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Post by Sundrop on Apr 19, 2019 13:05:15 GMT
Hi Doc! I have a blue hydrangea that my uncle gave me several years ago. Did you know that you can change the color of the blossoms by changing the acidity of the soil? The hydrangeas my Grandma had grew on more of a tree than a bush, and had huge white blossoms that would change to a faded pink in the fall. Gardenias do have the most wonderful fragrance. They won't grow here because it's too cold. We do have honeysuckle vines here that smell so wonderful on a summer evening, though. I've never seen a tea olive tree. If you think about it, post a photo when it blooms.
Yep, Grandma and Grandpa had a small farm when I was growing up. A cow, chickens, and some pigs that I was not allowed to make friends with, no matter how much I protested to Grandpa they needed me to pet them. Later on, I learned that he didn't want me to get attached to them because he didn't want to explain to me why Arnold had "disappeared", but doesn't this ham taste good.....A huge garden, two horses, a duck, several dogs, huckleberry bushes, strawberry plants, and a sugar plum tree. I have such vivid and fantastic memories of visiting them, and playing in the garden, and chasing the chickens, and trying my darndest to pet those pigs!!
I hope you can figure out what's killing your plants. Around here, there is a lot of clay in the soil. I will usually mix some potting soil with a little sand and add that into the garden soil to help a little with the drainage. For some things, I've had good luck. Other plants, not so much. Sounds like you've got a good start of a nice container garden. I'm trying one this year, too!
Spearmint is easy to grow, and if you try some, I'd recommend keeping it in a container because the stuff will spread and take over very quickly. I don't know about lavender.....this year will be my first attempt.
Anyway, I had fresh pig meat once and it was out of this world.  I had fresh ground cow meat, too, and it was crazy how good it was. That's funny that your grandparents kept that from you. You should write down some of your memories for your kids. I solicited my family to do this not too long ago but I ended up donning my reporter cap and writing their stories myself.
Yes, I heard about adding rusty nails or pennies to the soil to change the colors of hydrangeas but I've never seen it done. Maybe that's what my neighbors did. Tea olive trees don't really have flowers (at least they don't look like flowers) but I suppose they are. The blossoms are small and white. I will take a pic and share it when the time comes.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2019 18:14:40 GMT
How in heaven's name did you get -I like daisies- out of that?  Well, you bought daisy seeds, didn't you?........  I also buy hemorrhoid cream... doesn't mean I like it. |
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Post by neesy on Apr 20, 2019 17:14:32 GMT
Well, you bought daisy seeds, didn't you?........ I also buy hemorrhoid cream... doesn't mean I like it. Not sure if this should go behind a spoiler or not:
Here you go!
smilie_wet_162
You asked for it!
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Post by doccreed on May 25, 2019 16:55:48 GMT
We've started planting - last weekend we planted the petunias, marigolds, gerbera daisies (I have some from last year still but they aren't blooming yet - sometimes they skip a year). I've got two hydrangeas in the front bed that I'm hoping will be spectacular this year - this is their third year at my house. We have two gorgeous shrubs that bloom when the mood strikes them - last year they were perfect - Rose of Sharon is what they're called. There's two large planters on my patio that the Ogre just puts random stuff in - always a surprise what grows there - he likes to buy the stragglers at Lowes/WalMart/Home Depot - the things that are practically free because they're so pathetic - and he nurses them back to health. He's got a great green thumb. Last year our vegetables were terrible. We're not even trying this year - though I might have to put some tomato plants where I'm certain they'll grow. We always put things in the back yard, but our side yard gets the most constant sun, and tomatoes like to fight to live - so I think they'd grow nicely there. The best tomatoes we ever had were the ones we always forgot to water and prune. Since we're not doing vegetables, the Ogre has turned the vegetable plot into a sunflower field - I can't wait to see that. And he's staggering the planting dates - apparently they have to lean on each other to stay strong. I hope it turns out the way he wants it to. Our blueberry bushes and our raspberry bushes are doing great - lots of little buds on them. The blackberries seem to be starting slowly. I think they are like tomatoes and prefer to be left to their own business. He also started several pots of herbs: parsley, basil, sage, mint - I can't remember them all. Right now they are in little pots inside on the window ledge - waiting until they sprout.
Here's a sweet Ogre story. Last year he planted several tubers of pink caladiums around different spots in the yard. I had no idea - and they are my favorite plant. I was so thrilled as they surprised me all season. It's ridiculous how he knows just how to thrill me. I'm going to try posting pictures of my Rose of Sharon and my sweet little caladium babies.
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Post by doccreed on Jun 7, 2019 2:50:04 GMT
I spotted two cucumber sprouts from the seeds Dio gave me: they're potted in black, rich soil I got from my brother-in-law. We had ten days without rain but today light showers soaked the earth and this evening I sat on the porch with some guests and talked while a finch nervously guarded its nest in the hanging fern. This is the first red finch I've ever seen in Alabama. The eggs are pale blue but it could be the evening shadows. It's been eerily calm and cool tonight and there was a rainbow just as the sky dimmed, the air punchy with wet wood from six felled trees. No wind, trees alive with towhees and cardinals and ferns and vines dripping, dripping. Anyway, by July's end I should be able to pick some cukes.
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Post by morgan on Jun 7, 2019 3:04:47 GMT
This week my mom planted some flowers she got at a very discounted price (don't ask me what they are because I am NOT the one with a green thumb!). But I am most excited about her recently planting cilantro and basil because that will bless both of us. 
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Post by morgan on Jun 15, 2019 1:47:01 GMT
doccreed I think I just read that you planted some lavender (or you are going to). My mom planted some a few weeks ago. It is very pretty.
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Post by doccreed on Jun 15, 2019 2:01:30 GMT
doccreed I think I just read that you planted some lavender (or you are going to). My mom planted some a few weeks ago. It is very pretty.
Right now I have some bean seeds soaking on the counter to be planted in the morning. They will be green pole beans when harvested. You probably stirfry these kinds of beans. |
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Post by morgan on Jun 15, 2019 4:54:22 GMT
doccreed I think I just read that you planted some lavender (or you are going to). My mom planted some a few weeks ago. It is very pretty.
Right now I have some bean seeds soaking on the counter to be planted in the morning. They will be green pole beans when harvested. You probably stirfry these kinds of beans. I've tried growing different varieties of snap peas, but they don't do well here. (It could be all my fault, to be honest! ) |
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Post by jmr on Jun 16, 2019 1:29:06 GMT
I don't grow stuff..but my husband wanted grass in the backyard. He try to kill off the wild plants back there. No matter what they come back. so we don't really have grass but wild Colorado flowers in front and back. The front yard is pure dirt tell it rains. Then we get tons of grass. Good luck to those trying to grow things. We also have wild rabbits everywhere.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2019 6:11:48 GMT
We got rid of our grass in front and back, we have gravel and patio slabs now. We had problems with weeds growing up through the gravel, it got quite bad so I cobered the ared with sheets of plastic and held them in place with rocks, left it there for a couple of weeks, all the weeds were dead when I lifted the plastic, then I basically watered the gravel with saltwater and I do that about once a week, keeps the weeds from returning.
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Post by wolf on Jun 17, 2019 22:35:19 GMT
Not vegetable or herb gardening this year, unfortunately, but the perennials I planted a good number of years back are taking off and thriving like triffids in the best way! We have 2 stone bordered round raised beds (only aprox. 6" high) on both sides of our drive way. Both have purple "Moses in a boat" in them, good drought resistant plant, and pretty, especially when the little pink flowers bloom. In one of the boxes we've also got bright sunset orange day lilies that are blooming like crazy this year. I am so happy and grateful for the rains we've been getting this year. Last year they did okay, but not much better than the year before. I really need to get out there and dig up some of their bulbs and plant them in the other box and in some pots to give to friends and neighbors. They propagate so easily. My good neighbors do know they are welcome to come help themselves. Now my child is grown and out of high school, I know I'll have time for things like that again. Man, I sure do miss my jalapeños and tobascos. Makes my mouth water for the taste of the home grown things again. That reminds me I'm ready for a new Gilmour hose. Or 2.
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Post by spideyman on Jun 17, 2019 22:57:01 GMT
Not vegetable or herb gardening this year, unfortunately, but the perennials I planted a good number of years back are taking off and thriving like triffids in the best way! We have 2 stone bordered round raised beds (only aprox. 6" high) on both sides of our drive way. Both have purple "Moses in a boat" in them, good drought resistant plant, and pretty, especially when the little pink flowers bloom. In one of the boxes we've also got bright sunset orange day lilies that are blooming like crazy this year. I am so happy and grateful for the rains we've been getting this year. Last year they did okay, but not much better than the year before. I really need to get out there and dig up some of their bulbs and plant them in the other box and in some pots to give to friends and neighbors. They propagate so easily. My good neighbors do know they are welcome to come help themselves. Now my child is grown and out of high school, I know I'll have time for things like that again. Man, I sure do miss my jalapeños and tobascos. Makes my mouth water for the taste of the home grown things again. That reminds me I'm ready for a new Gilmour hose. Or 2. |
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Post by doccreed on Jun 17, 2019 23:23:31 GMT
Not vegetable or herb gardening this year, unfortunately, but the perennials I planted a good number of years back are taking off and thriving like triffids in the best way! We have 2 stone bordered round raised beds (only aprox. 6" high) on both sides of our drive way. Both have purple "Moses in a boat" in them, good drought resistant plant, and pretty, especially when the little pink flowers bloom. In one of the boxes we've also got bright sunset orange day lilies that are blooming like crazy this year. I am so happy and grateful for the rains we've been getting this year. Last year they did okay, but not much better than the year before. I really need to get out there and dig up some of their bulbs and plant them in the other box and in some pots to give to friends and neighbors. They propagate so easily. My good neighbors do know they are welcome to come help themselves. Now my child is grown and out of high school, I know I'll have time for things like that again. Man, I sure do miss my jalapeños and tobascos. Makes my mouth water for the taste of the home grown things again. That reminds me I'm ready for a new Gilmour hose. Or 2.
Never heard of Moses In A Boat. |
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Post by wolf on Jun 17, 2019 23:58:09 GMT
Not vegetable or herb gardening this year, unfortunately, but the perennials I planted a good number of years back are taking off and thriving like triffids in the best way! We have 2 stone bordered round raised beds (only aprox. 6" high) on both sides of our drive way. Both have purple "Moses in a boat" in them, good drought resistant plant, and pretty, especially when the little pink flowers bloom. In one of the boxes we've also got bright sunset orange day lilies that are blooming like crazy this year. I am so happy and grateful for the rains we've been getting this year. Last year they did okay, but not much better than the year before. I really need to get out there and dig up some of their bulbs and plant them in the other box and in some pots to give to friends and neighbors. They propagate so easily. My good neighbors do know they are welcome to come help themselves. Now my child is grown and out of high school, I know I'll have time for things like that again. Man, I sure do miss my jalapeños and tobascos. Makes my mouth water for the taste of the home grown things again. That reminds me I'm ready for a new Gilmour hose. Or 2.
Never heard of Moses In A Boat. |
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Post by wolf on Jun 18, 2019 0:22:40 GMT
Not vegetable or herb gardening this year, unfortunately, but the perennials I planted a good number of years back are taking off and thriving like triffids in the best way! We have 2 stone bordered round raised beds (only aprox. 6" high) on both sides of our drive way. Both have purple "Moses in a boat" in them, good drought resistant plant, and pretty, especially when the little pink flowers bloom. In one of the boxes we've also got bright sunset orange day lilies that are blooming like crazy this year. I am so happy and grateful for the rains we've been getting this year. Last year they did okay, but not much better than the year before. I really need to get out there and dig up some of their bulbs and plant them in the other box and in some pots to give to friends and neighbors. They propagate so easily. My good neighbors do know they are welcome to come help themselves. Now my child is grown and out of high school, I know I'll have time for things like that again. Man, I sure do miss my jalapeños and tobascos. Makes my mouth water for the taste of the home grown things again. That reminds me I'm ready for a new Gilmour hose. Or 2.
Never heard of Moses In A Boat. |
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Post by doccreed on Jun 18, 2019 1:18:07 GMT
Sounds nice. I like orange daylilies, too. They grow wild around here and I see them along the road and around mailboxes, etc..
Never heard of Moses In A Boat.  |
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Post by wolf on Jun 18, 2019 1:36:12 GMT
Oh yeah, and as well as being extremely hardy and prolific, it is very easy to root. You can literally snap off a stalk and stick it directly in the ground and it will take hold very quickly, even in severe drought conditions. Just pretty and low maintenance. Fun to grow too.
I'll look around and see what I can come up with. I think if I go to Homedepot's website I might see it and get the proper name. Sorry, I'm just not good at and don't get into posting pic's like all you Kungfu Master's. |
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Post by wolf on Jun 18, 2019 21:19:43 GMT
Oh yeah, and as well as being extremely hardy and prolific, it is very easy to root. You can literally snap off a stalk and stick it directly in the ground and it will take hold very quickly, even in severe drought conditions. Just pretty and low maintenance. Fun to grow too.
"Tradescantia Pallida Purple Heart Plants"
"Moses in a boat" or "Moses in a cradle"
"Purple Heart Setcreasea" |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2019 21:32:41 GMT
Hunh. I'm curious what it's called. If you find out, let me know.
"Tradescantia Pallida Purple Heart Plants"
"Moses in a boat" or "Moses in a cradle"
"Purple Heart Setcreasea"
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I had fresh ground cow meat, too, and it was crazy how good it was. That's funny that your grandparents kept that from you. You should write down some of your memories for your kids. I solicited my family to do this not too long ago but I ended up donning my reporter cap and writing their stories myself. 
I've tried growing different varieties of snap peas, but they don't do well here. (It could be all my fault, to be honest! 
