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Spring 2011
message 201:
by
Terri
(new)
Apr 30, 2011 11:24AM
Wow--you are AWESOME!
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Terri, to get certified as a Master Gardener, after taking the class you have to do community service hours. Then to keep your certification up, you have to do so many hours a year community service and so many hours continuing education. I started with this park to get my Master Gardener certification, and just have continued. Not a lot of time involved, once I got ahead of the weeds and it mulched. People stop and chat, and everyone in town appreciates it. It is getting harder, just like my own garden, with my health issues. But I am more able than the 70 and 80 year olds in the gardening club in town!
Wow, you're a master gardener too? What don't you do? :) I would like to be one sometime in the near future. Can't do it right now--The Big Purge is enough to keep me busy for the moment--but I hope to do it by perhaps next summer.
The classes are usually held during the winter (non-gardening months). There are no tests. It isn't that big a deal. I thought it meant more before I did it.
Terri wrote: "The city gives you mulch? Really? Wow. We don't get that here. Sounds like you've been doing a LOT of work! Hopefully you didn't over do it. But isn't there something so satisfying about clea..."Many towns/cities/boroughs will give you mulch and dirt, you can contact your local municipality to see if they do this. Also local farms and cemeteries are great sources for this as well.
Miriam wrote: "The classes are usually held during the winter (non-gardening months). There are no tests. It isn't that big a deal. I thought it meant more before I did it."I can't wait to live in a place with more accessibility to a master gardener program - I don't drive because of my health and the cooperative extension is clear across the county with no direct or easy public transportation to it. (There's no options for the disabled with this county's program which angers me). While the online course I did was much more extensive apparently than what my cousin did in the master gardener program (a requirement of the degree she was getting), I'd still like to do it.
Jo, our rural county has a van that you can access, but it does charge. Less than a taxi, which we don't have. Could you get a friend to take it with you?
No, even if my friends were interested, they work and wouldn't be able to attend as the classes are mid morning. One day, when we move, I'm hoping to be able to do it.
mid morning! I have never heard of such a thing! The only people available for mid morning classes are retirees! They sure are shooting their program in the foot!
It's very popular and very hard to get a seat in so I guess not! What they do works apparently, just not well for those of us with disabilities/unable to drive.
Jo wrote: "It's very popular and very hard to get a seat in so I guess not! What they do works apparently, just not well for those of us with disabilities/unable to drive."What a bummer for you, Jo. Our county offers the courses on line and I think you only have to actually show up a couple of times to meet the requirements. Seems odd this program is different in different parts of the country.
Once again awoke to snow on this ground this AM and temps did not make it into the 40s today. I have a feeling we will wake up one morning with temps in the 80s with humidity to match and we'll all be gasping because we've had no chance to get used to the temp change. It's happened before.
Cheryl, it varies from county to county here so I'm not surprised it varies from state to state. Though my cousin lives in this county, because she was attending the State University which is in a different county than ours and had to do the master gardeners program because of a course requirement, she was able to do it there and it's completely different than the program in our county.
Jo wrote: "Cheryl, it varies from county to county here so I'm not surprised it varies from state to state. Though my cousin lives in this county, because she was attending the State University which is in a ..."Interesting! I just think there should be opportunities for those with physical handicaps as we all agree gardening can be so theraputic. Just one more thing that needs to be looked at and fixed!
My grand-daughter who moved into our old house with her hubby & 3 children has started gardening. She & hubby are reviving our old vegetable garden. Roxy is re-doing what is left of my perennial border that runs alongside the house. A nice space with full sun. She has some donations of iris which are starting their new shoots and some clumps of bluebells we dug up from the woods. They already have buds, tho we have had only 2 days with the temp. over 60. My old narcisus are coming up all over the place. A few left-over dafodils are blooming, and of course the giant forsythia bush that had been run over by snowmobiles all winter is now true to its name a "Fountain of Gold", it's not much the rest of the year, but that early spring gold - what a welcome to the season.
Everything here is blooming. The white cedars (our version of cherry blossom), yellow alamanda, horseradish tree, even a few blooms on the flamboyant trees. Two of my three papaya trees have fruit, sadly unreachable now as the trees are too tall and too far down a steep slope. My breadfruit tree has lots of male swords and one 'lollipop' of a fruit. Unfortunately my huge variegated philodendron which had 3'leaves, mostly white, has been eaten leafless by snails. I just have to hope it springs up again.
Picked up some really pretty Celosia yesterday at the supermarket, red with a slight pink tinge to it. Mom asked me where I was going to put it and I said, "I don't know! Buy now, plant later!" lol! The nursery I visited yesterday didn't have anything I was looking for so hopefully I'll visit another one by week's end where I know I'll find what I want. (I'd never been to this one, it was closer to home and I'd heard good things about it - it was nice and the people were friendly but they didn't have much in the way of selection or variety at all).
Trip to the (good) local nursery today, very excited. I have my list but I'm sure there will be Many other temptations! lol
Well I didn't veer from my list and got exactly what I wanted from the nursery today! A Cytisus 'Lena Scottish Broom' flowering shrub to place in front of one of the living room windows. (There's a forsythia in front of the opposite one and nothing in front of the middle). (Maroon buds will open to yellow, orange & ruby blooms).
Clematis 'Daniel Derona' for the arbor - I wanted a clematis but never thought I'd find one So Stunning!!! The purple is incredible, I'll post a pic soon.
Lastly, because they had a good sale on 3, Knockout Rose Rosa 'Radrazz,' (pinkish red) two of which are on the front porch (now the 2 hydrangea's are on the back patio in the full shade) and the 3rd new rose is out back long the fence.
If I happen to come across a 'Vanilla Strawberry' hydrangea, a nice purple butterfly bush (to replace the one that's died :-() and a couple of nice hosta's (for out back), great - if not, they can wait until next year.
Hubbs was very gracious and moved the hydrangea's to the back and moved the garden containers along the fence as well for me today. All I have to do tomorrow is re-pot a couple of azalea's and put together the new arbor (the old one was destroyed by this winter's snow drifts!) and get the celosia into the planter out front.
At long last the leaves are popping out on the lilacs. They usually bloom about May 15th so needless to say they're pretty late. They are one of my favorites and bring back a lot of good childhood memories of spending time picking them with my grandmother and filling the house with bouquets. Love the scent, especially in the rain.
Found out last week there is a new greenhouse only about 10 miles from here and can't wait to check it out. Everyone is surprised about its location as it is only a couple of miles from another big nursery that's very popular. The new one offers high end landscaping services including maintainence so maybe that will be their special draw.
Cheryl S. wrote: "At long last the leaves are popping out on the lilacs. They usually bloom about May 15th so needless to say they're pretty late. They are one of my favorites and bring back a lot of good childhoo..."My white and purple lilacs are in bloom, as is the Sensation lilac (for the first time!)! One Korean lilac is starting to bloom, another is all budded out. I just spent about four hours cleaning up more brush (butterfly bushes, phlox, asters, etc. that I didn't get cut down yet) and spreading six bags of mulch where I weeded Friday. I indulged at Walmart, and bought an armeria (sea thrift) as well as two tomatoes and a rosemary (I killed my last rosemary). Oh, and an asparagus fern. Got the tomatoes potted, and the armeria in the hell strip. Forgot I needed more potting soil, so tomorrow morning I will go to the local hardware store and get a bag so I can repot the fern and rosemary. They will both have to come inside in the fall, with my pink geraniums and my mosquito plant. (I can't do many houseplants with my cats. One even eats the nasty smelling geraniums!) Anyway, my knees were hurting before I even started, so I am done for the day. Now to sit outside with a book and enjoy!
I saw some beautiful foxgloves at Lowe's yesterday. Too bad they're poisonous. I wouldn't want to chance my pups eating them. So far all they eat is the dirt. Everytime I put down gro-mulch or worm castings they think they've died and gone to heaven. It's kind of comical when I catch them. The younger one slinks away with a look that says she's obviously the world's worst dog and please don't hate me mommy! She scrunches up her eyebrows, giving her that worried look--like "I'm in sooo much trouble!" The older dog simply stares at me like "What? Haven't you ever seen a dog eat dirt before?"
The first roses have opened. I could keep my nose in them all day. Happy Mother's Day, especially to those mom's of angels in heaven & single mom's, in the group.
Yes, happy mother's day everyone! I gathered a lovely bouquet of various pink roses from garden to sit on my nightstand. One of them, David Austin's Heritage is much lighter than I anticipated, but it smells HEAVENLY! Like old fashioned roses. Love it!
I did drool over the David Austin catalog lol! Such beauties! My Knockout roses have begun blooming and I love their scent, very sweet and not too floral if that makes any sense.
Discovered today only one of the three Knock Out roses I planted last year is alive. Bummer. Am finally starting to see buds on my oakleaf hydrangeas. I was getting worried about them too.Awoke this morning to blasting thunder at 5AM so yes, another rainy cool day. However, we are supposed to have 80s the next 2 days with high humidity and more storms. My grass really needs to be cut if it will just stay dry long enough for me to do it.
Cheryl, I had to resort to the weedeater since my grass got too long for my reel mower in front. The back is beyond the weedeater even! It has been a wet spring again. Glad you will finally get some warmth. We are expecting 90 today.
Stopped by City Hall to ask if I could take a start from their blue hostas out front. They said I could take them all if I could figure out something that would do well all summer in that spot. It is afternoon sun, lots of concrete and reflective glass, so I am going to pull out my books and figure something nice out. The hostas are beautiful now, but get sad by June. AND the city manager, from AZ originally, likes a formal sculptured look. (He tried to pave over the gardens I take care of!)
Pave over gardens?! *sputtering*I'm going to pick up a couple of large hosta's for the shadiest corner of the back yard to give it some interest.
I have Sum and Substance, a very large one, and it does great! Also have a very large blue crinkly one, but cannot remember the name. Yeah, the whole community of gardeners and garden appreciaters gave the new city manager an earful when he proposed paving over it and having maybe four shrubs in the corners. Everyone walking downtown detours to walk through it. I am always getting compliments and thank yous for weeding it. He was new to the job- was a cop before. Learned a bit about who's city it really was! LOL
Yay! Glad the gardeners gave it too him! The nerve! LOL. I'm sure he went home shaking his head and thinking "Who knew that many people cared?" LOL. Good luck on your choice to replace the Hostas. How the heck did Hostas ever grow in the late summer afternoon sun? They would have died here in a week.
We have a lot more rain and humidity than you do, and less heat, 80s are usual summer highs. So they do well (been there a couple of years) until it gets hotter. Then they start to look sad. We have had a record high here. The previous record was 89, and we hit 92 today. My poor old lab is panting. Last week it was only highs in the 40s, so she hasn't shed completely yet!
I was able to spend most of the day working in the yard today. With the heat I have to sit every fifteen minutes or so. My blood pressure meds mess me up in hot weather. I used to love it, work all day with no breaks! Age. Got a lot of weeding done. Spread some pine needle mulch around another hosta bed. Planted yellow squash and zucchini. Potted up all my dahlias. Potted up the asparagus fern and rosemary. Moved some hostas and fenced the area (had taken them out of the back yard since the dogs dug in that area, but now that I have neighbors that care about what the yards look like, figured I would put them back and put chicken wire AND wrought iron fence sections up to keep the dogs out!
Tried to just sit and read out there, but kept finding little things to do... but rain and storms are expected the next two days, so I can read then!
Miriam wrote: "Cheryl, I had to resort to the weedeater since my grass got too long for my reel mower in front. The back is beyond the weedeater even! It has been a wet spring again. Glad you will finally get..."
Grrrrrrrrrrr on the paving. What is the matter with people? Paving is about as ungreen as you can get!
Glad you got those yummy blue hostas. I'm in the market for some too, but doubt I will have your luck.
Miriam wrote: "I have Sum and Substance, a very large one, and it does great! Also have a very large blue crinkly one, but cannot remember the name. Yeah, the whole community of gardeners and garden appreciat..."
At least it sounds like he's learning.
Guess it got to the 90s in southern Minnesota today, but was only 82 here. However, last week it was 40 as a high on Monday and it snowed, so the craziness continues. Also it's humid which is my bugaboo.
Cheryl S. wrote: "Guess it got to the 90s in southern Minnesota today, but was only 82 here. However, last week it was 40 as a high on Monday and it snowed, so the craziness continues. Also it's humid which is my ..."Eightytwo sounds like much better sleeping weather than 92. I had a hard time sleeping last night.
Love Sum and Substance and the slugs do not seem to like it. Hurrah!
I read this past year that mulching with pine needles keeps the slugs away from hosta, so I am trying it this year. Will let you all know the results!
Just discovered teeny tiny catapillar looking little wormy things eating away at my raspberry foliage and aphids on 2 of my roses bushes out front so I spent over an hour spraying everything down w/1 part dish soap 10 parts water. Pests already and we're still having chilly temps! (Can't imagine what it will be like once we get to July and Aug!) So chilly in fact that my 'Lena' Scotch Broom is turning black (which it apparently does during the Winter). Sigh.
Miriam wrote: "Cheryl S. wrote: "Guess it got to the 90s in southern Minnesota today, but was only 82 here. However, last week it was 40 as a high on Monday and it snowed, so the craziness continues. Also it's ..."So did I and I refuse to turn on the AC in May. It was not hot, but very humid -- yuk!
Cheryl S. wrote: "Miriam wrote: "Cheryl S. wrote: "Guess it got to the 90s in southern Minnesota today, but was only 82 here. However, last week it was 40 as a high on Monday and it snowed, so the craziness continu..."I also refused to turn on the air. I rarely use it anyway, preferring open windows and fans. Victorian houses were built to stay cool in summer- the overhangs, high ceilings were not just ornamental. I have lovely trees to block the sun in the summer too. Although the black maple on the south side of the house is slowly dying. The arborist said in about ten years it will be dead, so I have let some volunteer trees grow to replace it.
Just read "Night Shade" by Susan Wittig Albert. Great book for plant people and those interested in herbs.I was really impressed by her knowlege.
One nice day this week in the N.W. Getting frustrated.
She's one of the best when it comes to writing about herbs etc!
If you know of other authors that are great at plants love to hear them. (Fiction)
message 245:
by
Bloomin’Chick (Jo) aka The Eclectic Spoonie
(last edited May 12, 2011 10:02AM)
(new)
I'm always looking for authors that have gardening in their novels too! Hm, off the top of my head: Carleen Brice's Orange Mint and Honey is a wonderful novel that has lots of gardening in it. Nora Roberts' 'In The Garden' trilogy, while part ghost story and part romance is filled w/lots of gardening and what goes on a a nursery (re botany, grafting etc) - the titles are Blue Dahlia, Black Rose and Red Lily (they are the only novels by her I've ever finished and loved!). Anthony Eglin writes English garden mysteries. Irish writer Tara Heavy's Winter Bloom is an incredible gardening fiction read. I'm about to give Sheila Roberts' Love In Bloom a try (I haven't read her before).
Jo wrote: "I'm always looking for authors that have gardening in their novels too! Hm, off the top of my head: Carleen Brice's Orange Mint and Honey is a wonderful novel that has lots of gardening in it. No..."Wow, Jo, what a great list, I'm adding them all to my "to be read" file.
Did a little survey of the yard today and can report raspberry splash plumerias and pink bleeding hearts are blooming and the tulips the bunnies didn't eat are about to. The crab apples have buds on them as do the lilacs. Shrubs and bushes are finally leafing out and I did discover 1 tiny leaf on a Knockout Rose I thought was dead, so there's still hope there. It's amazing what 2 days of at least some sun and high temps can do this time of year. Today, however it's back to gloom and rain which is supposed to last until Sunday.
Cheryl S. wrote: "Jo wrote: "I'm always looking for authors that have gardening in their novels too! Hm, off the top of my head: Carleen Brice's Orange Mint and Honey is a wonderful novel that has lots of gardenin..."My Aunt knows of more most likely so I'm going to ask her for the ones she recommends too!
Jo wrote: "Cheryl S. wrote: "Jo wrote: "I'm always looking for authors that have gardening in their novels too! Hm, off the top of my head: Carleen Brice's Orange Mint and Honey is a wonderful novel that ha..."Good! Now that I'm finally working outside I'm in the mood for some garden themed reads.
Thanks Jo. I have read Anthony Elgin's books but did not know the others and will look forward to reading them.
