Let's Talk about Gardens

Hi Sue,
Landscaper who deals with insurance claims, paid a surprise visit this a.m. he said you know your plant/tree business. And wanted to know if you wanted to work for his company. I told him you live out of state, and maybe you would consider it, if somebody picked you up in a private jet every day.
The result is he going to draw up plans and submit to insurance co. and me
He said. Boxwood, ficus, and oleander, the saint augustine variety.
He found spits in current fencing, and wants to put 12 inch boards of treated redwood in a concrete base to cover open areas. Tons of dirt will be hauled in, and mulch.
Gus did look over fencing and did see 3 camera on wood stakes, and one attached to the screwballs house directly across from one of my doors.
He said I need to contact a private investigator, and attorney, because these people definitely have mental issues.
Also, Gus said the cops do nothing until a crime has been. Commited.
Gus took my garden hose and sprayed over the fence, to maybe disengage those few
Camera that are directed into my property.
Gus asked if I had young girls living here, and I said only one,ME, and I don’t walk around nude, or in a bikini.
He did say a few times, I had pretty landscaping.
If I had the money I would put in a tennis court, certainly enough room for one, and put the tennis courts night lights on the property line.
Anyway will see if insurance company likes Gus plans.
Garage will be completed next Friday, and new windows will be installed in a few days.
Inside will take 6 more months.
just curious, how did you gain your knowledge? Are you a landscape architect?
You give good advice. Appreciate it.
Funcountess

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@funcountess I just realized I didn't answer about my training. I have been a gardener all my life - grew up helping both Mom & Grandma from a very early age. At age 9, I was responsible for taking our wagon, water & bag lunch & my younger sister, walking 5 blocks to my great uncle's house and tending Mom's vegetable patch there, under uncle's supervision, weeding and bringing home the bounty. She was at home with our 4 younger siblings. He was able to do the watering, which we would rather have done than weeding - what kid doesn't love to play with water? I bet nowadays that would be considered child abuse!

As an adult, I have had gardens at every home we have owned, no matter how inhospitable the conditions. I would study everything I could get my hands on about what/how to grow, and drive my husband crazy clearing space, amending soil, making raised beds... When my kids were about to leave high school, I needed to fill my time previously spent volunteering and took our University Master Gardener course. Master Gardener volunteers provide research and science based garden, lawn, soil & pest information to the public in exchange for continuing education from the U. I have been volunteering with my county for nearly 20 years now, picking up University horticulture training along the way. A few year ago, I added Texas Master Gardener training as well - so I spend a lot of time advising in my little park in Winter.

I spend 100 or more hours each year answering garden questions online and in person, teaching classes, demonstrating proper techniques, teaching 4H kids and school groups, supervising other volunteers at community plantings such as Habitat for Humanity... In Spring, I would normally be spending every Saturday and usually one other evening, at a garden center or farmers' market answering questions, looking at problem plants, making plant and tree suggestions, explaining pest control - so I feel a little lost right now. Our University has chosen to halt ALL in person volunteer activities at least through July 1st so we are scrambling to move online. We now Zoom our Ask A Master Gardener booth twice a week so people can ask their questions.

At home, I host "diggers" several times a year. Many are novice gardeners who spend as much time asking questions as getting plants, and besides helping me keep up my gardens, it allows me to spread my message of research based, environmentally sound gardening and pest control.

How did you come to your interest in gardens?
Sue

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@funcountess I just realized I didn't answer about my training. I have been a gardener all my life - grew up helping both Mom & Grandma from a very early age. At age 9, I was responsible for taking our wagon, water & bag lunch & my younger sister, walking 5 blocks to my great uncle's house and tending Mom's vegetable patch there, under uncle's supervision, weeding and bringing home the bounty. She was at home with our 4 younger siblings. He was able to do the watering, which we would rather have done than weeding - what kid doesn't love to play with water? I bet nowadays that would be considered child abuse!

As an adult, I have had gardens at every home we have owned, no matter how inhospitable the conditions. I would study everything I could get my hands on about what/how to grow, and drive my husband crazy clearing space, amending soil, making raised beds... When my kids were about to leave high school, I needed to fill my time previously spent volunteering and took our University Master Gardener course. Master Gardener volunteers provide research and science based garden, lawn, soil & pest information to the public in exchange for continuing education from the U. I have been volunteering with my county for nearly 20 years now, picking up University horticulture training along the way. A few year ago, I added Texas Master Gardener training as well - so I spend a lot of time advising in my little park in Winter.

I spend 100 or more hours each year answering garden questions online and in person, teaching classes, demonstrating proper techniques, teaching 4H kids and school groups, supervising other volunteers at community plantings such as Habitat for Humanity... In Spring, I would normally be spending every Saturday and usually one other evening, at a garden center or farmers' market answering questions, looking at problem plants, making plant and tree suggestions, explaining pest control - so I feel a little lost right now. Our University has chosen to halt ALL in person volunteer activities at least through July 1st so we are scrambling to move online. We now Zoom our Ask A Master Gardener booth twice a week so people can ask their questions.

At home, I host "diggers" several times a year. Many are novice gardeners who spend as much time asking questions as getting plants, and besides helping me keep up my gardens, it allows me to spread my message of research based, environmentally sound gardening and pest control.

How did you come to your interest in gardens?
Sue

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Hi panc, where is it that cold with rain, snow and starting the heater. Are you in the Southern Hemisphere where winter is starting? The snow too cold for me.
In California it’s a warm day, with high temperatures later this week.
My flowers are in full bloom, and colorful.
Hang in there, your garden will be colorful.
Funcountess

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@funcountess I just realized I didn't answer about my training. I have been a gardener all my life - grew up helping both Mom & Grandma from a very early age. At age 9, I was responsible for taking our wagon, water & bag lunch & my younger sister, walking 5 blocks to my great uncle's house and tending Mom's vegetable patch there, under uncle's supervision, weeding and bringing home the bounty. She was at home with our 4 younger siblings. He was able to do the watering, which we would rather have done than weeding - what kid doesn't love to play with water? I bet nowadays that would be considered child abuse!

As an adult, I have had gardens at every home we have owned, no matter how inhospitable the conditions. I would study everything I could get my hands on about what/how to grow, and drive my husband crazy clearing space, amending soil, making raised beds... When my kids were about to leave high school, I needed to fill my time previously spent volunteering and took our University Master Gardener course. Master Gardener volunteers provide research and science based garden, lawn, soil & pest information to the public in exchange for continuing education from the U. I have been volunteering with my county for nearly 20 years now, picking up University horticulture training along the way. A few year ago, I added Texas Master Gardener training as well - so I spend a lot of time advising in my little park in Winter.

I spend 100 or more hours each year answering garden questions online and in person, teaching classes, demonstrating proper techniques, teaching 4H kids and school groups, supervising other volunteers at community plantings such as Habitat for Humanity... In Spring, I would normally be spending every Saturday and usually one other evening, at a garden center or farmers' market answering questions, looking at problem plants, making plant and tree suggestions, explaining pest control - so I feel a little lost right now. Our University has chosen to halt ALL in person volunteer activities at least through July 1st so we are scrambling to move online. We now Zoom our Ask A Master Gardener booth twice a week so people can ask their questions.

At home, I host "diggers" several times a year. Many are novice gardeners who spend as much time asking questions as getting plants, and besides helping me keep up my gardens, it allows me to spread my message of research based, environmentally sound gardening and pest control.

How did you come to your interest in gardens?
Sue

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@sueinmn Sounds like you set up a business of people sending you pictures of their yard and you making suggestions of good plants to put there. My friend who used to help me with that is just so busy now with her husband fighting pancreatic cancer and she is still working that I would not even ask her to help.
JK

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@contentandwell No thanks, JK - I'm happily retired - don't need the headache or commitment of a business, however much fun it might be. Beside, in my experience, people listen to your advice, then go out and buy something else because "it was on sale" or "the guy at Home Depot said it was the same" - then they get mad at you when it dies, or doesn't look like what you recommended.
Sue

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