Visions of Spring '08! - Part 2

Well I searched a little more looking for signs of bulbs but not much doing except one little daffodil is starting to show. Hope more will be popping up soon, no sign of any crocus yet either.

I had hyacinth foliage popping.

Not my favorite vision this AM!

Yes, deer are pretty but I'm glad I do not have to battle them in my garden! I am soooo blessed!

Did run out waving your arms and yelling Victor? LOL Well at least the little "dear" is walking away. Just keep a walkin' Bambi. Just keep walking.

Would have if they were in or near my garden. That was taken from my car.

Before you ran down the dear?

No, I would have posted that!

congrats ngram! I'm glad I don't have to deal with deer either. Folks on the other side of the tracks do though..

Maybe I need tracks??

Then you can get a train to run down the deer!

here ya go Victor

Victor, I'm late to this one, but did you check out Khlems Song Sparrow for their "Junior Conifer" section?

I order one, will see what it looks like when it arrives. I may pick up more, LATE, very LATE in the season if it shows up looking exceptional.

Thanks Thom, I have. I only wish they offered larger sizes. These dwarf conifers grow very slowly so I'm willing to pay more for larger sizes. I want to be able to appreciate them at a decent size before I'm 85!

Does anyone remember my wolf story? Several folks in town reported a wolf, my friend saw it 3x stalking deer in her fields--well Sat.'s Hartford Courant had a story on a Canadian gray wolf killed in Shelbourne, MA after it killed like 10 sheep. DEP was surprised it had come so far south--well, we know they are in CT now--that will take care of your deer problems! The plow scraped up lots of my roadside garden--just had to buy some achillea--Wonderful Wampee-- to replace it!

I've seen a wolf 2x in Newtown on my drives to work. But I've seen deer hundreds of times. I think the wolves are out numbered!

Robindog (wolf) I wonder if they would like my "Island Paradise"? My house is located in an area that most likely has up to 80 per square mile. Tick bags, lawn mowers and indiscriminate weeders, all. Bring on the wolves. Patti

Walked around a bit before and noticed all my prickly pear cactus look pretty dead. Not sure why. Didn't get too cold and they are in a very well-drained area. Bummer.

Yeah, bummer.

Well that stinks Victor. Maybe a little sprout will come from the roots this spring. I hope you don't loose them all.

Thanks. It's an extra bummer since last year was the first year I had blooms (pink) so I was hoping for fruit this year.

Victor, I saw some in Boojums garden last year and was surprised how well they did that far north with so much snow. Maybe they will revive. Your Jade is doing well. Hope to deliver it to you at the RU or before. Patti

Thanks Patti. I saw your interest in the hellebore co-op. Have you ever met a co-op you didn't like?!! Actually, it doesn't look any different to me than the collections you can buy from Barry on his website.

Victor, No, but after reading your interesting ground cover article this morning, I thought I could add a mess of Hellebore to my new endless stream area under those, not yet bought, but still dreaming about, JM's that you have me craving too. All your fault. I have tons of Galium odoratum and geraniums, but think the Hellebore will be excellent in mass. I have a few single ones. I have a whole area of vinca in Vt, but kind of afraid to try it on Nantucket. But I may give some a try in a removed area to see if it goes galloping off, or is manageable. I don't need any more thugs. Patti

I'm afraid to meet your husband, Patti - you're pinning everything on me! The hellebores will make a great mass. My only complaint about the Sunshine hybrids is that the flowers are nodding. I prefer upright ones, but I still love them. Have fun!

I just ordered 15. I like the upright ones too, but I may plant these ndding ones in a north side raised bed or on a slope to enjoy from below. DH is very mellow, or he wouldn't put up with me. He likes all my garden foolishness and those expenses are minor compared with other bad habits that I could have. I worked hard for years for the time and money to pursue my passion. I don't complain about his worldly travels to pursue his hobby or his trips to Boston for symphony and his hockey playing two or three times a week. I could want diamonds or big trees or a house cleaner. Patti

He still plays hockey? Wow. Worldly travels - I'm jealous.

He just plays in a wreck league (older with abused bodies), and the travels are for crew. He is a coxswain for mostly Saugatuck Rowing club, but does races for other clubs all over. This year he will be in Long Beach Ca for the Nationals and in Lithuania for the worlds, plus all the major regattas in the East. He sometimes goes to other random big races abroad if it is someplace he wants to go. Haven't heard about any others yet this year. I may go to Lithuania too. He has a ESL student from Lithuania, but I don't think he has learned any Lithuanian yet. Impossible language. I love going to the Head races in the fall, if the weather is fair. I can usually get to a nursery or garden on those weekends while they are putting the boats together. He is lucky to be able to race without all the practicing that the crews do year round. The glory without the work. Patti

Wow! I used to see the Columbia crew team in the Hudson.

That's what I say! I could want diamonds or fancy clothes. I just want plants. Well, a housekeeper would be good around here... if she didn't scream first and run the other way. I wouldn't want the housekeeper if I had to sacrifice plants though!! You can't beat gardening. It's good for the soul, good for the Earth.

Sofonisba, Oh, I keep house, just not like a cleaning person would! I leave the hoovering, waxing and floor swabbing to DH. I am a better straightener, organizer and duster. We put on a team effort, but it would be nice to have hired help occasionally. But I found that years ago we cleaned for the cleaning crew, which was stupid. Also I hate having to be on a schedule now that I no longer have to be on one. If any one visits me ever, no white gloves allowed. But you can bring a trowel. Patti

i only get motivated enough to clean if i know people are coming over.
sad but true.

Amy, I am on the way. Patti

heeheehee.
we have to have at least one or 2 parties a year, or nothing would get done! Actually, this week we need to clean for people to come take care of the cats while we are gone next week. i hate leaving them for a week. i feel guilty.
geez that trip is coming soon - amazing how time flies when you've had the flu and done NOTHING for days. blah.

Maybe you and Patti should visit each other regularly, Amy.

Amy, Hey, that is so like us, we cleaned for the dog sitter a couple of weeks ago. I love going to eat pizza in New Haven (Frank Pepe or Sally's) Sorry you have been ill. Where are you going this time? I hope you don't miss your tulips. We could go visit each other for motivation and then ck in on Victor's man cleaning skills and I could swipe a few plants that he has taunted me with. How fast do you think I could dig up a big Japanese Maple. Faster than cleaning a room, for sure. Patti

I just clean the house and myself. Don't clean other men.

I was, by a friend who gave me a double edged/back sided compliment, given a Merry Maid gift...for 1 month. I kid you not...I believe her name was Ezmerelda, or Essi...anyhow, it was Essie something or another, she came once for the "consultation." That was as far as it got, evidentally, the "Light cleaning" she was hired for, it was a gift, did not involve dog hair, nor cat hair...She came to the door, heard Theta bark, and said...lol..."You have a dog, I wasn't told you had a dog...Oh, and cats too...hmmmm..."

She turned, walked off the porch, and that was that. My friend got the money back, and he never did something like that again.

Paul is a big duster, vaccuumer, OCD type. I do the windows, bathroom, and anything outside...

I'm cleaning pots still, getting ready for Spring time...I usually start potting everything up in about 3 weeks...usually the first week in April. I always laugh when I get the white sheets out for those "frost" warnings, and cover everything on the front porch, it always looks like ghosts fluttering in the wind...lol.

Thom - I just posted on the other (what have you bought) thread that the hybridizers forum has just been started.

Victor, you got me.

Hemhostaholic, Can Paul come and play at my house? You can come too and wash pots. I never do that. Bad. Patti