MK is planning her sq foot garden and Terry and re-thinking his borders. Caro and Mk are shopping veggie seeds. I only have pipe dreams for this year.
Here's a space for the latest happenings in everyone's gardens - the doins and the think-ins.
Have you come to any conclusions yet Terry?

I have been busy with the vegetable garden. The plans are all drawn out; most of the seeds are either bought or ordered. That's the hardest part for me....limiting the seeds I buy. Especially that 30 cent place MK turned me onto. They have all sorts of varieties of French veggies. Fresh veggies sound so good this time of year. The main hold up on the actual veg. garden is that with all the rain (and I am NOT complaining), we can't till it. Have decided that if its not dry enough in 2 weeks, I'll just go ahead and build my beds without tilling.

As far as the flowers and shrubs...goodness. The rather large raised bed that was built last fall is partially planted. That's another project requiring a bit of a drying out spell before we can haul anymore dirt. What's been done though, is finished, and it looks nice.

My new rose bed is ready for my Xmas roses to arrive. It will then just be a matter of popping them into the ground.

We still have large shrubs to move, but that is just a matter of having the time and the muscles. Read that as "Neal's time and Neal's muscles". We can do that even with the soil damp as the lawn is not as clayey as the veggie garden.

Will keep you posted.

Can't wait to see pics of yer veggie plots Caro! Will you till compost into the soil? If so, what kind?

There's always so much bed clearing, transplanting and mulching to do here each winter and spring, that I lose heart at the thought of making another bed or expanding an existing one.
I have brought in some materials for one hardscape project tho, but it requires some masonry to finish. Now I need to find someone to glue it all together. I so dread risking someone else working (screwing up something) in the garden!

Sorry Maggie. Didn't mean to ignore you. Must have missed your previous post.

About the veggie garden, Neal finally got it tilled again, in between rains. There was wonderful winter grass growing thickly, so now that is all turned under ready to enhance the organic matter in the soil. I am hoping to make raised beds using old barnwood for the frames. Since my muscle-y helper only gets one or two days a week at home (and already has a rather lengthy "honey-do" list), Robs and I may have to attempt to tackle the construction ourselves.

Basically what I do is run string lines to the desired size of the bed. Then mark out the pathways on all sides of it. Then start shoveling soil from the pathways into the bed area. On top of that, I put a thick layer of fine compost or potting soil, or both, depending on what's going in the bed. I keep the pathways covered with Sudan hay, which I love because it breaks down nicely and fairly quickly. Depending on how on top of things I am, I'll add more hay to the pathways before the old hay gets too broken down. Otherwise, I'll rake up the now well composted and broken up hay and use it for mulch in the beds, and then add more fresh hay to the pathways.

I don't think I'll have to add much manure to the garden this year, as last year we kept the baby poultry and waterfowl in that area. It should be well-fertilized. As in the flower gardens and lawn, there are lots of earthworms in the soil, although there were none to be found 2 years ago when we moved here.

I have just placed my order for beneficial nematodes which should be here in a few days. I'll put them into each garden bed as I get it prepared. I've had problems with wireworms and cutworms in the garden, so hopefully between the poultry last year and the nematodes this year, there won't be too much problem with those little critters again.

I also have most of my seeds ordered. With such a large garden plot, I decided to order several interesting varieties of peas, beans, carrots, etc. I was particularly interested in the French veggies in the 30 cent seeds catalogue. It should be fun.

Now this is why I came to this thread in the first place today.

I have a Clematis tangutica ordered. Will you Clemmie gurus out there, please let me know how you think it would do with a SE exposure against a brick wall. The house would block west and north winds, as well as late afternoon sun/heat. You've heard about the swirling winds here, so circulation should be no problem. I understand that it needs underplanting with something to keep the roots cool. Right?

Suggestions/recommendations/ideas/HELP please.

I too must appologise Maggie, I missed your first post on this thread. No conclusions on the re-planning, will have more idea when the weather starts to improve and I can remember what it's like to have sun in the back garden.
C. tangutica is a tricky one for the first year Carolyn, but if it survives that it should go like a bomb. Most aspects seem to be OK. Evergreen groundcover is best because most evergreens are not too thirsty, leaving more moisture for the thirsty clem.

Carolyn, was the tangutica a "deal"? Mine didn't survive last summer. It's first year and I'm sure I didn't water enough. I'm holding out for the Botanic Garden's sale and hoping they carry it again.

Also, have you found it cheaper to buy the beneficials on line and/or catalogue? I've been purchasing from my closest Feedstore for convenience but....

I wouldn't exactly call $25.00 a "deal."

Now, I'll have to think about it some more. Anyone else have input on the success of this one in our Texas summers?

The cheapest place to buy the beneficials that I've found is Cheap Bugs

I posted this business before, but it apparently didn't make it to Maggies' source list.

I don't have a tang, but wish I would have a go at it! Terry's pics of his were so beautiful.

Yep, Caro, I have several hours (days, prob) of work to do on the Links pages. As always, its still on the list! I save good links on my bookmark file, then revisit them before categorizing them. Then check the existing links to clear off the no-go ones before adding the new ones. Some of the work has been done on our page making program and it will be published when (IF) I ever get it caught up. Site making is like a garden - never finished and never 'caught up'!

I was starting to add a pic of my new hardscape scheme that I referred to earlier on this thread, but then realized it should really go on the pond topic. See ya there.

Had trouble with my ISP today. Terry, hope you got my message. Seems ok now, so....

I am pleased to announce that with this fog and drizzle, I have just gotten the nematodes watered in very well. Yea! For once..something done at the right time!

Also, have all my seeds for the garden which I've been ordering for the past couple of months. Now, all I need is about a week of warm weather and no rain, so the vegetable garden will dry out enough to work the beds and plant.

The new roses are all planted, and already making their new little leaves. Some narcissus I planted less than a month ago are just about to open their blooms. I have about 1,000 bulbs to plant yet. And read that as literally one thousand bulbs. Neal ran into a clearance sale....what was he thinking!?! So, when the grounds dries a bit, I'll be madly planting bulbs. Managed to get a couple of hundred into the ground before this last rainy spell moved in.

FYI Maggie, most of the lovely plants you gave me last year seem to be coming back nicely. Thanx. Except for that purple-leaf hibiscus...its a goner for sure. Maybe you would be kind enough to let me have another one? I just love the color of the leaves. I'll trade you some bulbs for it. J

I'm collecting my seeds from the catalog companies too. But it will be awhile before I get to plant outside - like June. These warm days, just make it that much harder to wait for spring to really get here.

I've gone out and paced off the square foot veggie gardening in several locations. When the sun came out for a couple of days, I think I made my decision on the best location - right in the middle of the side yard! Well, I'll just add a flower here and there, no one will know the difference.

I do have little babies growing under the lights in my milk cartons. (that's baby plants of course) I'll have to get a picture when they get just a wee bit bigger.

Maggie, I know you've heard about the colors already, but they sure woke me up quick!

Now you mention it, MK, I must say that Maggies is the only site I've found illuminated by flourescent strip lights. Do you find them cheaper to run, Maggie? Hey! I bet they make white clothes glow in the dark like the 70's disco lights. OK I nearly managed to restrain myself, but the temptation was just too much. J

Wish I could oblige you Caro, but it went with some very ancient and dear tropicals when the greenhouse door got left open overnight during one of our cold spells. So sad. I gave out a couple of dozen rooted pieces last fall, so maybe someone from the plant swap managed to keep theirs over safely and could re-stock us.
That's great about the bulb bonanza! Hope they were mostly summer bloomers or that the spring ones will work well for you. I acquired my tulips late this year - they had been out of frigeration so long that they had 1" sprouts by the time I planted them. After getting all 200 of them in, it will be such a disappointment if they don't make it to bloom.

Veggies in the side yard with flowers - knowing your talent Mk, its going to be gorgeous as well as handy to have them close to the kitchen. Can't wait to see pics ! Hey, you could leave the seedlings by your monitor with it open to a forum page. Bet this purple would make great grow-lights.

Larry got caught chuckling out loud in a room by himself at a customers - I think they were getting concerned. They didn't know he was reading all these comments about the purples. Must have been esp worrying when he burst into full laughter at Terry's florescent strip light note :-0

I heard that Ray of Hood Nursery fame died. Do you suppose his little buddy is still operating the place?

Ahhh, Dear Man. Such a garden lover and enthused plantaholic, we shall miss him. I know his partner enjoyed the business as much as he and will hopefully continue it in his memory.

Hey! You know, I could have been misinformed about ol' Ray's demise. I just checked the Startle Gram's obits, and he's not there. Hmmm.

Gail, anybody? Surely someone knows whether Ray is here or there.

I may not be able to plant outside before June, but I get a good head start in the house.


February 16, 2001

Wildlife in the house

Tres impressive, MK. You've started a world of plants there. And they all look so healthy and happy. Some are so large, I suppose you will be setting out nearly grown plants in June.

Bet that Ladybird appreciates the warmth indoors, Maggie may have to translate Ladybird for me. Hey! and I just realised you did a proper smiley, MK.

Not so far off Terry - 'lady bug' over here. That one used to drive me crazy as a kid, I never seemed to get it right in the right place. More recently... I once complained to a hotel desk that there were 'bugs' in my room's bath, and that I would like to have it cleaned. In his snottiest voice possible, the clerk answered, "Bugs? Do you mean insects?" I said, 'Yes, Basil'. :-) They don't get away with much rude tourist abuse on this one!

Tell us more Mk!!! veggies, flowers ?? It does seem early to start them for June planting out, but maybe these are frost safe 'earlies' like Brussel sprouts or such? I love your milk cartoon bottoms system. And that shop light scheme is so good to learn of - it sure does work, by the look of those healthy babies. Our lady bugs go into the greenhouse shed when the door is left open in the fall, but I'm wondering how in the world yours found its way there, this late in the year! That smiley - maybe this new version has it - I haven't looked. Either that, or she's just more clever than us Terry ;-) Hey, maybe the new one has winkie winkers for me ))
Oh,,, I just typed a colon and those ))) which gave me the full face on the preview.

Now look what you've started

Maggie, I knew you would ask - there's cascading lobelia, lupine "Chandelier", yarrow "Colorado Mix", pink Agastche, Yellow Coneflower, Imperial Double Dianthus, Blue and Pink Statice, Toadflax, Catnip, Pink Bee Balm, Gaillardia, Roman Sheilds (Fibigia), several trays of pansies, several of impatiens, and 1 of snaps. And the one I'm most excited about has germinated and is growing - Spirea, "Blue Mist".

As to the ladybugs - the windows get over run with them when the temps warm up. I'm not sure how they get in, or where they hide in the house on cooler days but they are a pest. There have been articles in the newspapers about the "invasion of the ladybugs". I believe the Dept. of AG released a WHOLE BUNCH a few years ago. But I never heard why. They are certainly not an endangered species around here.

Maggie I like the new site even the colors, keeps me alert and the new smilies too -I had to get in on that fun since I started it with one simple little

I'm drooling here lovin all those, and that spirea sounds esp delicious!!! Then the lobelia and lupines, pang, pang. They croak here (from heat) about the time you are setting yours out and are soooo sentimental to me. How'd ya like that one Terry? And I struggled with statice for ages here, giving it perfect drainage, full sun, and good drought between drinks, but the heat always stunted it eventually to dead. How wonderful we can relish each others gems that we would be otherwise be deprived of oxxoxox I can't wait to see "our" new garden
Thinking bout those friendly good bugs... One warm autumn day, I noticed some ladybugs coming out of the outside 'weep holes' in the brick mortar. Thought they were probably wintering over in there. When it turned chilly that evening, they were all over the screen of an open window, trying to get into the warm house air. You mentioned having a 70* day recently ... bet you had some unscreened windows open??? wha LA!
That's wonderful to hear your Dept. of AG released them instead of the DDT they used to spray everything with in the dark ages. You probably won't have any aphid or thrip problems this year!

About the ladybugs, a few years ago when I first noticed ladybugs over-wintering in the house, Howard Garrett said that they were a different, imported ladybug. He said they do no damage, just come inside for the winter for whatever reason. There is some way to tell the difference between the native and imported ladybugs: I think it is the number and/or placement of the spots, but am not sure. All I had to hear was they were harmless and would return outside when the weather warmed up and do the same job as the native ladybugs, and that was the last time I thought about it.

Now, if you have room for yet another rose (or 7), Home Depot got in a shipment of Jackson-Perkins roses, as well as the shipments from a couple of other suppliers. They have some good roses. Neal called yesterday from work and gave me a list of what they had. I looked them up and called him back with my order. Now, I have 7 more roses to plant. I have no idea "where" I will plant them, but I will find a place.

Maggie, we're talking LOTS of ladybugs in the windows. They did not come in the door while I was going in and out. This is an old farmhouse, I'm sure they find a way. Yes Carolyn, I'm sure they are imported, the article long ago mentioned about the spots too.

Carolyn, I'm envious of your early start on the roses. Here I'm thinking of how to manage a bed for just 5 roses come spring.

Hey I see we can make the too. Thank goodness we won't need it often. Take care!

OK. I give up. How are you guys making those faces?

What faces??

Check out this site...especially their prices on lavender plants.
myseasons.com

Tried to find the lav to post a direct page url, but couldn't track it down.