LOL... just offering, since there are a couple of pups more than I need in the dining room, especially if the ones in the basement all come back this spring. I keep rescheduling my "Go Bananas!" article because I have other seasonal articles (like the Amaryllis ones or upcoming articles on seed starting) that need the spots in the schedule... hopefully I can get it into the Feb. schedule!
Many apologies, have to postpone Groundhog's Day Party
I signed up the DPF newsletter, too, and I didn't get that . . . . pouting . . . sniffle, sniffle . . .
Miatablu: I knew I wanted to meet your husband. What a nice philosophy.
Oh Critter, I'm not turning down any offers for Bananas, I'd love to have one or two. I just need you to help me decide if I can properly care for them over winter. Please don't give them all away. I have an unheated attached garage and I've been wondering how cold it gets out there.
They can't freeze. I've been told that 40-45'F is ideal for full dormancy; obviously they're warmer than that in my basement. Last year, all but one were potted up and semi-dormant. This year, they're all down there lying on their sides with their roots/corms loosely bagged in plastic (the way I did the one last year). I have pups upstairs for backup. You can have a little potted up pup in Feb, and if the basement ones put up new leaves after planting out I'll make the others available then. :-)
I want a dwarf one at some point, too... maybe we'll order together sometime from Wellspring.
Happy---
Ta--Dahhhh!!!! Here's a picture of Miata's Hubby, Rick. He arrived late--on his "Harley".......
What a hunk! (Bobbie--you WILL understand that some of us just LOVE a good looking man! We know he is ALL YOURS!!!). Oh, he is at least 6'2"? And poor Bobbie comes up to--maybe--his belly button........They make such a cute couple!
The pictures are from Jill's Fall Swap. Here Rick was checking out the overflowing table of goodies everyone prepared. We could have spent the weekend there and never starved!
Gita
Here they both are! Awwww......so cute!!!!
"Blush"
Tihi - yes, you do have a hunky man - join the club of "those who are married to nice, kind and hunky guys" :-)
Speaking of Bananas - I would love a banana puppy - I successfully managed to kill another one :-(
Well, Critter, I don't think I said that moving dormant plants was wrong--I said that I wasn't thinking about it, and for the same reason that you mentioned about the weather and ground conditions. I plan this type of work for early Spring, and try to do other stuff now that I never get around to doing in the summer. I didn't expect a plant swap in February, anyway. I am coming to know that plant and seed swapping is an anticipated activity among gardening groups here and I need to change my habits. It seems that everyone here already knows each other in some way, and that the party's already begun before the party!!
Bananas--I wanted to try one, also, preferrably outside, but I don't have enough sunny spots. I would be looking for your article if it does come out soon.
I may be the odd ball here but I don't have much interest in cacti. My prickly prizes are roses. Also, it's "Orchid" season now--would love to shop for orchids. Anyone here an orchid fan??
Fox,
Don't feel like the Lone Ranger-----Cacti and succulents don't do anything for me either. I own 2 pots of Aloe, that's it.
Jill,
Shall we all just bring samples of our seeds in small envelopes or should we post "haves". I have been meaning to enter my "haves" list in the Journal section, but have not done so yet. Would that help? I have a lot of seeds.......about 30 different ones.....
Gita
Gita, I think both of those sound like good ideas... We should probably have a separate swap thread for this gathering... I will try to get new threads up today.
I have a lot of seeds, too. I'm a seedaholic. There, I've admitted it. :-)
I still need to finish bagging and tagging some of them in trade packets (heck, I need to finish de-chaffing the basil!), but since I need to do that anyway, it'll be done well before our swap. I also have extra seed packets from trades and swaps that I've been putting into a "I hope somebody can use this!" pile.
Both seed trading and plant trading are completely optional for this gathering! If you want to just come and visit, well, that's really the main purpose of having a gathering, I think. :-)
Jill,
Thanks! I really do not mess around a lot with growing from seed. Just don't have the space or the light set-up. Did some last year and it was just too much a bother. I will grow some of the more unusual plants that you cannot purchase--like my Daturas and some others.
I vote for just hanging out and visiting--but I know I will bring some seeds anyway.
How are you feeling?????
Gita
I think I am finally a little better... still really wrung out and not exactly moving much or functional yet, but at least I'm not half-passing-out every time I try to walk across the room! OMG, that really sounded pathetic, didn't it? Well, that's just the way things have been for a couple of weeks. At least the doctor kept reassuring me it was probably just a bug -- so I knew it would eventually go away! :-)
Fox - no I'M the oddball...Jill just knows me well enough to post those as temptation - hence my saying she needs to be in time out...LOL Everybody comes in as a newbie - I didn't know any of these sweet gals except Diane (hart) and Becky (Bec_No_Va) prior to a year ago. You'll soon discover they're a great bunch - love to tease and harass one another...but only in a good way.
Jill - SO glad you're feeling better!! Continue to let yourself rest...don't try to rush it and stay away from the mad cooties running rampant in the stores!!! Hugs!!
Jill--, echoeing, stay home, rest up, dream of spring, maybe a sunny spot on a couch with the kitties...........
DH and I are planning on coming :) I don't have much to bring, since I'm starting all over again. I have mainly heirloom veggie seeds.
Hooray! (Mostly hooray that you're coming, but a small cheer for heirloom veggies also!)
New thread!
Please follow me over here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/804976/
Think Spring!
Since Feb 2 is now free - I just heard about a DC Urban Gardening summit that day from America the Beautiful Foundation - free to all - so am signing up for that now.
That sounds cool! Do you have a link with more information?
I think Americathebeautiful.org will work -- I got mine through an email Yahoo list - DCurbangardeners
Thanks for that link. I'm working with another MG intern on a project for a garden at one of the schools. Don't know if this is going to work, we are getting a lot of resistance from the principal. sheesh, what a hammer head.......wonder if he thinks his veggies just pop into to the supermarket bins like magic. She more of a diplomat than I am.........LOL
I have done a little school gardening, but with much thought on the subject, I understand more than I used to, what concerns the principal can have. For example, somebody like me, with a bright idea to make flower beds, and work in them for four years, only to take my kids out of the school and abandon it. (although I promise myself to clean it up in spring, now that I again have the time.)
Its sad to me that landscaping most at public schools is completely ignored. well, barely maintained.
Hey, this is an interesting topic as I have been through this on school gardens, too. My son is in elementary school and the PTA ladies who love gardening (I for one) wanted to do a flower garden on the property but then the teachers and principal caught a cramp about it and wanted a professional designer. It had to be an educational garden. I never saw the plans, but the designer's plan wasn't approved due to safety reasons (I think it was $$) so they scrapped the whole thing. The dirt and beds were all dug up and tilled by parent volunteers and then left to collect weeds after the designer got the boot, too. Then, the teachers decided to use the area for their class projects!! Ding! They have the kids go out and plant seeds and show them basic gardening skills. The kids learned parts of plants and seed stages, etc. Wonderful!! We don't have to do anything!! Why do it for the kids?? They need the experience and hands-on learning, responsibility and nurturing skills. Some of the Girl and Boy Scout leaders are getting the kids into projects like planting a tree and spring bulbs. My son's Cub Scout den planted a tree last fall. I could go on and on about this....
Thanks for the Urban Gardener info!! Great idea. I will check it out.
Thanks Gita and Chantell, for reassurance! LOL!! You guys areally nice folks and lots of fun.
I had a similar project with middle school students years ago. The school had just been opened and the entrance was begging for "something". Although the grounds had been landscaped, the entry from the road had a lovely sign but nothing other than mulch. One spring the administration was looking for volunteers to create a six week program where they would work with the students one morning a week instructing them on different topics - craft projects, etc. I volunteered to take a group and instruct them on gardening with the goal of a small planting around the sign. We were fairly successful in establishing the garden with plants I donated from my own gardens. However, the weather that spring was not very cooperative and on one Friday in April when the students were observing "shorts" day - we were outside trying to plant in snow flurries!! LOL Since I've left that area I have no idea what the planting looks like now, but I do know the satisfaction I received training a group of future gardeners :)
I'm glad to hear of some gardeneing happening thru schools. The only way my public elem would touch it , would be if they were reciting math facts while doing it, and doing a character analysis of each flower- stupid state test crap....
The principal I worked with was a super guy who didn't have to control every detail. Of course, he got promoted right out of middle school to a more admin position.
Another principal wh was pretty laid back, and appreciated the PTA, allowed a young mom to dig a little patch up right by the front walk and throw seeds in- very un planned- just the messy, disorganized thing many principals fear.
Well, I think our principal is worrying about liability issues, which isn't a big deal. I'll let her work on him. We want the kids to do the planting. We can set up the beds etc and have access to seed for them to work with.