Here is the thread for morning talk that usually goes on all day long....
SATURDAY, Aug 12 Texas "Coffee" and Gardening in the Morning
Okay..I beat everyone to it this morning...it's 12:38!! Get up....right now!! :)
:O 12:38? That's not morn'n . . . that's last night . . . lol
My clock says 6:30 AM and even that's a tad too early to be up. Of course my paint brushes like to dance at all hours ;)
That's right Connie, talk after dark before the sun is up on the East coast doesn't count!! LOL!
I have goofed off this morning and slept late myself. so I will check back later, I need to get outside while it is cool. ....
I'm off later today to a hummingbird seminar at martha's bloomers. I absolutely LOVE those little darlings....In fact I was looking at a house to buy years ago and a hummer came zooming by as i was in the backyard..That was the house we ended up buying (after a year of looking!) of course it helped that there was an extensive garden in the backyard....nancy
Ooh you lucky person to be so close to MB! I enjoyed my trip there when we went down for the swap in CS. Absoulutely great place.
We found our leak in the pond....off to the rock/pond place to get sealer....later.
Ahh Teacup tell us all about your visit to MB. I love to go there. Such a pretty place.
I was up and out by 7am this morning to get the watering done before the 'big heat' was on. Today was mowing day so dh and I did all the mowing except for my parents yard. We'll get to that tomorrow. Now we are watering the grass we just mowed. *g* It is still very dry here. Some grass in the backyard is pretty 'crisp'.
Okay...my morning....
1. up and to the local hangout for breakfast with DH
2. Took my car to have battery changed and the 100k mile checkup. The car is a Saab so it should last for at least 175k they say.
3. to Home Cheapo (not so...) for a 12 foot ladder. The "A B C Handyman" company wanted to charge 100 for the "trip charge" and 70 anhour for each hour to change HIGH up spots, change batteries in HIGH up ceilings, etc.!!! We figured that for that price, we could buy a high ladder and do it ourselves.
4. HD has a huge sale going...I got a SWEET little hand vac ...very heavy duty....strong materials....for 17. on clearance that is so strong...with no bags to mess with...hepa filter. I've already vacuumed up 2 containers worth of dust....I love to clean when I've got fancy little gadgets to do it with!! I'm going to go to another HD and see if I can get more of these for Christmas presents. We always give something "frivolous" and something "utilitarian." One year my brother got everyone special spatulas for the kitchen!! :)
5. Went by Randall's groc. and got tortilla chips and jalapenos. I had LOADS of cheese left over from the party so I made oven-baked nachos with jalas for lunch!!
6. Ahhhh...now it's my time on DG and AOL!!
I want to go to Martha's Bloomers! I've heard so much about it!!
Oops...I just realized the pic is sideways...and I know it was not when I first loaded it in Picassa! Oh well...it's a neat Hawaiian plant...Sandi, can you tell me what it's called? I think it's the name of one of the islands....I love the orange color.
This message was edited Aug 12, 2006 4:28 PM
Connie, I think your plant is an ixora. They come in yellow and orange, that I'm aware of. I don't know where they are native to, but it could be Hawaii. They are used extensively in Mexico resort landscaping.
Ah....you are right...I do remember it now from the tags (which of course I threw away!) I bought about 12 of them when on sale at Hope Depot and planted them in zink containers on my deck. The deer eat them, but rarely venture onto the deck. Thanks, Crowellli!
Here's a CU pic of the beautiful blooms!
It was a great turnout for the hummingbird seminar today at Martha's Bloomers.It was presented by Jerry Walls who is the director of christmas creek nature center. he gave an informative talk and also had info about an owl hunt going on tonight at his facility. i didn't get any more info although it sounded really interesting because it is so darn hot out here I wanted to do nothing but stay inside.
Anyway, i really wanted to buy one of their garden obelisks but the price tags made me think i could find them cheaper elsewhere. needless to say when i looked around in town after i got home, i couldn't find anything even close....Home depot didn't have any, lowe's were too short.A local nursery was closed(at 3:30!!! on a saturday)So any ideas for other places to look?
it was so hot I decided not to buy any plants. that was a first for me , to leave without even a four inch pot of something...nancy
Nancy...I'm looking for garden oblisks...basalt monoliths with some sides polished, some naturally honed. Is that what they had?? I priced them in Florida recently and one that was 4 feet tall was about 300. and the one 7 feet tall (much wider also!) was 1k! They were drilled for fountain works, but that was not included.
Somewhere here on DG I inquired about them back in April and Devient_Deziner had a friend who "mined" them for her. I'll see if I can fine the thread.
I should be able to do something out of clay that would look nearly the same... be lighter... less expensive... let me know if you want me to look into it.
teacup, I love hummingbirds too. I just thinw they are the neatest litte creatures. I think I have one or two that come and eat off of my plants just every now and then, but they are so fast and hard to see. I love to watch them though!
Connie, your ixora is just BEAUTIFUL. I love this plant! I have two like yours and a yellow one. They are native to Singapore and are found naturally in the jungle. They are also known as a Jungle Geranium. I am so impressed how these hold up to the heat. Everything is just really getting thirsty and these are just shining beautifully. Also, in case you didn't know, they like acidic soil. I stuck some acidic fertilizer sticks in my pots and they really took off and grew alot of leaves and then KABOOM tons of flowers.
Renate...do you have somthing like this I could see? I would love to commission something from you for my gardens if you do modern stuff...not right this minute as we're putting in a pool...but perhaps next spring...
Do you know Thom and Stevie Ricks from Boerne? DH and I bought 2 modern paintings from them...one from each. They are wonderful artists and cool people! They came to Austin to hang our pieces as they are quite large..well, one of them is...at about 6 x 6.
Merae....great tip on the acid soil...I have some pine tree food that should do it...yes?
On the acid food for Ixora, I use Miracid on them and my hydrangeas and it works great. I can always tell when they need some added because the leaves start looking a little bleached out. I think the pine tree food would likely work fine too. I try to find stuff that works on more than one thing so I don't wind up with a garage full of bottles with each only good for one plant! So if you've got it, try it!
Right now they are blooming like crazy...prob. bc I planted them in Rapid Grow! But when the 3 months are over, I'll feed with the acid-loving stuff...thanks!!
Teacup, was the garden obelisks metal, wood or stone? If they were metal, try Tuesday morning. I have found some neat metal garden art there earylier this year. They had some three foot and 4 foot.
About the obelisks, maybe I am calling them the wrong thing. they aren't solid stone etc, but more like a wrought iron trellis only in a square or round shape usually with some knd of finial on top and they are free standing. i guess you could train a vine on them etc.Is there another name for that?
I'm looking for something about 5-6 feet high and they had some with orbs on top of a rusty looking white metal at martha's for around $65-70.
This message was edited Aug 12, 2006 8:27 PM
An oblisk is a solid slab of rock (or pieces that are closely mortared together) that stands up high and ends in a point. Think Washington Monument in DC. I guess if there's no point then it's a monolith?
Well I went and searched for "garden obelisk", and found two links I will put here.
You could make your own from willow! But I dare say you would like me pay the price for the others on the second link. Don't know what their shipping would be, but the prices are good. One is 7 foot.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/design/projects/plantsupports_willowobelisk.shtml
http://www.nextag.com/garden-obelisk/search-html?nxtg=318c0a1c051b-DFB266459E4E25BF
Guess someone else had your answer about the Ixora, Connie. I have a few that I've planted inground and do fine until other plants try to cover them with shade.
I helped care for baby today while DD&SIL had garage sale with neighborhood. They did really well. Got rid of lots of little things..... and some large pieces of furniture, as well as lawn edger, etc. went early as soon as they opened the garage door! They live behind Barton Creek Mall so had lots of traffic from the signs. 'Kids across the street made and sold brownies and bottled drinks. I think there were 6 or 7 families on the street that participated.....I never left their house/yard because of baby. I came home and crashed....I think the heat got to me, even tho I spent most of the morning in shade or indoors.
I managed to drag myself to Lowe's around 5, and picked up a couple of 1/2 priced large pots and two hibiscus standards for 75% off. I also hit HD and saw the Salvia Mystic Spires featured! So much for us MGs getting first pick!!! 'Don't care, it's a cool plant and it was free.
I have to go to lake in the morning for an afternoon birthday party for a neighbor. Since Bruce has been gone, I have had a long list of things I planned to do....I've done nothing on the list....! Either I've been too busy...or too lazy...not sure.
I do know that after watching DD unload stuff at their sale, I should really get into my attic and prepare to sell some "treasures" on e-Bay before I die, ...and she shovels my stuff to the curb for pick-up!!! I remember telling my aunt not to give me anything that I couldn't "use" because the only antique I wanted in my house was Me! I grudgingly appreciate her antiques I inherited, but really don't want to be surrounded by so many of them anymore.....and DD sure doesn't! It's all just "stuff." I'll add that to my "to- do" list!
Now.........Go enjoy being with your husband .......you can write to us during the week!!!!
I don't have anything right now but it sounds like something I would like to make for my garden. About what size are you thinking about? I could have some fun and have an example for you both.
Ah...live and learn...I didn't realize that gardening companies are calling the plant supports that are needle-shaped obelisks! I majored in ancient history and loved the study of the obelisks in Egypt....where they were carved from a single piece of stone, often inscribed....and were HUGE! They sometimes were in pairs to mark the entrance to some special place...like the gardens of Luxor, I think it was. I know that in London there are several that were taken in the early 1800's from Egypt and brought back to London. One is in the center of a traffic circle....Place de la...something...Concorde?! :)
Well Connie "I" at least was thinking the same sorta thing as you. But it may be cuz I was raised overseas and my mom is an ancient history nut (LOVES egyptian history)
When I was growing up we went to every dig that was open to public that was near enough to get to. Even some it took us hours to find! *giggle
Renate...did u read my question about the artists I know in Boerne?
Here is the only "art" thing I have in my gardens thus far....but I want some REAL art too....like a modern sculpture....
It's just a ceramic "ball" but I like it!!
Yes I'm sorry,, I forgot to answer that part. No I don't think I know them. I haven't until recently been going out around town much. I moved here 5.5 years ago. Since I moved here I have had 7 operations, 9 broken bones, Cancer in both breasts and radiation. Between all that and keeping my house up to some extent I have been busy. Finally have this last year had NO medical stuff to deal with and energy is coming back and I'm actually feel like I'm getting something done.
I know when I look around that I have gotten a LOT done... it is just frustrating when I think back and know what I 'could' have gotten done if I hadn't been so sick.
how big is that? Here is a pic of something I have in my garden. I didn't do this myself (I don't work in metal) but had it done.
Bless your HEART! Wow....I had a surgical breast biopsy in June and that scared me shirtless! Thank goodness it was just a "roll of fat" my doctor said! (But...I had 5 friends with cancer at the time so I wanted to make sure it was okay...)
Do you have pics of your work? I LOVE art of all types...
The ball is...hmmm...larger than a beach ball...it's hollow and has an opening at the bottom. Most gardening centers have them now, but I got this one about 2 years ago when they first came out.
yep. click on my name and it will take you to the web site with some of my older stuff on it. Doesn't show any of my new garden stuff. GOTTA find time to update that site.
This is a pic from my christmas show last year. One of my shelves of stuff.
I've made some smaller ones... somewhere between a golf ball and a basketball.
I see lots of celtic things...is that an interest? My DH is Scottish and I'm part, so we have an interest there.
Did you make your own molds, etc?
Yes I do a lot of celtic and new age stuff. That was the shelf that had all that on it. I try to put things in catagories when I do a show.
This isn't the best pic but it is a Texas horny toad.
I'm going to bed now. tty tomorrow.
He's cute! See ya later...
Connie, You are right about the real meaning of obelisk.here's a website on Place de la Concorde http://www.paris.org/Monuments/Concorde/ That name rang a bell because
my daughter visted there when she was sightseeing in Paris and got some great pictures.
I wonder why they started calling these hollow garden structures obelisks. I guess the overall shape, but seems like they could have come up with something more"correct"
You won't catch me calling them that! A bit too fancy a word for me. Metal garden thingy is usually what comes from my mouth! LOL!
Sheila...I'm with you! ...."Metal garden thingy"...LOL
I actually have 3 of them, and never knew (imagine...that from the lips of an English teacher!!! ) that they were also called obelisks.
Here is a garden "obelisk" that has a purple potato v ine growing on it!
Connie, are you familiar with the Aberlemno stone located in Aberlemno churchyard, Angus, Scotland? It's pre Christian, Pictish and over 8 feet tall and really beautiful. Seeing the talk of monoliths and obelisks and the Celtic designs on renatelynne's work made me think of this. I'd love to have a smaller scale replica of this for my garden. The carving on it is really specatcular when viewed in person. Here's a link for anyone interested in pics of it.
http://www.ancient-scotland.co.uk/site.php?a=2