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.

@sueinmn

@fiesty76 Great idea. I will get some curly willow from my friend. Easy to start, and the corkscrew stems are sure to delight him. And then we'll plant them alongside their shed.
Sue

Jump to this post

@sueinmn, Oh, Sue, I'm not familiar with "curly willow" but I bought a great twisted stemmed plant to add as a centerpiece for my outdoor "gathering place" table. I kept the tag but have misplaced it...drat it all! Very small twisty stemmed "branches" were delightful even after the greening stopped. Any ideas for the name?

REPLY

@sueinmn, Just did a search for "curly willow" and that is the plant I'd bought!!! Yay! Now to find another at a nursery this year!!!! Hurry up Spring! We gardeners are more than ready to be back in our nirvana and places of bliss!

REPLY
@fiesty76

@sueinmn, Just did a search for "curly willow" and that is the plant I'd bought!!! Yay! Now to find another at a nursery this year!!!! Hurry up Spring! We gardeners are more than ready to be back in our nirvana and places of bliss!

Jump to this post

Remember that curly willow is a deciduous shrub, mainly found near the edges of wetlands, so keeping it alive in a warm/hot climate isn't easy. I figure my grandson will have no trouble with it because like most kids, he loves to water, and it's nearly impossible to overwater it.
It roots very easily in loose/peat rich/sandy soil, so you may be able to keep some alive in a large pot. To propagate, when buds begin to show, snip a piece at ground level and put in water - when leafed out add to your arrangement.
Sue

REPLY

@sueinm, Thanks for the info on curly willow, Sue. If I can find another to purchase, it would be great fun to try to propogate some budding stems!

REPLY

I have a great winter greens garden now. central Ca
Ordered seeds and starters .. in garage be west window till ground is warmer

REPLY

YES! Now fully virus vaccinated and after a year of no new plant purchases and spending each sunny, fairly windless day clearing flower/veggie beds over the past few weeks, I finally permitted myself to go at long last to nurseries this past weekend. Horrible wind gales and foreboding stormy purple/blackish skies meant yard work was out-of-the-question. I'd completed the dreaded refrigerator clean out, purchased & put away the grocery necessaries, so the timing was perfect for this long awaited reward!

Although masked, I noted that since the Gov. lifted the mask restriction this week, probably 70 % of shoppers and staff were unmasked. I had my "must have" replacements and "just really wants" list in hand and had designated places in mind for the new acquisitions. What I'd failed to take with me was my spiral for "price comparisons" of favorites. SEVEN nurseries with some repeat visits over Sat & Sun meant unloading the back of the car 3 times with my bounty!! Pure Joy!

... until I had to scramble to place them in "holding places" in the garage where they could be watered and protected from what turned out to be several small tornadoes filmed in nearby communities over the weekend. More reality set in because I knew these lovelies would have to be moved in and out over the next days for sun once the gales abated and more prep had been completed in both yards.

Then there were the unexpected, unplanned "finds" like crocus and Romaine lettuce which I'd never seen for sale before...probably because in the past, I'd shopped as each bedding area was ready which meant going a bit later. Dwarf blue fescue...oh, my! Elijah or Boulder variety? Boulder more expensive but more drought resistant...Shasta daisies made the list but who expected having to choose among 6-7 differing varieties and heights????

Once all were temporarily homed and watered, there were a few hours left Sunday to work on clearing one bed to add more hyacinths, along with the new crocus, dainty yellow and deep purple varieties of Iris. Need to check out the names of the delicate stemmed new Iris.

Yesterday, while it meant stopping some ground efforts, the cushions returned to the outdoor table as neighbors popped over to visit and inhale the wonderful hyacinth fragrance in the table arrangement. None wore masks but I wore mine and the social breaks were a delight too!

After an 8 am haircut and Triple A free 40 point maintenance car drop off, I'll return home this morning for a day in the sun and dirt. Maybe I should make a do-ahead salad for lunch??? What could possibly be a better start to a new week?????

REPLY
@fiesty76

YES! Now fully virus vaccinated and after a year of no new plant purchases and spending each sunny, fairly windless day clearing flower/veggie beds over the past few weeks, I finally permitted myself to go at long last to nurseries this past weekend. Horrible wind gales and foreboding stormy purple/blackish skies meant yard work was out-of-the-question. I'd completed the dreaded refrigerator clean out, purchased & put away the grocery necessaries, so the timing was perfect for this long awaited reward!

Although masked, I noted that since the Gov. lifted the mask restriction this week, probably 70 % of shoppers and staff were unmasked. I had my "must have" replacements and "just really wants" list in hand and had designated places in mind for the new acquisitions. What I'd failed to take with me was my spiral for "price comparisons" of favorites. SEVEN nurseries with some repeat visits over Sat & Sun meant unloading the back of the car 3 times with my bounty!! Pure Joy!

... until I had to scramble to place them in "holding places" in the garage where they could be watered and protected from what turned out to be several small tornadoes filmed in nearby communities over the weekend. More reality set in because I knew these lovelies would have to be moved in and out over the next days for sun once the gales abated and more prep had been completed in both yards.

Then there were the unexpected, unplanned "finds" like crocus and Romaine lettuce which I'd never seen for sale before...probably because in the past, I'd shopped as each bedding area was ready which meant going a bit later. Dwarf blue fescue...oh, my! Elijah or Boulder variety? Boulder more expensive but more drought resistant...Shasta daisies made the list but who expected having to choose among 6-7 differing varieties and heights????

Once all were temporarily homed and watered, there were a few hours left Sunday to work on clearing one bed to add more hyacinths, along with the new crocus, dainty yellow and deep purple varieties of Iris. Need to check out the names of the delicate stemmed new Iris.

Yesterday, while it meant stopping some ground efforts, the cushions returned to the outdoor table as neighbors popped over to visit and inhale the wonderful hyacinth fragrance in the table arrangement. None wore masks but I wore mine and the social breaks were a delight too!

After an 8 am haircut and Triple A free 40 point maintenance car drop off, I'll return home this morning for a day in the sun and dirt. Maybe I should make a do-ahead salad for lunch??? What could possibly be a better start to a new week?????

Jump to this post

@fiesty76 Whew, I'm worn out just reading all the work you've had to do merely to prepare for planting your garden. It's going to be beautiful!
I hope you'll have time for a restful day today. Way to go!

REPLY
@fiesty76

YES! Now fully virus vaccinated and after a year of no new plant purchases and spending each sunny, fairly windless day clearing flower/veggie beds over the past few weeks, I finally permitted myself to go at long last to nurseries this past weekend. Horrible wind gales and foreboding stormy purple/blackish skies meant yard work was out-of-the-question. I'd completed the dreaded refrigerator clean out, purchased & put away the grocery necessaries, so the timing was perfect for this long awaited reward!

Although masked, I noted that since the Gov. lifted the mask restriction this week, probably 70 % of shoppers and staff were unmasked. I had my "must have" replacements and "just really wants" list in hand and had designated places in mind for the new acquisitions. What I'd failed to take with me was my spiral for "price comparisons" of favorites. SEVEN nurseries with some repeat visits over Sat & Sun meant unloading the back of the car 3 times with my bounty!! Pure Joy!

... until I had to scramble to place them in "holding places" in the garage where they could be watered and protected from what turned out to be several small tornadoes filmed in nearby communities over the weekend. More reality set in because I knew these lovelies would have to be moved in and out over the next days for sun once the gales abated and more prep had been completed in both yards.

Then there were the unexpected, unplanned "finds" like crocus and Romaine lettuce which I'd never seen for sale before...probably because in the past, I'd shopped as each bedding area was ready which meant going a bit later. Dwarf blue fescue...oh, my! Elijah or Boulder variety? Boulder more expensive but more drought resistant...Shasta daisies made the list but who expected having to choose among 6-7 differing varieties and heights????

Once all were temporarily homed and watered, there were a few hours left Sunday to work on clearing one bed to add more hyacinths, along with the new crocus, dainty yellow and deep purple varieties of Iris. Need to check out the names of the delicate stemmed new Iris.

Yesterday, while it meant stopping some ground efforts, the cushions returned to the outdoor table as neighbors popped over to visit and inhale the wonderful hyacinth fragrance in the table arrangement. None wore masks but I wore mine and the social breaks were a delight too!

After an 8 am haircut and Triple A free 40 point maintenance car drop off, I'll return home this morning for a day in the sun and dirt. Maybe I should make a do-ahead salad for lunch??? What could possibly be a better start to a new week?????

Jump to this post

@fiesty.. What a day of adventure!! Can't wait to see your spring garden if you can share a pic. Take it easy now. My state hasn't lifted the mask requirement yet but even when it does, I think I'll still wear it for a while.

REPLY
@sueinmn

@fiesty76 Great idea. I will get some curly willow from my friend. Easy to start, and the corkscrew stems are sure to delight him. And then we'll plant them alongside their shed.
Sue

Jump to this post

@sueinmn I need some help from all you plant experts. I can only be an indoor gardener at my seniors' residence, but I have potted plants I've received as gifts that are crying out for help. My small Christmas poinsettia finished blooming but now is struggling with a few new leaf shoots and I'm not sure if I should cut the plant right back so it can start anew. The new leaf shoots have curled up and died.
Next, I have 3 miracle orchids that struggle each year to survive. And they bloom! This is year three for that. Two have got new shoots now, but the third is all droopy and gasping. I may have over-watered it. Cut it right back? Thankyou from a painter, not a gardener. Laurie

REPLY

@fiesty76, @artist01 I am truly amazed at you ladies......the garden prep is so intense and requires a lot of work, often for me debilitating work. I think it's wonderful you are physially able to do all you do. I bow to you! Please keep the narrative coming so I and others can stay on top of all your work!
blessings and I'm so jealous!!!!!!! I get such joy working in dirt, planting and seeing God's miracles, miralces of nature! elizabeth

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.