{"conf": "garden", "generated_at": "2026-04-26T08:00:02.954878Z", "threads": [{"num": 1, "subject": "introductions", "response_count": 47, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (10:19)", "body": "I'm Wendy Weedpicker and I like the dirt. Seriously, I am a aspiring gardener who has, she feels, mastered the art of houseplants and wishes to 'branch' out into the yard. My garden this year was begun late in the season (August) because that's when we moved into our house. I've got lilies (buried under 2 feet of snow) and lots of pansies. I love heighth in a garden of flowers. In vegetable gardens I like tomatoes, carrots, lettuce and strawberries. It remains to be seen how well they do in Colorado."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (10:56)", "body": "You'll find out when the snow melts away right?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (12:16)", "body": "unfortunately yes, I have to wait awhile."}, {"response": 4, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Nov  6, 1997 (12:02)", "body": "Any ethnobotany or heirloom varietal fans here? WER"}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Nov  6, 1997 (12:11)", "body": "What's ethnobotany?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Nov  6, 1997 (12:35)", "body": "Native plants used as medicine, etc. Datura, Echinacea, et al. WER"}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Nov  6, 1997 (15:59)", "body": "Do you know anything about Hyssop? Like how to pronounce it?"}, {"response": 8, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, Nov  7, 1997 (00:56)", "body": "According to the dictionary, hiss up. Nothing else off hand, but I'll look it up. WER"}, {"response": 9, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Nov  7, 1997 (07:11)", "body": "Thought is was hi sop. With the accent on the hi."}, {"response": 11, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Nov  8, 1997 (09:17)", "body": "Well the hi sop guy at the WLE (that's Whole Life Expo) said that's what it was. There are pix of him and an extradinarily cute woman from Brack's physical therapy dept on the Spring WLE slide show that we've been running periodically."}, {"response": 13, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Nov 10, 1997 (12:23)", "body": "And what is \"gooder?\""}, {"response": 15, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Nov 12, 1997 (10:46)", "body": "Mmmm, I certainly agree."}, {"response": 17, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, Mar 15, 1999 (00:45)", "body": "at times, some of us around here are a bit silly, no?"}, {"response": 18, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Mar 15, 1999 (16:42)", "body": "and you're just now noticing this?"}, {"response": 19, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, Mar 15, 1999 (21:56)", "body": "just being retrospective for no good reason..."}, {"response": 20, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Wed, Mar 17, 1999 (11:12)", "body": "Dear Wolf, I would like to present you with this link as token of my appreciation: http://www.manufactum.de . This is a very fine german mailorder, they sell the most wonderful things that are well made. For your gardening interest, please take a look especially at http://brokat.interad.de/cgi-bin/MANUFACTUM.storefront/477340603/UserTemplate/12?urlname=brokat.interad.de/cgi-bin/MANUFACTUM.storefront/477340603/UserTemplate/30?urlname=brokat.interad.de/cgi-bin/MANUFACTUM.storefront/477340603/UserTemplate/16 Extremely fine gardening tools, seeds and plants (extra chapter: roses!!), literature, etc. ... Their server seems to be a bit slow, but it surely is worth a try! The motto is \"Es gibt sie noch, die guten Dinge.\" And truly, they do have the good things there. Their paper catalogue is a must-read for me, all these wonderful things you would have thought thought were not available since decades (this is by the way the same company that offered the Faber-Castell slide rules mentioned in the collecting topic!). Check their Website and get the catalog (naw, you don't have to buy anything, just admire the wares like I do since at least four years... It substitutes many magazines for entertainment value - but fortunately no music magazines... ;=} ). Of course, the gorgeous stereo they offer is MY dream (full description in catalog only, sorry): vintage british amps, with record player to match, refurbished and with full manufacturer\ufffds warranty. Aaaaah, to now that such beauty ever existed..."}, {"response": 21, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Mar 17, 1999 (15:58)", "body": "thanks so much for thinking of me. i've always loved germany's gardens. my opa owned a weekend house and usually when we would visit, we'd take a trip there. he was quite the gardner and unfortunately, he has had a series of strokes and can no longer visit out there. it was such a wonderful place for me. he had cherry trees, apple trees, roses, wildflowers, just everything. and a wonderful outhouse with current berry bushes all around it. i'll check the site!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Mar 17, 1999 (16:05)", "body": "oh, alex, it's a wonderful site, but my german isn't very good anymore. i can only pick up bits and pieces and can get the gyst of a subject, but other than that, i'm a complete idiot with the language. (i use translation software to speak to my grandparents, but i'm afraid it wouldn't work for the site unless i cut and paste the whole thing into a word document). perhaps you could put a buzz in their ear about offering the site in english at the click of a button (like a lot of multi-lingual websites d ). heck, i probably could do that myself. i saved it as a fave just-in-case the german language rushes back to me in a dream! (i spoke fluently as well as any 4 year old can, but lost it over time)."}, {"response": 23, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Mar 18, 1999 (09:25)", "body": "My dear Wolf, in this case order the print catalogue, be assured of it's incredible merits! Nice pictures and very well-written captions, that just might bring it all back to you! Plus great show-off item! Too bad to hear about your Opa, I hope he's not too old for successful rehabilitation. Does he do something? Anyway, labor will be out of the question, right? Just happened to a former teacher of mine in college, he got a stroke. And that one year away from retirement... He always loved gardening, too, and one day several years past, I met him and his wife in the village I live in, where they were choosing what roses to buy (where I'm from, they breed 'em like yall folks yonder Texas way do with cattle...). I thought I might buy some nice rose plant and have it sent to him, as soon as it's not freezing anymore at nights, with best wishes etc., implication being that he may enjoy it's flowers many a year to come. What do you think, too pathetic?"}, {"response": 24, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Mar 18, 1999 (10:33)", "body": "no, i love the gesture. my grandparents live in a retirement apartment complex. i asked oma about the weekend house (maybe i'd like to purchase it from them someday). they haven't sold it as yet. opa is turning 75 this month. they have no space in their apartment for anything really, so i have to be careful with gifts i send. he used to take me to the cememtary in zuffenhausen to take care of a family plot. i loved the way you could get away from the city just walking through the gate to that place. nd the water wells with the big watering cans left there for you to use. you don't see that here in the states. cemetaries are just plots of land with markers and fake flowers all over the place. no one takes the time to plant anything, it seems."}, {"response": 25, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Mar 18, 1999 (10:58)", "body": "Oooh, one of my favorite topics - cemetaries! Since I was a child, I knew where I wanted to be buried (nice old cemetary, some sculpture work - pathetic, though, but still -, big old trees). But now I live in a different community, and if I stay here, will stay on this villages lot. Not too bad a place, as here people really care for their families graves (sometimes too much, giving people a hard time on their decorations, etc.). The watering cans: not all communities have them for free, as they somehow vanish... my village has them, though. If you take two in summer, so you don't have to walk to often, some people get upset. Games people play... and they don't always tell you their rules. If you figure out, you can be happy, still. Yes, I guess I will stay there. What better place for a late music magazine publisher, than being on the cemetary where THE KING moved a memorial to the dead of the wars JUST WITH HIS SONG! (And was driven to the site \"in einem wei\ufffden Ami-Schlitten mit 'nem schwarzen Fahrer\", as I've heard it told.)"}, {"response": 26, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Aug 29, 1999 (18:02)", "body": "I'll bet your neighbors do not put rice cakes on the graves as they do here ...and flowers, too. Great care and patience is taken with graves... Shinto is ancestor worship (put in very simplest terms), so they do not do these grave adornments idly. Great care is paid with food and flowers."}, {"response": 27, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Mon, Aug 30, 1999 (14:20)", "body": "Here, it's flowers and water - as in watering the flowers. ;=} And a red candle light on some occasions (catholic families, All Saints day, some all year round...) Rice cakes - yep, ancestor worship. Leftovers from shamanistic rites still inherent in many Asian cult's rites. I always admired especially the Chinese on their pragmatic use of these rites; while the start of this exchange was burial grounds, I do not admire the \"eternal\" resting plots that stole this people much fertile land throughout the centuries."}, {"response": 28, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Sep  7, 1999 (19:59)", "body": "I plan to come back and haunt anyone who plants me in the ground. Ashes are good replenishment for the soil, and I plan to replenish."}, {"response": 29, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Sep  8, 1999 (22:11)", "body": "so are bodies if you don't put them in coffins! just have to bury you deep enough so wild animals and lunatics don't dig ya up!"}, {"response": 30, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Sep  8, 1999 (22:47)", "body": "This is true...pushing up the daisies...?!"}, {"response": 31, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Sep  9, 1999 (12:33)", "body": "difficult to do in the bayous, no?"}, {"response": 32, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Sep  9, 1999 (13:16)", "body": "*Roaring Laughter* You people are priceless!"}, {"response": 33, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Sep 10, 1999 (20:57)", "body": "yupper, why do ya think the alligator population is so high!"}, {"response": 34, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Sep 10, 1999 (21:31)", "body": "Hmmm...might make one worry about consuming an alligator steak. You never know who it might be!"}, {"response": 35, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:13)", "body": "everybody, i'd like to host this conference. what do you think?"}, {"response": 36, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:38)", "body": "I think you certainly deserve to do so. *Applause* Now, if I had cdfam's pointy hat I go *poof* and you would be Hosta of the conference *grin*"}, {"response": 37, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:40)", "body": "I am defacto but not listed as host of History conf, so while they're at it, please add my name to the History conference...which is wide open, anyway. Guess it does not matter. Wolfie, don't change the wallpaper here. I love it. Call me sentimental....*sigh*"}, {"response": 38, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:46)", "body": "i wouldn't! it's ideal (and by a special person)"}, {"response": 39, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:49)", "body": "*smile* UmmHmm...!"}, {"response": 40, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:50)", "body": "i remembered *grin*"}, {"response": 41, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (03:34)", "body": "Go for it Wolf! I'm not offering to do anything cos I'm not really capable and I'll be off soon, but I'll support those who do!"}, {"response": 42, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (21:08)", "body": "Now, where's that guy with the pointy hat and the magic...?!"}, {"response": 43, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (07:15)", "body": "Wolf and Marcia are now on the host list of this conference. Maybe it will start growing now. Lots of interesting topics to start with, I'm sure there will be more."}, {"response": 44, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (12:32)", "body": "Thank you and Mahalo *hugs* from both of us. Time to get down and dirty!"}, {"response": 45, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (13:02)", "body": "I used marciah and marcia as your host ids."}, {"response": 46, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (16:31)", "body": "Thank you and it appears for me now that I am also host. I am most grateful!"}, {"response": 47, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (18:34)", "body": "Yep, changed it to MarciaH"}, {"response": 48, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (18:45)", "body": "You did, indeed. I peeked!"}, {"response": 49, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (19:48)", "body": "thanks, terry, for the hosting priviledges. i love gardening!"}, {"response": 50, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (19:51)", "body": "Me too...providing it does not come complete with vampire mosquitos year round. But, mine does (thanks to the crew of a Mexican whaling ship whose favoite houses of ill repute were closed by missionaries just before they came into port..)"}, {"response": 51, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (19:53)", "body": "Btw, Wolfie, I sneeked into the rc file and made us hostas of this conference =) garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 10, "subject": "Garden Clubs", "response_count": 9, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:06)", "body": "just returning from a trip to natchez mississippi and visiting some of the ante-bellum homes on the tours. learned that the garden clubs had a lot to do with the preservation of these areas as well as their fabulous grounds. made me wonder if we have one in my area and i'm not finding anything on the net. the garden club also put on a beautiful pageant of different social events during the 1800/early 1900's in south mississippi."}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:46)", "body": "Oh my dear, where I come from, to enable you to join Gahden Clubs, one must have been presented to society and all that formal rubbish. I came to Hawaii to get away from that, and here it is called \"The Outdoor Circle\" and does it wield a big stick while talking softly."}, {"response": 3, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:48)", "body": "i wondered if it was a haughty taughty thing and i'm just the pauper looking in. the deb stuff is mostly for show around here. i emailed the ncsgc ( http://www.ncsgc.org ) for more info. a friend of mine says regular people can join (they'd probably make me the layer of manure)"}, {"response": 4, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:49)", "body": "(and the fact that i've been gardening for 20 years wouldn't count, huh?)"}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:53)", "body": "They'd better let you join or I will pull rank on them. I can look down my Patrician nose with the best of them, My Dear Wolfie. If they give you grief they are not worth the effort. Go to your local ag extension service and enquire about gardening clubs which are not tea-drinking society matrons who hire gardeners to do the \"dirty\" work."}, {"response": 6, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:55)", "body": "maybe i can start a new one for those of us who enjoy getting a feel for God's earth. i love digging up new plots and getting my hands dirty. there's nothing like the smell of good earth (well, except for roses)...."}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:57)", "body": "Yup...there's nothing like freshly turned earth providing my father had not gotten there first with the steer manure...*sigh*"}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:58)", "body": "I think you could start any club you wished to start and send meeting notices to the local newspaper (they are always happy to get local news - it used to be my job for the Hilo Sailing Club.)"}, {"response": 9, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:00)", "body": "yeah, but i have no idea how to run a club like that or where money would come from or if i'd have enough spine to stick it through. would love to give the highbrows a run for their money (literally). am not up to the challenge, i fear. would rather work in the background. but....i have no botanical degree and i suppose that would be a requirement of some sort. then i'd have to find some nursery to sponsor us, etc. don't know how to do any of that. garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 11, "subject": "Horticultural Societies", "response_count": 3, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:10)", "body": "i'll begin. am a member of the following societies: African Violet Society of America (4 years) American Orchid Society (2 years) American Gloxinia and Gesneriad Society (2 years) American Rose Society (just joined up) i learn a lot of stuff through their monthly/quarterly publications. really helps answer my questions concerning species i'm most interested in. the membership dues can be expensive (ARS and AOS are the most expensive out of the ones i belong to)."}, {"response": 2, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:11)", "body": "those societies can point you in the right direction in finding a local club to join. you don't have to show plants (although the local AVSA chapter said i'd be showing plants after my first year)...haven't been back because of work committments. still get mailings from them."}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (19:16)", "body": "We have two very active societies here The Palm Society The Orchid Society I am member of neither. garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 12, "subject": "Roses", "response_count": 17, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:01)", "body": "Two things stand out in my mind about successful rose gardening. They like moist but not wet feet, and they positively adore Steer Manure. My dad could grow them on fumes alone! (You're ona tear here, Wolfie! I never created so many topics in a row....well, perhaps when I began Geo. Brava!!!)"}, {"response": 2, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:05)", "body": "*bow* my experience has been with hybrid teas although i do have a damask planted two years in one of the front rose gardens. (i have two out front, 1 in back)... would like to venture into antique or old-english roses as i've heard they're not so finnicky and prone to black spot. don't think anyone's rose garden in the state of louisiana is ever rid of black spot."}, {"response": 3, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:08)", "body": "correction, the damask was misnamed by me. it's actually a hybrid musk named Penelope (1924). she is a beautiful speciman and is over-flowing with fragrant pinkish tinged blossoms."}, {"response": 4, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:11)", "body": "oh, and i hate misnamed species. for example, i purchased a rose from wal-mart (at the time, this was what i could afford) 10 years ago for my first rose bed. she was called queen elizabeth. no pictures and i trusted what it was called. over the years, i've acquired several books with species pictured in them and this one is no queen elizabeth. it is a rambler with deep red single petals with glorious golden eyes. she blooms profusely once a season and develops long, arching canes. i successfully moved her after 5 years in a bad spot (though she bloomed for me anyway) to a good spot (better drainage and more sun) thinking that this would cure her \"once a season bloom\" but it hasn't. still don't know the name of this cutey but have found some similar looking roses."}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:29)", "body": "Misnamed plants of any sort are the worst. We must be the aphid capital of the world if you are the black spot capital (sounds like something from \"Treasure Island\"...)"}, {"response": 6, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:35)", "body": "haha! here's a link to a searchable database to roses: http://www.helpmefind.com/sites/rrr/rsSearch.html"}, {"response": 7, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:55)", "body": "as i've discovered using the above link, there are red queen elizabeth roses (and climbers at that). could be that rose was named correctly. and if you're trying to identify my rose, it's blooms are in clusters, have a mild perfume, and a minimum of thorns."}, {"response": 8, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (03:36)", "body": "I think you got a british rose there Wolf! Sounds familiar. My dad was a rose grower."}, {"response": 9, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (11:23)", "body": "cool beams. sad that it blooms only once though. but it's a great show!"}, {"response": 10, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (21:04)", "body": "i adore roses, they're perfume, the blooms, everything. the AM gave me some leather gauntlet gloves since i'm begun grooming a friend's roses (who, despite neglect, were blooming madly). the first rose garden i built is right near my front door. it houses 6 roses and 1 mini in a pot. the second rose garden is smack in the middle of my front yard with 4 roses. and the third, in my backyard, has a climber and 4 mini's. this is my first year planting mini's. when the AM and i were dating, he gave me a mini rose for my birthday. i treasured it but didn't know a thing about caring for roses and soon it was branching out bare legged canes. after 2 years of neglect (and probably pot bound) she passed to rose heaven where i'm sure she's waiting for me to give me a talking to. left roses alone until i moved into my house and i knew i'd have to have a rose garden. don't know much about the science of rose gardening but do follow some of the basic rules, cut at an angle away from a bud, dehead leaving at least one five-leaf leaflet, and not to take too many flowers off the bush. also, if you buy roses to be planted, do dehead all the flowers so the bush can concentrate on putting down strong roots. water well and deeply, as you want the roots to go deep instead of shallow. in louisiana, roses can be planted all year but usually are sold in the spring. i've purchased roses towards the end of a growing season (my climber) and have them do just fine. roses can be moved, unlike some plants such as the peony, who can't stand to be disturbed. i've lost only two rose bushes and i think that was due to bad stock. as far as i know, i treated them the same as my others. (one was angel face and the other a damask). one thing i'd love to learn and actually suceed at doing is to propagate a rose cutting. do be careful as most roses are patented and can't be propagated for sale. but, it's a great way to bring grandmother's rose with you when you find your own home. have attempted rooting cuttings with no success. they've molded up and quit. a friend of mine used to bury his cuttings in sandy soil and they'd sprout right up. i used the rooting powder, cut all the leaves off and buried half the stalk in dirt, covered for humidity and nothing happened. if you know the secret, please let me in on it!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (21:19)", "body": "This is what my Dad did (and he could conjure roses out of thin air, I think): Make a slant cut when you take a cutting. Otherwise you are doing ok except that you are burying them too deep. With Gardenias, I think you need more than a green cutting. You need one with some bark on it - even juvenile bark. Keep it moist but not very wet. Don't cut all of the leaves off. Leave some on for the new plant to work with."}, {"response": 12, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (21:20)", "body": "The single wild rambler roses I have seen - and there are some here - bloom profusely but only once per season."}, {"response": 13, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Apr 22, 2000 (21:49)", "body": "ok, i know somewhere i said i wanted to get some antique roses, grandifloras, etc. instead of more hybrid teas, but i fell in love with one that i have to have. (ok, maybe two or three). one is gemini. she has white petals with pink blushed edges. very beautiful. and another is princess diana. lovely rose indeed. the am thinks i have too many as it's hard for him to move about while mowing the yard. i said i could take care of it by planting a huge rose garden that never need mowing! i'm still working on rose pictures that i promised to post here. haven't forgotten!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Apr 22, 2000 (22:12)", "body": "and here they are (from jackson and perkins website) Gemini Princess Diana"}, {"response": 15, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Apr 22, 2000 (22:13)", "body": "now you know why i must have them in my garden!! too bad i can't give you a hint to their perfume."}, {"response": 16, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Apr 22, 2000 (22:45)", "body": "I'm sure they are fragrant..love the names!!! How nice! Mine are all but dead, but my desert roses are blooming their little hearts out."}, {"response": 17, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (16:41)", "body": "Mine are putting on a grwoth spurt with all the rain we've been having. The red climber, which I can't remember the name of right now, that I cut back too hard last autumn is recovering well and has a strong healthy spur growing. My 'patio' roses are picking up too. Loved the pix. garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 13, "subject": "Japanese Gardens", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 14, "subject": "Cottage Gardens", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 15, "subject": "Formal Gardens", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 16, "subject": "Kitchen Gardens", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 17, "subject": "Herb Gardens", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 18, "subject": "Patio Gardens", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 19, "subject": "Eclectic Gardens", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 2, "subject": "my garden today", "response_count": 318, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Oct 30, 1997 (10:04)", "body": "Under a foot of snow!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Nov 19, 1997 (11:26)", "body": "I didn't really plant anything but I did mash up the rotted jack-o-lanterns and mixed them in with the dirt. Exciting, huh?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Nov 19, 1997 (12:19)", "body": "I can't contain myself hardly."}, {"response": 4, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Nov 19, 1997 (13:02)", "body": "Glad I could brighten your day? Big date with the blond bombshell tonight? What does she do?"}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Nov 19, 1997 (13:35)", "body": "She's out of work right now. Used to work in the health food industry and in political lobbying. She was in management. Not tonight. Someone else."}, {"response": 6, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Nov 19, 1997 (13:37)", "body": "Woo Woo! You go Paul! Hope you two have fun... where are you going? Do the women ever plan these dates, seems like lots of pressure on you usually."}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Nov 19, 1997 (17:31)", "body": "Going for a quiet evening in the country. The planning is split up usually."}, {"response": 8, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Nov 21, 1997 (11:15)", "body": "And tonight? Big plans?"}, {"response": 9, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Nov 21, 1997 (12:17)", "body": "I have three different invitations to go out. Diplomacy time."}, {"response": 10, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Nov 24, 1997 (10:18)", "body": "Did you spread out the invites over all three days, or choose the best offer?"}, {"response": 11, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Nov 24, 1997 (13:37)", "body": "I spread 'em out."}, {"response": 12, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (11:31)", "body": "Woo Woo!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (12:36)", "body": "No, woo woo woo."}, {"response": 14, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Dec  8, 1997 (18:57)", "body": "Uh oh! Overdose!"}, {"response": 15, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Dec  9, 1997 (22:50)", "body": "Things are still going great."}, {"response": 16, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Dec 15, 1997 (19:05)", "body": "things are still covered in snow!"}, {"response": 18, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Dec 17, 1997 (19:20)", "body": "o melons?!?!"}, {"response": 20, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (17:07)", "body": "I tilled the garden yesterday to 'prepare the soil' but it will be a good long time before I get to plant outside. Still snow on the horizon even though the weekend was sunny and in the 50s. All my daisies have sprouted inside and I' going to seed the tomatoes on Sunday. Carrots and pumpkins later in the month of March. I'm really excited about the prospect of living things again. My lillies started poking their heads through on Wednesday and I hope they survive the snow forcast for the rest of the week. My pansies have been blooming all winter during spurts of sunshiny warmth. Gardening is so theraputic for the mind and body (shoveling can be a real workout!) I am so looking forward even to weeding!"}, {"response": 21, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (19:18)", "body": "I know the feeling, Stacey. I love my plants. The pansies and snapdragons have been blooming all winter (of course not really a winter at all here). My roses have new growth coming out (even though I gave 'em a hard pruning). The daffodils are blooming, the tulips are getting ready to and the irises have been threatening to grow all summer and winter but nothing more than stubs as yet."}, {"response": 22, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (23:28)", "body": "A place with no winter, just like here!"}, {"response": 23, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (19:09)", "body": "think we'll get a late frost, though...."}, {"response": 24, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (17:21)", "body": "El Nino was supposed to dump 8 - 10 inches on Denver according to Monday nights forecast. On Tuesday they changed the amount to 3 - 5 inches and today it was ammended again to trace flurries in late afternoon. Well... at 4:05pm it's sunny and in the high 40s! I love it when weather people are wrong in my favor!"}, {"response": 25, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (20:21)", "body": "know whatcha mean, we were supposed to get storms this afternoon and nutin' happened!"}, {"response": 27, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (21:35)", "body": "nutin', *giggle*"}, {"response": 29, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (15:38)", "body": "was given a bag of vermiculite for my garden... so excited!!!"}, {"response": 30, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (16:17)", "body": "*giggle* (better watch out, wer might show up with a couple of barrels)"}, {"response": 31, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Mar  2, 1998 (09:30)", "body": "LOL! *still giggling* I am visualizing now!"}, {"response": 32, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Mar  2, 1998 (10:00)", "body": "What Stacey in an ocean of wet vermiculite?"}, {"response": 33, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Mar  2, 1998 (17:08)", "body": "oooooh!"}, {"response": 34, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Mon, Mar  2, 1998 (20:06)", "body": "LOL!"}, {"response": 35, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Mar  2, 1998 (22:38)", "body": "Like that image, wolf?"}, {"response": 37, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Mar  3, 1998 (18:01)", "body": "sure you don't wanna get a little dirty too?"}, {"response": 39, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Mar  4, 1998 (15:50)", "body": "*smile*"}, {"response": 41, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Mar  5, 1998 (17:13)", "body": "nope. but i want some."}, {"response": 42, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Tue, Mar 10, 1998 (19:49)", "body": "today, i picked up a grandiflora rose, queen elizabeth, think she's gonna be big! and planted a few more tulips!"}, {"response": 43, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Mar 13, 1998 (17:51)", "body": "my lilies are a getting ready to bloom!?!?!? It's like they don't realize it was 6 degrees last week!"}, {"response": 45, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Mar 16, 1998 (11:28)", "body": "i'll share the details later... *smile* Planted cosmos, columbine, baby's breath, violas, and other assorted flowering plants on Saturday. Colorado has been very warm (high 50s and low 60s) so I couldn't help myself. I might lose a few if we get that 'Big One' everyone is going on about. Personally I think the October blizzard and its accompaning 24 inches of snow was plenty to constitute a full winter!"}, {"response": 46, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Apr 13, 1998 (09:13)", "body": "Despite the alternating warm/snowy days and my premature planting, the garden is looking good. In bloom: Tulips, day lilies, pansies, dandilions Sprouting: sunflowers, tiger lilies, columbine, violas, baby's breath Spreading: Morning glories, crab grass"}, {"response": 47, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Wed, Apr 15, 1998 (19:32)", "body": "all my roses are doing great save HT Blue Moon. She was so beautiful the last two years but gave out over the winter. Poor thing. Couldn't find another, so planted a hybrid musk instead. Lots of blooms on that one, so we'll see. The tulips and daffodils are done, irises are still growing, no blooms yet."}, {"response": 49, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Apr 20, 1998 (00:15)", "body": "saving you all kinds of things.."}, {"response": 51, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Apr 22, 1998 (16:41)", "body": "maybe"}, {"response": 53, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Sun, May  3, 1998 (22:33)", "body": "the roses are bloomin' like mad! the garden smells wonderful, woohoo!!"}, {"response": 54, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, May  4, 1998 (11:35)", "body": "The wildflowers are still in profusion in my yard."}, {"response": 55, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, May  5, 1998 (09:23)", "body": "My 'planted way too early' flowers are coming up nicely. Sunflowers grow FAST! Most is coming in as ground cover right now before it blooms but the tulips (red and orange), daffodils, pansies (purple, yellow, magenta and white), irises (deep purple) and morning glory are adding plenty of color!"}, {"response": 56, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Tue, May  5, 1998 (20:28)", "body": "my tulips and dafs are done, pansies still going, irises still in progress."}, {"response": 57, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Nov 10, 1998 (08:49)", "body": "WHAT garden????? My entire lawn is covered in leaves!!! HUGE HUGE sycamore leaves oh, and snow now!"}, {"response": 58, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Nov 10, 1998 (09:45)", "body": "Can't find your garden for the snow?"}, {"response": 59, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Nov 12, 1998 (09:00)", "body": "more for the leaves! HUGE (bigger than your face kinda leaves!)"}, {"response": 60, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Nov 12, 1998 (09:30)", "body": "our one tomato plant has waited until now to produce! so we put a plastic compost bin around it with a plastic tarp over the top. i don't know how it'll do, but we'll see! my roses have kicked in and my iris has produced yet another set of leaves. more bulbs are in the vegee bin in my fridge. i'll plant them later this month or early dec. (more tulips and irises). oh, and i'm growing my first amaryllis and she'll bloom any day now. think i'll put her outside too so she can propogate!"}, {"response": 61, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Mar  2, 1999 (15:56)", "body": "the crocuses are crocusing out o the ground... it's been so warm and sunny, they think it's Spring already (and I'm not telling them any different!) The mums and violas and trees have started their Spring-like buddings... I hope we don't get a hard freeze while I'm away... .ok"}, {"response": 62, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Mar  2, 1999 (20:14)", "body": "Bluebonnets are going like gang busters here."}, {"response": 63, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (10:09)", "body": "awwww... Paul you're KILLING me!"}, {"response": 64, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (17:03)", "body": "\"killing me softly with his posts, killing me softly...\""}, {"response": 65, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (17:04)", "body": "with his posts..."}, {"response": 66, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (17:44)", "body": "the irises are still growing leaves (funny, cuz they never get very far then they die off and start again). my vegee bin bulbs were planted in feb (early) and are already bringing tulips, mini irises, irises, and daffodils. the first batch of daffs from a couple of years ago only gave me one flower. guess, it's not done yet. the roses all have blooms ready to burst at any second. i didn't cut them back in feb. instead, trimmed them lightly in nov/dec, then let them go. i planted hostas under my backyard elm tree, and the vegee garden is in the middle of being tilled. we'll see if we actually grow anything in it this year. (oh, and the hardy tomato plant gave up a long time ago)"}, {"response": 67, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (19:45)", "body": "OK I'll be gentle, Stacey."}, {"response": 68, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (00:30)", "body": "(hehe...it's usually Stacey promising to be gentle...)"}, {"response": 69, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (09:09)", "body": "he he yerself!! *grin*"}, {"response": 70, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (16:13)", "body": "she says as she posts number 69..."}, {"response": 71, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Mar  5, 1999 (15:20)", "body": "hee hee!"}, {"response": 72, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Mar  5, 1999 (17:39)", "body": "okay... so they're not in my garden, but they're on my desk... lots and lots and lots of daisies! from the sweetest boy!"}, {"response": 73, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, Mar  5, 1999 (23:49)", "body": "congrats!"}, {"response": 74, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Mar 14, 1999 (16:17)", "body": "ok. i've got a fuschia. just one, mind you, and i plan to put it out front (where there's more shade) and see how she does. gonna keep her in a pot because i'm not sure how much cold it can stand should i plant it. anyone know?"}, {"response": 75, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, Mar 15, 1999 (00:41)", "body": "not me...give me a couple of days and I can find out..."}, {"response": 76, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Mar 15, 1999 (16:45)", "body": "well, i found some fuschia societies but they're mostly for showing plants and stuff. i haven't been able to find out anymore about planting outside (except for folks in parts of california). the tag says it can stand temps as low as 32 but doesn't mention anything about planting outside. also want to pick up a couple of bleeding hearts for the shade. those i know can stand it outside."}, {"response": 77, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, Mar 15, 1999 (21:57)", "body": "you're gonna plant some Democrats in your yard?"}, {"response": 78, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Mar 16, 1999 (09:20)", "body": "haha"}, {"response": 79, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Mar 16, 1999 (09:41)", "body": "Oh, I'm so happy now spring is coming. I feel it in my ole bones, and see it in the garden. These li'l blue-whiite flowers that bloom now for a few weeks, after the Schneegl\ufffdckchen went, and before the Osterglocken come. In the mornings, the birds sing happily, aware that the cats are just off night-shift. Everything in my county turns green, the fields turn from brown to green, and I now, in summer there will be a sea of gold (not as big as in the Midwest, etc., but this was good enough for the Celts, the Romans and whoever passed by, and it shall be good enough for my, until I pass by, too.), with green spots from sugarbeets and colorful patches where the roses grow. The trees get leafes again, and don't stand around naked anymore like they did all winter long. And not too far away, just around Easter or two weeks later, cherry trees will bloom, changing hills from brown and green hues to the purest white. And as I will stand beneath them, and inhale the sweet smell, my gaze will wander across the stretch of land before me, and I will love what I see, for what I will see is good."}, {"response": 80, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Apr  7, 1999 (16:17)", "body": "As I've mentioned before (always in the wrong conference)... my tulips, hyscinths and violas are blooming! The Peones are growing and the snapdragons and the sweetpeas and the mums... no blooming on them for awhile though. All the trees are budding and the grass is slowly turning green again! And everything smells so good!!!"}, {"response": 81, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Apr  7, 1999 (21:49)", "body": "peonies don't do well in our area for some reason. when i lived in kansas, my mother had several along the front of the house. they were so lovely when they bloomed! the tulips and hyacinth's have since bloomed, the pansies are still going strong and the roses are just going to town. i planted some hostas in front and back and they're doing pretty good too. the salvia is coming back and the hydrangeas are putting forth new leaves. oh, and the fushcia actually has buds, now if they open is another matter entirely!"}, {"response": 82, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Apr  8, 1999 (11:24)", "body": "hydrangeas!!! In your yard!!! Those plants HATE it here... WAY to dry!"}, {"response": 83, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Apr  8, 1999 (13:19)", "body": "she lives on/in a bayou..."}, {"response": 84, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Apr  8, 1999 (13:22)", "body": "that's why cacti don't like living there... (methinks that ring made you all sillyheaded!)"}, {"response": 85, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Apr  8, 1999 (13:45)", "body": "I got the logic... I was just envious!!! (and yes, it kinda has... all that sparkle ya know!)"}, {"response": 86, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Apr  9, 1999 (12:26)", "body": "who got a ring? what? you guys lost me there. yeah, bog type plants like it here. plus the hydrangeas are sitting right under the eaves so they get a good soaking."}, {"response": 87, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Apr  9, 1999 (13:04)", "body": "wolfie, wolfie, wolfie... While we were in Europe, Brandon proposed... the ring is a big shiny engagement ring! /"}, {"response": 88, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Apr  9, 1999 (19:10)", "body": "=O woohoo!!!!!! congratulations girlfriend!!"}, {"response": 89, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sat, Apr 10, 1999 (12:58)", "body": "Ah, to see the joy of youth! And to have a cherry tree outside my window that just starts to explode in blossoms!"}, {"response": 90, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sat, Apr 10, 1999 (13:01)", "body": "*turning green *"}, {"response": 91, "author": "stacey", "date": "Sat, Apr 10, 1999 (23:24)", "body": "like kelly green? or jade? or flourescent??? (sorry, I'm telnetting)"}, {"response": 92, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr 11, 1999 (22:41)", "body": "btw: i love the background in here!"}, {"response": 93, "author": "wer", "date": "Sun, Apr 11, 1999 (23:00)", "body": "I was starting to wonder... have you checked the one in poetry lately?"}, {"response": 94, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Apr 12, 1999 (18:51)", "body": "no, not yet. will go there next."}, {"response": 95, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, Apr 12, 1999 (23:09)", "body": "and to you, Stace...whichever green you prefer..."}, {"response": 96, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Apr 13, 1999 (18:23)", "body": "the poetry background looks pretty cool, wer!"}, {"response": 97, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Tue, Apr 13, 1999 (19:30)", "body": "good I'm glad"}, {"response": 98, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Tue, Apr 13, 1999 (20:04)", "body": "but what I really want to know is, is it summoning the muse back?"}, {"response": 99, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Apr 14, 1999 (18:04)", "body": "i have no idea where she went...."}, {"response": 100, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Apr 14, 1999 (18:44)", "body": "who?"}, {"response": 101, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Apr 15, 1999 (13:09)", "body": "really! stacey, my (poetic) muse went on a long vacation and i don't know where she went or when she's coming back...."}, {"response": 102, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Apr 15, 1999 (13:19)", "body": "she probably went to the French Riviera... that's where I'd go if I had a long vacation coming up. How's about you be your own muse, Wolfie?"}, {"response": 103, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Apr 15, 1999 (18:46)", "body": "amazing how quickly six inches of snow melts... it's over half gone (all gone in the sunny parts!) Man, I love Colorado. It's as moody as I am!"}, {"response": 104, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Apr 15, 1999 (19:09)", "body": "now there's a license plate slogan!"}, {"response": 105, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Apr 15, 1999 (19:11)", "body": "not as complimentary as some... but a slogan nonetheless!"}, {"response": 106, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, Apr 16, 1999 (13:22)", "body": "\"Moody as Stacey\" - might even become a proverb. I think I read it somewhere already, guys, drag out the copy of the Good Book y'all nicked in the motel last time and look! I'ma looking into The Poet's works..."}, {"response": 107, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, May  7, 1999 (18:03)", "body": "Remember all the seed that ended up in a puddle in the corner of the lawn??? Well I threw out more (on top of the snow one of those weekends) and it's going to town. My sunflower seedlings are coming up too and my cosmos!!! The tulips are done but the hyacinths are still popping up hither tither and yon! This'll be the first nice weekend in awhile so I think I'll spend sometime sowing!"}, {"response": 108, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, May  7, 1999 (18:17)", "body": "I worked a lot - besides finishing the next issue, our #13 - on cleaning up the garden. There was still all the trash and wooden beams and boards from tearing down the old construction, that stuff had to go. NOW. So I told it, and it went."}, {"response": 109, "author": "stacey", "date": "Sat, May  8, 1999 (11:31)", "body": "wish my weeds would listen to me that well."}, {"response": 110, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, May  8, 1999 (14:42)", "body": "no kidding! alex, you have a house? i don't know why i thought you lived in an apartment! i've been working on my husband to buy a camp. you know, a delapidated old place on the water. nothing big or fancy nor expensive. i told him about growing up with my opa's weekend house and how nice it was to go there. so, that part of me i inherited from him. I WANT A WEEKEND HOUSE *stomp stomp stomp*"}, {"response": 111, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, May  8, 1999 (14:49)", "body": "oh, while i'm here, i guess i could update my garden. the hostas in the backyard are being eaten by something. the hostas in the front yard look sickly. the salvia is going to town as well as the cannas and roses. my pansies are still heavily blooming so i'll not dig 'em up yet. the iris still has that one bud and it hasn't opened yet! AND i found a slug on it the other morning. my hydrangeas are blooming nice and pink (was worried they'd be blue and i'd have to put pickle juice down next time i watered- the vinegar provides acid which brings out the pink blooms) the fuschia kept dropping leaves (which actually looked like they were suffering from black spot). the blooms are spent and hopefully i'll have seeds as i deadheaded the flower part only and the seed pods are starting to swell. new growth is spurting and hopefully more blooms in time for the hummingbirds. speaking of which, i have four or five feeders up for them (one of which you suction cup to the window). can't wait to see them arrive! AND, the oxalis came back again and is sprouting leaves. i have two sunflower seeds that have sprouted along with yellow cone flowers (black eyed susans i call them). am waiting for the forget-me-nots to sprout as i killed the last batch. my columbine sprouts all died (have to get more of them). however; i have five rooted african violets working on having babies and 7 pots of gesneriad seeds waiting to sprout. you can say that my garden is doing quite well indoors and out!"}, {"response": 112, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sun, May  9, 1999 (12:30)", "body": "Had the most brilliant editors meeting yesterday! I've invented a \"layout-brunch\", where production staff would pop in, eat and drink, listen to some nice music, chat all kinds of talks, and then - KAWOOM! - suddenly explode into high-efficiency mode, and hack the mag's structure together, and plan the whole issue #13. In the end, we all were really happy, slightly tipsy fromm all the Sekt we had (slightly after sobering up a bit, that is), and have spent a great day! Today, I've filled up the container with all left-over bits, little boards, old branches, broken bricks. Shoveled away for another 4 hours. Will go to a concert later as due rewards (New Orleans finest: Mr. Quintron and his charming wife, Miss Pussycat). (Wolf, I LIVE in a house. Don't have it, though. But I work in the garden. Don't worry, most people would guess me living in a cheap dingy flat full of trash and old mags, too. Which is actually not far off from my general style and level of income, but THIS place is something different. AND will stay so.)"}, {"response": 113, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, May  9, 1999 (16:42)", "body": "no one could \"work\" in a garden...what's the point of having one, then? i putz around in mine (was gonna use piddle, which is closer to truth, but was afraid y'all would think that had something to do with answering nature's call, which, in a way does, but nothing to do with direct fertilzation, if you know what i mean). OK, i don't pee in my garden, but i do piddle! *laugh* alex, cheap dingy flat full of trash and mags, no, not quite what i thought. i figured something retro, a studio apartment with lots of black, glass, and chrome. isn't that the style all music mag editors own? glad your brunch went well. sounded quite productive!"}, {"response": 114, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, May 10, 1999 (11:16)", "body": "yanked dandelions from the yard yesterday... sunflowers about 3 inches tall now cosmos sprouting everything looks to have survived the winter with the exception of the marigolds... oh well peones are growing well columbine going NUTS in the side yard -- not blooming yet of course but the best part??? the grass seed I kept throwing down is really going to town!"}, {"response": 115, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, May 10, 1999 (13:19)", "body": "woohoo!! (peonies, i'm so jealous *smile*)"}, {"response": 116, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, May 10, 1999 (15:49)", "body": "yea... but you've got hydraganeas!!"}, {"response": 117, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, May 10, 1999 (18:44)", "body": "haha!! went by wal-mart today and they had gallon pots with peonies in them. i was tempted but a local nurseryman told me they don't do well here."}, {"response": 118, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, May 11, 1999 (05:22)", "body": "\"Grass going to town\" - Stacey, WHAT business ARE you in? Is that growing weed on the side, or genetic engineering? Wolf, \"something retro, a studio apartment with lots of black, glass, and chrome\" is not what I live in. But I have been asserted it's not half shabby, either. \"Isn't that the style all music mag editors own?\" - perhaps those whose magazines have great circulation or record company bosses. I just rent, and sales of #12 were not what I hoped for. A direct hit into my worst-case-scenario calculations. Just got some info from distributors today."}, {"response": 119, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, May 11, 1999 (09:13)", "body": "oh, i'm sorry sweetie! it'll pick up, i'm sure!"}, {"response": 120, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, May 11, 1999 (09:58)", "body": "Thank you for your kindness. I only wish you were right. But summer is always worse for mags than spring, so what's to expect? Got no funds to advertise, but without promotion, I'll have again several thousand copies of yet another issue lying like lead at the newsstands. Ad-sales will not be too hip, either. Might be some people gotta find a serious job by early fall... It's hard to do quarterly publications, because you can't really afford a single bummer, and the next chance to catch up is always long time away. You only got four tries per year. This *IS* harder than I thought when the others and I volunteered to keep the mag running. But let's enjoy the ride while supplies last. In August, we'll do a night in a club during the biggest music expo in the world, PopKomm! Got six bands booked in a great R'n'R-club, and we'll SHAKE the place! Perhaps this earns a bit, too. (I'd love to webcast that, or our radio shows, but until now, I didn't get anything to work... Part missing hardware, it seems, part complete ignorance of the basic how-to)"}, {"response": 121, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, May 11, 1999 (13:42)", "body": "is advertising on the web an option? BTW... if I were in the BUSINESS of grass growing I would hope my success rate would be a bit better... I've been trying to grow the same patch by the driveway for nearly a year now!!!"}, {"response": 122, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, May 11, 1999 (15:49)", "body": "*hahahaha*"}, {"response": 123, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Wed, May 12, 1999 (09:38)", "body": "\"advertising on the web an option?\" - difficult. I need to reach the people in my focus areas, Frankfurt and Berlin - where the stuff is at the newsagents and needs to MOVE. Move B I G T I M E !!! Gotta get some very cheap or free advertisement there... The web thing might help to reach people who could get interested in a subscription (which isn't bad, but doesn't solve my core prob; anyhow: growing on subscriptions is great in the long run, too). Only bad we're limited to a readers with german language skills (we also have *some* English content...). Still: Any ideas? (Maybe you should get into grass growing, Stacey, and we'd run a sample in the mag. Bet THAT would do it - everybody would have a nice summer! Your accountant, my accountant (=me), the happy readers...)"}, {"response": 124, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, May 12, 1999 (17:46)", "body": "always thinking Alexander, you're always thinking!"}, {"response": 125, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, May 13, 1999 (05:17)", "body": "Huh? Explain, please (and let's use http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/screwed/157 , because that is dedicated to the noble task of explaining stuff to me)."}, {"response": 126, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, May 13, 1999 (06:01)", "body": "And for the subject that started this, please take a look at http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/business/2 , maybe you or Wolf or any of the other folks have some ideas that might be good to hear about."}, {"response": 127, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, May 13, 1999 (11:49)", "body": "and my garden looks good too!"}, {"response": 128, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, May 13, 1999 (16:16)", "body": "(self-editing the comment I oh so much want to make here!!!) can you do fliers or pamphlets and distribute them at the clubs, universities, coffee houses, street corners, newsstands, bookstores, music stores, et al, Alexander?"}, {"response": 129, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, May 13, 1999 (16:54)", "body": "hey... yer posting in the wrong section (except the terribly obscene comment you wanted to made about my garden!)"}, {"response": 130, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, May 13, 1999 (17:15)", "body": "I posted other suggestions there... (it wasn't terribly obscene...)"}, {"response": 131, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, May 14, 1999 (16:46)", "body": "too bad..."}, {"response": 132, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, May 21, 1999 (13:14)", "body": "clarification: obscene=yes terrible=not"}, {"response": 133, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, May 21, 1999 (15:59)", "body": "and that is certainly what I figured..."}, {"response": 134, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, May 21, 1999 (19:38)", "body": "just so there's no misunderstandings..."}, {"response": 135, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (09:22)", "body": "there are ALWAYS misunderstandings"}, {"response": 136, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (11:26)", "body": "forever and ever, amen"}, {"response": 137, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (15:29)", "body": "hey george!"}, {"response": 138, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, May 27, 1999 (02:36)", "body": "hey ringo!"}, {"response": 139, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, May 27, 1999 (09:42)", "body": "did no one get me funny???"}, {"response": 140, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, May 27, 1999 (09:49)", "body": "I lost the reference somewhere...oops..."}, {"response": 141, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, May 27, 1999 (10:14)", "body": "Say again, Paul?"}, {"response": 142, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, May 27, 1999 (10:22)", "body": "alright guys... I'll walk you through it (sad sad sad) \"forever and ever amen \" is a line from a george strait tune WER said the line, I called him george. Nothing to do with the Beatles and nothing to do with gardens so I'm changin the subject now My garden is grooving! Poppies blooming, irises blooming sunflowers about5 inches tall cosmos coming up snapdragons blooming violas still blooming gras has sprouted in the previously weedy bald spots and is green green green! columbine is going strong, I've even got some early bloomers roses are coming back! lilacs are kicking butt! oh and my vege/fruit garden... tomatos and strawberry plants for now. I'll think about the eggplant and arugula in a coupla weeks."}, {"response": 143, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, May 27, 1999 (10:24)", "body": "oh did i forget to mention that the dandelions are thriving in certain sections???"}, {"response": 144, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, May 27, 1999 (10:27)", "body": "What can I say? You're extremely witty - as you always are -, and we're the dimwits we always are. Good to know one's place, though. Right, John? ;=} Gotta get the lawn-to-be ploughed up. Next month, after the baby's at the printers..."}, {"response": 145, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, May 27, 1999 (12:57)", "body": "certainly good to know one's place so you know where to direct the taxi after that night of binge drinking"}, {"response": 146, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, May 27, 1999 (18:49)", "body": "my columbine hasn't sprouted at all. the rock cress is going, the pansies are gone, the roses and african daisies are doing well along with the hydrangea and my gardenia bloomed for the first time and her perfume was almost overwhelming! woohoo!! bought a new rose and she's in the back yard (a climber--red blaze) and the ginger plant is coming back this year. maybe she'll bloom!"}, {"response": 147, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sun, Jul 25, 1999 (23:43)", "body": "anyone got any tips for Brugmansias or Brunfelsias?"}, {"response": 148, "author": "roarksmuse", "date": "Mon, Jul 26, 1999 (00:54)", "body": "Hello all, I hope you don't mind that I just jump in. unfortunately, I don't know what brugmansias are. is there another name for them? I'm new and my garden is doing pretty good. We have floods of rain one day, then go through 3 weeks of draught. I've seen a couple roses bloom, the others will be late in August/September. I weeded a patch of ground and planted what was labeled 'wild flowers', a brew I got from the home depot. Little marigolds and wild green grass shoots are growing. Anything to replace those weeds with other better looking weeds."}, {"response": 149, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Jul 26, 1999 (10:28)", "body": "i'm so happy to see you here, roark! wer: i don't know what those things are, but i'll do some looking for you. my garden looks horrid. i mean, the roses are into their third or fourth bloom but are getting rather leggy. i prune them back a bit but nothing severe to encourage more growth. which they're rewarding me with. the irises are still leaves, no blooms yet. my salvia is leggy. the hydrangeas are putting forth new strong growth. the gardenia is taking off like a madman and growing more buds. my fuschia is awful. the hoya has one flower bunch growing. pineapple is actually growing (and i just lopped off t e top of a pineapple fruit and put it in dirt). columbine is sprouted and getting bigger. rock cress died the day after i transplanted them. on a happier note: i made my first batch of hummingbird feeder sans red food coloring and it is a success. in fact, i was weeding the rose garden and i coulda sworn what i thought was a huge bee was going to land on my head. instinct took over and i waved my hands only to look up and see this small hummer looking at me as if saying \"why did you do that?\" *beams*"}, {"response": 150, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Jul 26, 1999 (12:25)", "body": "Hey roarksmuse! Welcome! I picked the fourth of what will surely be metric tons of tomatos from my garden this morning. the corn is growing, growing, growing but it looks like one of the stalks is not going to produce much. The zucchini's are a bloomin' but no sign of squash yet... All the flowers are looking great except I let my violas go to seed and my peones are just puttering along. They're VERY green and lush but no flowers..."}, {"response": 151, "author": "roarksmuse", "date": "Tue, Jul 27, 1999 (06:39)", "body": "wolf - when to you prune your roses? It seems a bit late in the season to me. You should cut them back very early early spring, or even late late fall just before the cold. my daylilies have bloomed and gone on. they were very early this year for some reason. my peonies bloomed and went on to sleep too. oh how beautiful the were. they were are deep ruby red with yellow middles. so beautiful I have had them for about 5 years, and this is the first year that they bloomed. I had a lot of cutting to take in the house. Stacy, I love corn. send me some. (smile) Question: can word wrapping be put on these postings? later."}, {"response": 152, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Jul 27, 1999 (12:20)", "body": "I think if you just type there's word wrapping (up to like 200 characters) My peonies are pink... pale pink. My day lilies are red and orange and yellow... they are going to town where are you from roarkmuse?"}, {"response": 153, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Jul 27, 1999 (17:47)", "body": "roarkmuse: i prune my roses every fall and spring but during the summer, i prune as needed (i.e., dead branches, dead head, and crossing branches) i wish i could grow peonies. i've read that they're good in zone 8 but local nurseries don't recommend them. my mom's were pale pink and beautiful! no daylilies, but i think i'll get some bulbs this fall (they're perennial, right?) my corn stalks died. so stacey, send some my way too!"}, {"response": 154, "author": "roarksmuse", "date": "Wed, Jul 28, 1999 (00:30)", "body": "wolf, try looking around for them in somebody's yard. Begin begging now, and in the fall, plant them and see how they do. nothing hurts a try. heh heh who knows, after they are there a few seasons, you may get lucky. mine were given to me by a friend. I have had bad luck with the mail order house - Burpee for roses and bulbs. their roses never did anything and their bulbs only gave me leaves (gladiolas)."}, {"response": 155, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Jul 28, 1999 (15:58)", "body": "my store bought irises are only giving me leaves! why is that? the tulips and daffodils bloomed nicely and they were purchased at the same place. jackon and perkins has a website and you can order catalogs for free. i've purchased a couple of their roses from local stores, but am thinking about ordering some. they also have perennials (bulbs and plants)."}, {"response": 156, "author": "roarksmuse", "date": "Thu, Jul 29, 1999 (04:30)", "body": "Hi Wolf, Honestly, I am not quite sure. Sometimes they can be planted a little to deep. That is what I have heard. I'll look at the Jackson and Perkins site. thanks"}, {"response": 157, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Jul 29, 1999 (18:45)", "body": "you're welcome, sweetie!"}, {"response": 158, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Sep  9, 1999 (12:34)", "body": "I gots a sprinkler system! I gots a sprinkler system!"}, {"response": 159, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Sep 10, 1999 (20:57)", "body": "braggart!!!"}, {"response": 160, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Sep 10, 1999 (21:37)", "body": "We got one too, but ours is called God, and He does not want me to grow roses. He maketh it too wet for them no matter how and where I planteth them. However, He adores ferns..they are growing in cracks in the driveway and in the drain holes of other potted plants...*sigh*"}, {"response": 161, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Sep 11, 1999 (17:42)", "body": "you took my thought, marcia!! roses, nope they can't stand wet feet. have you thought of planting them in raised plots? you know, put the crown a foot above the ground (maybe two) and fill in around it with bricks, retainer wall blocks, or landscaping timbers? this may keep them happier. also, lots of sun. mine love the all day direct sun they get here."}, {"response": 162, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Sep 14, 1999 (18:42)", "body": "I have thought of lots of things, but the reality is they will go where O'O wants them to go. That means where they look good right now, but the sun will be far from them for 6 months and the ferns will take over. The only real way I can think of to do it is to get rid of lots of the Bouganvillas and put the roses in huge pots which drain well and have a lot of loose planting material in them. He mulched the day lights out of them, and they hat it\u001bO."}, {"response": 163, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Sep 15, 1999 (20:20)", "body": "They hate it, too *scowl from telnet goof*"}, {"response": 164, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Sep 17, 1999 (18:06)", "body": "roses can be grown in pots but i've not tried it. if it looks good to have a rose somewhere will it look good when the leaves fall off and it fails to grow because of the location? perhaps the OO should forget about roses if not willing to give them what they need. bouganvillas are really pretty and bloom profusely. and if you want something exotic, try orchids, they'd love your environment and can stay outside all year with shade during the hottest part of the day."}, {"response": 165, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Sep 17, 1999 (20:07)", "body": "You're right, of course...I have orchids of various sorts blooming right now in the most unlikely places...like my aloe vera pot into which O'O stuck a rooted cutting just for lack of other places to put it. They are already growing and blooming in my trees and plumerias. They are ridiculously easy to grow in Hilo. They just need a place to hang onto and lots of gentle rain."}, {"response": 166, "author": "Isabel", "date": "Sat, Sep 18, 1999 (14:37)", "body": "Wolf is right Marcia: try to grow roses in pots. They can get really large in them, if the pot is big enough...and it should be deep! Roses on stems look quite beautiful in pots. If you have any questions on roses, just ask me, I grew up with them."}, {"response": 167, "author": "Isabel", "date": "Sat, Sep 18, 1999 (14:39)", "body": "99 was the greatest garden-year around here for decades...and I couldn't plant ANYTHING, because this place is a construction site since three years now! NADA!"}, {"response": 168, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Sep 18, 1999 (15:13)", "body": "Where is \"around here?\"...it was great for ferns and moss and epiphytes, but not roses. I grew up on the East Coast, and my father grew the most incredible roses which were so fragrant...*sigh* But, in Hawaii, I guess we must be content with bromeliads, orchids and gardenias. Up the mountain, they grow lovely camellias and hydrangeas. But, no one I can think of grows roses which look very good. They do not even sell them here - they import the ones for special occasions at a ridiculous price! Thanks for the suggestions, though. I have had the best luck with miniature roses...think I will stick to them, and they like my pots!"}, {"response": 169, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Sep 18, 1999 (19:48)", "body": "mini's do well in pots, marcia, though mine died. the roses got really ugly in mid-summer and have pruned them back for the fall. they've got new shoots coming up and will have beautiful flowers in october. my gardenia went through it's second bloom after shooting up all over the place. really didn't expect that. the hydrangeas are busy growing leaves and won't bloom again until spring. my peacock orchids are coming up and they always bloom during the fall (oct and nov) and smell heavenly. (not real orchids, named so for the shape of the flowers). i tried a pineapple this year (took the top from a friend). it's actually growing beautifully. unfortunately, it will be several more months before she bears fruit and i'll have to find a space in the house to winter it."}, {"response": 170, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Sep 18, 1999 (20:21)", "body": "For pineapple, the rule of thumb is 18 months from the rooted crown to harvest of ripe fruit. You may need to prop it up as the fruit matures, which is better than letting it fall over and just ripen on one side. You should have good success. I have never lost one due to neglect or over indulgence with nutrients. You will need to keep it where it can see sunlight and is warm over the winter. How cold does it get in your neck of the woods?!"}, {"response": 171, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Sep 19, 1999 (09:06)", "body": "normally we see the 20's but it doesn't last long. do you think it would respond well to plant lights? oh, and i have good southern exposure and could put her next to my patio doors (inside)"}, {"response": 172, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Sep 19, 1999 (16:08)", "body": "The patio doors is the perfect solution. Enough light and protection from the sub 40\ufffd weather. It should do very well, and you can admire your \"bromeliad\" as it blooms and fruits. They are very pretty potted plants!"}, {"response": 173, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Sep 19, 1999 (20:13)", "body": "Did you know pineapples bloom with royal purple tiny trumpet flowers? There is a hummingbird which likes the nectar of same, but it pollenates the flowers. When this happens you end up with a pineapple full of large seeds. There are no hummingbirds in Hawaii...yet!"}, {"response": 174, "author": "Isabel", "date": "Mon, Sep 20, 1999 (09:03)", "body": "...When it rains in Germany, you can be sure it must be summer, if it would be winter it would snow...people \"around here\" make jokes like:\"This years summer was on a tuesday\". So in normal german summers you don't have much fun in your garden, this years summer was great, lots of harvesting, but unfortunately not for me. The craftsmen, who are painting the house killed my 50 year old vine last week...Nearly everything that was left from my grandparents in the garden was destroyed in three years of constr ction...and I am really sad, they've spoiled my new lawn with cigarette-ends and garbage and I can't do anything but wait till they're gone and see what's left afterwards..."}, {"response": 175, "author": "Isabel", "date": "Mon, Sep 20, 1999 (10:27)", "body": "A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is Found some help for us rose-lovers. Look at: http://www.ars.org/experts/experts.html The American Rose Society offers you lots of informations about roses. There is something about roses in pots and they even offer you climate zone informations PLUS maps! (Hawaii included!) http://www.timeless.com offers information about a special rose that is able to live with wet feet- It's called \"Swamp Rose\" (rosa palustris scandens) and looks quite beautiful!"}, {"response": 176, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Sep 20, 1999 (13:59)", "body": "Oh, that's right...Germany (you bought stuff at a flea market for a few marks...I am remembering...). My sympathies on your old vine. Was there no way to save it? No cuttings to be taken and nutrured? I am heartbroken for you! Thanks for the info on the swamp roses - they sound like the kind we need in Hilo. My dad used to make a dry white wine out of our Dr VanFleet roses which to my childhood palate tasted \"sour\" but smelled just like the roses. (I got to do the stirring and pushing under of the rose petals as I harvested and washed them.)"}, {"response": 177, "author": "Isabel", "date": "Mon, Sep 20, 1999 (14:26)", "body": "I cut it back, so their work wont be disturbed. One morning I came out of the house and the vine was...gone! They sawed it away just above the ground. Do you have the recipe for this rose-wine? I would love to have this! My mum has a secret recipe for a rose-bowl (tastes funny and has much alcohol in it): You need rose petals (from about 10-15 blossoms), soak them in half a bottle cognac over night, then strain them out and add a bottle of champagne and a bottle of white wine to the liquid that has gotten a rose smell and color. Add a rose pedal to every glass you serve. You'll get drunk within minutes, but my mothers guests love it. My brother used to call it \"Metasistox-bowl\" ( a remedy against rose-diseases)!"}, {"response": 178, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Sep 20, 1999 (14:37)", "body": "It involves yeast and water and loads and loads of rose petals out of which the yeast gets the sugar it needs to grow. I believe we began with a little sugar added to aid the propogation of the yeast. The net must have wine recipes - alas, my Dad is gone to the sacramental wine in the sky, and it has been since I was 10 years old that I have done this. You will end up pressing and decanting and straining and filtering the wine before corking, but it is such lovely stuff. It is worth the effort...and i is slightly pink, just like the roses. I have recipes for cordials and \"bowls\" in Henley's formulas (1907), but nothing for making the wine in the first place. He even has the recipe for a form of your Mother's intoxicating brew!"}, {"response": 179, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Sep 20, 1999 (20:34)", "body": "i remember roses in germany. i figured the states just didn't have the right climate. *haha* as for your vine, check the bark still poking out of the grown, scrape it with your fingernail. it should be green underneath. if it is, it's still alive and will live to grow again. just put something around it to protect it from further abuse."}, {"response": 180, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Sep 20, 1999 (22:23)", "body": "Roses were exquisite in suburban New York City (Westchester County, to be precise.) We had a very large 3-storey house and there were Blaze and Dr VanFleet roses climbing all over one side of it. My father always took great pride in his roses, even when he retired to Arizona. Must have been something genetic he inherited from his father, a graduate of The Royal Horticultural College at Kew...!"}, {"response": 181, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Sep 21, 1999 (11:46)", "body": "Kew! Are we talking \"Kew Garden\"-Kew?"}, {"response": 182, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Sep 21, 1999 (11:47)", "body": "As in London, England?"}, {"response": 183, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Sep 23, 1999 (16:20)", "body": "Indeed, yes!!!"}, {"response": 184, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Sep 23, 1999 (18:00)", "body": "My first trip to London had a pilgrimage to Kew Gardens...I could feel the atmosphere and his presence. Most phenomenal experience...it was a lovely day and I was seated on a bench which well may have been there when he was. I liked the thought that he might have sat on that very bench...so I sat quietly and absorbed the atmosphere and told my son quietly about his great-grandfather. That is one of the reasons one should always travel with one's children - having taught them how to behave beforehand, o course. David was 14 at the time, and he was amazed at everything we experienced, and all the ladies loved him! His lasting impression was hefting the innocent-looking block of lignum vitae and almost dropping it (I was prepared to catch it, knowing that he was unaware of its extremely heavy weight.)"}, {"response": 185, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Feb  7, 2000 (18:10)", "body": "ahh... my garden is beginning to awaken! A bit early I might add. Under the comfort and insulation of fallen leaves, my mums have begun to grow again. I had to water the lawn on Saturday... it's been so warm I'm afraid the grass will come out of its hibernation and die of dehydration!"}, {"response": 186, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Feb  7, 2000 (18:57)", "body": "Wow! This is a little early, for sure, Stace! Even if the green stuff gets frozen again, at least the roots will be happy and healthy!"}, {"response": 187, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, Feb  8, 2000 (13:00)", "body": "Spring is arriving in England too! My daffodils have set heads and are looking quite decent now, crocuses are in flower, and there are lots of other small signs. Unfortunately it's also almost continuously raining. However, now I'm reminded of the end of last season tidying that I didn't do, and the rose arch has fallen in the huge winds we had earlier. Oh well ...."}, {"response": 188, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb  8, 2000 (13:34)", "body": "In February? Is this not a little early? I though it was March at the earliest and more probably April for daffodils. After all, they do not bloom in Wales till then and it is their national flower! I hope you have full leather outfit to tackle the rose arbor. They can bite back when you tackle them."}, {"response": 189, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb  8, 2000 (13:39)", "body": "Do you need to hear about my garden today? I noted that my one large staghorn fern now has a medium-sized neighbor on the next plumeria tree from the parent one. They are so odd-looking that I am delighted to have a new one. Funny thing about them. I just about killed my original one and it did blow away in a gale we had. Several months later I noted the baby one growing on the plumeria tree. It was so cute and much appreciated. They are doing just fine without my intervention. The grass you can watch grow - anyone want outrageous plants? Plant them in Hawaii on the windward side of any island."}, {"response": 190, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, Feb  8, 2000 (15:07)", "body": "We have plenty of ferns on the bank opposite my house, but not fancy ones! I do see staghorn ones (or something similar) at the garden centre. Yes, I do definitely have buds on my daffodils and they're about 6-8 inches tall already. I know it'll be a while before they actually flower. They're starting to arrive in shops now, although they're still very expensive. the birds think it's spring too by the way. I have blue tits in my nesting box. I pruned one rambling rose back hard last year ready to pull the rose arch down for rebuilding (before the wind actually brought it down) and it hasn't recovered. Pity, it was a lovely red flower. Actually, I'm the garden planner I have a 'handy man' (mine!) to do the hard work."}, {"response": 191, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb  8, 2000 (15:41)", "body": "Do your staghorn ferns have large plate-shaped \"leaves\" (fronds, actually) as first greenery followed by large antler-shaped fronds which emerge from a notch in the original plates at right angles? They are very pther-worldly looking items and grow to great size in our trees in the wild. Treat that handyman right. He will save you from looking like you were the loser in a cat fight! Mine does that for me, too. Then, he remains outside and continues on with what he thinks would be a good idea and plants things where they will starve, desicate or otherwise look wretched and die. Oh well!"}, {"response": 192, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb  8, 2000 (15:45)", "body": "Our birds are nesting, as well. Cardinals, lace-necked doves, barred doves (both of which nest in our huge Poinciana tree (delonix regia) and Chinese thrushes and rice birds, too. The territorial songs of the thrush is magnificent and other-worldly."}, {"response": 193, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, Feb  8, 2000 (15:51)", "body": "I think our staghorns are different - much smaller about two foot high I think, and they're grown as houseplants. I got excited this winter as I've had nuthatches visiting my birdtable. they're quite delicious to look at - grey blue on top and salmon pink underneath with a black band from eye to tail. I never tire seeing them. I have to tell the 'handy man' what is a weed and what is not, other wise the poor dear just keeps on pulling up plants until the soil is bare, and then can't understand me getting upset because my seedlings are all gone! Still he's very good a constuctional gardening."}, {"response": 194, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb  8, 2000 (17:39)", "body": "LOL, Maggie. Handymen start out life as Handy Boys. Mine carefully uprooted a flowering plant from a vacant lot and repotted it for me and presented me with it for Mother's Day when he was very tiny. It was one of those weeds which never seems to run out of generations. I thanked him and hurried it to a corner of the yard where it would not seed the rest of the garden. We are still pulling the things out 30 years later!"}, {"response": 195, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Feb  8, 2000 (19:31)", "body": "got stuff coming up all over the place. the birds are taking over the birdhouses again (started right before our \"snow\" storm too) roses have new stems coming up, will need to trim the canes back soon. glad to know everyone's garden is doing well!"}, {"response": 196, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb  8, 2000 (19:46)", "body": "Wow! Spring is really returning to the rest of the world. Seems a tad early, but that is just fine with you, I would imagine!"}, {"response": 197, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Feb  9, 2000 (12:15)", "body": "that's a great story Marcia!! generations of weeds for you to remember your son's sweetness by!! Ours will get covered in snow many more times but that is actually fine. The snow insulates the little green guys and then, when it bounces between freezing and thawing, they will be safe."}, {"response": 198, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Feb  9, 2000 (12:47)", "body": "Stacey, that is exactly what it does - especially now that he lives in California and I do not see him very much. I miss him a great deal...it has been almost 2 years since I last hugged him...and I am a need-to-hug person! It took me a few years of weeding to achieve this enlightenment, however!"}, {"response": 199, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Wed, Feb  9, 2000 (12:49)", "body": "My winter pansies have finally started flowering. I bought them in as plug plants last autumn and they've slowly been growing. The primulas are looking good and I cut a little yellow bunch today to keep near my computer to cheer me up. I think Spring makes us all feel better. I like the lighter mornings too."}, {"response": 200, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Feb  9, 2000 (13:15)", "body": "I love pansies and they do not do well at this latitude. Up on the mountains they are stunning, and leis made from them look like velvet!"}, {"response": 201, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Wed, Feb  9, 2000 (15:57)", "body": "I've really taken to primulas as they come in such a variety of colous and stem sizes. They also cross breed which also gives excitement because you don't know what will happen. My all time garden favourite is a hypericum hidcote (Hidcote is a very famous English garden in Oxfordshire) - like st John's Wort. I bought it as a garden centre end of season remainder for \ufffd1. It was leggy and didn't look much, but I cut it back and put it in. It's now the show piece all Summer. It's grown to avery well rounded four feet bush which I cut back each year. The yellow flowers are huge and last year it kept flowering into November."}, {"response": 202, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Feb  9, 2000 (18:18)", "body": "pansies dry well too. stick them on wax paper and fold the other side (of the wax paper over it), put into a thick book and let dry for a while. the colors stay too! you got that out of season shopping down pat, maggie! i love to rescue plants people have given up on or just want to get rid of. they sure reward you!"}, {"response": 203, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Feb  9, 2000 (20:09)", "body": "Pansies may dry well everywhere else on earth. They mildew first, here. I have seen some lovely examples of microwave oven drying, though!"}, {"response": 204, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Feb  9, 2000 (21:09)", "body": "and you can use the silica granuals. i've got some of that stuff to dry my roses and try to maintain the color. haven't tried it yet. but you can use the granuals over and over again. i've dried several leaves and lots of pansies. am surprised that the humidity didn't get to them. dry them inside the house though."}, {"response": 205, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Feb  9, 2000 (22:46)", "body": "Yup! Silica granules do the job, alright. And one MUST dry them indoors here. We have little white innocuous clouds which look around as they drift lazily over the sky. They hjalt abruptly if they see carpets or furniture airing in the sunshine and promptly dump their load."}, {"response": 206, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Feb 10, 2000 (11:03)", "body": "better to dry them outside here... most people humidify their homes..."}, {"response": 207, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 10, 2000 (12:01)", "body": "Not here! God humidifies everything! A botanist I once met dried his specimens on the pavement or black-top driveway but brought them inside when the sun began to set. That is probably the best way to do it. He used newspapers to absorb excess moistures and changed it daily."}, {"response": 208, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Feb 10, 2000 (12:12)", "body": "I meant 'here' as in where I am here. In Colorado our humidity in always negligible... cracked lips and cracked, bleeding knuckles are a year-round problem."}, {"response": 209, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Thu, Feb 10, 2000 (13:17)", "body": "Has anyone used a microwave to dry flowers? There was someting on it in one of my basic microwave books."}, {"response": 210, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Feb 10, 2000 (17:38)", "body": "you can use the microwave, oven, and those expensive dryers. i prefer wax paper and a dictionary. you use the microwave when drying with silica granuals. oh, i hang my roses upside down when drying them. all the rose petals and buds i have in my potpourri vase is from my garden. quite neat, huh? dry knuckles and other parts are a problem for us in the winter but we still have high humidity even then."}, {"response": 211, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 10, 2000 (18:30)", "body": "I never figured out who was buying all that moisturizer they were selling on TV - until I spent 4 months on the mainland including a week in Denver. This lady was not used to such dessication and itched all over, more than any place else! They had \"still rooms\" in the old days (Jane Austen features them) where herbs and flowers were all hung upside down from the rafters to dry and to preserve them. I have a recipe for making crystalized violets in your microwave oven. It does very well."}, {"response": 212, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Feb 10, 2000 (20:28)", "body": "violets? like african violets? or violas?"}, {"response": 213, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 10, 2000 (22:26)", "body": "The little purple ones which grow under the trees in the Northeast in the spring. Not fuzzy like the African variety... Viola odorata are the ones I mean but violas can mean different things in different places. These also can be white but the purple ones are lovely on French Vanilla ice cream!"}, {"response": 214, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (12:38)", "body": "I still have (dried) the first rose my husband gave me almost 30 years ago - and flowers from my wedding bouquet!"}, {"response": 215, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (12:46)", "body": "Wow! Mine's only five years old... but I am hoping to keep it for at least another 25 years! (Congratulations by the way!)"}, {"response": 216, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (13:20)", "body": "The trick is to remember where you put it!!!! Mine are in a 1760s copy of Martin Luthor's table talks, together with a few other bits and pieces I rediscover from time to time."}, {"response": 217, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (15:09)", "body": "You are risking an ancient book with dried flowers??? I am sentimental, but love books more!"}, {"response": 218, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (15:56)", "body": "Well, the flowers were dried before I put them in, and are between layers of tissue, so I'm not going to feel guilty. I haven't noticed any discoloration in more than a quarter of a century!!!! I put the rose in there in the first place because I got the book for my 19th birthday - all from the same person."}, {"response": 219, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (16:18)", "body": "Ah! Now you have me. Sentiment of that sort wins every time!"}, {"response": 220, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (16:19)", "body": "That's me - soft as a chocolate. (I just nicked two of my daughter's Belgian ones - do you get those in Hawaii - Yum!)"}, {"response": 221, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (16:51)", "body": "after my flowers and leaves dry, i place them in an envelope and leave it unsealed. probably not what i should do, but who's asking? want to use them in some sort of craft project (like glass plates) but haven't had time to do it yet."}, {"response": 222, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (17:05)", "body": "I'm not sure about the sealing. Mine seem to have kept OK. But I guess if you use in a craft project like a card, you'd need to seal it with sticky back plastic or something (that's what we call it, I suppose it's got another proper name). what are you going to do with glass plates?"}, {"response": 223, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (18:52)", "body": "Decoupage glue brushed over them seals them nicely on glass, wood boxes (especially nice) and covers of scrapbooks and such."}, {"response": 224, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (18:53)", "body": "Oh, Yes! We get all sorts of decadent things like Belgian Chocolate here, but it does not work for me as well as it does for other women, apparently. Nowhere near as good, actually! But, it does taste delicious - the dark kind, please!"}, {"response": 225, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (18:54)", "body": "Wolfie, we gotta get the guys to make us that crafts conference since we now have use of our hard drive space...?!"}, {"response": 226, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (20:10)", "body": "that's what i was thinking..... glass plates with decoupage was what i had in mind......"}, {"response": 227, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (20:16)", "body": "You will have very lovely plates, in that case! You'll never guess what I was just doing with fabric paint. Painting aluminum rivets on the car black. The Hairy Chest-beater put protective shiny black molding on the four corners of the bumpers and had to rivet them on to keep them on. The aluminum was ugly, so I painted them. I did it on some cast aluminum enamelled tablets on buildings so the fasteners did not show. 5 years on they still look as good as when I did them and none has peeled! I am more than a little amazed."}, {"response": 228, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (20:19)", "body": "oh what you can do with fabric paint!"}, {"response": 229, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 11, 2000 (20:24)", "body": "Tell me about it! I have used it on more \"other\" things than I ever did on fabric! I have changed the color of shoes and whitened old comfortable ones which looked too shabby to wear. Sprinkle glitter on while wet and you have new evening shoes! I could go on and on, and, from your remark, so could you! *lol*"}, {"response": 230, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sat, Feb 12, 2000 (08:57)", "body": "What a place to collect tips!"}, {"response": 231, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Feb 12, 2000 (12:29)", "body": "We gotta save the good stuff for that new Crafts Conference! Otherwise check for my handy hints in http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/food/55/new"}, {"response": 232, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sat, Feb 12, 2000 (12:52)", "body": "Why in food?"}, {"response": 233, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Feb 12, 2000 (13:04)", "body": "Most of them are kitchen and household hints. When I created it, that is what I had in mind - strictly kitchen stuff."}, {"response": 234, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sat, Feb 12, 2000 (14:35)", "body": "Oh, so when's the craft thingy coming?"}, {"response": 235, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Feb 12, 2000 (14:51)", "body": "As soon as things settle down from the move to the new ISP and I can talk one of the magicians behind the scenes to create the space for it. Wolf and I can put wallpaper and buttons up and all that sort of thing...We just need them to make create the actual structure onto which we create the thing which will end up as Geo did. I was handed a white blank space and told to go at it. I had no clue then what to do, so I was led through the birthing very patiently and carefully. I learned so much in that first 10-hour tour-de-force of creation. It was an extraordiary experience - at first terrifying and in the end glorious. I have put the conference with the wallpaper and the topics I created there up so I could just sit and admire it. When I sent my son (a geek of sorts) and my PhD ex in to look at it they were amazed that this mere woman could do that. My ex did not know such things were possible, and my son plans to pick my brains for his own we site eventually!"}, {"response": 236, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sat, Feb 12, 2000 (14:54)", "body": "Looking forward to it. I'm off to watch Midsomer murders on TV now. See you tomorrow?"}, {"response": 237, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Feb 12, 2000 (15:04)", "body": "I'll be here, my dear! *Hugs* till then!"}, {"response": 238, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sun, Feb 13, 2000 (13:42)", "body": "I'm back, where are you? BTW the vicar did it and then jumped off the church tower!"}, {"response": 239, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Feb 13, 2000 (14:24)", "body": "Oh No!!! Not the vicar?! The last one you would suspect. It's usually is more proper than the Queen wife who nurses grudges like nobody else...! Did you suspect? I am here!!!"}, {"response": 240, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sun, Feb 13, 2000 (16:07)", "body": "No I didn't suspect until right at the end. He was a famous (British TV) actor too - Richard Briers. I think these are all Ruth Rendall novels, but I don't remember reading that one. You'd have liked the scenery - real olde worlde english village, village fete and all."}, {"response": 241, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Feb 13, 2000 (18:13)", "body": "Ah, yes. I have been known to watch the British Grand Prix just to look for hillforts and other stuff in the background around Silverstone! Sounds good. Perhaps we will get them for PBS or A&E eventually!"}, {"response": 242, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Feb 14, 2000 (12:13)", "body": "my garden got a little sweeping up on Sunday... I have to keep the dead leaves over the plants, so they don't freeze, but I turned the soil in my veggie garden... preparation for after we return from Alaska."}, {"response": 243, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, Feb 14, 2000 (12:56)", "body": "Oh, dear, I'm still feeling guilty I haven't been out in the garden yet. I did feed the birds this morning though!"}, {"response": 244, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Feb 14, 2000 (13:55)", "body": "My garden is full of errant ferns and begonias which just happen to be growing there. We even have exotic weeds!"}, {"response": 245, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, Feb 14, 2000 (15:01)", "body": "Ooo lovely"}, {"response": 246, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, Feb 14, 2000 (15:02)", "body": "Mine just has non-exotic weeds and a rockery which I've got to take to pieces and rebuild this summer - oh and a fallen rose arch and trellising which needs replacing. the strawberries are nice in summer though."}, {"response": 247, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Feb 14, 2000 (16:07)", "body": "I thought your weeds were marvellous. My grandfather (a graduate of Kew) maintained that there was no such thing as a weed. They are just plants out of place. Amen! Maggie, no brambles? My ex convinced me to touch a nettle while we were admiring Old Sarum. It's the last time I did that on purpose! The Romans did that to themselves intentionally! Very odd, indeed! My grandfather would have app;lauded stacey's use of dead leaves for protective blanketing. Lime them and dig them under in the spring and your azaleas will be the best in Colorado!"}, {"response": 248, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Feb 14, 2000 (20:22)", "body": "pickle juice doesn't hurt either."}, {"response": 249, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Feb 14, 2000 (20:49)", "body": "Pickle juice? Never heard of that! I guess anything you drain off things we eat is good for your plants! hmmm...pickle juice?! *giggle*"}, {"response": 250, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Feb 15, 2000 (09:39)", "body": "Pickle juice?? hmmm... the vinegar is good for plants??"}, {"response": 251, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, Feb 15, 2000 (13:11)", "body": "Apparently nettles increase the blood supply to the area hit ......."}, {"response": 252, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb 15, 2000 (16:43)", "body": "Oh Maggie! You don't suppose they used them as an aid to stimulate otherwise reluctant protrusions into activity? Sounds too painful to contemplate!"}, {"response": 253, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Feb 15, 2000 (19:02)", "body": "on the pickle juice, it's the acid in the vinegar. azaleas like acidic soil. and i sat in nettles as a kid and boy did those bumps sting. good thing i had on a diaper or training pants or something. i remember oma and mom wiping me with a cold washcloth. i was careful from then on out."}, {"response": 254, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb 15, 2000 (19:16)", "body": "Yup! Once bitten by nettles you tend not try do it again. Pickle juice on your hygrangeas should be great, in that case...depending on whether you want blue or pink flowers when they bloom. Just like litmus paper!"}, {"response": 255, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Feb 15, 2000 (19:36)", "body": "now i can't remember if mine bloomed out pink or blue last year and last year was the first time they had flowers (except when i bought them of course)......"}, {"response": 256, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb 15, 2000 (19:49)", "body": "Make every other one a different color?!"}, {"response": 257, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, Feb 16, 2000 (06:49)", "body": "I picked up 16 little herbs in plants and they'e in the ground now, I was inspired by my trip to the Zilker botanical garden the other day."}, {"response": 258, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Feb 16, 2000 (11:42)", "body": "woohoo! i always get inspired when i see a garden show or even make a trip to lowes! in fact, i've got two plants (angel's trumpet and a currant bush) on their way and i don't know where to put them!"}, {"response": 259, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Feb 16, 2000 (12:13)", "body": "Put the currant bush in a bright sunny place and be sure it is well-watered, as well. They love water and sun but mostly they like being in hedgerows, so if you have an edge of the woods place with lots of sun, it would be very happy there! No currants in Hawaii, alas..unless you live up the volcano quite a bit more than I do."}, {"response": 260, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Wed, Feb 16, 2000 (16:33)", "body": "I cultivate a samll nettle patch down the end of the garden (well, cultivate is a euphamism) - for the butterflies."}, {"response": 261, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Feb 16, 2000 (18:06)", "body": "just don't sit in 'em maggie! *grin*"}, {"response": 262, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Feb 16, 2000 (18:30)", "body": "Is there not a cruetly to butterflies society in Buckinghamshire???!"}, {"response": 263, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Feb 16, 2000 (18:33)", "body": "What one does is \"tolerate\" the nettle patch designated for the benefit of butterflies, if I recall correctly!"}, {"response": 264, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Feb 16, 2000 (18:37)", "body": "yup. i'm glad we don't have nettles. but poison ivy is known to peak it's ugly head in our manicured lawns *laugh*"}, {"response": 265, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Feb 16, 2000 (18:51)", "body": "Hawaii has no poison ivy/oak. However, when I had a girl scout troop in West Virginia, they chose to make camp in a place to which I had never been. When I arrived, there they were, all rigged and lounging on the ground which was carpeted with the prettiest 3-pointed glossy green leaves. Yup! Right in the poison ivy!!!"}, {"response": 266, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Feb 16, 2000 (21:31)", "body": "oh no! *laugh* what a site you guys must've been!!"}, {"response": 267, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Feb 16, 2000 (22:45)", "body": "Needless to say we had a lively week. Every last one of them became expert in all forms and stages if growth of that pretty vine. Wish I had had the Calamine Lotion concession ...!"}, {"response": 268, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (12:43)", "body": "I swear by aloe vera these days - and it disappears and doesn't leave you all pink (unlike the nettles). The crocuses are lovely just now, springing up all over the place. There are the beginnings of buds on the shrubs but if we have a hard frost it will damage them."}, {"response": 269, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (13:37)", "body": "I have pots of Aloe Vera growing outside my kitchen door. Hawaiians used it in the old days to soothe stomach ulcers. Tastes rather nasty, but it is effective and benign in all ways. Great for sunburn, as well as other skin problems. Makes a great masque if you let it dry stiff then wash it off."}, {"response": 270, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (13:56)", "body": "Haven't tried that use of it *smile*"}, {"response": 271, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (14:09)", "body": "Admire your croci for me (or is it crocusses?!)...I miss early spring when things first peek through the surface. No wonder our ancient forebears used to pour libations on the ground and stomp around and yell pleas to the buried ancestors to push up the new sprouting crops. Makes sense to me!"}, {"response": 272, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (17:27)", "body": "i've got an aloe in the house, it's not very pretty but when someone burns themselves, i take a piece and rub it on. and i only use 100% aloe gel on sunburns. bulbs are popping up all over. and the weather is so nice outside i just want to plant everything. but it's a bit too early to do too much as we're due another frost at least."}, {"response": 273, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (17:31)", "body": "My Aloes are big enough that I just break off a \"leaf\" and squeeze it like toothpaste. It's pretty concentrated so a little water added will spread it all over the place, and you will be uncatchable until it dries out *grin* I'd think it'd be hazardous to plant bulbs outdoors until March...!"}, {"response": 274, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (20:08)", "body": "Does anyone have a good way to get rid of slugs? I can gather as many as 200 of them off my yard at a time during a damp morning. So far I have used alcohol in a spray bottle for one or two, but for 200 of them...that is another problem entirely!"}, {"response": 275, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (20:45)", "body": "salt....."}, {"response": 276, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (20:46)", "body": "be careful with it because it will render the ground unplantable. salt will dry them up. you can also bury a tuna can in your garden with beer in it. they'll be attracted to the taste and drown."}, {"response": 277, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (21:05)", "body": "I did salt but it is worse than spraying alcohol on them (denatured, naturally at 2/$1 for a pint bottle. ) They lie around and begin to get really \"fragrant\" when you are dealing with 200 or more of them. Every 30 days there is a new generation, too (or some such horrible frequency) Snail poison works well, but there is the same problem. Fragrance! Beer sounds best...I don't like it much and they do...I'll sacrifice one in their honor...*grin* Thanks!!!"}, {"response": 278, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (21:10)", "body": "D'ya think snails and slugs know the difference between real and \"near\" beer?"}, {"response": 279, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (21:12)", "body": "it's the smell and then they just drown, so i don't think it matters. suppose soda would do the same thing but would definitely bring on the ants!"}, {"response": 280, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 17, 2000 (21:18)", "body": "Yup! Guess NearBeer would do it. I have a can one of our visitors bought and I would like to get rid of it. That seems to be a good way. Don't think soda works, though...not fragrant enough and too sugary. Not what they usually eat. Least, I have never heard that soda works (and I sure don't need more ants!!!)"}, {"response": 281, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Fri, Feb 18, 2000 (12:43)", "body": "Egg shells? or grit/shingle round specific plants - doesn't kill them but helps to keep them off. I guess they don't like crawling over it!"}, {"response": 282, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 18, 2000 (13:55)", "body": "The objectionable substrate would work over night, but the grass and plants grow so rapidly in Hawaii that it would soon be overgrown and absorbed into the soil. I know that during the dark of the moon, if you look under big rocks you will find great balls of mating slugs. They are bisexual so they can do each other...frightening! But, it is a great time to get a whole bunch at one time plus the next generation! Too bad they smell bad and are slimy...Uck!"}, {"response": 283, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 18, 2000 (13:59)", "body": "Another sort of snail we have here is the African Giant land snail. The first time you happen on one of these cabbage-sized creatures it is enough to cause serious coronary events. They can eat your garden in no time flat. Parasitic land snails have been imported to combat this plague. I have only seen one. That was quite enough!"}, {"response": 284, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Feb 18, 2000 (15:07)", "body": "definitely would experience a coronary event. as big as cabbages? i'd be afraid to go out!"}, {"response": 285, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 18, 2000 (15:38)", "body": "...and as green as brownish-green as cabbages, too. I though it was a cabbage until I went closer to wonder why it was on a wooden ladder. I shrank back in horror when it unmantled its shell at looked at me with those eyeballs on stalks! You never saw this lady move so fast in another direction...! The shell is quite impressive. They rarely get that big, the Ag Station guys (who were the recipient of this little gem) told us. Thank heaven for that!"}, {"response": 286, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 18, 2000 (15:39)", "body": "see? I was so traumatized by it I have been rendered mistype-ical whenever I try to write about it...sorry!"}, {"response": 287, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Fri, Feb 18, 2000 (16:23)", "body": "Those African land snails were an 'in' pet here not long ago. Can't see the attraction myself. Hmmm I can see you have a problem the magnitude of which I had not envisaged!!!!!"}, {"response": 288, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 18, 2000 (17:31)", "body": "Fortuanately, they are not prevalent on this Island - at least not on this side of the Island. I have not seen another since that one 20 years ago...but I am not looking for them, either. Perhaps there are giants lurking in my banana patch?! Trying to kill them with salt or alcohol might just enrage them. Not a pretty thing to contemplate! I have seen empty shells of both the parasitic one imported for control of the giant one, and little Giant snail shells. Something is getting to them when they are still young and manageable. I bet they could consume your garden in a hurry when adult, though!"}, {"response": 289, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 18, 2000 (17:31)", "body": "Pets??!! Eeeeesh!!!"}, {"response": 290, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Fri, Feb 18, 2000 (17:35)", "body": "Well, I think I really would prefer one of them to a big hairy spider - and yes, I am going to bed!"}, {"response": 291, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 18, 2000 (17:41)", "body": "G'night Maggie!"}, {"response": 292, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Mar 28, 2000 (19:36)", "body": "i picked up another fuschia today. last years didn't make it through the summer. guess i didn't water it enough. this one has cool flowers. the outer petals are hot pink but the inner petals are deep bluish/purple. very pretty! i sure hope it makes it through. now the rest of the garden. i've planted four mini roses in the backyard, along with my currant bush, red climbing rose, some tuberoses, and a couple of bleeding hearts. out front, the irises have blooms bursting but not blooming out yet. the roses are blooming and i still have some hyacinths coming up. very pretty and such a lovely smell. the gardenia isn't supposed to do well where it is but she is just going to town. the hydrangeas are making a complete comeback from being dormant as well as the hostas. everything is bursting green and looks great against the cypress mulch we laid out today. i love spring!"}, {"response": 293, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Mar 28, 2000 (21:11)", "body": "Your fuschias sound beautiful..they grow here with the tree ferns at the summit of Kilauea where the rain forest is. Gorgeous and hearty they grow pretty tall and have the loviliest-colored flowers. Your gardenias seem to be right at home in your humidity. They love plenty of water and good drainage. and semi sun which you have discovered if yours are doing that well. Roses still hate it here unless you have a green house."}, {"response": 294, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (02:59)", "body": "I've got some mint I want to put in today, I guess it needs some shade and lots of water."}, {"response": 295, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (10:23)", "body": "the gardenia thrives in full summer sun. amazing. guess she got used to it while putting her roots deep. funny about how shrubbery takes a couple of years to establish and then all of a sudden, whooosh, the branches take off."}, {"response": 296, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (11:42)", "body": "My lilac bushes are budding wildly now. I wonder how many flowers we'll have this year. I love the smell of them. All the spring bulbs are flowering and the primulars are looking bright and cheerful. Spring has definitely arrived!"}, {"response": 297, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (12:22)", "body": "love lilac and wisteria. did you know that wisteria doesn't bloom until it's at least 10 years old? so when you buy, ensure you get older stock so you won't have to wait too long. better yet, buy them while they're blooming in the nursery so you'll be sure to get one old enough! almost bought one yesterday but the AM wants us to wait."}, {"response": 298, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (12:50)", "body": "a neighbour has wisteria growing over his shed. I'm quite envious. There's a village i drive through on my way to Uni which is very old and several of the houses are covered in very old wisteria which runs along them about six or eight feet from the ground. The trunks are huge, maybe 8 inches diameter. It's truly spectacular in season. My lilacs are supposed to be dwarf ones. I had them for mothers day about 7 years ago. But they have never flowered very well. I took them out of the pots a couple of years ago becuase I thought that might have been the problem. Anyway, we'll see how they do this year. One, which i pruned back hard last year is sprouting very well, and I'm hopeful."}, {"response": 299, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (16:34)", "body": "do keep us posted. i planted a lilac several years ago and it didn't amount to anything."}, {"response": 300, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (16:54)", "body": "Please do keep the mint in the semi shade if not all shade and make sure it keeps damp or gets sprinkled in the morning and evening until it gets established. You'll love it! I love lilacs and my Dad planted one outside my bedroom window when I went to college. I never saw it bloom! They do not grow out here but Chinaberry does and smells quite like them."}, {"response": 301, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Thu, Mar 30, 2000 (00:15)", "body": "I went through a phase a few years back of collecting lots of different mints. some have survived several winters, although i think i need to repot. I have apple mint, corsican mint, pinneapple mint, 'ordinary' mint and some others. The pots do dry out quite quickly so I have to water everyday in the Summer (which of course is quite short here!)"}, {"response": 302, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Mar 30, 2000 (11:40)", "body": "Ordinary mint, I think, is called Spearmint here... How do the others compare in flavor? Are they any good for making mint sauce? May we have a recipe for that delightful English vinegary sauce which is so much better than jelly and I forgot to get my Mother's before she died...?!"}, {"response": 303, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Mar 30, 2000 (11:44)", "body": "My dad planted Mentha piperita in a place where nothing else would grow, and it was so happy there is spread into the lawn. It made for some very fragrant lawn-mowing!"}, {"response": 304, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  2, 2000 (16:28)", "body": "moved the fuschia to underneath an eave near my front door (to see the hummingbirds) and it has been catching the rain from our storms the whole weekend. it will also be protected from the noon sun... and seriously considering purchasing some peony and antique roses....my hybrid teas, though beautiful, are so prone to black spot and stuff. am a lazy gardener and don't always remember to spray every week. already had to spray for aphids."}, {"response": 305, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  2, 2000 (16:38)", "body": "Peonies are sturdy, take all-day sunlight and love sandy soil. My father-in-law raised beautiful ones in sandy soil in Pennsylvania. Just don't try to keep the ants off of them. They need them to live, apparently. Your fuschia should be delighted with the new location. Sounds just like the way they grow at the Kilauea summit under the tree fern fronds. Since I got here, I have been such a lazy gardener that if a plant does not grow as God intended it to grow, it does not belong in my yard. I dislike hauling a heavy rubber hose all over to water whatever during dry spells."}, {"response": 306, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  2, 2000 (16:45)", "body": "i don't mind watering, it's the constant plucking of diseased leaves from the roses. they don't look so great with bare legs showing! our house in kansas (when i was a kid) had a whole row of peonies across the front of the house. full pink blooms every year. mom loved them. i've spoken with a nursery here who said that peonies don't care for our zone. i think, though, if i keep them well-drained, they'd be happy. perhaps raising a bed and amending the soil...."}, {"response": 307, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  2, 2000 (17:09)", "body": "Good idea on the amending the soil for the peonies. Too bad you have no ready source of cinders. It gives the rootlets something to hang onto while helping drain the bulk of the wet compact soil. How about fireplace cinders? Are such things available there anymore? When people heated their homes with coal there were plenty of cinders around. Perhaps, with your more southerly sun you might consider filtered sun or just morning and noon sun. It is the aftenoon sunlight which wilts and dessicates man, beast and plantlife alike."}, {"response": 308, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, Apr  4, 2000 (12:42)", "body": "I think spearmint is different to what I mean by ordinary mint. I have that too. Ordinary mint to me is peppermint. *cough* *cough* *self-pity!* The way I make mint sauce is to chop up the peppermint finely (or use dried mint), put in cut-glass small jug *smug look*, add I teaspoon sugar, a little boiling water, mix, then add about a cup of malt vinegar. Stir well, and leave for about an hour before using. I've got some other mint recipes in my herb books, I'll lokk them up."}, {"response": 309, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Apr  4, 2000 (13:43)", "body": "Thanks for your recipe, Maggie *grateful smile* but I cannot imagine why you would not prefer peppermint to spearmint. Perhaps I have never tasted peppermint. Is it good in iced tea? (Or is that an abhorance to Britons?!) And what is horse mint? Edible? Or, when you cook a horse, do you make sauce out of it just for that meat? (Probably not *smirk* just like catnip mint is not for garnishing cooked cats...)"}, {"response": 310, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Apr  4, 2000 (13:46)", "body": "*Keeping up with Maggie elevated nose*...I have an inherited cut leaded crystal deep bowl in which I shall make my mint sauce..*sniff* I also have one with a mtching lid from the Salvation Army thrift store which will do nicely for \"ordinary\" company...*can't keep a straight face giggle*"}, {"response": 311, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Apr  4, 2000 (16:36)", "body": "yeah, what kind of mint do you use in mint tea? (mint julep comes to mind as a type of mint tea, but is it a species?)"}, {"response": 312, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Apr  4, 2000 (17:31)", "body": "Spearmint..."}, {"response": 313, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Apr  4, 2000 (18:44)", "body": "what's mint julep? (or should this be discussed in food?)"}, {"response": 314, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Apr  4, 2000 (19:11)", "body": "It is, according to what I recall my father telling me, a concoction of rye or bourbon in tall frosted glass in which fresh mint has been mascerated in a \"loaf\" of sugar and crushed. The glass is packed with ice and whiskey of choice is added and more ice then filled with the whiskey and a spray of fresh mint to garnish it. All of the sugar stays in the bottom and is so sticky-sweet that my Dad maintained it caused a second julep to be ordered and so on."}, {"response": 315, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Apr  4, 2000 (19:13)", "body": "euw, i hope that's not what they put in the mint julep tea i order at a local italian eatery. don't think so, since i've not lost what sense i have after downing a couple. mint tea is the best too!"}, {"response": 316, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Apr  5, 2000 (00:53)", "body": "I'll bet they just mascerate the mint and the sugar before adding the ice and tea. No whiskey. Mint tea is what I was raised on and I did the picking and cultivating of the mint, too. Absolutely fresh."}, {"response": 317, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (16:22)", "body": "well, the irises are blooming and so pretty. (finally) and the roses are coming along nicely too. buds and blooms everywhere!"}, {"response": 318, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (16:55)", "body": "Not gonna have frost from now on I hope! Get those adeniums out in the sun, too and let them wiggle their toes in bigger pots. Get pots a lot bigger. You will be amazed how grateful they'll be."}, {"response": 319, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (16:57)", "body": "I don't have one in my garden, but I noticed that the Primavera trees are blooming. The rest of the year they look pretty much like trash trees, so not many are planted. Come April, however, with nary a leaf, they burst into bright yellow flowers which look like sunshine and can be seen for miles. Beautiful!"}, {"response": 320, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (18:02)", "body": "the adenium is in a much bigger pot and not in direct sun just yet. am getting it used to being outside (from the office).."}, {"response": 321, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (20:38)", "body": "What was yours like under the soil?"}, {"response": 322, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (20:41)", "body": "it was stuck to the pot! didn't find a bulb underneath but lots of roots."}, {"response": 323, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (21:13)", "body": "Ours must get tons more water. Mine looked like it had elephantiasis!"}, {"response": 324, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (21:19)", "body": "maybe, mine's just a baby and i've only begun to give it some good water. have owned it for 6 months or so. it's in a plastic pot so the clay doesn't absorb all the water before the plant gets any benefit (esp. ones that like lots of water)."}, {"response": 325, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (21:24)", "body": "Mine are in plastic or glazed ceramic (neither of them my choice)...but the huge one I have had for several years and the littler one has been a few years. No seeds yet. I'd like to raise one from seed like my two are so they have fat bottoms *grin* since I'm never gonna have one of my own flesh...*sigh*"}, {"response": 326, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (21:27)", "body": "yup and after you play with them you gotta wash your hands! *grin* get it? mine has the fat bottom and a couple of arms coming directly out of the middle of this and a bunch from the top. i like the leaves and their fuzzy feel."}, {"response": 327, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (21:37)", "body": "*laugh* Indeed! You play with yours, too?! They are the neatest plants ever!"}, {"response": 328, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Apr  6, 2000 (21:46)", "body": "after noticing the obvious, the second thing i did was touch the leaves."}, {"response": 329, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Apr  8, 2000 (22:20)", "body": "So did I...I like it touch things which are mine...or that I may be allowed to touch ( not a touch everything in sight when shopping, though). Praise is also good for plants as well as loved missing others.... garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 20, "subject": "Native Gardening", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 21, "subject": "Horticulture News", "response_count": 3, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 25, 2000 (00:42)", "body": "Wolfie, would you like me to put the information about planting specific plants where, in here? I have been putting them in topic 32. Perhaps they belong here ."}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 25, 2000 (01:13)", "body": "Support Your Local Growers If you think large discount stores and supermarket chains offer the best deals in plants, think again. Almost without exception, the plant quality, variety, and vigor is compromised in the process of mass plant production. The small growers in your community--through micro-nurseries and gardening clubs--offer something the big boys can't; a wealth of local knowledge and an understanding of which plants work in your unique conditions. Without your support, these alternatives to the circus tent variety of plant sales may face extinction. Then where will you find an heirloom treasure your neighbors don't have?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 25, 2000 (11:55)", "body": "PERENNIAL or I Love a Mystery Plant by Duane Plummer Perennial. That's all it was marked at the home center where it was mixed in with more familiar selections. But I snatched it up because I knew I had a winner. Besides, it was the only one there, which to me says, \"Ha, ha, I found it first! And no one else knows how special it is! And I get to keep it!\" The fact that no one else was anywhere near me mattered not. I'd gone berry gathering and I'd found the berries. Let the other tribeswomen put that in their pipes and smoke it. Finding something special affects any collector in a primal way. If your partner scoffs at you in scorn, just remind him of all the times he's yelled and shrieked at some guy on the small screen who's scored the touchdown or the winning run. It's all very logical. He has to bring down the mastodon; you have to bring home the berries. http://www.gardenguides.com/articles/mystery.htm Perennial CONTROLLING LAWN GRUBS ORGANICALLY by Arzeena Hamir Beetle grubs can turn a fine looking lawn into a patchwork quilt of yellow spots. But before you reach for the insecticide bottle, there are a number of organic alternatives that will help you cope with the grubs without poisoning yourself or your family. What are these grubs? The grubs that you see in the lawn are the larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, and chafers. These grubs are C-shaped, off-white in color with a dark head. They eat the roots of grass, causing the grass to die and form brown patches. Lawns that are heavily damaged by grubs will have a yellowish tinge and will feel spongy when walked on. The sod itself can be easily lifted, a sure sign that the brown patches were not caused by dog urine. http://www.gardenguides.com/articles/grubs.htm AOL: Grubs -----------MONTH NOTEBOOK----------- ***HERBS FOR HEALTHY HAIR*** Use these herbs to improve the health of your hair and scalp: YARROW - Rub a strong infusion into the scalp daily to treat oily hair. THYME - Condition the scalp by massaging with a strong infusion. SAGE - Use an oil infusion to darken hair. ROSEMARY - An oil infusion darkens, conditions, and tones hair. PARSLEY - An oil infusion ads shine and helps control dandruff. CATMINT - Use an oil infusion to promote shiny hair. CHAMOMILE - An oil infusion lightens and conditions the hair. MARIGOLD - An oil infusion adds highlights. NETTLE - An oil infusion improves the color and texture of hair. You'll find instructions for infusions and oil infusions here: http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/preparin.htm AOL: href=\"http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/preparin.htm\">Preparations To use your herbal preparation, work the oil into the hair, then cover with plastic wrap and a warm towel. Sit in a warm place for 30 minutes to an hour, then shampoo. ***GROWING CITRUS IN CONTAINERS*** Citrus trees are terrific for sunrooms. The glossy foliage looks great year round, and the scent of the blossoms can fill a room. Citrus can be grown from seeds, but it will take several years to get fruit, and the overall results may be disappointing. For better results, buy healthy plants that have been grafted onto special rootstocks. Before you invest in a citrus tree, make sure you have a place in your home where the plant will be happy. It needs a long day of sun and good air circulation. Placing the tree near a heating vent will cause the leaves to dry out and drop. In warm climates, place the tree on a rolling platform so that it can be left outdoors most of the time, bringing it indoors only when frost threatens. The most common problems with citrus grown indoors are scale insects and leaf drop. Watch the plant closely for scale, since it is easiest to control when it first appears. If there are only a few, you can remove them with a sharp knife or fingernail, or you can rub them with a Q-tip soaked in alcohol. If you have too many insects to handle this way, spray the plant with an insecticidal soap at 5-day intervals, or alcohol spray (4 parts water to 3 parts rubbing alcohol.) Any time you use an alcohol spray you should shade the plant for the day. Leaf drop is usually caused by wide fluctuations in temperature. Try to maintain a constant temperature, both day and night. GENERAL CARE: Watering When the soil is almost dry water the pot until the water runs out the bottom, but never leave the plant standing in water. Plastic pots are best for maintaining a good moisture level. In winter, water just enough to keep the soil from drying out completely. Humidity Plants can tolerate humidity in the summer, but prefer a low humidity in winter. Luckily, the air in most homes is quite dry in winter. Feeding Use a high-nitrogen liquid fertilizer. Mix it 1/4 strength and feed the plant weekly from mid-spring until late summer. Discontinue feedings in winter. Temperature There are some very good varieties that will withstand a wider range of temperatures, but for most the summer maximum should be around 87F (30C) and the winter minimum should be 40F(5C)"}]}, {"num": 22, "subject": "Endangered Botanical Species/Genera", "response_count": 11, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:03)", "body": "Oh boy, got hours and hours. Most of the native plantlife in Hawaii is endangered. I will be more specific when I am done tending an ill house mate."}, {"response": 2, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:16)", "body": "(hope he feels better).... one way to prevent the dwindling of native plants is to resist the urge to pick them up on trips. some places have laws against taking plants. i found a list of 40 some orchids that are native to louisiana and when i noted my finds to my friends at the AOS website, they made sure i understood not to take them from the woods. would love to find a place that has clones of these species to grow in my garden. also, replanting after clearing helps. this is most prevalent with trees though it takes years for those trees to mature. more and more cities are developing bedding areas within the city for native and ornamental species. doing things like this brings the public's eye in and spurns an interest in species conservation. and local gardener's are dedicated parts, if not all, of their garden space to native plants. this ensures the longevity of the species though their wild habitat may be dwindling."}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:24)", "body": "He's feeling all....uh...pooped out...! Ask your Ag extension about that, as well - I have rare Hawaiian Orchids growing all over the place - they are ground dwellers - and are apical meristem clones."}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:25)", "body": "(Thanks, btw...he is!)"}, {"response": 5, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:26)", "body": "(btw: loved that pun and i got it too *grin*)"}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:30)", "body": "Thought you might. Did you not say that you had put some in just recently? Couldn't resist!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (20:36)", "body": "*laugh*"}, {"response": 8, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (21:04)", "body": "endangered plant species list for texas: http://bb35.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/endang/plants/index.htm"}, {"response": 9, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  9, 2000 (21:09)", "body": "here is a list of links to sites dealing with endangered species of plants: http://botany.about.com/education/botany/msub7.htm"}, {"response": 10, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (21:22)", "body": "*blushing with embarrassment* I thought the pun was Hosta not the other one."}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (21:28)", "body": "This is the entry site for the Hawaiian Endanged Species http://www.bishop.hawaii.org/bishop/HBS/endangered/endangered.html garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 23, "subject": "Wildflower Gardens", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 24, "subject": "English Gardens", "response_count": 45, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (03:43)", "body": "I found this lovely link to a small dorset Garden. Take the time to take the tour. It's lovely. http://www.alfresco.demon.co.uk"}, {"response": 2, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (11:21)", "body": "knew i forgot something. thanks maggie!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (11:35)", "body": "Thanks wolfie, I just had a worry that I should have asked first! Sorry!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (21:42)", "body": "There is nothing more fragrant or lovely than an English Garden, and no place else on earth where grow as well as in the chalks downlands of the Scenptered Isle. *sigh* I need to get back there. My genes are getting restless..."}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr 10, 2000 (21:50)", "body": "see what happens when you are thinking of the nasty comment of septic isle?! It is Sceptered Isle, of course"}, {"response": 6, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, Apr 11, 2000 (02:52)", "body": "At the moment things are growing all too well in the Chiltern hills - I shall have to get out weeding!!!! septic isle indeed!!!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Apr 11, 2000 (11:21)", "body": "Weeding! I spent my entire childhood weeding the rock garden and promised myself never to have one. I kept thinking how easy it would be just to remove the rocks and mow the entire place, but my mom, being a proper mom, would have said 'No!'"}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Apr 11, 2000 (11:23)", "body": "Do you still plant things like Bachelors Buttons and Sweet William (very nice), Pinks and pansies in them? Phlox?"}, {"response": 9, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, Apr 11, 2000 (14:13)", "body": "In my rockery that E. & I built cos Dad never got round to it. pinks, yes, pansies, yes, loads miniture hardy geranium (incredible magenta small flower) large hardy geranium (largish pink flowers) (nothing like pelagoniums) anenemes (don't look right spelling) miniature dutch iris aster - low growing variety, big clump thyme - corsican an absolute pest called 'fox and hounds' that i can't get rid of crocuses a smallish evergreen tree that T. liked and i didn't so i put it in there and the d**** won't die irish ivy (big green leaves) covering the fence behind alliums (two foot tennis ball head ones on spindly stalks that end up in the pond) that keep coming up and look out of place, but I keep forgetting to move them once they've flowered. a supposedly 'dwarf' lilac tree that is probably going to get cut down. It's only a little rockery!!!! with a pond and a sort of waterfall that isn't used cos I can't afford a pump for it. oh and don't forget grass that keeps coming up and is a PAIN"}, {"response": 10, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Apr 11, 2000 (18:06)", "body": "mulch....one word for weed control and if any should get through, they're easy to pull."}, {"response": 11, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Apr 11, 2000 (18:07)", "body": "your garden sounds lovely to me...."}, {"response": 12, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Apr 11, 2000 (18:45)", "body": "Oh yes, I forgot the Iris and behind them against the huge sweet-gum tree (Liquidambar) were day lilies. Far in the back for spring color with the crocus was a lovely forsythia. Mulch is just about impossible because everything grows so close to the ground. Nowadays perhaps there is ground-up mulch but back then I had to work fallen leaves into and under the little plants and we just piled the leaves on top of the whole garden in the winter."}, {"response": 13, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Apr 11, 2000 (20:38)", "body": "you can get it shredded up in bits and pieces and work them around the little plants..."}, {"response": 14, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Wed, Apr 12, 2000 (04:22)", "body": "yeah, done that all over, but doesn't seem to work in the rockery. the big pest is the fox and hunds, i got it from a herb centre and there was no warning. it just loves it round the pond and mothers everything as it spread. it is quite pretty, bright orange flower heads on stalks that turn to seek puffs. it's a surface rooter but strangles everything it comes across. t'other problem is grass coming up between the path and the edging. it's really horrible to get out. in the end i may have to resort to weedkiller which i am pathalogically against. i think grit will work best in the rockery once i've cleaned it out yet again - a good thick layer. i'd love to get the waterfall going into the pond, but haven't been able to get a pump or put the wiring in. it would be most pleasant on summer evenings in my suburban dump."}, {"response": 15, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Apr 12, 2000 (16:40)", "body": "try irish moss in the rockery. that'll look pretty and serve as a mulch. it handles being walked on too."}, {"response": 16, "author": "CherylB", "date": "Wed, Apr 12, 2000 (17:29)", "body": "I recently came across a bit of information that English Gardens are becoming very popular in Japan. It would seem that the Japanese are becoming quite fond of planting and maintaining proper English Gardens. They go to meticulous care to make them as authentic as possible. I'm currently browsing through a book on teas, including green, black, and herbal. In the entry on chamomile one of the facts noted is that chamomile lawns were sometimes planted in England. When walked across the plants gave off a lovely apple-like scent."}, {"response": 17, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Apr 12, 2000 (17:50)", "body": "Ugh! Flagstone paths! We had them, also. Guess who weeded and trimmed the grass on her hands and knees...Yup! Me =) No herbicides nothing but my blisterd and bashed in knees. Looked lovely, though..."}, {"response": 18, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Apr 12, 2000 (17:54)", "body": "Japanese nitpick their yards and everything else around and inside their homes. An English Rock Garden should be perfect for them. They put specially selected rocks in their gardens anyway... At least the ones here, do."}, {"response": 19, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Thu, Apr 13, 2000 (06:11)", "body": "We hae a really horrible japapense garden (and it other settings i love them) at the centre where I worked. The rocks and bamboo and stuff are Ok but the gravel - its terrible, always kept coming into the computer lab and lecture hall on the students feet."}, {"response": 20, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Apr 15, 2000 (00:22)", "body": "Over here we leave our shoes at the door. Outside. Good practice!"}, {"response": 21, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sat, Apr 15, 2000 (05:41)", "body": "I can just see all our students doing that!!!! At home we have nowhere to leave shoes and things. It's a real pain. I would love a porch or conservatory!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Apr 15, 2000 (17:15)", "body": "How about in the garage or just inside the front door on a carpet which is washable?"}, {"response": 23, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Apr 15, 2000 (17:19)", "body": "My son has taken the tradition to California with him, and when you step into his carpeted condo, you remove your shoes in a place set aside with a carpet which is easily shaken and washed. Looks great, and so does the pearl grey carpeting throughout the place."}, {"response": 24, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, Apr 17, 2000 (09:07)", "body": "I wish I could get all my room mates to do that, but it's a stretch. I've tried putting shoe racks on the door and signs, but it's tough one to implement."}, {"response": 25, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr 17, 2000 (11:32)", "body": "It would be a great help...and your wood floors would appreciate it very much (not to mention your broadloom rugs and general cleanliness involved.) I stand at the door with a cleaver offering a choice. Shoes off or they can eat and party outside. Even the repair people remove their shoes!"}, {"response": 26, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, Apr 18, 2000 (03:49)", "body": "No garage, very narrow hall, no room. pain. I settled for cork floors downstairs which i can sweep easily. Back to topic - the blue bells are just starting to bloom. They will be spectacular in a week. A bright blue haze under the trees."}, {"response": 27, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Apr 18, 2000 (22:14)", "body": "Oooh...can daffodils be far behind? In my garden the Cestrum nocturnum (night-blooming jasmine) is in full bloom and is so heavy in the still evening air it makes me wheeze. Lovely fragrance for the folks three houses away, though...!"}, {"response": 28, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Wed, Apr 19, 2000 (01:03)", "body": "The daffodils are in full bloom now. Spring is here even though we have had snow twice in the last week, and large hail stones and frost. The lily of the vally by the front door are showing."}, {"response": 29, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Apr 19, 2000 (23:00)", "body": "Oooh. Lily of the Valley! My favorite flowers. I always wanted them in my bridal bouquet, but I was married in August...! Before that it was my silver pattern and I have one solid silver spoon, then Gorham discontinued it. *sigh* I guess it was just not meant to be."}, {"response": 30, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (03:12)", "body": "I'm sorry i forgot to scan that postcard i sent you - it would have looked good here. I shall think of you each time I walk past the lily of the valley coming into my house. there are not a lot of them yet, they seem to take quite a while to spread."}, {"response": 31, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (20:57)", "body": "It is incredibly lovely. I thought of that when I opened your letter and showed it to R. I shall get a scanner one of these days and do it for you. I love the spiral-cut topiary tree in the garden!"}, {"response": 32, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Apr 20, 2000 (21:00)", "body": "please scan that post card!!"}, {"response": 33, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Apr 21, 2000 (20:25)", "body": "Yup...ASAP"}, {"response": 34, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 29, 2000 (17:14)", "body": "England in the Spring - Bluebells carpeting the woodland - The English Garden God Planted From Maggie"}, {"response": 35, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, May 29, 2000 (18:32)", "body": "When the light is right, it's like a blue haze shimmering. Makes my heart sing in praise to God who made it."}, {"response": 36, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 29, 2000 (20:44)", "body": "Is there a fragrance to that many bluebells? Cannot remember their fragrance though I have gotten on my hands and knees as a child to see if they had one...."}, {"response": 37, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (02:24)", "body": "Not strong, slightly lilacy. Just now the overpowering fragrance is from oilseed rape - the bright yellow cabbage related plant. It's grwon in my area in HUGE quantities, massive fields of it, and the aroma is very pungent and causes many allergy problems."}, {"response": 38, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (17:23)", "body": "my GOd, they're beautiful!!!!!"}, {"response": 39, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (20:06)", "body": ""}, {"response": 40, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (20:09)", "body": "A typical English suburban small garden (Maggie's parents)"}, {"response": 41, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (20:09)", "body": "Containerized is the only way to go - hardly any weeding that way!"}, {"response": 42, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (20:16)", "body": "it's lovely! but lots of watering (well, maybe not in england, but here, oh my, lots of watering)"}, {"response": 43, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (21:19)", "body": "Oh yeah...unless God does it for you like here...*smile*"}, {"response": 44, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Wed, May 31, 2000 (01:47)", "body": "yup! it is but they seem to enjoy it, and as long as they can manage it's OK and uplifting to have the riot of colour outside the window. My brither's filling in the fish pond as they can't cope with maintaining it any longer. *sad* the borders ae well established and hardly need much weeding."}, {"response": 45, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 31, 2000 (12:54)", "body": "That's what I thought we had kids for. To maintain our fish ponds when we are too elderly to do so for ourselves...*sigh* garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 25, "subject": "Organic Gardening", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 26, "subject": "Greenhouse Gardening", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 27, "subject": "Water Gardens", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 28, "subject": "Beneficial Insects", "response_count": 5, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Apr 22, 2000 (21:45)", "body": "what an oxymoron, huh? most people don't think bugs could be beneficial in any way. BUT, in the garden a lot are. ladybugs, for instance, eat aphids off of roses. you can buy them in bulk and put up a house specially made for them to keep ladybugs handy. there's always something out there that will eat the others so do a little research and don't be afraid to try it out. it sure beats using pesticides."}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Apr 28, 2000 (00:03)", "body": "Insects includes bugs but not all insects are bugs. Like my name. I am really a beetle and known across the pond as a Ladybird Beetle, I believe. Eat aphids like they were going out of style!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Apr 28, 2000 (16:04)", "body": "thanks for the clarification and love that username!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Apr 28, 2000 (20:43)", "body": "Yours is great, too...*grin*"}, {"response": 5, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Apr 28, 2000 (20:44)", "body": "*aw shucks* garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 29, "subject": "Bulbs", "response_count": 5, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Apr 22, 2000 (21:33)", "body": "my husband brought me an Easter Lilly today which gave me the idea to start a topic on bulbs. i'm no expert but i've heard that the forced bulbs can be planted to bloom again. well, you can do the same thing with the easter lillies. in fact, the source i found said to plant it out now, let it finish blooming and then if it tries to bloom again, chop them off to save energy for the bulb to get through winter. don't let it create a seed pod either (saps energy from the bulb). but, just like irises, daffodils, tulips, etc., leave the green leaves until they die out by themselves. i've got some narcissus and an amaryllis that i'm gonna plant outside. don't have room to keep them inside. i've seen lots of amaryllis in bloom around here. wonder why they started forcing for christmas."}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 10, 2000 (17:40)", "body": "Narcissus bulb carving is very popular amongst the skilled older Oriental gnetlemen in Hawaii. I imagine it is in the Orient, as well. I shall hunt up some pictures of the finished work so you know what I mean by \"carving.\""}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 10, 2000 (17:41)", "body": "Narcissus in Zhangzhou It takes patience and skill to artfully model a bulb to grow like a bird or a teapot. By Huang Zhenxiang and Li Rongli WHILE northern China is wrapped in snow and afflicted with biting winds, the city of Zhangzhou in southeastern China's Fujian Province enjoys a spring-like climate, decorated by narcissus that have been modeled into various shapes. The narcissus, the symbol of Zhangzhou, is as pure as jade. It is loved for its beautiful shape and fragrant white and yellow flowers. For local people, however, the charm of the narcissus goes beyond its elegance and beauty. Many people buy narcissus bulbs, carve them so that young shoots will come out where and how they have been intended, and enjoy flower sculptures of their own making. According to master narcissus modeler Lin Wangshui and his wife, Liu Lixue (who also is a master modeler), Zhangzhou has available a good variety of narcissus bulbs. Modeling is the art of shaping and growing the narcissus flower. The big, fleshy bulbs can be modeled into a variety of shapes, then controlled to blossom at a certain time, much like bonsai plants. Zhangzhou has many narcissus modelers. In 1991 during the ``Zhangzhou Chinese Narcissus Festival,'' the ``China Narcissus Modeling Art Competition'' was held. Ten of the 11 people who were named narcissus modeling masters by the Chinese Florists Association were natives of Zhangzhou. How can an ordinary narcissus bulb be grown in such a variety of shapes? Husband and wife modelers Lin and Liu say a potted narcissus flower is a three-dimensional picture with a spirit. The whole procedure involves choosing the right bulb, idealizing the composition, carving the bulb and soaking it in water, then putting the bulb to grow in the right pot. The choice of bulb is the basis of the art, and only special bulbs can be modeled to resemble a flying bird, flower basket, peach, plum, crab, chicken, phoenix, crane or elephant. Even highly skilled modelers do not always succeed. Lin and Liu explained the process for controlling the shape of the flower and when it blossoms. They cut the bulb according to how the flower stalks grow. The last strike, which pierces to the bottom of the central stalk, must be done carefully, otherwise there will be no blossom. Of the various shapes that narcissus flowers can be made to resemble, those grown in the shape of a tea pot are the most difficult because they require the modeler to have vast experience and skill. It is also very important to soak the carved bulbs in water. Only then can they be placed in an inclined position or hung upside down to shape them into the desired pattern. After many years of study and practice, Lin and Liu have mastered a variety of special modeling techniques. Their modeled narcissus have been entered in many flower exhibitions at home and abroad, and dozens of their works have been awarded prizes. In November 1996, both Lin and Liu were accepted as members of the China Association of Potted Landscape Artists. HUANG ZHENXIANG and LI RONGLI are from the international communication office of the Zhangzhou Municipal Party Committee. http://www.china.org.cn/ChinaToday/ct98/98-2-19.html"}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 10, 2000 (17:43)", "body": "Good luck blossoms with narcissus flowers For 20 years, politics conspired against the narcissus plant. The United States and China weren't getting along, there was a trade embargo, you couldn't buy a narcissus bulb to save your life. \"The whole generation of narcissus carvers was almost lost,\" said Gilman Hu, Honolulu's acknowledged Narcissus King. Those times are gone and the narcissus is a popular accessory of Chinese New Year celebrations. Plants can be purchased growing \"upright\" (naturally) or in the curlicue crab-claw style, where the bulb has been carved to dictate the way leaves and flowers emerge. Hu has been growing narcissus since 1981, bringing bulbs back from Hong Kong. He figures he's taught about 700 others bulb-carving through Honolulu Academy of Arts classes. Hu said the narcissus has become a new year's staple for the simple reason that it can be forced to bloom in the middle of winter. \"I think the tradition is perpetuated by old wives\" tales saying that if you can bring a flower in bloom you'll get good luck.\" Narcissus plants are on sale in Chinatown for as little as $6, Hu said, but better plants are in the $10 to $15 range. They'll also be sold at the Chinatown new year's celebration Jan. 23 and 24. Hu's crab-claw plants are for sale at Sweetheart's Lei Shop, 69 N. Beretania. Hu and his students will display their narcissus creations at the Honolulu Academy of Arts Feb. 14 and 15. When buying narcissus, choose plants with short, straight leaves; they shouldn't be bending over. Flowers should be in their pouches or just breaking out. The idea is that they will be in bloom for the new year, Jan. 28. The bulb should be white and \"huge,\" Hu said. \"When you grow it right the bulb swells and is almost ivory white.\" Roots should be clean and white. If they look dry, the plant has not been adequately watered. To care for the plant, change the water daily. The blooms should last five to 10 days. \"After the flowers die, throw it away,\" Hu said. The bulb cannot be salvaged."}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 10, 2000 (20:39)", "body": "Pictures and the rest of the story below are found at http://starbulletin.com/2000/02/04/features/garden.html The cultivation involves precise and laborious cutting of the narcissus bulb. About half of the bulb is cut off to expose young shoots and flower stalks. Then a thin strip is cut off along the edge of each shoot to cause it to curl as it grows out of the bulb. The result is a plant with dwarfed curlicue leaves (looking like crab claws) and short flower stalks, which also may be sliced in infancy to produce the same curled formations. Zane learned the crab-claw style cultivation without formal lessons. He began picking up bits of information from two fellow workers at the state health department about 1969. He was lucky. One of the workers was related to a master carver who shared his narcissus practices only with family members. \"If you wanted to learn, you had to learn things on your own. You just had to do it. But as you go along, you learn, a little at a time. You kind of have hits and misses,\" Zane said. At first, he carved 15 to 20 bulbs, and the successes were only a handful. Nevertheless, he was \"tickled to death\" by the five or six bulbs that matured into plants with fragrant blossoms. Since his retirement as chief of the health department's sanitation branch in 1972, his success rates have improved significantly. Now he carves about 100 bulbs every season. He begins about late November, when the bulbs first appear in Chinatown markets, and finishes around March. He does not sell his plants but gives them away to family and friends. \"I enjoy the carving. If you enjoy what you do, then you take your time. Having time to do it is important. You have to have the time and the patience and the interest to do it.\" His patience is not only in making precision cuts and changing the water daily for the plants but also in carefully timing the plants to bloom at the right time. He divides up his carving chores throughout the narcissus season to make sure he has flowering plants to coincide with Chinese New Year celebrations, other holidays and the annual exhibit at the Academy of Arts. \"This is the only thing I spend my money on. I don't smoke. I don't drink. I don't go to Las Vegas. I don't burn firecrackers. I only burn my money on these,\" Zane said, referring to the bowls of narcissus plants lined up neatly in his small green house. garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 3, "subject": "What did you plant, prune, harvest, tend to today?", "response_count": 36, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Jul  1, 1998 (07:34)", "body": "watering, watering, watering... planted three peonies, snapdragons, alyssum, lantana, mexican heather, sunflowers... dug three new flower beds and uncovered the raspberry bushes under VERY tall weeds. So THIS is ownership... makes me tired!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jul  9, 1998 (14:01)", "body": "been growing grass in all the lawn's bald spots... slowly... slowly... slowly... IT HATH SPROUTED!!!!! yeah! only about 50 square feet left to go! Harvesting daily... raspberries and roses! Always fresh flowers from the garden!!!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sat, Apr 10, 1999 (12:58)", "body": "those last three lines resemble song lyrics..."}, {"response": 4, "author": "stacey", "date": "Sat, Apr 10, 1999 (23:24)", "body": "go on..."}, {"response": 5, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sun, Apr 11, 1999 (00:30)", "body": "just saying, convalutedly(sp?) it would seem, that they are lyrical"}, {"response": 6, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr 11, 1999 (22:44)", "body": "ok, now back on subject: my fushcia has buds. now i must say that as the bud opens to reveal the unique blooms, one may be discouraged and think the buds are dying. NOT.....so i'll let you know how they're doing. and the roses had all their black spotted leaves removed after a hefty spraydown with fungicide. and all of them are blooming! irises are still popping up out of the ground including the ones i planted earlier this year."}, {"response": 7, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Mon, Apr 12, 1999 (13:33)", "body": "Did I ever mention that I live in THE PLACE for a rose-appreciator? People here breed them, like they do with cattle down yall's way!"}, {"response": 8, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Apr 12, 1999 (18:52)", "body": "yup, i know about that. loved germany's rose gardens!"}, {"response": 9, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Apr 12, 1999 (19:13)", "body": "i liked their corner flower vendors!"}, {"response": 10, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, Apr 12, 1999 (23:25)", "body": "don't the thorns hurt?"}, {"response": 11, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Apr 13, 1999 (10:10)", "body": "Not if you relax and lose all tensions... Dear Wolf, I live in a village where roses are a big crop, like wheat, sugar beets, potatos or maize (we call it Mais, the rest of the world calls it much the same, but US-citizens tend to appreciate it as \"corn\"...) in other villages of my county. So, in this rather rural setting, roses are everywhere, especially in the show gardens of the bigger growers. On weekends, we even have some rose-tourism: people who shop for plants or visit the worlds only museum dedicated to roses. Growing roses here as agricultural product has a 125+ years tradition. Every two years, we have a big celebration with amusement park and ten thousands of people coming to see the parade and the rose-covered floats."}, {"response": 12, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Apr 13, 1999 (10:13)", "body": "Or did I tell you this already, Wolf? Anyway, cherry blossom is getting nicer and nicer by the day. And soon it's time for the asparagus that is grown here, too (the region southwest of Frankfurt - in the Rhine-valley and around Darmstadt - is especially famous for its asparagus; tobacco, too... sandy soil)."}, {"response": 13, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Apr 13, 1999 (18:28)", "body": "i didn't know about the asparagus, but i loves the stuff. my roses will never compare to germany's. it's so humid down here that the hybrid teas (very finnicky anyway) don't get to dry off at night so black spot sets in quickly. i've been working on expanding my rose garden with more disease resistant roses like old roses, grandiflora, floribunda, and the like."}, {"response": 14, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Wed, Apr 14, 1999 (14:35)", "body": "Aah, I love the old english ones! What did I sow? I wonder, because today, I harvested snow. It's still laying on the ground, and now it's evening. Wonder how long it stays..."}, {"response": 15, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Apr 14, 1999 (16:13)", "body": "I 'planted' grass seed in some of the bald spots in the lawn. I've been coming home and watering dilegently. Yesterday I watered diligently (again) for 45 minutes. And then it poured down rain. Now all my grass seed is sitting in a puddle at the corner of my lawn. *frown*"}, {"response": 16, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Apr 14, 1999 (18:06)", "body": "sounds like my yard. rained cats and dogs today and i watered everything last night."}, {"response": 17, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Apr 14, 1999 (18:44)", "body": "i'm gonna have some really thick grass when that puddle of seeds takes root!"}, {"response": 18, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Apr 15, 1999 (09:47)", "body": "I woke, and the snow was gone. A cat screamed outside. Went to town and later to Frankfurt, through showers of sleet and hail. What DID I sow?"}, {"response": 19, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Apr 15, 1999 (10:53)", "body": "the snow came here last night. Six inches. After I shoveled this morning I sprinkled grass seed over the whole mess. Ideally, it'll soak down into the ground when the snow melts and plant itself. we'll see!"}, {"response": 20, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Apr 15, 1999 (10:58)", "body": "Nice trick - if the cold wetness doesn't destroy the seed. I'm right now sowing ideas into some peoples minds about contributing to superstar. I'm curios what will take root, and what will blossom."}, {"response": 21, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Apr 15, 1999 (13:11)", "body": "superstar? oh, i promised a follow-up on my fuschia. she's blooming profusely (i'm talking buds are opened and everything). her petals are a very pale pink and look kinda dirty (like they were dropped in mud). it's too early for hummingbirds so i hope this gal will bloom all summer."}, {"response": 22, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Apr 15, 1999 (13:19)", "body": "superstar is Alexander's publication... read all about it in media and music!"}, {"response": 23, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Apr 15, 1999 (13:21)", "body": "Erh, yes. superstar. My labor of love. Even got a topic here: http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/music/59 I plant ideas in people's minds, and reap a rich harvest in creative contributions! Some topics sow themselves, and a friend finds them along the way, and brings them in, for us to admire them and for our readers astonishment, too! There is a rose called Superstar; no immediate relation."}, {"response": 24, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Apr 15, 1999 (13:25)", "body": "what kind of articles you looking for, Alexander? (and, don't forget, you can always take up space with an ad for The Spring and/or your music conference...)"}, {"response": 25, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Apr 15, 1999 (13:27)", "body": "woo woo multimedia advertising!"}, {"response": 26, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, Apr 16, 1999 (13:16)", "body": "Nice try, Wer! I might rather need some serious advertisements myself, and I don't have any funds left after printing (sales-$$$ come in only by early July). For the kind of content, see the superstar-topic (no need to fill up every single topic around here with my successless sale pitches...)."}, {"response": 27, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, Jun 16, 2000 (00:36)", "body": "How do you tell poison ivy? What does it look like and what are the telltale signs?"}, {"response": 28, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Jun 16, 2000 (09:05)", "body": "poison ivy has sets of three leaves. they are not attached to each other but are on the same stem (like rose leaflets). the rash can be slight to quite big, raised and very itchy. it oozes too. and is contagious."}, {"response": 29, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Jun 16, 2000 (09:06)", "body": "here are some pics: http://res.agr.ca/brd/poisivy/pois.html"}, {"response": 30, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun 20, 2000 (00:11)", "body": "They are deep green glossy on woody stems and the young leaves are RED!"}, {"response": 31, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Jul  5, 2000 (17:19)", "body": "ok, my plants survived my mini vacation. yup, even the office plants thrived. i'm so glad!!"}, {"response": 32, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, Aug 22, 2000 (01:41)", "body": "Can't get to my raspberries because of wasps!!! Must do something about that. Strawberries are finished and the bed looks a mess as the rain has brought up the weeds and there are masses of rasberry suckers. The house male has finished the rose arch and is now working on the raised bed by the side of it. However, rain keeps stopping play! When I get fed up of studying (ha ha) I'll go and do some weeding for fun ...."}, {"response": 33, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Aug 22, 2000 (14:13)", "body": "Weeding for fun??? Your life cannot be so uneventful that you weed for FUN?! No wonder the English invented the rock garden...!!!"}, {"response": 34, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sat, Aug 26, 2000 (05:57)", "body": "oh, don't talk about rock garden - that has the WORSE weeds!!!!!! Have decided to pull up the rasberries, maybe when they've finished fruiting...... Strawberry bed needs to be sorted out again. Need to clear it, take the best runners and replant. Think I'll put some weed suppreseent fleece down first and then gravel on top. That should help. Rhubarb is ready to be picked - just nice for Sunday Lunch with custard."}, {"response": 35, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Aug 26, 2000 (19:30)", "body": "Ooooh...You are eating incredible fruit and I am suffering here with mangoes... House male planted two little podocarpus trees right in my line of sight to Mauna Kea. The remain small for a nanosecond then take over the entire yard! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!"}, {"response": 36, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sun, Aug 27, 2000 (03:48)", "body": "Suffering indeed!!!! Haw! haw! garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 30, "subject": "Garden Accessories", "response_count": 42, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr 30, 2000 (20:45)", "body": "i like gazing balls. have had two. one was yellow and was smashed by a wayward child's bicycle. the other was irridescent and was stolen from the garden, post and all, last night. and i am upset about it because it was perfect. and people stopped to ask where i found it. (wal-mart believe it or not). now i have to find another one but think i will grace the backyard with it."}, {"response": 2, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (00:21)", "body": "My favourite garden accessory is the house male ... Apart from that just now it's the new bench I bought in Woolworths. It's the first time i've ever had anywhere permanent to sit in the garden, and I'm so proud of it!!!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (00:34)", "body": "How nice! Ours is now such a jungle I am devoured the second I leave the house. Next dry spell I get I weed and throw and empty stuff which harbors small amounts of water where they breed! Not as easy accomplishment in a place which averages over 150 inches of rain a year..."}, {"response": 4, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (08:23)", "body": "My favorite new garden object is the chiminea, a place for friends to gather around the fire. And the recirculating fountain."}, {"response": 5, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (11:30)", "body": "i'd like one of those and a pond complete with koi...."}, {"response": 6, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (13:21)", "body": "I've seen those (chiminea) in the garden centre. Not heard of anyone who has one though. Most people just have barbies. I would LOVE a fountain/waterfall. I have a pond/waterfall, but no pump."}, {"response": 7, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (19:28)", "body": "update on my gazing ball. son saw it on the way to school this morning. this afternoon, he showed me where it was. i went up to the house and rang the bell (picture in tow--i had taken a picture of my peace rose and the globe was in it) but no one was home. upon turning to leave, i noticed mulch on the bottom of the gazing ball stand. there was no mulch in their garden. the mulch came from my garden. called the cops to report the theft. told them the address, now i wait."}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (21:33)", "body": "Fantastic sleuthing, Wolfie. Best let the police handle it! If'n you're gonna have a koi pond better stock it with gambuzia, too. They eat the mosquito larvae which will be part of your life with that pond. Never heard of a chiminea. Must check out what is Terry's fav place to hang out. Does it dispense beer, too?"}, {"response": 9, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (21:38)", "body": "http://www.chimineaworld.com/ Yup! Never saw one here, but perhaps I have just not come across one yet."}, {"response": 10, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (21:42)", "body": "Looked up mini chimineas and I have two not 20 feet from me. They were made in Mexico like conical head shapes with slits for eyes and hole in the top. I put votive candles in them Here are similar ones:"}, {"response": 11, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (01:46)", "body": "Surprising what you learn here isn't it!"}, {"response": 12, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (12:43)", "body": "You might extend \"here\" to cover the entire Spring for me!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (14:05)", "body": "(that's wot i meant!) *grin*"}, {"response": 14, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (14:22)", "body": "*grin* ...figured you did!"}, {"response": 15, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (13:47)", "body": "case of the missing gazing ball update: the detective went by the house where my ball was vacationing. he questioned the owners who said they don't know where the ball came from. their teenage daughter said her boyfriend gave it to her and his parents gave it to him. when i went home that night, the ball was no longer in their yard. the next day, the detective called me and said he had made an arrest and gave me a number to call to get my ball back. yesterday, i called the number but the officer wasn't there, i left a message but no call back. he's got my ball. maybe monday."}, {"response": 16, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (14:32)", "body": "Yay, Wolfie!! The meek shall inherit the earth, but the sharp-eyed and persistent get their gazing ball back. Set that sucker in quick-dry cement when it is in your custody once again!"}, {"response": 17, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (16:10)", "body": "Glad you got it back, how far away from your hosue was this one?"}, {"response": 18, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (16:42)", "body": "at the end of the block. i saw it on the way to work every morning. in their front yard too."}, {"response": 19, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (17:27)", "body": "what a detective story - and real life too! Glad you're getting it back."}, {"response": 20, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (20:12)", "body": "me too! *smile*"}, {"response": 21, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sat, May  6, 2000 (22:30)", "body": "Rather blatent!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (16:22)", "body": "you think? *grin* i thought, \"what nerve\"....anyway, will try to go to the cops and get it back. and am not planning on putting it back in the front yard. will put the potted mini rose in the gazing ball spot and the gazing ball out back."}, {"response": 23, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (16:32)", "body": "Electrify the pot 'cause they're gonna want that, too!"}, {"response": 24, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (16:34)", "body": "i plan on planting the rose in the ground and putting the pot away!"}, {"response": 25, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (16:54)", "body": "Put up a sign saying you have a friend in Hawaii who will send \"magic\" lava rocks to them and the curse of Mme Pele will be on them if they touch anything in your yard! I'd do it!!!"}, {"response": 26, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (16:56)", "body": "haha!!"}, {"response": 27, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (16:59)", "body": "Hey, nobody messes with Wolfie's stuff!"}, {"response": 28, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, May  7, 2000 (17:08)", "body": "that's right!"}, {"response": 29, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (16:47)", "body": "Did you talk to the person who took your globe, wolfie?"}, {"response": 30, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (17:06)", "body": "nope but i did get it back from the detectives today. they said not to throw it out because they may need it when the gal goes before the judge. i don't even know the folks who made off with it but did get the girl's name today (on the property release statement)"}, {"response": 31, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (17:33)", "body": "Do you think SHE did it or her kids? Cannot imagine stealing anything - especially in broad daylight as an adult. Cannot be all there...!"}, {"response": 32, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (19:17)", "body": "she is the kid! and when i carried it out to my car, i couldn't believe how someone made off with it so easily. it was awkward to lug back all at once."}, {"response": 33, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (19:17)", "body": "(teenager)"}, {"response": 34, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (19:44)", "body": "Sheesh! Bet she had male help! Boyfriend..."}, {"response": 35, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (20:17)", "body": "no doubt. wonder if they're still together!"}, {"response": 36, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, Jun 12, 2000 (11:00)", "body": "House male has almost finished constructing new rose arches..... Now, what's next? Oh yes, raised beds in front and to the side, and a new lawn, and lay the patio slabs we were given recently. Not much to do really ...."}, {"response": 37, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, Jun 12, 2000 (11:01)", "body": "(Well, I did say originally that my favourite accessory was the house male!)"}, {"response": 38, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Jun 12, 2000 (11:19)", "body": "*LOL*"}, {"response": 39, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, Jun 12, 2000 (12:27)", "body": "He's trying SO hard poor love, please pray I'll be encouraging and not say the wrong thing!!!!"}, {"response": 40, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun 15, 2000 (00:32)", "body": "You needn't say anything. Just look into his eyes with adoration and hug him tenderly and warmly.....that speaks volumes"}, {"response": 41, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Thu, Jun 15, 2000 (00:53)", "body": "done"}, {"response": 42, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun 15, 2000 (17:09)", "body": "*smile* garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 31, "subject": "xeriscape gardening saves water", "response_count": 7, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (07:29)", "body": "A really great web page to start learning about xeriscape: http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/xeriscape.html"}, {"response": 2, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (08:12)", "body": "Austin's Zilker Parks Xeriscape Demonstration Garden showcases the 7 Xeriscape principles: reduce turf, use native and low-water-use plants, improve the soil, water efficiently, practice good maintenance, use mulch, and use good landscape design. The garden displays over 50 native and low-water-use plants, including trees, shrubs, ground covers, and wildflowers. This garden is maintained by the Xeriscape Garden Club. This club meets monthly on the third Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Austin Area Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Road. Call 370-9505 for information. http://www.texasoutside.com/botanical.htm"}, {"response": 3, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (08:17)", "body": "And yet another great xeriscape website: http://fiat.gslis.utexas.edu/~mhinther/Xeriscape.html"}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (11:16)", "body": "Guess it IS spelled with an i, but it still says o in my unabridged...sorry!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (11:25)", "body": "I've just joined the central texas gardeners webring, but for some reason the left hand part of the frame isn't showing up. This will take you to other gardeing sites. I emailed the webringmaster about the frame that doesn't show yet."}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (11:37)", "body": "okay. I thought it was my browser again."}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (11:41)", "body": "Actually, after retiring to Tucson, Arid-zona after a life of living on the moistEast Coast of the USA, my dad excelled in xerigraphic gardening. His roses were incredible. I never did get the hang of it. If you give me any green and growing anything no matter the state of abuse, I will end up with a huge bush/tree and then have problems getting rid of it. With the exception of cacti. I got 5 little wee ones and there is only one still alive. Guess this climate is too wet unless you do abandon them somewhere it does not rain much. garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 32, "subject": "Gardening Tips", "response_count": 58, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 10, 2000 (14:25)", "body": "Improving Poor Soil The only way to improve poor soil conditions is to add organic matter to your growing area. Compost (decayed organic materials) and rotted manure are the best amendments. This addition helps the soil structurally by loosening and aerating clay soils, thus improving drainage. Also, organic matter encourages a build-up of organisms which break down compounds in the soil, converting them into usable nutrients. The organic matter itself provides nitrogen and other nutrients as it decays. In other words, ORGANIC MATTER IS GOOD NEWS FOR PLANTS! The best way to add organic matter is when initially planting an area. New beds can be enhanced, ensuring a proper start. Vegetable gardens, as well as beds of annuals, can benefit from yearly additions. Established gardens of perennials, shrubs and trees can also receive organic matter through top and side dressings. You must use some caution around established plants so you don't disturb or smother roots. So this Spring, think about taking a step toward a reachable goal--healthier, richer, better-drained soil. Adding an inch of organic matter yearly to your planting beds will greatly improve your chances of a successful vegetable crop, healthy ornamentals, and long-lived trees and shrubs. Your plants will love you for it! -- Mary Trankle"}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 10, 2000 (14:26)", "body": "Stepping Stones and Thyme If you're looking for a diminutive plant to use between stepping stones, creeping thyme works well. It remains small, unlike common thyme, tolerates hot, dry conditions and doesn't mind being stepped on. Chamomile works well, too. - Gerald W. Dupy"}, {"response": 3, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, May 10, 2000 (22:19)", "body": "mulch!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 10, 2000 (22:23)", "body": "Same to you, my dear!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 10, 2000 (22:25)", "body": "It's like chicken soup for plants!"}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 11, 2000 (14:59)", "body": "Wildflower Blends Seed packages with beautiful pictures of mixed wildflowers in full bloom are very inviting, but beware. You may be introducing some very invasive plants into your garden, and they will haunt you for years. Many of these seeds are selected because of their high germination rate, ability to reseed, and their survival rate in the worst of conditions. They absolutely go crazy in cultivated soil and do their best to take over. - Gerald W. Dupy"}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 11, 2000 (15:00)", "body": "Garden Room When winter is gray and cloudy and the trees are bare, wouldn't it be nice to have a garden room filled with plants and flowers to retreat to? An actual \"hot house\" attached to your home would be ideal to grow plants, but if you don't have one, just create a bright, cheerful room with lots of windows on the sunny side of your home, preferably the south side. A warm sunny yellow paint would be great, with colorful floral upholstery on the furniture. Try hanging artwork that creates scenes of gardens or fields of flowers. Add some great smelling floral potpourri, birdhouses, nests, maybe even a birdbath, or small waterfall. This bright spot will surely keep your spirits sunny until spring arrives. - Linda Betz"}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 11, 2000 (15:23)", "body": "Grow A Hosta Once you experience the ease of care and incredible variety of hostas available, you'll never be able to grow just one! Hostas are shade-loving herbaceous perennials, usually grown for their foliage. Hosta clumps can be only a few inches across, or a few feet. Leaves can be lance-shaped, cupped, heart-shaped, crinkled, and all are very textural. The range of colors and variegation patterns are almost endless. Hostas provide a good foil for shade-loving ferns, and lacy-leaved astilbes. Some low-growing varieties can be used as edging. Vase-shaped hostas such as \"Krossa Regal\" can be planted alone as a specimen, or in drifts for a block of silvery-green. When at the garden center, young plants in pots show little of the mature form they will achieve in several years."}, {"response": 9, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, May 11, 2000 (18:39)", "body": "i have 10 of them that i planted last year. they came back bigger this year."}, {"response": 10, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, May 11, 2000 (19:52)", "body": "I've never heard of hostas. What is your favorite variety?"}, {"response": 11, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, May 11, 2000 (21:25)", "body": "don't know yet. but i have 4 with varigated leaves in the front. they are also called plantation lilies. will find a pic for you. (you've probably seen them without realizing it)"}, {"response": 12, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 11, 2000 (22:16)", "body": "Gotta find a good picture. Don't think they grow very well here..."}, {"response": 13, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (14:35)", "body": "Sunflower Seed Hulls If you're having difficulty getting plants to grow around a bird feeder, it's likely because of sunflower seed hulls. Sunflower hulls give off a toxin which inhibits the growth of other plants. You will have better luck using deep-rooted plants. Not allowing the hulls to accumulate will help, too."}, {"response": 14, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (14:36)", "body": "Choosing A Location For Hostas Although hostas can tolerate a wide range of conditions, the ideal spot to grow them is in dappled (not deep) shade, away from heavily competing tree roots. Oaks and maples in particular can be a big problem. If planting hostas around other trees, carefully dig shallow planting holes and mix compost in with the existing soil. This raises the planting area, and improves drainage in normally hard-packed soil. An hour or two of morning or late afternoon sun is desirable, and actually preferable for some of the yellow, and green and white variegated varieties. Typically, blue-leaved hostas need more shade to maintain their bluish cast. If during the growing season your hosta's leaves begin to turn brown and look burnt, then it's a good indication of too much direct sun. Too little moisture during the summer can also cause browning of leaves. If your hostas fail to bloom, they're probably in too much shade."}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (17:59)", "body": "Cheap, Easy Plant Labels Want to make some weatherproof plant labels for your garden? Try using plastic knives. With a permanent marker, write the name of the plant on the blade of the knife and poke the handle into the soil. The job is done."}, {"response": 16, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (01:10)", "body": "Plant Potting Tip When you pot a plant, begin by putting a coffee filter in the bottom of the pot. Then add potting soil. The filter will allow the plant to drain without losing soil."}, {"response": 17, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (01:10)", "body": "Hosta Soil and Fertility Hostas perform best in rich, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic to neutral in pH. The addition of compost (organic matter) is always beneficial. There are many different schools of thought on when, how much, and with what to fertilize hostas. I fertilize my hostas in the spring when they first poke through the soil. I'll use either slow release pellets, or a little 10-10-10 around each plant. When the spring is very rainy, plants will benefit from another feeding in the summer before they flower."}, {"response": 18, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (01:44)", "body": "Disbudding Peonies The central bud on a peony stalk will produce a much larger flower than the side buds. If you want an even larger flower, you can remove the plant's side buds. However, removal of the side buds will greatly reduce the length of time the plant is in bloom."}, {"response": 19, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 16, 2000 (13:50)", "body": "EMAZING Horticulture Tip of the Day - Hosta Maintenance Moisture is very necessary for good hosta growth. If your soil is heavy, compacted, and poorly-drained, an excess of water can cause crown rot, a disease that is fatal to hostas. (It really pays to amend soil to improve drainage.) During the summertime, water slowly and deeply (soaker hoses are best) every few weeks if there isn't adequate rainfall. The best time to transplant hostas is early fall when weather has started to cool down, but well before freezes occur. Take as much of the rootball as possible, and keep the newly planted clumps watered until the ground freezes. Springtime is also conducive to transplanting, as there is usually an abundance of natural moisture. Hostas don't have to be divided. However, if you want new plants for other areas, hostas are best divided in spring or fall. You can simply dig away a portion of the main plant in a pie-shaped wedge, making sure to have a crown section with roots attached. (The crown is the fleshy, fibrous area containing the growing point, and attached to the root system.) Fill in the hole that is left with soil. Either replant the division, or cut apart sections with a sharp knife. Each new plant must have a section of the crown and roots on it to live and grow. Keep divisions out of direct sun when working on them."}, {"response": 20, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 16, 2000 (14:37)", "body": "***MANAGING RESEEDERS*** Many flowering plants drop seeds, which readily take root. If you like borders thick with flowers, these plants can create the look you want affordably, and with plants to spare! When using reseeders, you will probably have to do some thinning. When too many plants are left to grow in a small area, they will compete with each other and make a poor showing. Thin when the seedlings are small so that you won't disturb the roots of surrounding plants, and save some of these thinnings to share with friends and neighbors. The mulch around your plants will not only inhibit the weeds, but also your emerging seedlings. Pull back the mulch in areas where you want the seedlings to take hold. Some favorite reseeding annuals are cosmos, spider flowers, melampodium, impatiens, petunia and tithonia. Reseeding perennials include blue flox, purple coneflower, shasta daisy, columbine, four-o'clocks and brown-eyed Susan. ***WARM WEATHER HERBS*** Summer is on the way, and it's time to plant some herbs that will enjoy the heat. These herbs need a warm, sunny location: FOR INFERTILE, WELL-DRAINED SOIL: Lavender http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/lavender.htm AOL: Lavender Marjoram http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/marjoram.htm AOL: Marjoram Rosemary http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/rosemary.htm AOL: Rosemary Sage http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/sage.htm AOL: Sage Savory http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/summersavory.htm AOL: Savory thyme FOR RICH, MOIST SOIL: Basil http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/basil.htm AOL: Basil Coriander http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/basil.htm AOL: Coriander Mint http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/mint.htm AOL: Mint Fennel http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/fennel.htm AOL: Fennel Jackie Carroll GardenGuides newsletter@gardenguides.com"}, {"response": 21, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 17, 2000 (16:20)", "body": "Get Ready To Battle Slugs Spring is the time of the year when new, tender foliage is springing up all over our gardens. With that new growth comes the slimy, rapacious slug, voraciously feeding on leaves, flowers, and tender stems. All kinds of plants are attacked by the slug and the damage left behind includes neatly chewed holes, missing leaf parts, and a silvery slime trail upon their retreat. Slugs are active mostly at night, or on rainy, overcast days. On bright, sunny days, slugs are content to hide under boards, clay pots, rocks, mulch, or tunnel into the soil, feeding on decaying organic matter. Many slugs will return again and again to the same plant, foregoing the smorgasbord around them. Mature slugs will lay eggs in batches of 20 or more in their protected hiding spots. Eggs are oval, clear or creamy yellow, and laid in a gelatinous substance. These eggs will develop slowly with adequate moisture, and a young slug can take up to a year to mature."}, {"response": 22, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 18, 2000 (01:52)", "body": "Controlling Slugs There are several ways to reduce the amount of slugs in your garden. First, eliminate their breeding and hiding places, such as rotting boards, pots, or debris. Do not mulch heavily too early in the season. Trim tall weeds and grassy areas which hold moisture in the soil. Second, set traps for these critters by creating the perfect hiding place - a moist board set on top of the soil in an area you've seen damage occur. Every morning, check the board and remove the slugs that have gathered there. Destroy them by whatever method you can stomach. Common ingredients in slug baits include metaldehyde and methiocarb, which provide effective control. Another product out there is Escar-go!(trademark), in which the active ingredient is iron phosphate. Apparently, after ingesting Escar-go, the slugs stop feeding and soon die. Baits come in granular, pelleted, and liquid forms, and it is very important to read the label of each."}, {"response": 23, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 18, 2000 (12:41)", "body": "TINY FLOWERS: MAKING THE SMALLEST BENEFICIAL INSECTS FEEL AT HOME By Thomas T. Watson On this spring afternoon one corner of our vegetable garden is dominated by a clump of volunteer coriander, from seed I 'missed' last year. The opposite corner is marked by a bright spray of canary yellow broccoli flowers, from a few side shoots we left in place when we harvested the crop. A few feet from the broccoli, in the perennial herb bed, there is a long, low patch of fragrant white sweet alyssum (\"Snow Crystals\"). All three plantings, seen from my comfortable seat on the back porch, are surrounded by swarms of small, dark, dancing motes. Were I to get up and go for a closer look (something my spring fever does not encourage, to be quite honest) I would see a host of tiny insects - many of them wasps and flies - darting in to feed on the nectar and pollen of small pink, yellow, or white blossoms, then darting away to do whatever it is such insects do when not feeding. Among those activities, I sincerely hope, will be mating and reproduction, and if I am very lucky, their offspring will call our garden home. Continued: http://www.gardenguides.com/articles/tiny.htm AOL: INSECTS VIOLETS: FAVORED FLORAL EMBLEM OF FOUR STATES by Naomi Mathews At times, certain species {or classifications} of flowers and their next of kin can be downright confusing to a gardener, for many grow what I loosely call \"clones\" of each other. Yes, I know . . . the proper botanical term for a plant's offspring is really a \"hybrid.\" And, botanically speaking, the family to which different species and their hybrids belong is known as their \"genus.\" Still, all of this plant genealogy can be a bit mind-boggling! And so it is with violas, violets, AND pansies, for all are members of the genus Viola. The old saying that \". . . variety is the spice of life\" certainly does apply to these miniature flowers, especially since so many diverse hybrids have evolved. Continue http://www.gardenguides.com/articles/violets.htm AOL: VIOLETS -----------MAY NOTEBOOK----------- ***RUST ON ROSES*** Rust is a fungal disease that causes red-orange spots on the undersides of leaves and yellow blotches on the top. This air-borne disease spreads quickly, so remove all infected leaves from the plant and the ground around the plant. Good sanitation is the best cure. You can also spray the plant with a fungicide such as Rose Defense. ***CURLY TOP VIRUS AND LEAFHOPPERS ON TOMATOES*** These two problems go hand-in-hand since the virus is spread by leafhoppers. Curly top virus causes the plant to stop growing and producing fruit, and the fruit already on the vines will not ripen. The leaves curl upward and turn yellow, and the plant will eventually die. Here are some methods of discouraging leafhoppers: - Provide your tomatoes with a little afternoon shade. Use a shade cloth if necessary. - Keep the garden free of weeds. - Plant tomatoes later than usual to avoid the majority of leafhoppers. More about Natural Pest Control: http://www.gardenguides.com/TipsandTechniques/naturalpestcontrol/pest-noframe.htm ***KEEP YOUR ANNUALS BUSHY AND BLOOMING*** As the season progresses annuals can become leggy and you may see fewer flowers. Here are some tips to keep your plants in top condition. - Weeds compete with flowers for light, moisture and soil nutrients. Frequent weeding not only reduces the competition, but also breaks up the soil so that water can penetrate easily. A layer of mulch also helps keep the weeds at bay. - Pinching out the tops of your plants helps to make them bushier. Most annuals grown today are bred for bushy growth, but older varieties and plants that have become leggy will benefit from having the tops pinched out. - Deadheading, or removing faded blooms, encourages the plant to put it's energies toward making new flowers. If you plan to save seeds, wait until the end of the season, and allow the last of the flowers to go to seed. - Remove yellowing foliage to keep down diseases. If your plant becomes too dense, air may not be able to circulate well around the plant. This encourages diseases. You can remove a few inner stems to increase air circulation and light penetration. @*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@ Jackie Carroll GardenGuides newsletter@gardenguides.com"}, {"response": 24, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, May 18, 2000 (22:24)", "body": "Good stuff!"}, {"response": 25, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 19, 2000 (00:56)", "body": "Thanks!"}, {"response": 26, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 19, 2000 (13:04)", "body": "Heuchera, aka Coralbells Heuchera is a versatile and well-mannered plant for the front of a border in full sun to light shade. There are many cultivars available. \"Palace Purple\" is a popular purple-leaved variety. When the clump becomes bare and woody, divide the clump, discard the woodiest parts, and replant the rooted divisions."}, {"response": 27, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 19, 2000 (13:05)", "body": "More Slug Control Barriers of wood ash, lime, sawdust, copper stripping, salt, and diatomaceous earth have all been offered as answers to the slug problem. These substances, when applied to the ground around plants, provide a barrier that the slug cannot cross without damaging itself. Unfortunately, these must be re- applied often, and in some cases can actually be more harmful to the plant than the slug (salt, for example). Beer traps can work, but again have to be dealt with often to be really effective. Half-empty beer cans can be buried up to the lip in the soil near slug-damaged plants. The slug is attracted to the scent of yeast in the beer and falls into the can, drowning in beer. The beer and can must be changed every few days. Your best bet for slug control will be a combination of habitat elimination, trapping, and if needed, chemical baits. A little diligence on your part will keep your plants beautiful and intact for the whole growing season."}, {"response": 28, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 22, 2000 (14:50)", "body": "Keep Bulb Foliage Growing After your daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths have finished blooming this spring, continue to let their foliage grow, unhindered until it dies off on its own. Don't fold and rubber band leaves, or cut them down after the blooms are spent. The leaves are now in production mode-producing energy that is stored in the bulbs and used next spring for blooming. Bulbs are usually fertilized in early spring just before (or just when) they begin growth. They will benefit from another light application of a balanced fertilizer (e.g., 8-8-8) right after bloom. Disinfect Your Containers Before reusing any plant container, it should be cleaned and disinfected. Use a stiff brush to remove any soil or plant debris stuck to the inside of the container. Wire brushes work great, but aren't appropriate for plastic containers. Prepare a bucket full of one part household bleach to ten parts water. Dip pots or soak them overnight and then allow them to air dry without rinsing. For large containers, use a spray bottle. Disinfect Your Containers Before reusing any plant container, it should be cleaned and disinfected. Use a stiff brush to remove any soil or plant debris stuck to the inside of the container. Wire brushes work great, but aren't appropriate for plastic containers. Prepare a bucket full of one part household bleach to ten parts water. Dip pots or soak them overnight and then allow them to air dry without rinsing. For large containers, use a spray bottle."}, {"response": 29, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 23, 2000 (15:49)", "body": "Horticulture Tip of the Day - Plant Choices Plant Choices For Wet Sites If you have an area in your garden that is naturally damp, you may want to start a garden of moisture-loving plants. Some choices include: Perennials Astilbes thrive in a partially-shaded, moist site and provide summertime plumes in shades of white, pink, peach, and crimson red. Foliage is ferny and dark green. Ligularia is another semi-shade lover developing large rounded leaves, some having a purple tinge. Yellow flower spikes soar above the foliage in summer. A great textural plant. Monarda or bee-balm is a mint relative and can get quite carried away in a moist area. The Dr. Suess-like flowers, are loved by bees and hummingbirds and come in a rainbow of shades. Foliage is fragrant and used in teas."}, {"response": 30, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 23, 2000 (15:50)", "body": "Dealing With Drainage Holes Before planting in a container, something has to be done about that big hole in the bottom. If you fill the containers with soil without taking some preventative action, the soil will slowly leach away through the hole. One recommendation is to use window screen, but over time, the screen will become clogged and defeat the purpose of the drainage hole. A better way to keep soil in the pot and to allow proper drainage is to line the bottom of it with a few layers of clay pot shards or small, flat stones."}, {"response": 31, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 23, 2000 (16:39)", "body": "GardenGuides - Tuesday, May 23, 2000 DIAGNOSIS: MELAMPODIUM by Gayle Harris Doctor, what is it? It's spreading all over the place, it's yellow, and no matter what I do it keeps coming back! Not to worry; it may sound like a contagious skin disease, but it's actually a versatile plant called melampodium. This underused annual with a dreary moniker is well worth a trial run in your garden. Although Melampodium paludosum has been around for a long time, I wasn't aware of it until my mother claimed that she'd discovered a true yellow that bloomed gloriously in partial shade. Here in Texas we love our shade trees, but it can be a challenge getting a variety of colors beneath them. Like everyone else I've used the pink hues of impatiens and the ubiquitous caladiums, but I was yearning for something a little brighter. I figured I had nothing to lose by giving melampodium a try. http://www.gardenguides.com/articles/melampodium.htm href=\"http://www.gardenguides.com/articles/melampodium.htm\">Melampodium ***TAKING CUTTINGS*** Looking for an inexpensive way to increase the number and variety of plants in you garden? Taking a few cuttings from the plants in your garden is easy, and exchanging them with your friends is a great way to introduce new plants into your gardens. Cuttings are the most common method of propagating ornamentals. Some plants root easily with little encouragement while others need special treatment. Consult your local Agricultural Extension Service for more information about rooting specific plants. Rooting hormones are synthetic versions of natural plant hormones that can encourage root formation on difficult plants. Commercial rooting hormones are available in garden centers in powder form, but be aware that many contain chemical fungicides. \"Willow Water\" is a rooting solution that you can make yourself by cutting willow stems into 1\" pieces and soaking them in water for 24 hours. Remove the willow stems before placing your cuttings in the water. Soak the cuttings overnight before planting them. Here's what you'll need to root cuttings: ~ A Sharp knife ~ Rooting hormone or willow water ~ A tray or pot filled with a mix of half course sand and half peat moss or commercial rooting medium. ~ Slender twig for making holes in the sand ~ Watering can ~ A plastic bag that will fit over your tray or pot Using a sharp knife, take a cutting 4 to 6 inches long. Strip the lower leaves from the stem and remove buds and flowers. After treating the cutting with rooting hormone, make holes in the sand with a twig and plant the cuttings in the holes. Water well and cover the pot with a plastic bag. Make sure the sides of the bag don't touch the foliage. You may want to insert twigs around the edge of the pot to hold the bag away from the leaves. Place the pot in a warm, shady place. The cuttings should be established and ready to move to individual containers in 5-6 weeks. ***TOADS: HUMBLE GARDEN HEROES*** The average toad will eat 50-100 insects every night - that's 10,000 to 20,000 insects throughout a gardening season. They will help eliminate garden pests such as flies, grubs, slugs, cutworms, grasshoppers, and anything else they are fast enough to catch. You can encourage toads to take up residence in your garden by providing shelter and water, and by using gentle pesticides that won't hurt your warty allies. Toads prefer homes that are humid and out of the wind. You can build a toad residence by digging a shallow depression in the soil and covering it with a board. Don't forget to leave a door! A birdbath at ground level would provide just the right amount of water for your toads' daily needs, but if you would like to see them raise a family in your garden, consider adding a water garden or small pond. Once they move in, they will stay for years, so the small effort required to attract them will pay off many times over. @*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@ Jackie Carroll GardenGuides newsletter@gardenguides.com"}, {"response": 32, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 24, 2000 (16:19)", "body": "More Perennial Plants For Wet Sites Physotegia (or dragonhead) has showy pink-purple flower spikes that bloom in summer. Primula (Primroses) are spring-blooming beauties that come in many varieties. They like a partially shaded location. Rheum (ornamental rhubarb) is a statuesque plant growing 4-5 feet tall with flower spikes even higher in summer. Likes full sun and develops huge leaves-very striking! Tradescantia (Spiderwort) likes full sun -part shade and has a grassy form. Wide grass-like blades 6 inches to a foot tall. Flowers are beautiful opening in the morning and closing when the sun gets bright. From deep purple to pure white they are a great addition to the damp garden."}, {"response": 33, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 24, 2000 (16:20)", "body": "Avoiding Transplant Shock How would you feel if you awoke one morning to find yourself living in a foreign land? Pretty much in shock, no doubt. Plants may not have feelings akin to those of humans, but when you move them, they are definitely subject to shock. Helping plants avoid the shock of being moved is fairly simple. Dig the plant's new hole in advance, setting aside that soil to fill the hole left by the transplant. Leave as much soil as possible around the plant's root system. After firmly seating the plant in its new home, soak it with a liquid, foliar-feeding fertilizer, such as \"Watch-Us-Grow.\" The plant won't even know it's been moved."}, {"response": 34, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 25, 2000 (01:37)", "body": "Alternative Use For Packing Peanuts When potting or repotting plants, improve drainage by using packing peanuts instead of rocks in the bottom of your pots. According to Better Homes and Gardens, you must use the PEANUT-SHAPED PIECES since shell-shaped or hollow packing pieces tend to hold water leading to root rot. Using packing peanuts instead of rocks means your containers will be lighter than traditional rock-filled containers - a real advantage when you're working with hanging baskets, window boxes, or other containers you have to lift."}, {"response": 35, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 25, 2000 (01:38)", "body": "Shrubs For Wet Areas Oakleaf Hydrangea- is a moisture-loving deciduous shrub with large oak-like leaves and flower plumes in summer. Can tolerate a fair amount of shade. Bark gets flaky and peeling as the plant matures. Looks great in all seasons. Salix (Willow)- There are many varieties of willow, most getting fairly big. Fantail willow has interesting flattened, curvy stems that are great in dried arrangements. Sun-loving shrubs are beautiful, interesting, and useful. Itea, a native shrub has drooping white flower clusters in late spring. It really comes to life in fall when it's leaves turn a vivid red. Tolerates partially shady sites and gets about three feet tall. Has suckering growth and will slowly spread throughout an area. Great all-season shrub."}, {"response": 36, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 26, 2000 (01:38)", "body": "Rotate Your Vegetables! Crop rotation is a must for keeping the effects of soil-borne pathogens from wreaking havoc in yearly vegetable plantings. The basic premise of crop rotation is to avoid a buildup of insects and disease (specific to a vegetable or related group of vegetables) in an area. Avoid planting the same crop in the same spot more than once every three years."}, {"response": 37, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 26, 2000 (01:40)", "body": "It is 7 years between Papaya planting in a field - or longer due to the \"Papaya Ick\" disease which is a fungus which stunts the fruit and destroys the plants. Nasty stuff to deal with - very messy! I don't grow my own papaya."}, {"response": 38, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 26, 2000 (17:30)", "body": "Short On Space? A berm is a nifty way to add planting space in a limited area. A berm is simply a mound of soil, and it can be quite high. It's a great way to double or triple your planting area and increase visual appeal. And it doesn't have to be constructed of a dump-truck load of soil. Large rocks can anchor and underpin the structure, make the soil go farther, and hold it in place."}, {"response": 39, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun  2, 2000 (18:39)", "body": "The Dangers Of Over-Improved Soil Thoroughly working and improving a new bed is a good practice, since all the soil conditions will be essentially the same throughout the bed. But if you're planting a tree or shrub, over-improving the soil in the hole may cause the roots to stay in the food-rich improved area instead of spreading into the surrounding, unimproved soil. The result is that the plant will eventually become root-bound and die."}, {"response": 40, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun  2, 2000 (18:42)", "body": "What To Do With Tiny Seeds Some vegetable and flower seeds are so small that you wonder if you've purchased an empty packet. Carrot, lettuce, and begonia seeds are all extremely small, and if you sneeze at an inopportune time, you've lost your crop for the season! It goes without saying that seeds this small are hard to work with. You can add more volume to your cluster of seeds by adding a handful of sand and mixing it together well. Then use a spoon to distribute the mixture into your prepared garden soil, or onto prepared flats. Be sure to use all of the mixture, and distribute it evenly. Seeds this tiny don't usually need to be covered by soil, but be sure to firm the soil around and over them using the back of a hoe or rake."}, {"response": 41, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jun  5, 2000 (18:55)", "body": "Replanting Houseplants This is an excellent time of year to re-pot plants that are potbound and have outgrown their current container. Don't skimp on potting soil quality. It's all these plants have to live and thrive in. To ensure that the product you purchase is good stuff, buy from nurseries and garden centers. Take time to actually look inside bags, feeling the texture of the potting mix. A good all-purpose mix should be light, well-draining, and moisture retentive. It should have a nice earthy smell, and no strong odors. There are special mixes for cacti and succulents, orchids, etc. that you can purchase for plants with specific soil requirements. If your plants have been happy, use whatever is working for you."}, {"response": 42, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Mon, Jun 19, 2000 (10:57)", "body": "Garden sayings When the leaves show their undersides Be very sure that rain betides The scent of flowers if very strong When rain will not be long The anemone closes and goes to bed Just before rain falls on your head The leaves of clover smaller get If the sky for storm is set Now look! Our weather glass is spread- The pimpernel whose flower Closes its leaves of spotted red Against a rainy hour The hanging teasel opens out When sunny weather is about But if the teasel closes up The falling rain will fill your cup When dry leaves rattle on the tree A fall of snow you soon will see If the dogwood\ufffds flowers are here The frost will not again appear When there\ufffds many a hip and haw A bitter winter is in store But if the hips and haws be few A milder winter\ufffds coming due Onion\ufffds skin very thin Mild winter coming in Onion\ufffds skin thick and tough Coming winter\ufffds cold and rough When the flowers are early out There\ufffdll be but little fruit about But if the flowers wait til later The crop of fruit will be the greater If oak trees hang full And beech nuts thrive well A very hard winter Be sure to foretell If the ash is out before the oak You may expect a summer soak But if the oak is out before the ash You\ufffdll hardly get a single splash If on the trees the leaves still hold The coming winter will be cold October leaves upon the tress Foretell a winter when you\ufffdll freeze But if October bring cold and wind February leaves the frost behind The vine that buds in April Will not the barrel fill. A pear year, a dear year A cherry year, a merry year A plum year, a dumb year"}, {"response": 43, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun 20, 2000 (01:14)", "body": "Those are great!! Better than the Old Farmer's almanac! And, Veddy English"}, {"response": 44, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, Jun 20, 2000 (04:18)", "body": "Wasn't really sure about posting them in here, but they sorta fit! Thanks for the ressurance!"}, {"response": 45, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Jul  1, 2000 (20:04)", "body": "Hosta-in-Chief goes on R&R and suddenly nothing is posted anymore. Gotta go see why they are not sending me gardening tips anymore. Maybe that was the day I spent my entire time decking Inner and deleted the entire mess. *sigh*"}, {"response": 46, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Jul  5, 2000 (19:11)", "body": "i loved that rhyme! wonder if they have a southern one!"}, {"response": 47, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Jul  9, 2000 (02:18)", "body": "gotta check the Old Farmer's Almanac. There is bound to be one in there."}, {"response": 48, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Jul  9, 2000 (10:06)", "body": "yup, and gardening now has a gardener's almanac, so post those quips!"}, {"response": 49, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Jul  9, 2000 (13:40)", "body": "I'll hunt some up for you.....I used to have a whole book of them! Just have to find it..."}, {"response": 50, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Jul  9, 2000 (13:41)", "body": "cool! i've only looked through an almanac once. don't have a clue how to use it or what it's for *grin*"}, {"response": 51, "author": "tiggernut", "date": "Tue, Sep  4, 2001 (19:57)", "body": "Anyone know what eats marigolds and how to cure it? I live in northwest Austin, for two years straight now, my marigolds have turned spotty and then disappeared. Yours, Dora"}, {"response": 52, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Sep  5, 2001 (20:20)", "body": "give us some more info as to the location of your plants (hanging pots, planted, etc)...thanks for stopping by!"}, {"response": 53, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Oct  4, 2001 (01:01)", "body": "I always thought marigolds keep garden pests away. It sounds like a plant virus or chemical burns. Is it still occurring? For a page of fantastic gardening tips, I liked this one in particular. This is a great website for all things garden: http://www.heirloomseeds.com/garden.htm Grow your tomatoes upside down! Start out with a large container that can be used as a hanging basket. The hole in the bottom of the container should be about the size of a ping pong ball (you may have to enlarge the hole on some containers). Then take a small tomato seedling and work it carefully through the hole from the inside of the container. Fill the container with good potting soil, and hang your upside-down tomato outdoors in an appropriate spot. Carole says she gets lots of surprised looks and comments about this unusual way of growing tomatoes. Another plus, she notes, is no staking, no slugs, and diseases are reduced. Remember, though, the potted plants need to be watered daily (larger varieties may need watered twice a day). Although any variety of tomato will work, we think the cherry type tomatoes would be the most attractive hanging. Before you know it, you'll be picking delicious, home-grown tomatoes!"}, {"response": 54, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Oct  4, 2001 (01:03)", "body": "I'm going to try it from a hanging planter rightside up..... the battle against slugs is never-ending in Hawaii, but so is tomato season!"}, {"response": 55, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Oct  8, 2001 (19:25)", "body": "Does anyone know that everthing in here is also on http://www.saveseed.com/ ???!!!"}, {"response": 56, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Oct  8, 2001 (19:27)", "body": "actually, it is topic 31 which is elsewhere, also. Surprise!!!"}, {"response": 57, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Nov  1, 2001 (21:14)", "body": "my neighbor told us about the upside down tomato plant. unfortunately we had to leave it when we moved *sigh* anyone know if you can grow tomatoes in winter in So Cal (btw, i'm not sure if we're zone 9, 10, or 11).... marigolds are susceptible to disease, just like anything else. but they do work really well at keeping pests away from your precious produce gardens! (like garlic and roses!!)"}, {"response": 58, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Nov  3, 2001 (17:09)", "body": "Sure you can! They have banana plants there. Just put it on a sunny sheltered side of your house! Happy tomatoes! garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 33, "subject": "Medicinal Gardening", "response_count": 8, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 26, 2000 (14:31)", "body": "Nasturtium For Itching Nasturtium flowers look beautiful in a salad and have a wonderfully light taste. But another use for this plant is to relieve itching. Gather a handful of fresh nasturtium leaves and bruise them to release the juice. Rub this juice on bug bites, healing sunburns, or healing wounds to relieve itching."}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 26, 2000 (14:32)", "body": "Another Digestion Aid Cilantro, the herb that gives a lot of Mexican food its flavor, is also a good digestive aid. The flowers and leaves are edible, so throw the flowers in a salad and use some of the leaves to make a cup of tea to have after a heavy meal. The dried seeds (usually called coriander) can be chewed to freshen your breath."}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 26, 2000 (14:33)", "body": "Treatment Burned Skin Although I've already done tips on using aloe or lavender oil for sunburns (or for other burns and scalds), there's another thing you should do for sunburned skin. Take plenty of vitamin C. Vitamin C promotes wound healing and skin healing by helping your body produce strong collagen (necessary for healthy new skin). So if you get a bad sunburn, use the aloe and lavender oil to soothe the burn, but don't forget the 500 milligrams of Vitamin C (daily) to aid in the healing of your skin."}, {"response": 4, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sat, May 27, 2000 (05:01)", "body": "To add to this: I don't grow it - but we use cold used tea bags on burns (as well as a mulch for my roses). In Gambia the clinic would collect them from us for use on burns patients. The effect is amazing and very soothing."}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May 27, 2000 (13:28)", "body": "It's the tannin in it...very soothing and healing. Ever try it on closed eyes as you rest? Reclining, of course! Apparently it is good there, as well!"}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May 27, 2000 (13:30)", "body": "I have bunches of Aloe vera growing all over the place...they tend to spread. I think it might be better than tea for burns and there are those who eat the stuff for ulcers and other digestive problems. The rare taste I have had of the stuff was bitter and unappealing!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (02:21)", "body": "Yup aloe vera is great for burns. I accidently put my hand in boiling fat once in Africa, covered it in aloe vera gel, got strongly doped up for pain, and held it under the fan for hours. No scarring at all despite very severe burns to my fingers!!! I take 200ml every morning, and it's made huge difference to my insides. There are huge differences in taste between various companies products!!"}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (21:15)", "body": "Oh yeah, and don't even think of eating it straight off the plant. Bitter like you cannot imagine! garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 34, "subject": "What to Plant Where", "response_count": 23, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May 28, 2000 (12:05)", "body": "Too Good, Wolfie! This topic keeps all the stuff I am collecting in the proper place. Thanks! However, it might be Tuesday before I get any new stuff..."}, {"response": 2, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, May 28, 2000 (12:15)", "body": "thought it would cover it!!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (03:15)", "body": "How Close To Plant With Rotation If your vegetable garden is small, you're probably wondering how far apart they need to be planted year to year. On a three-year plan, where you plant your \"crop\" should form the corner points of a triangle within your garden plot. As an example, your garden plot is a 10 foot by 10 foot square. This year, maybe, your tomatoes will go in the south-west corner. Next year, plant them due east of the center of the garden. The year after, you can plant them in the north-west corner, and then back to the south-west corner the following year."}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun  2, 2000 (18:29)", "body": "***CALENDULA AND BORAGE: Herbs for Summer Color*** Calendula and borage add color to your herb garden throughout summer with a succession of long-lasting blooms. These are two of the prettiest herbs you can grow, and they are relatively carefree. Both are annuals, but once they are established in your garden they are eager reseeders. BORAGE I bought my first packet of borage seeds many years ago, and grew the plants as a companion to tomatoes. Borage actually helps to improve the flavor of tomatoes when grown nearby. I was mislead by an error on the seed packet that said that the plant should not be consumed because it is poisonous, and grew the plant only for it's properties as a companion and it's appearance. In truth, borage is not poisonous. The leaves have a refreshing cucumber taste, and can be used in salads and chopped up for herb butters and dips. Borage greens are a little too plain-tasting when cooked alone, but when combined with other greens, particularly cabbage, they add a unique flavor. The flowers can be used as a garnish or candied to decorate pastries. CALENDULA Calendula is also called pot marigold, but don't confuse this plant with the marigolds grown in your annual bed (Tagetes). Pot marigolds are smaller and more delicate in appearance than the more familiar Tagetes, and they have a number of medicinal uses. Calendula is said to encourage healing, aid digestion, fight fungal infections and cure diaper rash. These properties alone are enough to make the plant an essential addition to your herb garden, but it also has a number of cosmetic uses. Calendula petals can be used to make a nourishing skin cream or cleanser (see recipe below,) and a strong infusion made from marigold petals can be used to lighten hair. CREAMY MARIGOLD CLEANSER 4 tablespoons olive or almond oil 2 tablespoons dried pot marigold flowers few drops of violet, orange blossom or rose water Warm the oil in a bowl placed over a saucepan of hot water. Stir in the dried flowers and continue to heat gently for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, allow to cool, and stir in the flower water. Find out more about growing: Borage http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/borage.htm AOL: BORAGE Calendula http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/marigold.htm AOL: CALENDULA"}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun  2, 2000 (18:39)", "body": "Floppy Plants If you have a plant which is long on stem but short on greenery, it may need a good whacking. You can encourage a denser, shorter plant by cutting the new growth back before flower buds form. This works well with plants like baby's breath and many others. Don't be afraid to experiment."}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun  2, 2000 (19:55)", "body": "Don't Be Stingy With New Plantings If you're planting a new bed, making a border or planting containers, it's best to ignore the fact sheet on the plant's probable mature size. The plant very well may never reach that size. It's visually more appealing to plant generously in a new bed. The \"just-planted\" look will disappear more quickly. And should some plants outgrow their surroundings, you can always prune or transplant them later."}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun  8, 2000 (19:18)", "body": "C O L E U S Coleus are wonderful container plants. Be sure to plant them in large pots that won't quickly dry out. Use coleus in hanging baskets (there are trailing varieties) paired with other coleus, or a multitude of different annuals/perennials. You can also plant coleus into a garden bed. The best way to use coleus in the perennial border is to make use of their vibrant foliage as a bridge between like-colored perennial plants. An example: A 'Goldmound' spirea (with green-yellow foliage) and an astilbe with wine-colored stems would be smashing with the addition of coleus 'Brilliancy' in their vicinity. 'Brilliancy' has lance-shaped wine-colored leaves with a wide margin of chartreuse. Another example: 'Purple Palace' heuchera (Coral Bells) with it's dusky purple-bronze foliage is wonderful paired with any number of coleus whose green leaves are shot-through with specks, stripes, or splotches of burgundy. Add in a lobed variety of coleus like 'Purple Duckfoot' (looks like a burgundy colored chrysanthemum leaf with a thin edge of chartreuse) and you've got an eye-popping combination."}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun  8, 2000 (19:20)", "body": "I R I S Iris are heavy feeders. When dividing and replanting iris after a period of several years, the soil should be renovated. You can incorporate manure, compost, fresh soil, or fertilizer. Remember that air pockets kill roots. The top of the rhizome should be no more than one inch below the soil surface. The new plantings should be watered frequently for a few weeks following the replanting."}, {"response": 9, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun  8, 2000 (19:21)", "body": "Add Some Shade Even sun-loving plants appreciate some shade during the hottest part of the day. There are many varieties of small trees which are perfect for providing a little shade without adversely affecting the flower bed. Dappled shade will benefit the flower bed by reducing the amount of water required and flower colors will be less likely to fade. The tree will add interest to your bed and, depending on the species, its foliage will add bonus color to your garden."}, {"response": 10, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Jun 10, 2000 (22:19)", "body": "Tent Caterpillars If you've been inundated with caterpillars creeping up the side of your house, your fence, and on your trees, you're probably seeing the Eastern Tent caterpillar making it's presence known. Tent caterpillars live in groups within a silken tent, produced by glands in the heads of the caterpillars. This tent affords the group protection from enemies (parasitic flies/wasps). The larvae (small caterpillars) leave the tent to consume nearby foliage, and return to the tent after feeding. The tent becomes larger as the caterpillars continue to feed. Eastern tent caterpillars prefer wild cherry, apple, and crabapple trees, but will also feed on ash, birch, blackgum, redgum, willow, witch-hazel, maple, oak, poplar, peach, and plum. Once the caterpillars (generally black with a white stripe down the back) develop to about 1 1/2 inches long, they leave the nest for good, in search of a place to pupate. White silky cocoons can usually be found on vertical surfaces; the side of a building, fence, or tree trunk. In late June-early July, reddish-colored moths emerge from the cocoons. These moths fly, mate, and then lay eggs in a circular pattern around a branch on a desirable tree. The egg masses look like they are varnished, and are 3/4 inch long. When homeowners usually notice them, they are crawling all over everything!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Jun 10, 2000 (22:19)", "body": "New Versions Of Old-Fashioned Flowers Many of the old-fashioned flowers--beautiful as they are--are prone to problems with insects and disease. The prettiest flower displays can be ruined by spotted, infected, or infested foliage. There are many new cultivars available which have been bred to be disease and/or insect resistant. Garden catalogs are a good source for more specific information."}, {"response": 12, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Jun 12, 2000 (11:23)", "body": "another idea for adding shade to the garden is to put in underplants to shade the roots of larger plants like roses. this helps reduce the amount of moisture lost during the heat of the day as well as hide those bare legs roses get during the hottest part of the summer. i've used zinnias in a planting with my climbing rose and they complement each other well. zinnias don't fade during the heat and as long as you dead head, new blooms will appear. they grow just tall enough to shade the roots of the roses and just short enough so as not to overpower the rose in the process."}, {"response": 13, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun 13, 2000 (14:22)", "body": "Pruning Pines And Spruce (Conifers) Pines and spruce generally form large, broad-pyramidal trees, and when they are sited too close to a structure, driveway, walkway, etc. problems will arise. Pruning of pines and spruce can be very tricky, because these trees seldom produce new buds or shoots along existing branches. Cuts made into old wood will not stimulate growth below the cuts. So how do you keep conifers in shape? Start by situating pines and spruce away from your house in an area where they can grow unhindered. This minimizes the amount of pruning you will have to do down the road. Can you imagine trying to prune a 50-foot spruce? Since new growth is produced each year from buds that set on the branches last year, the basic rule for pruning conifers is to remove (pinch off) a part of the new growth (candle) after it has formed in the spring. June is a good month to shorten the new growth of pines and spruce. At this time, the candles have elongated but not hardened off yet. Pinch off a portion (1/2 to 2/3) of the candle growth using your fingers or pruning shears. Reduce the central leader (if you can reach it) to about 12 inches. The terminal growth of the topmost lateral branches should be cut to about 8 inches and the rest of the branches pinched to produce a pleasant shape."}, {"response": 14, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun 13, 2000 (14:23)", "body": "Peonies And Blight A fairly common problem with peonies is \"botrytis blight.\" It can cause wilting, blackened leaves and withered buds. At the first sign of unhealthy foliage, remove the affected leaves and stems, place them in plastic bags, and have them hauled away by the trash man. Never compost such infected plant parts. The disease has a way of coming back to haunt you. And don't forget to disinfect any tool you've used as well as your gloves. A fungicide may help prevent the disease's spread, as will a thorough removal of dead foliage at the end of the growing season."}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun 13, 2000 (16:49)", "body": "Guarden Guide for June 13 Fragrance is key to setting the mood in the garden, but if you only use flowers to provide fragrance, your are limiting yourself. Aromatic foliage can provide interest over a much longer season. As a bonus, many plants with scented foliage have silvery or grey leaves, which adds dimension when planted near the dark green foliage of your flowering plants. Most plants with fragrant foliage love a long day of hot summer sun, and they release their fragrance during the heat of mid-day. They also release a burst of fragrance when handled or bruised slightly. To increase their effect, plant low-growing foliage such as creeping thyme between stepping stones where they will be kicked and scuffed, and plant taller plants near doors and walkways where they will be brushed from time to time. Fragrant Foliage Favorites: Alpine Mint Bush (Prostanthera cuneata) 24 inches tall This little evergreen shrub combines the fragrances of mint and incense. It's not suitable for very cold sites. French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) 24 inches tall This evergreen shrub has silvery foliage and a rich aroma. Flowers are dusky rose-pink. Shelter the plants from cold winds. Incense Plant (Calomeria amaranthoides) 5 feet tall This biennial has a strong scent of incense. It produces clusters of tiny, red-brown flowers in its second year. Save the seeds to propagate. Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla) 3 feet tall This shrub is vigorous, but will only withstand a light frost. The small, white flowers are not very spectacular. It is primarily grown for its light green, heavily scented foliage. Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans) 36 inches tall This evergreen shrub has bright scarlet flowers in late summer and fall. It will need winter protection. ------------------ ***Get More from your Potato Crop*** As your potato plants begin to grow, pull the soil up around them to encourage more tuber formation. You can cover all but the top six inches of the plant. ***Prune Oleanders*** Once your oleanders have finished blooming, go ahead and prune them. Remove any dead or disfigured branches, and cut the plant back to the desired size. They can tolerate a severe pruning, and will regrow quickly."}, {"response": 16, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun 15, 2000 (00:13)", "body": "More On Pruning Conifers Remember that once a pine or spruce has become overgrown, it is too late to start corrective pruning. Pruning needs to be done annually, from the beginning, to become an effective size control for your trees. When removing entire branches due to death or disease, be sure to avoid leaving a stub. Cut back fairly flush to the trunk. Stubs, jagged cuts, and mangled stems are a thoroughfare for disease pathogens and insect thugs. Choose your plant and it's site wisely!"}, {"response": 17, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun 15, 2000 (16:36)", "body": ""}, {"response": 18, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun 15, 2000 (16:38)", "body": "***Subtropicals*** Now that the soil is warm through and through, it's a good time to plant subtropicals. Here are a couple of suggestions: Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) The bright, six-inch flowers that appear in summer and fall are shaped like a tropical bird's head. The plants can grow up to six feet tall. To keep them healthy, give them at least four hours of sunlight a day, and water them only when the soil is completely dry. It takes 2-3 years for divisions to reach flowering size, so divide them only when necessary. Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra and B. spectabilis) Bougainvillea is noted for its bright, colorful blooms which are actually modified leaves (called bracts) similar to those found on the familiar poinsettia. They are only hardy in zones 9-10, so most of us have to grow these beauties in containers. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, and fertilize once a month with half-strength liquid fertilizer. You will probably want to cut them back in late spring or after flowering to control the size."}, {"response": 19, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Jun 15, 2000 (20:51)", "body": "hummingbirds like bougainviellea (as i saw one nibbling on mine). oh, and they really like the full blown heat and dry conditions. i've nursed one back (was on the 50% shelf at a local home store looking yucky) and she's already bloomed."}, {"response": 20, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun 15, 2000 (21:59)", "body": "I have bougies here about 10 feet high and cascading brilliant red bracts - hundreds of them in a floral eruption. Incredible sight.. All we do here is poke a broken-off piece of someone's bush in to a pot or the ground and forget about it. Shortly it grows new leaves and flowers are not far behing. The problem with them here is keeping them beaten back to something like handleable size. What color is your little orphan one? I have all sorts of lovely ones."}, {"response": 21, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Jun 16, 2000 (09:07)", "body": "well, it's tag says purple, but they were really a pale lilac/pink."}, {"response": 22, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Jul  1, 2000 (19:08)", "body": "Ooh, I have some like that. Had it pruned into a little tree in a big blue glazed pot. One of the idiot's friends came and cut off all but one branch. It died. Nearly sought justifiable homicide charges. I need to gather a new cutting from the University bush from whence the first one came."}, {"response": 23, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Jul  5, 2000 (18:12)", "body": "you know, i'd love to take cuttings from old rosebushes i find but with trespassing laws and such, i'm really scared to try it. garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 35, "subject": "Gardener's Almanac", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Jul  5, 2000 (18:17)", "body": "let's get this topic going with a saying maggie brought to us: Garden sayings When the leaves show their undersides Be very sure that rain betides The scent of flowers if very strong When rain will not be long The anemone closes and goes to bed Just before rain falls on your head The leaves of clover smaller get If the sky for storm is set Now look! Our weather glass is spread- The pimpernel whose flower Closes its leaves of spotted red Against a rainy hour The hanging teasel opens out When sunny weather is about But if the teasel closes up The falling rain will fill your cup When dry leaves rattle on the tree A fall of snow you soon will see If the dogwood\ufffds flowers are here The frost will not again appear When there\ufffds many a hip and haw A bitter winter is in store But if the hips and haws be few A milder winter\ufffds coming due Onion\ufffds skin very thin Mild winter coming in Onion\ufffds skin thick and tough Coming winter\ufffds cold and rough When the flowers are early out There\ufffdll be but little fruit about But if the flowers wait til later The crop of fruit will be the greater If oak trees hang full And beech nuts thrive well A very hard winter Be sure to foretell If the ash is out before the oak You may expect a summer soak But if the oak is out before the ash You\ufffdll hardly get a single splash If on the trees the leaves still hold The coming winter will be cold October leaves upon the tress Foretell a winter when you\ufffdll freeze But if October bring cold and wind February leaves the frost behind The vine that buds in April Will not the barrel fill. A pear year, a dear year A cherry year, a merry year A plum year, a dumb year garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 36, "subject": "In search of....", "response_count": 11, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Nov 12, 2000 (19:15)", "body": "ok you plant people, am trying to find brugsmania (angel's trumpet). i bought what i thought was that plant but now am convinced it was datura and not brugsmania (datura is called angel's trumpet too but it's real common name is devil's trumpet). if you know where i can find seedlings, seeds, or plants, let me know here (or you can email me by clicking on my name)! thanks!!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Nov 12, 2000 (20:09)", "body": "We have datura over here with white trumpets about a foot in length. A shrub of not stunning looks unless you feed it a lot, it is considered a weed here. Good luck. I am sure I could not send you seeds from here legally!!! It is quite toxic, you know!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Nov 13, 2000 (20:06)", "body": "datura is considered a weed in a lot of places but brugsmania is not. *sigh* the plant is toxic if you eat it, which i'm not planning on doing anytime! why would it be illegal to send seeds from hawaii?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, May 22, 2001 (05:35)", "body": "Did you ever get any wolfie ....found this site to buy from ... http://www.lebonjardinier.com/brugmansialist.htm"}, {"response": 5, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, May 22, 2001 (18:41)", "body": "no, i've not found any but did see a big datura growing today--it's flowers were pointing straight to the sky. brugsmania flowers nod down. thanks for the site, i will check it out!"}, {"response": 6, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, May 22, 2001 (18:43)", "body": "and that site was wonderful--i bookmarked it for more leisurely browsing!!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, May 22, 2001 (18:46)", "body": "oh great ...it's always a bit funny replying to an old post ..but I was bored and thought I'd follow it up!"}, {"response": 8, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, May 23, 2001 (18:49)", "body": "glad you did!"}, {"response": 9, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Dec 26, 2001 (23:36)", "body": "okay guys, need your help on this one--they usually pop up in the fall, these tall skinny stems with no leaves and bright red flowers all frilled out like a tutu on top. my neighbor called them naked ladies. what are they???"}, {"response": 10, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Mar 25, 2002 (20:03)", "body": "http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/bulbs-summer/amar_bella.html Your plant in question is an Amaryllis. If the one above is not it, look in Google for it http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Naked+Lady+Lily"}, {"response": 11, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Mar 26, 2002 (11:27)", "body": "yes, thank you so much *HUGS* garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 37, "subject": "Wildlife in the Garden", "response_count": 8, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Nov 24, 2001 (10:35)", "body": "i esp love seeing birds in my garden. but, i do have a question. never living in a city environment before, i put out a bird-feeder to attract chirpy birds to my house. this morning, i found a whole group of pigeons scoping out the joint. pigeons can't actually sit on the feeder but they were scampering about the ground looking for scraps. how do i keep pigeons from invading my neighborhood? (not that i mind them too much, but the neighbors will)."}, {"response": 2, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Nov 24, 2001 (23:34)", "body": "well, i ran out into the backyard and scared the pigeons off--they flew away instead of just hiding out in the next yard. haven't been back today. ok, don't know if i've talked about this before but a note on hummingbird nectar--don't waste money on the stuff in the store (think i talked about this in springark). make it yourself out of water and cheap (store-brand) sugar. it's a 4-1 ratio (4 cups water to 1 cup sugar). bring the sugar water to a boil and let boil for 2-3 minutes. allow to cool before placing in your feeder. DO NOT ADD RED FOOD COLORING. this upsets their little itty bitty systems and could kill them. hummers do like the color red so make sure your feeder has red on it so the birds can find it. you can keep leftover nectar in a jug in your fridge (just label it as such). change out the nectar in your feeder every couple of days if it's really hot. i change mine about once a week and the birds don't seem to mind. make sure you clean the mildew out at each fill up. you can put feeders anywhere in your area and the hummers will find it. and they'll come back to it every year. you will also see that hummers are territorial and will chase off others who try to come at the same time. knowing that it's coming on winter in most parts of the country, you'll have to wait til spring to use the recipe, but those of us in the warmer climates have hummers all year (still see them here in So Cal). speaking about birds, also put out bird feeders and keep them full all year long. you can vary the feed you use to see what kinds of birds come to visit."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Nov 25, 2001 (19:31)", "body": "Had an armadillo fall in the pool recently. It lived. But it took a few hours to regain motion."}, {"response": 4, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Nov 25, 2001 (21:20)", "body": "*LAUGH* guess it's better than a gator or big snake!! did you have to disinfect the pool after? how'd you get him out--didja skim him off the top *giggle*"}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Nov 25, 2001 (22:48)", "body": "Scott fetched him out, the guy who rents my cottage. So I asked him to pull him out before I made it home, and before the dillo sank. If it would have been me, I would have videotaped it. Found a copperhead in the brush when I was gathering up wood for a bonfire the other day, tossed it in the bonfire."}, {"response": 6, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Nov 25, 2001 (23:06)", "body": "then it's a good thing scott took care of the dilla!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Mar 25, 2002 (19:57)", "body": "Sheesh! All we get is mongooses. I had no idea armadillos were that fond of water! Brings to mind the old joke about the waiter and the fly in the soup. Pigeons you will have to live with. We were plagued by them my entire childhood. my father regarded them unkindly - they are VERY messy birds! Noisy too."}, {"response": 8, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Mar 26, 2002 (11:28)", "body": "the pigeons are only here once in awhile now--and if i storm out back, they fly off and don't come back for a few days (usually just one or two birds). garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 38, "subject": "Trees", "response_count": 9, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Dec 30, 2001 (00:03)", "body": "i don't know what it is about trees but i love them. ok, maybe not all of them. but for the most part, trees are so cool! living in L.A. for the last couple of months, i'm becoming acquainted with palm trees of various species (mexican fan and queen palms). i like to look at pine trees and collect their cones but can't handle the smell too long. well, maybe pine is ok but juniper, no way. can't deal with that at all. i really like mimosa (although they're quite messy) and bradford pears. i've seen what the wind can do to bradfords but i like how they grow symetrically coned and have spring flowers. love the magnolia (southern saucer types). these are the kind that stay green all year and produce big white flowers. the other kind sheds it's leaves and are covered in lilac blooms in the spring."}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar  8, 2002 (22:58)", "body": "Mimosa is beautiful in Hawaii, as are Poinciana (my huge tree) though both are very messy to have around. I have lots of stuff on trees and lots of images. I'll get busy on them. I adore trees! The bigger, the better!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Aug  9, 2004 (21:25)", "body": "my new house has been overplanted with live oaks. now live oaks are magnificent, you've got to give them room or they grow all asymmetrical and don't looks so pleasing (love them when they get to spread out their branches). anyway, we're having a few removed just for the purpose of giving them space for light. got a question, live oaks are notorious for putting out sucker plants. how can i remove them without harming the tree? mine are very persistent (and the previous homeowners didn't know what to do with them and let them grow wild). we've trimmed them back and dug up what we can but they continue to sprout. speaking of pics, i've got a few of some really pretty trees from a botanical garden in L.A."}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Aug 11, 2004 (06:21)", "body": "Can you post them on your website?"}, {"response": 5, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Aug 11, 2004 (22:40)", "body": "still can't get into FTP (can't find my files there)."}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Aug 15, 2004 (10:40)", "body": "Wolf, email me with details! I'll fix it asap."}, {"response": 7, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Mar 11, 2005 (21:56)", "body": "we removed about 6 trees from the yard saving only the best live oaks and the japanese maple. also had to take out a wisteria that was too close to the driveway and kept poking us when we tried to get in and out of the car. 3 of the live oaks found new homes!"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Mar 12, 2005 (07:19)", "body": "I have to remove some Cedar Trees (Junipers) so the oaks can thrive. Mesquites must go too."}, {"response": 9, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Mar 12, 2005 (18:29)", "body": "we had to take down a cypress---why it was planted in our backyard is beyond me----they like wet feet and there's no standing water in our yard. but it's a pain to get out---there must be a root that shoots straight down into the dirt and we're still trying to get it all the way out! garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 39, "subject": "Fruit Trees", "response_count": 24, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Dec 29, 2001 (23:57)", "body": "i remember trying to grow a grapefruit tree for a science project. my project was specific to how much water was needed to get it to grow. i planted two grapefruit seeds (something that was abundant at times in my house growing up) and watered each pot with 1 cup of water in one and 1/2 cup in the other. well, needless to say, the seeds take a long time to develop and my science project proved nothing. but, i have toyed with the idea of saving the peach pits on the windowsill on a piece of wet cotton. that never produced anything and neither did the grape seeds i tried to grow nor the orange seeds i planted. but, i have tangerine seeds tucked into a pot on my windowsill as i type this. we'll see what happens this time! fruit trees are all over the place here. (i have recently relocated to the L.A. area). have never seen fruit trees just casually growing in a small yard over abundant in fruit. in Louisiana, fruit trees were hard to grow although my neighbor had fabulous peach and green apple trees. i hope my tangerine seeds produce a plant and hopefully that plant will produce fruit so i don't have to spend money buying tangerines!! oh, and something i've noted while leafing through various seed catalogs, some trees actually require two trees to produce fruit--kiwi for instance. and others self-pollinate. still learning about this as i'm just trying to grow seeds. oh, but i did have some success with a currant berry bush i purchased from a catalog. only had her for two years (when we had to move) and she gave me wonderful leaves each year. but, remembering the time line for shrubs to begin outward growing, this plant will probably produce wonderful fruit for the new owners of my house this summer!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Jan 28, 2002 (22:11)", "body": "as posted by marcia: Topic 17 of 59 [Geo]: Archaeology: The world as a time capsule Response 785 of 786: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jan 28, 2002 (18:41) * 19 lines Evidence shows Greeks were first to cultivate the almond tree and enjoy the taste and nutrients the dry fruit offered BY CONNIE PHILLIPSON ALMONDS are probably the oldest and most widely known of the world's nut crops, having helped to sustain our hunter/gatherer ancestors with their monounsaturated oils, more calcium than any other nut, B vitamins and vitamin E, and a small amount of protein. The nuts are the fruit seeds of Prunus dulcis, that was formerly known as P amygdalus, and which is also known as Amygdalus communis. Don't you sometimes wish that scientists would make up their minds! At any event, the almond tree is native to the Mediterranean area and western Asia, and was apparently first cultivated by the Greeks. An almond seed was found at the Neolithic level of Knossos on Crete, under the palace complex, and wild almonds were discovered at the Neolithic sites of Sesklo and Dimini in Thessaly, showing a presence in the Aegean area of at least 5,000 years. more... http://www.athensnews.gr/athweb/nathens.prnt_article?e=C&f=12946&t=04&m=A40&aa=1"}, {"response": 3, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Jan 28, 2002 (22:12)", "body": "and the tangerine seeds i mentioned in response 1 have been planted for a month now and no seedlings yet (but fruit trees do take a while to sprout)"}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jan 29, 2002 (19:21)", "body": "Wolfie, the rule of thumb out here is from seed a fruit tree takes 5 years to produce fruit or bloom. Some longer and others less time. I grew a tangerine tree in West Viriginia on my windowsill and for the first time in my life learned how bark was made. Never got fruit but I sure did learn about bark! In Hawaii, everyone has some sort of fruit trees. Just as in California, the trees bear more than the family can eat and it falls to the ground to rot. I once had star fruit and lime-quat trees as well as bananas. I am now just a banana lady. I had to fight the local vermin and lost the battle for the fruit of the other trees!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jan 29, 2002 (19:22)", "body": "Don't bury your seed too deeply. On the surface with a light coating of soil and plastic wrap to keep in the moisture is what worked for me."}, {"response": 6, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Jan 29, 2002 (19:32)", "body": "i've got them down about 1/2 inch and keep it moist. this worked for me back home when i got some grape seeds to sprout."}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jan 29, 2002 (22:55)", "body": "That should be sufficient. Patience is the hardest part. I remember. Here, though, even my compost pile sprouts!"}, {"response": 8, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Jan 30, 2002 (20:17)", "body": "*laugh* my compost back home would sprout with weeds and fire ants! no room for one now. but they want us to recycle everything, so weird!"}, {"response": 9, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar  8, 2002 (22:52)", "body": "I hope they do - but my son is making a little wee compost bin for the back yard for kitchen green waste - it will suit his purposes just fine. No need to recycle coffee grounds or cabbage leaves!!! Or don't they allow even that?"}, {"response": 10, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Mar  9, 2002 (14:48)", "body": "did i tell you guys, my tangarines have sprouted and are working on their first set of real leaves!!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Mar  9, 2002 (20:04)", "body": "Fantastic!!! No, you didn't. Srart counting. Countdown to fruit has commenced."}, {"response": 12, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Mar 10, 2002 (13:11)", "body": "there are four trees working here and i'll just pick one to grow to maturation--but, i'll need hints as to choosing the strongest. does it really take five years??"}, {"response": 13, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Mar 25, 2002 (19:52)", "body": "Supposed it does as a rule of thumb... Five years to bear friut which is one of the reasons for grafting. If you have 24/7 warm and lotso of sunshine I suspect you might get fruit a little sooner. But, even in my rain forest, it took that long to get my poinciana (my giant tree) to bloom for the first time. Pick the thickest tallest one and snip the others off at ground level."}, {"response": 14, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Mar 26, 2002 (11:29)", "body": "i think i've found my strongest tree (they're still in the pots i seeded them in). oh, and i've saved a couple of papaya seeds (have never eaten the fresh fruit before)"}, {"response": 15, "author": "cfadm", "date": "Thu, Mar 10, 2005 (10:04)", "body": "Wonder if it's the right time to plant fruit trees in Texas? Too early? Too late?"}, {"response": 16, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Jul 19, 2005 (00:34)", "body": "Maybe it has been too long but all I remember growing in TX is cedar and pecans..."}, {"response": 17, "author": "cfadm", "date": "Sat, Mar 25, 2006 (09:12)", "body": "And mesquites."}, {"response": 18, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Mar 25, 2006 (18:47)", "body": "And a few oaks."}, {"response": 19, "author": "cfadm", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2006 (20:42)", "body": "Wonder what fruit trees grow best around here?"}, {"response": 20, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Apr  1, 2006 (07:51)", "body": "RECOMMENDED FRUIT, NUT AND BERRY CULTIVARS FOR NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS Prepared by: Drs. Nancy Roe, Calvin Lyons and Larry Stein Extension Horticulturists, Texas Cooperative Extension Cultivar selection is one of the most important steps in successful fruit growing. A cultivar may perform very well in one area of Texas yet be a complete failure in another area. For this reason, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service has prepared this list (based on 800-900 hours of chilling) to identify those cultivars which have demonstrated outstanding performance in this area of the state for several years. It is a good idea, if space allows, to include at least two cultivars of each crop in the home fruit planting as one may do better than another in certain years. In other words, put your eggs into more than one basket as one cultivar may survive a late freeze better than another, etc. Remember, fruit trees do not grow \"true\" from seed. Instead, the desired fruit-bearing cultivar is budded or grafted onto a particular rootstock which is well adapted to the soils of our area. Example: buds of the peach cultivar known as 'Ranger', an outstanding fruit producer, should, if planting in an acid sandy soil, be purchased already grafted onto a 'Nemaguard' rootstock which has built-in resistance to certain nematodes. The correct rootstock is just as important as the recommended fruit-bearing cultivar. Although fruit trees are traditionally planted during their dormant season, healthy, well-rooted trees (except figs) grown in containers can be planted all year. APPLES (Malus pumila): Cultivars: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, Holland, Jerseymac, Mollie's Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smith Rootstocks: mature tree size of any of the above cultivars can be regulated by grafting onto one of the following: dwarf tree: M-9 or M-26 rootstock semi-dwarf tree: MM-111 or M-7 rootstock full-sized tree: seedling rootstock Cross-pollination: to ensure adequate cross-pollination and thus good fruit production, plant at least 2 cultivars Planting dates: bare root: January 1 - February 15 containerized: January 1 - March 31 APRICOTS (Prunus armeniaca) Note: Due to their early bloom date, most apricots are subject to spring freezes. Many apricot trees produce fruit as infrequently as one of every 3-5 years. Cultivars: Bryan, Hungarian, Moorpark Rootstock to request: 'Lovell' for alkaline clay soils, 'Nemaguard' for acid sandy soils Planting dates: bare root: January 1 - February 15 containerized: January 1 - March 31 BLACKBERRIES (Rubus sp.) Cultivars whose canes are thorny: Brazos, Womack, Shawnee, Rosborough Planting dates: root cuttings: January 1 - February 15 plants: January 1 - February 28 Cultivars whose canes are thornless: Navajo, Arapaho Planting dates: plants: January 1 - February 28 CHERRIES, SOUR (Prunus cerasus) Cultivar: Montmorency Planting dates: bare root: January 1 - February 15 containerized: January 1 - March 31 CITRUS, SATSUMA (Citrus reticulata) Note: satsumas are not winter hardy in north central Texas. Thus, they should be grown as patio or terrace container plants, in containers of 20 gallon capacity or greater. Move plants into a sunny location indoors when temperatures drop below 26 F. When temperatures exceed 26 F., move plants back outside into full sun. Planting dates: containerized: March 1 - April 15 FIGS (Ficus carica) Cultivars: Texas Everbearing, Celeste Planting dates: bare root: February 15-March 15 containerized: January 1- March 31 GRAPES, AMERICAN (Vitis sp.) Cultivars: Black Spanish, Champanel, Golden Muscat (These are resistant to Pierce's Disease) Planting dates: cuttings (non-rooted): January 1 - February 28 rooted cuttings (1 year old, bare root): January 1 - February 28 containerized: January 1 - March 31 GRAPES, HYBRID (Vitis sp. - French x American hybrids) Cultivars: Seibel 9110, S.V. 12-375, Aurelia, S.V. 12-309 (These cultivars are susceptible to Pierce's Disease; however, they have lived for several years in many areas of the state where occurrence of this disease is quite common) Blanc Du Bois (resistant to Pierce's Disease) Planting dates: cuttings (non-rooted): January 1 - February 28 rooted cuttings (1 year old, bare root): January 1 - February 28 containerized: January 1 - March 31 GRAPES, HYBRID SEEDLESS TABLE (Vitis sp.) Cultivars: Flame, Reliance, Himrod, Glenora, Venus (seed remnants) Note: these cultivars susceptible to Pierce's Disease Planting dates: cuttings (non-rooted): January 1 - February 28 rooted cuttings (1 year old, bare root): January 1 - February 28 containerized: January 1 - March 31 JUJUBES (Zizyphus jujuba) Cultivars: Li, Lang Planting dates: bare root: January 1 - February 28 containerized: January 1 - March 31 PEACHES (Prunus persica) Cultivars categorized by period of the growing season in which they ripen: very early: Bicentennial early: Sentinel, Ranger, Harvester mid-season: Redglobe, Milam, Majestic, Denman, Loring, Belle of Georgia (white flesh) late: Dixilan"}, {"response": 21, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Apr  1, 2006 (15:34)", "body": "good info terry!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Apr  1, 2006 (15:35)", "body": "saw kiwi trees being sold in pairs at the local garden shop...was tempted too (i love kiwi fruit)"}, {"response": 23, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Apr  1, 2006 (22:23)", "body": "Will they grow outdoors?"}, {"response": 24, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Apr  2, 2006 (20:05)", "body": "i'm sure they would but haven't done much research on them... garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 4, "subject": "The garden tour", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 40, "subject": "Shrubbery", "response_count": 3, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Dec 29, 2001 (23:51)", "body": "i personally don't care much for bushes save the flowering types and still am pretty picky about them. i esp. don't care for the juniper type of shrubbery. not only do i dislike the smell, they are prone to pests. i have grown gardenia and hydrangea with some success. in zone 8, an area where i used to live, shrubbery would take at least 2 years to begin growing visibly. of course, the plants were busy taking root beneath the soil and gave me blooms just to let me know they weren't dead. now that i'm in zone 9/10 (L.A. area), i have no clue how long it takes shrubs to finally take. but, i have noticed that some plants i wouldn't have considered as shrubbery fairs quite well here - hardy hibiscus, mexican heather, and perennial geraniums just to name a few. they are pruned and shaped like regular hedges and seem to deal with it just fine. another plant used as a screen are italian cypresses. these are the tall, thin cone-like trees (they look like a type of juniper). they grow in abundance here and seem to do quite well. i've also seen mature ponsettias that are now shrubs and yes, they bloom in december (another thing that surprised me). i've had no luck with them but these california folks seem to know what they're doing. or perhaps it's because they are a native to mexico, not too far away. i think what i dislike most about shrubbery is the keeping of them. esp. hedges. they are such a hassle to trim up and then if you really need to do some serious pruning, they are so naked (like i had to do upon moving in to my house). but, it is necessary to maintain some sort of neatness. on the other hand, i really enjoy looking at topiary and admire the patience necessary to train a shrub into an unnatural shape (and i'm not talking about training ivy over chickenwire)."}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Mar 25, 2002 (20:36)", "body": "Hibiscus is what is bushes in Hawaii - but so is everything else including poinsettias. Everything grows outrageously here!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Mar 26, 2002 (11:33)", "body": "the kids and i trimmed out the bottoms of the bushes in the front yard--had too as my husband came home one night to find fat raccoons roaming our housing area. but the bushes look better now and light can get through them. (would love to take them out but that basically takes a request in to the civil engineering folks because we'd be changing the landscape)--we live on a military installation. garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 41, "subject": "Bromeliads", "response_count": 7, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Mar 26, 2002 (14:27)", "body": "i have owned several bromeliads over the years but, due to a recent move, have had to start my collection over. should you ever come into the L.A. area, you must visit The Rainforest garden on Hawthorne Blvd. it is nothing to look at on the outside, but inside the white plastic greenhouse is a amazing world to behold. i was impressed, to say the least and could've spent hours in there. i will find some links to bromeliads and i'm sure once you see pictures of them, you'll know exactly what this topic is about. they are easy to grow and require very little pampering. they don't like dirt and love to get wet."}, {"response": 2, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Mar 26, 2002 (14:28)", "body": "The Bromeliad Society International: http://www.bsi.org/"}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Mar 23, 2003 (00:30)", "body": "Bromeliads show up in my trees unbidden. Did you know that Spanish Moss is a bromeliad? It is!!!They are truly spectacular plants and LOVE Hilo's climate!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Apr  5, 2003 (15:33)", "body": "yup--i knew it, but not many folks do. i purchased a couple of little bromeliads to hang in my kitchen window. unfortunately, they died a very slow and dry death."}, {"response": 5, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Apr 15, 2003 (11:51)", "body": "How much longer are you in CA for? Any pending reassignment that may get you more toward the east again?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Apr 22, 2003 (21:37)", "body": "need to go south--but have asked to go a bit north of here (lompoc) just to get away from the city. it's not bad here in san pedro near the water. thank goodness the military offers housing! *LAUGH* we're retiring in 3 years and the AM is on a 4 year controlled tour (1 already down)."}, {"response": 7, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Apr 22, 2003 (21:38)", "body": "oh, only one of my bromeliads survived. i've got her hanging over a humidity tray i put out for my sunloving orchids. maybe it'll help if i forget to spray her down! garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 42, "subject": "Weeds", "response_count": 3, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, Jun  5, 2005 (11:00)", "body": "ok, i've got greenbriar trying to spread throughout my live oaks. i've tried digging down to the roots but am having very little luck getting rid of these things. i have other plants growing in the same area and don't want to kill them. before planting the area, i used a woody vine killer (ortho) and it got the grass and everything. it would be difficult to use the same stuff now with my other plants in close proximity. any ideas?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jul  6, 2005 (06:03)", "body": "What does greenbriar look like?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Jul  8, 2005 (18:59)", "body": "greenbriar is in the center of this picture (with the heart shaped leaves). they have thorns on them and from what i can gather, the only way to get rid of them is to dig up their tubers. in my case, the tubers are mixed up in the surface roots of the live oaks so i can't dig down very far. one website said to keep cutting them back and the tubers will die. but, i've got this vine popping up wherever the sucker live oaks are coming up too. http://donwiss.com/pictures/F-2000-05-14/h0026.htm garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 5, "subject": "How does your garden grow?", "response_count": 6, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Dec 16, 1998 (15:50)", "body": "my garden is truly sad. daffodils are peeping out of the dirt (waaaay too early). the roses quit and have been trimmed back because i couldn't bare to look at their legs anymore. but, my ficus tree has survived two 30-degree nights and the leaves are still on it!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Oct  7, 2000 (19:36)", "body": "that was two years ago! wow!! well, we are having a cold snap. i'm sure it's not here to stay. anyway, i had to bring in a bunch of plants that were on vacation from the house (orchids, adenium, palm tree). hope the shock doesn't kill 'em!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Oct  8, 2000 (00:36)", "body": "How does my garden grow? By leaps and bounds. Leaves the size of turkey platters and flowers of the most amazing sort. I have problems with my compost pile sprouting!!! That's what you get with warmth all year and 150 inches of rain / year! (That, and mildew a lot...)"}, {"response": 4, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, Oct 13, 2000 (07:17)", "body": "How big is your garden and what do you have planted? We, of course, can't use you as a guide for our own gardens. I bought 50 lbs. of rye grass yesterday at Home Depot. They had huge piles of it by the checkout counter, indicating that this must be the thing to do right now. Whenever there are huge stacks of things by the checkout counter it must be the right thing to buy, right?"}, {"response": 5, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Oct 13, 2000 (17:58)", "body": "sure, so do you buy all the packs of bubblegum too? i don't know who that question was directed to but i'll answer for me. my garden is mainly small plots of lawn that was dug up for roses. it goes along the front of my house and a small oval in the middle of my front lawn. then there is some edgework around the big shed out back. the roses are putting out their fall blooms! the gardenia is on it's second bloom and despite what they say, it loves full hot sunlight. it's roots are shaded by it's own leaves but it's growing happily and it's up to my shoulders now. the hydrangeas didn't take to the dryness very well but with daily watering, the dead leaves fell off and new leaves came right behind them. they are still small things but will look marvelous once they fill in."}, {"response": 6, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sat, Oct 14, 2000 (07:02)", "body": "We laid new turf where house male 1 (I now have 2!!! *grin*) had leveled off the plot. With all the rain we've been having we didn't even need to water it in much and it has taken really well. Now I have to decide whether to plant up the new raised bed before we go ..or levae it until spring. Either way I';ll out weed suppressant down or it will be full of them. The shorn hypericum hidcote has recovered well to having it's lower portion buried a foot in the raised bed ..and I think it will give a good show next year ..better than trying to uproot it and lift it a foot I decided. Need to find a water lily and iris for the small wild life pond in the raised bed, the other waterfall pond will have to wait for our return from Africa ... it is so badly overgrown that it requires a lot of work. The new patio looks good, and we cleared the herb beds and pulled the old raspberries up as they had really been past it this year. The strawberry bed needs replanting ..but that will have to wait til next year too now. e have run out of time! We leave on the 19th and won't be back until March. garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 6, "subject": "beginning garden questions", "response_count": 20, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, May 21, 1999 (13:15)", "body": "no question is too unusual? oh, goody!!!..."}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, May 21, 1999 (16:00)", "body": "whelp... let's hear it WER!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, May 21, 1999 (19:40)", "body": "let me get it phrased just so... (don't want to waste my chance...)"}, {"response": 4, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (09:23)", "body": "*tapping my foot to pass the time while waiting*"}, {"response": 5, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (11:27)", "body": "(and it's a great rythm(sp?), too)"}, {"response": 6, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (15:30)", "body": "ahem... that was supposed to hurry you along in your phrasing!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (15:41)", "body": "I thought it was intended to make me want to dance..."}, {"response": 8, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (15:45)", "body": "that was not the intent but it's fun to watch!"}, {"response": 9, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (15:53)", "body": "comments like that are one of the reasons I don't usually dance, too..."}, {"response": 10, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (19:12)", "body": "huh?"}, {"response": 11, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, May 24, 1999 (22:54)", "body": "*huff* nevermind..."}, {"response": 12, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, May 25, 1999 (09:26)", "body": "Now, Wer, don't listen to her - you *do* dance great, especially when you're dressed the way. Just ask Annette, she didn't complain - not even about any hurting toes!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, May 25, 1999 (10:47)", "body": "i said I was enjoying watching... why can't he listen to me???"}, {"response": 14, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, May 25, 1999 (11:56)", "body": "(Small advice: men *do* have a hard time understanding women, especially if the f-word - not that one, *THIS* one - is around. Of course you want to be considered fun to have around, but you don't want to be fun for other as in \"the funny way he looks\" or \"talks\" or the like. Worse, we all want to be perceived as good-humoured, humourous folks, but most are scared to be thought foolish or silly. The more intelligent ones suffer the worst, the merely intellectual ones the least.) (Oh, and we nearly all have a talent to state the obvious, as I just did above. Once more. Is it the jeans or the genes? Go figure...)"}, {"response": 15, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, May 25, 1999 (11:57)", "body": "wer, listen to the woman, she ENJOYS watching!!"}, {"response": 16, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, May 25, 1999 (11:59)", "body": "How d' YOU know?"}, {"response": 17, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, May 25, 1999 (12:05)", "body": "*grin*"}, {"response": 18, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, May 25, 1999 (12:09)", "body": "Oh. Hey, this is still somehow public, you remember? But still, if you feel like sharing what's inside your furry heart..."}, {"response": 19, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, May 25, 1999 (12:40)", "body": "hmmmm....."}, {"response": 20, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, May 25, 1999 (19:10)", "body": "uh oh... cover the children's eyes... garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 7, "subject": "tomatoes", "response_count": 14, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (10:20)", "body": "I like the red ones... My favorites are Roma, Plum, and cherry tomatoes. I have never tried to grow them before so this next season will be an adventure."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (10:56)", "body": "I've heard great things about the Romas."}, {"response": 3, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (12:16)", "body": "Pretty much all I cook with and they're delicious raw."}, {"response": 4, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Nov  6, 1997 (12:05)", "body": "Ever tried one of the black, Russian heirlooms? Oh, my mouth is watering as I type. WER"}, {"response": 5, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Nov 10, 1997 (12:24)", "body": "No, but you drooling is something that caught my attention!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Nov 12, 1997 (10:47)", "body": "*smile* sounds like you're feeling much better! I'm glad!"}, {"response": 9, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Nov 13, 1997 (10:50)", "body": "MMMMMMMMM, WHIRRRRRRRRRRRRR, OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMMM! Those would be good vibes coming your way!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Thu, Dec 11, 1997 (21:21)", "body": "Can you do that sound thingy again, Stacey? *grin*"}, {"response": 13, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Dec 15, 1997 (19:06)", "body": "can you fit through the ethernet card or are you waiting until next week? *grin*"}, {"response": 15, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Dec 17, 1997 (19:21)", "body": "my you're an impatient sort! I hope you can resolve that problem before we meet! *giggle* Well, sometime after Wednesday and before the 1st! How's that for specific?!?!"}, {"response": 19, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Jul 16, 1999 (09:25)", "body": "I PICKED MY FIRST TOMATO FROM THE GARDEN YESTERDAY!!!!! I've been watching them daily... I have 27 green ones now and this one BEAUTIFUL red one that smells so yummily organic... YEA! I feel like such a gardening success!"}, {"response": 20, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Jul 16, 1999 (12:16)", "body": "my tomatoes are waiting to put out a second crop....i had so many that i had to give some away. had to pull them off the vine as they were just turning because the local avian community decided to have a taste of those that were red. :)"}, {"response": 21, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Jul 19, 1999 (18:07)", "body": "our avian community prefers the strawberries!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, Jul 23, 1999 (12:24)", "body": "ours the cherries! garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 8, "subject": "Indoor Gardening-Orchids, African Violets", "response_count": 22, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "pmnh", "date": "Tue, Dec  9, 1997 (22:04)", "body": "nasty things... their flesh is too much like the flesh of men, and their perfume has the rotten sweetness of corruption... (raymond chandler/wm. faulkner)"}, {"response": 2, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Tue, Dec  9, 1997 (22:07)", "body": "yeah, yeah, yead, yadda, yadda, yadda"}, {"response": 3, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Sun, Dec 14, 1997 (22:44)", "body": "Hey? Ya'll to shy to admit your love of plants? (not including the green stuff, if you know what I mean). OK, I'm addicted to plants. Got something like 5 orchids, 11 african violets, then there's the various cacti and tropicals, and the boston fern who thoroughly enjoys dropping fronds all over the place just to see how fast I can sweep them up. Oh, and then there's the 10 roses outside that, despite my loving attention, still give me those wonderful love bites. Anybody wanna go next?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Dec 15, 1997 (19:07)", "body": "Love plants. Kittens love to eat them. All is in transition."}, {"response": 5, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Thu, Jan 15, 1998 (21:05)", "body": "ok, got 11 orchids now, think I'm an addict *smile*"}, {"response": 6, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Dec 16, 1998 (15:52)", "body": "well, make that 5 orchids. after my stint in dry country, the babies keeled over despite my hubby's tender loving care. the african violet collection is bigger now but am having trouble making them bloom. they're under lights and seem to appreciate that as the leaves look healthier and they aren't reaching to the sky! my boston fern gave up when the orchids did."}, {"response": 7, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Mar 15, 1999 (16:52)", "body": "okay, the african violets are really responding to the lights. i think, though, that i'll need to increase the amount they receive. they are blooming. the orchids i have left are hybernating or something. i picked up a phal and recently put her in fresh medium. really cleaned off her roots and didn't damage any in the process. everytime i see another orchid i want to take it home but know that because of my lack of talent with that genera, i'm gonna take a wait and see approach."}, {"response": 8, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Mar 28, 2000 (19:46)", "body": "ok, i ordered a couple of greenhouse gadgets to help me determine what i'm doing wrong with the orchids. i buy them in bloom but they never bloom again. just keep giving me green leaves. ugh. so the gadgets are a min/max thermometer and a light meter. the girls are on a humidity tray but the hygrometer won't get above 60%. they'll be going outside soon when the humidity levels start to rise. guess next winter, i'll have to use a humidifier. i've lost a bunch of african violets to bugs or crown rot. only three that i ordered (out of five) are still hanging in there. a couple others are still going but not nearly as many as i had before. i had some gesneriad seedlings and they did real well until i had to go out of town and the AM didn't know to water them even when i told him to. so they all kicked the bucket. my nematanthus black gold (or guppy plant) is still going strong but no blooms yet. have had her for two years and got her from cuttings. probably still a baby. but as long as she's growing, i'm happy. really want some blooms though. oh, and my christmas cactus bloomed for the holiday and bloomed again just a few weeks ago. it's time for the spring blooming (or easter) cactus to kick in."}, {"response": 9, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Mar 28, 2000 (21:21)", "body": "We just hang the orchids in a moss-lined wire cage in a leafy tree and make sure to mist them with the hose if they don't get any rain. If yours are too green you are not giving them enough sun."}, {"response": 10, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (10:26)", "body": "they'll be moving out into the garden soon. i saved some strawberry baskets to repot them into to ensure they're roots get plenty of air. it's hard to grow them under lights when you don't know how much they need. now the phals don't like really bright lights but they'll be going outside too."}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (16:59)", "body": "I keep my Phals under my poinciana tree which has tiny feathery leaves and lets through filtered sunlight and rain. They LOVE it and thrive until I have to divide them to keep the size of the plant manageable."}, {"response": 12, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (17:01)", "body": "I never got the hang of grow lights...never had the need to out here in the tropical Pacific..."}, {"response": 13, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (20:33)", "body": "well, the light meter came in and it seems there's enough, maybe not the right kind of light though. the AM is planning on putting together a small green house for me to overwinter the orchids and other plants. then i won't have to mess with the lights anymore. problem with growing plants under lights is there's nothing small and manageable to put in your living room. even the table-top versions are huge and i don't have the space. i've got a plastic three shelf deal in my living room with those under the counter lights strung up. guess i just need to add a sun room, which has been discussed but money is limited. (money not so much as commitment on HIS side)....."}, {"response": 14, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Mar 30, 2000 (11:49)", "body": "Those under-the-counter lights do not emit the correct wave-length of light to be of much help to your plants. They probably got more benefit from ambient light than from the strip light. (Yeah...I knoiw about limited money and commitment!)"}, {"response": 15, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (09:21)", "body": "but they are helpful with heat! only thing is they take the humidity right out of the trays before the plants benefit from them. think we figured out the problem!"}, {"response": 16, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (14:07)", "body": "Fluorescent lights give off heat?"}, {"response": 17, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (15:44)", "body": "yeah..."}, {"response": 18, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (16:11)", "body": "Huh!"}, {"response": 19, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (00:13)", "body": "Oncidium orchid (yellow) with bouganvillas in the background"}, {"response": 20, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (02:28)", "body": "OOOO pretty!! (Your backyard?? mine's VERY mundane)"}, {"response": 21, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (19:53)", "body": "Nope! That is one of the four garages (the cinder block wall leading to it) in the front - the actual house is farther on the left than I photographed. One part of our continuous jungle, the broad-leaf plant on the right is a Ti plant from whose leaves the \"grass\" skirts are made and from whose roots Okolehau is brewed...a very potent hard liquor with a particularly odd taste."}, {"response": 22, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun  2, 2000 (18:22)", "body": "Houseplant Care Many of us are itching to haul our houseplants outdoors, where they can really thrive. This is great for your plants since they will get better air circulation, light exposure, and humidity than they did during those dull winter months. A word of precaution: Wait until the weather is consistently warm (days and nights) before bringing out your houseplants. Many of these are tropical plants that can be damaged at temperatures under 40-45 degrees. Don't immediately move plants into full sunlight. Initially, find a shady place for the first day or two, gradually easing them into filtered sunlight. If the plant likes high light intensities, the move to full sunlight should take from 10 days to two weeks. If you find that plant foliage is bleaching, fading, or burning, move the plant back into filtered sunlight, and allow another week for it to adjust. garden conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 9, "subject": "Succulents/Cacti", "response_count": 42, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, Mar 15, 1999 (16:48)", "body": "i have no luck with cactus. i can grow a few succulents indoors (like christmas cactus) but the true cacti, i love to death. i have one that survived all winter outside and has actually grown a bit. i have two in a glass vase that i keep in a northern window. they're actually growing too. but i practically ignore them."}, {"response": 2, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, Mar 15, 1999 (22:00)", "body": "find you some natives, and let nature take care of them for you..."}, {"response": 3, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Mar 16, 1999 (09:27)", "body": "i know of no louisiana cacti natives. and i keep them in a dish garden. i have seen some texas varieties grown in the yards, but as my daughter says, i've already got thorn bushes (my roses)!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Tue, Mar 16, 1999 (22:21)", "body": "not to mention the thorns in your sides..."}, {"response": 5, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Apr  7, 1999 (16:18)", "body": "a crown of???"}, {"response": 6, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Apr  8, 1999 (00:32)", "body": "sure, why not?"}, {"response": 7, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Apr  8, 1999 (11:25)", "body": "how bout a briar patch... you could be brer rabbit!"}, {"response": 8, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Apr  8, 1999 (13:24)", "body": "who's gonna be the fox?"}, {"response": 9, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Apr  8, 1999 (13:25)", "body": "(besides, physically, I resemble brer bear more...)"}, {"response": 10, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Apr  8, 1999 (13:46)", "body": "but he was kinda doofusy... it just wouldn't work..."}, {"response": 11, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Apr  8, 1999 (18:50)", "body": "put it on the list..."}, {"response": 12, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, Mar 28, 2000 (19:39)", "body": "i have successfully overwintered a few cacti. they spent most of the winter outside and the coldest part inside. but they're back out. the barrel types really did well with the coolness. have a few more now including the starfish cacti (the blooms are out of this world and are supposed to have a disgusting odor). mine had buds but the one in bloom didn't stink at all. the hen and chicks did well outside all winter long. (i remember ours doing just fine in kansas so i figured they'd do well here too)....picked up a couple more of them. i love hen and chicks!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Mar 28, 2000 (20:50)", "body": "I have a jillion Crown of Thorns plants, two large Desert Roses and a dumb little real cactus in a pot which does not like all the moisture we get. Oh yeahm,, I have aloe vera growing all over the place, too"}, {"response": 14, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Mar 28, 2000 (20:53)", "body": "Oh, and Christmas cactus in all sorts of colors blooming all sorts of times of the year...and a tinker-toy plant which is trying to be a tree."}, {"response": 15, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (10:28)", "body": "i learned that the adenium (desert rose) needs to be watered well and not treated like a cactus at all in order to ensure strong growth. mine is at the office in a southern window so i can enjoy her oddity! the one and only aloe that i have is growing well but rather strange with her twisting and turning. don't know if i can put her outside...."}, {"response": 16, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (17:05)", "body": "My aloes divide and make babies all around themselves. Lop off the large ones which hang crazily out of the pot or just put it outdoors that way. You could put up a wire armature to keep it upright. Your pineapple might just need one, too - similar to a tomato cage."}, {"response": 17, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (17:06)", "body": "Btw, my adeniums live outdoors under the open sky all year long. They are huge and in gigantic pots...and get the most of our 150+ inches of rain per year."}, {"response": 18, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (17:10)", "body": "Oh...and they are both full of blooms."}, {"response": 19, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Mar 29, 2000 (20:35)", "body": "i wish mine would bloom. can they handle full sun? (adeniums)"}, {"response": 20, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Mar 30, 2000 (11:51)", "body": "Mine are in the full tropical sun all of the time! Just make sure they get enough water!"}, {"response": 21, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (09:22)", "body": "cool beans!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (13:49)", "body": "I must have about 20 buds and flowers on the smaller of the two adeniums and more than that on the large one which is also putting out new branches with buds from its obese trunk. They are so spacey-looking they are maxed-out cool."}, {"response": 23, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (13:54)", "body": "they are some of the strangest looking plants i've ever seen which was why i felt compelled to buy it. then seeing how big they can get via my internet searches, i am amazed! mine is only a foot tall and i limited the water at first, but once i learned they really like to be wet, i let it have as much as it can take!"}, {"response": 24, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (14:27)", "body": "If yours is in a pot, just wait till you repot it. There is a huge bulb of root under the soil which stores water, too. They are so improbable-looking, especially with those brilliant dark pinkish-coral trumpet flowers sticking out all over the place. I could never have dreamed up a plant which looked like that!"}, {"response": 25, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (14:29)", "body": "They respond nicely to mild fertilizer formulated to make plants bloom. Just go easy on it if they are in pots."}, {"response": 26, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (15:46)", "body": "this one's still in the pot it came home in. so it has another bulb under the soil? and i thought the one on top was enough!"}, {"response": 27, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (16:10)", "body": "I think you should repot it. It will be so thankful for being able to wiggle its toes it will do nice things for you! (You're gonna be amazed!!!)"}, {"response": 28, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (17:23)", "body": "so it doesn't care to be bound in the pot? it's in a six inch pot with about an inch space between the rim and the bulb all around. does it prefer cacti soil or just regular old houseplant soil?"}, {"response": 29, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (17:33)", "body": "Mine is in mixed volcanic cinders and Jungle Growth (or some such bagged growth media for plants). Now, I realize you are semi-short on your supply of volcanic cinders (though they may be dropping in from Japan eventually!) so you can use sand or whatever to break up and drain the soil more efficiently. It is pot bound and would probably love cacti soil. Repot it and you will see how ecstatic it will be when you do. It will reward you only like a Deaser Rose can."}, {"response": 30, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (17:33)", "body": "Adenium...cannot spell Desert anymore."}, {"response": 31, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (17:34)", "body": "*laugh* i knew what you meant!"}, {"response": 32, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Mar 31, 2000 (17:41)", "body": "I know...but, it was one of those awful moments when Yapp takes over and you just stare in disbelief at the goof which escaped your notice not moments before. Talk about time standing still...!"}, {"response": 33, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May 27, 2000 (12:39)", "body": "I just checked my adeniums and the small one has 20 flowers on it! I questioned the resident male about it and he said he put some Miracle Grow Bloom Booster on them as well as my pathetic roses and Christmas Cacti collection (I have some blooming now which blooms every months but December, and others which only bloom then) and on my Dancing Ladies Orchid, and they are all full of blossoms. That is really good stuff!"}, {"response": 34, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, May 27, 2000 (18:27)", "body": "my adenium is thriving in the all day sun but no blooms yet. you have oncidiums (dancing ladies)? cool. i have one."}, {"response": 35, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May 27, 2000 (18:32)", "body": "Yup! Oncidiums and there are three sprays of fragrant little yellow orchids about 3 feet long each just covered with the dime-sized orchids with the brown markings on the yellow orchids. First thing in the morning it is wonderful to see them and inhale some of the good Hawaiian air..."}, {"response": 36, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sun, May 28, 2000 (08:51)", "body": "i know. they do give off the lightest fragrance!"}, {"response": 37, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, May 28, 2000 (21:15)", "body": "Yup, they do, but the ademias do not. Missed taking a great picture for you by one day. Next bloom you get to see the picture!"}, {"response": 38, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 29, 2000 (22:53)", "body": "My small ademia two days after maximum bloom"}, {"response": 39, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (02:30)", "body": "MMM worth looking for your pix!"}, {"response": 40, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (17:22)", "body": "wow!!!!!!"}, {"response": 41, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (19:26)", "body": "Yours does not bloom like that??? Put that Miracle-Gro stuff on it. There is hardly enough plant to sustain that many flowers. I just had to take the digital out and show you what it looked like! My other one (the BIG one)has paler pink flowers on it. Will photograph that when it is in full flower."}, {"response": 42, "author": "wolf", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (20:15)", "body": "no blooms yet but i think it's still too young. it has grown quite a bit with the new pot and full sun. lots of leaves and the branches are darkening up and more leaves are sprouting. garden conference Main Menu"}]}]}