Hello Californians....let's introduce ourselves! Part 2

We came from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/493018

Thank you, weegy12!
I'm enamored with Norcal but Napa... not so much. It's not the greatest place for family fun and raising a family, and since we're pretty oriented in that direction right now, I feel it.

I came from "Wine Country" New York and my dad was a grape grower. However, I am not a "wino" and don't really enjoy wineries. Kind of ironic then that I end up in the Napa Valley!!

(Just for reference I posted: the following on the old one....)

I figure there must be other Cali noobs here that need to come out of the woodwork!

Hi everyone. My name's Gina, mom of 4, and now "Napkin."
I just started posting recently on DG. I am a 30 year native of NY who moved to Napa 3 years ago. We're still renting and it will be HARD giving up the yard when we buy a house since we've put so much time and energy into it and it's just so CUTE. We've fallen in LOVE with the Japanese Maple out front. But we will be here for another couple of years, I am sure.

We just took over an unused dog run and built a container garden for vegetables (and a few fruits). I'm also trying some flowers in containers from seed for the first time to sprinkle color in more areas around the exterior.

Welcome, Gina! Interesting to hear about Napa - I've never been there, though I was born and raised in CA. You're in striking distance of some other jewels, though, aren't you? We used to visit relatives in NoCA yearly, but since moving farther south it's just too long a drive. We miss it.

Hello Gina,

Welcome to this great site.

Weegy already gave you a wonderful description of how generous this site is and I will second it. Hope you enrich your knowledge of gardening and make many new garden friends from here.....I know I sure have. :-)

Donna

Welcome to CA, Gina!

I was born & raised in CA. Spent my first score of years in Southern California and have spent the years since in Northern CA. It took me years to get used to some of the weather differences. Like the fact that Oct. is often our hottest month in the SF Bay Area rather than July or August. I wasted a lot of time *not* gardening and I can't explain exactly why. I gardened in my early teens and then stopped until I picked it up again in my late 30s. My emphasis has always been on edibles. In fact, I was actively disdainful of ornamentals until just a couple years ago.

I've been a member of DG for 3 or 4 years now. I'm not as active as I used to be. I tend to go through cycles on most social sites I've been on. I'm on MyFolia a lot because I find the tools for tracking my garden really useful. However, the discussion groups at DG are far more useful.

So here's a guide to what I grow:
http://myfolia.com/gardener/spidra

Thanks everyone!
And thank you spidra for the link. I am checking it out. I'm also interested in your blog! I've always called myself gimpy as I have Herbs Palsy (nerve injury) in my left arm/hand which leads to a fasciitis type pain in the left (over-use of one arm doing everything, I think) and now have Fibromyalgia... so gardening can be challenging.

I'm still not used to the weather here, but do love having a milder (than NY) winter and way longer growing season.

I also love that everything propogates itself everywhere! I should be annoyed at the sporadic spread across the gardens, but instead I am always so excited when I see a new tree or plant or even an annual has resprouted somewhere other than where I put the original. Even if I have to yank it out, I think I give a girly squeal and show my husband and kids what's growing before I toss or move it. NY is NOT like that at all. Nothing spreads there like that.

Welcome Gina! I know I've already talked to you on a couple other forums but it's great to see you here too!

We've got a bunch of gimpy gardeners here! LOL I have an inflammatory arthritis that is mostly controlled, but if I over-do, it bites me! Or if we have a storm hovering like today the pressure changes make me ache all over, and I do mean ACHE. If I can just kick myself outside, though, I can usually do a lot before I fall over. :-)

Interesting that things don't spread in NY, Gina. I thought the seeds would just come up later. I planted some annuals last year hoping they would reseed and one has come up so far, so it wasn't a complete waste.

Hi Everyone,
My name is Vicki and I live in Kelseyville, California. Our home is located in northern Calif. and we have a gorgeous view from most of the windows of Clear Lake.

I enjoy gardening and have become pretty good at picking the right plants that our local deer pretty much avoid.

I'm an avid bird watcher too and I enjoy photographing both my blooms and the many birds that migrate or live here year round.

Hi Vicki! I saw some of your great photos on the other forum. Welcome!

Kathleen

Hello everyone! I am Lois from way up in Humboldt county, inland from Arcata about 6 miles. We have lived here 31 years. Formerly from Siskiyou county.

I am a minor gimp, wore out hands.

I am recently retired and have more time to spend as a gardener and artist.

I have been refurbishing my garden after a summer of home rehab and many big workboots stomping around everywhere last year.

I love all kinds of plants. I was happy to find the cactus and succulent folks. I felt like a closet fanatic for many years...my Grandmother got me hooked on them a long time ago!
I also have roses, Lilies, Clematis, hostas, the manditory rhodies & azalias for our area and many of the usual annuals and perenials.

Oh yes, love the Japanese Maples and Iris!

I am going to love DG!

Welcome, Lois. You have lots of company with NorCal members, but please join in on any of our threads - north and south are equal here! Gosh, you'll find fellow fanatics for anything on your list. Have you checked out the list of forums? Have fun.

Kathleen

Hi Vicki! I'm quite familiar with your area as my family had friends who owned a resort (fish camp, really... not quite up to Konocti Harbor....LOL) at Soda Bay and we spent a lot of time there years ago. In fact, I'm sure you're not old enough to remember, but years ago a stop sign was erected where there never used to be one and the locals kinda refused to pay much attention to it and so, would kinda slowly roll through...in my family that kinda thing has always been known since then as a "Kelseyville Stop'

Hi, Lois...there are a few DG people up your way...too bad the area is losing 4paws....she's out in Hoopa and leaving this next week for Colorado.

For those who don't know, wcgypsy stands for West Coast Gypsy - and she IS! She's been everywhere. LOL

Ha.....I don't get to go anywhere anymore...sigh.....the farthest I've been lately was the RU at your place....LOL....

Hi and welcome Lois. I just started a small succulent area in a patio, maybe you can teach me a few things about these beautiful plants.

Thank you everyone for the welcome. wcgypsy, we are close to Konocti Harbor and get to enjoy all the outdoor concerts while I garden. Love the "Kelseyville stop", you can tell a Californian made it up from the old "Calif. stop" remarks.

Kaper, I lived in Escondido years ago and loved it.