Anyone else OVERWHELMED??? :-)

Langbr... I was considering putting in an order with Parks or Wayside, and them I read the reviews and I saw yours.. Thank goodness you got the gift cetificate for your trouble.
I have not ordered the Encore Azaleas I was highly considering due to feedback, but I'm still thinking about the Darwin Hybrid Tulips.

Okay Julie, here's my drama! I am amending two seperate clay beds that total 180 feet long by 10 feet wide divided by a white picket fence. I must accomplish this soon as I have ordered over $350 from Alice's co-op and I will plant it. It was suggested by a fellow gardener that I "double dig" for great gardens. After much consideraton on the future use of my back, I opted to go for the sheet composting method or lasanga gardening method. I am only working on the very first section behind the fence. I have been laying down newspaper and alfalfa pellets (worm food) grass clippings, composted horse manure, top soil, natures helper, mushroom compost....... This past Sunday I was at the horse stables at 7AM digging aged manure into 5 gallon buckets and getting them into DH's truck. I filled up all 20 buckets and then put as much as I could onto the tarp in the remaining space. I them came home put it all into the beds, and went back for more and did it all over again. I'm sure the owner thanks that I am a horse with as much work as he's seen me do recently. I told him I'd be back a third time and after I unloaded the second load, I could smell myself so I took a shower and I just couldn't even push myself to go and had to call to cancel the third trip, and he said "i figured you would n't be back out here" yea, well.. I'm just now feeling normal again after taking naps for the last two days!! I only have hubby's truck when he's not working and this garden is my baby, so he doesn't have the same sence of urgency as I do. Oh yea, and he's not crazy!!

Susan
Edited to say... I'm 34 years old and I thought it was a good idea to get my garden started before I reached retirement age and I am blessed to be able to do just that. However, after my brief experience attempting to do this, I honestly don't know how anyone who IS retired can do all this lifting and hauling and bending and squating and killing weeds and pulling and so on..!!! I've never seen the reality of this on the gardening shows!! It's kinda like kids- you don't have a clue what your in for untill its too late to turn back!! :)






This message was edited Dec 11, 2007 9:25 PM

Mr. Bear...yes! Having friends SO eager to help you SAVE money can be a real PITA! LOL

Susan...I'm ROTFLMBO...I can SEE that one taking place. You poor person...do you think you might have taken on more than you *want* to handle. (I'm sorry...I'm still laughing. :-D )

BUT I want to see pictures of where you started and how it all ended up. You share yours, I'll share mine. I started with a plot of 2 acres of sand and pine trees this spring...no grass, no flowers, no flower beds. That's ALL changed! So I do know what you're talking about. (Glad you got at least a couple of naps out of the deal. ;-)

~julie~

Susan -

Don't despair!!! The tremendous sense of accomplishment you'll feel next year and the pride in your gardens make all of the doubts right now worth it! Believe me! Just keep the vision of the garden magazine photo layout you have envisioned in your head and keep going. A *few* days of toil reap several *years* of beauty and happiness.

btw....thanks for mentioning my Wayside review. I need to go back and see if I need to update it based on the last go round with them. I think it's current.???

How did I miss this - am laughing right now. Two things come quickly to mind...

California gardeners don't have winter. They have to continue the battle of bringing plants to flower and lettue to leaf. So envy themnot, they'll still be at it when were curled warm and toasty with our gardening catalogs, books, and graph paper.

And Darwins are great tulips they come back year after year. I once planted 70 fancy-antsy tulips and none of them lasted over two years. The darwins keep comin back.

And I have way too much to do without indulging in any new plants, there are iris, daylilies, russian sage, veronica pink spires, and even more. Demanding to be moved to better places NOW while they have time to settle before freeze up. I'll do pictures too.

But we have SO much fun! I love my garden. Even when things don't grow quite like I want them to or the pink plant blooms blue or Georgie the rabbit tastes everything out there, it is just the best thing ever. Wayside has done well for me lately, and at these prices! I love the smell that comes out of a box of healthy plants when you open it. Of course, I love the smell of the compost pile too!

Brenda...you're SO right!

Susan...your edited note puts the garden into exactly the right position, right next to kids! You're so right when you say the garden is just like having kids you don't know what you're in for until it's too late. And for your comment on not knowing how retirees garden...~BIG GRIN HERE!~ I can tell ya,
S - L - O - W - L - Y :-D

It warms my heart to see so many young people enjoying their gardens...I know it's a PITA right now, especially when there are other commitments to care for as well. But, as the years roll on, all the work that is being done now will reap many rewards for you in the future. My philosophy on gardening, whether it be associated with the expenditiure of money, time or energy is "It's not an expenditure, it's an *investment*!" I really believe that...so Hang in there!

Blooms...I'm glad you stopped by, too. I remember my first planting of tulips. I followed the directions to a "T" dug my holes *exactly* the depth the package told me. I even put fertilizer in the bottom of the hole...the key word here is "fertilizer." The next spring I was thrilled to see them break ground. Within a few days the regular old darwins were 3 feet tall and still growing. The buds formed and the flowers were ENORMOUS!! A good 8" to 10" across...and I do mean ACROSS! The prettiest "daisy-type" flowers you've ever seen. I couldn't believe the size! Someone asked me how I ever got tulips to grow THAT big, joking of course. I didn't know there was a difference between "fertilizer" and "Bone meal." That was nearly 40 years ago...and ya know, until this year, I never planted tulips again. (Oh...and this time I've got BULB food!)

Blooms...and everyone...please do post your pictures of your hard work here. I'd LOVE to see what you've been doing. I'll get a few before's and after's combined and post my efforts too.

~julie~

Yes, Overwhelmed is me.

I recently moved almost my entire garden to my new place, that was overwhelming getting it planted and settled in, between 4 hurricanes and getting ready to leave for the KY RU. But I finally did get it done, and was certainly relieved that AKnapp postponed the completion of the coop bulbs.

I went to the KY RU with a bin full of plants for trading and I came back with an entire van load. I love every last one of them and now need to find a place to put them.

Good news, while I was gone, my neighbor on the south side removed the chain link fence that was overgrown with a nasty mass of woody vines. They put in a wooden privacy fence and I looked at the ground by there and said, "Hey! more planting space!!!!"

So now, today I need to make that plan and dig some dirt for all my round up plants and leave some spaces for the bulbs coop.

Overwhelmed, most definately, and in addition, despite my efforts at mulching heavily to discourage weeds etc, them dad blasted things found their way through the darkness and I have much weeding to do.

I must get to it now............Thanks for listening.

Molly
:^)))

Molly...all I can say is :-O Lady, you've been BUSY! Can we see some pictures?

~julie~

Julie,

I posted the sequential pictures over here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/450106/

And I just took this pic of the space along the new fence, isn't it wonderful? More dirt!!!!!

Molly
:^)))))

Julie -- didn't want to clog up your great thread with pics, so I started a new one on Garden Successes here

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/459800/

Ooo-la-la, Molly! Thats a nice space to work with. You're gonna be having fun at the new digs for sure!

Hi Molly,

I do believe your neighbors have installed their fence with the wrong side facing them and it shows you as being the owner of the new fence since the posts are facing your property. This is how cattle farmers determine who owns and cares for fences.. The posts indicate ownership. Think about all the fences you've ever seen along roads... The posts are on the owners side. Obviously, they wanted the flat side since they thought it looks better, but this isn't how it is supposed to be done. If they had a professional do the job, they should have known better... or maybe did and just listened to the homeowner. Congratulations on getting your new fence for free!! Should you or they ever move the fence would be considered part of your property regardless of who paid for it. If they had put the fence into their property and met some setback, it really wouldn't matter, but this doesn't seem to be the case... It's looks to be on the property line. That might cause a cat fight, but that's the "law of fences".
Any lawyers here instead of this armchair court TV fan?

Whoever said fences make good neighbors didn't account for the poison ivy and kudzu coming over mine!!

All you folks are enablers and I have ordered over 500 bulbs from Parks! But what a great deal!! .10 a bulb! I got 500 yellow and red Darwin Hybirds :) I would have never done that if I didn't belive they would come back.
More work!

Susan


This message was edited Dec 11, 2007 9:27 PM

Susan...I DO believe you're right! We had a neighbor replace OUR pretty lattice fence when a flood on the Mississippi river lifted it out of place with a "privacy" fence. Problem was, they installed it with the supports facing our property...BUT they also "planted" *their* fence inside OUR property line! I was furious to say the very least, especially since my husband had made handmade top railings for the fence we put in. Then to have it replaced with the CHEAPEST 6' boards you ever saw.

Molly, at least the fence you go looks to be a good sturdy one. It doesn't look like the boards will curl up and/or shrink to the point where you can see through it! :-D And for what it's worth...I'll bet you'll do wonders with that 'dirt!' (Oh...I hung bird feeders, hanging baskets and bird houses on the back of my neighbor's fence ...then DARED them to say a word! LOL )

~julie~

P.S. Thanks for the new thread, Brenda...already peeked in, but I'll be back.

The winter gardening season is perhaps a little easier than the summer season because in the winter sometimes it rains and then I don't have to water. Then, on the other hand, winter is the time to do the grooming that it was too hot to do in the summer. There is a saying about southern CA. "The good news is that we garden all year. The bad news is that we garden all year."

Oh, my gosh, Susan! 500 bulbs? My wrists would be killing me!

Molly, what a wonderful space next to that fence! You have have done a wonderful job on your new place.

Show us your pictures, Blooms!! Can't wait to see more.

This is so funny, the neighbor is the installer of the fence. He paid for and did the work himself. The really good news is, he anchored the posts in concrete. The previous wood fence was built years ago up against the chain link, but Frances blew the wood down. Those old posts were only just set in the dirt, not concrete. My landlord helped the neighbor do the new fence so I reckoon he's okay with that too.

Anyway, since I am just a tenant here for a year or two, it's perfectly fine with me that those boards are on my side. Let's see how many times I lose my gardening tools from laying them down on those cross boards. heehee When I ask, please, someone remember to tell me where I left them.

I just love the new gardening space and can't wait to get started on it.

:^)))
Molly

Kelli...I like thet "good news / bad news" for you guys out west. I'd think that maybe you don't have that "Gotta get it done" syndrome and if it doesn't get done today...well, there's always tomorrow. And that can't be *all* bad. :-)

Susan...sorry, I got so carried away thinking about that "fence" situation your bulbs blew right past me. LOL Yep! 500 bulbs, I can relate (nope, I'll go 500 and raise you a fwe hundred more :-D) I did the same thing, but not just with tulips...there's the daffodils, the lilies, wood hyacinth, crocus, anemones and LOTS of stupid little bulbs that I don't even know why I ordered. (yes, I do! Cuz they'll be pretty next spring when I'm really sick and tired of WHITE STUFF! :-D) I just hope I remember *this* year's backache and still be able to say "It was WORTH all that pain."

Molly...I'm *sure* your landlord knew exactly what he was doing. I couldn't be happier!! :-D And I'm thilled your pleased with your new planting site. Don't worry...someone here will remember to remind where you put your tools. (But I'll bet it won't be ME! ;-))

~julie~

Trunnels, I have a drill that has a garden hole digger attachment. it wont be as bad as you are thinking. It still will be work, but just lots of drilling, dropping and covering!

Molly, wow, what a great renter you are!! Putting all that time energy and effort into the yard. I am sure they love you. I wish we had renters like you around here! :)

Susan McCoy

Julie.. we were typing at the same time and you beat me to the post! I also have more bulbs coming from Alice's Co-op as well. :)


This message was edited Sep 29, 2004 3:47 PM

This message was edited Sep 29, 2004 3:48 PM

Yeah, I forgot the 500!!!!! bulbs too, geesh, the backache, I can feel it.

I don't remember how many I ordered from the fall bulb coop, certainly wasn't 500, but I will deal with that when they come in, as Scarlett would say "I'll think about that tomorrow"

:^))))
Molly

That's true Julie. There's always mañana.

Good thread! I cannot believe I ordered a big bunch of trees and shrubs from Terry's Co-Op AND many bulbs from Alice Knapp's Co-Op, AND I am moving October 15th.

WHAT was I thinking??

Oh my gosh, Darius! Where are you going to put those things?

And when I really start thinking about it, I've probably ordered around 500 bulbs myself! Those little buggers just sneak up on you when you order them from coops and other mail order places. When the boxes start coming in my DH is gonna think I've lost my mind! Unfortunately, I don't have one of those little drill hole diggers! Susan, where did you find that?
Terrie

Terrie, I have NO idea where to put them. Bulbs will go in the ground (I do have a small gardening space at the new place) but it's basically a shade garden area. Trees and shrubs will probably go in quart pots overwinter in the ground for protection... and that just leaves the zillion plants in pots I have here, LOL.

Actually except for the hostas, all the other potted plants can probably stay until spring. If I cannot get the mold/dampness in my new basement apartment under control, I will move again next year. Sigh.

Oh, no. Hate to hear that about the dampness in your new basement apartment. Hope you have lots of electric fans to plug in and maybe one of those machines to take humidity out of the air.

Have a dehumidifier running there as we speak. There's a walk-in room I will use for a pantry that is damp, bare concrete block walls, off the kitchen. The owner is buying the Dri-Loc for me to paint/seal it. He's also paying for the materials to seal the bedroom wall once it is dry. Plus he bought the dehumidifier.

My worry is that the mold is in the bedroom carpet, but it's not much carpet to replace. 10' x 16'. I just hope I can get all this done in the 2 weeks before I move or I will be one sick chick.

It's all I could afford and there's not much choice in rentals here anyway except the expensive lakefront vacation rentals.

I feel for you Darius. Hope you can get the damp out before it gets too cool. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you have good luck coming your way and will get to start on that dream house of yours some day soon.
Terrie

Thanks, Terrie... soon as I win the Lottery!

Could happen!

Darius, my heart goes out to you, too. Sure hope *everything* works out for you.

Terrie...I thought maybe you'd underestimated your purchases. :-D (I thought so, because I *did*!)

Got my beans canned...and I'm hoping the frost takes the rest of them before I have to PICK 'em! As it sits right now, I've got 52 pints in my storage room...there's just TWO of us. I figure that eating green beans ONCE a week for a year is plenty! :-0

~julie~

Julie,

I'm here and I loved home canned beans.........................................................LOL

:^)))
Molly

Hey Terrie,

You get a cordless drill ..DH says any type will do. Mine has two batteries, so I charge one while I use the other but I use all the power in them before I'm done. There is an attachment and I am unsure of the correct name of it, but it is for digging little holes and it's so easy to drop the bulbs in afterward. They must be ammended beds if you have hard clay! If you hit clay you have to be prepared for the drill to torque and turn your wrist, since the drill will stop but the motor is continuing so you must have a firm grip or you will get a twisted wrist. (I hope that makes sense) I will lay out the bulbs where I want them, and then drill all the holes right next to em. The hard part is squating down and droping them in, and covering them up.

I am learning how to get digital pictures online and I will certainly share when I do. :) I still wouldn't know how to put them on a thread.. is there a place that explains that?
Thanks

Susan McCoy

Here ya go, Susan!
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/440390/

Wow that was quick! :) Thanks Daisy!!

Thanks, Susan! I do have a cordless drill so guess I can check Home Depot for an attachment that makes holes. Would love to see your pictures if you get them posted!!

LOL, Molly. I'm thinking I won't need 52 jars...it's going to be at least TWO weeks before I want to *think* about eating them. I can just send those jars to you. ;-)

Thank's guys, I was looking for one of those attachments!

~julie~

Susan,
Is this the drill bit that is made for drilling holes for door knobs or is there a bigger one than that?

:) Made me smile Terrie, I don't think so.... ???? I mean, it's not sharp by any means so it would not cut wood and I ....hmmmm.... Nope, It's too wide for a door knob. I'm sure it's at least 4-5 inches across. And the blades are not all wound close together, like what would be needed for wood, they are a reasonable distance apart...like for digging bulb holes!! :) Its a spiral looking attachment.

I just tried to play around and get a test picture from my file and I was unable to do it. I will have a friend over to show me how real soon. Wish I could just take a pic and show you.

Susan Mcoy


This message was edited Sep 29, 2004 10:30 PM

Okay. Is it an attachment made specifically for digging holes? Well, enough with the hundred questions! I'll check HD this weekend but will keep watching to see if you get a picture up. Thanks a bunch!

How about this gals?

http://www.colorblends.com/index.php?mode=blend&genus=4&k=0&blend_id=220
http://www.bestbudsgarden.com/IBS/SimpleCat/Product/asp/hierarchy/01/product-id/38000.html
http://www.farm-home.com/ldr/FHNVBP2.htm
http://www.dutchbulbs.com/spring/z32874.22827.html

And here's an HGTV article....

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_bulbs_seeds/article/0,,HGTV_3553_1393037,00.html

This message was edited Sep 30, 2004 7:59 AM

Yes Langbr, Thanks!! Now I know what it's called!! A Bulb Auger!! Yeaaa! Here's a pic..

http://www.dutchbulbs.com/spring/z32874.22827.html

Susan McCoy

Brenda, you're da man!

A great big thank you!!