VA Eastern Shore Get Together/Plant Swap

LOL!

Well don't worry about bringing potluck or anything else except for your smiling face!

I've got a couch if you can put up with the kitties ;)

Watersorb crystals

Due to this heat wave we're experiencing, and in lieu of food for the potluck, i'm going to make sure 1 lb of the crystals from the co-op get into my car with me - in case anyone wants to give roots extra protection on the drive home.

Well, I've got me and Cindy and Bellie in my truck, and we should roll in about 11ish.

Here's my "list"
- Spare camera battery charging
- Gotta find the sunscreen!
- Comfy shoes that can get muddy
- Bag of Potting Soil
- Hosta book
- Water plants and load them tonight
- Write down addressess and phone numbers or at least print them out
- Dig up some folding chairs
- Food...hmmm, what do we need? I'll pick up something, but not sure what yet, lol!

Yes, comfy shoes that can get MUDDY! I wasn't kidding when I said we got 12" of rain... all from Sat night through Wednesday night. Lots of water and mud.

It's going to be HOT! I've got the big cooler ready and plenty of water. :) We can even open the "Tiki Bar" if needed, LOL.

So looking forward to seeing everyone. Drive Safe! :)

Lordy - maybe my contribution to the potluck should be wine coolers for the tiki bar!!!!!

Jody,
I am picking up the eggroll tomorrow and I hope you have a deep fat fryer. I will bring the oil and sauce. see you, Bellie

I vote for wine coolers! Woohoo! LOL!!!

Just finished baking the brownies-- they sure smell good! Hope they turned out okay. I can't wait to meet everyone tomorrow. Hubby, baby and I will probably be pulling in around 11:30am.

I've got a couple of bottles of wine from the little winery up the road ;)

bellie, I have plenty of oil to fry with, no need to lug any along :)

ruby and john came by for a coupe of hours yesterday afternoon and should be here early this morning. I've got to get a bunch done, but I'll check in again in a while.

Hope everyone has a wonderful time, it's going to be a hot one, so stay cool! Sorry I can't make it but will look forward to lots of pics :)

Thank you again, jody, for a wonderful afternoon. I am beyond thrilled with my new 'treasures' and can't wait to get started planting. Your yarden is so beautiful-- even under water! My husband was totally in love with the tiki bar & hostas and came home with lots of ideas for tranforming our wooded area.

Thanks also to everyone there for sharing your lovely plants. I was so tickled to be coming home with some things I've really been wanting. Thanks you all for being so generous! And a special thanks to bonjon for those awesome roses! They're getting a good soak right now and are going to be the first things in the ground tonight.

I was so glad to meet so many of you! It was my first plant swap, but I bet it won't be my last.

Kub Thank You! For braving the temps and for my treasures. The hummers are going to be happy! Your son is such a doll!!

Thanks to everyone for braving the temps today! It was brutal out there. It's not supposed to be this HOT the first week of June. Lets try for a May swap next year ;)

And of course thanks everyone for all the wonderful treaures!

I think bonjon gave me an instant iris collection!!! :) :) Which of course my mom is absolutely thrilled with.

I'm exhausted, just took a cold shower and feel like I need another one, LOL.

I had a nice cool shower when I got home too, it felt sooo good! I had such a great time meeting everyone and I also came home with an iris collection.

Kubilaya, I couldn't believe the size of the rose bushes that Bonnie brought...all, they were wrapped in a blanket and were at least 6 feet tall! Bonjon went above and beyond getting here today.

Sorry this one isn't the best photo...I think I caught Jody eating one of Bellie's egg rolls. Kubilaya is playing with her little guy, and Ruby is sitting and enjoying watching everyone wander around and admire the yarden and swap plants. I am not sure who is sitting down, but I think Cindy is in there someplace, and maybe BellieG.

Here's the view to the left of the porch. Note all the plants she has stacked up for trade!

Everything was perfect even with the temp!! Jody you sure had a lot of food and had enough for 50 people. I can't wait for the next one. Came home with many treasures!!! Your Mom was a big help and very young!! Your garden is HAVEN and and you are a good hostess big smile of pride for the beautiful hosta collection. 800 + varieties!!
Bonjon,
Thank you for thr irises and will pot them this PM
Cindy,
Thank you for the hostas I think I added 5-6 more varieties to my 600+ collection.
Laura,
Thank you for the ride and also for the hostas. I did not get home till 9:30 PM was treated with a sushi dinner at my girlfriends.
The Quinoa salad was yummy and I will try to make it with an asian flair to it if I can find the grains.

Over all we all had a good time and you missed a good get together. Again thnak you Jody and thnak your Mom too please. Bellie

Oh my - Jody - I don't know how to do it, so would you make a thread for photos/questions from the RU? I'd love to see more photos, and -I have questions

it all sounded so easy there, everything made sense- and then I started unloading the car this morning. Got home around 11:40pm, but did stop for nice seafood before leaving eastern shore. DH went out to get the Sunday paper, saw his car, popped the trunk, came inside and, "OH DEAR GOD - OH DEAR GOD - oh dear God" was all he said.

When I actually started unloading the trunk, I realized that I have many that I've forgotten what they are and I don't remember who gave them. Thought I did a good job of labeling - not. I should have been more like Bellie - someone handed her a pot, and she got her marker out!

And I can post label info and photos of any irises anyone wants to remember.

Cinday already dmailed to say thank you for digging all these irises - I keep telling people, these were the overflows,the ones I didn't have room for last year. I got so mad at the financial situation we were in, I bought all the irises I felt I deserved - finally stopped ordering when the first shipments were pouring in and I realized I wouldn't have room, but the shipments kept coming. Oh well

Here's what my overflow "pot" bed looked like this spring before the heat and blooming sapped them all

This message was edited Jun 8, 2008 12:12 PM

well - I must be doing something wrong - it keeps says it's been submitted, but its not here and I've tried three times.

Jody - here's your Decadence photo - this iris is from Barry Blyth in Australia

Bon! I'm so glad you made it home safe and sound!!! :) I've been checking in here everytime I come in the house to see if you'd posted yet.

Laura started a thread here for pics: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/860026/

If it gets too hard to load for folks after more pics and questions we can start another. I was just now looking at the pics mom took and getting them on the computer.

LOL @ DH. Well maybe next time he'll come along so he can help load the car for you, snicker, LOL.

Yes, bellie was smart, I also had tags and a marker in my pocket, but only used them when I was giving plants instead of when receiving... doh!

Oh, and joya, I just read your post again, now that I'm awake, LOL. If you need hosta for your woodland garden you know where to come ;)

Jody - I gave you TWO of the four I have on SDB iris.

My four are:
Folk Art Midseason Paul Black '03 med lilac, rib redviol/med rose violet, veined darker, lilac band, white rays and line, beard tangerine-white 13" F

Fancy Sparkler Early Tasco '04 med burg/blackburg, white vein 14" Fragrant

wish upon a star early-mid-late Paul Black '06 dark bluepurple to dark claret/dark purpleblack, beard pale creamgold tipped white Large flower 13" very Fragrant

Wizard's Return - Midseason and reblooming Richard Tasco, '99 12" reddish violet/reddish violet, darker halo around beard; beards pale violet, tangerine in throat; sweet fragrance.


Also gave you a noID median that's either a tall SDB or a short IB - this bloom looks like a large SDB - soft mauve-y pink with lavender pink haft marks and a white beard tipped coral to soft orange pink. Just a little charmer.


remind me next year - I got Sailboat Bay, the last iris from Zurbrigg, this past winter, and I have a gift certificate for Karen Jones, a 2008 intro, from Winterberry Gardens, both SDBs. KJ is white with blue beard in the photo.

This message was edited Jun 8, 2008 5:26 PM

Bonjon,
I would love to see tose 800+ iris collection when they are in bloom. Must be a sight!!! Glad you are home safe.Will your DH help you plant those hostas? best regards,. Bellie

bellie- they are so tight in here, one bed of really expensive ones is developing crown rot - irises don't much like pots, but they prefer pots, where they are up high and get some air, to crowded in the ground and choked with weeds. That's where Decadence was. This isn't my photo of Decadence - I can't find mine - but even this photo doesn't show the colors well. I can't find the info on where this came from, but I'm willing to bet it was from Paul Black or Tom Johnson of Mid-America, or someone they hired to take it. That's where I'm going to buy it again if this one doesn't survive.Or this may be schreiners photo - who knows?

But they did put on a big show this year before too much rain did them in. Even with the freakish swirling storm we had that downed over 50% of my bloomstalks, they loved the spring rain and bloomed and bloomed.

This message was edited Jun 8, 2008 5:37 PM

I need to know the name of the one you gave Jody that looks like a orchid....need it for my records SO THIS little brain dont forget!!!! I bet when all those irises were in bloom...oh my what a site to see. BET you had a smile on your face BonJon!!!

cindy

Are you thinking about the one that looks like a magnolia?

yes Laura......that is it!! See I forgot already.....cant take me anywhere!!!

How wonderful it was to meet everyone on Saturday. Jody, thank you and your mom so much for being so very gracious and hospitable. What a great place you have there.

Bonjon, you cracked me up telling about your hubby's comment on the contents of your car trunk. ha-ha Yes, despite so many things being against you getting to the Swap, you made it. It was so nice to meet you. You are the type that I believe that putting the two of us together, we might get in to some shenanigans.

So sorry to anyone who might have sensed my standoffishness. I didn't really mean to come across that way, but I was having a very bad time trying to deal with the heat. John made some comment last evening about me being back to my old self after we got home. I was quieter all weekend than I usually am.

Well, got to scoot along. I will check back again later on. Thank you to each and everyone who came on Saturday. I love the haul that I made. Thank everyone also for all the wondeful plants that we brought home.

Ruby

bonjon that decadance is beatiful!!!! thank you thank you thank you!

LOL Cindy, I forgot which one it is too!

I've got the spot picked out for the new iris bed, now just have to get it dug out and planted...

ruby! So glad you are home and feeling better and back to your self. It was just sooo hot! I think mom is feeling a bit better, but probably won't feel real good again until it starts to cool off a bit.

You and John are the sweetest folks ever! Big hugs! Please thank John again for all the help he gave me. It is very much appreciated!

He enjoyed helping out Jody. Three years ago he wasn't the least bit interested in plants. He became interested the past two years due to his family selling their home place where his parents ran a small nursery/greenhouse. The five siblings spent many, many hours digging up and bringing home all the plants that were in his folks gardens. Now our little hillside is full of Day Lilies mostly, but Iris are running a close second in terms of number.

I had never seen a Hosta until about 15 years ago when I first visited his parents place. I fell totally in love with the Hosta then. They had many gigantic ones. IT has taken a while here, but we have some very nice ones growing too. Thank you so much for sharing the miniatures ones that had Jody. I am going to love the Stilletto.

Well, I hope that everyone will keep cool until the weather decided to cooperate again. Be good everyone.

Ruby

Ruby, I totally understood about the heat and hope to meet the more vivacious and less "melted" you out in your part of the state!

John is a dear and it was so nice to have some help unloading. :-) You can add another hug to his list, he deserves them.

Laura

You gals are going to swell his head. ha-ha

Yes Laura, please let me know if and when you decide a trip to Monticello is on the books. I would love to meet you there and tour the gardens too. I have never done so. I am also looking forward to touring at Norfolk Botanical Gardens too. John said that you mentioned they were really lovely.

I am going to stay inside in the cool today. He is going to attempt planting a few things from the swap this morning, and later in the week when it is supposed to be cooler, I will venture outside and plant the special things that I got on Saturday.

We had lots of fun, didn't we?

Ruby

Ruby, it was great to meet you. I'm sorry the heat was making you feel so bad. Gosh, it really is intense out there! My husband really enjoyed talking with John (and I think he was just thrilled to see another man there to talk 'boy stuff' with!). I'm glad you made it home safe and are feeling more like yourself.

bonjon, have I mentioned how tickled I am with those roses? :-) They're both in the ground by my deck and I smile every time I see them thinking about how awesome they'll look next spring.

Ruby, I know we didnt talk much but I can completely understand the heat issue. It is giving me a fit this year. Who would have ever thought we would be having this kind of weather in early JUNE!!! I am looking forward to getting together again. I love the idea of a fall trip to maybe Bonnie's , and then Plants Delight. I rushed home and called a few of my other garden buddies up in MD and PA to tell them how great it was to meet more of a local group. Anyway, cant wait until next time! Take care and stay out of this miserable heat!!

wild

well -back to work - yesterday I paid for my trip with feeling headachy and stomach flipping all day and still some today - I'm with you, Ruby, probably just the heat. I realized something was wrong - something in your face, that you didn't feel well. Glad to hear you're better. Tell John a thousand thank yous for helping me load up my car. My husband burst out laughing when he saw the boxes of berry bushes, said," what, you get rid of the roses, you going to stab me with these now?"

everything came out of the car, went under the "sacrificial tree" as I didnt' feel up to planting. Got the pink budleia divided into thirds and in cups with lightweight medium and rootone. One the way home they dried out despite all efforts. The three hostas you pulled at the last, Jody are in little pots and didn't dry out - I sat inside to do that. Can't find the rooting of the shade vine you pulled for me, Jody, I remember putting it in the car - oh well.

Hope this photo of my overflow "pot" bed before the iris bloomed goes through. Photo is labeled "for sale" POTS!

The Tall Bearded iris Pink Magnolia is known as a "flat top" or "flat form" - and yes, it looks like a Japanese iris or Magnolia bloosom. It's a very old variety, and I probably have more a few more in pots.

That photo of Decadence is not mine and I've got to figure out how to get it off of here - I forgot when I posted it that DG would stick a copyright from me on there! Not OK with me or the copyright owner, I dare say. Jody - it's much prettier than the photos.

Decadence's "mama" got crown rot, so remember to: scrub the rhizome with a soft toothbrush and Comet cleanser. Yup - that's what ya do to "cleanse" it. Rinse and set it out to dry for a day, then plant it - you may want to pot it and quarantine it, as rot is contangeous, but not terribly so. You can also use an antibacteria mild handsoap - I use walmart's store brand - squirt a ring of it on the soil around the rhizome - that should ward off any soilborne rot - that's all the rot is, a soil borne fungus.

Everyone with new irises - bearded irises like well draining soil and a bit of bonemeal added at planting. You can keep them damp, not wet, for the first six weeks. After that, let nature do it all except in severest drought. They don't like wet "feet." The rhizome or "foot" is an on-the-ground stem that breathes, so don't bury them deep or they won't bloom. They like a soil pH of 6.5-7 best, but can handle lower or higher. I have acidic soil and have to add lime. Your pots have a mix of well decayed mulch and builders sand (for drainage), compost "dust" (organics) and pulverized clay (minerals), with a touch of bonemeal (phosphorus for growing roots) and gypsum (aids in water uptake). for BAREROOT - If you can't plant now, set them on dry ground in the shade - they can wait that way for a week or two - after that you may find they've rooted without you. for pots- they need room, so unpot and plant as soon as possible in ground or a larger pot, at same depth as they are now.

now you know Bellie, why I was also offering to take some of Jody's pots!

Thank you for your concern Joya and Cindy. I was actuaIly outside a bit ago watering some of my beds. I didn't stay too terribly long, so I was able to tolerate it. I plan to wait for the heat wave to pass before trying to put any of the swap plants in the ground. Hopefully that will be at least by Wednesday.

Joya, you mentioned smiling each time you walk by your roses. I never saw you on Saturday when you weren't smiling and that was so refreshing. What a nice family you have. Your son tickled me when he was playing with the ice. I bet it really felt good to him. I have a grand daughter who just turned one on May 30 and I so enjoy spending time with her. Your son seemed to be in a really good mood which I know made you happy. John enjoyed talking with your husband also.

Cindy, heading to Bonnie's sounds good to me. Take care ladies and stay cool.

Ruby

Bonnie - John laughed so loud when I just read him what your husband said about the thorns. How funny. I hope that you will feel much better soon. I enjoyed meeting you and hope to see you again sometime.

Ruby

Kubi - I've already forgotten your other name! drat!

have fun with the roses. prune out any canes that don't go the way needed - they may be thorny, but they learn which way to grow with little help. They may put on a show for you come September/
October!

That website that will teach you just about everything to know about roses - google "Witherspoons Roses." twelve years ago, DH needed me full time at the company, so he gave me their services, and my roses grew robustly. Now I've learned how they do it and can grow my own! I used to take prizes at the NC State Fair each October for roses. too bad most irises bloom in spring!

If y'all come down to visit me in September and go to Plant Delights, it's worth going over to Witherspoons Gardens in Durham, two blocks off exit 270 on Interstate 40. Plant Delights is near exit 312 near Garner. Sarah P Duke Gardens in Durham, N.C. Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, and NCSU J Raulston Arboretum here in downtown Raleigh. Nurseries: Fairview in Cary/Apex, Homewoods and Atlantic Avenue Garden & Orchid supply not far from me, an orchid grower in Morrisville just to name a few. If anyone comes on the Friday or Monday, I may have to take a day off and go to Angiers NC to Broadwells, a wholesaler that lets retail clients browse Mon-Fri: there are no labels ANYWHERE - LOL - a great place to purchase larger flowering trees in the spring. Big Bloomers in Sanford - I'm told they are just awesome. I suppose if you come, we could find a few things to do. !!! Have lunch or dinner pool-side. That would be nice....course, I don't have a tiki bar ((((grin))))

To everyone that was at Jody's on Saturday - Thanks so much for all your generosity!!!! I still don't have everything in the ground. Kept a timer on Sunday so I was only outside 15 minutes out of every hour whew. I really enjoyed meeting all of you. It is so good to put faces to names. Jody, and her mom, Jean, are terrific hostesses and have a truly lovely place. I keep seeing all those floating hosta's. I thought I would be the only one with questions about what goes where and how big it gets and it sounds like we have found our tour guide for the NC trip! Hugs, Pammie

My plants are in the shade and getting water as needed until it cools off a bit! Most will remain in pots but for the Iris, which are going into the ground fairly soon (I think! ) I have some sunny spots with some lilies that need something for earlier spring, so will probably put at least a few in there along with some day lilies.

When are the dates in Plant Delights for the fall?

Laura

Bonjon,
I did not realize you wanted some of the pots!!! Jody told me to take it all and sooooo I did after asking Ruby. LOL!!!! Now you can come to my place to get some. i had plenty at one time but DH organized my space and threw all of the black pots. I was very upset for days but it also costs him $ because I took some $$$ from his wallet!! LOL!!!
Some of my plats got cooked because I stopped at my girlfriends for dinner but i think they will make it.

Laura,
i forgot to get the pork from you, I hope you got it.
Hello to evryone!!!!! Bellie

Bellie, I realized I forgot to give you the pork when I got home, oops!