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.

@funcountess

Hi Sue,
Wish I had all the info on you yesterday. The landscaper still talks about your knowledge on trees. He spent many hours working on my side of the house. He’s taking your advice,so no big tree will go in. Keeping small trees.
He came up with another plan, so hope it works.
I’ve always loved flowers even as a young kid. I also love to look at beautiful manicured lawns and landscaping.
I’m somewhat of a perfectionist, I always stay outside when the Gardner’s come, and work with them.
Have many rose bushes, trees and climbers, I do not let the Gardner touch them.
I have pots of plants/flowers on side retaining wall I can view from window.
My folks, family.never had any interest in greenery, so I don’t know where the interest came from.
In January my Gardner did a big sod job, he tossed the extra sod he did not use in the back of his truck along with a one gallon half dead rose bush.
I saw the rose bush, he said I could have it, as it was no good.
I asked him to dig a hole for the rose bush, he did but said it was a waste of his gardening time. Anyway, I planted the rose, watered it, cared for it, and today it’s over 5 feet tall. It’s a climber, and has plenty of room to climb.
It has a million beautiful white with light pink tips roses.
Gardner for awhile kept saying I took the rose plant he gave me, and tossed it out, and then bought a new plant, and put it in its place.. I did not.
He was amazed I worked with the plant.
I did give up on planting vegetables, the wild life gets to everything first.
Take care,
Funcountess

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@funcountess, The landscaper I used in redesigning my backyard also contracted with a local bank to do their seasonal designs and seasonal plant changes. Asked him what happened with some of the perennials/bulbs when changing out. He had just cleared a bank bed and had a truck full of the "debris"...was just going to "dump" it. Asked if there might be "treasures" and after patiently sifting through a large pile, I collected a wonderful start of grape hyacinths ... tiny cluster bulbs of these lovely perennials now line two larger back beds. Another advantage is that they also multiply easily much like the much larger daffodil bulbs. Isn't it a thrill when our care pays unexpected benefits?

As for rose "climbers", I added numerous yellow and white banks roses. They not only covered one fence, over time, they grew higher than the fence and required a step ladder for me to annually give them severe "hair cuts" to keep their long shoots from veering out in all directions. Eventually removed them as I became more leery of standing on the tall step ladder. Only bloomed once/yr in spring but were a beautiful backdrop for that side of the yard.

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@fiesty76

@funcountess, The landscaper I used in redesigning my backyard also contracted with a local bank to do their seasonal designs and seasonal plant changes. Asked him what happened with some of the perennials/bulbs when changing out. He had just cleared a bank bed and had a truck full of the "debris"...was just going to "dump" it. Asked if there might be "treasures" and after patiently sifting through a large pile, I collected a wonderful start of grape hyacinths ... tiny cluster bulbs of these lovely perennials now line two larger back beds. Another advantage is that they also multiply easily much like the much larger daffodil bulbs. Isn't it a thrill when our care pays unexpected benefits?

As for rose "climbers", I added numerous yellow and white banks roses. They not only covered one fence, over time, they grew higher than the fence and required a step ladder for me to annually give them severe "hair cuts" to keep their long shoots from veering out in all directions. Eventually removed them as I became more leery of standing on the tall step ladder. Only bloomed once/yr in spring but were a beautiful backdrop for that side of the yard.

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Hi,
In regards to climbing a ladder In the garden.
One of my rose climbing plants is over 10 feet tall., and small one is about 5 feet, that is the one Gardner gave me. What I do is take a rake, and try and pull top of bush down as far as I can, then try and snip the tops. Other times I just let the Gardner’s climb the ladder and watch they don’t cut way down. Gardner’s love to cut everything down, less work for them.
No ladder climbing for me either. Those days are long gone.
Funcountess

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@funcountess . We sure can't do what we use to can we . What'a new with you?

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@funcountess

Hi,
In regards to climbing a ladder In the garden.
One of my rose climbing plants is over 10 feet tall., and small one is about 5 feet, that is the one Gardner gave me. What I do is take a rake, and try and pull top of bush down as far as I can, then try and snip the tops. Other times I just let the Gardner’s climb the ladder and watch they don’t cut way down. Gardner’s love to cut everything down, less work for them.
No ladder climbing for me either. Those days are long gone.
Funcountess

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@funcountess, I like your rake/pull down technique! I never did like to climb ladders. I have some long handled tools and a tall husband who must be related to your gardener.
The roses sound beautiful. What color are they? How long have you had them?

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@rosemary I forgot where to put a picture can you refresh my poor mind its sliping everyday

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@lioness

@rosemary I forgot where to put a picture can you refresh my poor mind its sliping everyday

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@lioness, I bet you didn't see the Photo/Files in the small grey box when you replied to me. It does not show until you open a reply window.
So reply to someone, or reply to a discussion, and you will see it!

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@rosemarya

@lioness, I bet you didn't see the Photo/Files in the small grey box when you replied to me. It does not show until you open a reply window.
So reply to someone, or reply to a discussion, and you will see it!

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@rosemary O.K. now I see it . Here is the latest picture I did in coloring . We here at our building are putting them in lobby for others to see. I only have a front camera so had to hold it

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@rosemarya

@funcountess, I like your rake/pull down technique! I never did like to climb ladders. I have some long handled tools and a tall husband who must be related to your gardener.
The roses sound beautiful. What color are they? How long have you had them?

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Hi,
My roses are anywhere from 50 years to 5 months.
They are everywhere from ice burg roses which are pure white, and very full and tall to a island of miniature tree roses, with low growers around them.
I think I have around 25 to 30 bushes.
I have some that are so dark red that they have a black cast to them, others are a chocolate red, and a million different colors of yellow, gold pink and multi colors.
For me the trick is not to butcher them.
Gardner’s only know how to chop stuff down. I tell Gardner’s hands off, or I coach them what to trim.
Funcountess

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@lioness, That is beautiful! Thank you for sharing it!
It is obvious that you love to color and I bet the messages are uplifting to you while you work on it. This message is so inspirational. Definitely one that I want to Plant in my own memory, and then feed and water it, and hopefully I can let it bloom in my daily conversations!
Adult coloring books are a great activity for all ages! Were there many posted in the lobby? How long will they remain hanging?

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@rosemarya

@lioness, That is beautiful! Thank you for sharing it!
It is obvious that you love to color and I bet the messages are uplifting to you while you work on it. This message is so inspirational. Definitely one that I want to Plant in my own memory, and then feed and water it, and hopefully I can let it bloom in my daily conversations!
Adult coloring books are a great activity for all ages! Were there many posted in the lobby? How long will they remain hanging?

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@rosemarya Thanks yes I do love to color . We have a lot in the lobby . I'll take a picture and share . I love the messages that are on them . I think as long as we are in lockdown . I havent talked yet to our manager , they are here in the day for a few hours to do there work but its not open for residents. I have also taken art classes but havent done that since I started doing the adult coloring books . I enjoy them .

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