New from Idaho

Wow... love this website! I found Garden Watchdog a month or so ago and will be checking in there often. Even though I would love to sponsor our local greenhouses, my budget doesn't allow for much shopping there. I have tended to purchase mostly from catalogs (besides relying on the kindness and generosity of friends!) because I can get so much more for less $. Even if I lose some here and there, and they arrive small, I have more time than money.

I will look forward to learning more about starting seeds as well. I have played with it and currently have my dining room table filled with flats of seeds. Which forum would be best for that type of discussion? (I checked one out and I'm not at the skill level of adding hydrogen peroxide etc. that was being discussed there! I'm still struggling with making myself "thin" when there are multiples! I almost consider that "murder"! I function best with the KISS methods!)

I mostly have perennials, bulbs, and flowers that reseed: day lilies, peonies, delphiniums, sweet williams, iris, bleeding heart, poppies, cosmos, etc. I rely on the flowers that can survive my gardening habits: my yard is flood irrigated, some areas get more water than others, I sometimes will set a sprinkler but not often, I hope that they survive independently of me because I just kind of "let them be". I try to be aware of their basic water/sun needs but other than that, it's survival of the fittest! Of course, I've started to evolve as my confidence level has grown and bought my first rose (they seem to require so much intelligent care and maintainence!) this spring. I've also adopted some Elephant Ears, which I'm going to see if one will survive on my south side (I'm zone 5 NOT tropical!!). Right now, my biggest challenge is trying to figure out how to keep the squirrels from rearranging my tulip bulbs! (I think that is what happened to my 50+ tulips!)

I love flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, esp as a mother of four. However, I've learned that the same plants also attract wasps and bees which isn't fun around children! I'll be also searching for other people's ideas re: that challenge.

I'm a stay at home mom in a rural community with a husband who is involved in farming, so I saw several other forums that I'll look forward to checking out as well. I think I could live here!

Anyway, I really have appreciated the help with plant IDs I've rec'd so far. I hope that with my limited knowledge and information that I can be of help to others as well. I already heard from one gardener regarding the Androscoggin trees I listed in the plant database. I tell all my friends around here about them, because I really felt I received a great value for my money and I see so many yards without trees... how sad!

I truly look forward to meeting other gardeners and learning from you!

Hello neighbor! I'm about 150 miles from Boise, my climate is similiar to yours. I hope you will check out the farm forum. Several people post there from time to time who are wondering about some farming practice or some animal, a few just stop in and read about our lives on the farm. Other forums will answer your rose questions, get you hooked on peonys or daylilies, etc. It's a really fun place and I'm glad you found us.

Welcome to DG Mommydi. Our home here is about 55 miles west of Boise. We have a small acreage and raise critters like sheep, dogs, one horse, and goats. Oh yes, I forgot the weeds! I can raise those just fine here.

I have a dear friend in Gooding and usually come to see her about every other year or so. Sometime maybe we can meet and talk gardening.

I don't make it to the farm forum much but may soon be able to since we are getting DSL which loads the pages MUCH quicker. We got lucky that we are right on the edge of the availability for the DSL here. Our neighbor is too far.

For your questions on starting seeds you might just browse the older threads.

Have fun and I will see you in the forums. Lani

welcome from Michigan where the snow is flying again today!!
have fun n join right in!

Welcome to Daves. Sounds like your are quite a gardener. We will be begging you to show pictures of your place one day, so be prepared. LOL!! I'm sure glad you are enjoying your time here. I find myself spending more time here than doing all the other things that should be done around this place. Have a great time, and again, welcome to Daves.

Mommydi, Welcome to Dave's. Sounds like you have a great start on your gardens. Some of my favorite flowers are the lilies and daylilies. Brugie is right the time will come when we'll want to see photos! See you across the fence.

I have posted a couple of photos already... my fern leaf peony and my fast growing shade trees (androscoggins). I also posted my "recycled trellis". But right now not much is showing yet AND we are working on painting our house... so I avoid taking too many pictures of my flower beds! (We scraped it last fall and then the weather turned... we are trying to get it painted but our schedule and weather aren't cooperating! It looks SO scabby!)