Wintrer in California

Yes he is a cutie.
I'd never have known that you were using your blender for a vase if you hadn't said so. LOL! Whatever works!
WIB,
SW

lovely photos all!

love the vase! I have one just like it! ^_^

SW, now that rat's nest leaves me feeling blessed to be only housing tree rats at my house, er . . . under my house. Glad they're not pack rats, although my house could sure use a pack rat outside the living space.

Linda

That vase is one of a limited number from the Oster collection.
I have several others that are just as pricelss...one is made by Yuban, one by MiracleWhip, and a few from the Smuckers first edition heirloom series.
The antique Claussen one got broken in an earthquake.

Jasper, I have several of the equally-classic Starbucks Frapuccino series---and multiple flavors, as well!

Nobody can beat my collection of the frappuccino series...lol....it's my addiction and I have tons of them that I start a lot of my seeds in. Sown in the cups, then their 'caps' on, then go into the large plastic storage bins outside. I've been severely tempted to go through their trash containers to retrieve empty cups, but that's kinda gross, huh?

WC, not if you are desperate for containers to start sowing seed in! I was eyeing the empty KFC container in the trash last night and decided it would be perfect for some Winter sowing. LOL. I don't even have a blender anymore. I pick up vases from the thrift store. I do have a few vases I didn't pack up, (because of Earthquakes), but I use empty jars, glasses, pitchers, whatever comes to hand when I have cut flowers.
Jas, I have decided that the blender/vase doesn't need to be excused. It just got used in a different way is all! : )
Sunny and cold here this morning with a nice brisk wind. How about you all? I hope to do some Winter sowing in the green house and Direct seeding today in the front flower bed.
Will take pics as the work progresses.
WIB,
SW

I've used KFC styro plates w/ lids for winter sowing. Probably still would if we got any more of them...we have a lousy KFC here in town.......I really do love the Starbuck's cups, though.

How cold is it at your place today, wcgypsy? When I went to pick up kid from school, it was 54 degrees out and cloudy. No wonder my chest hurts! No more sunshine. : (
I like to use the paper cups because then I can plant the whole thing in the ground, and the paper will degrade. Works pretty good most of the time. Have used this technique a lot for teaching kids how to plant seeds, and makes it easy for them to transplant them too.
Sadly, I don't drink coffee. I guess it is an acquired taste, and I never acquired it, so no Starbucks containers for me. : ( I have heard from others that you aren't alone in your appreciation of their containers. You ought to be able to find some similar at Smart & Final, but who wants to pay for them, when you can recycle them?
Hope you are having a great day!
WIB,
SW

I'm not sure what the temps were here today...went to Julian and it was 38 there. Hoping for snow while we were there, but no such luck....Pie and ice cream was good though (just so the trip wouldn't be a waste...lol...) I'm hoping the temps don't dip here tonight. I do have the fire going.
edited to add that, actually, there had been 2 inches of snow before we got up there about noon, but had mostly melted by then. Never fails to amaze me to see people up there in shorts, always wonder where they came from and what they expected. I mean, helloooo, there's snow.

This message was edited Jan 26, 2009 7:12 PM

OK, guys, paper cups . . . .

Let me ask you . . . I have a stack of little 4oz Dixie Cups. I also have a box of (are they called straps?) 40-or-so Star Jasmine which need to be taken out of their little plastic sacks (the roots) and planted in soil before (I think) they are likely to get moldy. There is obviously no air getting to the roots as they presently are stored.

Now these are going to be planted, 2-each, in the holes I had Aardvark dig in my front yard adjoining my recently-constructed wire fabric fence (4-feet high) as a gardening landscape architectural feature. I'll try to add a photo herewith. The point is that I'm not in a position at the moment to get out there and mix the native and bag soil so as to fill the holes and plant them in the holes. It's cold and getting colder, it's wet and getting wetter next week, yadda yadda yadda! I'm scheduled for a 6-week course beginning next Sat, each Sat. The Suns are obviously available, but, I mean, when your life is already out of control, spending the only weekend day you have after a 6-day work week . . . . Oh my.

So, what's my question??? Can these little Dixie cups provide the proper environment to plant them temporarily and then drop them in the larger holes when it warms up in a month? I mean, are they acceptable as the kind of paper cups you're talking about above?

Oh geez, it's probably just as much work to just plant them as to throw each little plant into a Dixie Cup, isn't it? I suppose I could try to find a 16-yr-old who wants to earn minimum wage for just 2-3 hours. Whadd'ya think? Advice? Wisdom? Sanity?

Would you rather I address to the Beginner Gardening Forum?

Linda

You don't need to go to the beginner forum. Sounds as if you just have too much on your plate. I'd opt for the kid I think.

I, myself wouldn't put them in 4 oz cups...perhaps 8 oz if I were going to do that. I'd have to ask myself how much I paid for the jasmine starts, do I want to replace them if they rot before planting, will I have time to plant them at the time of buying more, do I really have to mix in bagged soil before planting, do I know a young person who knows how to plant them properly and, if the holes are already there for planting and I don't really have to amend the soil, how long would it take me to just go out there and plant them? Especially if I don't see more available time in the near future.....

AND do I have time to water the starts while they're in the cups so they survive until I can plant them outside....?

I agree with wcgypsy. The 4 oz. cups are too small. Don't forget to put drainage holes (ice pick size) in the bottoms of the cups. It should give you a little breathing time. You probably want to sterilize the native soil to prevent weeds or use a preemergent. I heard of a great preemergent made out all of natural product called corn gluten that prevents weeds. I know it sounds like a lot of work either way. I would suggest repotting a few a day in the cups, and the same for the planting. I know your live is stressful right now, but you may find that the gardening helps relieve some of that stress. I'd find a college kid if you can. They usually can follow directions better, and need the money. Unless you already have a kid on tap that is! : )
Got to run!
SW

Sorry we cross posted. You can set the cups in a container, and bottom water them. More later!
WIB
SW

Hmmm, OK, I think I have it. I'm gonna hire that high schooler and supervise his working while I wander about managing other things in the yard. I can watch him pretty closely.

Mixing native and bagged soil? The Aardvark dig was needed because the soil hereabouts is actually more like clay. We are buried in hardpan here; it runs through the neighborhood at various depths and thicknesses. He pulled out probably 2-or-so feet of hardpan and to simply re-plant it with the vines seems to invite plugging up the hold with a "cork" of clay, which makes no sense at all after paying a skiploader to come out here to dig it out. Thus the plan to mix the soil, if that makes sense.

So, I can have the youngster mix and plant, mix and plant, etc. I can manage the watering, I think. I just hate to risk losing the straps due to lack of proper care, ie. taking the little plastic sacks off.

If I lose some to the elements in our mercurial California weather, at least the remaining are familiarizing themselves with the local environment.

Thanks, guys.
Linda

So what's up with this weather ? I had frost on my back lawn this morning.

Hey, JD, a bit of sympathy from me . . . just a bit! Frost turned into ice on my car, passenger and front windows, last night!

Still time to prune those roses!

This is the time of year we NORMALLY get frost here. I heard the other day we're in a La Nina.

DH was surprised at having to scrape the ice off the car windows yesterday too! Took him five minutes. The weather is so weird, but since it should be sunny and warm today I'm off to take care of needed weeding and some direct sowing. I might be able to get to those roses today, but I'm not counting on it.
Sharing a photo of our farm and how green it is getting. The big white steel building is DH's Bee Barn.
WIB!
SW

Anyone seen Toto??!!?!? It is blowing here, yes, very crazy weather going on.
SW, I just gotta get down there to see your farm. It looks wonderful.

Hey weegy,
I just saw the winds in your area on the news. Wow, they are really blowing out there. We have just a little breeze so far, but are expecting a little more soon. The weather is beautiful out there today and I plan on playing in the garden for awhile while it so nice.

D.

Weegy, when it happens it happens. You have so much going on with your family right now. You know you are always welcome.
We are sheltered right now from the winds too. That will change by the afternoon. Mostly blowing hard in the passes. You get the Santa Ana's worse than we do. I'm with SoCal and off to work in the yard while I can. Here is a photo from my woodhenge/time portal (The Star Trek episode with Edith Wheeler). Cool Huh!
Happy Gardening!
WIB,

I'm so jealous, SW! You have rocks AND a time portal????!!!!

Finally woke up from the fog I've been in after being ill for a solid week (no food for days, folks!) and wish I could spend the time in the garden today. Have to give the birds their showers and go shopping to restock the larder. DH is not feeling well now, so it's my turn for nursing duties. He was soooo good to me while I was sick. We thought I had food poisoning, but now wonder if it's not a flu virus. Whatever it is, it's evil, so take care everyone and wash those hands!!

JD, we've had mornings in the low 30s with frost all over, too.

Yup blowing pretty hard.

Awww, thanks SW. I will happen.
Love that time portal!

SW, what a beautiful place you have! It looks like it has lots of good spirits!

I've thought about trying to contact a local beekeeper to set up a hive to share---I don't want to maintain it (got enough going on in my life, thank you) but I get so many bees, and this is a "safe haven" for them since I won't use chemicals. Don't know if I can do that or not, but maybe this is the year to pursue it.....

OOOHHH, I love that time portal too. It's almost as big as my whole yard. lol
Weegy, I'm with you. We need to go visit SW and see this beautiful property she has. She keeps giving us so many different areas to see, we have to see it in perspective. lol

Kathleen, so glad you came out of hiding. We've been wondering where you went. I'm so sorry to hear you've been ill and sure hope John doesn't get it as bad.
So, how much weight did you lose? lol

D.

You name the day Donna!
Kathleen, take care of both of you.

Kathleen, I told you about that nasty flu virus that kept me down for a month. I'm glad you are feeling and hope that your DH does soon too. I had to laugh. It seems that the only trips I've taken this past month have been to drug store, Dr. or Grocery Store. Wore me out, just laying in the supplies.
I'm really enjoying the sunshine. This morning it was about 50 when I took the kid to school. Since I was already up I just had to grab the camera and go for a walk. Dad and I always liked taking photos in the morning. I was driving down some of the old dirt roads yesterday to avoid roadwork, and decided I have got to get photos of the old Ag preserve before they cover it with houses. Maybe today when I go to pick up the kid from school. I'll try to leave early and get some. Must charge batteries! I used them all up this morning! LOL!
You got to come visit. I can't figure out how to show you in a slide show, at least not one that would do the place justice. We've got some pretty cool rocks.
The time portal only takes you into the past.
One of those times when I fell in love with the wood. It was DH's idea to put the hollow piece of wood on top of that gnarly, "post". Of course it helps when you have a tractor AND a forklift to help you! My Iris are planted around the base of the time portal. Here's a picture from the side, sort of.
Break over, still more chores, the weeds are growing faster than I can move. LOL!
imapigeon, expect dmail.
WIB,
SW

Just like I thought, the wind started blowing here about 1:30 pm today. I didn't think we were dry enough for dust devils but I saw one. I had several go through my front yard. We call this dancing with Coyote (the trickster). Rats! I'd just raked all the leaves out of the flower bed I'm trying to weed, and now the wind put them all back. I guess I wasn't meant to weed yet! LOL!
Got pretty chilly after that too!
Did anyone else get the Devil winds this afternoon?
WIB,
SW

Kathleen, I know several people who had the same thing you had. Glad you're better ! 3 people in our office had it, so I avoided that place like the plague for a week.

SW...do you live anywhere near Aguanga ???

Speaking of parrots, someone posted a flyer on the street poles last week about a missing parrot...I think it was a McCaw (sp???) Evidently they found it at the lagoon and it was just fine. It was seen chasing a bunch of ducks. The strong winds had blown the peoples back door open and it escaped, but luckily they found it.

It was gorgeous here today...but windy. You could see snow capped mountains from the beaches. As usual, didn't have my camera...

Yeah, I have to get in the habit of taking my camera everywhere. We went up to Julian the other day and I didn't think to take it and I'd like to have posted a pic of the huge flock of wild turkeys. Love those turkeys!

Donna - about 8 pounds (most of it probably fluids). Talking to DH today, we both have had some very disturbed sleep - almost delirium - that is very scary. Apparently, you can get that from an electrolyte imbalance with severe loss of fluids.

Thanks, Louise.

JD, glad they got their feathered friend back. I can just imagine a macaw chasing ducks. :-) Ms Julie had a good shower this morning and squawked when I turned the water off. They haven't had much attention lately and have been such good birdies.

SW, yep, windy here, too, but not too bad. I refuse to have this virus for a month!! No way, no how!

I am officially fed up with this wind! I don't believe we've ever had winds this strong at our place, and certainly not so constant and for so long. Whatever moisture was left in the plants and soil from the rain is certainly long gone now. I'm happy to see the warm weather 'cause everything is growing so well, as long as February stays warm, but watering...it's always something, one way or the other. I don't seem to remember a pattern this consistant of rain then Santa Anas, over and over again.

You know it got really calm just after dark tonight. I was out looking for my cat, Peek a Boo, and the wind wasn't blowing at all. It was almost warm. Of course my chest is killing me now, so I'm predicting a cold night. (For me.)
JasperDale, Aguanga is in the hills (to the East) above Temecula, which is about 10 miles or so, South of us. If we had more rain, the hobbits would be right at home here. From the top of the hill out back, on a clear day you can see a bunch of different mountain ranges. I'll hike up there in the morning. Take photos.
I have to commiserate about not having your camera with you for that special shot. I've been wanting to get pictures of the old Ag preserve which is slated to be developed, before it is ruined. While driving down the old back road, for the second day in a row, I saw the Golden Eagle flying in the field across from the old elementary school (now mothballed). He was swooping down on some kind of rodent, and was being blown around by the wind. I sure wish my camera actually had working batteries! That is the only thing worse than not having your camera, is not having power! I'm going to try again tomorrow.
Later this afternoon, my brother saw a pair or red tail hawks overhead. Now I know why my Dad was constantly wearing his camera! LOL!
I'm so glad the parrot's family was found. Dad was involved with a lot of bird rescues. So sad when one of our pets gets loose and becomes prey for other birds or cats. Happy Ending!
wcgypsy, I am saddened too, by how quickly the winds are drying out the plants and the ground. I was really surprised to see a dust devil since the soil has been staying damp here. The leaves were understandable to see caught up in the whirlwind, although we usually don't see that in January, but in October. The weather this year is just strange. DH and I are hoping for a March Miracle (RAIN).
Stay well! If you get that virus, don't try to do too much too soon. Or you will end up with it for a month!
Walk In Beauty!
SW