Just a thought....but I am so eager for spring to arrive. Perhaps an afternoon get together to browse over what's out there might be the remedy we need? I'm just talking about maybe going to 1or 2 places, having some lunch, and chatting about our plans for this year. I always like to look at plants to get an idea of what might work for me. I'm not sure when or where....but just wanted to see if anyone else wanted to do this.
Kim
A 'Hello to Spring' nursery tour?
I do, I do!! I'm not sure when I could, but I sure do. I've really been wanting to go to the Natural Gardener again. Don't remember if ya'll went there last time or not. I couldn't make that one. I really like the way that one's layed out and the people are so friendly and know what they're talking about. I would like to see some of the others you went to,because I know nothing about them. Nurseries are my favorite place for inspiration and therapy. Would it be possible to do this on a Sunday?
Mary Lee
Weekends are best for me, so Sunday would be fine. I've got class Tuesday through Thursday, and lab work the other days as well. I didn't get to make the last one so I'd like to get in on one this spring.
Kim
There's only one Sun in March that I can't do it, but I'm not sure which one it is yet. I'll try to find out tonight. I guess anytime in April works for me, except RU weekend of course.:)
Mary Lee
April is ok for me too for the most part, except the RU and the weekend before I have a plant swap in Houston on Sat. Anyone else out there want to join us?
:) Kim
Maybe March would be better?
Kim, what "plant swap in Houston on Sat." weekend B4 the RU ??
Have I missed something ???
Sooo many questions from an ol' guy
Hey Kip, how are you? How is your neck?
Hi Kip! The Houston plantmeet is something I first was introduced to on the 'other' website. However, people from Dave's attend as well. Here is the link for it although I noticed she hasn't updated it yet: http://www.plantmeet.com/ . It's a lot of fun, good food and good plant swapping.
:) Kim
I'm interested, but have to be very tentative - serious money issues. I'll keep watching for a date and location.
(Hi everyone! What happened to your neck, Kip?)
Hi everyone, I'm interested also, but will depend on the date. Have a wedding on 4/24 in Atlanta & then the RU, otherwise free. Donna
Well...if we want to look at March we would need to do that fairly soon. Anyone have a date that works best? Or a suggestion?
Kim
Kim, I just went to the Natural Gardener nursery. They had very small but healthy Porter tomatoes. She said they will fruit in 60 days! I have to get these babies in pots today. If they're going to grow that fast, they will be root bound in a 4 inch pot very soon. They didn't have a lot of blooming stuff yet of course, but they did have some shrubs that I drooled over. I was very tempted to buy a hypericum hidcote. Have to wait for a payday. Got some MoleMax also to run off the moles in my yard. They were so surprised to learn that I was buying for moles. Apparently most people buy it for armadillos.
Lol....and I have yet to see an armadillo in my yard.....us northerners think they're neat looking. I know everyone here thinks they're annoying to say the least though. I have been waiting to simply sit down and take a breather, last couple weeks have been insane. Between research, hosting a speaker, and surgeries here in the lab, I am beat! But I would like to start looking over some of the local places soon. Truth be told, I have so much stuff from fall swaps that need to go into the ground, that I don't know where anything else would go. Add to that mom and dad's upcoming move...which will require me to be gone at least twice (gotta go get the rest of my junk they're storing), and I don't know when I will get all my gardening done this year. That tomato sounds really neat....60 days! My seedlings went into the greenhouse yesterday, but they aren't growing as fast as I would like. All the recommendations say to wait to fertilize, but I'm getting anxious.
:) Kim
Kim, it sounds like you've got all you can handle. Don't worry about the nursery trip. We could also do it in May if that's easier. Did your parents find land to buy?
We were standing there looking at all the organic solutions for different things like insects, deer etc. Somebody walked up and asked if we needed help. I told him we were having trouble with moles, and he showed me some MoleMax. Then one of the other workers walked by and he said to them, "Hey guess what, these people are buying MoleMax for moles." She turned to us and said "Really? I don't think anybody has ever bought it for moles, because nobody around here has enough dirt for moles." Hmmmmm.
Actually they are looking to move in May or June I think.....but whatever. Until they get down here and pick out a place to buy, we won't know for sure. They have a number of places they are wanting to visit in the Paris area. They are selling the cattle and using that money to make the trip, so when they are sold they hope to come down for a week and look at these properties.
Along that note....anyone here know what the going rate is down here for a John deere 4020? Or perhaps a drill? Or do you even use drills down here? Dad's trying to get an idea of how much machinery costs down here and what he will need. Also to see if it is worth moving his tractor down here.
I still would like to do a nursery trip....but it seems the next few months will be busier than first thought. So if you all find a date that I can't make no worries. I'll hope to catch you in the fall.
:) Kim
You need a drill? I somehow get the feeling that you're not talking about the same kind of drill we use in the shop.:) Just out of curiousity, what kind of drill?
I hope that cattle sale works out well and they can spend some time and buy carefully.
As far as the nursery date, I can do it on Feb 25, March 11(possibly), 18 or 25. But since I was just at the Natural Gardener and they didn't have alot of colorful stuff, it might be more fun to wait til March. They did have lots of shrubs and trees and stuff like that, but not much is blooming. So I guess it depends on what you're looking for. April 1 might work for some, the 8th is Easter, and 15th and 22nd are awfully close to the RU.
We use a grain drill to plant oats. Mary Lee, it's a type of plow with disks and a box above that dispenses seed. Kim, if your parents buy a place with cultivated land, they will probably need a drill. Our hay fields are coastal bermuda, which is a permanent planting. But we often plant another field with oats for winter grazing. I have no idea what it would cost to move a tractor, but there is no shortage of new or used tractors of all types.
Ok, Patrob, thanks for the explanation. I never would've guessed.:)
Yep....that's it! Thanks! Is there any other equipment that would be an absolute must?
:) Kim
Kim, Robert says it all depends on how much cultivated land they buy. A double offset plow is used to prepare the land for planting. (Mary Lee, I can not explain what this is and can not identify it when I see it!) Cutting and baling equipment is too expensive to be economically sound for us. We have about sixty acres that we bale, and we hire it cut and baled. We have a hay spear for the tractor that we use to feed round bales. I have learned this year how to switch out the different tractor attachments. Not easy! Get a bigger hammer is the secret. And the words. The not nice words.
Don't know if you've decided against a nursery crawl, but am sending a link to a garden festival that will be held in Austin on March 31 and April 1st. Nurseries from all around the area come with their best plants. There's a flower show, bands, garden decorations, food, and plenty plants. It's at Zilker Botanical Gardens. I have two free tickets if anyone is coming. I'm volunteering for part of it, so get in free, but still buy tickets to support.
http://www.zilkergarden.org/about/events/zgf.html
Hey bubbles....I am definitely going to that. I went last year and it was terrific! I'd like to do a tour still. March 11 or 18 would be good since one is the weekend before spring break and one is the weekend of break. Anyone want to jump on one of those dates perhaps?
Kim
Well, you're welcome to a couple of tickets if you'd like. Just let me know and I'll send 'em. I was up at A&M yesterday. Went to hear Dr. Odenwald from LSU speak at the Landscape Design class. He was entertaining as usual. I took the course a couple of years ago, but like to audit once in a while. After he spoke, went with a friend to Martha's Bloomers, then to ARE, and finally to Ellison's where we picked our own tomatoes in the greenhouse! Didn't see anything new, most plants had been wintered over outside and looked a little peaked. Guess it was too early for looking. Was a good 'day trip' as we were home by 6. Our next ''excursion'' will be to Caldwell's in Rosenberg. Just trying to find out if we should go early, or wait till it warms a bit.
Thank you very much for the offer. I would only need one ticket though, so if there is someone here going as a couple then please let them have the tickets. I don't really have anyone here to go with. I guess I shouldn't be too bummed about not getting around to the local places yet then....sounds like they don't have too much out. Hopefully soon though, I've got the spring fever bad! Lol....
Kim
It's amazing what a couple of nice days will do to us! Not an extremely harsh winter, but it seems like it has been a long winter. We have been spoiled the last decade with mild winters. Now if our summers would just be mild too! lol and wishing!
March 11 sounds good to me Kim--I'd like to hit ARE in Brenham and Caldwell's once about that time of year.
Debbie
I'll send you a ticket. Are you in the addy?
Sounds good Debbie....I've never been to Caldwell's so that would be great!
Kim
Sure am, bubbles. I really appreciate this! Let me know where to find you there so I can thank you in person.
:) Kim
Just stuck your ticket in an envelope with note.
native texas plant show is april 7th in boerne...
Nada, I sure would like to go to that one, but i am afraid i can't make it, I hope you will enjoy it a lot and find some good plants.
Josephine.
I vend there selling my planters so .... yep... I will be there *giggle if there is anything you are looking for and haven't been able to find let me know... they usually have stuff there you can't get anywhere else.
Hi ya'll. Sorry, I've been "gone" for awhile. DD and I both had a stomach virus. I didn't have it really bad, but it layed DD flat out for 3 days. She was so weak, I thought I was going to have to put her in the hospital to get her rehydrated. But she's better today and even went to work.
I am confused (doesn't take much). Are we talking about 2 seperate trips here? Or are we combining the nursery tour with the festival in Austin?
Renatelynne, where is the thing in Boerne? and does it cost?
I think people are just mentioning what other things are going on this spring in case we aren't able to get a group together. Then perhaps we could meet at one of these events instead of a tour. Am I close?
The Texas A&M spring plant sale is March 31, so I will be hitting that early. It opens at 8 but people get there up to 2 hours early just to have first pick of things. Last year I got there at 10 and it was almost empty! I will probably then go to Austin on Sunday, otherwise too much for one day. I received my ticket today in the mail. Thanks again so much bubbles! I would love to join you for a weekend of it, but as I said I really want to hit the A&M sale on Sat. They have a lot of good stuff there.
As for a nursery tour, if we are to be doing this then we need to settle on a date and some places to go to soon. My schedule is filling up fast, and with my parents' move coming up at the end of the semester, I will also be tied up with helping them move. The dates I have open right now are: March 10 and 11, March 17 and 18, March 24 and 25, and April 14 and 15. On either April 14 or 15 I will be in Austin again for the cactus and succulent society spring show and sale, but that's only one day and it doesn't matter which. If people would like to be in this area of the state, ARE is a good option. I haven't been out there yet this spring. Also Caldwell's but that is further east I believe. I've never been to it so that would be neat. If looking more towards the Austin area, then there are several nurseries to choose from.
Just trying to get things rolling here. Let me know what you think!
:) Kim
Yes we do need to pick a definite date and places to go. How about March 18? As far as places to go, I would rather stick to Austin simply because it'll take less gas, for me atleast. But I realize people in Austin may want to get out of Austin, so what's everybody else's vote? I don't really know which particular places I'm interested in going to because the only one I've really been to is the Natural Gardener. I am looking for some agastache though, so some place that would have that would be good.
March 18 works fine for me, I've got spring break that week before....not that I am going anywhere. I never have except to visit my family. As for places to go, I would be fine with the austin area since I don't go there much. You all would have to pick the places though. How about everyone else?
:) Kim
silver - it doesn't cost anything but they sometimes ask for donations. It is at the fair grounds. If you are looking for native texas plants this is the place to go. That is mostly all they bring to this show. They also bring plants that have addapted well to central texas weather. Anything I have ever bought there has been a good plant that did well where they said to put it.
Renatelynn, I'll put it on my calendar.:) Hope I can make it. Maybe we should start a thread and get some other DGer's interested? Especially the ones that can't make it to the Austin tour.