DG Anonymous

Oh, I like that second verse even better.

Yeah, me too.
Don't know why I forgot it.

I love the whole poem - would like to have it framed and in some sort of beautiful print . . . with appropriate pictures surrounding it, of course. Might have to play with that idea.

Let us see it when you do, OK?

OK, OK - so we want copies. Big deal.

Will do!!!

Oh, thank you. Did I ever tell you that after me, you're the
best looking one here?

LOL!! I am quite positive I could never, ever compete with your beauty, Mahnot!

I've started working on the poem, but must head for bed - I'm apparently too tired to come up with anything creative (and it shouldn't be that hard - the poem is already written!).

Goodnight, Murmur. Sweet dreams.

Whoa, marie_ told me I needed to come over her and read this thread that it sounded just like us. It's scary how much it sounds like us,,,LOL Too late now, but will be back to make my comments tomorrow.

Kelly

LOL! Yes, I'm a plantaholic, too, but I don't think there's any hope for us. To get better, addicts must WANT to change. How many of us want to get over this affliction?

I actually did all right through most of my adult life. I stuck with philodendrons and English ivy. Then I moved into places with balconies, and I moved on to window boxes and outdoor plants, and the occasional vegetable or herb.

But what really enabled me happened last spring.

I bought a house.

With a yard.

A BIG yard.

I'm sure you all understand. Yes, I have 200 bulbs and rhizomes and I can't think of where to plant them. Yes, I go out late at night with a flashlight to check on my vegetables and flowers.

I am such a walking cliche! I am an overweight middle-aged woman who lives alone with her books, her cats, and her garden. A lot of people think that's sad, but I don't. And if I'm happy, why should I worry about someone else's approval?

I planted rhizomes today, then got onto the computer, checked out ebay and bought a couple more. And no my fingernails aren't clean. But you know what Will Rogers said: "What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds."

Well, Ms. White....I'm up as late as you and I'll bet my fingernails are dirtier! LOL. Can't claim that the mind is clean, otherwise I'd be a good girl and in bed. I keep thinking those plants aren't going to grow out there without me.

Good to know I'm not the only insomniac.

Just got up out of a sick bed to check my DG mail and found that my dear fellow addicts had posted a link to this thread. Of course, I had to post to it, I'm addicted. My desk, which used to be full of important papers and family mementos, is now full of envelopes of seeds. My carport has become a permanent plant 'nursery' in the true sense that it is where all my baby plants live till they are ready to move out into the big world...and there are always babies. I walk out to check the mail and come in with some small plant that has sprung up. I pot it up and photo it for ID and add it to the nursery. I have to check my pockets before doing laundry because I invaribly find seeds that I absent mindedly stuck away, then forgot about because I wasn't on an official 'seed gathering expedition' when I picked it up.

When we were househunting I had two requirments...the house had to have enough bedrooms that if my MIL ever comes to live with us, I can put her as far away from my room as possible. And it had to have a big yard. My son, who is 21, went with us to look at a few houses. One of the houses we looked at was in a really, really bad neighborhood...and he was broken hearted that we didn't buy it because it had a huge yard with great big magnolias, Crape Myrtles and a forest of bamboo. I suspect he has caught the gardening bug to some extent. In fact, when I tell him about an unusual plant I have seen in a catalog, he starts insisting that I get it. He has been known to pick some of my more unusual flowers to take to female coworkers.

I know that this is a genetic addiction. I inhertied it from my grandmother, the great Daylily and Orchid Lady; as well as from my mother, who used to force me to help her weed when I was a preschooler. As a child, I often played in the woods, and it was nothing for me to dig up a long leaf pine sapling and bring it home to her. She was not as appreciative of the poison oak and sumac I brought her, though. For Mother's Day when I was 6, I bought her a small flat of salvia. When I moved here last Fall, my sister showed up with a truckload of plants to make sure that I also became as addicted as she is. I, in turn, have passed cuttings of those plants on to my cousin , who is also becoming addicted. Then my sister introduced me to DG. And now, I have passed this plant addiction on to my son. It will lie dormant for a few years while he goes off to college and learns about things like 'how to make a pot load of money so you can afford a house with a big yard'. And when he settles down and gets that house with that big yard, I'll introduce him to DG. Muah ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Ok, that's it, we are NOT addicted, it is a genuine illness, and caused by a virus, Plantus Addictus Perpetuous. See how it spreads? See how you can infect other people? You can't catch Alcoholism, can you? We are innocent victims of a disease given to us by other people, even beloved family members, or friends. We are free at last!! It's not our fault! Halleluja!!

Awesome! Something else I can blame on my mother...Wonder what Freud would say about this?

Mahnot:

I you are right, I did some searching and that beautiful verse is from ..... The Glory of the Garden by Rudyard Kipling. Wish I could print the entire thing here, but way too long! You got the best part though!



"Life's a Garden ..... Dig It"!

Lin

I was going to research the poem's name, Lin - thanks!!

I have to head into the big city soon, but guess what? Yup. Had to check in with my fellow addicts!

See ya later!

Mahnot:

I forgot .... I AM going to put that part of the verse on a plaque! My DH has a couple of nice wood plaques left from Thank You gifts he did for visiting speakers, who came to the University a few years back, and spoke to his students. I won't be able to hang it outdoors, but I'm sure I will find a spot inside somewhere for it! I will be sure to post a photo when I get it done!

Thank You so much for "remembering" that lovely verse and most of all, for sharing it with us all!

It skipped a generation, but my addiction must have come from my grandmother. Until she was in her 80s, she gardened -- vegetables, flowers, houseplants, you name it. And the plants loved her as much as she loved them. They'd bloom for her just as a personal favor.

Whoa,,,,marie_ told me this thread sounds just like us. Unbelievable, I could have written any of the posts here. Marie and I met on DG last year. We live rather close to each other and decided to meet and go to a hosta garden and retail center. Well, neither of us knew what to expect when meeting the other. I am so glad we both took the chance cause we immediately became good friends, (in my opinion, Marie's may be different,,,LOL)

We enable each other every time we go green housing or plant shopping. We tease each other mercilessly about our plant addictions (especially hostas). And who else but true holics would hold a hosta for ransom to get another holic over to see their new garden bed,,,LOL Yes, Marie mistakenly (so she says,,,lol) ended up with one of my hostas the last time we went hostaing together. Now, she said I have to come over to see the new bed if I want my hosta,,,LOL

When I bought my house, there were evergreen picky bushes, a lilac, 5 trees, a Hydrangea, 4 ugly shrubs in front of the bay window and some Tulips. Well, I don't like the evergreen picky bushes and they were still pretty small so, every time I mowed the grass, I mowed more and more of those bushes off until they were gone.

My first garden bed was around the deck. I thought it would be nice to have some flowers to look at. Put that in and thought it didn't look too bad. I'm now having to tear it apart and re-do it due to mistakes I made as a newbie gardener. But, you will all understand this,,,,I don't mind and am looking forward to it. Only true holics would actually Want to tear a bed apart and re-do it.

The next bed was *supposed* to be a 6' ring around a tree that had roots sticking Way up above the ground. We went and picked field rocks out of a friends rock pile, came home and Bill started placing rocks for the raised bed. I was working, had a break between customers (I am a hairdresser and have a Salon in my home) and went out to see the new bed. I got to the front yard and my 6' circle around the tree turned into a kinda amoeba looking bed. Very cool I must say. Bill just did his thing and I loved it. It ended up being Way larger than I had anticipated. That's when my unnatural obsession with hostas started. That was in 1997 and continues to this day.

We put 2 new beds in this Spring. Bill went out Really early and got a trailer load of rocks. I was still sleeping when he hollered up the stairs that he had a present for me. I rolled over and went back to sleep. He hollered up again and I figured I better get up cause ther was no way I was going to get anymore sleep. I grabbed my robe, put it on as I was coming down the stairs hollering, it better be a load of rocks or composted manure if you got me out of bed. Well, I looked outside and there was this Awesome load of rocks, enough for 2 nice sized beds. I was so excited. Bill and a friend Jeff got the 2 beds in that day. There were even enough left for a small ring around a tree out bu the road. Again, only true holics know how wonderful a trailer load of rocks is. Were planning another 2 beds, but it was just too hot and humid. They will go in next Spring as I Need the room for my ever expanding hosta collection.

My family thinks I'm nuts to *make all that work for myself* In my mind, it's therapy. It's just God and me in the gardens. There's nothing better than being a sweaty dirty slob after a good days work in the gardens. To have beauty all around and be able to look at it every day. I honestly don't know where my addiction came from. My Mom was the type that if you grew it, it better come up in jars cause she wasn't canning or freezing. I have quit telling customers and non gardening friends how many hostas I have in my collection, I'm tired of *the look*,,lol But I do love it when a customer is out for a walk and I'm outside working and they stop by for a chat.

Bill is used to Priority boxes coming in the mail and usually just rolls his eyes and asks how many hostas I think I need, however, I have now started to hide them from him. I guess that is one of the signs of a true holic,,,hiding your stash,,,lol

I went to a Botanical Garden and an Arboretum a few months ago. I now have a new obsession with books about anything that has to do with gardening. I Need to know the Botanical names of all the plants. Also, I Need to know about insects, Tree's in WI, Wildflowers in WI, Butterflies, Botanical Latin, Science for Gardeners, Botany on a day, and I have numerous Encyclopedias all on the same subject, plants and perennials.

I am extremely anal about keeping records on my hostas. I can tell you where each was purchased, what I paid for it, what year I bought it, what date the lil pips poked through the soil last spring, year of introduction and by whom, what shape the leaves are, what colors, how many vein pairs, stalk length, when it blooms, well, you get the idea. I will start keeping those kinds of records on the rest of my perennials. I think that may be a winter project. I have so many, it's hard to choose,,lol

Well, I really didn't want to write a book, I just am so darn happy that I have come across folks that know we are *normal*. Like meezers said, it's an illness, albiet a good one. If Bill told me to choose between him and gardening, sorry honey, don't let the door hit you in the rear on the way out. I can't not garden. I know my house isn't the cleanest in the summer, but hey, I have all winter to clean my house,,,,oh, wait, I have times inbetween, drooling over catalogs, watching for the sites to put their new wares for 2007 up on the internet, wintersowing and working on my hosta records and being glued to DG. Looks like the house is never gonna get clean,,,LOL

Kelly

I just showed this thread to my DH. (He became a plantaholic a mere 2 years ago.) He is in complete denial and said, "I can stop anytime. And besides, when can you see the Epiphyllums in bloom except at night?" Sigh...

I was hoping that Kelly would tell you about her early morning rock present. I can get just about as excited about rocks as I can about hostas and mushroom compost.

I'm just sitting here and smiling, and nodding my head......completely understanding everything that is being written here. Of course, if a person is already a member of DG.....they already have the disease to some extent. And yes, the suceptability is genetic. My grandmother had it, my mother has it, I have it, and my 24 year old daughter is beginning to show signs. We're doomed I tell ya.

Marie

I'm not addicted. I just love my plants...and hers...and his..and theirs and yours. LOL

My back isn't breaking,, from digging 240 sq. ft of canna bulbs ( my beds AND my neighbor/friends) and my bananas and dahlias, and daturas, and Elephant ears.

I also don't smell awful, after sweating like a pig all day, and my hands also arent unrecognizably filthy, bruised and swolen from pulling, prying, poking and carrying all those things to their safe winter spot.

And I believe in the tooth fairy.....NOT.... on all the above!

I ache all over. Every fall I ask myself, "Self, why do you do this?! This obsession must stop.! Are you NUTS?!"
"NO" myself finally answers. "I'm a holic, a plantaholic."

Guess we all fit in right here.

Think I'll go desmell myself in the shower, and try to drowned some of the stiffness and soreness.
At least I can sleep well tonite, knowing my "babies" are all tucked in for their looong winter nap.

BBL,
Deanna

Maybe I've been out in the sun too long today, but I don't see anything
peculiar or abnormal in any way in your stories, ladies.

If you think about it, God is a gardener, and had the first garden mentioned
in the Bible. I'm on safe ground. I don't think I'm gonna have to explain
anything - well, maybe about hiding the hydrangeas in the trunk and
rushing my husband out to his alumni meeting so I could unload them
and get them in the ground before he came home. But really, I don't
think that counts, do you?

I have hidden many a new pot or flat of flowers - and Bavarian dark chocolate covered mints, too! Oh! That's probably on another thread....Never mind.

Ceejay - Mmmmmmmmmmmm Bavarian dark chocolate...doesn't get any better than that ;) PS - I'm originally from Bellaire! PS - your DH is in serious denial....I hate to be the one to tell you, but....he needs help!
Mahnot - AMEN!!! I thank God everyday for everything and for the guy who invented trunks in cars!!!!!!!!!!
I am also guilty of hiding plants/potting soil/fertilizer/clothes/shoes/purses...
The little cubbies in the trunk come in sooooo handy!

Sharon

I have to correct an error. It is Bavarian dark chocolate mints (not covered) - little cubes that would just melt in your mouth. And they were made by Bauer. And I don't think they are around anymore. But, OMG they were good!!!! And I wouldn't share...... Oh, dear, I drooled.....
Yes, my DH is in denial! He used to hate gardening. I mean HATE! And I think this topic is just a little too close to home right now. Maybe we can have that breakthrough later...What is it called when a whole group of friends come and ambush you in your own home, and make you see you as you really are? Red wine would go nicely with that...

Yeah - nothing like a little "intervention"!

I think that's called "The Brutal Truth."

Hey GardenGeek:

Wanna make a trade?

I'll trade Florida Sand for some of your Wisconsin Rocks! :) Man! I would love to have some Rocks! I would trade most of my plants for a couple of giant boulders! Down here in Florida all we have is sand, sand and more sand! I guess I could go down to the keys and get Coquina Rock .... actually they don't let you take it anymore. I could buy a truckload locally, but thats way too expensive! Oh well ....

Wish you would post a photo of your beds. I bet they are beautiful!

I've never tried Hosta, I think there are some that do grow in my zone .... I might just have to get one. I don't have a lot of shade though, mostly sun. And, I hear they take full shade (or maybe that's just way down south). Can they be grown in containers? I have a small container plant that I got on clearance somewhere a few years back that one of my friends says she thinks is a hosta. It only bloomed for me once, little white flowers. I will have to take a photo tomorrow and post it for ID!

Anyway, Welcome to our Group, and May all your Weeds be Wildflowers!

Lin

Marie,
Just couldn't wait to get me to write a book huh?? LOL You know me too well,,,

Lin,
Would love to trade some rocks, however, I think shipping would be way more expensive than buying them down there,,,lol

I'm sure you could grow hosta down there. IN the South they would probably need shade all day, or for the majority of it. And water, lots of water.

Well, you don't have to ask twice, here are some pics. This one is looking out my front door at the largest of the 3 Front Gardens. The one that was Supposed to be a 6' ring around the tree.

Same bed looking towards the Front door

The Corner garden in Spring '06

Front of the whole yard on the lot the house is on. I have a lot to the right of this pic that is going to be getting beds in the future. The corner garden is right by the speed limit sign, can't see the garden very well in the pic. The Front garden either, these were taken in Fall, so, the leaves kind of hide the beds. Bill made the Arbor for me for my birthday one year. Also, the lattice mail box surround. I sent a pic of it into Birds and Blooms and they actually put it in an issue. I got the idea from their pic on the mail page and Bill kinda *expanded* on it by putting the side panels on it.

My Sunday early morning present,,,,,Bill is behind the trailer. Justine is the one standing wioth his hands in his pockets,,,a friend of ours.

One of the beds from that load of rocks. There are Many more plants in it now,,lol

The other new bed in front of the house, more hostas in here now too

This is disgusting. I'm not looking any more. It's just NOT FAIR !!!
WHY should one person be able to have all those rocks?
Some of them should be packed up and mailed to Texas and
some to Florida ! I don't understand why these things are allowed
to happen. Makes absolutely no sense to me at all.

People like that should at least have the decency to have ugly gardens -
but Nooo, they've got to have beautiful lawns and healthy plants and
lovely houses. There is no justice in this world.

ROFLOL,,,I would send you a whole truckload if I could. They are very plentiful here. I can't take credit for the lawn. Bill is Extrememly Anal about the grass. When he cut's the grass, the lines in the yard have to be straight. He also rotates which way he cuts it.,,,

And, um, ere, thanks for the compliments?,,,LOL

What compliments? I must have made a mistake somewhere.

Free Rocks! Self Serve! U Pick! Come 'n get 'em! Bring a mattock and a digging bar and a truck! PLEASE!