Thank you but I did come from Evart. You had to get out of town to see the world. And I am blessed to have the opportunities I have.
So what neck of the woods are you from? (introduce yourself)
Hi Soferdig, I have lived in Michigan for 20 years, but I am a Montanan in my heart. I spent my young years south of Laurel Montana. Then we moved to Missoula, where I graduated from high school. I absolutely miss my mountains. But I also love Michigan. We live about a mile from Lake Huron, just north of Rogers City, in northern lower peninsula. Just wanted to say "HI" to you in "Gods Country".
I was just in Evart memorial day weekend..It's really nice there and laid back..It's Amish Country is that the same Town your talking about??
If you want to see some major Amish country you need to go to one of my favorite places to visit...Shipshewana, Indiana. Just 2 hours south of GR. The Amish settlements in Michigan just can't compare.
http://www.shipshewana.com/
This message was edited Jun 9, 2006 11:32 PM
I used to do their fleamarket there...Now it's all new stuff..no Amish set up there anymore..I've bought lots of their quilts all hand done...
Alot of the Amish down there have home based businesses.
We have visited many.
We go to one farm for the applebutter,breads and pies...Their homes are immaculate...I love the family that makes the swings..I think the towns name is Middlesbury about 5 miles from the fleamarket...They do have good auctions but some stuff you can get cheaper just by buying outright from them...
Yes we have traveled around that general area quite a bit and have enjoyed all the sights and goodies to buy. We go down there every May to buy heirloom tomatoes and herbs from Renee (not Amish) at Prairie Trial Farm. She has the biggest selection of heirloom tomatoes I have ever come across plus ~alot~ of basil and other herbs and perennials as well. www.prairietrailfarm.com
I use to love going to Greenfield Herbs in downtown Shipshewana until it changed hands and now has very over priced ordinary plants that you can get much elsewhere much cheaper.
I bought an Amish bent wood rocker for about $100. cheaper than you can buy up here.
That rocker sounds nice and the price is great...There's a place that sells all kinds of Amish furniture not far from me but his prices are way to high...We try to go there at least 3 times a summer just for a overnighter and roam the off beaten path places...I bookmarked that site as I need more herbs...Do you know where I might can buy some Sweet Annie??I love the stuff and the aroma is awesome..
Renee has Sweet Annie if you get down these soon.
I would email her first though to see if she has any left.
Hi, I'm in Clarkston, MI and live in an area where everyone gardens and the yards are beautiful.
We've been here 8 yrs. now and this area is rapidly growing.
So are our gardens, front and back.
Next year we'd like to put perennials on our north hill at the side of our house.
It gets late afternoon sun and has good drainage.
It's too difficult to mow, so my solution is to plant it.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to include and what to avoid?
Thanks, this is a very good site.
Welcome to the board nana...I like Clarkston very nice town...My neighbor across the street from me was raised there...Good luck with your gardening and remember always to have fun digging in the dirt.. :o)))
hello nanabest1
Glad to have you here with us.
There is a great group of michigan gardeners and a whole bunch of great davesgardeners from everywhere here on the site! If you need anything just ask
we do have some threads started on invasive plants
How big or area are you planting there?
I have all kinds of things growing here-many addictions!
here I live on flat open farm land-this was a crop field once on the north side of my house
welcome to the site!
dori
Hi Everyony,
My name is Sue and I'm a yooper. I'm from Escanaba in the upper peninsula. I'm pretty new at gardening, I just started last year. For being new though I've made lots of progress. I ripped up and pretty much my whole yard and planted flower beds. I live on a corner city lot and really could use more room. I have a lot of ideas in my head but no where to plant it all :)
I am also working on my master gardener certificate. I took the class last fall and now I'm working on putting in my 4o hours of volunteer time. I have 10 so far.
I look forward to participating a lot here, nice meeting you all.
Sue
Hi Sue and welcome to the fold..........I too am a MG and I know the feeling on trying to generate the volunteer hours....I am a Troll.....live in the Tawas/AuGres area....we have a very diverse group of gardeners here who will be more then happy to help you with suggestions. Most of the time when you ask a question someone out there in this Michigan group usually has a answer.
If your looking for seeds, I am a big time seed saver, so just ask away. I myself have a Cottage Garden, and Roses....Love Roses. Contrary to belief you can grow Roses in Northern Michigan.
Again......welcome!
Deann
Welcome Sue, you will enjoy it here!!!!
Cindy
Welcome to DG....glad to see you here...I am sure..you will enjoy yourself...just settle in and have the tour. Many thing...in here can help...and Post...we are a friendly bunch...
Smiles... Diana
Wanted to jump in and say Hi! Although a Maine native, moved to Virginia in '99, we spend at least 2-3 weeks in Michigan every summer and I love it! My husband's family has property on Lake Charlevoix and that is where we stay while exploring the woods and waters of MI. Finally made to the UP this summer but were only able to stay for a couple of days. There's just too much to see "up" there! Have to admit to being somewhat of a 'rockaholic' and the beaches of the Great Lakes are a paradise for rockhounds - pic of the gorgeous rocks in the water of Lake Superior at Grand Marais.
Debbie
Hi All, I am in LaSalle, Mi. just south of Monroe. I was born and raised in Monroe all my life, hubby is from Middlesboro, Ky, moved to Monroe when he was 7. DH and I bought our home here in LaSalle in 1973, We have 1 dd who has 3 kids, 1 girl and 2 boys they live in Monroe, and my ds has 1 son. and lives in Oak Harbor, Wa. He is in the Navy.
We have 1 an a half acres. DH has dabbled with planting flowers since we moved here. I just got into gardening this past May. I love it. Wish I would have taken a bigger interest in it years ago, but never to late to getting started :o) I am trying to talk him into selling and buying a place with at least 10 acres, but he's not budging :(
I have always wanted to buy an old farm house and fix it up. They don't make houses the way they use to. But oh well... Someday maybe.
We have friends that live in Tawas. We use to go Canoing in Gaulord, haven't done that since the kids have grown up and left the nest. We use to take the grandkids to Calders Farm when they were young, love that place. Have alot of good memories of Bambi lake, When I was a teen went there with the church group. Then when I was in my 20's went back there as a chaperone for the youth group. It is a beautiful fun place.
Well I have lots of work to do, getting ready to go to Oak Harbor, Wa to visit my son and grs. We are planning on leaving Monday, we may have to postpone the trip til Sept, Son took a test and is a waiting to see if he get promoted, If he does, trip will be in Sept, If we have to postpone til Sept, we will be heading north for the UP either on Monday or the following week. It has been a while since we have been north. I think it is beautiful country.
I have an Uncle that owns Killian's Landing (use to be called Fletchers Pond) in Hillman. May even stop by and say hello to him.
Well all, it is nice getting to know all of you. Maybe some day I may get to make it to one of the RU's.
Connie
Welcome aboard Connie & Debbie! :)
Debbie I like to collect rocks too and have been rock hunting in the UP at Whitefish Point on the shores of beautiful Lake Superior.
You are right...Michigan is a beautiful state.
Our white sand beaches on the west side of the state are world class.
We are blessed!
P.S.
We were in Mackinaw City last weekend.
Heres a pic I took of the Mackinaw bridge.
Welcome Connie and Debbie. I love rock hunting as well Debbie. I would like to find some nice boulders to line a flower bed. Connie, I have been to Bambi Lake many times and I have fond memories of it.
Cindy
Thanks Cindy and CR, I am planning a rock garden for next year, if we make it to UP maybe I will find some to go in it :), Been along time since we crossed that bridge :) But I remember it well, I am terrified of water, and bridges like that do a number on the old stomach rofl...
But I do love to watch a storm by the water, just blows my breath away to watch the waves and all of it, It reminds me of Christ when he walked on the water and said peace be still and the winds and waves obeyed him. Mind boggling.
Connie
Hello Connie and Debbie
Welcome to the MIchigan Forum.......Yes indeed we do live in a beautiful state. So many type of trees growing here and all the wonderful lakes and beaches that surround out.
I live in the Tawas/AuGres area and I invite you to stop by and view my gardens the next time you are traveling up US 23. You must know the Singing Bridge if you stayed in the Tawas's. I live down that road only 3 1/2 miles.
Again, Welcome.....
Deann
Hi deann,
This may sound like a dumb question, but gonna ask anyway :)
How come in the exchange, it has you living in Turner Mi?
Connie
Connie..........you are correct....but no one knows where Turner is...its not even a dot on the map. Actually I live in AuGres, but I have a Turner mailing address. I live in Whitney Township which is part of AuGres...........hope that clears that up for you.
Deann
Thanks Deann, it did clear things up, won't be going up north, son won't find out til the middle of August weather he made cheif or not, so bright and early Monday morning we will be heading out to Washington, I told Ken (dh) that I wanted to go one way going and a different way coming back, who knows where will end up at rofl.
Should be back home tward the end of August. Everyone take care ttyl when I get back.
Connie
Hi everyone, Im Theresa from Marine City. We just moved back here nearly two years ago after living in Macomb for 6 years. Both places were nearly bare palettes for my hubby Allen and I to work with. Our little cottage by the Belle River is just too cute. A nice small house for the two of us and a huge city lot. yippee.....we have been working hard and am almost done, well, as done as a gardener gets. Im hosting a plant swap on Sept. 9th. Would love for you to join us and meet you.
I have already invited some of you personally, but didnt want to miss anyone so I decided to invite all of you! Its always nice to meet new garden friends.
Here are the details:
Swapping starts sharply at 1pm on Saturday September 9th.
Come at noon and bring your plants. You can bring bulbs, perennials, pond plants, houseplants, just about anything garden related including tools, books, garden gloves, garden and yard art, etc. You can also preview plants you would like to have at this time :) Bring a chair to sit on.
As many items that you bring, thats how many you go home with!
There will be door prizes too!
Located in Washington Twp, on the SW corner of Dequindre and Inwood (29 1/2 mile rd) 63975 Dequindre.
Well behaved children welcome.
I am bringing over 100 plants to swap and share. Bring your seeds too to exchange after the swap.
Call Theresa with any questions @ 586 337 7498
Hi Theresa
Welcome to Dave's. Are you the founder of the garden group from Yahoo??
Deann
Hi Theresa,
Love the photo, You wouldn't by any chance have seed for the purple grass in the picture for a sasbe, Going out west, I saw many different grasses and fell in love with them. Don't know the names of them but there are some that are just plain down beautiful :o)
I won't be able to come to your gathering, just a little to far for me to travel up that way right now. We just got back a week ago from a 3 week trip to Washington State. And it really did a number on me. I thought the nightmares were over but after showing a few videos to a friend of mine, they came back. In all the years we have traveled to Tenn, Ky NC Va, Mountains never bothered me, But these oh man, I don't want to ever drive out west again, But the states we traveled thru like Montana, beautiful. Beautiful places, wouldn't even mind living out that way, but those mountains we were in, have the southern states beat. Can't handle them at all. lol
Just let me know about the grass seed, you can dmail me.
Connie
Is there a lazy gardener forum? I enjoy my garden so much, but not the work of weeding. I've kept for years the idea that if I plant enough somewhat invasive species I won't have to weed, looking for that cottage garden appeal. It hasn't worked thus far. My backyard is small and recieves full sun in half of it and mostly shade in the other half. Any ideas? I'm very impressed by the photos you've submitted but I know your gardens must take a great deal of upkeep. I'm a single mom working 50 hours a week trying to make my deceased grandma proud of me. She was a gardener extraordinaire. Thanks for any help you can provide! It's never too early to plan next years garden!
Hello Ifhandran,
Welcome to the Michigan Garden forum and DG (Doug's Garden). Love the Picture, is that a clematis??? Beautiful!!! I just started gardening this past spring. So I can't help alot... But you can go to the Garden Talk http://davesgarden.com/forums/ and there is a list of forums you can click on, lots of info to read.
There are alot of people on DG that know what there talking about :o) and are very helpful...
This winter I am going to try my hand at winter sowing,
http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/coldsow/all/
http://www.wintersown.org/
Enjoy & Happy Gardening :o)
Connie
Ifhandran Hello there......and Welcome to Dave's and to the Michigan Forum. Your Clematis Henrii is beautiful.....funny thing happened to mien, It bloomed again about 3 weeks ago....Surprise surprise.......
I have a Cottage type garden, and I invite you to look at my pictures when you get the chance....The neat thing about Cottage garden is there is no rhyme or reason to what you plant or how you plant it. I have most of the typical old type perennials in mine along with some new ones. We do have some perennial exchanges here as well as seed exchanges. As for me, I am happy to give you seed for just postage. There are so many people just here in the Michigan forum who are so knowledgeable and are willing to share their expertise with you. You only need to ask.....
Again, Welcome to Dave's and check out my Webshot pictures...
Deann
http://community.webshots.com/user/deannmi
Hellooooooo lefhandren
I love my Michigan group!
I HATE weeding. One, "I've fallen and I can't get up",
Two, When did the gound get so far away?
Three, I hardly have time left in my life to do all
the gardening I want, and still have to do upkeep.
Therefore: I try lots of different recipes for work-less
gardening. : ) Really!
We are installing 2foot high vegie beds with tops of
seats so I can sit and putz on them.
I have bought 1000 yards of plastic (not the fabric icky
kind that shreds the minute you put it down) weedcloth.
I put that under all my new plants to keep weeds to
minimum. I can cheerfully say that was a waste. time,
money and efficiency.
I am spraying for weeds now, and that works pretty good.
i go around with a sprayer and zap the weeds I don't want
in the area I am cleaning up. I would recommend a organic
style of weed spray. Some folks use vinegar, others,
some clorox. check out others.
I grow grass paths that are the width of the riding mower.
: ))))
Groundcovers are amazing if you give me a chance.
Semi shady is calling for Hosta, and Abutilons. Big and
tall are Rhododendrons and Azaleas and some Hollies.
Note: if your property is too shady and overgrown, you
might want to invest in a tree pruner person. I had
150 foot tall Oaks that I had thinned and pruned and it
became almost a cathedral effect. Stunning. That was
in my prior life. Now, the tallest thing I have is a
semi comatose Valley Forge Elm at 6 feet and flopping
over. Ack.
I love to answer questions, please feel free to dmail me
any time.
Regards, and good luck
sheri
Okay, I found this thread *after* I did a lil intro in a different one. Duh. So anyway...
My name is Michelle and I live on just under an acre. I live outside the Bay City city limits and I certainly seem to have several little microclimates to contend with. My backyard is very shady and cool, while my sideyard is like a blast furnace all summer.
We just moved here last October and this past summer was my first trying to get a garden going, some landscaping and just getting the yard presentable. The house was vacant for seven years so you can imagine what the yard looked like.
I'm zone 6a, sometimes feels like 4a! Like this morning, lol.
I like organic vegetable growing (did the square foot method this past summer) and I'm going to try to incorporate the Mittleider Method this coming spring and summer (www.foodforeveryone.org). Eventually, I would like a small greenhouse (I saw in another thread someone made one out of old windows...would LOVE a pic).
DH and DB are going to the U of M game today, so I have 3 extra kids...little do they know they are going to be planting bulbs and tossing compost, lol. They just *love* their Aunty! Actually, they do. I had a small garden for the kids where we grew sugarbaby watermelons, cukes and pumpkins. They loved watching the progress.
Did I mention that I LOVE perennials? I love irises and I've come to *like* hostas. I was never a big fan, but I love how they look next to my house. I have big plans for my yard, but I know it's going to take YEARS to get it the way I have it pictured in my mind.
Here are some pics of my yard and garden. They are NOT spectacular, that's for sure!
http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.katt/MichelleSGardenProblems
http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.katt/SquarefootGarden
Welcome to Daves Garden MsKatt........I know you will enjoy it here.......... have fun..!!:o)))
Tell us about your name.....do you have lots of cats????
Hi Michelle, and everyone! I only recently joined the forums . This summer we moved from Troy to Lexington. Had 2/3 acre in Troy with gardens we'd developed over the 12 years we lived there. Now we have 2.5 acres with a small house right in the middle that came with no gardens.! When we first moved to Troy from the farm we'd had in St. Johns, MI, where we raised our family, I moved at least 3 van loads of plants! This time I was a little more practicle, but still moved 2! And wish I could have moved more. LOL. I think I saw a thread somewhere about seriously addicted gardeners...
We love living in the country again. Especially only a mile off of Lake Huron. My DH is trying to get at least a temporary greenhouse up on our back deck. I'd had a nice one in Troy that he built for me behind the garage. Right now every window in my house facing south is filled with plants I don't want to loose. I have a serious collection of scented geraniums, a lemon verbena tree that's 4 years old, a 5 year old variegated lemon, along with a lot of other harder to find plants to take cuttings from in the spring.
If you can't tell, I'm into herbs and perennials mostly with some tropicals and annuals thrown in. As well as organic vegetable gardening. This is the first summer in 30+ years that I haven't had a vegetable garden! Really missed it. But have found all the local farmers markets.
I've spent the last 11 years working on and off for a GH in Troy and am still making the drive occassionally because I'm not ready to give up control of the herb department, or their website. I want to keep doing the website, but really should find someone to teach about the herbs. I guess I need to deal with my control issues! We plan on eventually putting up a permanent GH here along with cold frame hoop houses. DH bought a pipe bender online. I managed to get three gardens started so I'd have a place to put the perennials I moved for the winter. But still have quite a few that need to go into a cold frame NOW. I know, it's cold out there and I'm running behind. I'm already looking forward to spring so I can get serious about our new place. Will spend lots of time planning this winter. Have to start all my new gardens from scratch (or sandy dirt actually). DH immediately started composting when we moved. Should have some nice organic material to work with next spring. He's also rebuilding the old barn from the inside out that came with the place. Have projects to keep us going for years to come! Besides the gardening I enjoy making garden art and windchimes from natural and found materials.
Boy, do I sound busy! Actually I'm enjoying the slower paced country life. Doesn't feel as rushed here as living on a busy city street with all the traffic rushing by. The last few years I've felt I was loosing touch with the rhythum of the seasons. Even with the seasonal changes in the GH. Felt like I was getting lost in the rush. I'm looking forward to getting back in-touch, playing with my grandchildren and slowing things down and simplifying a bit more. I've been having fun getting to know the garden groups in our new area in the last couple of months. Have met some very nice people here, but gardeners always seem to be a friendly lot.
Look forward to getting to know some of you on the forum. By the way I have a son & DIL living in Bay City. They're rebuilding a house built in 1880, from the inside out! We know it's that old from the newspapers found in the walls! Next Tuesday & Wednesday I'm going to Lansing for the MI Greenhouse Growers Expo, anyone else from here going?
Jeane
Welcome Jeanne and MsKatt!!!! You will enjoy all the wonderful info you get on these forums.
Cindy
Hi Cindy,
Where have you been hiding??? lol Haven't seen much of you around here...
Connie
Welcome Jeane and MsKatt. I am an old Michigander and watch to see what is happing in my childhood state. Unfortunatly I go to MSU games, your DH is more fortunate to go to Uof M MsKatt. Glad to have you aboard.