too early to tell if I am going to spend the same or less... ask me again in June
:)
Are you spending less on gardening?
Hi DavePaul
I grew hops over a trellis and was pleased with the result.
Shade for me and an obstructed view of the neighbors.
This variety was purchased at Millers Nursery in Canandaigua NY. They have a catalogue I believe.
It is true when they say the vines go up 60 feet, mine went to and across the trellis and onto the garage roof.
Birds and squirrels loved the blossoms as well.
ge1836 . . .Thanks for the photo. It will be very useful in situating these plants (I ordered 7 rhizomes...4 varieties). How old are the hops in the photo? Do hops also attract bees? Butterflies? Read warnings about mildew (how the rhizomes of an infected plant should be dug and destroyed) but you and others do not seem to have had a problem. Or enough of a problem to kill off the plant.
Did you use the vines or cones for anything? I see commerical producers grow hops almost vertically to get the highest yield. Victor's photo showed (I think) many cones when the plants were trained as yours. Did your hops produce as well?
Just gave the Miller Nursery catalog to a neighbor who wants some more apple and other fruit trees. Recall a year or two ago, members here and at other sites gave Miller outstanding reviews as the place to buy fruit trees. Now I see there are some negative comments at Garden Watchdog. Think those are anomalies? My neighbor isn't on the internet and now I'm wondering if I should flag him off.
The past few years have been expensive ones and I have probably two more years of the same to get the rest of the yard in shape. Of course I could do less and take longer but patience is not my strong point ;-). Fortunately I have a very stable job even in this tough economy, but I'm mindful that the worst could still be yet to come so I'll probably cut spending in other areas and stick to my garden plans for this year unless things change dramatically in the next few months. This year I have some rock walls to build, two large areas to tame and plant with trees, shrubs and perrenials, and a few pathways (bluestone) to set.
Hi DavPaul
The hops pictured were 10 years old but I remember them starting to cover roof of lenai after three years.
No butterflies or bees that I ever saw, the flowers arent like a standard bloom and mine hung in clumps by late summer.Squirrils would eat the green blooms
The vine is quite beautiful in winter.
I didnt trim it down every season because I wanted the plant to form its own trellis.
Some one posted a pic awhile back.
There were many shoots that came up from the roots ,every spring that clump got bigger, as time went on I had to catch them and tie them up so they would grow vertical.The shoots have hairs as well as the leaves so thats how the plant grabbs and climbs otherwise they would wander over the garden to the neighbors. That plant is 1 rizome by the way.
I only grew it for fast low maintenence cover and shade on the patio.
f I had more room I would train one over a form for a nice sculptural piece in the garden,but they do need minding.
Too bad about the neg comments I doubt the few compared to the many will be of much concequence.
Hmmm...
Daylilies, have already dropped a couple of bucks...check!
Hostas, have preorded a few, and 1 or 2 direct from the hybridizer for hostas that haven't hit the market yet...check!
Have several wish lists out the wazoo...check!
More stone, more soil, more mulch...eventually...check!
So, am I spending more, or spending less? What I will do this year, that I didn't do last year, is work Overtime in the off season! That way I can afford to splurge on everything I want to get done.
I think, without this sounding like I'm bragging, I probably dropped about 3 or 4, with three zeros after the 3 or 4...this year, IF, big IF, I get done everything that I want to get done, I'll probably be dropping the same.
The only difference is, this year I may be able to sell the excess of some of the things I got last year...so the product may actually help pay for future products! I spoke to a fellow NE Forum member about this, and I think I may venture into selling very small quantities of thing either here on the Marketplace, the LA, or the Hosta Library's Auction. It would be nice to be able to break even, or come close to breaking even.
oh no... so sorry to hear that
Sherrie, does this happen every year at this time? Or is this rare and due to the economy? It sucks either way.
1. Economy - the mill is having trouble selling the lumber. They only do hardwood and pine is selling usually pine is cheap.
2. Laws - The loggers are having troubles getting in a logging. If it rains they cant. Then when the mud season comes they cant. So if the mill has orders to sell they cant get the logs.
We had no income in 2007 and Unemployment he gets 159.00 a week. Can you live on 159.00 a week?
editied to say: I do ebay for extra income. Selling has became difficult.
This message was edited Jan 23, 2009 9:28 AM
no one can.... so sorry
sorry to hear that sherrie
I am so sorry to hear about the mill problems up there and how your family is effected. You sound like you are handling it very well considering the circumstances. If the housing situation can get started back on track it will help a lot of people.
I think I have spent less just because my garden is more mature now, there is less room and I have less time now to work out there than I would like. This does not mean I don't get more than I should really and all those lovely pics don't work their magic on me from time to time. :)
{{{{Sorry to hear about your troubles Sherri}}}}
Sherri, Major trouble, so sorry. Patti
Oh, (((Sherrie)))! So sorry - that is happening to many people but when it happens to our friend Sherrie it's worse!
Yikes!, Sherrie. Here's hoping things turn around.
I am saying - ???? will do ANYTHING to get me going. Nope wont happen. To tell me I am so Wores... And little behad dont edit your post. I got ya. Guess what goes around, comes around.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=6040753
I am def saving $ this year mostly because of our new biz...I have a ton of seeds, did some cuttings, planning on attending any round up I can(that the best way to get free plants!!!!)
Then another great DG'r who sells her own flowers ended up with too many last year so she gave me a TON of impatiens and begonias...of course stupid me forgot to take cuttings....
I have just ordered Clematis Stolwijks Gold from Plant Delights.
I thought I was being struck by luck when it appeared on the clem co-op but then it was removed.
It really is the only plant for brhind the Agastache blue fortune.
Pirl talked me into it.
I have other clems on order but the gold was key.
This puts me even with last year.
We have grown those for a few years now. Bought a new pack of seeds at Agway in Keene the other day. They are great fun, but we haven't painted them ever. Might do that this fall. Patti
now those would scare the bejesus out of my mother in law - might have to look into them:)
LOL
Schickenlady (sorry - but it's such a cool name!) anyway (((((hugs))))) I sure hope 2009 is a good year for everyone!
Meanwhile - all plans I had for the gardens are on hold. Somehow, I have to save $6000 for a six week cross-country trek to Victoria to see the new grandchild. So we are on a very tight budget. House temperature at 60 degrees (daytime temp). Basically, we are living as though we are on unemployment insurance (what do you call it in the States???)
So - instead of spending about $600 a year on the gardens, I bet I won't even spend $60 this spring.
Seandor, We call it Unemployment .. :)
i know i'll be spending less if victor is not posting pics
Cheers Wha :( that's me :) that's my wallet
would much rather control Mr. Visa and have Victor back here
ditto
The only money I have spent so far on gardening has been buying gift certificates for others. I have a HUGE list of seeds that I want and just haven't bought them yet. I will share with my DBIL hoping that what I buy will grow where they are outside of Prescott, AZ. (We are in the same USDA zone!) I have a habit of moving plants that I have too many of over to my neighbors yards - when they aren't looking, usually. Although I have got to say that John next door would be OK with it if I said "John, I think I will get an elephant for your back yard next weekend." LOL!
One of the seeds that I am going to get is Stinging Nettles - just where to put them? They have incredible nutritional value when they are cooked. Actually I have been looking for seeds for a couple of years and Seeds of Change put them in their catalog this year. I wonder if neighbor John would mind some nettles in his back yard? (Just kidding, kind of . . . )
I got the ok from DH to build a veggie garden this year - ostensibly to save on grocery costs. I don't know if it will even out in the end though....
Cost of seeds + soil amendments + rental of tiller + fencing (to keep out the woodchuck) + water = ? vs. $ grocery shopping
???
You forgot to factor in your hourly wages for toil and labor!
^_^
Heh Heh !!!
Figure less than $2.00 an hour.
Its awful what labour costs these days.
Gee JoAnn .... I would pay you at LEAST $2.50 an hour
;-)
$2.50 is about what I make now.
When I was a potter it was less but my life didnt cost as much because I wrote off 2/3rds of the house as business.
I don't even make THAT, at the moment ....
Though, the small business is JUST starting its third year. So far, the bills are paid, the work is slowly growing, and I am used to being "poor" (meaning raised in a typical, middle class, hard working, blue collar family).
I don't mind breaking even .... I have simple needs; inexpensive needs. Well, except for food ..... bet I'd have a ton in savings if I didn't need to eat.