Follow
Share
Read More
you should only try to co-exist if you plan to coat them in chocolate for late night snacks. Otherwise nuke them any way you can.
(2)
Report

Avatar, California poppies blooming now in Big Sur!
(2)
Report

oh, they're up, just not blooming! I see. Should check in here more often, but my ranunculus are still not planted, dying in the pots they came in. Was waiting for holes to be drilled in the new container.
The good news is that the bouganvillas are doing nicely. We are killing the grasshoppers that were eating them. Poor, ugly things. Is it okay to kill them, or should we try to co-exist? They really creep me out.
(0)
Report

LOL!!! send they are about 12-15 inches high. I was concerned, but now I know when to expect blooms. Yes I ummm.. sort of talk to them... you know...you mofo's better bloom soon...just joking!!!
(1)
Report

Sharyn, It's still March here. lol. Have you tried talking to them?
If I were worried, (and you planted so many) I would dig one up and take a look. Re-check if you faced them up the right way? Don't you think there would be a little green growth showing underground?
Don't ask me which way is up-Sorry, I just don't know. Anything with bulbs in my garden grew by itself-I didn't even plant them there!
We will all be waiting to hear!
(0)
Report

Since I have never grown irises before, I have been concerned they have shown no signs toward blooming. After some research for my area, it seems they bloom in late April and into May. I am going to fertilize them since my soil is sandy.
(0)
Report

Glad, LOL!!! Dang, that leaves birds again!!! Geese laying eggs, French hens, and those cute turtle doves!!!
(1)
Report

I will take the leaping lords as long as they gring the golden rings!
(1)
Report

me too!!
(1)
Report

lol
I totally missed that Stacey's partridges were in a pear tree :)
(1)
Report

Glad, lol!! I thing it has dancing ladies and goose laying eggs.
(1)
Report

Isn't there a song like that?! A Partridge in a Pear Tree?
(0)
Report

Here in my neck of the woods, pheasants are a wild game bird. We have an organization called ducksunlimited. Duck and pheasant hunting are popular here with our delta Wetlands and farmland.

Partridge is a game bird in some areas, here it is more of an upper foothills / mountain bird, si.Ilario to the quail.

Pheasant is very good, I am not a fan of duck.... it tastes more like beef liver.
(1)
Report

Pheasants, are they the same as a partridge? We used to have pear tree's in our childhood home growing up, and my Mom always called the Partridge's, and the came every year in flocks, when the fruit started falling from the trees. Funny to remember that, after all these years! Huh!
(3)
Report

Growing orchids... I thought about it back in the 90's, for about 5 minutes! It just seemed too fussy to me. And of course now you can buy lovely orchids inexpensively from the grocery store.
Re: the pheasants, is there a wild population in your area? You never know, there could be some descendants of those little chicks out there somewhere!
(2)
Report

I spent a summer working at a college farm (as a plant science student). It was fun, educational, and very hard work. One of my tasks was to clean out the pheasant infant house. We used sawdust on the floor. I had to clip the pheasants beaks. We also had an incubator for the eggs and every day we had to rotate the eggs. In October. The pheasants were released out in the Delta and then...of course, pheasant hunting season was soon after.
(1)
Report

Has anyone tried growing orchids??
(1)
Report

CWillie wrote:

"...gardening connects us to nature and eternity like nothing else can, finding and coaxing growth in even the most sterile seeming environments, connecting to the universal cycle of life."

That's such a beautiful, poetic and insightful observation.
(1)
Report

DD, welcome to this thread, and I hope you continue to get inspiration and pleasure from posting.

You're not off target in thinking that plants can hear us. I've read of scientific studies in which it's been observed that plants do communicate with each other to warn of insect predators. I haven't yet read of any studies supporting the theory that they can communicate with us, or at least hear us. But I do fuss over them and try to make them happy!

I think there's been and will continue to be a resurgence in growing one's own food, not only for the purity of food compared to commercial food with its chemical additives, but because of the bonds with nature that are formed.

Raising chickens also seems to be practiced on a more widespread basis. I'm surprised to read on gardening forums how knowledgeable some nonfarming folks are about the lives of chickens.
(1)
Report

I agree DDD, gardening connects us to nature and eternity like nothing else can, finding and coaxing growth in even the most sterile seeming environments, connecting to the universal cycle of life.
I am hoping to make a naturalized area at the back of my tiny town property, and today I noticed that the jacob's ladder and sweet woodruff are sending out tiny shoots and the buds are swelling on my little serviceberry tree. Changing the environment seems frustratingly slow sometimes and I envy those who just hire a landscaper to come in and do it all, but doing it myself, gradually, is the whole point of gardening.
I miss having acres of land to play with and plan for, I miss digging the beds and preparing for planting, I miss the scent of the earth and the feel if the soil between my fingers. Puttering around in flowerbeds and planters just isn't the same.
(1)
Report

Gardening is a beautiful thing. It brings me close to the wonders of God and nature. It brings you back to earth when this cold world is going crazy. I dont have now but when I do I plant vegetables. I think there is a soothing and relaxing benifit to planting something and watching it grow. I also love plants and flowerers. And I would suggest to anyone out there who is down and out and have a few bucks to purchase and amaryllis. It is fast growing you start with this ugly tubee and in one week you have a most beutiful flower. I planted and aprricot tree in my moms yard. I talked to it when I planted it and I kid you not it seems as if the plants hear you and of course feel you. Its awesome to eat somethng you grew. Its awesome to watch it grow as you nuture it. Its awesome to see God's Work. Its these kind of things that I hold on and reach out to when Im in a bad place in life. Now Garden Artist sounds like a specialist. The way things are going now we may have to resort to growing our own food and raise some chicken too.
(1)
Report

me too mina , im higher than hogans goat .
not really , ive had a fun day . im trying to get used to treating myself since theres nobody else left , and myself likes a good brat with a good whole wheat brotchen roll .
(1)
Report

OK, Cap...lol..."lighten up and smile" I can buy into....great goals....now, I have to go to bed....
(0)
Report

i thought uncharming was the objective here .
if you all cant define what you want , i certainly cant be expected to ..
just funnin with you people . i want you to lighten up and smile ..
(0)
Report

OK, Cap.....guessing you've been doing a little more than cooking brats tonight....that's cool....I understand you're hurting over Aunt Edna's recent passing....
So are many of us....because you made her so real to us, sharing your wonderful, outrageous experiences....what a great lady....how lucky to have you....

But understand....you can be "charmingly brash".....most of the time.....then you can be truly "brashly uncharming"....

Go to bed....know that I, for one, have faith in you mostly being that "charmingly brash" guy...full of wisdom ....hmmm...others, maybe, not so much....you can give that some thought tomorrow in the bright light of a pounding hangover.....
(1)
Report

my brats are at 135 f . when they reach 150 f . internal temp ill go to bed and get over myself . 20 more minutes of my crap should be the extent of it .
that aint bad in the grand scheme of things ..
(1)
Report

Sorry....I would be happy to volunteer in the Butterfly Garden or elsewhere....love that sense of community!
(0)
Report

Cwillie and GA....so agree w/your comments. I used to work for the Chicago Architecture Foundation so....have had a long time interest in spaces both interior and exterior....I have said many times that I was so very lucky to find this small place (30-35 residents) for my Mom....run by an RN not Marketing Mgr....the ALF is part of a larger 55+ IL community in SW FL. Those in the IL community do a lot of volunteer work at the ALF ....the butterfly gardener lives in IL...her parents are in ALF....

IL residents are are on the Board and make decisions re: changes, updates, etc. It is impeccably maintained. Neglected to mention that straight ahead from the garden are shuffleboard courts...beyond those is the lovely spa and pool and bathing pavilion...

To the right of the garden is a lovely huge lake w/fountain....surrounded by the IL villas....entire layout is gorgeous and was clearly given much thought from the beginning.

Am seriously thinking, as I approach retirement, that I ' d like to move into an IL place in this lovely community....if I can afford it....and having sworn to myself previously, that I would never go to FL...lol...it truly is a beautiful community...and I
(0)
Report

Isn't GladI'mHere now working at a facility that espouses similar attitudes and programs?
(0)
Report

CWillie, I too think this would be an excellent place for an elder to live. I wasn't successful in finding any place in Michigan though. But the website doesn't seem to be fully functional, so I'll keep trying. If I run across any in Ontario, I'll let you know.

The website was so enthusiastic and positive though that I even began to think of doing volunteer work there.

Map of Eden Alternative homes:
edenalt.

OMG, I just found one not too far from us!
(1)
Report

Start a Discussion
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter