Next So Cal Roundup

My In Laws were Slavic. great cooks. Jo

They are but you have to have a taste for some of the stuff they cook. My people are the chief consumers of sour cream in the world. MMMMMMM

What nationality slovic, Jo?

If we do an Irish theme, lets have a pot of gold as a prize ok?

Had friends from Slovenia - she was a wonderful cook. Soups, wonderful double-baked cookies similar to biscotti, battered and fried flowers (acacia?), and an out of this world dessert made from plums are some things I remember. Their son was diabetic, so she cooked with as little sugar as possible. The flowers were outstanding! Isn't it great to be exposed to so many different cuisines?

yes it would be another theme possibility to do an international one since Dr. Don is a UN guy. In the world today there is so much beauty in all countries if we look at it instead of looking at the bad things.

MIL was from what is now Croatia...FIL was from Ugoslovia.

Pot of Gold sounds good...Are you going to donate it? LOL Jo

No I aim to win it.

Well...if it's Irish food for real...have we decided that?...I'll do Irish Cream Brownies.
Sherry

Yum!

I still haven't heard back from Don yet on any of the particulars. I know he has out of town company this week, so hopefully will hear soon.

OOH Sherry, sounds fantastic. I am going to try to follow Critterologists article and try my mighty messenger and plant seeds in plastic bottles and start outdoors. So wish me luck.

hiya guys,

Donna, is right, Pam and I have had non-stop guests basically since my last post. Robert (balvenie) came down from the Seattle area for a visit, we had guests from Germany, Algeria, and it's breeding season.

The date is great!

Pam and I will be doing the usual with tents, tables, chairs, restroom facilities, and there's a new twist. We've now got a mostly serviceable (soon to be complete) bar with five lovely brews on tap. It's always been a dream of mine to have a gathering spot here on the ranch and now, after quite a bit of begging and groveling we've got one. So there'll be Harp Lager and Guiness stout for all those wishing to have an ice cold Irish half and half....lol. We'll also be doing an entree of some sort that is ethnically appropriate and provide ice buckets with ice for those who'll be bringing beverages to share or otherwise imbibe. I'm working on a couple of the local wineries to see if we can't get a tasting here for the festivities, and, of course, there will be tables for trades set up with sufficient shade for those plants that melt. Since the roses are pretty much peaking at this time I'm hoping to get one of our local nursery professionals that specializes in roses to speak on the topic of pesticide-free rose care, and if the stars are correctly aligned a dear friend that runs an orchid nursery may come and give those of you interested in orchid culture a few tips using the greenhouse residents as examples of pathetically unhealthy orchids...lol.

We're counting the weeks!

best to all,
don

WOW! This sounds like an awesome party!! I must get out my best "bib and tucker"...Jo

Oooooh...black and tan - yummmy. Sounds like a busy and interesting day will be had by all. Can't wait. Our hosts are outdoing themselves!

Hey Don, nice to hear from you again.

I will start a thread soon and get this party rolling. I have my grandson here as he is out of school today and mom and dad have to work.

Be back later.
Donna

As usual, we'll probably have one heck of a shin dig at Don's. Heya Don, Tony's thinking about going with me! He'll be happy to hear about the beers! Let me know what I can do to help out...with anything. Looking very forward to this.

WEEZY WEEZY. Tony will surely come now. Dr. Don saw yours now Tony needs to see his. I mean garden. Clean up those minds.

Tony has seen Don's home!

lol Going nuts with the Irises yet?


Sherry how are the salvias doing are they ready to sell now?

No, just going nuts with the weeds. The season hasn't started yet but I am looking forward to it.

Me too, all these winds and rains, gave me weeds where I had completly erradicated them last year. rrrrr

Too bad everything doesn't grow as well as weeds, just think about it, they don't need fertilizer, water or any special care. I've often wondered why that is!

That is why they are weeds. They usually have a shorter life but go to seed and screw you again and again.

I was out "doing it" again today. Really makes me mad how they grow into the poppies so I end up having to pull the poppy to get the weed!

I have been working in the garden for 2 solid days and man oh man am I sore. lol

I had to dig up several extras from my garden. Either they needed thinning or lots of seedlings coming up. If anyone would care to have any of the following plants, just post here and I will put them aside for you.

Japanese Anenome - White http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/69323/
Geranium maderense http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/60114/
Dwarf Petticoat Fern - NEPHROLEPIS EXALTATA HANDY http://www.glasshouseworks.com/fernpage.html
Ecuadorian sword fern - NEPHROLEPIS ECUADORIAN SWORD http://www.glasshouseworks.com/fernpage.html

Donna

I would like a little of Geranium maderense, please.

You got it George. :-)

If any of you girls haven't seen "ps I love you" go, it will make you want to do a jig or something and celebrate everything Irish. It is a sappy and cute, also funny love story.

Donna I wish I lived in zonew 10!! Dawn I will have to watch that movie now!! I think I will wait until St. Payy's day though They sure do not celebrate St. Patty's day here in Az the way we did back east!!

hiya guys,

Spoke to dave and Trish the other day, and when the announcements go out they'd like this RU to be renamed as the Western Regional DGRU. It's official, Donna and company, you guys have turned this clambake into something special. It should be no surprise as those of you who have been instrumental in each of the previous three events really impressed our founder. I've also received permission to invite some of the more popular plant vendors in the garden watchdog to come and speak to the group. So far Andy's Orchids, a marvelous species orchid grower has penciled us in. I'll be working on Annie, of Annie's Annuals next and one of the local tropical plant growers.

Donna, once you've put your team together we should consider a luncheon gathering to brainstorm.

I think this one will be great fun, and complete with shamrocks!

best to all,
don

I am so excited that I am actually getting to be a part of this finally!!!

Oh, Annie is a kick. The presentation that she gave to San Diego Hort was loads of fun. Hope this works out.

Our Host has spoken!! I will post the new name in the Round ups at a Glance Forum./..as soon as we get a new thread by that name started...Oh Donna! Jo

Andy is great, too! He grows the most beautiful orchids.

CONGRATS!!!! Don and host teams keep up good work... I will miss you all guys...

Remember that I took some pics and it so funnies to see Jo doing! lol....

I going on road again after CRIARU in May ahead to Mt. Rushmore to see and Crazy Horse...

Here's the lunar elcipse took on Feb 19 ~ Rusty's shadow...

Hi Anna you will be missed this year. Hope you hit a lot of other ones.

Cool pix. I missed the whole thing except the first 10 minutes of it as I was on my way to class.

Wow Dr. Don and Pam you can sure pull it off. I can't wait to try the beer on tap this year. Sounds great, since it will be hotter more than likely. You know California, it could be freezing and windy and raining or 100 degrees. June gloom will save us from some of the heat probably.

Now I won't miss the Bungalow Heaven in Pasadena this year. I can not wait to go to it.

Marie you are going for sure? Is Rodica?

Yes I am!! I should be buying my ticket this week.

So is the date for this June 7th for sure? I saw that suggested somewhere above but wasn't sure if that was the final date or if it was still being discussed.

Hi Liz, are you thinking of coming down for our BIG shindig? It would we so nice to meet you and I know you would enjoy this gathering.

There is a Garden party at Twin Lakes Chef's home in Orange today and I will be seeing Don and many others. I hope to get all the information to start a RU thread on Sunday. I haven't had all the particulars yet, that's why I have not started the thread.

Off to get dressed for the party. :-))

Donna

I would love to, but if it's June 7th I can't because my sister's here. Same thing happened last year--I had some family or friends in town the weekend you had it (and I don't have visitors more than a couple times a year, so it's a really strange coincidence that someone's always here the weekend of the roundup!) If it's another weekend I can't guarantee I could come, it depends on how things are at work because I would want to take an extra couple days off to make the long drive worthwhile, and since I'm taking time off when my sis is here, I'm not sure I could take more time off a week or two earlier or later. But I would definitely like to come!

Can you bring her with you? It would make her visit a little different. She'd be most welcome. We'd love to see you, Liz!