"Where have all the PNWers gone"

Thanks for your support and info. I did find a site called caninekidneyhealth.com. It is in Ontario, Canada. They have a herbal treatmemt, organic food diet, and hydrotherapy. We sent for the kit. And started the heat/cold sessions. I will check out the sites you offered.

Willow - Keep us posted, will you? I'm interested in hearing what the treatments can do for her. What's your dog's name?

Laurie - Hang in there. I don't think it's too unusual to take a little while to get used to doing your new do yourself. Try different hair products, different clips, etc. Little lightweight scarves are big here now - jeans, lightweight sweater, with a scarf thrown in. They look very cute with short hair.

Beth - Sounds like we're all going to imitating you in the vegetable garden this year!!

You'll love the cattle panel arches....and they are so easy to put up. It just takes two people to stand on each side and bend them up into an arch.

Beth, how do you anchor them?

Oh, I just pounded in four 4 foot lengths of rebar, leaving them sticking up about one foot. Then I bent the arch inside it and tied each corner with a little wire.

Huh, doesn't get much easier than that. Thanks!


Willow, forgot to mention that I'm sorry to hear about your pup's health problems. I'm too much a cat person to have any ideas for you. Hope your new treatment works well. :) And I forgot to comment on the scale-yuck! I handpicked a bunch of mostly hardened ones off a badly infected rescue ficus once-took all afternoon-not really my idea of a good time. I didn't know about the vinegar, though. I'll try to remember that.

This message was edited Jan 10, 2008 2:08 PM

I just looked at the cattle panel trellis, totally cool! I may have to give that a try, thanks for asking all the right questions Susybell & Kayte.

My poodle's name is Mandy Poo Too. We call her Poot. We have had her since she was 7 weeks old. Bought her at a breeder in Ridgefield, WA. Our first poodle was Marvel's Mandy Pandy Poo. We had her for twelve and a half years. We have a fourteen year old cat also. Her name is Shadow. She still appears to be a kitten. I grew up around Poulsbo on a small farm with horses and stuff. We go to the vet tomorrow and will relay info.

Hi Willowwind2 we had a dog boney who went into kidney failure when he was very old and the vet gave him an iv and we chose to not do anything except to comport him. My parent dog nesby lasa and poodle we think had kidney failure she was 16. She had this huge tumor on her belly. I thought it was from years of eatting grapes. I told my dad grapes were bad for dogs and I don't think he listened. She got very sick very fast and died within a day of being sick..
There is a great vet on Bainbridge who specializes ininternal medicine. I think she practices in Seattle. I know she could help you. Her name is Dr. Sheri Wilson. She is also a great gardner and her gaden has been on many tours. Your vet should refer you to a specialist and maybe ask you vet about her since she might be closer than Seattle. Also the pet forum has some very knowlagable people on it. I was reading about the dog who had the inner ear dizzy thing and the lady was thinking of putting him down but the forum said oh no give him and couple of days and low and behold he pulled out of it. Keep us informed Heidi and Dragonfly

Guess who's birthday is today? Katye! 25 right? :0) Hugs, Rachel

The rose is "Birthday Girl" she is one of my favs.

Happy Birthday Katye...Hope you have fun....Hmmmm, I think I remember 25....
Carla

Happy birthday, Kayte!!

Happy Birthday Katye!
Do you have plans? Favorite birthday treat?

Katye - very many returns of the day!!

Thank you cattledogs for the info on the vet.

Happy Birthday, Kate!!

Beautiful rose, Rach. I just heard from a friend that Heirloom roses will be at the Flower and Garden show. She just loves them and may come over from Benton City for the show since they're going to be there.

Happy Birthday you yungin'!

**Beautiful rose, just stunning.

Wahoo!!!! Heirloom is going to be at the PNW Garden Show!

Thanks, all! It's the darndest thing: I have one of those "Groundhog Day" birthdays - every year I turn 29 all over again!
What a fun time today at work - I don't think I've laughed that hard in a while.
I am so blessed to have an incredibly kind & hilarious boss, & my co-workers are sweet, too.
Nice Boss Lady will celebrate her birthday on Monday, so I get to reciprocate.
Definately a great way to start the week!!!

Happy B day Katye
Been doin that one for so long, I actually forgot how old I really am. LOL
Injoy it

how fantastic you work with great people, I can almost smell that rose Tillysrat.

tills, is that blossoming now?

I wish
Was taken in july 07, it was the first boom it had after I had planted it, I ordered it from a cat. its called "Candy Stripe"

They are singing " Spring is in the air" and a prayer for Carol.
New babys for Woodland Garden

ha ha ha - they are cute.

Darling, Mary. I know Carole will appreciate it.

I talked to my brother today. He and his wife live in Northgate - a nieghborhood just north of downtown Seattle and about 20 miles closer to the sound (and out of the foothills) than I do. They have roses in bloom. I'm trying to get him to send me a picture to post.

And today, at the church where the seed-sowing event was held, we saw a plum tree in bloom. Go figure. It's been a little bit warmer than it was in December (mid to high 30's at night, rather than freezing or below and high 40's to low 50's during the day, rather than 40), but lots of bleak, dreary drizzle and gray interspersed with wind storms and downpours. So I can't imagine what is "turning the plants on", but they are all well in bud and some are taking the leap. Hoping for a warm spring. LOL

you know what - I have a camelia loaded with buds (usually blooms in March) and one crazy bloom at the very top opened today, looks bright crazy pretty with no other flowers around, I think it wanted to be Queen.

If it's survives till tomorrow I'll post a pic (if I'm tall enough ! ) Noticed the daphne were very ready to pop their buds open today as well.... ?? and of course, daffodils out of the ground.

Oooooh - I'd love to see the camelia.

I've had two on this property so far and have managed to kill them both - they don't seem to like to be in a container that long. I love camellia sasanqua shishigashira and will try it again this year.

It's January. I just have to keep reminding myself of that. Of course, I've noticed that you guys are about 3 weeks ahead of me. When I go to visit my folks in Corvallis, I know what my next 3 weeks will bring up here. Down in Seattle proper, they are about 1.5 weeks ahead of me up in the foothills.

I have hyacinths putting their heads up through the soil. You can already see the flower buds. And Allium, too, but only a couple inches tall. The snowdrops haven't even bloomed yet. Hellebores and witch hazel are in bloom.
Moved a couple of hydrangeas today since they needed more sunshine.
And a great surprise in the greenhouse today: some trumpet lily seeds I gathered in November have sprouted!

You see, Winter is not all that bad - in spring we would take all this as granted - but in Winter they are precious!!

You are right Laurie - there are so many blooms in Spring it is easy to overlook .. I haven't noticed my snowdrops either, It's foggy here this morning - I'm going to try to get out later and look around & clean-up.

Congrats on your trumpet lily seeds sprouting Pixy !

Okay...so you're all talking about bulbs that are popping up. I have a few which were planted last year that are coming up nicely. Question ~ If I plant some new ones now, will they come up this spring or will they wait until next year? (newbie who has never done bulbs before

One more thing...how far apart do you need to space bulbs? How many bulbs can you jam into one bed before it becomes ridiculous?

As many as you like, and it is always ridiculous because you have always bought too many. So don't worry. Its actually pretty hard to plant them too close - the daffodils, narcissi, and snowdrops will bulk up and every couple of years its not a bad idea to lift and divide them (spread them out) once the blossom has gone, but while they still have leaf (referred to 'as in the green') planting or moving them at that time gives you 1)a chance to see where they are as you plant and 2) gives them a chance to reestablish and grow on.

I wouldn't bother adding any spring bulbs right now - it is probably too late - that being said, if you have some that you haven't planted yet, put them in - there is a slight chance they may come up late, and that could be interesting - you might want to give them some black horticultural fabric over them to give them a bit extra warmth to see if you can get them kick started. the ones from last year should be about to break through if they are perennials. Most tulips are one year wonders and will not perform a second year. There are a couple strains - like Kaufmania, and - can't think of the other - that will repeat blossom. this is mainly because they are all hybrids. If you really want repeat blossoming you need to go to for the tulips like tulipa turkestanica - lovely little creamy white with a yellow blotch at the base of the petals. there is a red and a rosey coloured one too, but that name escapes me right now too.

what you can do is look for summer bulbs - all the gladiolis, galtonias, nerines, lilies and several others - those will all become available in late feb/early march for late summer plantings. the catalogues for summer bulbs are just coming out now.

My guess is that is way too much information. But I am sure the others will also top this up. Oh bulbs, don't you just love them.

This message was edited Jan 13, 2008 5:12 AM

Not too much info at all...a hale and hearty THANKS! I actually did throw a couple into the bed yesterday, 10 drumstick allium and 10 blue anemone poppy. DH is finally making a border of rock so there is at least some delineation of the bed. There are two tulips which are poking up, don't know the names. Got one at the bank one day (being a good customer and all) and one from mom. The one from my mom never bloomed last year...don't know if it's because Sasquatch (my 135# bloodhound, Chile) stomped it when it was young or what. Maybe this year since it didn't flower last year? I think there are a few more which are not making a showing, but the daffs are up. Uncle gave me a few lilies last year which have spent the past year in pots so I was thinking about putting them in there. Also want to head over to the local nursery and pick up bags and bags of whatevers today...

I did put about 2-3 inches of new compost over the soil and am going to mulch over that today...hoping it will "inspire" the babies to show their lovely little faces! Thanks again.

oh outta - I still haven't put my 2-3" of compost out as I usually have done by now - can I say I'm trying something new by not cleaning up the wintering perennials and letting their dead leaves be the compost ??!!

I'm sure they will be overjoyed to have the extra compost - a nice little organic duvet for them. Hmmmm, toastie. Time for me to head back to London - monday tomorrow, pooooh.

okay, here's the Queen .... she was probably at her finest yesterday - but still quite a bright spot in the back for me to gaze at.

Ooh, pretty!

Definitely put the bulbs in. I put bulbs in in Jan and Feb last year and most came up. I actually have 475 bulbs that I have not put in this year! I hope to do so soon. (g)

Gwen