Scattelogical ramblings and desultory humor - Daffy Time

In the 80's here today, Gloria.

Spring is just wonderful. I just read in the writers forum where Granville South says they are getting ready for fall and upcoming winter there in Australia.

I guess we should enjoy what we have when we can get it!

Gloria, It varies a lot based on where in the NE you are. NJ is probably warmest, southern NY & CT follow.But Northern NY, Maine, VT & New Hampshire lag way behind us. It is very Spring here.

71 today was too warm for me. I'd like it to be in the 50's or 60's to get the heavy work done.

I agree with you Arlene, however, I also liket hot so we can go boating! Clemen

The boaters were out today and, probably for the first time, it looked so relaxing to me. It might have been the nine hours I worked in the garden that made it so appealing.

The snow has finally completely left our gardens and most of our yard today. There's just about a two foot square patch down by the pines right now.

Way too hot for me today. I too like 50's and 60's for work.

At least it's not humid, Victor.
I can deal with this. It feels hot in the sun - step into the shade & it's perfect!

Nancy

Candyce, I am glad you will soon be able to see your babies waking up!!!!!!!

Arlene, so jeaulos of those boaters rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, lol, good for them, howeve they should have taken you for a ride!
Clemen

I agree with Victor. It's been too warm for the heavy duty spring work. It takes longer to remove a stubborn shrub or plant a tree. I'll have to be out by 8 AM to try and avoid the heat.

The nice boaters are out now. The horrid jet skis fly by in the summer and nobody around here loves them.

Love early AM gardening. Cool and not too many flies.
I have to wear a sweat band to keep the persp. from dripping onto my glasses. This was brought to my mind yesterday PM while planting ferns.

I couldn't mow the yard yesterday because it rained. Ive got the gas, ive got the motor reved up. Its a Dr. Trimmer. Ive got the strings. Im ready to go!

True, Nancy - will be worse soon, but it was still too hot for what I was doing. I was dying digging out those miscanthus. And I had some large shrubs to plant yesterday.

Nice to have a physician to do the grass, Gloria!

Yep. Dr. Trimmer. He is just great, once you get him started. The cutting string will handle 3 and 4 ft tall grass, which is what I usually have by the time I get around to mowing. You would be amazed at what is in the tall grass at first mowing.

Once I hit a baby rabbit, who was thrown some 6 ft by the string. he didn't seemed to be hurt, just stunned. Once he figured out he was still alive he got up and hopped away.

This is as good a thread as any to ask this question!
I looked in DG products and sources but couldn't find anyones opinion on the best Garden Cart. On line they range from $300- $114. I liked the folding and big wheels feature. Are any of you using one like that and what do you recomend? I can't believe Victor doesn't have one.

I do and I built my own.

Didn't figure on that Victor. I imagined you had researched the item extensivly and had the perfect one.
I know !!!I know!!! you do.

Did you use a kit, Victor, or build it from scratch?

From scratch. That's when I was still at work and had access to a machine shop and welding, etc. It's bigger than the largest available at the time. Uses bicycle tires, Unistrut framing, 3/4 inch plywood and removable front and rear boards.

Doesn't this come under the other thread postings discussing "male native ability" I'm jealous .
But in the real world I need something assembled and not so big I can't handle it.Probably 300lb. cap. Doubt I could move that much but cu.ft. is just as important.

Actually I rarely use mine - only when mulching.

I have a VT garden cart which was a gift. I had it 4-5 years and other than getting flat tires it's held up well. I think they are pricey though.

Thats good to know. I will have to think about how much use I would get out of it. Seems the dumpster toat I'm using now is awkward but holds a lot. might wait until fall for a sale somewhere.
Another question something different.
When the Planting instructions say"plant 12"-14" apart does that also mean 12"-14" from other nearby plants?
Could I plant day lilies closer to Poppies as Poppies die out as daylilies are matuering?

To me it's no big deal to either use the wheelbarrow or just make a few trips using the large rubber 'trugs' to carry things.

I would agree. Unless you have tons of hauling to do, a wheelbarrow would be cheaper & probably last longer because they aren't made of wood. They provide easier dumping too (don't need to remove front piece).

I bought a couple of little green wagons that I wanted to use with my nursery which didn't happen. The wheel barrow always has a flat tire and is to big to manuver in some spaces. The little wagon works perfectly.

In fact my sister and I just moved some bench tops, on the little wagon, about 15 of them, 3 ft by 12 ft down to the greenhouse near the back of the property. she steered and I held up the tail end.

If I need to move rocks or dirt, I use a couple of the white plastic buckets loaded on the wagon.

I also use a large white bucket (I think these are whole sale restaurant supply containers, also available at Home Depot) strapped to a hand truck with a baggage strap. This is I use to haul groceries from the car to the kitchen, or to haul brick rubble that I am using to repair my drive way.

This message was edited Apr 20, 2008 12:02 PM

Dontcha LOVE the white buckets?
5 gallon spakle compound emties. Saved them from contracters. I used them in the pottery studio for everything from mixing glazes to upended and a board for an extra shelf when needed.
Gloria: I am unable to use a wheelbarrow either. Its too heavy and tippy. I will get a wagon and use whitebuckets. The distance between gardens is too long for my bad feet.
I have been using a handtruck with a square deep tub for hauling shovels and dirt and plants. trouble is I needed a larger surface to carry everything in one trip.
Where did you buy your wagons?
Jo Ann

LOVE the white buckets? I have 2 or 3 in the GH for water. In the yard they are just great for weeds!!!!!!!!! Then all else fails tip one upside down and sit on it or stand on it.

JoAnn: I got the wagons at Big Lots. I had to assemble them myself. they were around $50 each. Ive seen them at other places assembled though. They are quite sturdy. I fill the tires with air at the beginning of the season. They don't seem to go flat quite as much as the wheelbarrow. Also, it is possible to fasten two of them together for moving long boards, or several white buckets.

Wagons it is. I begin to see they are more versitile.

I have the green mesh ones. They are very sturdy for the nursery trade.
But a lot of people just use a little kid's red wagon.

Our mower has a cart that carries it all.

I wanna look professional and serious. You have to do things like that when your new in the hood.

You do? I put a car up on cinder blocks as soon as I moved in...

That was my old neighborhood.
This is the snooty suburbs. There are NO fences allowed in thisdevelopment. There are lots of pine trees and privacy is just right. I want to build a natueral fence but my daughter will have to do the work so it might not happen.

I chased the bunny that eats my pansies today, felt bad though when I was doing it so, and a car almost ran over him/her, Anyway, I do want them in my property, can you guys tell the bunny that? My Copo (my gorgeous bichon Frise) chases after them! and the squirrels and then some! CLemen

I'm really sensitive regarding the cars on cinder blocks, etc. comments. Are you telling me that is NOT a decorating tip on Martha Stewart.com? What about the tires planted in annuals? No? Another Appalachian faux pas? Dang I have trouble getting this right. As soon as we it out we'll move northward. Don't want to embarrass ya'll.

L

Hee hee. Certainly did not mean that as a southern joke - I've seen plenty of those around here!