What's Growing - Part 11

Thanks, Dave, because your positive opinion has given me some relief.

But what is upsetting me now is the sound like 'gunshots' outside, as the heavy, wet snow is weighing down the branches on my huge maple trees, causing them to break off. I've been out there twice tonight, pulling them out of the street. They land across the entire road, preventing any car from getting through. Not that there's really any traffic, but I have to think an ambulance or firetruck wouold have to stop and lug them out of the way. It saddens me. I love these old trees.

Dave - yes snow is better than very cold. They'll be fine in the garage, in fact they might still be growing - you''ll know tomorrow. AS far as the dahlias down south - I have seen some posted from Florida and Texas, although I hear the excuse of too much heat and humidity used so maybe they are a bit tougher(not impossible).
We saw a few flakes today.

Gram & Nap,
I guess I should of included you 2 in my "be nice to Al" post!!! I'm so sorry about the white stuff that got dumped on you guys....and dumped good from what I saw on the news. Lots of people w/out power in your neck of the woods. Hope you 2 are fine, and you didn't lose any plants. Two feet of snow in early Oct. ....thats got to be a record! I really don't mind the frost now, after seeing pictures of Western New York. I'll take the frost over that mess any day!

Just saw the news...Nancy's area has declared a state of emergency.....hope your safe & warm Nancy!! We are thinking of you guys!!!

This message was edited Oct 13, 2006 8:42 AM

The back window of my car had fr-r-r-r-r-r-r-ost on it this morning! Not even enough to scrape - but protends of things to come. Guess it's lots of green tomato relish this year instead of pasta sauce. Oh well - my neighbor will be happy that he can continue to get his "fix".

I posted over on the musings thread, but thought I should here, too.

It's pretty bad here. Over 300,000 homes without power and it's getting worse because it's still snowing and trees are still falling. The city of Buffalo has 30+" of very wet snow. Most towns around are in a state of emergency...no unneccessary travel. Probably not much relief until the weekend. the govenor has offered the national guard.

i obviously have power. I work from home on Fridays, so I'm ok here. we've only got about 6" of snow. Nancy (nap) was posting until pretty late last night so if we don't hear from her today she probably just lost power. I expect she's safe at home still. the live power lines are the biggest problems.

Sounds nasty Gram, that's a lot of snow. Hope you get some of that global warming that is so popular.

Gram, I am glad you are ok... I can't believe it... but I have been in New England long enough to believe anything... I took some plants in last night after I got home from clinical around midnight... long night but a good one.

did you have time to protect your minis??? I have some that look so skinny... few tiny new leaves but all naked little twiggs... I hope they survive.

I am home today to study for a boring exam on Tuesday... I am taking a little break now to check on you guys... lol....

A little bit of yellow to cheer you guys,,,,

I can't believe the amount of snow you folks are getting up there. This is very early in the season, right?

It actually set a record.
By CAROLYN THOMPSON, Associated Press Writer : On Thursday, 8.3 inches of heavy snow set the record for the "snowiest" October day in Buffalo in the weather service's 137-year history, said meteorologist Tom Niziol. The previous record of 6 inches was set Oct. 31, 1917.

The part that shocked me most: "Workers on snowmobiles delivered food and water to motorists stuck along the New York Thruway, which was shut down for more than 100 miles by the storm."

Hi, my heart goes to you guys,,,, we have a frost warning here tonight... oh well, maybe this is the last nice day...

Power went out in Danbury, CT today and I got to go home early -- and there wasn't a flake of snow anywhere. I got the last of my bulbs in the ground but my hands got so cold that I worried I had a touch of frost bite. (I can still type - I'm OK.) Arriving home early I discovered that my cat, Wallingford, has been using the computer while I am at work and has started his own blog. I will give y'all a link to see his ranting and raving when we get really desperate for amusement later this winter. Right now I have to post a disclaimer that his views are not necessarily those of the other members of the household before I get arrested for cat abuse.

now I am really getting worried.... where is everybody??? gram???? Al??? Pixie???? Nancy???? where are you guys?????

Hey Kas - not much going on here

Al, are you drowning your sorrows??

Al, did you see my little note??? the only thing growing are my turtles... and my dog growing impaitient wanting a rawhide bone!!! lol... bossy Lilly!

Yankee, Do you teach in Danbury or New Haven?

Kassia, "got home from clinical around midnight" Are you studying medicine or psychology?

Al, Thanks for the answer. Where do dahlias come from? (that's a straight line for you.) I mean if they don't like our winters or Florida summers, where did they originate?

Good Question Dave!! But why ask it at 3am???? LOL

I wonder about the origin of plants too. I found this for you Pixie...

Taken from http://www.dahlias.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=10
Very little is known about the dahlia prior to the time of the Aztecs. It is said that the Aztecs used parts of the dahlia for food and medicines, but most of this information cannot be verified since much of the Aztec culture was destroyed following the Spanish Conquest.

In 1570 King Phillip II of Spain sent Francisco Hernandez to Mexico to study the natural resources of the country. He stayed for 7 years and described plants that resemble dahlia species under the names, Acocotli and Cocoxochitl. The first drawings were made of the dahlias by an associate who was traveling with Hernandez and were published in 1651. The next time dahlias appear in history is 1789 , the director of the Botanical Garden at Mexico City sent plant parts to Antonio Jose Cavarilles, on staff at the Royal Gardens of Madrid in Spain. From these he grew and flowered 3 new plant forms, Dahlia pinnata, D. rosea, and D. coccinea. He named the genus after Andreas Dahl, a Swedish botanist. Seed and plant parts from Cavanilles dahlias were sent throughout Europe beginning in the early 1800’s. It was during this time that the scarlet Dahlia coccinea was crossed with a mauve-flowered species, possibly D. pinnata, which ultimately resulted in the first modern dahlia hybrid (Lawrence 1929). The new hybrid was easy to grow and hybridize so they quickly became very popular in European and American gardens. Through the 1800’s and 1900’s thousands of new forms were developed, with 14,000 cultivars recognized by 1936 and in the past century, nearly 50,000 named varieties have been listed in various registers and classification lists. All of these dahlia forms were hybridized from at least two, and possibly all three of the original Dahlia species from Mexico. The genus Dahlia consists of 35 species all of which are found in the highlands of Mexico and Central America. Most species have very restricted ranges and are probably rare. Very few are available to the dahlia grower. This is just a brief history, and there is much more information regarding the development of the modern dahlia. Reference: Encyclopedia of Dahlias, by Bill McClaren.

Here are some other links
http://www.dahlia-nds.co.uk/web2a.htm
http://www.sfheart.com/dahlia.html
http://www.demesne.info/Garden-Help/Flowers/Bulbs/Dahlias.htm

I enjoyed that, thanks for asking the question prompting me to find an answer!

Anita - good work, you are right. From what I've heard the 'native' dahlias will have much smaller flowers and the plants smaller also as the tubers become to thick quickly. Even in zones where they can stay in the ground they benefit from being dug up and divided every few years. As far as what the weather is like in those native areas I think it mainly has warmer,but dry winters that they need the most.
This homepage is very informative too.
http://www.aztecdahlias.com/azdahlhistory.htm

Anita~ Great work! Thank you, that was interesting and informative.

Al ~ Went to the site you posted too...feel in love w/one flower but my luck...it's not available until 2008! Oh well, gives me more time to practice storing them. Here it is: http://www.aztecdahlias.com/pages/Felida%20Stars%20N%20Stripes.htm

Well, I've just finished organizing my seed database with new additions. I also got my trade packs together from a trade on the wintersowing forum. If anyone here is interested, there is still time http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/654795/ . Now that it's warmed up a bit, I'm going out to dig up my dahlias, elephant ears and cannas. .

Wow! Everyone has absolutely beautiful blooms. Here is my Black-eyed Susan vine that I grew from seed. It's on it's way out
now. Should've taken the pic earlier.

PKG ~ I grew one too, didn't you just love them? I think I will grow another next year but start it inside this time. Mine didn't get very big, yours is beautiful!!

We were sooo lucky. No snow except a flying flake or 2, and I'm pretty sure there was not even a freezing temp at night because even the impatiens are still intact. But the new bed I planted last week has had all the mum flowers nipped off. I assume its the deer - they are usually the culprits around here. A lovely bunch of bare stems sticking up. I hang my head and sigh - now I have to spray stinky stuff on mums too?

Thanks Pixie! I Love them. They are my new favorite. I did notice a few things that may help you.
I The ones I took out of the seed starter trays and put them in the small square puts grew only a foot.
The ones I put in two quart containers grew about 2 ft.
The one pictured I put from the seed starter tray to the 2qt and a few weeks later into the 5 gallon container and it took off
dramatically. Good luck with yours next year!!....Johnny

Dave47 - I teach in Norwalk at NCC.
Kassia - that was such a warm thought you sent to us. Thank you!

Johnny - nice vine, I had it going but bugs ate it off ;( I had a hyacinth bean vine to put in instead.

Pix - new usually means new to them, it might be somewhere else.

You obviously have mistaken me for someone without 9 dahlias in his garage.

Hey - hey - alright. What a nice sight, Al - sure glad you had some tucked away. Pretty pink, what's it's name? I'll write it down.

Johnny, I like that vine, too. Really pretty.


Kay

Hi folks. I'm back. Lost my phone/DSL for 24 hours. the power was probably out at the switch station. I won't go on about the storm. if anyone is interested there are a few details on the musings thread. I'm sure Nancy is ok, but I hope we hear from her soon.

Kass, thanks for the sweet note.

I like that black-eyed susan vine. I had a yellow one that I bought one year..really enjoyed it.

Al, you have dahlias in your garage? :-O (that's me surprised!) you probably also have them in your closet, your mailbox, clothes hamper, back pocket.......

Ha Ha Ha! Grams back!!
(sorry Al )


This message was edited Oct 14, 2006 6:46 PM

This made me smile today, hope it makes you as well.

Andy was sharing some email pics on the Musings thread, and as I was looking for some to share with him...I came across this. Thought it was appropriate for Nancy, Gram, and all the rest that got snow early.

pix, how cute, and how true! thanks

Kay - that's Onesta, I use the street pronunciation of : won - sta, nice little flower. I actually have one from Aztec I am waiting to bloom yet.

gram - glad you're ok

Pix - yes I am in your boat with not much blooming now, hey this knautia has been blooming for like 5 months now.

Thanks for all the dahlia info Anita, Al and all. I would have guessed they were subtropical. But I am still confused why people in FL would have such a hard time growing them (comments from another forum). It would seem much more like there natural environment then up north.

Pixie, I couldn't sleep worrying about where dahlias come from.

I went to Natureworks, an organic nursery in North Branford, CT today. She holds free garden walks with different themes each Thurs. evening and Sat. morning. Today was dividing and transplanting. I always learn something and today she gave plants away as she was dividing her garden. I cannot recommend her enough to anyone in this general area. The nursey is small but the education is great.
I got some ornamental oregeno and New England aster for free and bought monkshood, gentian, Wood's aster and blackberry lily. It was a very good morning.

Hi everyone!!!! good to "hear back from you guys" ... I missed you !!!!

Dave, I am in my last semester of Nursing School... only 65 days to go...

It's interesting to read about dahlias. My grandmother used to plant them all year round in Brazil - she lived in Brasilia - a very peculiar place... the ground is really red clay color- between "tropical savannas" and "temperate rainy climate with a dry winter season". The only things she ever used was dry cow manure (the real thing), potato skins and water regurlarly... she grew tons of herbs all over the garden ... she was somewhat like a "witch doctor"... people came from all over for her herbs (she gave away many herbs....) I would think FL would be a good place to plant them.... my grandmother was lucky... she never had to winterize her dahlias... in 2000 when I saw my radmother for the last time she still had one transplant from an old dahlia from her old garden... I am talking about an over 20 year plant... she moved from her house 2 times but she still kept a "part" from her favorite plant...

Al, I am so glad you have some on your garage... lol... are you bringing them in for the winter????

I am thinking of having 9 miniature roses in my bedroom window... they would get at least 8 hours of sunlight... my turtles now have a basking lamp so eventually I will take them out of the window... I am bringing plants inside at night these past few days...

I love the black eye susan vine... I have it in my list of seeds... I want to plant in a hanging basket...

This is what I found today... total surprise... Gram, I repoted 2 minis today... Blue mist had already outgrown the pot so I got a bigger pot, and also one of my nice canadian ones, that were actually 4 plants, I divided as much as I could and planted separated,,, well, I think I traumatized the roots... if they make it inside it will be a miracle... but I gave my best shot,,, tomorrow I am giving some "turtle water" I heard that is actually good to water plants with water from aquarium... fish or turtles... see another reason to keep the turtles....lol...

I should explain my personal questions.
Hi Kassia!
I'm a therapist, so when you mentioned clinical I thought we might be in the same profession. In a broader sense we are.

Yankee, When you mentioned Danbury, I thought of Western Conn. State Univ.. A good friend of mine teaches there.

I hope we hear from Nancy soon.

thanks, Al.

Kassia, that's a pretty one. I've got spider mites on my indoor minis.they're losing all their leaves. I'm spraying and giving them showers in the sink and they'll probably be ok, but, it's a mess. I probably brought 'em in with a bouquet.

Dave, I am taking Psych Nursing right now and my last clinical rotation will be psych... I have a great instructor and it's very interesting... I work at a Human Service agency at a career center (my position itself has nothing to do with that) and one of our programs is funded by the Dep of Mental Healht (SEE Program - services for education and employment) and we have day program also... so I am used to our clients and I am really ok with them, but is different to be the nurse... very interesting and I feel like I have an advantage already...

Gram, today I washed the pots I am bringing inside... Lavender Crystal had 3 aphids! I sprayed the garlic spray right away and looked at all of the others to make sure... I got this organic spray and used early spring and no aphids until today... so sad... Hey maybe this would help your also... they are from Pharm Solutions - I actually discover them at NorEast Mini roses, and just found at a local nursery.... I am going to get another bottle of Fish food and the one for indoor plants... I really liked it...