Seed Snatchin' Part VI

You are all toooooooo funny.....rofllol!!!! Okay, I'm just a egg that hasn't been born compared to all of you! Only thing bad that I've been doing lately is taking little snips of things I see when I go into stores when they don't have little pots of them but big expensive pots. I feel guilty doing that.......I'm bad.
:) Donna

I dead headed some Goldstrum Black Eyed Susan's at Lowes last year and I'm still telling everybody about it. I think I was shaking on the way out of the store, fear of being caught for stealing dead flower heads. LOL

ha ha ha ha ha LMBO!!!!!! Just came from the kitchen...I had to satisfy my winter itch. Someone sent me Rose cutting and Xylosma :-D Lets see if they root in this vermiculite...

Gee, I think I've told most of my good seed snatchin' stories... ok, here goes...

For several years, I belonged to our local garden club. For the most part, they were a great bunch of people, but a few were just a bit 'better than the rest of us'. It really took the fun out of it. Each year, they would have a garden tour, but they seemed to visit the same gardens each year... the ones that belonged to folks who can purchase plants or have a landscaper come in and do it. These places were always awe inspiring, but they just didn't seem like true 'gardens' to me.

On the other hand, there were other locals who scoured the dump for timbers and concrete, traded with neighbors for established perennials, bought seeds at the bargain counter, and raised rabbits or chickens just for the poo... and they didn't call it poo. Those were the places I wanted to visit. I called up a few of my gardening friends, and about two weeks after the regular garden tour, when the seed heads were starting to mature, we had our first Bandito Garden Tour. We brought our seed stealing kits, our cameras, and ribbon for tagging plants for future stealing. Of course, we visited each others' gardens, and a couple of local places that weren't on the regular tour.

It's a good thing we had big vehicles, because by the time we finally called it quits, we had root balls, stem cuttings, seeds, etc that filled up the rigs. At one stop, we each got a blackberry start and a dozen fresh eggs! One of the banditos was Ceeads, who is no doubt lurking around here as I write. She's got to be the seed stealing queen of Seward, though I'm giving her a run for her money lately.

We try to get together every year, about seed harvesting time, to 'attack' our poor garden friends. They don't seem to mind! here we are on our August 2000 tour!

Weezie, that sounds like soooo much fun! I know what you mean...taking the fun out of it. We have garden tours like that to that are part of the Horticularial Societies. I stopped belonging to one because of that same reason...stuckups or what. We even have garden tours that you pay to go on which can cost from 10 to 20 bucks. Sheesh. These are the people who are retired and have the time and money to spend. I plant and garden for the enjoyment of seeing what will grow here and to share. We have a flower & bloom contest across the city and 4 years ago I won for my area. Ever since than people just enter so that they can get invited to the awards ceremony and get free food. I don't think my garden is better than someones and I don't ever tell anyone else that. I used to have a friend that told me that and it really hurt. I asked her if she was joking and she said no. Can you believe that!
Sorry for the venting....it just gets to me how people can be like that.
I wish I lived closer so that I could join the fun.
:( Donna

Great, let's hear some more stories...

Geezers Weezers ... What a tale! .. Sure'd seem that the jet-stream, would not be the ideal place to risk stickin' ones ol snooty sniffers up too far into, now would it .. .. (hee)

And what a fun time must've been had by all, on that wonderful Bandito Garden Tour! Certainly would be 'my' kind of tour, no doubt! .. The 'root balls' is for sure, what I'd be shootin' fer ... Jes up and take the whole thang!

And jes looka tat, now wontcha!! ...
The original undeniable batch, of the unsinkable Cleptobotaniacs !!!
Jes luv that pic of you guys ... Such fond and special memories you must share with another .. and, perhaps should be co-erced to postin' and sharin' with the rest of us sprouts soon, too .. We're like a tactic-magnet ...

Reckon we may could try pryin' Ceaadsalaska out of the peering attic once again, and back here with us(?) ... She's made a few appearances on the prior threads. .. And have sure wondered a few times, jes whar she'd got off to!

- Magpye

AMEN to that sister magpye...

Ceaad, where are you?

I just sent cee a DG email with a link straight to here, so she won't miss the bus.

Boy, there sure are a lot of members in Alaska!

Who else are we missin'?

Maaa Weez, you got a list in your brain?

..watch out folks, here she comes...

Well, I just read this one, and it may take the cake (err, seeds rather)

Magpye
Deer, AR
Zone 6a
Nov 15, 2004
10:22 AM
Twas the nite before leavin’ …

(use a recitation ‘rhythm’ similar to,
‘Twas the night before Christmas’)


Twas the nite before leaving, when all through the buses
Not a creature was stirring, least to say … us’s ..
The Fiskars and baggies, the gloves and step stools
We’re seed snatchin’ mommas and dumpster divin’ fools!

The gardens were silent, the plants all at rest
All needing relief and a snippin’ at best
Long went by the wayside .. overgrown with neglect
In need of dead heading – and begging respect.

The choir robes were hung all neat in a row
The triple D t-shirts were ready to go
The heifer was silent, all done with her moo’s
All ready for mornin’ .. were all of our tools

We’d settled in dozedom .. long awaited good sleep
Just started to count seeds … was supposed to be sheep
When out on the pavement, there arose such a clatter
Up jumped Magpye . to see what was the matter.

The moon in its glory .. and oh, was suuuum bright
Clearly showed Equil, Terre_, Sweez, and Cherishlife
And lurkin’ nearby, shown by the moon beams
Was none other than .. our very own, Weezingreens!

They’d arose from their tents .. to start early the day
Left the rest of us dozin’ .. while planning our way
Dyson, and RB, and Ladyannes other half
Were long cutting Zz’s after going over city maps

Now, abreast of the layout .. and bee bonnets on hand
Ready to place on their heads .. if met by demand
Shovels and trowels made such awful clatter
There too, of course, was sugarweeds pool ladder!

Magpye folded beds, and readied the coffee pot
Supper dishes can wait, for there’s not a whole lot
Snacks’ll be called for .. once we get back
While sorting the bevy goods from the beds we attacked.

No stone left unturned, not one plant left unthrashed
Ladyanne, NC, and hanna .. got the dumpster de-trashed
Tazzy’s hind end was the last that we’d see
Over the side, with a thump .. and an extended ‘whew-wheeeee!’

Now, out comes oceangirl, dstartz, and JodyC
Dodecatheon and ceeadsalaska zone3
Then creeps trufinov, vswilliams and Judycooksey
Philomel ! Kayaker ! .. Whar the two of yall be?

The tables are set with the markers and pens
For upon our return .. the real work begins!
Divisions of cuttings, seed heads - some plants there’s few.
With a bus full of goodes .. and all kinds of ‘em too!

How far will we go .. Will there be any end?
I think not folks .. We’re seed snatchers, my friend!
No dumpster shall defeat us, no boundaries prevail
If a lil trouble befalls us .. we’ll simply post bail!

But it shall not be long .. till the gardens we bound
These beds hold our treasures, there great ones are found.
Business, public and private .. gardens lay wait
For arrival of the snatchers – we come soon, and come late!

We’ve done our fine deeds, and shall call it a day
We’ll check the agenda - for our next escapade
We’ll toast our marshmallows and eat a snack or two
Until the next time …When we may come through!

And then in a twinkling, or, should say: a ‘vvvvroooooom’
The vehicles are cranked .. spit and sputter a tune
We’re all packed and loaded ... with a pledge nary to impede
The triple D .. Cleptobotaniacs .. A mitey proud bunch, are we!

- © Magpye
11-15-2004

Created .. in lovin' fun, shared respect, and some utterly awesome enjoyment .. with all
of the many others .. of which, all started here .. [HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
(with, jes a wee lil touch of insanity, fer xtree spayshall flavorin') .. LOL ..
And dedicated to none other than .. our own, the 'Weez' (weezingreens).

that magpye shore is Ellie-(May)-quent, ain't she? My dad used to say, 'She's a poet, but she don't know it... her feet show it... they're Longfellow's!

Well, had big plans to dig some lilies at mothers today, but decided to dodge Charlotte all togeather.
I headed due south out of Greensboro and slid into a wet, but comfy 57 degrees back here in North Florida.

I'm becoming a Brug Mom tomorrow and can hardly wait. 10 new babies, DGers are the best.
Sidney

How sad, those little ol' lilies sittin' there waiting for liberation.

Oh tell me about it, I whized by there Thurs and saw them there calling to me, but they will REALLY be ready to beautify Florida in February. I also had 4 of her faithful echinatia seed heads hollar "How long do you think we can just keep hanging here?"
Many hidden Hostas are lurking under the soil and of course I will leave some to help sell the house.

I know I can' sqell!

This message was edited Jan 29, 2005 10:58 PM

How sad, indeed, but something to look forward to... wish I wuz there...

Headed north into Wisconsin yesterday and took up another DGer on an offer of a brug cutting.
First face-to-face with another DG member and WOW! I figured I'd call again when I got into her town and meet at a local McD's or something, get my cutting and run. Nooooo, she directed me to the house - it turned into a wonderful 3 hr visit and she was way to generous.
What an amazing lady!!
She even let me take a pic in the basement and the temp was no warmer than mine even with that 1000watt light.


This message was edited Jan 30, 2005 6:08 AM

Thanks ya'll for the warm wecome. I'm so happy to find people with like mind. I wonder if this is a universal kinship. Just imagine people all over the world that are Cleptobotanics.Hummmm That's something to ponder.
Anyone ever raided landscape at a restraunt? They usually have great stuff.

That looks like paradise. I'm off on a Brug drive this am myself. Have you got a big rooting/overwintering basement too? I need to do my Brug study this morning.

luckpup - my restaurant pilferings have been Marigold seedheads at McD's. They usually have several colors and the seeds ripen throughout the year.

I've got a basement but have a big table and a rolling rack with shoplights up the wazoo. That single MH rolling back and forth seems to do just as well... there may be one in my future. :)

Looks like you had fun, Hairyleggedboy!
:) Donna

Yeah that's me! Of course today I'm rearranging and figuring out where and how I'm putting up the next two shop lights since I have 5 new brug cuttings.

Dyson, quick pull up a pants leg so they know they have a pair of bookends.

he he he,,,,,roflol!!!

Hey you guys... I wanted to ask you about planting instructions. When something says "set out 6 inches apart" that means 3 inches apart to me, I like fullness. What about the rest of you's? What do you do? I look at gardens and plants that are established and I can see they didn't follow instructions well either. So do you guys follow the instructions, or do you squish em a little like I do?

kathy,
I like my annuals crowded myself so I always plant closer. For perennials I try to go by the book-LOL!

Kathy, I squish mine too! Perennials not so much but annuals have to fight for their space at my house! Ice is gone from here now! Have a freshly cleaned house, winter sowed some seeds yesterday, fairly productive weekend!

I need to stop in more often, there's a bunch of activity and I can't keep up with this thread!!!

Guess I'll get caught up when I'm supposed to be working tomorrow! LOL

Nicole

Ha! I'm not alone in this squishing thing I see. :)

Nope! Usually by the end of the summer I am asking myself, "Why did I do that?" HA HA!

The only issue I can see with 'squishing' is that by the end of the year, particularly in baskets, the plants will be competing for nutrients, root space, etc. Since annuals are usually a one trick pony, why not crowd a bit and thin later if necessary!

When I fill baskets for the city in the spring, I pack them pretty close together... about 3". They really fill out by July, and by fall when we take them down and dump them, they are a solid root ball that has to go into the compost pile.

Now theres a lovely example of how I like to squish! Very pretty Weezin.

Gorgeous basket!
:) Donna

I'll augment with timed release and compost then pack 'em in and may the strongest survive. I also like to stand around with a hose watering during the summer and throw compost tea, Jerry Baker stuff or something... more often than recommended probably but it's fun and looks like I'm doing something while getting my daily quota of barley hops.

These baskets are hanging from the light poles in downtown Seward. The local barber is quite a gardener, and he keeps the baskets fed and watered, as well as deadheads them. Yes, I did the same, 8ft... packed em full and said, "let the strong survive!" Thanks to Brent's green thumb and dedication, I think they all survived!

These baskets were from 2003. They held Celebrity Blue Petunias, Paludosum mums, Red/White nemesia, trailing lobelia, Lulu signet marigolds, and some Chalon pansies.... all in a ten inch basket!

Ok all you botanical borrowers..... who wants to come to Ga and raid my place of employment?? I get a cut of the stash for turning you guys onto this place- LOL!!
The place is huge- over 3000 acres- so there's a LOT of ground to cover. They would NEVER say anything to guests as it would be the height of rudeness to do so. We do have our southern hospitality image to uphold, ya know?

To see the temptations I have to endure each workday go to www.chateauelanatlanta.com.
I haven't been to the website in a while so don't know if they have good pics of the grounds - I know they used to.

Dear Lord, hope my bosses or other co-workers don't belong here/troll here at DG or I am in deep @#$%!! They'd recognize my "name" for sure- LOL!!

What a stroke of genius... the customer is always right! Can any of us afford a stay there?.. or can we just show up in eccentric clothes, a floppy hat, and a big shopping bag!

WEEZ,
You could stay at the inn and I could get you my discounted rate or you could stay at our VERY nice and upscale [IMHO] Holiday Inn across the street. It is much cheaper!! Or ya'll could stay at my place though it is very tiny- only 1 guest room- but hey we could all squeeze in- or better yet camp out in warm weather!

Believe me with the 'characters' we sometimes get around here, someone in a floppy hat and a big shopping bag wouldn't even be noticed. You know what they say about the very rich - the "old money" people, they do not look rich at all. It's the 'noveau riche' that put on airs and try so hard to look rich- ala Trump.

How nice to work at a place like that. My employment place is just alot of grass and some trees. In fact we have this embankment out back that the mowers don't touch. I'm gonna broadcast some of my hardy seeds out there and see if I can't get some color going at that place. I'll never tell them who did it, should be fun.

kathy,
It is nice but I guess after almost 8 yrs I kinda take it for granted seeing it every day ya know? But after last nights sleet, I did have a pretty WHITE view when I came into work earlier today. And I do notice when they change out the annual beds. The landscape folks are good but sometimes their ideas arent what I would do. Last fall, they finally decided to underplant an area of trees that needed some color. I was SOO hoping theyd put in hosta and azaleas but alas it looks like some kind of variegated shrub- maybe euonymous- and they look horrible- IMO!
That is a GREAT idea about sowing seeds- just hope if they do come up no one decides to then try mowing it!

8ftbed... share some of those Jerry Baker recipes? I'd like to be kind to the earth and am looking for natural feeding/weeding solutions.

berrygirl, you telling me they won't blink an eye if I sashay outta there with a basket of grapes? ;-)

you'll feel like a mad scientist kathy. There's some variations here and there but for starters, start stocking up on cheap whiskey, cheap beer, amonia, molasses, cola (NOT diet - need sugar), dish soap of some lemon variety and anti-septic mouthwash. Oh yeah get a pouch of chewing tobacco too. Raid someone's panty hose drawer, you'll need some feet to soak tobacco in to get the juice. Measuring cup and hose end sprayer and you'll be ready for some recipes. Just the basics - a clean up and green up routine. Oh and you may as well have some liquid fertilizer or fish emulsion.

still interested?