Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group

@feisty This is off the walking topic, but I'll give you a quick reply - if you want to talk gardens some more, we'll jump over to the Covid-19 Garden discussion. 3 years ago, in the throws of a wicked, and at the time undiagnosed pneumonia, I couldn't work in my garden for more than a few minutes a day. I was desperate to get the plants out, so I put out a call on "Nextdoor" for help and got 6 people. Under the direction of myself and another Master Gardener, they dug nearly a thousand plants for sharing and for our sale in one day! My poor husband and daughter potted and hauled the sale plants for 2 days, the neighbors all went home with their treasures and I was relieved.
Then came the fun part - all summer and fall, I was called upon to answer questions and offer advice, and some shared pictures of their gardens. The next two springs I got spontaneous offers to help again. Last week, another local group I am a part of "Buy Nothing [City Name]" which is part of Facebook, had a request for perennials, and I have now located additional diggers there.
So check Nextdoor.com in your area, I suggest that if you join, you choose your own and a few nearby neighborhoods.
Sue

Garden tip of the day (Maybe a new feature everyone?)
This idea originated when I left flower stalks standing to provide winter hiding places for solitary bees, but it proved to be a great deer deterrent too. Instead of cutting perennial flower stalks to the ground in autumn, cut them off at varying lengths, from 6" - 18" high and leave them in the garden. Solitary bees, especially the tiny pollinators, will nest in them for winter protection (even here in Minnesota). In Spring, when the tiny, tender perennial plants are coming up, deer will be poked in the face by the stems when they try to nibble and go elsewhere for a meal.
Similarly, plant your tulips in the root zone of spreading shrubs that lose their leaves in Autumn. When they flower in Spring, the twigs and branches interfere with the deer being able to bite off the blooms. Seems to deter the pesky squirrels as well. This year, for the first time in years, I got to enjoy my tulips in bloom - where they were protected. For those still tempting Bambi out in the middle of the yard, I simply pushed a stick or twig in alongside, with the tip very near (1"-2") the emerging bloom. The only 2 blooms I lost were in a bed I didn't get to in time.
I saw yesterday that my friend's favorite hostas, which are waiting for her in my nursery bed, have emerged. Today they will get a thorough spray of deer repellent because they have no other protection.
By the way - I don't live in the country, but in a first-ring suburb of a city - but lots of parks, lakes, a long creek nearby, and wildlife abounds. I want to put a trail cam in my backyard to see exactly who visits...
Sue

This is what greets my sleepyhead husband each morning instead of my smiling face. A little chilly this morning, started out with zipped jacket, scarf and gloves, so I picked up the pace for almost a mile, walking for over 40 minutes today. Going to be cool and maybe a shower later, so I'm heading out to get my gardening in before lunch.
Happy walking everyone! Don't forget to stretch.
Sue

It's going to be 90+ today so I think I will have to start walking soon. Then maybe wash down my patio, I planted a small ginger with buds in a pot, looks like shoots are coming out! I don't have big gardens like alot of you have... So jealous....looks like we skipped spring and just go right to summer! Happy walking!

@becsbuddy, like the poster and laughing that you can't remember "which week we are on"...someone told me we are into a new Month already....really/?? vbg
@lilypaw &@wisco50, I live in west texas and have noticed that higher temps have started earlier over the past 2 yrs. As a sunshine maven, I can tolerate our dry heat much better than that in more humid areas. However, three digit temp on May 1st set a record high here.

Lilypaw, I am so sorry your pain is so intense. While I’ve not had a spinal fusion done, a close friend’s hubby did. She told me that ff his surgery and initial recovery, she found him in his study with tears streaming. Alarmed, she asked: “What’s wrong?”
He said: “I never expected to be pain free again and I had forgotten how wonderful it is!” This from a very outwardly macho male whom she’d had to drag behind a donkey cart to get him to docs in the past! Certainly, we’ll be rooting for you and hope you’ll let us know when your surgery takes place.
Well, I’m sending you some cyber love right back! Smiles. I was an unexpected addition to our family. When my 11 yr old sister was told that I was on the way, she quickly asked if our mom had told our dad yet ??
Had the rural hospital not been so tiny, I think my parents would have questioned whether or not they’d brought home “the right baby”. Unlike my very mild mannered parents and sister, I was told I was quite a “handful” from the beginning. Got my days and nights mixed up; at age 3, I stormed into the house demanding to know: “Why God had put more sunshine in our neighbor’s yard”…Seriously doubt that “feisty” was the 1st word that came to mind in describing me over the years…lol

@migizii, I am heartened to hear that your MN gov was able to secure timely federal assistance. Sadly on too many fronts, each of our 50 gov’s are having to act for their state as if they were an independent nation. Thank goodness, some are beginning to form regional alliances with one another because what affects one, affects us all.
It would have been considered science fiction for any American a few short years ago to be even imagining that a parent would be considering setting up a tent in the yard or seeking to borrow an ice fishing house for a son to safe harbor. Yet, as you write our perserverance in doing our part individually will hopefully see us through this time of pandemonium.
As @robbie1956 said so well: “staying safe can be done easier when all take this seriously”.

@lioness, Dear Linda, I Really needed to hear your words this morning. Yesterday a friend called wanting to go to for an in-restaurant meal. When I told her that I’d like nothing more but my lungs wouldn’t approve of the exposure, she chided and almost ridiculed me for being so “over the top” cautious. It hurt. And worse is that I am in such a minority within my friend/acquaintance group that I can only predict more of the same in the days ahead.
Thanks, @Parus, Yes! Maybe your words need to become my first mantra of the coming days: “I frequently remind myself I am only responsible for my own behavior.”

@sueinmn, Methinks you were the motivational, ever ready little spark plug that kept your Tx friends walking! While Zoom may be out, your cyber encouragement will probably serve to keep them “on the go”. Smiles Temps must be warming in MN if you are out clearing your garden beds. I’ve not been away like you but I’m behind in weeding my multiple flower beds so remember your Tx buddy will be pulling right along with you. At least this keeps us out of some mischief, yes?
Sue, I am intrigued with your help from “diggers”…who are they? Would they consider traveling to Tx??? Like you, I always contribute plants to our Arboretum plant sales. With the cancellation this year, I’ve been putting some winnowed out bulbs and perennials with a Free sign in my driveway. Within 2-3 hrs, they are all taken. Hadn’t considered posting them on our Neighborhood facebook page but like the idea for “next time”.

Aw shucks, @zep! Both parents hailed from central Tx. and my dad would start talking about how wonderful the “rich, black, loamy soil” smelled as our car visits took us there for visits with relatives. I wish you could share some with me too!!!! Vbg I’ve also been amending for years but have yet to garner your great results. I wear a pr of cleated shoes and use a long handled poker to help aerate and get water closer to the roots in mid-summer.
Can commiserate with your scarcer energy too. We had bumble bees and some honeybees but fewer than in years past. Also regret that how once Monarchs blanketed our lawns on their migrations, now we celebrate seeing very small clusters.
How anyone can question the effects of global warming is beyond me. I can remember Al Gore addressing the issue in the 70’s but even now, there are those who refuse to acknowledge its existence. What a world and time we are living in!
Thanks,

@lioness, I never thought to try the sautee for the dandies. Side note: poured boiling water on several shooting up between sidewalk sections…although it wilted some of the leaves…the water didn’t kill the suckers! Talk about persistence!!!!!

How is everyone doing? Just walking up a storm? I’m also wondering if we should continue past week 12 since we’re at week 10. I, for one, know I need the motivation!