Hello fellow Californians....let's introduce ourselves!

Are any of you from the San Francisco Bay Area going to attend the Roundup in Moraga on Saturday, Oct. 7? I'd love to meet any one of you I haven't met yet, and to once again see those of you I met last year at our Roundups in Stockton and Castro Valley. If you can make it, please Dmail Huckuntod and let them know you're coming. Details re address, etc. are here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/592965/

Hope to see you there!

Marilyn

Hi. I'm Linda and have been a member for a year, but still have trouble navigating everything. I'm not of the computer age! I've lived in this Berkeley house for 31 years and within the next few weeks I'll learn how to post pictures. I have a large garden and am constantly re-doing it. 1/3 of it is veggie gardening. My neighbors are sick of zucchini. I have some great successes and great failures. Anyone know where to get free compost in this area?
I also have trouble getting off this site to get to my gardening!

Welcome, Linda! Wish I knew about the compost too. I have hardpan clay on my property, and everything needs to be grown in pots or in raised beds.

Alameda County residents can get free information on composting and discount priced bins at https://www.stopwaste.org/AlamedaCommerce/ProductList.aspx
Back in the olden days, I was known to go to the sewage treatment plant and get free end product compost. I am not sure if they still allow such adventuresome collecting.

Hi - I'm Bonnie from Costa Mesa, Zone 10 and relatively new to DG. I finished building a small deck and arbor this summer, with only enough space for maybe two or three large pots, a few hanging baskets, a bistro table and two chairs – and with that it will be crowded. Three steps forward from the living room slider and three steps side to side about covers the amount of space I have for gardening. Condo living has its advantages, but space isn't one of them. Nevertheless, I've been determined to have something alive growing out my window and pretty to look at. Turns out, with the addition of the arbor, I have more shady area than full sun, but thought I’d attempt a couple of vines in pots. Any ideas? In this zone, plants chosen for the sunny spaces on my deck are unlimited. It’s the shade issue I would like advise on.

Thanks a lot and welcome to all newcomers and beginner gardeners.

Bonnie

p.s. To cover my basis, I'll probably post this message on the container garden site.

Bonnie, welcome to DG. Sorry I can't help you on this I'm pretty new at gardening also and live in climate where it gets to be 125 in the summer. Even in our shade it's 110. I love your arbor, the color is nice also.

Welcome Bonnie! You'll love it here. How shady is your arbor? Is it bright shade? In what direction does your deck and arbor face? How hot does it get on your deck? Answers to these questions will help determine what will grow there.

Marilyn

Thank you betterbloom and thank you Marilyn,

My deck and arbor face south with a bit of westerly light shining through (onto the deck - not the arbor). I'd say my shade area is pretty bright. Meaning there is a lot of light hitting the arbor but not necessarily direct sun. It may be a few degrees warmer on my deck than out on the street because, as you can see from the photo, the apartment building next door is only a few feet from my space. I'm not boxed in on all sides so there is some passing breeze - not much but some.

Sorry it took me so long to respond. I know I've been busy doing something around here – just got waylaid.

I appreciate your replies.

Bonnie

I do mostly cacti and succulents, which would grow well on your deck. However, I think some tropicals might do very well there too since you seem to have created a great microclimate for them and bright shade is good for many different plants.

I think you'll get many more responses re what to grow in your area by creating a separate post in this forum or, perhaps, in the Container Gardening or Shady Gardens forums. I'd try this forum first. It doesn't look like too many people are watching this thread.

Marilyn

I agree post in another forum.

Hi Folks! Rookie gardener here in Stockton/San Joaquin Co. and a DG friend of Donna (Pudgymudpies). Love Plumies and my newborn Brug (a gift from Donna). Starting some Cork Screw vines and Mexican Sage inside. Can't wait for Spring!!
Brian

Hi everyone!
I've been on DG for a few months now, but just found my way to this forum. Usually I'm over on the Cactus & Succulents board, as well as Plumerias and Tropicals. I was very happy to find this forum for those of us in CA.

I'm in San Diego, CA where I've lived all my life. I've loved flowers and gardening forever I think, but just really gotten serious about learning how to do it right this year. A friend of mine from work got me started on succulents by bringing me cuttings from his garden. I was hooked!!

I also love the beach and anything tropical...so...palms and plumerias are also favorites.

Looking forward to getting to know everyone here...and learning lots too! Anyone else in the San Diego area???

kim

Hi, Brian. Didn't I just read someplace else that you're moving to Maine? So, welcome to the forum and goodbye.

Hi, Kim. steph_gem lives in San Diego. She usually hangs out in the rose forum. She's a sweet girl and would be lots of fun to meet.

Thanks Zuzu! I'm a rose grower also...so I'm headed over to post in that board also!

Nice to meet everyone!

kim

I am in the North Bay, San Anselmo.
It's the garden with the 10 Brugmansias (visible in summer, they are taking a nappie right now), and 31 citrus and orchard trees. Small but mighty!

http://mrschristiecolla.spaces.live.com

Welcome to DG. You look like you will fit in just fine with all these other plantaholics. Keep an eye out for our next roundup/plant swap so you can add a few more pots to that yard. I can see a couple of bare spots in need of some new species.

That's right PotEmUP! But how will you convince my husband it looks a bit bare!!!! LOL

PotEmUp, I took your advice, and ordered some Iochromas. They'll look like baby brothers under my Brugmansias, and when my husband asks "WHY" with his hands in the air, I'll tell him you said so. Allrighty? :-)

Empty spots? Consider 'em gone!!!

Christie

Christie,

I hope you know that the Iochromas do get very large also. I have one and it's as large as my brugs.

BTW, welcome to DG. Although I live in So Cal., we can still plant and grow the same type of plants. I'd advise you to attend the next garden get together they have up there. You will have a great time and meet some wonderful gardeners and also trade some plants and seeds.

Donna

Thank you SoCal, for your advice! Can I keep the plant trimmed to about 2 feet you think? If not, I should look for another location, or maybe a pot?
Christie

Christie, I don't think you can keep it that short without sacrificing the blooms. I've only had mine for 1 yr. and it is already 6 ft. tall. I was told by a friend to cut it back this winter to make it fuller.

You might ask this question on the Brug forum since many of them grow them too.

Donna

Thank you SoCal; I already figured out another spot for them.
Get ready for cuttings if it grows as fast as you say it does!!! :-)

Christie

Hello to all! I have been away from this site for awhile and was just getting caught up. I have enjoyed reading all your comments and seeing the photos!!! My goodness they are beautiful. Let me introduce myself. I live in Encinitas which is in N. San Diego County along the coast. We grow an eccletic garden: citrus, apples, cherimoya, macadamias, passionfruit, apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, figs, avocados, blueberries, guavas, fejoda, veggies, herbs, roses, orchids and are just attempting raspberries, goji berry and pomegrante. My most unusual vine is the aristolochia brasiliensis or Dutchmans Pipe. People who see it are amazed! I look forward to learning from this vast audience!

Hi JoyfulKate - great name! Like yourself, I've been away for a time. We adopted a macaw last spring and she's kept us pretty busy! Plus my DH has been creating a pond - he's finally out in the garden!

We're neighbors - I'm in Bonsall, between Oceanside and Fallbrook. Your garden sounds great. We're planting natives on a previously empty acre with a southern exposure and it's touch and go. We love salvias, manzanitas, and ceanothus, though, so we chose the right way to go. Eventually I would like to have some fruit trees and your collection sounds wonderful.

Kathleen

Hi! We moved last year from the Bay Area to Davis, Ca. I tried to grow tomatoes here last summer, but they fried in the summer heat and sun. I have them against a west facing wall. Has anyone had luck growing tomatoes at home in this heat? I was using the topsy-turvy planters. Perhaps that was my problem. Does anyone have any experience using these planters? Thanks for any help you can offer. Judith

I don't grow tomatoes, but some people I know who live here in the Bay Area complain about how they can't grow decent tomatoes because it doesn't get hot enough, so in general I think heat is good for them. My guess is that the roots got baked--roots of any plant don't like to get too hot, and since you had them in a west facing location where they get the brutal afternoon sun, plus reflected heat off the wall, the roots probably got way too hot. So I would either put them in the ground next year instead of having them in the planter, or put the planter somewhere that it won't get sun during the hottest part of the afternoon. When we had that big heat wave last summer, I made sure to put all my containers somewhere that they didn't get afternoon sun so that this didn't happen, and you probably get temps like we had in the heat wave on a regular basis in the summer, so having containers of anything in full afternoon sun is probably not going to be a good idea for you.

Hi Y'all, I've been on DG a few months now and just wandered over here. Sometime in late 2005, I finally decided to quit being a major workaholic and somehow found myself gardening. I'm doing veggies and ornamentals and I recently put in (what I call) a small orchid this year.

I'm in scripps -- probably somewhere in the crevice between cnswift and mpabbott1. (Hi Neighbors!) I absolutely love Bonsal, Kaperc (if you're still watching). I tried to get DH to move there last year, but no luck. I'd love to have a bigger place to put more plants. I haven't given up on that. *smile*

In the mean time, I'm learning all I can - with the help of all you wonderful DG folks. This forum is a such great place to learn about local stuff. How lucky we are to have it!

Happy gardening to you all,
Tea-



This message was edited Mar 16, 2007 8:37 AM

Hi TLeaves,
Good time to join as we have a Roundup coming up in May. Drdon and Pamtannia will be hosting for the 3rd year and you really shouldn't miss it. It's the chance to get to know all of the local DG people that you will be conversing with online. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people, good food, plant exchanging, good food, horses, lovely gardens, good food. There's a thread going for RU info, and one for food and one for plant trades...check it out!
Sherry

Sounds interesting. Thanks Sherry!

Yes, please try to make it to the roundup, Tea.
We love Bonsall, too!

Kathleen

Hi All,
I'm in Lakewood, CA

Hi Moonlight. I'm in Bonsall, which is between Oceanside and Fallbrook. Are you new to Dave's? We have a Roundup coming up in May - you should join us. Lots of garden talk, good food, nice people...

Kathleen

Hello TLeaves and Moonlight,

A hearty welcome to the CA forum and to DG too.

TLeaves, I've seen you posting to other threads and that you are from Louisana, right?

Moonlight, hello neighbor!! I was just in your town last week shopping at H&H nursery...love it there.

I will be sending you both an email soon telling of the DG gathering we are having in Temecual in May.

Donna

Yes Donna, I am from Louisiana. Cajun at heart. Are you from there too?

No TL, I am not from Louisiana...lol I was born in NY and moved to Calif. when I was 5 yrs. old. I just knew you were from your posts to Lisa's thread.

Ah, yes. Lisa has had quite an adventure.

Guess I should introduce myself.
Been gardening all my life. Was taught by my Mom and Grandma. Currently working a Rising Sun Nursery in Burson Ca. Love it most of the time...when the temp is 90 or lower...LOL
Last year decided to become a Master Gardener, so now I'm all official and all that...giggle.
I like to do consulting on the side, and have planned a few landscapes. Trying to figure out if I want to do more of that or not.
At the "tendar" age of 37, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
I'm married, and have 2 boys, 8 & 10.
Live on 5 acres, well, the house is on 1 acre, and the 2 horses have 4. How they got more land than we did I'm not sure...lol

Hello everyone!

I live in Napa, about an hour north of SF. I work at a local nursery just a few miles south. LOVE IT. I just came back, worked there from 89 to 98 then went home to have a family, and came back to work in April. Im 36 years old, and have 6 kids. I enjoy any and all types of gardening, and am working on getting our garden like I want. We live on 1/3 acre and a lot of it is pretty wild!
Looking forward to meeting you all.

Welcome Plantmum and Teresal,
I live in Concord and drive through Napa often on our way to Clearlake. Its a great place to garden. Looking forward to pictures of you gardens. Not sure where Valley Springs is.
You 2 sound like you must have alot of energy lol
Linda

Yes, sounds like Plantmum and I have a lot in common!

Linda, Valley Springs is about 15 minutes west of San Andreas. Or 30 minutes east of Lodi (hiway 12).