Fall Planting, so what's on your list?

thom you did good moving all that dirt this quickly and i noticed you did not mention the rubber tire - it must be gone.

i very rarely look at my personal email it usually junk mail and jokes. so i get to it when i can. I checked it out yesterday and had a message from sooner plant farm on a overstock sale of up to 75% off. I've ordered from them before with excellent results - i ordered from then again. avondale redbud and "shirobana" redbud are on the way to fill me redbud weakness. smoke tree "golden spirit", something call vitex agnus-catus "abbeville blue" a tree that has silver blue foliage and blue flowers, and oxydendrum "sourwwod".

most of these are small and will go into containers in the ground for now. next year i'll need to cut down some trees to fit these in - have no idea where they will go at the moment.

Great deal, Bill. Someone has to keep the economy going! You'll love the sourwood.

Ok...here is the bed with the DL's added...

Here is the faux raised bed that I made, with about 12 wheel barrows worth of soil in it...maybe more, I lost counted and was cursing to much to keep track...lol.

I can't tell y'all how many times my glasses slid right off of my noggin and went KIRPLAT right into the dirt.

This is a pic of the hot box area. The first year I created this bed I loaded it up with 1-40lb bag of green sand, 2-50lb bags of childrens play sand, and I can't even tell you how many bales of hay, and bales of sphagmum peat moss, and dehydrated cow poop. I just let it sit in there for a season, then roto tilled it all up the following Spring. The second year I planted potatoes, and the 3rd and 4th year the same thing. Then I sunk all of my sale items in there that I didn't have room to plant up. This will now become my Munson bed. Essentially it's an 8'x8' squared area that's all compost...lol. I hope the Munsons will be happy :-)


***edited, I can't spell for manure today.




This message was edited Oct 8, 2008 2:41 PM

This pic...oye...It shows the hot box in the background, in mid-ground is the newly created 3 sided DL raised bed, and since I had no more 2x(anything) material (what you are seeing in the front), is all of the DL's that I dug up, and moved (and completely forgot about!) I plopped them on the ground and dumped a whole bunch of soil on top. I'm also, as I'm emptying them still, dumping all of the soil from my containers on them as well. I hope they all come back. This bed is taking DL planting lazy-style to all new heights!

This is what is left of the mound o dirt. Also another view of the new bed, looking from the back of the property up toward the house. The little black R2-D2 looking thing is my compost bin (got it from the MG groups Composting workshop for FREE!)

I personally feel this bed is gonna be crazy and ridiculous with flowers next year.

The bottom corner I planted the 3 Bartzella peonies, and 2 other peonies I had dug up, along with 3 of the Japanese Iris I got earlier in the season. The upper corner I have 4 rose bushes planted, along with 3 JI's. So there is some balance...I still don't believe I was this OCD with planting...keep in mind, there were no sketches of any kind, I kind of placed them as I went. Hope it works out...lol.

thom how many shovels full of dirt did it take to fill the wheel barrel? i can fill mine bllind folded.

looks great!!

Looks great Thom. Winter is for recovery!

I used an old coal shovel...lol...Not sure how many of them...in all honestly, too, toooooo many...lol.

The tire is hurtin...and probably will be for a few days.

Nice!
Wow, you got that composter for FREE!!!??????


I almost forgot I have a bag of tulips to plant.

Yep. I'm not sure if all Master Gardener groups do this or not, but every Spring and every Fall our local MG group has a compost seminar. And for those people that sign up, there is a $8 fee per person, and only 1 composter to a household, you attend the seminar(s) and receive a free R2-D2 Composter. I'm going to try to get two of them for next year and have 3 of them working in the yard...one for usable compost, one for working compost, and the 3rd for new stuff...lol. The composter are purchased from the Pa EPA (I believe I have the right department) and then passed on down through the Land Grant based MG group for the purpose of the composting seminars.

It was pretty fun this year.

I'm going to be adding mulch to these beds, but probably not until later on this month, or probably November...it's gonna be freezing, but I need to squirrel the money away.

I'm waiting for the C3PO model.

I want one with a light saber!!!

For turning the compost, of course. And helping it heat up.

That's what I'm thinking. :)

bbrookrd, yes, those deer were very bold this year. When they went after my DL buds they didn't get the ones in front, though the majority of them are out back. But earlier in the year they came out front and ate the pansies my sister planted and our crocus flowers. They got my tulips in back, too, and they really liked my comfry and chowed down on many hostas as well. But the damage they did on my DL's was the worst, and I was heartsick over that.

LOL! Thom, I can sympathize with your glasses sliding off onto the ground. I don't know how many times that's happened to me. Hate wearing them, but can't see well without them.

I have one of those R2-D2 composters. I think we got it from our local recycle center, also free. Doesn't hold enough for us, though. We have tons of stuff to compost here. I have compost piles all over, really big ones, too. No time for layering and turning and such. I just let it sit a year or 2, then I have compost. Doesn't kill the weed seeds, but if I keep my gardens mulched I don't really have a problem there.

You have done a great job, btw!

Karen

OH NFD, I'm so glad to hear that your compost pile looks like mine. My DH, bless his heart, just keeps adding to it and it is so big that I can't turn it. He does sometimes, but there are some weed seeds I'm sure. lol

thom - i use a regular spade - 21 shovel fills it. coal shovel sounds big - you must have had nice dirt to use that!

wha--the garden center that I worked at last year also does landscaping jobs on the side. They were always talking about Lake Benton Soil. So I inquired...It appears some of the newer/nicer and costly homes in the area have their beds built up with soil from this vendor. I asked fellow coworkers who were garden enthusiasts, and they also were lamenting about Lake Benton Soil. So I was like, OK...I looked them up on the web, got their number, and that was it.

Essentially, there is a Lake Benton up near Benton...lol...that they have been dredging for years, possibly a decade or more. I asked to have the "blended" soil. It is dredged lake bottom, mixed with sphagmum peat moss, and hummus, then tumbled and screened. For the soil and delivery, and state sales tax, it came out to $250'ish. There is a local place that sells top soil, they won't tell me where they got it, nor if it is/was screened, and they are charging $25/bucket full...delivery is $35. It was cheaper to have the stuff imported from out of town. Benton is about 45mins to an hour away. The soil was/is very friable, there were no clumps in it at all, it even smelled good. It almost reminded me of compost, it wasn't that black, but pretty darn close.

I don't believe I just bragged about dirt, but, ya know...lol.

I got my Munson order in today...

...more work!

Thom that sounds like brown gold!!

Market was only down 250 at lunch so i tried to do my part. Went to another nursery here and got 2 more forthegilla's, two pee wee oakleaf hydrangea's, climbing hydrangea, and two small sedum. i am done for the year - promise.

Which fothergillas, Bill? More Mt. Airy?

I moved all of the stuff that was in the hot box that I over wintered from last year...phew. I planted the 3 Knock Out roses behind the hot box, and new raised DL bed. One in the middle, and one on each corner. In the corners of the hot box I planted 1 Yarrow 'Moonshine' and each corner, except one, I planted 2 Salvias, all were something Midnight, and the other 2 I can't remember. The ginormous Rutbeckias I had, there were 8 of them, I chopped them all back, and planted them, and in the middle I planted an ornamental grass...that was the easy part.

After soaking the Munson order, I had them soaking while I was working, I planted them up in the hot box, along with the Munson's I traded with Pirl, and several others from other LA wins. All together there are about 28 or so Munson's in the bed!

I still have a few things to plant up, but I'm almost done, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Atleast most of the heavy work is done. I still need to fill up the wheelbarrow 2-3 times, and dump it where the hostas are going, along with 2 JM's that I overwintered, that are still alive! Then I have a small group of perennials, I think there are only 8 of them, to plant in the middle of the DL bed that I created. I should be done by Monday or so!

I almost forgot about the Blueberry bushes, They are gonna get plopped in, along with some strawberries I had in pots, and a few of the raspberries/black berries.

Then I'm done...

Nope...still have to take care of the potted plants.

I'll pay air fare, anyone want to come help? Any takers? I'll give you half of what needs to be unpotted...there's a slew of EE's in it for ya...anyone? ANYONE? lol.

Victor and Bill, I think I'm going to higher out a massage therapist and a chiropractor after this...lol.

Perfectly understandable, Thom. You should be proud, though!

hi Victor - yeah two more mt. airy. i put one along the wall in the middle of the rose bushes and decided that two by the entry ways across from the roses would look good. really like the fall color. did not get 50% off on these - only 33%.

Ok, as promised, here is the Munson bed. The 2 twigs with the brown leaves in the middle of the bed is Hibiscus 'Plum Crazy.' Forgot to water it while I was busy doing everything else...lol. The roots are/were still happy, so here's to taking a chance on it. It was 75% off, off of $8.99! So if it comes back, great, if not, I just lost out on a Happy Meal :-/

lol on the 'Happy Meal' Great work.

WOW Thom! Everything looks amazing and you have suceeded in exhausting me!! lol I can't wait to see the Munson bed bloom, I think they are exquisite DL's.

I know I've typed it up somewhere else, not sure where though. I will type up the list of DL's that I bought new this year, or that I traded with/for. If someone traded with me, and I don't mention it, please don't be alarmed, I'm making up the plant markers as I go along...it just means I haven't gotten to it yet, or haven't gotten to that part of the garden yet.

I'll list the Munson's first, then head from there...the daylily list, IF, BIG HUGE IF, if everything comes back next year, and blooms...It's going to look like a box of crayolas just yacked all over in my backyard...lol.

Ok, I had to get the flashlight out and go and look...lol.

Here is the updated list of new Hostas...I believe this list is complete:
Moonlit Sonata, Savannah Supreme, Holy Mole, Jewel of the Nile, Touch of Class, LS Kaleidoscope, LS Mom, Alligator Shoes, Fire and Ice, Quilting Bee, Eola Salad Bowl, Will of Fortune, Laura and Darrell, First Frost, Independence, Brash and Sassy, One Man's Treasure, Mister Watson, Five O'Clock Somewhere, Bell Bottom Blues, Ginsu Knife, Richmond, Samuel Blue, Mango Tango, Spinach Souffle, American Angel, Brother Stefan, Pineapple Punch, I'm So Blue, Dream Maker, Aliyah's Grace, Spring Break, Double D Cups, Cheesecake, Ice Cream, Gingee, Frost Giant, Gunther's Prize, Kingfisher, Made You Look, Tattoo, Allegan Fog, Stitch In Time, Nate the Great, Winter Lightning.

And here, drum roll please, is a list of the Munson's first, followed by the rest of them...lol:
Scaramouche, Pancha Lama, Malaysian Monarch, Samurai Silk, Ruffles Elegante, Apricot Wax, Egyptian Ibis, Purple Twilight Time, Kabuki Ballet, Yasmin, Brazilian Orange, Warrior Prince, BookMark, Russian Rhapsody, Dark Castle, Royal Chiffon, Byzantine Emperor, Turkish Tapestry, French Porcelin, Lexington Avenue, Capistrano Bells, Sovereign Queen, Chaleur, Monte Carlo Red***Singapore Orchid.

The rest:
Lies and Lipstick, Queens Coronation, Picket Fences, Wild One, Purple Umbrella, Something Bold, Spacecoast Seashells, Eternal Quest, Uppermost Edge, Persues Sandals, Art Gallery Expressionism, Spacecoast Royal Ransom, Sarah Goldstein, Popcorn Pete, Inca Puzzle, WB Lime Life Frogs Croakin, WB Piggy Pen, WB WIld as a Buck, WB Mountain Home, WB Storm Cellar, WB Beautiful Sunrise, WB Egg Custard, WB ....?, Autumn Jewels, Candid Colors, Lake Effect, Open My Eyes, Autumn in Charlevois, Diana Grenfell, Eye of the Matrix, Circus Performer, Ledgewoods Silver Lining, Francois Verhaert, Laughing Skies, Time For Eternity, God Save the Queen, Wisest of Wizards, Coachs Pride, Wild One, San Luis Regal, Spiney Sea Urchin, Flight of the Raven, Bella Serra, Aerial Applique & Painted Bunting (not sure these are correct will check when they bloom) Dark Music, Moments Rich In Blessing, Lyrical Ballad, Circles in the Sand (was supposed to be Circle Upon Circle), Aloha Hawaii, Breaking With Tradition, Metallic Butterfly, Blueberry Lemonade, Venetian Royalty, Memories of Paris, Zinfindal Blush, Blueberry Baroque, Oceans 11, Gerry Frankenberger, Eternally Grateful, Turn the Kaleidoscope, Infinity and Beyond, Fire Down Below, Spectacle of Wealth, Aztec Headress, Shanghai Parasol, Entering Warp Speed, Matrix Reloaded, Monday Morning Blues, Cedar Key, Nature's Poetry, Gary Colby, In Too Deep, Executive Decision, Purple Pawprint, Jackies Choice, Joan Senior, Magnificent Rainbow, White Illusion, Trahlyta, Gentle Shepherd, Ilonka, Jolly White Giant, Lavender Deal, Lavender Vista.

That's it. I'm officially tapped for this year....NO MORE...egad.

I haven't the heart to count all of them. And, not sure when I'm going to get around to it, but sometime before spring I want to have labels engraved by AAA Engravers, for everything in the beds. Might be a very nice Christmas Gift to myself; or I might just wait and make sure everything comes back before making that investment.

***forgot to add a Munson.

This message was edited Oct 10, 2008 10:57 PM

Wow! Thom, that is definitely a ginormous list! I would not have time to plant all that. Where do you find the time? And the energy? I don't have much of either. LOL!

Karen

Thom, you want a hosta Guacamole? I have one - sent to me by a DG friend - and I know it's semi-rare, and I don't feel I'm appreciating it enough.

Carrie-Thank you very much for the offer, but I have Guacamole already, that's why I was extra stoked when I received Holy Mole from the secret hosta swap here on DG. Holy Mole is one of the sports from Guacomole. I'm sure you will be able to appreciate it. But, if you feel that you won't be able to, I can always take it off of your hands ;-)

It's a great hosta!

And, what's one more hosta?

OK Thom, I will continue to love and appreciate it. I tried to divide it this spring and almost killed it! Maybe I'll bring it to a RU if there's one I can make (not like today :-( ).

Thom - I'm in awe! Holy Cow man! My back is killing me just thinking about all you've done. It looks great and will look amazing next year!

What an outrageous list! You're sick, Thom!

Victor, I did go a tad bit overboard. My back hurts from all the over time I did, not necessarily from all of the planting. The planting, as everyone knows, you can pace yourself. When dealing with demanding or confused residents, it doesn't stop. And for those of you that think the residents in a nursing home sleep all night long, all I have to say is HA!

I'm finding watering to be a bit of a chore. I'm going to have to buy 2 or 3 hoses next year to reach around to the side of the house where the new hosta and the two JM's were just planted.

I sympathize, Thom. There are always extra meds! Hee hee. What about soaker hoses?

Oh, Thom, I can empathize about residents sleeping all night.. lol I've worked in 2 different homes during college summers. Granted I worked the 3-11 which I hated, but I was low man on the totem pole, so I couldn't pick my shift. I kept telling myself it's just for the summer. Though it does take a special person to work with the elderly. I'm sure we could swap stories.

Take care of your back.

Victor, I'm going to make that investment (soaker hoses) next year. For this year, I'm done spending money. The only thing left for me to actually purchase is the mulch, which I will be getting this weekend coming up.

I need to buy 2 hoses to connect to one hose to reach the back DL bed, and the new hosta bed. The side of the house that the hosta are on is on the other side of the house from where the water source is at. The hosta are definitely getting soaker hoses. The DL's might get them too, especially the ones in the 3 beds that I created.