Waving "hi" to all the new gardeners in the Mid-Atlantic! It great to see you here!
ldy_gardenermd: I live approximately 1/2 hr from you & your Mom! I'm on the outskirts of Ellicott City in Howard Cty! I've e-mailed your Mom, the "other" Shirley in MD, several times. I so glad that you mentioned who your Mom was because otherwise I wouldn't have made the connection! We have several Mother & Daughters gardening together at DG! It's great to see you here and hopefully on lots of the other forums at DG too.
Shall We Introduce Ourselves?
Annie and All,
Thought ya'll would enjoy this photo of a young squirrel w/pups all around him. If anyone wants me to forward the series of pics and story...provide your email please. So cute!!
Chantell
Cool beans someone else knows my mom too! She is spending all of the daylight hours or as close as she can get, outside in her yard. I must admit to being glad I don't live at home lol, she would have worked me into a stuper by now :) Which side of Ellicott City are you in Shriley? I love Maryland, there are so many neat places in such a small area! Plus we get all the seasons weather wise, even if it means crazy weather sometimes!!!
Angie
Angie: I'm on the Western side.
Hi everyone! Been helping my middle daughter finish her assignments for school. She's working on an accelerated Master's program in early childhood education with a concurrent Montessori teaching certificate. This has been a real challenge because she's the widowed mom of a 4-year-old and she lives 45 miles away from us. Montessori training involves a lot of what I consider busywork. She has to hand color over 100 large charts to use in her classes. They have to be done just so and are due next week. Guess who has been painting charts all day instead of finishing the planting? One of them is very creative. It has a delicate squirrel print motif running across the top, courtesy of one of the current residents.
Loved the photo of the rat with the popsicle. Is that your pet? My kids had rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, and every other type of furry when they were young. They kids grew up and moved away. The rats stayed with Mom. Once you get used to the tail, they are actually great pets, much nicer than hamsters or mice. Very clean too.
The squirrel with the puppy looks cute but is actually not such a good thing. These stories turn up in the news and my heart goes out to the well-meaning folks who are raising the squrrel. They want to help but they are most likely sentencing the little guy to an ugly death once he is released. Squirrels raised with cats or dogs lose their native fear of these traditional predators. The squirrel is released outside and promptly falls prey to the first cat or dog it encounters. I know I sound like a fanatic but you would not believe some of the horrible things I've seen over the years. The cruelty of some people is beyond imagining.
As much as I dislike encountering snakes, especially big blacksnakes, there is nothing better for keeping down the mice. When our previous cat killed the barn snake, the mouse problem became acute. They even ate a plastic wading pool and my sheepskin steering wheel cover. The current cat keeps them out of the house but anything stored in an outbuilding is doomed unless it's inside a metal container. I lost at least four pairs of gardening gloves before I realized I had to store them in a cookie tin over the winter. Now if the cat would just eliminate the moles, I'd be happy. They are rampant right now and nothing seems to get rid of them. Maybe we need more cats. What we don't need are the copperheads they attract.
Annie
Annie,
Yikes...didn't even think about that natural fear thing when I viewed that email...you are completely right!!
As for the rattie - Rebel was my guy - can't even say he was the kid's. We've had various rats through the years...and he was my all time favorite. Wish their life span was longer...the only down side to owning them. They are truly the best small pet someone can get - other then the short life.
Goodness sounds like you've got your hand full w/rodents - and not pets...sorry to hear that!!!
Chantell
Annie,
Sounds like you live on a farm! In that case, my suggestion could be futile.
Where there are Moles, there is a heavy population of Grubs under the sod. Japanese Beatle grubs and others. That is their favorite food, If it is possible, you could spread a product such as "Grub-X" over everything. This is supposed to control emerging grubs, as well as the Fall crop for a whole season.
Just my 2 cents worth. Gita
Thanks for the suggestion. Not a farm but a one-acre field where the garden is. The rest of the field is grassed, or what passes for grass around here. There are definitely grubs. I turn them up all the time and the japanese beetles are fierce.
Is Grub-X the same as milky spore powder or is it a poison? We used Doom when I lived in Largo and it really cut down the jap beetle population. We'd need an awful lot of anything to treat our field. I'm pretty sure I saw Grub-X at the local garden store. I'll look into it. You could break an ankle out there for the tunnels and holes.
I was looking for a forum on pests on this website but couldn't find one. I noticed zillions of tiny little specks floating around in the air on Thursday when I was working in the garden. I thought it was some sort of tree pollen at first. When I got a closer look, it turned out to be tiny flies. I think they were coming up from the soil but I couldn't tell for sure. Seem to remember seeing them last year too. They appeared to be landing on the few plants that are already up. Anyone have any idea what they might be?
Also has anyone used Neem in their garden to control pests? I bought Bon-Neem this year for the first time. Is it a special formulation or can it be used the same way as plain neem oil, i.e. for insect control and also as a fungicide? I have a wild rose that has the top leaves turning silvery white. The lower portions seem fine. It's never done this before. I thought powdery mildew but it's been so darned dry that I don't know how mildew could survive.
Hi. I am new here, so I'd like to introduce myself and my garden. My name is Kim and I have been gardening since I was a kid. Snapdragons are my fave flower, hence, the screen name. I am single and live with my 2 dogs, Sadie and Wiley, and 2 cats, Rosie and Boo (plus a slew of strays who demand I feed them). I live in Baltimore City, in a rowhouse (never call it a townhouse). As I have very little land, most of my home garden is in containers and raised beds, built on top of concrete. I also belong to a community garden called the City Farms Project. It was started in the 70's by then mayor Schaffer, so that city dwellers could have a place to play in the dirt. There are approximately 7 sites in Baltimore City, all in parks. My garden is in Clifton Park, right in the middle of the golf course. We rent our plots and included in the fee is water, leaf mold, mulch and horse manure (from the city's stables). The area is fenced off and there is a locked gate. The added bonus of belonging to this type of garden is the people. It truely is a community. We look after each others gardens, share seeds, plants, and harvests. We gain inspiration from each other, pick each others brains, and have a compassionate shoulder to cry on when something is failing. We come together for garden cleanups and there is a pot luck supper in the summer (gardeners from all of the different sites get together for a picnic at Cylburn Aboretum) Everyone brings a dish made with produce from their garden. At the supper there is produce and flower judging as well as the results of judging of the gardens as a whole and each individual garden.
Well, that's a bit about me. I look forward to getting to know this site and meeting new gardening friends.
Peace, Kim
sciurus, the pest forum is called Garden Foes. It's a great place to get answers about not only animal pests but also weeds.
Kim, that sounds like a wonderful way to garden. Glad to see you here.
Welcome Kim! :)
Sciurus,
Please tell me where your "user name" comes from. It is always interesting to know....
"Milky Spore" is an ALL natural, life-long grub control. The downside is that it takes about 4 years to be completely effective, and--if your neighbors don't participate as well, you will still have some grubs.
"Milky Spore" is a dried bacteria (organisms) that, once activated, feeds on the larva of the Japanese beatle (Grubs). It is applied by the teaspoon-full at the corners of an imaginary 3'-4' square grid. Once the bacteria become activated, they seek out the grub-larva and deposits their eggs inside them (in a parasitic way). As the eggs grow and mature, they feed on the body of the larva and grow larger until the larva "explodes"--thus releasing hundreds (thousands???) of new bacteria into the soil. Then this cylcle repeats itself every season, until all your property is covered by these beneficial bacteria. And--they propagate ad infinitum! --Life long "control"....
As you can imagine, if your immediate neighbors do not participate, the Beatles will come over for a visit anyhow. I have read, though, that JB's do not venture too far from their "hatching zone", so you may be OK.
By the way, JB traps, often, act contrary to what you may want to use them as. Instead of catching--and killing--a bunch of Beatles, (YES! They will!) you are actually attracting them to your property by the lures that come with them. I have long ago stopped using them....
"Grub-X" works! But--it is a chemical concotion of some kind. However, since it goes into the ground, I do not think it poses any danger to pets or children. Just wait about 24 hours (after you sprinkle it in) and it should be OK. And, like I said above, it is "supposed" to treat both generations of beatle grubs. The second generation being when the beatles drop their eggs (from wherever they are sitting on) into the soil--often under trees and shrubs--and they start growing into grubs that will burrow deep into the soil to feed on small tree roots until next Spring, when they will, again, emerge as fat, greasy, hungry grubs and destroy your lawn, and hatch into Japanese beatles that eat all your Roses and all kinds of other stuff. All this should be on the back of the bag. It is available at HD.
You can also buy "Milky Spore" at Home Depot. It is not cheap. A can (about the size of a "Maxwell House Coffee can container) may run you $25-$30. I am sure it would say on the back how big an area it covers. It is worth the one-time investment if you do not want to go the chemical way.
Hope this helps you, and others, some.
Gita
Hey Gita,
I just put down the chemical for my immediate grub pop. It's a fertilizer and grub control mix. I think it's supposed to work for a month or so, then I'm going to put the milky spore down. Since it's so expensive, for 1/2 an acre, I'm buying it a little at a time. My front yard is soooo patchy from grub damage. I've tried to aerate and water it to get it growing again. It's really dangerous to run on, for the kiddies. The back isn't near as bad, just lots of weeds, oh well. My goodies are getting close to blooming, you will have to come see when they get going. I'm still waiting for my arbor to be built. Talk to ya soon,
Nikki
So nice to see all these new "faces" - welcome everyone! It's been weeks since I've been able to even to check in on DG, let alone post and I miss it :( We've been traveling every weekend since April 8th and three more shows to go before our first Open House on June 3-4. Hoping that I might see some of you at the show at the State Arboretum this weekend - mickgene??? Even if we're busy, be sure to introduce yourself if you see us there - always love meeting other DG'ers :)
I haven't even been able to spend any time in our gardens, other than checking to see what's blooming and realizing that I missed a photo op :( Hopefully it will pan out in the next few weeks that I can catch up on the weeds before they swallow everything. All this wonderful cool weather for working outside and I'm missing it! Did a quick inventory yesterday of plants, trees, etc that lived and died and found one of our beautiful Japanese Maples that looks like it died for no reason??? Not completely dead, but it may as well be. Also waiting on a beautiful River Birch that was suffering last summer and seems to be on its way out as well a mature Heptacodium that appears to have died - suspecting mole damage since they run rampant through our gardens but it's so discouraging to see all these losses :( We planted a bunch of native Azaleas last year along the edge of the woods and even though the deer rarely touch our Hostas, I guess they've decided the Azaleas were worth the trip since they've severely pruned them for us :( Upon arriving home on Sunday and checking out the plants in our greenhouses - it appears that they have also developed a fondness for Campanulas :( We had trouble with them a few years back walking into our greenhouses and munching down all the gorgeous Toad Lilies that we were getting ready to sell. Unfortunately with our schedule we had just enough time to take the plastic off the houses last week to let the plants breathe but not enough time to get the shade cloth over the top or get the doors attached to keep the deer out - but after seeing the damage, that will be on my list of 'to-do's' for today. I'm knocking on wood that they don't finally decide to 'mow' down our Hostas!
Lots to do today and hoping the temps will be just a little bit warmer today - had to water plants yesterday with gloves on and I was still cold!!! Hoping to finally catch up with everyone by the end of the month and start posting some more pictures. Talk to you all soon, Debbie
Rain! Finally! It's been so darned dry here that every time someone tills their garden, it looks like a scene from "The Grapes of Wrath."
We suffer from an odd weather anomaly that frequently causes rain clouds to separate slightly west of here and miss us entirely. It rains in the town of Prince Frederick. It rains south of us in Port Republic. It rains east of us along the Bay. It does not rain here. You can actually watch it happen on Dopplar maps. It has something to do with the lay of the land, I suspect. It might be what veered the 2003 tornado south about a half mile from our property. We got amazing hail but no twister. Thank goodness! It killed two people about a mile down the road.
Gitagal, "sciurus" is the Greek word for squirrel. Sciurus carolinensis is the scientific name for the Eastern gray squirrel. Sciurus niger is the fox squirrel, found further inland, north, and on the Eastern Shore (Delmarva fox squirrels, endangered). I am a state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator, semi-retired, who specializes in squirrels.
Sciurus,
WOW! That is so interesting! See! I said that the origins of all these "user names" are V-E-R-Y interesting.....NOT mine! My name is Gita and I am a Gal. Hmmmm.... A real no-brainer!
I am still not sure why anyone would want to rehabilitate squirrels???? They raid my bird feeders, they dig holes all over my lawn and beds, and they pea on my seat pad on my porch swing.
However--i DO understand that every crearure has it's place int he World. If we can't "beat" them--we must "join" them.
PEACE! Gita
Ah, Gita, I don't know. Some of us are just a little.....squirrelly, I guess.
I have great admiration for those pesky grays that do their own form of gardening along with us. They are really smart little creatures, wonderful mothers, brave, personally clean, and industrious. They have oodles of personality, if you get to know them, and in the wild they are a factor in reforestation because their constant digging and burying results in new growth.
Granted their habits can be very annoying to gardeners, like raiding bird feeders, digging, and peeing on porch swings. Actually that's a new one for me. They pee to mark territory but that tends to happen where other squirrels are sure to find it. They must be partying on your porch when you aren't around.
I look at it this way, they were here first. They have a right to be here. We are the ones who moved into their territory. We are altering and reducing their habitat to the point where they have no alternative but to share it with us. Being, supposedly, the more intelligent creature, I figure it's up to us to make an accommodation to their natural behavior. Squirrels (and other wildlife) are hard wired. They can't change what they are or how they behave. We can.
We maintain multi-species feeders and it doesn't discourage any species of bird from visiting. In fact, the presence of squirrels attracts hawks and owls that we might not see otherwise. Giving them their own feeder seems to keep them out of the veggie garden. Giving them nest boxes helps to keep them out of the attic. There's nothing I know of that will keep them out of your bird feeder, so you may as well relax and enjoy their antics. Shooting or trapping them doesn't work in the long run. If you maintain an attractive environment, new squirrels will always replace any you remove. Plus, it's cruel and it's illegal to harm wildlife in the US.
As for the porch swing, try spraying the place where they pee with one of those enzyme pet stain removers like "Nature's Miracle." WalMart has a generic that is cheaper. That might discourage them. You might combine that with temporarily covering the seat pad with slightly crinkled aluminum foil. Squirrels do not like to walk on it and it might convince them to pee elsewhere.
Sciurus, kudos to you-we've lived in quite a few places over the last 10 years & the constant has been squirrels-usually, on Army posts, squirrels have free run of the place, we've learned to coexist. Right now, we're in our first house, a not-quite half acre of suburbia, surrounded by urban sprawl. The squirrels have chewed up a few plants, raid the birdfeeders, but provide our aging yellow dog w/ exercise-I love watching them, you're right, they're very smart-I figure there's enough room for all of us...Thistle
Sciurus,
I am NOT a wildlife hater. Not at all. I also enjoy watching those squirrels run and romp. There's always one that is the "Alpha" in the bunch and it chases all the others away to feed on all the goodies.
I only have about 3-4 of them here on a regular basis.
I live in an older development. When these homes were built (37 years ago) some of the neighbors chose to keep some of the old oak trees on their properties. I can see the squirrel nests in them.
I have at least 4 bird feeders going all winter/Spring. I have 2 of those big, tripple-tube ones with the squirrel baffle on top. They are really nice. I have a patio with a very high roof over it with 4 skylights in it. I hang these 2 feeders under that. They stay dry and the squirrels cannot get to them in any way. I can see all these birds feeding from my living room window. Sometimes. I even use my binoculars to watch.
I also hang a Thissle feeder for the Goldfinches and I throw a lot of Sunflower seed and corn on the patio floor for the squirrels and other critters that ground-feed to survive the winter. I have NEVER seen a owl here. We do have some hawks, or whatever, buzzing around and once one swooped down right in my back yard and snitched up a dove. The poor thing!
My Porch Swing hangs from the edge of my patio roof. For "seat cushions" I use 2 carpet samples. When they get yukky, I just put on new ones. The squirrels DO frolick on the swing, crawl up the chains trying to get to the bird-feeders and probably just "do their thing" because they have to. It leaves ugly, brownish stains, but--I don't care. If company comes, I just put on 2 clean carpet squares.
I do not have a veggie garden--just flower beds. The culprit on these, every year, is a rabbit or two--so I have to put up a small, plastic fencing around all my beds for the early part of Summer. That is a BIG chore, as I am a senior and all that bending is not too easy.
I agree with you on all aspects of wildlife. I even have a resident Black Snake that lives under my concrete front porch. I have only seen it ONCE! Freaked me out! But--it keeps the small rodents at bay.
I guess I am lucky to only have to deal with 4 squirrels, one rabbit (and it's progeny) and all the ravenous blackbirds. Oddly, I no longer see any Mockingbirds! I wonder why???? They used to be all over here--sitting on top of out TV antennas and singing away. No more....I don't know what has happened? Any ideas?
If you ever come to Baltimore, I live about 2 miles from White Marsh Mall in Perry Hall.
Here's a picture of the back patio. Not too great, but you will get the idea. See the swing?
Gita
Gita, I'm sorry if I in any way implied you were a wildlife hater. I didn't get that idea at all from what you'd written before. I was just stating my own rationale for doing what I do.
Your patio is lovely and actually much nicer than ours. We have a raised deck off the kitchen that is too narrow to really put much out there. It's always full of sunflower seed hulls from the birds and squirrels that visit it. Sometimes we're even allowed to sit out there.
We also have a concrete patio at our basement sliding doors. This is one of those houses built on a steep slope so the basement is really the first floor at the back of the house and the first floor is one story up. The patio adjoins a very large (10'x6'x12') custom wood-and-wire cage with an entrance through the wall into an indoor cage. We use this for convalescing squirrels who are well enough to go outdoors but not ready for release yet. We have two additional cages built against the back of our barn and maintain a feeder there and one in the back yard.
Right now I'm trying to hit on a good planting scheme for the big patio cage. It has cut branches and tree trunks inside but could use some greenery. Last summer I tried planting climbing nasturtiums and pole beans along the SE walls of the cage. It gets the sun for only a few hours at midday in summer. I wanted to screen the nest box inside somewhat so the animals could relax or nap outside without frying. They can also nibble on whatever I grow in there.
The nasturtiums didn't do well at all. The beans struggled all summer. They produced short vines and even managed a few blossoms, but no beans and no real shade. The amount of soil between the cage and the patio was not adequate to support them. This year I'm considering a long narrow planter set along the cage wall and another try at beans. I'm also going to plant some violets from around the yard in the cage floor. I have to be careful that I don't put something toxic in there. The cage is almost large enough to plant a small tree but I'm stumped at what type to add. Any kind of fruit or nut tree won't make it through the summer. The squirrels will gnaw it to death. Don't know and may never figure out what to do there but will welcome any suggestions.
Sciurus,
How about a fast-growing Honeysuckle vine?
Or--if you like it, a Hyacynth Bean or a Cardinal Climber bean?
There is a "Black eyed Susan vine"--pretty yellow blooms all summer.
A Trumpet Vine is a fast and furious climber (blooms pretty too!), but you may regret it in the long run as it is VERY suckering and invasive in several years and becomes VERY hard to eradicate. In the "Vines Forum" there have been some real "horror stories".
Last year I had a Paciflora "Lady Margaret" that I bought at my HD. It ended up climbing all over my shed and bloomed beautifully! All the Passis are climbing Vines.
A nice Climbing Rose may work. Call your larger Nurseries for ideas on which one, or call "Carroll Gardens" in Westminster (410-876-7336) and ask for Allan. He is always there on Saturday afternoons and Sundays--all day. He has the Radio call-in show every Saturday AM on 680 AM (WCBM) from 7AM-9AM called "Garden Club". He is a wealth of information. You can also sign up for his FREE e-mail Nesletter you get once a week (on Thursdays) .
Hope some of this helps.
Gita
Thanks, Gita.
Honeysuckle might work. I'd have to check on whether the others are posionous if ingested or not as the occupants will be able to reach the flowers, leaves and seeds, if any. Roses wouldn't get enough sun, I think.
Are you up near Westminster? Lovely area.
Annie
Annie,
NO! I am not near Westminster. I am near White Marsh Mall in Perry Hall. It is in Eastern baltimore County. Exit 67A off of I-95.
I do not know about the potential toxicity of any of the plants I suggested. Never have given it a thought! The Passiflora Vines also need full sun, so they are off the list. Call Allan Summers and ask!
I just checked ALL my bookmarked links that had to do with gardening. I thought I had something on a list of toxic plants. NOPE! I am sure you could Google for it or call your County agrucultural Division or such.
Here's the number for the Maryland Cooperative
Extension, University of Maryland. 1-800-342-2507,
Website:
www.agnr.umd.edu/users/hgic.
Happy "Step-Parenting!!!"
Gita
This message was edited May 16, 2006 8:04 PM
Hi, everyone, just saw this forum! I'm right outside of Phila, celebrated our second year anniversary at this house, a 1920s bungalow with most of the original "stuff" including wavy windows...and my first with a real yard!
Just took a full time job after a 4 year break (yay!), got an offer "I couldn't refuse", lol! Want to save up for retirement now that my kiddies are grown. I also am a pet artist, but now am more picky about commissions, don't accept them all, if the pictures aren't good, I don't stress and take it.
But the BIG STORY is my garden. Only 2 years old, I'm working on it, lol!! On Mother's Day planted a gorgeous 6' magnolia "butterflies", poor hubby! Thanks to DG, I have a little woodland garden going, lots of cool daylilies, some roses, some perennials...hey...a little of everything!
Welcome razzie! A pet artist - how cool, I could see having my Chili cat honored on canvas:) I probably pass by you on my way up to Bristol where my friend lives. My gardens are only on their third year, I am still trying to figure out what I planted and what is a weed!
-Kim
You do, indeed pass within a few miles of me. Or...if it's rush hour either way, we might be right next to each other on 95!
I am going to start a new thread for introductions, this one is starting to load awfully slow so it must be horrible for those with dial-up! Same title but "Part 2"
-Garity
Here is the link to the new thread:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/605687/
Duh, thanks Kim! I remembered to add the thread link as I was laying down last night, You are more on top of things than I am right now!
-Garity
Hi,
I'm Elizabeth, from Waynesboro, VA. I discovered DG a few weeks ago and finally decided to become a member. My DH and I bought our first house last fall and finally have our own yard to work in. I'm having a blast! Although, with two preschoolers I'm finding it hard to get as much done as I'd like. There were a few nice things in place when we moved in - mostly trees and bushes. We have a beautiful mature weeping cherry and a hugs maple in our front yard; as well as some climbing roses, flowering quince, peonies, dogwoods, locusts and oaks in the back. There were a large clump of iris that I divided last fall as well as an abudance of daylillies. Those daylillies are just about to bloom and I'm anxious to see what they look like. I have been dividing them and planting them in all my border beds that surround my house. I've also added coreopsis, hostas, tuplips, daffodils, freesias, mondo grass, delphiniums, columbine, verbena, St. John's wort, ajuga, sweet woodruff and some other stuff.
Happy Gardening!
-Elizabeth
Welcome Elizabeth - your place sounds beautiful "as is"!! TWO preschoolers eh? I so can relate! When my 4th child was born the oldest was 5...they're all teenagers now...you can do it!!!
Welcome Elizabeth, we're almost neighbors :) Sounds like you have your hands full! Although my children are all grown now, I can also relate. I can remember mowing the lawns with them taking their naps in a back pack, just so I could get my chores done outside to give me more time to work in the gardens! Then of course when they approached their teenage years, they were thrilled to be able to drive the riding mower, but only if they'd hitch up the trailer and pick up my weed piles :) When you get a chance we'd love to see pictures of your new gardens.
Debbie
Hey yaul! Noobie here and I'm in Glen Burnie, MD but I'm a native Jersey girl! Nice to meet everyone!!! I've been on DG for almost a year (joined last August). I started a garden last year for the first time and learned a lot. Started remembering all the things my grandparents taught me when I was gardening with them as a child. I have a great garden this year and continue to learn everyday. I love DG because I can always get my questions answered quickly, and I've made some true friends here as well. Would love to have a get together so that I can meet all the people that I call my friends. What's everyone growing? I have romaine lettuce, kale, collards, broccoli, red cabbage, celery, eggplant, six different tomato varieties (29 plants in all), corn, watermelon, and cukes! Nice to meet everyone!
Howdy! I stumbled upon this forum looking for info on Lakota squash (going to try it). I live in Greenbush, Virginia on the Eastern Shore. My hubby and I live on 12 acres most of which is devoted to our 4 miniature horses, 1 miniature mule, 2 standarbreds, goats, rabbits, dogs, chickens, cats, geese, and guineas (whew, I forget how many there are) I have been gardening for about 30 years. Love to pick up new info here. As you can see I have no lack of fertilizer! Ha! Ha!
Welcome on is Newllys!!!
Hello to all! Well, I'm gonna jump right in here. I've been floatin' around for about a month and love DG. Every one has been kind and very helpful. Am married with 2 grown (or they think they R) children ~Emily, who's 24 & Garrett, who's 17. We have a year old pup Black Jack. I almost forgot! my other Kid! George! He's 47. (LOL) I am going back to school with a major in Aquaculture, will be finished in 2007. I hope to get into raising cold-water pond trout for the state of WV. Emily will finish college this fall with a degree in business admin. & Garrett will be a senior in high school - he wants to go into architechture (did I spell that right?) We live on 1 acre with mostly trees & flowers, it takes about 20 minutes to mow the yard! Well, gotta go...fishin'.
Glad you found us over "here" - nice photo!!
Thanx Chantell, I am really enjoying myself! I love columbine. I really like the indigenous plants, tho. I wish the columbines that I have were wild.
Wild columbine isn't hard to find, music2keep. Just look for it growing by the roadsides in the spring. It has small red flowers. It will seed itself all over your garden, though.
My goodness, there are 14 vendors listed in the watchdog that carry plants or seeds. Considering how easily it self sows, I would imagine it would be simple to grow from seed.
http://davesgarden.com/ps/go/464/
hart, thank you! I should go exploring, huh? Great link! There is a huge nursery not too far from here. maybe I could check there, too. They are pretty good size. They have an extention in Roanoke, Beckley, & Talcott (or Alderson; which is the main one). The name is Greenbrier Nusery. Try to stay cool! It's supposed to 95+ tomorrow!