Kat, the pics of Fortunes Casino gave you away ;) I'm a recovering Celebrity cruise addict (usually to the Caribbean as a once-a-year getaway when I lived in Michigan - it was figured into our budget!) and agree on the Century-class ships. I sailed the Galaxy to Alaska (nine years ago next week) for my honeymoon with 2nd husband. Your pictures bring back great memories. Especially being dragged out of the shower, dripping wet in robe, to witness a pod of whales off our balcony, LOL.
Not to hijack your thread, but an Alaskan cruise is truly one to splurge on a veranda for that very reason. The ? about weather is variable. We sailed the 2nd last sailing of the season in September that year and I sunbathed on the veranda during the inside passage. "Layering" takes care of the rest, and I was glad we packed hooded waterproof jackets for the colder, rainy days. (I forgot gloves, but bought some on the ship.)
I only regret we limited our time to the cruise and didn't book an accompanying land package.
Anyhow, glad you're back and hope we all survive Ike (yikes!).
Container Renovations 4! (smile)
Denise: I think they're a great line. I really think if I had the opportunity to do it again, I would start in Vancouver and keep on going north for 7 days and then do a little land package and fly back from Anchorage. It just seemed the more north you went, the more interesting it got. OMG! I was like you...Don is shouting "Whale" from the balcony and I'm just getting out of the shower looking for clothes! Missed it! However, I did see a school of about 300 dolphins! WOW - it was incredible! They're not like these unsociable darlings we have here that travel in groups of 4 or 5! haha
Looks like we've really gotten quite lucky here (fingers crossed) with Ike! Arrrrggghh! Could there actually be anything left of Cuba? Those poor souls. It sure has been windy and rainy here today. This storm must be huge as we're apparently 200 miles away and are still getting some pretty severe blasts from the outer bands!
Kat
We are dealing with Ike as well. We are going to ride it out here as it is only a Cat two. We have big trees around the house....so pray they keep standing! I'll be at my Mom's, three streets over. She doesn't have a computer, plus we may lose power. See y'all later!
Jeanne...You've totally been on my mind today. All I can say is...if your local authorities tell you to evacuate, it's not a bad idea to do so. You're going to get something from this storm. The thing is huge! Just to give you an example...for the last 2 days, we've had the worst winds and rain we've had all season in Port Charlotte - I actually had 2 trees blown down and about 4" of rain and we were 200 miles away from it. Not a big deal here, but you're going to be closer to it.
Stay safe and be sensible. I know that nobody wants to leave their home...I'm the same. But things can be replaced...but you and your family can't be.
I'm not meaning to scare you here, but I've experienced a Cat4 and it's not a pleasant experience. It actually changes your life.
Please try to stay safe and do what's right for yourself and your family.
Kat
Jeanne:
You've got D-Mail
Thanks for your sweet thoughts and prayers. We are all OK. I'll post pictures of the
aftermath and resurrection of the garden later. I've got to charge the batteries to the camera, upload the after pictures, and then take some new ones.
See ya!
So glad to hear that you're all okay Jeanne!
My container garden needs so much renovation right now but I'm still waiting for a few weeks until it gets a little cooler. There's also not a lot of plant stock out at the garden centers these days. I went to 3 on Sunday and just gave up. I think a month is going to make a big difference.
For now, I need to just clean everything up and get things ready for new plants...
My huge containers need a major overhaul - The baby sunrose finally hit the ground, but needs to be taken out as it's getting too much moisture and is starting to rot underneath. Going to make sure I root some of this though as it was a great trailing plant and I don't see it around too much. Would be really good for a hanging basket.
Nong-nooch vine is doing well though...
Heads are good!
I need to figure out what to do with the Oxalis though. It's grown so well and I notice there are a million corms/tubors when I've taken some out. Should I just thin them out and replant them? Dry them out?
Gorgeous Mandevilla - I transplanted it into a large container and it's taken off.
Such a pretty vine! I know what you mean about the garden centers including nurseries not having much. My area is the same way. My local WM has pretty much turned their garden center into a Christmas shop.
Do you know the cultivar on the mandevilla? I have a red but it is not as bright as yours. I really like the color of yours. Just lovely.
I know Patty! It's terrible. Anything they do have looks really spindly and overgrown.
It was the same last year and I remember buying Vinca/perriwinkle which I would never put in the ground. I just wanted something for color and over a year later it really is not a bad container plant - Non-stop blooming. This was just 2 little plants tucked in a pot with Crown of thorns...It's about 3' wide now! hehe
Patty...I'm fairly sure it's Sun Parasol Crimson. It's very red and so pretty.
I'm trying to remember the cultivar I have. Mine is more of a deep maroon red and it's looking sick right now. I actually moved it out of the sun and onto the patio hoping to restore it. If it croaks, i'm going to look for the cultivar you have.
Patty...After a long drive and visit to a really dissapointing nursery...we stopped at HD on the way home and I found that one there. I can't believe how much it's grown in 2 1/2 months. It is under the screen though and get's some good filtered sun.
Sometimes it's amazing how my containers renovate themselves! hehe
After the Caladiums/Gerber daisies expired, I have a whole new look!
Succulent container gone wild!
I think the missus there needs a little attention too!
I love your Sun Parasol Crimson. It is very red and so pretty. Just gorgeous!
Where did you say that you got it? That is a "must have"! LOL!
Jeanne - I found that one at Home Depot. That had some pretty nice stock this summer.
How's the clean-up going you poor Dear?
Kat
My yard crew did a great job on the outside! I did the refrig and freezer yesterday. I must have moved wrong or slept crooked as this morning I had sciatica in my left leg and couldn't put my weight on it for most of the morning. I stayed off of it most of the day, and took pain meds, and now am beginning to walk on it again. That is why I paid to have the outside done. I posted some pictures in Tropical Zone Gardening on one of Chrissy100's threads.
We still have alot of plants to move before the shed frame can be reseated and a new canopy put up. That was my makeshift greenhouse for the winter for my plumies.
Here's a picture of the shed....
And what was the canopy.....Remember my thread....What's outside your backdoor......well it's a bit of a mess.....
Edited to add that "We are very blessed. It could have been alot worse! Some people don't have homes anymore!
Jeanne
This message was edited Sep 21, 2008 12:45 AM
The papaya seedlings made it, as well did most of the plants....they just look bad, but they'll live! At least they will if I get out there and water them. It's supposed to be 90 tomorrow!
Isn't it fall yet?
Jeanne
Jeanne,
I'm so glad that everything is going to be ok, but hey don't curse us that live in the northern tier by asking for fall. Our fall is sometimes worse than your winter lol. Right now I'm enjoying not having to bring in the plants at night although I will have to tomorrow night.
Oh Wow, Tina......I would not be ready for that! I don't know that I'll be ready by Nov. LOL!
I would just like it to cool off a little. The cold front we had come thru right after IKE was so nice.
Jeanne
Jeanne,
That will be one of the perks of moving to Oklahoma, I won't have to bring the plants in so early. I absolutely can't wait to be able to plant some of my container plants into the ground.
Our cold fronts usually have Alberta in them and they come down from Canada and they are COLD. lol The people are nice but that doesn't mean that I want their cold weather.
It is still nice here in the low to mid 60's, but by the first week of October we usually have our first snowfall. Moviing in November is going to be difficult with all the plants that I'm taking with me.
Jeanne...So glad things aren't totally gone! Looks like you're well on your way to cleaning up the devastation. We're supposed to get a bit of a cold front in the next few days. It is totally welcome as far as I'm concerned. And you know what a cold front means in the South - a few degrees difference in temperature, but less humidity! Looking forward to a nice weekend. I don't want to jinx things, but it's kind of strange not having any storm to follow these days! Maybe I should call up Jim Cantori and ask him what the heck is going on! hahaha. NOT!
Ahhhh Tina - Early October is way tooooooo early for snow! Being originally from Canada...I don't miss that one bit! Hope you enjoy Oklahoma!
Kat, the weatherman said today that any other Tropical Storms that form this time of year generally go up the East Coast, and do not get into the Gulf, so maybe we can rest for awhile. Unfortunate tho for Fla, and the East Coast.
I've been working on Insurance stuff, documentation and pictures, so haven't done anything in the garden since the crew cleaned up. I have such a high deductible that I doubt if we get anything. Roofing shingles have almost doubled since the price of oil went up. Our Smokestack to the fireplace was damaged...the top parts were blown off, so don't know how much it will cost to repair or replace them.
Hopefully not too much.
Most of my plants will survive...they just look bad at the moment. I will need to water soon. It's supposed to be dry until Oct.
We are blessed. It could have been worse. It's just hard on the nerves seeing everthing so battered and tossed around. I'm going to take a "time out" and just rest for awhile. My energy level is at zero. Takes time to get my strength back.
Glad everyone is OK. Good luck with your move Tina. Those can be stressfull times.
Jeanne...Here's a little tidbit of info that might affect you...
My Dear Man is an accountant. You can never claim damage to landscaping or plants though your insurance.
However, you can claim these losses on your Income Tax. Just get a written quote of how much it would take to replace things....
Kat
Jeanne,
I wish that I could be there to help you with everything. Thanks for the good wishes. It is already cold here, 29 this morning. Hopefully this won't last though it does signal the end of warm weather for us here. Now comes the rearranging of the house so that the plants are all comfortable for the next couple of months until the move.
Kat....thanks for the info. I really didn't lose very many plants...just a few. Most of them just look bad, but I'm pretty sure some of them will come back OK in the spring.
We are trying to get to some of the things the yard crew didn't. Comparitively speaking it is a small amount left to do. The neighbor had to cut out one of the big limbs. It was wedged up in the tree. He finally got it out so now we can get in there and get the smaller limbs that were left behind.
The City came and got the debris out front, but left some of the leaves and smaller peices behind, so we have to get that up also. The yard crew comes back on Thursday. If we don't get it by then, they will.
On the bright side I saw a hummingbird out back today. One of my plumies has a seed pod on it. One of my little red hibiscus was in bloom today.
I got stung by a wasp today. I hurriedly took two benedril and poured some liquid benedril on the sting sight. It's still a little sore, but the swelling didn't go up my hand. In the past I have had to get a shot when stung. I take a benedril every night and lately every morning, so I think I've got enough in my system to counteract it this time! Note: "This too shall pass!"
Tina....29 is tooooo COLD for me! That's why I live here!!!!!
Jeanne
Jeanne...How many people do you know were driving down a dark street, looking up and seeing a falling star and getting stung under her arm at the same time by some stupid wasp? This happened to me. Thought it was a lucky sign and bought lotto tickets, but no winners!
I probably have a better chance of winning the Westminster dog show!
Glad you took the Benedryl...these wasp stings take a long time to get over. My underarm was discolored and itcy for months.
So happy to hear that you're coping with the aftermath! Just hang in there Hon! Things will get back to nornal one of these days.
Kat
29 is too cold, which is one of the few reasons why I'm glad we are moving to Oklahoma. That is about as cold as it gets there where here that is a fall temp. We are heading back into the 70's for a few days though so I'm very grateful for that.
I hope the cleanup gets finished soon for you.
Kat, you sure are funny. Looking at a falling star and getting stung.
Tina
Tina...Moving is always a P.I.T.A! Good luck to you!
I've got to do something with this very cute Dracaena...I've had him for months and need to transplant him with some really cool cascading grass and somethng colorful!!!
Macho fern!!! This one is getting crazy. Love it though, but I'm thinking he needs to be transplanted out in the yard...
Okay...this was a huge planter mistake but is interesting! Had no idea these Cat Whiskers would grow so tall. I think they would make another good transplant for the outside yard! What the Hay? You gotta try things!
I'm in love with Giant Crinum's these days...
Yup, you live and learn! Great pictures Kat. We managed to get a few things done today, so the patio is a little more organized. At least you can walk out there!
It's a start.
Have a great week everyone!