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Let's Talk about Gardens

Posted by Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor @rosemarya, Mar 31, 2020

Spring is on it's way and many of us are looking forward to some sunshine and warmer weather and being outdoors...and gardens!
Perhaps you look forward to digging in the fresh spring time soil as you prepare for a summer garden? Do you plant flowers? Do you plant vegetables?
Do you garden for enjoyment? Do you garden for health benefits? What do you want to share about your garden?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

lioness | @lioness | May 11, 2020

@gingerw I like the new picture is this the quilt you did ? like it

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Funcountess | @funcountess | May 11, 2020
In reply to @gingerw "@sueinmn I do not like to use the super-duper stuff if not needed, and try to..." + (show)
@gingerw

@sueinmn I do not like to use the super-duper stuff if not needed, and try to be gentle on our Earth. But the north slope of our property has a blackberry jungle. There is a volunteer pine tree trying to survive, plus some fiddlehead ferns. In early January the power company removed a dead maple that threatened to take out power lines, so it opened up some nice space. As in, the blackberries figured it was all for them! We have hauled out most of the rounds of wood, and need to chain up and drag the balance out with the Jeep. Previous owners actually fed the blackberries fertilizer and water! The soil here is pretty adverse to normal plantings, as it has a lot of clay, but I will give it a try.
@jimhd Thanks for that info. I feel guilty that I cannot do what I would like to, given physical/emotional limitations. Doing as much as possible without wiping me out is a daily variable! As of this morning the blackberries are almost gone, thanks to a hard-working young man from the town [posted in gratitude group].
@parus Here, I'll help you down. Soapbox? nah! I can barely manage a step!
Ginger

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Hi Ginger,
Please DO NOT FEEL GUILTY because of your health conditions, and being unable to do as much yard work, as you would like Your health is much more important then trying to do it all.
To be honest I do not know how you are able to do all the cutting, weeding that you have been doing.
I’m glad you got a young person to give you a helping hand. As for chemicals, sometimes they are needed.
I have 3 landscapers/Gardner’s who usually come 4 or 5 times a month to do the heavy work.
I don’t know your age,but that does not matter.
Health should always take “center stage”
How is your orchid cactus doing?
Take care,
Funcountess.

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JK | @contentandwell | May 11, 2020
In reply to @gingerw "@sueinmn I do not like to use the super-duper stuff if not needed, and try to..." + (show)
@gingerw

@sueinmn I do not like to use the super-duper stuff if not needed, and try to be gentle on our Earth. But the north slope of our property has a blackberry jungle. There is a volunteer pine tree trying to survive, plus some fiddlehead ferns. In early January the power company removed a dead maple that threatened to take out power lines, so it opened up some nice space. As in, the blackberries figured it was all for them! We have hauled out most of the rounds of wood, and need to chain up and drag the balance out with the Jeep. Previous owners actually fed the blackberries fertilizer and water! The soil here is pretty adverse to normal plantings, as it has a lot of clay, but I will give it a try.
@jimhd Thanks for that info. I feel guilty that I cannot do what I would like to, given physical/emotional limitations. Doing as much as possible without wiping me out is a daily variable! As of this morning the blackberries are almost gone, thanks to a hard-working young man from the town [posted in gratitude group].
@parus Here, I'll help you down. Soapbox? nah! I can barely manage a step!
Ginger

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@gingerw “I feel guilty that I cannot do what I would like to, given physical/emotional limitations.” Are you kidding me? You sound like a Wonder Woman to me with all that you do!
Why do you not want the blackberries? Are they not the edible type? I used to buy them a lot to add to my yogurt.
JK

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lioness | @lioness | May 11, 2020

@gingerw Or make blackberry pie I use to go pick them for the pie or smoothies I also picked Elderberries for pie .

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Ellen | @helenfrances | May 11, 2020
In reply to @lioness "@parus . I too am sorry if you thought my suggestion of the book Silent Spring..." + (show)
@lioness

@parus . I too am sorry if you thought my suggestion of the book Silent Spring was a criticism it wasnt its a thoughtful book Rachel wrote She was a marine biologist . You do what you want

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Is Rachel Carson a scientist?

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lioness | @lioness | May 11, 2020
In reply to @helenfrances "Is Rachel Carson a scientist?" + (show)
@helenfrances

Is Rachel Carson a scientist?

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@helenfrances Back in the 50-60,s she was a Marine Biologist she studied and wrote about the effects on animals in the ocean and the food change. It's a interesting read

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Funcountess | @funcountess | May 12, 2020
In reply to @jimhd "Roundup is non selective. Weed-be-gone won't kill grass, but intended for broadleaf. I've heard all of..." + (show)
@jimhd

Roundup is non selective. Weed-be-gone won't kill grass, but intended for broadleaf. I've heard all of the hoopla about glyphosates (not sure of the spelling), and I only use it when I need to. Actually, the product I'm using isn't roundup. If someone doesn't want me to use it, they would be most welcome to come and get their hands in the dirt. I just don't have the energy that I used to, and between arthritis in my hands and neuropathy pain in my feet, not to mention depression and anxiety, I can't keep up with everything. Some days are recliner days.

I apologise for using the word hoopla. It doesn't reflect my commitment to taking care of our earth. But those words kind of pop out when I'm tired and hurting.

@gingerw I have lots of tools, and I know how to use them, but like you, there are days when I don't have the strength to use them.

Today I put soaker hoses around the trees in the orchard and weeded around several of them. I'm already paying for the amount of walking involved.

Gotta fix some supper now.

Jim

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Jim,
Where do you get all the energy?
You do so much in your garden. You mentioned soaker hose. Isn’t it easier to just have a sprinkler system installed? In your working years were you a landscape designer?
As for myself, the older I get, the more hardscape I want.
Take care,
F

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Funcountess | @funcountess | May 12, 2020

Jim,, after take care, it should say Funcountess.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 12, 2020
In reply to @lioness "@gingerw I like the new picture is this the quilt you did ? like it" + (show)
@lioness

@gingerw I like the new picture is this the quilt you did ? like it

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@lioness No, it is a Zentangle design done a while ago, that was in my tablet.
Ginger

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JK | @contentandwell | May 12, 2020
In reply to @helenfrances "Is Rachel Carson a scientist?" + (show)
@helenfrances

Is Rachel Carson a scientist?

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@helenfrances I think Rachel Carson was ahead of her time. You can read more about her on her website:
https://www.rachelcarson.org/
To quote:
"Rachel Louise Carson was an American marine biologist, author, and conservationist whose book Silent Spring and other writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement."
JK

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