Welcome to Dave's Garden Songbird.......we are so happy to have another new Alberta member! :D
Welcome Songbird839!!!
Welcome to DG, Brenda! How are things in your garden these days?
Shannon
Hi Songbird839,
Hello, there...........welcome to the forum! Elaine
Welcome Songbird!
Welcome to the greatest garden spot around. So how do you know Brenda is from Alberta Pam?? And where in Alberta?
I've been wondering how Pam knows everything.
Pam, you are our Ambassador(ess). lol
Found you! Thanks for the warm welcome all! I am from Alberta, specifically, Redcliff, just outside of Medicine Hat (home of our 2004 Canadian Idol, Kalan Porter!). I know we are listed as a 3b zone but I figure my yard is a 3a cause I'm on a hill on the prairies with not too much for windbreak! I've had cosmos, bachelor buttons, and beans snap right off at the base in the wind this year. (Gr-r-r building a fence!). Does anybody know how long I can plant spring bulbs for? I bought a bunch but I think I might be running out of time. Those tulip and daffodill holes are hard labor! We've already had our first hard frost. What about Daylilies? Is it too late for those?
I'm just loving this site! It's nice to be able to talk to other Canadian gardeners and easier to relate when it comes to our climate!
Jagonjune - I just spent the long weekend in Edmonton. What a beautiful city you live in! I had no idea there was so much forest inside the city! I want to come back and checkout the Muttart and the Devonian Gardens.
Hi Brenda,
Glad you made it! Waahhhh....I miss Edmonton....... ahem! Well, both sites are well worth a visit, as is Hole's Greenhouse in St. Albert just north of the city.
Are the bulbs still firm, and feel heavy for their size? If so, you might have a shot....
Shannon
Welcome Songbird839 - I might be your closest neighbor here at Dave's Garden. I live 60 miles south east of Calgary (north of Vulcan - closest towns are Arrowwood and Mossleigh). I hope it's not too late for those bulbs - mine have only been in the ground for about a week. In the past I have successfully planted/transplanted Daylilies and many other perennials this late in the season. Last year my grandmother's house in Calgary was sold to a developer and we were moving (rescuing) plants up until the end of October.
Susan
The bulbs all seem good and I haven't even received the Daylilies yet. I'm expecting those anyday. We had a real good frost last night. Everything is frosty white this morning! Thanks Susan for the info. I feel encouraged to keep planting! I really shouldn't have bought so many and a lot of them came a lot later than I had anticipated. I only received my bulbs from Breck's on friday. It's good to talk to someone as close as you are. I've been through Vulcan before.
Visiting Hole's greenhouse is also on my to do list!
Brenda
P.S. Here is some more eye candy for everyone!
I'll second durtcom, songbird (how's that for a confusing start to a sentence). I have planted bulbs here as late as mid october with great results. At least when you are planting them this late you can water in without risk of them starting to grow. That will be your biggest problem come spring time with those out of season chinooks that fool the you know what out of our plants. If you are coming back to Edmonton for the Muttart etc send me an e-mail. Would love to meet you and its always nice to visit those spots again with a fellow enthusiast.
This message was edited Oct 14, 2004 8:05 AM
Hi, Songbird.............welcome! Elaine
Hello@songbird!
yumiko
Hi! Roselaine
Hi! Yumiko
How is beautiful B.C.? I personally envy everyone who lives in B.C. Everything grows so big and beautiful! My sister lives in Nanaimo. I haven't been there yet but I will soon...with camera glued to face, no doubt! ha! ha! I'm such a tourist!
And Jagonjune...I may take you up on your offer, it's always nice to have a guide and I'd enjoy meeting you as well!
More eye candy for everyone...Bearded Iris Rock Star.
Now that's a stunning picture Songbird.
It's a beauty! So can we grow Rock Star here echoes? (I have rotten luck with pink bearded Irises)
I love the vibrant pink flowers Songbird......please post them often in January and February! ;)
Thanks, I took over 2000 plant based pictures this year so I have lots to keep us going all winter! I figure when I'm too arthritic to work in the garden anymore I'll just keep looking at all my pictures!:)
Lilpon - you have trouble with pink Irises in Moose Jaw? We're in the same zone and this is my first winter with Irises. I have 3 pinks, a black-purple, yellow, bronze, orange, and numerous purples. Are some colors more apt to winterkill? Say it ain't so!
I had to share this with you...my Mom sent me a picture of their biggest tomato. That's my Dad in the pix.
Big tomato, hope you have lots of canning jars.
When you're too arthritic you can play with photo shop. LOL
That's one heckuva tomato! Hey, is it true there's a pumpkin shortage on the prairies this year? I heard stores were bringing in pumpkins from BC & Ontario.
Maybe you could use that tomato for a jack-o-lantern...lol
I think most of the colors you have listed will do fine Songbird. It's the light pinks that I have the most trouble with and I have had 50/50 luck with the darker cranberry shades. If yours make it through please give me a detailed report on your soil and how you planted them. ;)
BTW I'm sending my tomato seeds to your parents next year!
This message was edited Oct 14, 2004 8:23 PM
I knew you would get a kick out of that pic. It's my mom who is the photoshop wiz, I've got lots to learn in that department.
Do you mulch your Irises? I was going to use fine woodchip mulch.
Heeeyyyyyy.....was someone cutting & pasting? Boy, I must be tired this evening....that "big tomato" had me going for a while there :-) Either way it's a hoot!
That's what I've used......I.hope echoes and inanda jump in with how they've overwintered theirs.
Are Echoes and Inanda still digging out? I saw the snow storm they got yesterday on the news. Yuk! Way too early for that business. :(
I use wood shavings (slightly used by the horses) Pam to mulch along with all the god and neighbour given leaves and it seems to work ok. Haven't lost one yet.
I'll give it a try.....picked up some beautiful ensata at 75% off today, so tomorrow I will dig them in and pile it on.
BTW someone's going to get quite a dump......really impressive grey clouds were heading over us today.
It's trying to snow here right now with a 100% chance of a cm or so by morning. Blah! I just planted some tulips and crocuses this afternoon. It's still +4 though. I still have some mulching to do! Well hopefully it won't stay. Lilypon, those were probably our clouds you saw today! Were they going NW?
They were heading SE.....we had a few flakes here in town but Regina and outskirts had a wintery white look. :b I am still wearing my sandals......figure if I ignore it, it will go away. Actually I should dig out the winter gear, seems when we are prepared *it*stays away.
p.s. Songbird you can keep it.....trust me sharing of that stuff isn't necessary !!
This message was edited Oct 15, 2004 8:38 PM
Whew! Only rain so far! I won't even say the bad "S" word again!
That's good to hear! As much as I like it's insulating qualities getting by Hallowe'en without it is such a treat. ;)