"Where have all the PNWers gone"

Dropping by to say hello. I too have a gazillion bulbs waiting to be planted. and I miss you all very much - hope to have a normal life again someday, But that might be wishing for the wrong thing.

It's raining here this morning - wasn't supposed to do that!

Hope you all have a glorious day.

Carole

Oh, Carole, its so nice to hear from you. I think we have all been thinking of you. Warmest thoughts. Laurie

Thanks for stopping by today, Carole. Hope the day is going well for you and for Steve.

We love and miss you Carole.

Hugs and prayers to you carol, miss you very much.

Carole, we miss you! Don't forget to take time for yourself!

Katie59, I don't know what killed your Camellias, but I doubt it was being in a pot. Camellias like to have their roots a little cramped, and because of that are very good pot plants. Mine are in pots, and my father had one that was over 20 years old in a large container. Each spring, he would dig out some of the old soil (very carefully) and put fresh in along with some fertilizer. I guess the Camellia was over 10' high and was still in the same container when Dad passed away about 12 years ago. Dotti

I didn't know that about Camelias - excellent info! Just opened up enormous potential for the new patio area. Hmmmmm. thanks dottik

You sure are welcome. Camellias are my favorite plant (as if you couldn't tell) partially because they do so well in shade, especially the filtered shade from trees. And, there are some cultivars can live well in area's that go down as low as -10%F/-23%C. Dotti

Thanks, Dotti. Maybe I'll try it again and just make sure to feed well and keep the soil updated. And now I'll think of your dad while I do it. :-)

Actually, I'm always looking for something to augment the little patio in my folks house. They downsized and moved to a one-level house a couple of years ago. My dad's 89 and my mom's 87 and they don't really get outside much to garden, so I try to plant something for them to look at that won't require maintenance and that will give them year-round interest. In summer, I do a little garden tub for them so they can have fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, but everything else is just for them to look at.

I'll bet my mother would love a small camellia or two. Hmmmmmmm.

Oh, Katie that's so nice about the cukes/tomato tub. Wonderful idea.

Laurie - thanks for saying that. I think my brother's don't get it when I try to improve the aesthetic, but I really do think that my dad appreciates having a little bit of gardening to do. I thought that having the veggies in a tub meant that he wouldn't have to bend over, but the number of tomatoes and cukes was outrageous and, of course, they were "hiding".

At dad's 89th birthday in August, his great-grand-kids took it upon themselves to find all the little cherry tomatoes. Of course they didn't want to actually eat them. LOL. As my 5-year-old great-nephew, Jake, says, "I have good eyes." Just love those kids - they crack me up most of the time.

I put a trellis in the middle and planted scarlet runner beans - about 10 seeds and I think they all germinated. I get "Jack and the Beanstalk" now.

Just gorgeous! ** I so hope someone is kind enough to do that for me, absolutely lovely thought. My DH's Nonna had a vegetable garden until she passed, and I know how happy it kept her to tend to it.

Kathy, you are a gem. What a delightful thing to do for your folks. I am totally with you, as you know, on the aesthetic thing - it helps, doggone it, it helps!!! Every year I do a new container for my mom for Mother's Day - she loves it . . . and loves that I put a little critter or an angel or something in each one. And every year I re-do the old ones. However, my dad really is no longer able to take care of them for her so they don't last as long, but it really doesn't matter. The pleasure is still received.

BTW, my dad will be 89 this coming August 10th. Your dad is a whole year older than mine! My mom will be 88 on April 6th. It's funny, I got worn out going over to see them three times a week, but now I miss them horrendously - can't leave DH yet for any length of time so my precious brother and his wife are doing it all. I am mighty fortunate to have such a sibling and in-law sibling.

Thanks, guys, but, truth be told - I love doing it as much as knowing that they like it. Hee hee. It's just my way of communicating and trying to give a little back. No kids of my own, but I'm working on getting the great nephews and nieces out into the dirt so they'll be prepared to do my garden.

Carole - isn't it weird how one thing that wasn't "normal" has now become normal in the place of another thing that's not "normal"? IMHO we are adaptable creatures, but we do crave routine. Maybe someone can come sit with Steve briefly while you go and "check" on your folks? It'd probably do you a world of good, would do them a world of good, and Steve would be happy knowing that you were happy.

I love that you do containers for your mom on mother's day - with little treasure to find underneath. What a great idea and a great way to connect with her.

Kathy, I hope to go see the folks in a week or so, but it involves several hours at a minimum due to ferry rides, etc. And right now Steve is only okay with me being here - I think that will improve and one of his sons will help out. I have several friends who would come in a heartbeat, but Steve's pride just won't allow that and for now, I will just do what I can for him. Until he feels stronger, I don't want to do anything that brings on a panic/anxiety attack.

Those distances . . . they throw a glitch in things, don't they? Well, it sounds like Steve is starting to rebound and then things will look better next week for both of you.

Murmur, I am wishing a quick recovery for Steve and for you. After all, a major event affects both of you. (((Hugs))) and God Bless. Dotti

Murmur,
I was so happy to log on this evening and see you had posted. You are surely missed on here and it is good to see you are popping in occaisionally.
We are all thinking about you and you are both in my prayers. Do not hesitate to ask if you need anything!
Hugs,
Carla

Steve is sleeping right now and I just had a nice phone conversation with his sister. and then I log onto here and find all the well wishes from you dear people. I am truly quite lucky!

Looks like the weather is going to be pretty chilly - no outside time, doggone it!!

Is anyone reading anything exceptional (that doesn't require a Master's Degree to understand)???!!! I have quite a few books here, but nothing appeals to me. I have some gardening catalogs, but those are so dangerous!!! Are any of you familiar with Annie's Annuals? Oh, my. I ordered stuff from her last year and it was exceptional - the best mail order I've ever been involved with. Her mailing charges are high, but worth every penny. I really should burn that catalog.

Hi Murmur,
So glad to see you here and to hear that things are going a little more smoothly and you're getting a chance to rest and relax a little bit. I love the Annie's catalog, but I haven't ordered. Maybe this year.

What kind of books would you be interested in reading?

Hi Murmur! Glad that you have a chance to visit with us. Are you looking for books about gardening or just a light read that is intriguing and makes you chuckle?

You know, I don't even know what it is I want to read. I have tons of gardening books, so nothing in that area. Darn. I just don't know. (Woman of Decision here.)

I guess for now I'll just curl up on the couch and hopefully fall asleep until Steve wakes up (in his chair) and wants to go to bed.

Katie - the scarlet runners look gorgeous! I love veggies as plants as much as edibles - some are just great looking! And I'm right in there with aesthetics are vital! There is nothing so depressing as a depressing environment when you are not comfortable.

Murmur, how very nice to have you back, even if it is only when Steve is napping. Sending you my warmest thoughts. Hope he is feeling more comfortable by the end of the week. xo.

Okay - and I am back with a book suggestion (wanted to make sure you could get it on Amazon). Have you read Roger Deakin's Waterlog. It is a wonderful collection of short essays about a man deciding to go swimming in as many places as possible in 12 months. Okay okay, it doesn't sound rivetting but it is a delightful, thoughtful, and, I find, dialogic book - he really stirs up my thinking in the most conversational way. And it is, no pun intended, dip-in-able - if you need to break off, it is easy to pick back up. He is a marvellous man (sadly died last year) co-founder of Commonground, and - oh shoot, can't think - one of the other environmentally aware groups. Lived in a 16th C. house with a moat - where he begins his swim.

I think you would like him.


This message was edited Jan 20, 2008 8:58 PM

Laurie, that book sounds delightful - I will definitely give it a try. Thank you!

Good. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Here's my recommendation: Susan Gilbert's book called Eat, Pray, Love. Excellent in every way. Plus, the chapters are short so if you only have a few minutes at a time, you can feel 'complete' and not stop in the middle of an important part.

Saying "Hi"
Just joined Dave's Garden. I'm another Katie here. Pierce County Washington Master Gardener. Starting our 8th year living on 1.15 acres in Gig Harbor. My husband and I are seniors and really got the gardening bug when we moved here. We tour gardens in the spring and summer around western Washington so we've been to Whidbey Island, Kingston, Snohomish, Vancouver, Portland, etc.

Hi Katie!
So good to have you here. Even though most of us live a distance, we so enjoy being able to connect with those of like mind. Please feel free to opine: we respect our MG's!
And by the way - I'd like to be sitting in that picture right now: it looks comfy & warm.
Hmmmmm - how many more days until Spring?....................
K

well welcome Katie! Your garden looks beautiful, love a sit in that chair!

Hi Katie welcome, Love the blue colors in you chairs, I just painted some chairs a little darker zippy blue. My best freind from High school owns the eattery Susannes in gig harbor. Yes can't wait for a little warmer weather but the sun sure has been great. But boy once the sun goes down, freezing

The title "Master Gardener" is so wrong. We don't know as much as people expect us to. Going through training is very humbling because you realize how little you know. It's more a matter of doing research to get the answers.

Suzanne's is a great bakery! I ordered a custom birthday cake from her and people are still talking about it a year later.

So come over and sit in the chairs. Our garden will be open for an early spring tour on March 29 & 30.

Musical chairs, anyone!

Oh I love the lime green even better. It looks great with the blue hydrangea. Susanne is Danish and oh did we love christmas we would make all kinds of cookies.. She obvioulsy doesn't eat very much of her sweets. She always loved to cook.

Welcome, Katie! How fun that your garden will be open! Is it part of garden tour? Maybe you can post some information so we can come and meet you and your husband and tour your garden. It looks lovely!

Hello, Katie from Gig Harbor! I was supposed to be in the Island County Master Gardener classes right now, but when DH got so sick, I had to withdraw. They said I could do it next year without even having to reapply. I've also heard that before about it being very humbling! Your gardens are lovely - are you on the Northwest Perennial Alliance Tour in March? I had planned on opening my gardens for it this year, but again, with DH so ill, everything is on hold (the gardens are a disaster and it's not likely I'll have the time, or maybe even the inclination, to ready them for much of anything!).

Laurie & Pixy, I am going to order the books you suggested. Right now I am reading a stupid "love story," the very typical boy meets girl, they hate each other, they love each other, they fight, etc. But at least it takes zero thinking!!!

Hi Murmur,
Yes, that's the tour I'm on (actually, I'm the organizer of it).
All you NW gardeners here are welcome to stop by our garden as our guests. We'll have neighbors and friends over too. It's from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.on March 29 & 30: 8522 46th Street in Gig Harbor. We'll have hot coffee in the gazebo and umbrellas in case it's raining. Early spring gardens aren't as pristine as later in the year but there'll be spring perennials, bulbs, and shrubs and trees blooming and leafing out.

I think it was smart that you put off the class until next year because it's pretty intense and quite a bit of homework. Seems to me you have enough on your hands right now.

Carole, I saw the author of Eat, Pray, Love on Oprah a couple of months ago. She's a very entertaining speaker. I imagine that her book must be entertaining, as well.

Hello, Katie. Thanks for letting us know you're here. I, for one, would love to come meet you at your garden tour. What you've shown looks fabulous. And, you're being too modest, achieving Master Gardener designation takes a lot of work and commitment. I look forward to getting ideas and opinions from you in this forum.

Welcome Katiein
Would love to see your gardens, and love the chairs, never thought of that. get place for coffee or tea on a warm summer day.

To many Katies LOL
We love pics gives us a boost.

Injoy
Tills

Hello GH Katie! I, too, am new here, and received an equally warm welcome from these wonderful people! You are so many steps ahead of me, being a master gardener and all (I'm a first year...not allowed to even use a wand yet!). Looking forward to all the suggestions and input you have to offer! BTW ~ LOVE the chairs!

To the others...do I detect a bit of order in Gig Harbor's garden? **GASP**