Connie,
Glad you made it back safely..........wounds like your weekend was fast and furious, yet worth it! Those are the best type to me. Although, no place is quite like home, huh? I'm the worlds worst about having a "lead foot" coming home. I too am headed back outside, just ducked in long enough to check on my hatching eggs, grab a bite and back out I go. I will try t sit down tonight and type the list up and post for everyone! :0) Be careful out there in the stormy weather - - - if yours has been as unpredictible as ours, you never know what could happen!
Belinda
Seed Swap for Hummingbird Lovers
Hey do we get to have a Stone throwing party now? I'm game for one.
Hung my two feeders up Friday and I already have my little buddies visiting. My dh said they were there yesterday. YIPPEEEE!
In my experience around here My chime and my icycle spinners are no where near my Hummer flowers. Put them someplace else where the other birds don't mind them. Although I do have one little fella who will fly right up to my one chime and sit on it. The noise doesn't bother him., but he hates the icycles. But I also think he is the little stinker that likes to dive bomb any newcomers (my friend).
I'll have to see if I can find a good pic of the Lake here to show everyone. It is beautiful. Branson is a whole different world for sure. It's about an hours drive from here. We go down there alot to camp and go to Silver Dollar City and to the Dixie Stampede. We love that place. Always great food and entertainment, Dolly Parton did good on this one.
We have rubber mat for in front of the grill, but I'm good at tripping over them. lol. I just move around to fast in there that I can't think of picking up my feet too. And by the end of the night I'm just too brain dead to feel any pain. I did decide today to sit back and do nothing, including no gardening til I rest up from the first weekend rush. I am pooped.
Here is a few good ones of Lake of the Ozarks. We are very proud of this lake.
Here's one of the fishing type pic.
oops that was one of the bluff. let me try again.
Anyway you can google the lae and see better pics. It's is a very beautiful place to live and not as touristy as Branson is. If it was I would have to move.
Oh yeah I forgot to add, we have two of Kali's gardens planted. I have to get the tiller fixed before I can do anymore. I did one of her small ones by shovel and I finally decided that was way too much trouble. I'm not saying I won't do it again cause I am a glutten for this stuff, I'm just not going to do a big one like she wants with a shovel. lol
I'm slow. old and decrepid not dumb.
Oh how wonderful that 2 of Kali's garden beds are planted. Does she water and check them every day??? Sorry to hear that your tiller is on the fritz. I do lasagna beds and use cardboard about 6 months before I am ready to plant a garden bed. I've done about 12 beds that way this past year. Have you ever thought of trying to do that? I am with you ..... can't do the shoveling like I used to. (Though I do still get out there and put a hurtin' on some areas of my gardens. lol)
lllllmmmmmmbbbbbbbboooooooo @ the Stone throwing party, but you bet 'ya, I'm UP for for now!!!!!!! Been doing the happy dance around here the last couple of days! Wwwoooooooo Hhhhoooooooo!!!!!!!! DH said yesterday, "My heavens, I can tell you are back to yourself today and I sure am glad!". lol NOT sure what that meant. he he
Robyn, SO glad you had a hummer visit today! What a treat to come home to! The area looks beautiful. I would love to see it one day. DH & I are HUGE campers (the RV type, lol). Back in the day we could rough it, but with these old, aching bones, I have no problem dragging along the RV. :0) Thanks for sharing the info and pics with us. I am going to Google it here in a bit - - - it is raining AGAIN here today, so that will give me a good reason NOT to clean the house or do my laundry! lol
I hear you ladies on the shoveling. That tool ought to be outlawed at a certain age. Becky, I love your idea with the cardboard. I do basically the same thing, except I use newspaper layers in my lasanga beds. I am thrilled to say that it will bring in TONS of earthworms! I have a new area marked off now that I want to add a kidney-shape garden in, but it is TOTAL bermuda grass, and I do mean thick! If it would stop raining, I want to go out, mark it off and get busy. How do hold your cardboard down, Becky? I usually leave my newspaper layer on top, wet well and then I cover it with thick black plastic anchored down by rocks.
I've been thinking about changing the mulch I use. What type do you all use? I need LOTS of mulch to re-do my gardens with, now that things are up and growing. I would love to hear what you ladies use - - - my old standby mulch is standard pine chips. They wash away too easily and leave a big pile of mulch in the low areas of my gardens. I think I need something a little heavier. ?????
Wishing all of you a GREAT day - - - I need to get busy around here. I've got several baby turkeys that hatched last night that need moving and several more on the way today. It looks like a hatching haven around here lately! lololol Here is one of my latest hatches..........a blue/black silkie. Cute little balls of fluff!
Belinda
I want it. It's so cute. Snuggle it for me please.
Not sure what you mean by lasagna beds. I am trying heavy cut feed bags around my one tractor tire bed. I try to keep it wet and held down with rocks. They are the 50lb. bags that the horse feed comes in. Two layers of them are extra, extra thick. Haven't figured out how to tuck it under the tire though.
I use cypress mulch or pine needles (dried). Horse, chicken and cow fertilizer. The animals leave enough of that stuff lying around. rofl.
You are right about the animal waste, Robyn. E-yikes on that! I too have enough nitrogen fertilizer for several families with the cows, horses, chickens, lambs, and goats! LOL The lasagna bed I'm talking about is taking several layers of various things: i.e. newspaper, nitrogen (pooh, lol), grass clippings, and dried leaves from my oak trees, layered into layers and layers until I feel like I have a good top coat, then I cover well, water, water, water and wait. After a few months, the ground is SO fertile and rich, the plants love it.
Thanks for the mulch info. I may try the cypress. I just know that what I'm using is pitiful. Also, I was going to tell you to take a sharp trowel and tuck your feed sacks under your tractor tire. I used a sharp shovel and wedged mine under. I too am a tire using gal! Imagine that - - - right? LOL
I gave the little one a snuggle for you. She loved it. Can't wait for the next batch to hatch out!
Belinda
I'll have to try the layered recipe. It sounds pretty easy, except do I have to dig the spot up first or can I just start on top of the grass that's there?
Robin - What I do is section the area off with some kind of edging. I use wood edging or plastic edging. I then cut and/or lay down a single layer of cardboard or 6-10 layers of newspaper. Soak thoroughly. I purchase bags of compost and good soil which I mix together on TOP of the cardboard about 4-6 inches deep/high. Then I put a layer of mulch on top of that and just leave it for several months. Usually 3-4 months here. (I usually start beds in the late fall.) If you put plastic over it, it will kill the grass faster, but it also bakes the good nutrients out of the compost and soil. You could just use the cardboard or newspaper and mulch and cover that with dark plastic to kill the grass/weeds underneath. I just don't know how long to leave it like that. Probably like a month. After you uncover it, then add the compost and soil to the bed. And you are ready to plant.
I don't do any digging until I am ready to plant. And I do have to cut through the dead roots of the grass and weeds as well as the cardboard or newspaper, but only in the spots I am planting. And believe me, it is MUCH easier to dig through that than through live grass and weeds. I just use a sharp shovel. If I am doing a seed bed, I just plant or throw the seeds out on top of the bed and water every day thereafter until the seeds become plants and are established enough that they don't need daily watering. If you get rain regularly, then you don't even have to water unless it gets too dry in bed. That's how I do it!
In case I didn't quite clarify your question, Robin ...... I do NOT dig up the grass or anything else first. I just stack paper/soil & compost/mulch on top of the area I want to become a garden bed and let it sit for several months.
Hey Robyn, NO digging for me either. :-) That is why I like the lasagna bed method so well.
Pam, yes the Hardy Hibs are great attractants for hummers. Not only the red, but the pink and yellow also. They love the giant stamen that the hib blooms have. I have about 8 different types around my gardens for that reason. :)
I'm off to buy groceries and run errands today. Not one of my favorite things to do. YUK. :( I buy once monthly since we live so far out and typically fill up two baskets. I'll check in late tonight with you all. Have a GREAT day!
Belinda
That kind of gardening sounds so much easier. I'm going to do that for my biennial garden I want to start this fall, I'm also thinking of a daisypop garden. I transplanted a bunch of spider lilies yesterday. I didn't like them scattered in an area where the electric company could come and dig them or run over them. I palnted all kinds of bulbs and bushes too, that about killed me.
Today I spent 3 hours planting seeds. Now the storms all coming in again. Love the rain, not the storms or the time it takes me away from working outdoors.
Thanks for the lasagna garden tips. That will make my gardening easier. yeah!
Grocery shopping. EEEEEWWWWWW. thats as bad as cleaning toilet or the litter boxes. : O
YES, it is as bad as those two chores!!!!!!! :0) I strongly dislike it. But, the good part is that now its done for a month. Whew. I DREAD it everytime it comes around and I put it off until the VERY last minute! lol
I hear ya on the seed problems with the storms. Man, I planted 32 different types this weekend and WHAM, huge storm comes through and floods them out. GGgrrrrrr!!!!!
I too am headed outside - - - suppose to be nice today. I've got plenty to work on for sure! lol NO digging for me though...............I'll do just about anything but dig. I did several new plants at the nursery yesterday; it always fun finding them homes. One is Walker's Low........the 2007 perennial of the year. Can't wait to watch it grow. Have a GREAT day!
Belinda
I never get lucky in finding plants like that. Save us all some seeds. Raining again today, so I'm doing 'inside' chores, yuk! But I guess it's better to do them now than when it's nice and sunny.
I started last night a lasagna bed, only the layout though, the lightning kind of scared me enough to make me go inside. It's on the back side of my pool. It will get morning and afternoon shade then late afternoon and evening sun. They will be small beds about 3 feet across and there will be 2 of them alike. I have Giant Red canna in the middle bed. Whatever I grow there has to be at least 4 foot tall to be above the height of the pool and not spread to much so I can get to the pool. To give you a rough idea my pool is 27' round. on the right side I have a flower bed approx. 10-12 foot long and 7 foot wide. Deck is along the whole front of it. After this flower bed I want a 2-3 foot space then a small bed, space, the canna, space, then another bed, space, then the pool pump and equip. then I have another flower bed about 6 foot by 5 foot. It has hummer and butterfly flowers. then steps to the deck. Hope this make sense. Any one have suggestions of what to put into those small beds? Right now the large bed has cannas hibiscus, batchelors button, mini tea roses, and bunches of lilies. and mini irises. I have more stuff to put in it because it's so large. I have a terra cotta pot that is broken on its side with lobelia spreading out from it. Possibly poppy if it comes up and larkspur too.
UhOh! I'm rambling again. Any help appreciated, I want more hummers and butterflys to come.
Good evening ladies! Sorry I signed up and ran....We are finishing our basement and I have been forced to divide my time between gardening and painting. Ugh! This is not the time of year I want to have to choose! I have peas, lettuce and greens up so that tells you where I am with respect to your gardens. The ice went out on our lake this week and the loons came back the next day as did the peepers,(frogs from hibernation) so we are official in Maine - it is spring! ;)
Robin, the Ozarks used to be my favorite place to go as a kid. Silver Dollar City was my favorite. Her in Maine we live in a "Summer People" town as we call it here, so I can relate to the extra work it takes to support yourself and the tourists.
Belinda, the babies are so cute!! I raised chicks in the spring when I lived in Missouri and it was so much fun.
Silkie, I think it was you who listed the top ten wish list for named hostas-- send me a dmail and will tell you what I have to share if there is anything you don't already have... I am just too busy to participate in that thread at the moment. The same goes for anyone else here- I do have extra hosta if you are interested. I don't want to flood the swap with just those seeds so let me know I can send them with our packet or now if you are anxious.
We had floods here last week as you probably saw on the news. Our road washed out and only 4 wheel drive could make it. I got to play Indiana Jones in my Subaru, but it was fun for a day or two. We got someone to patch it so a regular car can pass, but there are so many emergencies, we will have to wait for real repair.
This swap gives me a chance to fill my empty beds with plants that are really beneficial and I appreciate you steering me in that direction. I have a lot of plants started that I think the hummingbirds will love, plus I have a place to send all the seeds I won't be able to use. Seed packets contain sooo many seeds.
Have a great evening. Cyndie
Can't resist a hummer swap - may I join?
Robyn, how 'bout a tripod of morning glories for hummers rising above the nearby cannas, with maybe a grass in there somewhere? I'll bet there's an upright-growing type of grass that doesn't spread horizontally too much - something with purple blades??? I don't remember it's name, but it gets that black-purple color in the fall.
We've had a forecast of rain for the past few days, and the ground is dry as a bone grrr.
Good FRIDAY morning to all of you! And I must say, TGIF around here. This week has been something else - - - I'm ready for a weekend of nice weather without storms! lol Cyndie, I saw your floods on the weather - - - what a nightmare. This years weather has been terrible for everyone. I've never seen a year like this one before. Poor you, having to paint and work on the basement. I love the way a freshly painted room looks, but I'm not found of the actual painting. LOL I'm terrible about picking & chosing my chores! :0) I have a gallon of stain sitting on my back porch right now, waiting for me to use it. I somehow manage to find other things to do first! lolololol Pitiful procrastinator I am!
bluespiral - WELCOME to the hummer swap! So glad to have you. :-) Glad you buzzed on over and jumped in with us. We chat a lot, can you tell? lol Lots of discussion goes on in this thread - - - I love to hear about everyones gardens and plans. Nice place for us to sit and chat. :-)
Robyn, I think the grass Karen is talking about is Purple Fountain Grass (pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'). I have a few bundles and they are SO pretty. They grow to be about 5' tall and 2' wide, with tall blooming spikes that are a cream color. Very nice additive. Have you thought about using zinnias for a bright boost of color? Or maybe geraniums, verbena, lantana, McKana's Giant coumbine, mountain bluet, Blue Pearl jacobs ladder, and maybe a few delphiniums? Just my thoughts. I could literally spend all day everyday planning gardens. I jot all mine down on graph paper, note their color, then move accordingly to size and color. If something doesn't cut the mustard once its grown, I dig it up and move it! LOL Let me know what you think about those ideas. I do like Karen't tripod of MG idea. What a nice centerpiece that could be. Or even a medium size bird bath for your focal point? See.........I could go on for ever! lol
Only one more spot to fill before we have a FULL swap! That was super fast ladies. I need to get started on my seed packets. I'm not yet sure what I am going to do with mine - - - several ideas, none that just stand out yet. :) Have a great FRIDAY and I will talk to you all soon! The gardens are calling for my fingers................anxious to get them dirty today! lol
Belinda
Hi gang, I love all your ideas. I'm still trrying to germinate the Fountain Grass, I've been trying since January, I guess the seeds aren't any good. I have Delphiniums, Lantana, Verbena and Columbine that aren't quite big enough to put out there yet. I also have a 4 and 1/2 high bird feeder in that big garden that is begging me to hurry up and get either the passion vine or the cardinal climber near it. My birdbath is in the front garden that has Malva, Canna, Suprise Lilies and Crepe Myrtle in it. The rest is bare and it is a big garden. I have to get to work on it soon before all the weeds take over.
I'll have to sit down and figure out how to put the tripod up, something that high would look great. Thanks.
I did spend the morning on my big round raised garden in the front. It's almost done. I have freesias glads, iris, Harlequin, Anemone. geranium, cupid dart, cosmos, 4 o'clocks, marigolds, zinnias, love in a mist, cleome and a few others I can't think of right now. And I have approx. another 4 sq. ft. yet to plant.
I'm heading off to work, everyone enjoy your sunshine.
R
Hi everyone! Looks like you need one more to fill up?? Can I join? I'm still new to Dave's but have been lurking ALOT!! HA!
Tena
All action seems to have ceased when I asked to join--Don't be scared I don't offend easily---You can say NO without hurting my feelers!! Check me out in rate and review at Garden web GW name dirtfloor.
Thanks,
Tena
Hi Tena- You are definitely not being ignored!!!! LOL! This just seems to be a busy weekend for all of us, and no one has checked in. I have been up-potting tomatoes and peppers all day- in between painting door trim!
I am sure Belinda won't mind me welcoming you on everyone's behalf! It's always great to meet someone new.
So-- how's your garden coming? I would be interested to hear where zone 4 is in the spring wait for gardening. Hummingbirds make it all the way to Montana??? ;) Cyndie
Yep there are hummingbirds that come thru MT I read about 5 varieties. I'd love to see them all!! Just moved into a new house and have 1/2 acre of UGLY!! Hubby is just getting the tiller runnign today. things are just starting to leaf out. 80 degrees today will give that the hurry up. HA! Guess I better get out and get busy!
Thanks for the welcome!
Tena
NO ignoring you here, Tena! I've just been EXTREMELY busy this weekend. So many things to do this time of the year. WELCOME to the Hummer Swap, we are thrilled to have you and welcome to DG, also. People around here are great.
Thanks Cyndie for helping me out - - - I appreciate it dearly. I figured everyone would be outside and busy this weekend, and I haven't slowed down long enough to check in! Sorry about that guys. :0)
Tena, how fun to have 1/2 acre to plant and work with. Where is Harlowton? DH & I love Montana - - - one of our favorite places to visit. Gorgeous countryside there.
Robyn, I was thinking on your tripod for MG's. How about if you take either bamboo or pvc pipe about 8-10' long and triangulate them together with twine? Would that work for you? Nice and easy, and the bamboo or pvc will go in the ground nicely, too. Hope you didn't work too hard this weekend! Get some rest!
I got a dmail from pepsidrinker and she has had to bow out of our swap. So, that leaves us ONE MORE spot open for someone to jump in! :-)
I'm headed back outside to work for a while, but I will check in first thing tomorrow morning. I've got about 40 seedlings to plant this afternoon! e-yikes! LOL I wouldn't have it any other way.............would ya'll????? lol :0)
Belinda
i'm checking in, i'm still alive, lol. it has been crazy here lately and i'm trying to catch up on things. belinda thank you so much for helping on mine i appreciate it and for joining. i've been off the comp for awhile so i missed they were posted. i'm totaly thrilled ya all joined us and again thank you!!
talk soon,
silkie
Hi Tena! Welcome!
This is SPRING and no one is inside on their computers during the day or sometimes the entire weekend. We are all out working in our gardens! LOL! Now when you get your seeds from this swap, you'll be out there planting, too! ;-)
I'm a wanna be hummer watcher! Meaning I don't have any hummers that have yet found my yard. So I am hoping some of the seeds grown to plants that I get from this swap entices the little birdies to visit me! Actually, I have a quite a few plants in bloom that hummers love. I'm just waiting for them to find me! Ya can never have enough hummer plants! Ha, ha!
Well I guess i'm a wannabe too I have seen hummers here before but I want them in MY YARD!! Tilled up the garden area and planted my potatoes today-just in time too got a thunder storm and areally good downpour. Those taters are gonna live that!
Harlowton is almost in the middle of the state- about 65 miles from geographical center to be exact! I'm about 92 miles NW of Billings.
Got alot done today..........Bye Girls! I'm off to the Hot Tub...... then Night Night.
Tena
Becky, that is SO true about no one being on much this time of the year. We are ALL so busy outside, that unless a storm comes through and ruins your outside work........no computer time until late at night! Here lately I have been so tired by nighttime, I simply crash! Sorry about that you guys! I'll try to do a bit better. :0)
I'm trying to come up with a idea to decorate my seed packets with. Still a blank for me. UGH. :) I think I'm "thinking" too hard. lol I want something bright and cheerful, yet hummer oriented. Maybe something will come to me this afternoon. It is raining here today. Severe thunderstorms AGAIN, and a tornado watch. This Spring has been a booger on us.
Tena, thanks for the Harlowton info..................and I'm so envious of your hot tub! I haven't had one in about 7 years now and I sure do miss it. (like I would ever have time to get in it anymore, LOL) But it sure sounds nice & relaxing.
Silkie, you are very welcome for helping out. I know you would do the same for me, anytime. :) Hope things calm down for you a little.
Have a great day ladies! Laundry duty calls among other household chores I've neglected for a few days now. Enjoy your day!
Belinda
My seeds are in the mail!
Where's the 'Hot tub" party, I'm ready and I need it. I feel like I've been through the wringer after this weekend. My body is aching head to toe.
I'm still trying to work out the tripod, I tied some PVC poles together and put it in place, but it just looks funny, my dh keeps teasing me that I'm not going to be able to have my teepee that close to the pool so I can just fall in any time I want too. Funny man huh, (NOT) I'll have to have my DD take a pic so everyone can give hints on it.
When I was out running errands today, I did a no no, more of an oops I can't resist type thing and Bought a big hanging basket of purple, white and yellow Million Bells. Every time I passed it, the little thing kept calling my name, Robin, Robin help me please, I need a good home. It just sounded so pitiful,
Later all, I do need to get out and try to get a few things done.
Alright Bynde since you're done, come help me with mine. I'm just too exhausted.
I know the feeling! Getting out and working in the garden after a long winter makes you sore right down to your bones. Me and DH cut down 5 trees this weekend and had to cut them up and haul out to the burn pile. I'm done for!
OOOWWWW!! I'm too old and tore up for this kind of work!!! Bynde I don't envy you I got a burn pile the size of a small semi trailer! ha! Hubby and I continued on with more flower beds today. another
6' x 25' I've got so much stuff to plant they're filling up fast. I can't wait to see something blooming in my yard.....finally.
Later girls,
Tena
my hummer be went out today to ya so it is on the way. i sent it early cause as ya know,lol sometimes it takes mine forever to get to ya during ship. i had lots of fun thank you so much for doing such a cute swap!!!
Beth, you and Silkie are super fast! WOW, you gals want to come help me with mine? lol I am behind, again...............imagine that?!?!?!?! lol Yard work flat wears my body out. It seems like I make it about 2 hours and I'm toast for the day. Sad, huh? But, its the truth. Wish now that I had time to garden about 25 years ago! LOLOLOLOL
Robin, about that tripod. Stick your pvc in the ground about 16"-18", at least. That way your DH can't "hoot" and say "I told you so"! Sounds like something mine would say. When the MG get rooted and growing up it - - - that sucker won't go anywhere!!!!!! I had another idea for a tall MG vine. How about a windmill? You know those decorative ones about 12' tall? That would be WAY cute. Hhhmmmmm, wonder where we can find one? I would like to put one in the center of my new canna garden!
Tena, we would love to see pics of your gardens when you get a chance! I literally love new gardens. SO fun and can be so inventive.
Its raining here AGAIN today. So far 4.2 inches of rainfall in about 20 hours. UGH. Can I share with anyone?????? Ppppllllleeeeaasssseeee????? I've about had it with the weather this year. We NEVER have this type of rainfall around here. My baby seedlings are flooded and I've now planted my chives, MG's & castor beans TWICE! You gals have a great day and I'll check back in later. I'm going to TRY to get my seed packets started!
Belinda
Count me in -- my first swap!