care about the hedgerow at all so no need to have those discussions with him and find out his preferences on keep or leave. Now that the farm has been sold and the hedgerow is part of the new neighbors property I leave it to them and they have cleaned it up. Maybe they cleaned it up more than I would have liked but it looks nice and neat. I wished that they would have left more for food and shelter of wildlife but since god only know how many acres of woodland is behind us I guess that little section of hedgerow isn't that important.
Critter If the poke weed doesn't create berries for the birds to eat you won't get as many new seedlings either. But then comes the question of do you want to deprive the birds of that food source. We compromised any pokeweed in inconvenient places got cut down and in areas that we didn't care about got left in place and we dealt with the seedlings when they became an issue.
I always wear long pants when I garden. Usually knee pads and gloves.
Yeah I have knee pads too. I wear them in this heat but only when necessary and I don't like doing it because my knees sweat a ton. I rarely wear gloves though. I have special puncture resistant gloves made with kevlar palms that I use when trimming my pyracantha or like Saturday when I removed a rose bush. They work great.
I always wear long pants too. The only reason that I wear long pants is because of all the kneeling in the dirt. If knee pads weren't so uncomfortable, I'd wear shorts and knee pads instead. I don't wear gloves - just like knee pads, they just seem so uncomfortable. The gloves that critter loves are the closest to comfortable that I've found, but I still don't like the feel of gloves in general. Over the last few weeks of weeding though, I really should have been using them. I've got several small prickers in my thumb and index finger that went underneath the skin and are tender and festering. They will eventually work their way out but ouchy for now...
I don't find my knee pads uncomfortable at all. I have and old pair of Joshes construction type pads. He gave me these when he upgraded. They strap under the knee just about calf level, they don't strap above the knee at all. The only trouble I am having is that they are getting pretty old and from time to time the Velcro lets go. In fact I came in for a break about 1/2 hr ago and I am still wearing them. I quite often don't bother taking them off if I know I will be heading back out side in a short time. this morning I am working in the utility area cutting back the wisteria that has been snaking across the brick patio. So I am crawling all over the brick patio on my knees cutting vines. No way I could do that without pads.
I only wear gloves when putting down mulch. Planting and weeding... nah, I have a good fingernail brush. Every now and then I'll get a wood or thorn splinter but nothing a needle and tweezers won't handle.
I do wear shorts, I just hate the heat and humidity and pants make it worse. I wear knee pads when the job calls for it but I have yet to find a pair that doesn't have straps that irritate the backs of my legs terribly. Ugh.
Oops forgot to ask does anyone want Wisteria.
yep, I do leave pokeweed in some areas, but when it's in the middle of a "choice" plant I chop it off. the kids like to make "ink" from the berries, too.
I'd skip the gloves if I could, but with the lymphedema I don't dare (the extra fluid under the skin can be a breeding ground for bacteria... I put antibiotic ointment on any break in the skin, no matter how small). The Atlas gloves are as close to wearing no gloves as I've found.
I need to get out back with my cordless weedeater again (thanks, Gita!). I use it like a "power machete," and it's great for clearing areas that have gotten out of control, especially when the ground isn't soft enough for easy weed-pulling.
Jill--
The batteries in my cordless trimmer just last about 15 minutes--then they wind down
and no longer work as a trimmer...
It took me BOTH batteries to edge my sidewalk out front and half of my driveway.
Pathetic!
Maybe I ruined the full charge ability in the beginning as I would plug it in to
charge before I ran it 100% dry. Too late--I learned you HAVE TO allow the battery to run
completely out and then charge it. it seems to have a "memory" of the improper
chatging i did at first. A Lithium battery would help a lot.
Anyway-----
I usually wear latex or vinyl examination gloves when I garden . It is as close to skin
as you can get. I don't like wearing any real gardening gloves as I cannot "feel" anything.
Forget knee pads! I am not allowed to kneel at all--pads or no pads. Knee replacement
rules.....makes it hard to garden and work on something very low to the ground. (weeding) .
Jeff--just for you--here is my "sock tan"....look to the right--ain't it lovely?
g.
Yeah, Gita... the lithium batter is a wonderful invention. I can use my weed whacker to trim along my driveway, all my beds, fence line... probably running it for a good 20 minutes. Then I can use the same battery on my leaf blower to clear off my sidewalk, driveway, and the street (corner lot) and I still wouldn't have to charge it back up if I don't want to, could use it again next time I mow/trim.
That's a nice gardener's tan you have there !
Shocking Gita! You should get some of that tanning lotion for those parts or wear high socks all the time. The fashion police would be appalled.
It's funny you posted that particular pic because in the small thumbnail in the post I was thinking your sock tan looked a lot like a leaf. Then I figured I'd click the pic and noticed what you were trying to show.
Jeff---My arms are even more tanned. You know--holding the hose all day
will do that. Hot, searing sun--and me watering most of the day.
Sweating like a pig....Why do I curl my hair every morning, as I go to work,
when in a couple hours I will look like I got caught in the rain. ?????
There is nothing fashionable in my life or attire. OH--I do always wear earrings...
I, basically, live in grubbies--if I go to work--I wear nicer "grubbies'...
If I have to go to some "function"--I really freakk out as to what to wear.
I haave nice things--but those fit me about 25 years ago--NOT now.
There is NOT a skirt or a dress in my regular closet. I have a couple---but wearing
a dress means I have to wear hose and dress shoes. NOOOOO!!!!!!!!
I can look just as "nice" wearing a pair of nice slacks and a dressy top.
Since all my jobs since 1988 have had to do with gardening, greenhouses,
and taking care of plants in some way--that has become my life...
I have just gotten away from all the dress stuff... It is all socks and tennis shoes,
or Crocks (only at home)--no open heel, or toe allowed while at work.
Also--no sleevless tops--and no T-shirts.
We used to have to wear colored shirts, but I think they no longer mandate that.
How many women's tops have collars?
SO--No Fashion Police at my house... G.
This is in Sept. 2013--at our 58th HS Class reunions. Gonna have the 60th next month.
AAARRGGHHHHH---what shall I wear?????????
edited to say---"See my sun-tanned arms???"
This message was edited Aug 17, 2015 4:55 PM
When I garden, I wear shorts, tee, sturdy shoes, and lots of bug spray. ;-)
I have a pair of sturdy leather gloves that I got when I needed to remove a very thorny rose bush, but typically don't use them--too hot and sweaty, and I'd rather be able to touch the plants and soil directly.
Was inspired to go out and take a new picture of one of my blue mistflower plants. I will bring some to the swap, in case anyone is interested.
Catmint--
Please go to the "Plant it and they will come" Thread and see my last post there.
I had questions for coleup--but have not heard from her.
It had to do with me finding an egg on my MW--and also pictures of, possibly,
a couple instars on my newly planted tropical MW.
Not sure they are--as they look a bit chubby to be instars. They are ~ 1/8" long.
I know you can tell me what to do....or,whether they are instars or some other cat...
Not the best photo--as my camera does not macro closer than 4".
Maybe you can enlarge?
Thanks, Gita
I am wanting to dig up my 4 clumps of Stella D'Oro Daylilies.
They are too root-bound--and need to be planted somewhere else
with more room than my dry, yukky "YUK bed".
I just bought a couple dwarf DL's and would love to plant them in their place.
Would anyone be interested in these? I can dig them up and bring them to the swap.
You can divide them and spread them around.
G.
I could use them Gita! What color are your new ones?
Coleup--
Do you want all of them????? 4 clumps???
It is late--and they are outside--so i will let you know later what I bought.
I am trying to open up a few spaces in my beds for other things..
Been looking at these Stellas forever...They are nice--but then they bloom
and take up all kinds of space with their leaves. Like daffs--and Iris....
Getting my fill of these too...Leaves--leaves...leaves..that is all I have to look at!!! Ugh.
In my foray to "MD Flower and Foliage" I bought some new perennials...
May go back there again. OH--WOE BE ME!!!!
Today I bought a big pot of white Cone Flowers at the HD. Clearanced at $6.
They will go in my A/C bed. None of my Purple Cone Flowers lived! Gone!
The work and digging involved in all this may "kill me"! They are all in beds
where there are roots...well--NOT the iris. I still have to think on those...
I want to keep some of them. Sentimental connections....
The sad thing it that--IF I dig up something in my YUK bed and amend the
soil for something else--the maple roots will be there before the year is up.
Like:--"OH!! Goody! New fresh soil!!!! OK, roots!!! Lets go and eat it up!
What would I do if I did not have my garden to fuss over?????
Good night! Gita
I was picking tomatoes this afternoon and heard that unmistakable thumming sound... a little hummer was busy in the peanut butter shrub, over my head! The small blooms have a lovely sweet scent, and the leaves really do smell like peanut butter (when you rub them).
Is anybody interested in a PB shrub "toddler" (to use Chantell's term) There are at least half a dozen starts near my tree... I won't know how much root they have until I dig
Haven't had any blooms on my PB shrub yet. Dies it take several years for them?
From a customer this morning as I was collecting Swamp Milkweed seeds from his garden and admiring the red bloom on his Swamp Hibiscus as being attractive to hummers:
"You do know why a hummer hums don't you?
Why?
Because they don't remember the words!"
Critter, I would enjoy a peanut butter shrub toddler! :-) thanks!
Jan. Mine can't be more than seven years old. It has bloomed for a couple years, this year huge. It is about seven- 8 feet tall and nine feet wide. I have heard hummers near it.
So, I should just be patient, then.
Hehehehehe. Can't remember the words!!!!!! Love it.
who needs vinyl mini blind slats/ labels? Just took down 4 blinds.
I think David could use one blind. Thanks.
super, Pat, happy to oblige.
I would like to get some starts, or a clump, of the regular pink Cone Flowers.
My small AC/ bed has cardinal flowers, Great Blue Lobelias--just planted 2 pots of
clearanced Whote Cone Flowers there--and 2 pots of B&B Salvias--IF they make it
through the winter. There are Tiger LIlies some Monarda--Clustered blue Bellflowers.
Annuals--ways Heliatropes and Pentas--maybe geraniums--and marigolds.
I have a lot of seeds from the Pink Cone Flowers.
Should I just throw them in the bed? WS them? Start them indoors (striation needed???)
WHAT??? I am trying to fill this bed with Hummer and BF plants.
Thanks--Gita
I would just throw the seeds in the bed, Gita. I would like some of your Pink Evening Primrose, please!
You got it, Muddy!
I went to dig them out yesterday at my DD's. Lots and lots!!
I have a slew of pots full!!! Many stems in a pot. I used the tall 3" Vigoro pots.
You will have to separate them out and plant them individually for a nice spread.
Some of them are quite tall and woody already. She has had them in this
spot for a long time--and they ARE semi-invasive--creeping amid other plants.
G.
Catmint, I'll see if I can dig up a few toddlers and bring you a cute one! My PB shrub bloomed for the first time this year, although it may have had a couple of blooms last year that I didn't notice... it's either 6 or 7 years old.
Sally, I'll happily speak up for a blind, thanks!
I have a Rodgersia 'Bronze Peacock' available for anyone who wants it.
Gita, I'd like some evening primrose, please! I think it can duke it out with the weeds that try to take over near the fruit trees... I'll take "semi-invasive and pretty" over weeds! Once I get it established in a corner there, I can put starts on the far side of my little treeline, too, where I've tucked some of the Monarda I got at the spring swap. :-)
Do you think evening primrose is "airy" enough to plant between iris clumps? I realize I'd have to pull it back if it tried to overgrow the rhizomes. Dense plants aren't good iris companions because they really need air circulation, especially with the clay soil.
Wow, Sequoia, that's a neat plant! I had to look it up. :-) Can I bespeak it on Aspenhill's behalf? She has a sentimental attachment to peacocks.
Yeah I thought it would be a cool plant too but it just doesn't like the full shade spot it's in. I guess I could plant it somewhere else but it might be better suited to someone else's property.