Gardening Blurb

[Busy B]

Well since it's popping into that time of the year, when I have less time for the boards and have to live in my Ghouse, I thought I'd start a blurb to tell you the activity of the day. Oh won't this be fun!wow! I even bought a small coffee pot that I can hook up so I don't have to come in the house for coffee...I'll get to pop in and out when it's a snack break..I'll miss you guys:sad: :wave:

Today I got the heating mat fired up...I bought begonia bulbs and a couple roses..Lost one of my clients...one for our house...

Need to take cuttings of the geraniums and the fuschias , more the merrier right?

Hope you don't get bored with my blurb!rofl

[Busy B]

Yesterday got some fuschia cuttings taken and they are on the mat covered up with saran wrap...helps to hold the moisture in the leaves until they take root.

Silly me, while browsing quickly thru the store, saw some dahlia tubers (cactus type flower) and some lily bulbs...you can never have enough lilies right?:D

Should of been home cleaning out more of the other ghouse cause my dirt should get here tomorrow and my first shipment will be on it's way...

[Busy B]

Haven't had a chance to spend much time in the ghouse and it's going to bite me soon if I don't...


So to appease...;)

A pic of a clients view

Pic of a planter box in front of a mural

Old birch logs stacked up with planters on top with cascading stuff..

[Busy B]

Between trying to work on taxes, other paperwork, and getting the greenhouse ready and cleaned and stuff shuffled...not much free time but I do manage to pop in here:wave:

Last week my geranium, fuschia, and double impatiens showed up...they were supposed to come on the airlines and by Friday I was starting to worry...Fri afternoon the FedEx truck showed up...tada!

So the first pic is how they come in as...8 trays to a box, 4 in each section.

Second pic is what the plug looks like...trim off the yellow leaves, pinch out the growing tip to make them bush out from the bottom and then plant them into a 4 inch pot.

Last pic is one bench/table full...

I'm going to run out of room fast...lots lived thru the winter, I have the tote full of my fish in there. I'm watering in the plants with the fish water...should be interesting to see how that goes..works on the plants outside in the summer so should be OK in the ghouse. Gives me something to do with all that water from a water change.

I'm trying to stall till I have to move into the big ghouse. Gas company decided to up their rates and heating it is no fun...so the little ghouse gets crammed until I can't move to plant.

This thread is not really closed so if you have a comment or a question, feel free.

[Jackie Ramo]

At least the shipped nice healthy plants to start with Busy. Give us a shot of the greenhouse so we can see the work area. I like to see how you root the fushia,never had any luck with them myself..

[Busy B]

I'm still trying to tidy up but I can get a shot when daylight hits of the begonias and fushcias.

[Jackie Ramo]

What? Are you still in the dark up there???? ;)

[Busy B]

Yes Miss Smarty Pants...still is dark at night and early morning;)

Yesterday the Proven Winners came...via airline...not knocked around too bad. 2000 plants looking for a new home..into 4 inch pots...going to be really pushing it to find space..Anyone want to get their hands dirty?

Some pics of the PW's and just for Jackie...the cuttings of the fuschias. I use a mix of vermiculite and peat for rooting. Have to keep it moist but not soggy. One flat is covered with plastic flat cover the other saran wrap. If the sun's out, they need to be vented cause it will cook them. Some have bit the dust, not really seeing any new growth yet. I don't use old wood, use the tips for the cuttings..some of the leaves will shrivel and die but where they've been pinched they'll send up new leaves.

[Jackie Ramo]

If you were a bit closer dear I'd motor over and give you a hand. That sure is a lot of plants. What varieties did you get?

Maybe i'll have to try some peat in with the vermiculite for my cuttings, I usually just use the vermiculite by itself. Most things root in it, but geraniums prefer to root in dirt. Silly things.

I bought some dahlia tubers and caladium today. Almost picked up some begonias but they really weren't the ones I wanted. Avoided by seeds just barely as I have a bag of seeds sent to me by friends I'd better plant first.

[Jackie Ramo]

So have you got them all potted up yet. Was thinking of you while I was out taking cuttings and tidying up in the greenhouse today.

[Busy B]

Yawn....I'm tired....so not much to report...begonias came in yesterday...I have every nook and cranny filled so made up some begonia baskets but even my hanging space is limited. Lots of the geraniums in baskets wintered over so they will go into larger deck pots when I have the room. They are all finally cut back and cleaned up.

Shipment before was nemesia, bacopa's, million bells, verbena's, phlox, super petunias and more...all trailers mostly but they make the baskets/pots so pretty.

Did I say I was tired? :grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

Ok I'm tired now and barely got anything down today. You've been working and I've been puttering. Kept popping outside to see if more ice had melted so I could see the fish. They were up off the bottom and swimming around in the late afternoon.

[Charla]

I've got some more oriental and asiatic lilys I HAVE to get in the ground ASAP.

Thinking about nemesia, gerbera dasies, million bells etc. the time is NOW in my part of the world. My garden went to heck in a handbasket over the last year and a half. Wish I could do fuschais, way too hot and dry, begonias are iffy ... 20 miles south of me can do both on a shaded patio.

Wish I could drive waayyyy up the coast and give you a hand.

Charla

[Dewi]

Yesterday got some fuschia cuttings taken and they are on the mat covered up with saran wrap...helps to hold the moisture in the leaves until they take root.

Silly me, while browsing quickly thru the store, saw some dahlia tubers (cactus type flower) and some lily bulbs...you can never have enough lilies right?:D

Should of been home cleaning out more of the other ghouse cause my dirt should get here tomorrow and my first shipment will be on it's way...
Ghouse, blurb,isn't it wonderful that the English language is so divers,Didn't someone once say, Two peoples seperated by a common language :lol: well I have to up the apple and pairs as I'm off for a ruby murry and an engineer :D I'd show you some flowers I have already in the garden, but I'm having a bit of barny rubble sending them. !rofl Have a nice day.

[Busy B]

Now you've got me curious Dewi.:-? ..where the heck are you located...your last sentence was French to me. By the way, youngest son has the same B-day as you...Happy Belated Birthday!strut

Wish you could too Charla..up Hwy 101 and turn left:lol:

Have you tried the Soil Moist crystals for your soil Charla? Might help to hold water in the soil or setting the plants on some rocks in a tray with a bit of water for some humidity...

My pond is still mostly snow...little bit of slush showing up...glad the fish are inside Jackie...I'd of worried all winter.

[Dewi]

Moi!! French, It is said I have a cetain je ne sais quoi,but I do have joie de vivre ;) I'm Welsh,thats the bit that sticks out on the west side of England, Just befor you get your feet wet in the Irish sea. Bora da Busy bee yduch chwn hoffi uma?? :D thats welsh. ;)

[Dewi]

Yeah, just rolls off the tongue, now your curious, huh??

[Charla]

Dewi is some where in Britain .. I think she' s going upstairs ( apples & pairs) and she's having trouble ( barney rubble) sending pics. Other than that your guess is agood as mine.

Charla,

[Charla]

Dewi types faster than I do. Hey, I was in the right area! :D

[Busy B]

Now I need an interpreter to read your messages Dewi! Thanks Charla! :grin:

[Dewi]

Very good Charla,apples and pairs=stairs,


barney rubble=trouble

engineer= beer

ruby murry = curry

Its cockney rhyming slang, very surprised you knew any of it, Bravo. You did get a very small thing wrong. I'm not a she ;) Dewi means David where I come from. :-D The welsh, loosely translated means, good morning busy its lovely here. :D I promise to only use the common language of us both from now on. ;)

[Busy B]

You can use either Dewi...just depends on how much coffe I've had if I can figure out what your saying :grin:

Daughter had an iguana named Dewi...twas her best friend for years.

[Dewi]

I would like to here you say Dewi, welsh is phonetic,so it aint Dowee, sounds like dare-we :wave: I look nothing like an Iguana ;)

[Busy B]

NOT!!

Dare we? Never would of figured it that way...her's was more like dew-ee:wink: I had figured you didn't look like an iguana tho!

Errands and paperwork have slowed down so it's back to the greenhouse. One of my shipments was messed up but lucky for me, I get most of it this week...might cut myself a little short to grow them, but it's better than a bunch of mad, mean women!!wow!

Finally made it thru the non-stop begonias and now have been root pruning last years plants and repotting some of the bigger pots with new trailers. Have to finish up planting the begonia bulbs into baskets and found some gaps in the big ghouse that need to be sealed up so all my heat doesn't go outside...should be in there this week...

Can't understand what happened to my stamina....used to be able to go for hours...now naptime calls more often:-P And it's not that warm here yet! Better get a multi-vitamin or something:grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

Ahhh nap time, I know it well :)

I'm tired just doing my own plants never mind all the ones you are doing. I must be late as I'm doing the same things as you and its almost spring here

[Busy B]

Don't have time to play:( but thought I would show you the view out of my "office" window:grin: I'll get to watch it "come alive" and melt.

Perennials came yesterday, and the lobelia finally showed up so time to do the tiers and balls...

No nap for me!

[Jackie Ramo]

Oh Busy I hope it all melts soon for you... gave me the shivers !wow!

[Charla]

Darn the looks COLD !
I need my fuzzy slippers just to look at it.

Charla

[Busy B]

It's been awhile...slowly but surely I'm getting there...have annuals still to plant, most of the baskets are done and working on the bigger deck pots...legs will then be next. I'd take pictures but I hate to show how untidy and disorganized I am :grin: As I make a little headway, I'll update with pics and hope the color starts showing up..still not lots of sun..rain for the last few days. I start the day with 3 or 4 shirts and thin them down as I thaw out. Greenhouse is staying around 50..good thing the plants like to grow cool.

[Busy B]

Finally making some headway! I can see light at the end of the tunnel...my bones and back are getting used to the work...feet still hurt like a dickens but that's what happens when you walk on gravel all day.

Here's the updated pics..still not lots of color but it's getting there..main thing most of the annuals and baskets are planted and the leg's are on that other thread..Next time I'll have to take pics of the smaller greenhouse.

[Busy B]

I forgot to show you the coolest part!wow!

I have 3 50 gallon barrels that holds my water and I water the plants with a bucket..I hate hoses:twisted: ...I have a hot water on demand system hooked up on the outside of the greenhouse..the outside spigot hooks up to it and I used to run another hose to fill the buckets..

Dear Sweet Hubby (and trust me, I don't call him that very often!bonk ) set up a pipe with valves so I can fill each bucket at my whim...doesn't get much better huh?:) Well maybe if I had a dedicated well for the greenhouse..

[Jackie Ramo]

May he could hook up a spray system for you. Put it on a timer and you could sleep in in the morning. Trust me, I have great lists of things for hubbies to do. :lol: No wonder mine likes to go to the office.

[Jackie Ramo]

I can't believe how nice a neat you greenhouse is. Mine looks like a disaster hit it all the time. Half my seeds didn't sprout this year and I burned most of the other half putting them out when we had a heat wave...

[Busy B]

Hubby already had that idea...wanted to run piping all the way around the rafters and have hoses hanging at intervals...I don't like hoses!! If I water with a bucket, I can inspect each basket/pot and keep an eye out for critters that shouldn't be there.

I told you I wouldn't take pics until I was organized :smile:

[Jackie Ramo]

I was thinking more of the sprinkler system they use in greenhouses. Just like rain from the ceiling, set on a timer to go off for whatever time you wanted for as long as you wanted. I'd have them watered while I was sleeping then go in with a cup of coffee and inspect :frisbee: Still lugging all that water keeps you slim and trim I suppose.

[Busy B]

Good for upper body strength :lol:

Already have to watch the humidity...need more vents...bought them and they never got put in...and some like it dry and some don't want water on the leaves and some don't like fertilizer...picky...just like kids :grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

OK, do it the hard way, see if I care :frisbee: I'd find a system but then I'm lazy and have too many projects and too little time. Lugging water around the house is bad enough. I bought a drip system for the greenhouse but haven't been able to figure out how to set it up... they always look so easy in the store, but like you I have special needs plants so it becomes and engineering problem.

[Busy B]

I'm worn out and still stuff to do...looks like clouds today so maybe a break from keeping things alive..

Planter boxes keep showing up...I don't think all people know it takes time to grow!bonk I'm about out of room so anyone else is, well, you know..

And I tried a vine this year 'Silver lace vine', Polygonum something (if you want the fancy name, I can find the tag) ...don't know if it will be hardy even tho the supplier said it would..time will tell..The tag say's it grows 20 to 30 feet in a season, so thought I would try it for a arbor I have by the pond. Even if it doesn't live, I'll have green over the arbor.

So there they were, sitting on the bench and slow at first and then the next thing you know, it looked like I had teepees!wow! Man do they climb! So I found some cheap shepard hooks, set them in the pots and pinched out the growing tip. If I can keep them contained till they go outside, I'll be happy.

[GregBickal]

Cool Pictures !! Are you using a special setting to take those wide pictures, or are you just croping them that way.

[Jackie Ramo]

Silver lace vine, you'll need a machette to keep it under control. Pretty in fall though. Sweet Autumn clematis should be hardy to you. Blooms same time, smells like vanilla.

[Busy B]

Nothing special Greg..that's just the way the camera takes pic and I load them..I don't read manuels:)

Jackie...did the Silver Lace winter for you? I'm guessing it won't here or bloom before it freezes..

Things are starting to come alive..seeing a bit more color..my camera had been in the car and the lens was foggy so the pic's look like I used a filter. The begonias are really pretty this year. New supplier...going to have to use them again.

[Jackie Ramo]

I think it should go to zone 3 Busy, it may be sparce on bloom for you... blooms here in Sept but sometimes as ealry as August.

Green house plants look terific. I'll not show a pic of my half dead plants...

[Busy B]

Not much to update, but should show some pics of the stuff before it leaves..will do that soon.

Been cutting back the plants that have gotten too tall..few hot days and the pansy's stretch so pinching them back. Thin the dahlias to less of them in a flat so the lower leaves get more light. Move the perennials outside. Few things have moved out the door, so have a little more bench space and with the recent rains, helps to split things up so there's a little more air circulation around the plants.

Getting there...

[Jackie Ramo]

Should I pinch my dahlias back. darn things are tall and skinny.

[Charla]

I'm pinching back Mums ... what are the darn things doing out now! I'm so behind ... I used to have a beautiful front garden, then came the gophers and being unable to garden because of my knee ... very little left of it. I need to tear it up and redo ... maybe next year ... almost too late now.

[Jackie Ramo]

Gosh Chalra stop giving me work, my mums are ready for the first pinch as well... as are the asters and probably a ton of other stuff.

[Busy B]

Deliveries have started...!bonk

Son's got my charger for the camera so no new pictures but last years seem to be pretty close..

[Jackie Ramo]

OOOOOOOh Aaawwww! lovely Busy just lovely. send a few of those baskets down here.

[Busy B]

Your sucking up, aren't you Jackie?!rofl

Thanks! I needed a good laugh today:-)

[Jackie Ramo]

If sucking up will get me a couple of those baskets, no problem.

Have I told you today that you look lovely :)

[Charla]

I think you look ravishing, the baskets are phenomenal and the moose in your pond is stunning! !rofl

[Busy B]

You both do know, that this is going to come back to bite you in the arse :grin:

Thanks ladies for the chuckles...:wink:

[Jackie Ramo]

Well if it bites my arse, take a big bite, I'm trying to lose weight :lol:

[Charla]

You could serve a buffet on mine! !wow!

[Busy B]

http://backyardpuddle.com/forum/images/smilies/23_29_132.gif

Walk up and down these rows a few times and you'll have no arse :-P

[Jackie Ramo]

I walk up and down rows like that all the time or so hubby complains, says i have bought the store :grin: can we go now???

[Busy B]

I know it says a week ago I started deliveries...seems like longer than that...

Big and small greenhouse are almost empty except for some leftover annuals. Still have a couple spots to plant..and some stray baskets to drop off.

Been trying to plant some places at night when they close up shop..easier to move stuff and drag hoses then when the parking lots are full...One night I decided to rock out to the radio while digging out a bed of dandelions..found out my car battery lasts 4 hours before it's history!bonk Lucky for me the janitor service jumped the car.

Finished another spot at midnight last night...one thing about it never getting dark...we should be close to 19 hrs of daylight....I can work late...Ye ole back is saying quit now!wow!

Last week I've told myself, this is it...I quit! So I mention it to my customers...don't know how much longer I can keep up...they all tell me..."Sure, you should cut back"..."as long as you still grow my flowers":frisbee: Finally getting paid is some relief...now I can pay the chiropractor and the massage therapist.!rofl

[Jackie Ramo]

Sounds like you need another dirty weekend in Anchorage my dear!!! Still almost done the hard stuff and a few bucks in your pocket should heal that back soon. Do you maintain the displays as well?

[Busy B]

You mind reader, you http://backyardpuddle.com/forum/images/smilies/ icon_wink.gif

Broker is coming to Anchorage next week to put on displays to show what's new for next year (AND I KEEP SAYING I'M GOING TO QUIT!:roll: ) Hubby flys in from work on Wed and I'll head up that night, go to the show the next day, and come back.

I really want to go to another nursery there where I picked up a plant last year and don't know what I did with the tag...see if I can find more of them..

Low growing shrub...had pink unopened blossoms, almost like a sedum, last year. Never did bloom last year and this spring (ish) it's opened and is gorgeous. Foilage almost stayed evergreen...any ideas?

My son still has my charger for my camera...can't take pics yet...they moved and all they know is it is in a box somewere!bonk

Yes...for some of the places I do maintance...water and care and then bring everything home in the fall.

[Jackie Ramo]

low growing shrub with pink flowers sounds like one of the heathers to me and there are numerous heathers some hardier than others and some showier than others. My experience is they are short lived but pretty. Longest I've kept one alive is 3 years. Bog rosemary is also a evergreen with pink flowers it looks like rosemary.

Oh so a double dipping trip. That makes it perfect. :smile:

[Busy B]

Anchorage trip was fast...didn't get there till late afternoon, checked out the favorite nurseries and fish stores :grin: and before you knew it was time to come back. Did end up with a couple lilies! Conference/showcase had a light turnout and we didn't head over till lunch so I could get some one on one with my broker. Got the new catalogs and saw the displays...not much new but a few things caught my eye.. Did end up buying way too many bare-root trees and shrubs that were 50% off...hey! who can refuse a sale? :grin: Favorite find was a Golden Elderberry...we have them growing native on the Turnagain Arm (stretch of highway on the way to Anchorage) only their green leaves. White flowers in the early spring/summer followed by red berries in the fall...pretty showy and BIG! This one will be a speciman somewhere in the yard...8-10 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide.

The plant/shrub I questioned is a Rock Daphne..
http://www.1-flowers.net/article27.html

Where I got mine last year, they only had 4 left...2 really sick looking ones for $35 each and 2 5 gallon for $45 each...couldn't talk myself into spending the money...will have to enjoy the one I got :wink:

Made the last deliverie today with the trailer!! Oh happy day! Came home and took a 5 hour nap! Gosh, I needed that..:lol:

[Jackie Ramo]

Sounds like you had a good trip.

The only daphne I am familiar with is the Burwoodii, Carol Mackie. Killed mine and haven't found one worth the price since. For some reason they are all pruned badly so you'd have to cut half the shrub away to get anything worht having in the garden. interesting article didn't realize it was such a large family of plants.

I have a species elder in bloom now, it's scent was the hit of last nights party.

[Busy B]

Well I think this pretty much wraps up the blurb..guess unless I update some of the stuff later with pics..

Plants at their respective homes are growing...some I keep alive, others I hope they do!dude

Working on the last clients house to make her happy for her garden party. A new deck is being put on (Trex cherry wood) and a new wet bar and redoing the fountain statue with a new product of interlocking brick. Glad I only have to make the yard look nice:-P Planted peony's and some of my vine yesterday and searched the greenhouse for roses for the deck pots. Found Blizzard MockOrange that smells heavenly. Since she's going to have the new deck, need to assemble more planters, so had to search for more plants for a quickie fill. Of course, had to bring home a few for me!bonk

Now just need a day off or two to be able to get them planted. :)

[Jackie Ramo]

I need a trip to a nursery.... now if only I had some money to spend there....best to stay home I think :mad:

[Busy B]

Well this is the culmanation of the blurb.

Been dragging home the fruits of my labor. Wet soggy pots or bone dry, depending on where they were. Once the rains came I knew it was over, even if my customers didn't. Wet cold days and nights have brought it to an end.

Now it's dump out the annuals and prune/cut back that which is maybe saveable. Almost as much work as planting time altho I don't have to worry about breaking a flower off :grin:

Compost pile is filling up and looking for new places to dump the dirt/roots. Over time the roots break down and I have new places to plant.

Was a hectic summer..lots of heat made it hard to keep plants looking their best. Soon as I get the clean up done, it's time to order for next year and then put my feet up for awhile...

Ahhhhh...I can't wait.!dude

Thanks for following the blurb:wink:

[Jackie Ramo]

Sounds like you've had a good season though. Sad when it is over but nice to have some R&R.

I'm looking at my planters trying to decide if I want to overwinter things or just let them go. A few are so nice I'll probably bring them in and kill them slowly !rofl

[Jojopotato]

I let mine go... I brought in my fish and the hen and chicks.. The rest are starting to look a bit sad fromt the frosts in the morning....

[Terri]

Jojo, you said the F word!!!! Shhhhh, we'll have none of that - yet. I still have to get my hibiscus out of the ground and potted...

Have I mentioned I hate winter? Gardening in the snow is over-rated LMAO

[Jojopotato]

You dont have any (you know)? Oh man thats just not fair... I'm already tired of winter and its barely begone...

[Jackie Ramo]

No JoJo we are having a heat wave!! Which ends this evening, too bad as I and the fish were really enjoying it. Still no F word for another week or so I think. I had hoped the warm would hold for me to clean up the pond this weekend but... 55 isn't that bad for air temps and the water won't be too cold.

[Busy B]

And here you thought it was over..:grin:

This cumulates it! I placed my order today for next spring..hoping my acknowledegments all come thru unscathed and no revisions.

I thought outside the box a little and bought stuff I haven't tried before. Wish I knew what the weather was going to be like, it would be easier..

I'll need a good swift kick in the pants in a couple months and I expect you guys to give me one :lol: Going to need lots of motivation :wink:

[Jackie Ramo]

So the cycle is complete!!! I'll not start thinking spring until February but then I don't have to be as organized as you do. What was the most unusual thing you ordered?

[Busy B]

Most unusual...don't know..just trying something new..

The Proven Winners get me every time...and my pocketbook! They are beautiful tho..

These are just for laughs and giggles..hope they do well, and the aphids don't like them..'

http://www.provenwinners.com/plants/detail.cfm?photoID=6195&doSearch=1&searchLightCodeType=Sun&

Tried the blue before...
http://www.provenwinners.com/plants/detail.cfm?photoID=6424&doSearch=1&searchKeywords=Anagallis&btnSearch=search&


http://www.provenwinners.com/plants/detail.cfm?photoID=6720&doSearch=1&searchKeywords=Helichrysum&btnSearch=search&

[Jackie Ramo]

All very nice, especially with your 'legs' in mind. Are these plugs that you would buy and grow out? I tried the needle licorice plant one year but drowned the poor thing :roll:

Maybe if I start planning those legs now they may actually happen this spring.

[Busy B]

Yes...these come in as a bigger plug than I use for the legs...

Start planning your wish list for the legs...maybe just try petunias or pansys...they both fill in nice.

Do you get seed catalogs?

[Jackie Ramo]

Yes I get seed catlogues but I am not good with seeds. Last spring being excited aobut doing the legs I planted several flats of seeds. One April day I decided to start hardening them off, put them outside turns out to be the hottest day of April on record, seedlings fried!!!

I think I will have to use Impatients and lobelia type plants as I want them under the arbour. Although I may try them at the front of the house but the west sun there is hot.

Thoughts of spring how they make one smile!!! :smile: