Hey All

Tilly....your picture brought back memories of a summer when my 3 boys were small. We were visiting with DGM and DGP and the boys built a dam across a creek on their property. They worked so hard and even got to sit it in after it filled up some (it wasn't very deep, they didn't care). Thanks for the memory!!

Hey Sally, My little creek is my DHs most prized possession, I think he is more happy out there than anywhere, It is a salmon run and he makes sure it stays that way, I have my garden pump out there during the summer months but when the rains come he opening the gates. I have seen Salmon babies 2" to 1' when its running high, also have seen it totally flood the hold bottom field. Have some old pics on a 35mm some where when it was really bad. it changed it course now runs a little diff. that was back in The early 90s or late 80s can't recall. was a really bad flood season for all.

It's a big boy toy!!!! How fun to watch the fish. My boys still fish, we had many happy times going fishing. I pretty much raised them by myself and got to do lots of 'boy' things. Happy memories.

Don't want to make anyone feel bad, but I'm in Southern CA and it is sunny and warm!! We'll be off to Balboa Park in San Diego before long . . . everyone stay dry!

Murmur, you don't make me feel bad about not being in the So Cal sun. I lived there for many years and am very happy to be in the Northwest. I like the change to fall, and the winter snow and rains, and hibernating and making soup and enjoying the fireplace, cozy dinners with friends, and warming my hands around a steaming hot coffee. Then in the spring things slowly come to life again and the sun returns to warm us all for a while. I enjoy the rhythm of nature.
I don't know Carla but it sounds like she is really suffering - what happened to her and will she recover?

Carole - if it were anybody but you I'd tell them to shut up (with a smile). Please do enjoy the sunshine for all of us who are rapidly depleting our stores of Vitamin D.

Portland - I don't know Carla well, but I do know that she's been suffering with chronic back issues for quite awhile. She and her husband were preparing to sell their house and move to Arizone where she had family and she thought the climate would provide some relief for her. I thought that's why we hadn't seen her posting.

Her previous posts were made under cocoajuno.

Miss Sassy is so cute, and so is the creek. What a peaceful place to live.
Buckley is between Tacoma and Enumclaw - just west of Enumclaw. We're about 30 minutes east of Tacoma.
Murmur, good for you! I am looking out the window, trying to get up the ambition to go outside and plant some of the container plants into the ground before they freeze. It is 62 outside, 69 in the GH, so it is a nice day. I spoke too soon, it looks like its going to rain again. San Diego sounds much better!
If anyone ever wants to come here, I will serve lunch - how does Costco hot dogs sound? (Just kidding about the dogs).

Murmur please bring some of that southern CA sunshine back with you when you return. We so miss seeing it here. Perhaps we miss even more the opportunity to work outside without being soaked. I am envious! I'd like to trade, some rain for some sun; just enough to get my outside fix a couple of days a week and run the dogs. I'll even take a couple of afternoons a week. Then I'll take this for soup,stew, chilli and homemade bread. Hope you have a wonderful time even if we can't trade.

Lynn, those roses look great! Anytime you are in the Lakewood area you are most welcome to come and see the greenhouse. I admit to loving it. I was working out there today just finishing up all the moving around I've been doing, reglazing, etc, and cleaning up. I am almost ready to do seed flats!!

Tills, I do love that Miss Sassy! What a cat! SOOOO glad you were happy to take seedlings, etc from me last spring and glad you had such fun with them! (or whenever that was, maybe in the fall? I can't remember that far back.) Is your seedling area empty now?? Does it need filling? Who know what will be available come spring. Depends on how well the seeds do this year.

Carole Please send a little of that sunshine our way!!! How nice that you are in San Diego during the great flood.

Murmur...enjoy the sunshine. After having lived in So. Cal. almost my whole life, I really don't miss it all that much. Miss some people, the ocean and yes the sun sometimes (especially about March) but not the smog, traffic, crowds, etc. Moved up here 10 yrs ago and still don't regret it one bit.

LOL murmur...enjoy that sun! I for one cant wait to get up north where I can get OUT of the sun! lolol! and it actually rains there...so no more daily watering (have to do that even in the winter here! grrr!)

ope your enjoying your trip! :oD

AnjL

p.s..... moms down here visiting me right now too... she had to go buy a sweatshirt last weekend cause she got cold! lol!)

Carol, glad you are enjoying yourself, are you going to visit the Zoo? I lived in Imperial Beach for 7 years, its close to the border. I really don't miss the weather there that much, I like it here. A little more sunshine this time of year would be nice tho.

Have not even thought about doing seeds yet, the only ones I got going now are all the Hell seeds and some others that Laurie sent me, the others are not doing very well. I don't think its the seeds its me, I don't have the time I use to to care for the GH. Now that I get home at this dumb time, its hard to do anything out there. I have a light but thats it.
We didn't get to expand it this year like we wanted. Now I have brought all the plants that are still in pots in to it, don't have much room.

I have a project for next year, I think this could be fun for ideas.
I have a area, which I have already planted once. Looked so pretty that first year then it fell apart. I was not thinking about my water problems during the summer months, so alas I lost alot of plants. also under a very big Cypress tree. Removed most of the plants that survived but was not happy there.
I am looking for plants that are drought tolerant, only get hot afternoon sun. and can be happy under a Cypress. And I don't want take overs.
Right know I have not messed with it but I have this plant some people call it creeping charlie and is taking over, I never planted it but I think it came with some hay back when I had my horse.
This is the spot. well the best I can find at this time, I must of down loaded them. I get them. but think about LOL

Portland, Love your kitchen! How much clearance is there between the island and the stove?

Hello - yes yes, as pix says I am breezing in from greenhouse to DG and out again - but it is not true that I don't take my boots off!!!!

I'm just potting on some Petromarula (I think - I can't read my writing) from seeds Pix send, and I can't find any reference to it - soooooooo either I have the wrong name or the wrong spelling, or I really can't read my writing - Pix, help. does this ring any bells?

But in looking for image/info I came across this lovely thing http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.flowersofchania.com/assets/images/Pancratium_maritimum_035_plants_ill.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flowersofchania.com/html/body_pancratium_maritimum.html&h=467&w=700&sz=458&hl=en&start=47&usg=__xJCv1OnMd902YpCxFPhoNLMInP8=&tbnid=9RRGpI1822_koM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2527Petromarula%2527%26start%3D40%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN and remembered that someone, I think last year, was collecting plant suggestions for a beach area. this is a plant to strike envy in any good gardening soul. With a garden full of clay I doubt I can get this one to grow - but I am thinking of trying it in some very large deep terracotta. Oh, this is gorgeous. Enjoy.

Oh, my word!!!! AND apparently has a fabulous evening scent!!! And will grow outdoors here in the UK against a warm wall!!! LUST, definately PLANT LUST!!

This message was edited Nov 8, 2008 12:43 PM

I wouldn't want to live here for anything - my DD and her family would much prefer being back in the PNW, too, but her DH's job took them here. I do like San Diego, though, and thoroughly enjoyed Balboa Park (Tills, we just visited the gardens, not the zoo). We were thinking of going to Catalina Island today, but wouldn't you know - it's closed for a trialathon event (we all opted not to participate - lol!).

That purple plant is gorgeous, Tilly. I don't think it's creeping charlie tho. At least that's not the plant that I call creeping charlie!

Could you do some lavenders there? Also lots of bulbs that will look great in the spring when we are having rain but die back by the time it gets hot and dry. Ceonothus and butterfly bush are two others that come to mind. Daisies. Mine come up and bloom without any additional water altho they are not in hot hot sun.

Oh the memories of So California - seeking shelter from the too hot sun, driving an hour each way to work, smog, dogs with bows on their heads, plastic people....so good to be in Oregon! Those of you who used to live down there where did you live?
Laurie1, I am in love with that plant. I wonder if we can get it here. It is fabulous! Thank you for sharing.
Gwen thanks for the kitchen compliments - it took a lot of planning but since I planned hospitals for a living I figured I could tackle a kitchen. It has worked out remarkably well. The distance between the island and the stove/counter is 32 inches. It is smaller than recommended but it has turned out to be perfect. Everything I need is within easy reach and there is plenty of space to work in. I love it!

Portland ! welcome to the PNW. yes, it is a great place to live. I was born in Tillamook Oregon, then my parents moved to Wash. if you can grow it in England you can grow it here. simular zones. Jim

Thanks Jim - I have been here since March and it feels like home. My sister lives near Eugene and my parents are selling their house in Cal near Tahoe and moving to Portland. It's all good!

Portland, we hope to retire near Eugene. We have a family cabin in McKenzie Bridge that we want to be closer to. 2 of my sons go to Pacific University in Forest Grove and I know at least one of them will likely stay in Oregon, he loves it there. I am down there from time to time visiting them at school, driving them back and forth if they have too much stuff to haul on the train, etc.

We hope to find someplace rural yet not too far out of town, but this is down the road. I hope there are places like that still left! I also would not mind the coast but don't know if hubby would like that. I would also be interested in Ashland because it is halfway between the cabin and all my family in Calif but again, I don't think hubby will go for Ashland.

Gwen I also considered a more rural area to live but in case I need to return to work (economy economy economy) I need to be near ZGF, which is a big architecture firm here in Portland. Not a lot of firms do big hospitals and that is what I do. I also wanted to be near OHSU for medical care since I am 61. There are so many cool little towns all around Oregon - I love Ashland! Have you ever been to Jacksonville? It's great. Maybe someday if I remain healthy! My sister lives in Oakridge but she's not in love with it.

https://www.anniesannuals.com/signs/p%20-%20r/petromarula_pinnata.htm

there you go, Laurie. I hope mine make it through the winter. And thanks soooooo much for adding yet again to my plant lust!


Tills, is that rock arabis growing with that lavender flower? Very pretty! Seems like most rock garden plants would do well there, especially if the soil has good drainage. Will you be amending the soil? Lavenders would be nice. I like them mixed with Santolina.
http://www.google.com/search?q=santolina&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=com.google:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
Did you say your iris did well there?

This message was edited Nov 8, 2008 10:33 AM

I just thought of another plant that takes hot and dry - lantana. It comes in a variety of colors.

Wow, I love the Petromarula pinnata
“Cretan Rock Lettuce”! So pretty! You guys are so bad for my pocketbook.

Melissa I have had a seed addiction for as long as I can remember. Hopefully it will help supplement my retirement someday. Plant addicts don't seem to know the economy is bad thank goodness. Me included, I'm really in deep denial!
Heidi I have a few Acacias growing in pots, two trees that are getting quite large and will either have to be cut back or planted out in the future to fend the winter, they are to the top of my greenhouse. I'm not sure what they are, I grew them from seed someone gave me a long time ago and they came with only the knowledge that they were Acacia, I do suspect they are saliciformis or something similar so I don't know how hardy they are. I love it when they bloom as they weep over full of their sweet little yellow ball flowers.
Kathy my greenhouse is fairly full now but not all seed flats like late spring. I may have to have a potting party and you can all take home a sampling.

A little warning about potting up Acacias: I was working at a nursery for a week (to get plants in trade) and was given the job of transferring over 100 Acacia trees from 4 inch pots into gallons. The plants are lovely, but the roots have an unpleasant odor. I brought a bandana to put over my nose when I came back after lunch.

Portland, do you have a name? also did you know that Oregon grows 80% of the nursery stock that's sold in the USA. because of the climate and low disease( fungus, bacteria) rate. I learned some of this from Forest Farm Nursery in Williams, Oregon. very good catolog and people to work with, Jim

My DDIL is a graduate of Pacific Univ. She and my son live in Beaverton.

I grew a reddish-orange lantana this year for the first time. I took some cuttings cuz it probably won't last through the winter, but we'll see.

Laurie...I love that daffodil!! Gotta have it.

Portland...I lived in Lawndale, quiet little dead end street, mostly families, near Redondo Beach. Worked in El Segundo, watched the planes come in at break time. My building was across the street from LAX.

Gwen, the Pic is not the one I wanted to post, I can't find the one I did want to, That is the area in Q. but not the Charlie. That is 'Rock Cress' (Aubrieta deltoidea) and 'Snow in Summer' mixed in. that like that spot. Got to take another pic. I hate that I can't find it.

Laurie, I know how it is to read Pixies writing LOL she told me herself, shes bad.

Okay, Pix, what in the world made you think of growing this in the PNW, let alone England. Did you not read 'no summer water'?? And you still clicked on the button "add to basket"! You are definately a seed addict, in complete denial. Yes, I said denial. Both of us get buckets and buckets of rain in the summer. Big buckets. If we manage this one, that is truely pushing the boundaries!!!!!!

Funny, not going to work here LOL But I like it. Laurie

Found the pic and Charlie.

This is a old pic but you can see big tree.

And this is the Creeping Charlie, I think that is what its called. is pretty but it has to have all the space. would really like to know what it is, and if it chokes out other plants, like ivy does? I just might keep it.

Hello everyone. So nice to "see" friendly faces again! What a great idea for a thread, Tills.

I, just like everyone else here I'm sure, have been far too busy to sit at the computer. The weather had been nice for such a long time it was impossible to spend even one minute of daylight inside. But I'm sure that with the approach of winter we will all be once again more frequent visitors here, living in a virtual garden world until we can emerge into the sunshine once again. It's hibernation season for me. . .sleep til I'm hungry, eat til I'm sleepy, then start all over again!

It's autumn on the duck pond, though the ducks have not left entirely. . .

I'm still here in CA - and my DD would sure agree with the comment on "plastic people!" She hasn't really made any friends in the five years she has been here, other than those at work.

I head home tomorrow and will be glad to be there, though I've so enjoyed being with my daughter, her DH, my granddaughter (and her boyfriend), and all their pets - three cats, a dog, and two rabbits.

My creeping charlie is in a hanging basket. It hangs all the way to the ground and grows really fast. It doesn't flower. The leaves are varigated. But the leaves are the exact same shape as yours Tilly. I love the little purple flowers. It looks like a plant I would not mind being a little invasive. Has to be better than ajuga!

Jim I do have a real name and it is Judi. I think I will get that catalog you mentioned. Being a new gardener I can see that I may get sucked into the seed addiction that so many of you seem to have fallen prey to. And my yard is a typical small city yard so I may be in big trouble!
Wow Sally you lived right in the heart of the beach communities. I lived in Thousand Oaks which is in Ventura County, requiring a long tedious drive to work. I am not a So Cal person and so very happy to be in Oregon!

Portland, Judi, glad to meet you. I hope your garden experience will be all that you have dreamed. for me it's been a huge part of my life for the last 5 years. I don't regret a single minute that I spend on all the areas that I'm involved in. collecting, growing, hybridizing, Hostas. collecting companion species. it's a year around endeaver. right now I'm growing my hybrid seeds from summer 08, I have a plant rack that I use for this. 5 shelves with 2, 2 florescent lights on each shelf. then I move the seedlings into my greenhouse in the spring. I also have been making garden spheres that I sell. I never get up in the morning with nothing to do. good luck, Jim

Hi everyone,
2 of my grandkids have been here all weekend, so we have been busy playing with them. They have so much energy, they wear me out more than working all day in the yard.
Oh gosh, now I want to order seed catalogs. Hibernate with a good catalog - my idea of winter. Of course, the babies in the greenhouse need attention everyday. That is my playtime.

Here's a picture of Katey, she is 7. She wanted to pick flowers and make a bouquet for her mom.