Advice by the Yard

Re: Barge Bed

h2ogrdn — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Nora,

As I throw out ideas, I really don't have a handle on other options you have in your climate and a shady setting other than what works here in a dry air zone 4/5. I am assuming that a lot of the plants I mentioned would die down during the winter just like here. So, I am thinking, in terms of foundation plants, is to have some plants or short shrubs that will either remain evergreen year round for you or, if deciduous, still gives you some branches during the winter rather than everything die down to the ground. I know that there are some low rhodies or Kinnikinniks. Do some of the short Dafnia (sp) do okay in your area. I am thinking the nursery may be able to give you some ideas once you describe the growing conditions. Do you know about how many square feet of growing area are in the barge? You may need to narrow down the list based on the available space as well as the denseness of the shade. As ;you talk to the nursery staff, try to get an idea if particular plants like light shade or dense shade. For example, in heuchera (coral bells), there are losts of cultivars and some like sun mostly while others do well in partial shade, and some will take 3/4 shade. That might help decide what goes closer to the tree trunk and what might do better towards the edge of the canopy.

I took a quick look at my pictures and decided to edit what I have written by adding a little more info. My middle picture is on the east side of the house with a large maple tree about 20' in front of it. However, I have lost a couple large branches out of that tree so the plants to the left in that picture get more sun than those to the right. It is too much sun for the Gold Heart and I have to water extra in that area to conpensate. The 3rd picture is on the north side of the house. It is bright, gets morning sun, but what is there do very well in that spot. Okay, now I will sign off.

Re: White Marigolds

h2ogrdn — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Wilderness,

I have never seen white Marigolds for sale at any of the nurseries or didn't know what I was looking at. Will pay more attention this year. Wish the Wilderness Mountain nursery was within commuting distance.

Re: News from Sidmouth Thursday 19th March '10

h2ogrdn — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Morrisdancer,

Sounds like you and Stewart will be busy Saturday morning. I think if you can solve those 2 issues by noon, you should take the afternoon off and maybe sip on a bottle of nice wine or brandy.

Sat. 20 March one of 2 "First Days of Spring"

brb4y — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Yes, the 21st of March is also considered the first day of spring depending I suppose on where you are......

Gee, I hurt today and going to have to keep moving about to keep from locking up. Got up at 3 because I had to....almost took too long to just get out of bed even tho' I'd only been in it for 4 hours.

Another productive day was yesterday! I found 40 lb bags of humus/manure at WM for $1.28/bag. Got 10 to start with. Got them all unloaded 5 for the front and 5 in the wheelbarrow for the back (Now THAT was an unwieldy load!) before Tom knew I was home. He helped carry in his Coors and his Coke.....

Got Lucia fed. Meanwhile Tom and a fellow who showed up wanting work (he may never come back) went to the co-op and then to the building supply place to get the panels and rebar. While they were gone I yanked out the old rebar that I couldn't get yesterday, put up my 2 stacks of tipsy pots empty, decided where to put the new ones, fluffed out my winter's stash of pine straw and dead leaves beside the driveway, put in a couple of bags of the new humus/manure stuff, took down last year's chicken wire bean trellis, took the wheelbarrow of stuff to the back, weeded some and did some math. By the time they got back I had all the holes marked where to put the rebar.

Boy, Tom can sure make an easy job complicated! He worried and fussed about how deep, how far, this and that as if a couple of inches would really matter. I finally just told him that the plants didn't really care one whit so I didn't either. Let's just DO it. We did. We got the front trellis deal put up and the rebar sunk for the 2 new pot stacks (when WM gets in the 10" pots...need 12). Then moved to the back. Poor dogs had to stay in the house because they were worried that Tom's new 'hired man' might hurt us and he was scared stiff of them. Anyway, we got a couple of the rebar sunk before Tom decided that 10' was too long and ripped them out, cut them all to 8' to start over. They got 5 in (I was out front working on the driveway bed and feeding Lucia again) before they decided to break for lunch and Tom had to go get some more rebar and fasteners (I picked the hose fasteners that screw together as tight as you want, can't think of the name...) Then the local hospital called with an SOS, would I PLEASE come in for a 'few hours' at least? 'K fine, just a few hours, which turned out to be 6. While the 'boys' were gone I sunk the last rebar to get it done. (Yep, me on a ladder 10' up with a sledgehammer whopping away at a 5/8" circle of rebar.) Got'er done tho', went in, changed clothes (Itold them I had no time to take a shower or wab up my hair...did wash the worst of the dirt off tho'), let the dogs out for a few minutes then back in and was ready to leave when they got back. All they had left to do was hang the panels which took them the rest of the afternoon somehow.....

Work was funny. When I went in I found the reason for the SOS. The Director of Nursing was manning the Sr Care Unit by herself and was going nuts. (got 'brownie points' big time for coming in) The patients had scared her some, she'd screwed up the paper work big time and was 'way over her head. She tried to give me a quick report but then discovered that she really knew nothing about any of them. I got a good report from the aide.... She left and we got down to work. Had the paper work put back together and corrected in an hour, all the patients were doing fine, (even the one who gets violent at the drop of a hat), afternoon therapy went great and a good time was had by all. The DON came back before she went home at 4 to see how we were making out. Was surprised and happy, then she told me my replacement would be 'a little late'......my 4 hours turned into 6, but all went well. Got home tired and sore to a spouse who was so full of himself he could hardly stand it, especially after about 5 stout beers. They had finished up the projects and poor Curtis had gone home. He'd showed up wanting to power wash our house and instead had to do some real work. He'd agreed on his price before he started (the fool) and still owes us the power wash job. Get this. For $80. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OOOOO HHHAAAAAAAAAA

Of course we fed him lunch and all the Cokes he could drink, but the man worked as hard as I do from 1030am till 530pm and still has to power wash the house. He'll be sore today, but swore he'd be back to finish and if he does show we'll let him work more. He's younger and stronger.

I've got to hush now and go get coffee ready, trade out dogs, feed cats and so forth. Just had to tell you about it.

Have a good day all.

Re: News from Sidmouth Thursday 19th March '10

brb4y — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Just tell him he's missed but we're all gimping along waiting for his return. He needs to have a good time, as does Wendy while they can.

Re: Sat. 20 March one of 2 "First Days of Spring"

brb4y — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Guess I'm talking to myself....it's after 5 now and somebody should be up soon?

Just had to share a funny. Tom is sound asleep on the couch talking in his sleep and still working on the trellises, hands in the air screwing in fasteners, holding rebar while Curtis hammers it in. I just stood there stiffling a giggle while getting Lucia's hot chocolate ready. Flat on his back he is, but his legs and arms are flailing about as he 'works'. Mind you, he hasn't worked that hard in a long while and has a right to be proud. At least he's working out the stiffness before he wakes up.....which may well be after I'm done outside for the day. He stayed up too late last night reveling in his wonderful deeds. I had to go to bed by 11, just couldn't stay up any longer.

Am so glad he 'found' Curtis. Rather, Curtis 'found' him by 'accident' on just the day he was needed. Isn't it strange how things 'just happen' sometimes? I think next time, if Curtis ever shows again, I'll slip him a bit extra cash just for putting up with Tom. After all, I made more money in 6 hours than Curtis will have made in 2ce that. When Tom gets to be 'the boss' he is really bossy and since he was born and raised down here in MS deep south he thinks "he knows how to handle black people". I disagree with Tom about that all the time but he 'knows better' since he was raised by a black nanny down here. Oh well, needn't open that can 'o worms.

I will go to church tomorrow and thank Him, again.

Re: Sat. 20 March one of 2 "First Days of Spring"

Roboutside — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Wow, go Brenda go! How nice to get all of that accomplished and go to work and make money too. Too funny about Tom in his sleep. I was thinking the same thing about him loosening up his stiff muscles before he woke up.

It's 46 right now going up to 59. It's been a beautiful week and I've been working pretty good. The last two days I worked 11 hours each. Thursday I worked at the shop building a platform for the skid loader to haul straw on and then loaded a trailer with 150 bales of straw........by myself. Talk about a drag! My hands were just a little sore from grabbing strings for 2 hours. Yesterday we went to a Dominion gas pipeline swath that runs through the woods. It's about 80 feet wide and it goes forever up and down hills across creeks and roads. We were hired last year to put up silt fence and blow straw where all the trees have been removed. It's really nice working in the woods all day, but as wet as it's been, the place is about a foot deep in mud. We had to pull the trailer with the straw and straw blower around with a bull dozer. I'm sore from working this week but I'm sure it'll get better. In my bio I wrote that this work will either keep me in really good shape or kill me. At this point, I think the jury is still out! LOL

I haven't done anything in the yard lately because of work, but the seedlings seem to be doing well. I still need to catch up on the posts, so more comments may be on the way.

I hope you all have a great day, I will (I'm off!).

Re: White Marigolds

wilderness_NY_Z4 — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Fred marigolds are so ease to grow you could start your own. I first found them this year on the Burpee seed rack at both WM and Lowes.

Re: Sat. 20 March one of 2 "First Days of Spring"

wilderness_NY_Z4 — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Good morning. 40 this morning and a bit over cast but looks like it will clear. Yesterday it was 61 and even the wind wasn't that cold. Still can't get outside and do anything. Hate wasting all this beautiful weather inside. Did get quite a bit done yesterday however. Transplanted 3 dozen Jalapeno peppers that ran to Agway before noon to get more potting soil which is still in the trunk of the car. Will haul that out sometime today. When I got back got down to planting seed. Got the brussel spouts, egg plant, zinnia and candy onions planted.

Need to transplant more peppers today and start more seed. I am now down to my play seed. Thing I just want to try for myself. Mostly seed I have received from folks here on the boards and they are more of an experiment to see if they will grow and survive here. It will be a couple of weeks before I start the cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli.

I can now see my vgarden. It appears that my 2 china girl holly that I put out there pot and all last fall made it. Now I have to find a china boy holly. When they went on sale there were no boys left. Not sure if I mentioned yesterday the plants I put in the garage last fall that I bought on sale don't look too good but if they don't live Lowes will take them back.

Brenda you are a hoot. You are wound for sound this morning. You got the same deal I did on the manure. Broken bags? I sure would like to be sore for the same reason you are.

Rob glad you are back to work even though those are long hours. Hope you can work on your own yard this weekend.

Have to get moving as I have to get these Chocolate bunnies to town to sell by 10 and then I will go in again at 2 and sell until 4. Have signs to make etc. before I load the car and get down there. Just hope the first shift shows at 10 as I don't have time to stay there.

Have a great day.

Re: Sat. 20 March one of 2 "First Days of Spring"

loves to play in the dirt — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Good morning only 18 with a high of 35, now that does not sound like spring to me. Oh well, it was spring yesterday working at the green house. I walked in and loved the smell of DIRT. It sure felt great to be back. It was warm in there and there are things blooming. Spring fever is going to get better now. Dinner with friends last night was good. Now work today then off until Monday.Yeah.

Brenda I am learning the word NO. I was called and asked to work on Sunday too. And believe it or not I said NO. It was hard though but I stuck with it. Wow are you in competition with wilderness. When you set yourself on a project you are on it. Good for you. And good for your helper. Then after all that hard physical work you go to work also, wow. How funny poor Tom is still working in his sleep. I bet you are sore today.

Wilderness are you soon done planting seeds? Wow. Good luck with the chocolate bunnies.

Re: Sat. 20 March one of 2 "First Days of Spring"

loves to play in the dirt — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Rob I forgot you sorry. I bet you are sore. I sure hope it does not kill you. It wont take long to be back in shape and used to the work again. Glad you are getting warm weather. Wow long day for you. Hope you can get out and play in your yard today.

Time for breakfast then off to work. Have a great day.

Re: White Marigolds

loves to play in the dirt — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

[quote user="h2ogrdn"]Wilderness Mountain nursery was within commuting distance.[/quote] I could not agree with you more Fred. Wilderness could get rich lol.

Re: Sat. 20 March one of 2 "First Days of Spring"

snowwolf57 — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Morning all it is 24 degrees here with the windchill of 12 ugh, snow on the ground about 2 inches left of new got about 4 inches but the first two melted while coming down. So I won't be able to work outside again so into the greenhouse to work for the morning and have to work on all the girl scout money this afternoon and get it ready for the bank.

Brenda like you story on putting up the rebar for your beds.. I use cattle panelings and steel post for my vine. I make them into a igloo shape so I can walk underneath them and collect not only from the outside but inside. Will take some pictures to show you if get a chance. Usually leave it in the same spot for two years take it down and move it over to another area of the garden. Sound like something my DH would do in his sleep, talks all the time and is working in his sleep also. The DD and DS would do that also when they were young scary at time would find them walking out of the house in the middle of the night though either going to ride there bike or playing, would have to herd them back in and tell them it was time for bed.

Wilderness Done planting your seeds? Wow I didn't think you would ever be done. Must be a good feeling. Have a good day selling your bunnies. Glad your babies are doing good in the house.

Dirt Glad you said no to work and will enjoy Sunday. Yes the greenhouse do smell good even if it is just dirt. We have some flower blooming right along in the greenhouse also.Will go in this morning and plant some things we are short of for orders. My pussywill bush is swelling and I think I will cut some this afternoon and bring them in the house for open up will feel more like spring in here then and the daff bulbs I planted in pots in the greenhouse last fall are growing and I see there will be blooms on them so I will be able to make a spring bouquet. I really like the picture of your new additon of the dog. Showed DH and said she or he is a keeper. Your is more chocolate than our is more solid color. The have a very special personallity different from the lab we have.

Rob Glad you are enjoying being back to work. Sucks doing straw bales reminds me of when I was a kid and worked on the farm. We use to do idiot blocks(straw or alfalfa bales) all the time. Didn't mine the straw bales they usually only weight between 50-60 lbs but the alfalfa bales were around 80 lb had a hard time handling them. Glad your babies are doing good in the house am still jealous of you guys being able to do work outside.

Well better get going to the greenhouse will check in later. Good morning and day to all that follow

Re: News from Sidmouth Thursday 19th March '10

snowwolf57 — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Thanks for letting us know was hoping they are well and having a good ole time on vacation. We all need to get away for the everyday grind in our lives. WE miss Wendy and Stewart and are looking for their return next week. Enjoy while you can and back to work with us next week. Good luck with solving the worlds problems somebody has to .

Re: Sat. 20 March one of 2 "First Days of Spring"

brb4y — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

[quote user="wilderness_NY_Z4"] before I load the car and get down there. Just hope the first shift shows at 10 as I don't have time to stay there.[/quote]

Wilderness dear, don't you have to UNload the car before you can LOAD the car? Uh huh, that hurts doesn't it?

Nope, they weren't broken bags either. It's a new brand for them I'd never seen before. I read the whole bag before deciding on them. I've been getting 50lb bags from the co-op for about $5 each (used to be $3.50...) same stuff, same stats (.05% for all three) which is darn gentle. Smells good too (if you like the composted cow poop smell that is) Is called (I saved my notes I made before I went in the store) Earthgro Organic Humus and composted manure. I lied...it's 40lb for $1.38 They also have some sort of top soil for less and I may try some of that just to see and to cover some of the orange around here. I think I'll take Steve the truck instead of Bob next trip.....and the 40lbs is easier on hernias and backs too! Thinking of your broken bags deal I thought fleetingly of making sure they had broken bags and then seeing if I could swing a deal. There was no one around (I was there early the first time and most folk were still in bed I guess) Didn't do it and shame on me for thinking about it.

Rob, sounds like you're trying to recapture your youth and strength by force as I keep trying to do. Walking around in deep mud strengthens the legs and ankles. We used to get our show horses in shape by doing that.....

Tom is still out cold. The sun is out and I'm headed outside since Lucia is still out cold again too so can't feed her. I think if Curtis comes back...if...I'll see if he'll help me cut down over hang branches and feed Fargo. Fargo is hungry. The boxes are hungry for his excrement...

Suposed to get up to 70 again today before the storms begin this afternoon/night and then it all goes back to rain and cold with possible frosts starting tonight. Sigh...

Can't decide whether or not to go back to Walmart for more stuff or work outside. Think I'll work outside. I can go to Walmart in the rain.....right?

Dirt, it does smell good doesn't it? Warm and with life beginning all around you is a great feeling. Proud of you for learning that word spelled N O might just save your life and/or relationship. The DON yesterday offered me any shift I wanted up to, get this, 14 12hour shifts for next week. Uh huh. With simple math that's only 24hours/day for a week. I smiled sweetly and said a bad word that means fresh manure followed with a 'no', then offered her 3 8hour shifts of her choice as long as they were a day apart. Will talk again Monday but today I will not be at home. Well, I won't, I'll be outside even if I have to hurry out the door. Can also use the excuse that I'm out of town if Tom can remember that. That's always true since we don't live IN town.....

It's 8am and no one but me and the dogs are awake so I'm headed outside to limber up by emptying those bags.

later.............the loquacious one for today...lol

Re: Sat. 20 March one of 2 "First Days of Spring"

steepdrive — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

MORNING! I slept in this morning until 7. Good thing too since I was awake for over an hour. Acid reflux and shoulder pains. The former is from Book Club dinner: ribs! And the latter is from hauling a bag of soil sopping wet out of one raised bed and dumping it in another.

I've already walked for the paper. That felt good. Spring is definitely here. The skunk cabbage is showing up along the small creek in the glen and the buds on the trees are swelling and the birds are busy calling to each other. A beautiful day in this patch of God's country.

Before my walk I was working on the newsletter in my study until the smell of death drove me out. It's worse in there this morning because the sun in on the porch. I took my laptop, closed my door and came out here to the great room. I have two doors open even though its in the 40ºs right now just to air things out. It's been over a week since I first noticed the sour smell which has slowly gotten worse. DH has his quartet here for rehearsal and coaching on Thursday. I hope its gone by then.

I didn't get on here at all yesterday so I'll go catch up on what has been posted since I last posted on Thursday.

Oh! Good news! 3 of my 6 cells of tomatoes have seedlings up. I moved them out of the dark mechanical room to the light in the loft. Peppers will take longer. I need to start eggplant next. No sign of the peas I planted on Wednesday but after today's high in the 70ºs there may be some green poking up. Garlic has grown an inch since I last looked on Thursday.

Enjoy your Saturday!

Re: Sat. 20 March one of 2 "First Days of Spring"

red_savage1 — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

[quote user="Roboutside"]loaded a trailer with 150 bales of straw........by myself. Talk about a drag! My hands were just a little sore from grabbing strings for 2 hours. [/quote]

Rob, invest in a pair of hay hooks.

Farm Hardware

-----------------

This is the one I use. Having only one horse & 3 goats, it's all I need. I, especially, like the fact that the handle "swivels".

Farm Hardware

Organic or Nonorganic

Love Birds — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

I am going to start a few things in the green house and am wonderng if organic or nonorganic is better to use? I know nonorganic soil is cheaper than organic. Is there anything else I should know?

Re: Organic or Nonorganic

red_savage1 — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

In this case, cheaper is not better. Go organic if you want decent results. We have a few gardening experts in the group. When they get back on-line, one or more of them will be able to answer your question.

Re: White Marigolds

leehoo — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

I gather seed every fall from my Marigold's for the following year....There the easiest to grow... Thank you Wilderness... I will be checking on the White Marigolds....