I am sitting in my new arbour facing the new fragrance garden. Today I started working in the garden at 6:30 am - and knocked off at 2:30 pm. I have the most exquisite catmint (blue wonder) blooming across the yard from me. To my left, in a little extension of the garden, bearded iris are blooming (painted cloud, joy, and mother earth) The daylilies are almost ready to blossom.
In the past week I have planted 12 replacement lavender (planted lavender last fall I order from Michigan Bulb - all I can say is DON"T!), Nine replacement phlox (ditto), 3 globe thistles, 12 lemon yellow petunias (grew these myself!) Another say, 30 petunias (also grew these but they are sooo puny - I doubt I will have blossoms before October lol). These I grew myself - 35 snapdragons, 6 pink malva, 8 old-fashioned carnations, about 20 pinks, 20 Pacific Giant Delphiums - Sky Blue (have to wait till next year to see the blooms) about 15 foxgove for next years blooms, 14 gladiolas (Peter Pears - sort of orange coloured), about 30 viola blackberry cream, 4 morning glories, about 140 impatiens, (still have about 50 to go), more baby's breath (can't have too much!) potted up five containers, transplanted 3 "red-hot poker" plants (aka Knafia? sp?)
I also cleaned up the front veranda where all these little plantlings had been waiting for me to do something with them. Suddenly, the veranda looks HUGE - there is nothing there (it had been almost completely covered with flats except where the table and chairs are on the one side!)
So have getting thoroughly dirty after 8 hours in the garden - it's was into a bubble bath - and now I am outside, sitting in the arbour, listening to birds twitter and feeling rather pleased with myself - while I can - blackspot, powdery mildew, and Japanese Beetles are bound to arrive only too soon.
Cheers,
Michaela
CLOSED: Summer Sizzler Swap
Michaela, loved your post - so much there we can all identify with - those blissful moments of intermission from all that rooting about in the dirt when we emerge to clouds of flowers. Today was doc and a "cloud" from his meds, but tomorrow should find me right again at daybreak planting out more rooted cuttings of lavender, creeping rosemary and thyme 'Lemon Mist' as skirts for dwarf Ipomoea nil 'Sun Smile'. Have an appointment with Jasmine grandiflorum up the hill, right now - it seems to winter over okay around here growing up through a hardy woody plant - fragrance is outstanding.
Good question, Silkie - hope y'all keep chiming in.
this is the newest update i still don't have 2 of them.
1. scrap_n_tell--?
2. Robynznest--got
3.bluespiral--got
4. silkiechick--got
5. silkiechick--got
6. kaykay1010--?
7. Seandor--got
8. TexasGardenMom--got
i need to know if the last 2 are mailed yet or not.......
thanks,
silkie
if noone has any objections your be's will be shipped tomarrow. i have already had to replace some of them. if the other 2 be's aren't mailed yet sorry but you will have to wait for the next time around as this is a time sensative one due to stress on the plants. if it is already on the way please send me track # so i know when to pick it up at the po and we will wait for it. if the others aren't in then i will just swap between everyone's that i have already.
thanks,
silkie
ok, i mailed out the 4 i had already, sorry but they couldn't wait any longer they had to get going to get planted in there new homes. so as of 10 am today they are off to ya.
kaykay-yours didn't come if it is on the way, i still have pleanty of seeds from the other's from my 2 be's i can swap with ya and i have all kinds of things plant wise in my garden to swap your bonus ones also. that way you can still take part it's not a prob, i just had to get these out since they have been here so long.
scrap-i still have not heard from i'm worried something happened i hope everything is ok. your in my prayers everything is alright and you are well and doing good. i can still swap your be also same as kaykay if ya get it in soon. i will be leaveing next wed for vacation so i just need them in and out before i go or noone will be here for them to pick up.
talk soon it is lightning and a bad storm is hitting,
silkie
Silkie - I just want to thank-you for taking on this big responsibility along with all the others you attend to.
Cheers,
Michaela
you are very welcome, i love doing swaps and tradeing with all of you!!! my gardens wouldn't be what they are today without my DG friends and family, i thank you all for shareing you gorgous gardens and wonderful seeds with me!!!
i'm sure i missed sending something in robin's BE as part of a trade so if i missed anything in anyone else 's please let me know so i can still send it to ya.
thank you to all who participated this was alot of fun and you all did a wonderful job!! hopefully next one will have lots more people to share with!
silkie
wow i met some generous and sweet new gardeners today. earlier we went to a greenhouse and bought tomato plants for $1.25 a 6-pack. the nice lady there only charged me $1 each since next week they will be closeing up shop. then before we left she wanted to give us something for the kid's to plant too. well that sweetheart gave the kids a flat of 2 toned marigolds and a flat of red silvias. they were so excited,lol. she said might as well start them young and since i have 5 kid's there was pleanty to go around.
just a little bit ago a friend stopped and said i got a friend who has iris and something else he wants moved to put grass in. took us an hour of digging but i got 125 tall bearded iris he let us have just so he had more grass,rotfl. what a grand day today has been!! i can't believe how nice he was too and it was so neat to meet new people who share in my love for gardening. i'm not sure what the other was but i got a bundle of it too. we'll see when it blooms what it is i guess. the iris are either white/purple or lght pup and dark purp.
i got some planted before dark but nowhere near half of it so i know what i'll be doing tomarrow. all day in the dirt again!! :o) just had to share how blessed of a day today has been. i hope it has been as blessed for everyone else too.
silkie
Wow! See -what goes around comes around. You are receiving plants 'cause you are yourself generous.
I am so happy for you :-)
silkie and everyone, I have to apologize. I have had a very bad time since my last post. My 12 year old autistic son got caught (by me) stealing yu-gi-oh cards from wal-mart shortly after I last posted. We had run out on an errand and it just got ugly. He did not get to got to his Tourettes Syndrome camp we have been looking forward to for a year and had to deal with loss prevention(My decision). I immediately spiraled into a terrible depression. I sometimes have a very hard time with the things that God thinks I can do. LOL. I had the package ready, but of course the little plants smothered in the box by the time my brain remembered what the heck I was supposed to be doing. I am please that you went on with out me and hope that you can forgive my lack of communication and irresponsibility.
Kelly
Kay, I don't see anything to forgive and feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to get to know you a little bit and have you in my circle of gardening friends. I think the choices you are faced with are incredibly hard, but that you're making the right ones. I hope you won't feel depressed on our account, because all of us - at one time or another - have had life get in the way.
It is so hard for anyone in the caretaker role - you certainly aren't alone in the difficulties inherent in that. DG has a Caregivers Discussion Forum at http://davesgarden.com/place/f/caregivers/all/ - might be worth looking into for support.
Hope you are taking care of yourself and will keep in touch - you inspire us all.
Right, Kay - it sounds like you were very responsible to me - you have your priorities straight. No need to apologize.
We'll catch you next time :-)
i totally agree, no worries. i understand i have 5 kid's and 3 of them have disabilities so i know what you are going through. if ya ever need a friend to talk to i'm always here. please join us again on the next swap when ya can as we'd love to have ya!!
kid's, life and yourself come first always!!
hugs,
silkie
I am so thrilled! I received my package today. Thanks to everyone who participated!
Received mine today - thank you Silkie and all - very pretty plants and seeds.
This message was edited Jun 15, 2007 6:12 PM
Got my package Saturday, Great plants and seeds, thanks everyone and you too especially silkie. Can't wait to start the seeds. The plants got taken care of Sunday morning at 12:30 am when I got home from work. I have to baby one plant cause I think the postman sat on the package to see over the front end of his car.
Silkie no ammy seeds. no worries I have crs too.
Kay I admire you for what you did. we'll catch ya on the next round. I'm sure there will be plenty more to do. I know I have been thinking of one to do later on in the fall. Hope you'l join in on that one.
Robin