Ohio Valley Region Forum???

Welcome to DG, Quietvoice--- I am so happy that you joined DG and our discussion about the new forum. Please don't be so 'quiet' when we get it going! We will all want to hear about what you are trying to grow.

Henryr10, of course I knew you were teasing (at least I was hoping you were)! LOL

And Dispatcher and Katie, we want more (and more) Indiana-ites (?) (now that I think about it, I think the word I am looking for is 'hoosiers', isn't it? LOL ) on the forum. Do you have any thoughts on who else can weigh in on the idea?

What about north central Ohio and into western Pennsylvania? Any contacts there who will join in? We need to have those wonderful nurseries---Wade and Gatton and Bluestone, Bakers, the wonderful azalea grower (can't think of the name) and that blue daylily hybridizer in our forum, don't we?

Well, I'm just rambling on, but you get the idea--- I can see some wonderful RU's in our future....



So, how many interested posters do we need to get a new forum up and running? Does anybody know?

I like the idea of regional forums! I find it hard to relate to a TX garden and vise versa I am sure.
I am on the border of the ORV. Will you still include me?? This is the closest regional forum for my garden. If we had a Great Lakes or Snow Belt forum that would be where I belong, but until then....

Shady
(east of Cleveland)

Yes, we MUST have you in our forum! Of course, Shadyfolks. But we want a tour in return! LOL

Shadyfolks, glad to have you on any forum! I noticed you mentioned great lakes and wondered if you saw the Upper Midwest Gardening Discussion Forum. If you are on the edge, you might benefit from both. :)

Shadyfolks--

You are perfect for our forum.

t.

Not the thread I know but speaking of a RU?
How do we get one started?
tabasco and I have briefly discussed it.
BTW: The FlowerShow is two weekend this year.

Anyone contact Kim and Howie, Lou, Ester, etc about this thread?

Ric

Just had a long over due marathon chat with Melissa on the phone. LOL We were discussing the goofy weather. It was in the 50s yesterday and the same is expected for tomorrow. Today our expected high is 33, "feels like" 14 right now. Geesh! My kids had a two hour delay because of the slush on the road. We really do live in a wacky weather zone!

So Dave, have you given any consideration to a forum like this? Is it a possibility or even a back burner thought at the moment? I know you are extremely busy and we are a demanding bunch. :)

I just threw a link to this thread up on Parking Lot.
That should gather up a few more bodies.

Ric

Yes Dave... we don't want to be pushy.



Ric, as I said above in an earlier post in this thread, MY preference would be later in May, it was the same preference I had last year, though that was ignored. I would be MORE than happy to help organize something, and Chele and I have discussed it several times, however, the time it was last year in April was impossible for me. If you and Judy want to do something around the Flower show again, I'm sure that Chele, Peggy and I could organize something later on in the spring/summer.

Ric, where is the new Zone map located?

I am north central Ohio, a little town called Bucyrus, in Crawford County. The Scioto river starts a mile away from my home, so that's how I sneak in here. :)

I agree re: this forum, we aren't "upper midwest", we aren't "New England", we aren't "mid Atlantic", we're not "south", and we're not "central". We need a place of our own, where our own rather unique growing conditions (Artcic winters and tropical summers, with daily fluctuations between the two in those two killer seasons innocuously named "spring" and "fall".) can be discussed. :)

-Joe

Count another Kentuckian in--Jackie

Hi Tuddy!

Hi All,
Thanks for including me!

Badseed- I need to check out that other forum, I was not aware of it. I am short on time these days. Mother in law passed away, funeral was yesterday. We are the only immediate family living in same state. Lots of runing to Youngstown this past month......Will try to look around in the other forum in the next week or so. I have to say, DG has been nice to go to for a quick get away with reality when I have had the chance...
Later, Shady

I am very sorry for your loss Shady. The running can wear you out faster than the tasks at hand.

DG is a wonderful place to go lose yourself when you need to. Hey, you might even learn something. :) If you don't have the other forum bookmarked, you will have to click on the 'garden talk' forum to find it.

Hi, Tuddy-- good to get you in on the count! Thanks.

About an RU and/or plant swap--I think it would be fun to have one. I would love to attend and bring a dish/money/plants/beer. But I am ready to 'pass the organizing baton' on to others....

Melissa, maybe you or others interested would like to open up a thread in the RU forum because it seems like there is pretty good interest from the folks posting here.

And it doesn't necessarily have to be in Southwestern Ohio, I wouldn't think. Maybe folks would like to check out a nursery--I know there was talk of having it up at 'Wade and Gatton' at one time, for instance. That is an awesome place and there are other horticultural sites near there of great interest, too--- Kingswood Estate, Malabar Farm, all kinds of state parks, etc., etc... just an idea...

Of course, if all that is needed is a plant swap and supper, we are happy to open our home anytime for that (if others get it going)....

So, if you open up a new RU/Swap thread, I'll edit the above RU comments out and put it there! For better a organized discussion. :-)

I'll be gone for a few days. So, hope to see the new regional thread up and running by then. Maybe we have to D-mail Dave directly and 'ask nicely'?.

TTFN

t.

Better Late than never...
Count me in... I say Zone "5" cuz I understand the peculiarities of the weather all too well, tho Proctorville seem to be in a warm bubble these last two years.

Sorry about you MIL Shady... But so glad to see you & all the other DG neighbors... There are more than I realized.

Melissa_Ohio and tabasco:

Thank you both for the welcome!

Melissa, I currently live in the SE portion due to our first home purchase, which came with a beautiful 5-acre lot (part of the reason I joined DG) :-).

We'd spent the last five years house-hunting an eight-county area in southwestern Ohio, and hubby works in Clermont County, so we're *really, really* familiar with the entire southwestern portion of the state, including where we live now. :-)

Shady: I am deeply sorry about your loss. Our family has had its share in recent months, too. Many blessings to you and yours!

QV :-)

Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. She was sick and she knew and was very at peace with it. It was time. It will be most hard on my husband, he was the closest of the kids and his dad passed away 20+ years ago. Just trying to tie up loose ends now. Thanks.

Melissa_ohio, forgot to say it earlier, but thanks for starting this process.
Shady

Well - I don't think I'm geographically in the area but I'd join in! Makes me wish
PA were a much thinner state LOL
Tam

You're close enough and the same zone as many of us, no doubt very similar growing conditions. We don't want to exclude anyone who'd use the forum! So, even if PA isn't as thin as you'd like it, you're still very welcome. :0)

Sounds good!

Even many areas of TN have similar conditions.
Basically it's the soil.
If it's clay and it's gray..................lol

Anyone besides me ever make pots out of the soil?

Ric

How about clay and red? But I got more rocks than clay.

Well I thought the red stuff was further south.
Red clay, grey clay lovely rocks, ahhhhh don't ya just love gardening.........lol

Ric

I guess its kinda orange here. I had piles of it at previous homes but this one
is on a mountain ridge & has been farmed for 200yr. So here, its rocks with
some really nice soil in between 'em. Yep... love it!
Tam

My husband curses every time he digs a bed for me. If only rocks were money. :-) We have a dry well beside the house, we FILLED it completely when we did our sidewalk and deck. :-) We even still dig up coal occasionally, where the previous owners heated with coal at one time.

Ric, will you PLEASE tell me where to find the new zone map.

We have grey clay around the house and sand in the back and LOTS of rock. I recently learned that our area was involved in 3 glacier movements. I think most of Ohio was.A few years back we purchased a shovel that was great for diging and prying out rock. Here I found a link for it. The metal is very rigid & thick. We have yet to bend one of those teeth on it. http://gallery.bcentral.com/GID4789397P2831692-Landscape-Supplies/SMS710.aspx

Shady

Sorry Melissa I didn't forget.
I lost my map in a crash last May.
The link I have is inactive now as I haven't renewed my dues to the Favorites site.
I'll keep looking and have asked my group on Yahoo if anyone saved the File.
Basically in our area, if you can hear the River you are in the 6/7 microclimate.
We get an Urban affect too.

Ric

Add another central KY vote for an Ohio River valley forum. KY tilts north, lilts south, but still grows like mad.

Hard clay, fast horses, beautiful plants; we've got it all and we'd like to share it with like minds.

Hi Tuddy! We must be within shouting distance. I'm out here east of town, nestled among horse farms in the New Zion-Newtown-Loradale metroplex.

Welcome ViburnumValley,
Sounds like a really beautiful area, you must share some pictures sometime.

I vote for a forum all our own. I sort of like the name with "river or valley" in it. Dayton is in a valley of its own called Miami Valley. I believe I would feel more connected to Dave's Garden if the gardeners were of the same ilk.

Karin ~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks Ric... LOL I don't have the "urban" effect out here ---ask Chele, she thinks I live in the boonies. :-) Thank you for looking for the map though, I'd love to see it. You asked if anyone had ever made pots with the clay... I used to scoop it out of the creek and make permanent mud pies out of it. My mom used to get really mad if I stained my clothes with it.

ViburnumValley what a wonderful description ... I like it. :-) Your area of the state is so beautiful, I love driving down to Lexington.

Shady, please add my condolences. I lost my mom Jan. 5th, so I know how your hubby is feeling.

Hopefully Dave is checking periodically on this thread, and is noting how much interest there is. :-)

ViburnumValley, welcome. You do live in a very pretty area. Glad to have some local folk here with us. You have d-mail.
Jackie from KY

Geez, I just saw this thread. Living in Ohio Valley is like living in all the areas, we just never know on a given day what area we will be like. Yesterday snowing, ice, wind...today it is in the 60s here. All I can say is this is Kentucky!!! The weather in Ohio Valley is unique. I liken it to the stirring pot...all weather goes out from us as if we were distributing it to the rest of the nation.

It would be nice to be given our "piece of the rock" too. No other forum here really fits the bill for we "Ohio Valliens" (is that a word?) :) Kathy

:-) Hi Kathy. :-) welcome to our quest. :0) Boy, piece of the rock surely fits, doesn't it. LOL

The term around here for those living in the actual river valley is 'Ohio River Rats'.
The term for those living above w/ a view is Professional Sports player.
Ric

Hi Melissa, Yes, depending of what part of the Valley you live in, you could literally be on a rock! But oh what a beautiful place to live :)

We have everything here (except the ocean). Why would anyone want to live anywhere else? :)

We have people selling "Kentucky grown oranges and bananas" at one of the farmers' markets in Louisville. Now, I say 'people, educate yourselves'...some things are just not possible, no matter how hard you try. (some of the consumers in L'ville really believe it too. just goes to show people will believe anything).

Anyhow, Dave has not responded here in all this time. Wonder if he's read this. Maybe Dave's next move will be to the Ohio Valley :)

Kathy

LOL Ric.... when I was in school, we played Ripley and Manchester... and yep, we called them river rats... we have a view of the river from parts of the property, but, not from the house. I do have a view of Kentucky though. :-) We sit on top of a hill over the river... so from this vantage I have a view of Kentucky hills... it always amazes my kid's friends when they're outside at night and the kids tell them "that's Kentudky" But, unfortunately for us, unless the fairy is running, we have to drive 30 miles either way to actually get to Kentucky. LOL

Kathy, I'd like to try a Ky Grown orange! LOL Louisville is a neat neat town, I have a dear friend who lives there, so I visit every once in a while, not nearly enough though. :-)

Maybe if Dave grants our forum, he'll see what we do, fall in love with the area and make that move to the Ohio Valley. I bet that would tickle Granny Lois! :-)

He hasn't popped in and said "no" yet, so that has to be a good sign!! :-)

I haven't talked to Dave specifically about this thread, but my guess is he's got an eye on it. With the site problems earlier this week, and the flurry of activity that's accompanied the introduction of "Home Talk" I suspect he's up to his eyeballs in work.

Plus, we tend to give forum suggestions some time to let the dust settle after the initial flurry of activity - to see if the interest level is long-term or if it was a flash-in-the-pan idea ;o)

I think if would be a good forum. We have very similar growing conditions.

Melissa, I grew up on Green River, my Dad owns a farm with river bottoms and they still have a tiny ferry that crosses there.