Laurie's Garden Tour

Last spring at Rach's
I'll get the link, them you can see who is who.

Here a go Sally, have fun. At least when she shows the new, you'll be on top of it.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/809753/

Hey there gang. I would love to do a tour of my garden but it will have to wait for a few weeks. We have some very serious family health issues going on right now and I just don't have the focus to commit the way I would like. I promise that I will start a virtual tour of my garden by the end of February. Promise :0)

Oh Rach, hope all is well, Hugs and Prayers to you.

for all of you who tried to watch the inauguration yesterday and have cats, this is probably familar:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=s13dLaTIHSg

Laurie I had not seen that and it is cute! I was glued to the TV yesterday and I feel full of hope.

I am glad that the world is full of hope but to put it in one man is not wise. Yes it is wonderful that we have a AfAm president!

Loved Simon's cat!!! Wish the president all the best, he's going to need it.

Sofer - that is exactly his point - he can't do it alone.

I was glued all day until I saw the ball gown. It was all good.

Didn't watch, but love the cat, Sassy kinda does that to DH with a movie. LOL

The local movie theater had the inauguration on the big screen starting at 6:30 in the morning (free viewing), so my family went up there to watch. It was packed and a lot of fun to be there with a big crowd, sorta, kinda like being there just a little bit. Too bad I had to leave and go to work before the big speech.

At risk of sounding foolishly maudlin, I feel more personally attached to this particular event because I was born and grew up just a 10 minute walk away from the President's Chicago home. It has been both a racially integrated and economically diverse neighborhood for a long time. Within a few blocks you can walk from a street with big, old imposing houses to an area of run-down apartment buildings. My parents were members of a group that bought one of the latter and turned it into decent, affordable housing owned collectively by the families that lived there. We had work parties on Saturdays to take care of maintenance, cleaning common areas, yard care, etc. I bet you can guess which of those I like to volunteer for most! My dad found out about a garden in the city that was being bulldozed, and we made numerous trips there to dig up plant to put in the barren yard that came with the building. I have many fond childhood memories of playing games with numerous children from the neighborhood in that yard. It had some of the best hiding places and trees to climb once all the plants we put in grew up.

This message was edited Jan 21, 2009 9:07 PM

Holly, what a great story and a great connection to the current president!! What did he say today, "The first word in "neighborhood" is "neighbor".

mauryhill...what a great story, and wonderful memories for you. You can feel pride in your parents and yourself for the work that was done. I'm a big believer in volunteering. I can't do to much now because I look after my mom and husband, but with 99 units in the park where we live, there's always someone needing help. If the TV or the VCR needs reprogramming, or the email is messed up....they know who to call!!

Laurie ~ that's just about one of the funniest (and truest) things I've ever seen! Anyone who's ever had a cat can relate to that! Thanks

Holly ~ Great memory of your childhood. It's things like that which make us into the people we become as adults, which explains why you are so generous and caring.

To all ~ I agree that's it's not wise to put all our faith and hope into one person. Obama, however, has inspired such hope, which you can see in every face the camera catches. I have never been so proud to be an American as I have been for the past few months. I don't know about you, but I was amazed when he stood up to give his inaugural address, 2 million people were silent. And he specifically stated he could not change this country alone. He has called upon each and every one of us to be actively involved in the change that is coming our way, and I firmly believe we all have a responsibility to do so. We need to put on our gloves, jump in and work for it, in whatever capacity we are able. If we're not willing to work for change, then we should be quiet and live with things the way they are.

Enough of my soap box...

I love your soap box Sheri! It definetly is a new day! I love it!

Outta, your words made me cry once more. I think many people, myself included, are putting faith and hope not only on this amazing man, but on all of us as a country to work together. Obama has come along to lead us at a time that we so desperately need hope. It's a new time for all of us and I think he is wonderful.

Laurie, sorry I have not answered your question about the Pied Cow. It is a 60's style coffee house with beads hanging in the doors, comfy overstuffed furniture, and the Stones playing in the background. Truly a flashback!

From this side of the pond, obama is having the same effect - just an incredible refreshing of faith. He is wonderful. I have been absolutely glued to the newspapers!

And in celebration, here is a kitty concert

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ860P4iTaM

Wasn't it wonderful to watch the inaugaration speech? That man has a gift of speaking. I didn't catch him look down at a piece of paper or at a teleprompter once.

I'm so glad that he's improving our image across the globe. And his phras "Unity of Purpose" still echoes for me.

You guys are a bunch of blubbering hotsies for a good looking face. Another Jack Kennedy! LOL

BETTER than Jack Kennedy, even. :-)

rotfl!!

Uuuuuuuuu hhhhhhhhh uuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh! What a hunk!

hehehe

Hey...He can drop by my place ANY time. Ooooohhhh...that smile! = D

Why do YOU, Sofer, think he is a hunk? Wouldn't it be nice if everyone would not commit anymore crime? What a big savings that would be.

Laurie did you notice that over 2400 people have viewed your tour.^_^

This message was edited Jan 22, 2009 3:49 PM

Wow. That IS a lot. Laurie - you're VIRTUALLY famous (pun intended). Hahahahahahaha.

Willow I don't think he is a hunk. I just can't see the excitement that the world has with a new president who has no experience or plan to change this world to a perfect place. I am a skeptic until the "man" shows his plan.

I go for the big teddy bear types (which you would know if you've ever met my DH). Obama does not fit that image in the least. While I voted for him, and am extremely glad he's in the White House now, I don't agree with everything he says. In fact I am in the process of writing him a letter containing some points about which we disagree. I would not be writing such a letter if i did not think I was writing to an intelligent, compassionate human being who might at least listen to my ideas and consider what I have to say. Though the man himself probably won't ever see the actual letter, as I assume there will be a letter reading staff, maybe it could make some small difference to communicate what is important to me. That is what I see, a willingness to listen to the concerns of every day American people , not just the well off.

Sally, it sounds to me like you do a LOT!!! And for people who really need some help now and then.

By the way Laurie, love the kitty flicks. Very funny!!!


This message was edited Jan 22, 2009 8:50 PM

This message was edited Jan 22, 2009 8:59 PM

Laurie, Loved it.
And not going to say anything else. LOL

Laurie.....great kitty flicks. Thank you
And I'm staying out of it too.LOL

I love the man - for his brains and character. And I'm happy we have him in the White house. I am very optimistic.
We are all going to get sent to detention if we continue this discussion!

Love the Kitty flick! Very, very cute and so accurate, I fear.

I am completely smitten with Obama for his leadership qualities, his intellect, his cool-as-a-cucumber temperament, his obvious love and devotion to his wife and children, his reasonable, rational mind and because he is committed to bringing people together rather than dividing them. He will not change the world. But he will inspire the world to change. I am too young to remember Jack Kennedy so I really cannot compare the two men. But I have not been this proud of my country since we landed on the moon, and I was a child then, too. So perhaps I look at this new president with a childlike sense of hope that what he represents is a global shift in consciousness from being divided to becoming united. He is uplifting and inspiring. If he does nothing else but that, it will help our country and the world. I am absolutely amazed at how this election has impacted the entire world. Just amazed. I haven't cried with joy this much in too long to remember. He is certainly not perfect and I disagree with some things, but since he is way smarter than I am (thankfully!) I guess I'm just going to hope that he knows better than I do. What a cool time to be alive!

Love your story, Holly! That is way cool!

I think I need to take another turn around your neighborhood and garden, Laurie. I've got my cuppa and will settle in and take my sweet time, pausing to rest and enjoy. I rushed through, before, saw some beautiful things, so am hoping when I turn this way and that to see some new pretties that I missed before.

You hit the nail right on the head, Pixy. I don't believe it could have been stated any better than that.

I agree with your thoughts Pixy.
There was one moment of the inauguration that I will never forget. Obama officially became the President at exactly 12 noon. He had not yet taken the oath because the ceremony was running late. However, at that moment Michelle, who was sitting behind her husband, quietly put her hand on his shoulder. The image of her green J Crew glove resting momentarily on his shoulder - a private moment between the two of them. So revealing.

Laurie I am also taking a slow walk through your garden. As a complete newbie to plants, I need a closer look!

Portland and Jan, I'm so glad you are enjoying a second walk round. do ask any questions - If I can't answer them there is always someone else close at hand that will be able to. And I am absolutely pleased to have a newbie here in the garden.

As far as the above discussion about obama, I will just say one thing: obama, read that with an adoring sigh and breathlessness (it includes Michelle too).

glad all of you animal lovers enjoyed the kitty flicks - my dog hates them.

Umm, back on the subject of plants (not that I don't like talking about obama - ahhhh, obama, goodness I just about swoon) - but, oh, yes, plants - I have just placed a seed order with B and T seed world in France:

hydrophyllum virginiana (thank you pix)
Hydrastis canadensis
ratabida pinnata
euphorbia corollata
caulophyllum thalictroides
and a species hellebore which I can for the life of me remember which one - (more magnesium please!) got it, helleborus lividus (I've got to stop thinking about obama!!)
and I am just about to re-email them and add Mitchella reptans.

I am thinking about the propagation of these seeds - they all need a period of cold - in fact I think the sequence should be warm, cold, colder, cold, warm - the caulophyllum actually needs two cold seasons (tills, we thought hellebores were long!). here in england we will stay cold, irregularly, until some time in March (if the sun god is kind (she), April if HE isn't). do you think it would be beneficial to try starting them in the greenhouse on the warm bed, moving to the refrigerator, then a short stay in the freezer, back to the refrigerator and then back to the warm bed. I haven't considered using the freezer before, and I have found that I get very poor germination using the refrigerator only. What I am thinking is that those that originate in NE US (having seen the ice photos) must have a period of freezing? Any thoughts or experience of handling this?

I have no thoughts about the plants since I am totally out of my element here - but about our new president....
I like his policies, his intellect, his decorum, his wife & family, his leadership ability, his ideals, etc.....isn't it nice that he is also sexy as hell.

I can see by your discussion about hot, cold, colder, hot, hotter, colder, cold, hot, freezer, warm bed, cold, hotter, colder that I have a lot to learn! For now I will get my plants from the local nursery and save the "seeds" experience for later, when I feel a little more confident!

no no no no no noooooo, portland, no, try seeds too!! Don't let the hot/cold stuff put you off - these are quite unusual seeds I've ordered. But there is so much expertise here that we can easily guide you through almost anything you are sowing - and Portland, there are few experiences that match up to the hope and thrill of growing from seed! Buy at least one packet of seed, or tell us what you want, I'm sure someone will have them, or I'll send you some - you really must try it (gawd, I sound like an addict! some of my patients are in more control than this!). Seeds, yeah, seeds!