Hi From Alabama

Squeaky new gardener. We just bought our first house and I received my first plant, EVER! This was 2 months ago. Since then I can't get enough. I spend as much time as I can learning, planting, messing up, and trying again. We live in Birmingham, AL and I picked the year to start gardening when we had record breaking droughts. LOL. Some made it, some did not, but all were loved. I have been a member about 2 weeks and just found this thread. I LOVE THIS SITE! Thanks for taking your time to get to know a little about me!

Glad Gardener,
Pupil

Welcome, glad to see ya!

8)
Larry

Welcome from your neighbour in MS. I am also a rookie gardener (in the south), lots of good help and fun on this website.
Cheers
GK

Thanks Senlarrs and Gardnerkett. I love this website and everyone is great. Gardnerkett, have you suffered as much as we have with the drought. I picked to worst year to start learning. lol. We are on water restrictions. We can water Mon and Thurs, but NO sprinklers. I had to give up the front yard, because there was no hope of keeping it watered and have focused on all the plants I had to put in pots from the front. Also the backyard is a monster which has so much potential, but tons of work to do.

Thanks for the Welcome.

Pupil

PP,
No water ration here, but we are behind for rainfall, which is hard to believe sometimes!
I have an irrigation system, otherwise could not keep up with nearly an acre yard. How big of a yard are you going to garden?
Lots of good forums if you are looking for input, for your backyard, just throw out the questions.
Australia has been in a drought for a number of years, I have friends down there and they get pretty inventive with their gardening. Check out their forum. Or drop into some of the Tropical forums, they are really fun!

Never a bad year to start gardening! Start your diary to keep track.
Cheers
GK

The front yard is not too large, average suburban home, but FULL sun all day. I would have to water everyday to keep it happy. We have let the grass go dormant and the shrubs and trees are a little weary, but I water them when I can. The back yard is quite large, but luckily a long of shade. All the plants I dug up from the front requiring full sun are back there in pots and making it. We had natural ferns and hostas everywhere when we moved in, but even in the shade and watering when I could, they have suffered terribly. I have found many useful ways to save water. Baths, washing machine, rain "containers" for those scarce days when we get some. My neighbors probably think I'm crazy because I have all these plastic storage bins filling part of my Driveway. We are doing everything we can think of to capture water, but the heat is winning. We had 14 days in a row with record breaking temps, in the low 100's and went 2 months without a drop of rain. Right now, middle Alabama is listed as the worst drought area in the US.

BTW, are you near the coast? Did you get affected by Ivan or Katrina? I am an insurance adjuster (ducking, don't shoot, I am one of the nice ones) and drove down to work claims. I have never witnessed anything like it in my life. The world was focused on N.O., but Missippi got the brunt of it. You guys were not represented as well and it is sad as all the resources went to N.O. The worst destruction I saw was in Lower West Alabama and all of the Mississippi coast. I hate it that Alabama's rainfall is so dependant on the hurricane season. Because it has been so inactive in the gulf, we have suffered greatly, however I cannot wish the devastation I saw on anyone. Maybe just a good tropical storm would do. :^)

Pupil

pp, welcome from your neighbor in Bessemer, Al
kathy

Hi Kathy. A person from my area. We live over in Hoover where we just bought our first house. It is near the Galleria. What does your garden grow and how have you faired with the drought? Did they put restrictions in Bessemer? Would love to chat some more later!

Traci

Traci, bessemer water works was one of the few without restrictions, but it cost me 1,600 to fill my pool. You're not to far from me. i'm at exit one off of I459. As far as the droughtgoes, had to water twice a day, and move what i could in the shade.
kathy

hello from upstate new york. this is a great, friendly site. you will enjoy it. don't forget tovisit the other forums.

Hello and big welcome.. hope to see you around..

Fellow gardener who once lived in Birmingham--Welcomes you!
My grandparents were from B'ham!! i lived there years ago.

Welcome ( i miss the weather in AL )!!

Elizabeth

I'm running out the door, but you wouldn't miss it right now. NO RAIN AT ALL!! Georgous weather right now, however. Mid 70's!!