Hey Hey!! (Long Post)

14 years ago

Hello my fellow GardenWebbers!

It sure has been a long time since I've been around, but I am still alive and kicking and do think of you all quite often :)

This past winter had been pretty good to us!! From January 10th on the daytime temps never dropped below 36F and the highest we got was 55F; the average high according to NWS was 38.7F with an average low of 29F. In February, we only hit the freezing mark (32F) one day with an avg. high of 43.6; most days were 45F+. The avg. daytime temp for March was 50.7F...we had days reaching 55-60F. Now it's only 2 days into April and as expected it has gotten colder! Actually this weather change started about 3 days ago and this morning-early afternoon it was snowing at 40F. The wind is steady at about 20 and gusting to 30mph making it feel much much colder...brrr!! It's just kinda funny seeing it snow though because we haven't had anything but rain since December!! No, I take that back. We did get about 1 in. one early January morning, but by noon it was all melted :)

BTW the averages I gave were really for Spokane...we are 33 miles south and get between 5-6 degrees warmer during the day and it's about comparable to just about 5 degrees lower than Spokane for our lows.

ANYHOO now that you got my weather report LOL!

I have just been spending far too much time; hours on end even, hanging out on hair forums and blogs concerning hair care for those of African descent. In January, I made the decision to return my hair to natural and these forums have been a great deal of support for me and others making this transition. Just gotta say my hair has never been in such good condition :) However, since this topic is best discussed on the Conversations board, I just wanted to let you all know why I've been missing in action! Well those of you on Facebook are already knowing :)

On topic now. The garden has been kicking in gear for the past 2 months; so much green out so early! I mean we've had some warm winters before, but this is ridiculous! The chives had already had a good 6" of new growth by Valentines Day and new growth started coming in between then and March on the Dianthus sp., Alyssum 'Gold Dust', Bleeding Heart, Catmint, Lupine, Snapdragon, Coreopsis lanceolata, Valerian, Lunaria, Lychnis sp., Thymus serpyllum, Dusty Miller, Rhubarb, Raspberry, Bearded Iris, Daylily, Aster laevis, Hyssopus and Shasta Daisy. The Rhubarb was wintersown and planted last spring so I should be able to harvest from them this year...YEAH!! A Rhubarb/Strawberry Custard Pie sounds pretty good..Mmmmm!

The Daffodil were coming in much too early and I was afraid for them, but they started blooming on March 25th just about when the Crocus were about finished! They were blooming by March 1st. I've never had Daffodil blooming before mid April!! Of course there are a ton of Poppy, Nigella, Larkspur, Viola, Chamomile and Lunaria seedlings everywhere...not counting the ones that were already up last fall. Although the Viola (Johnny Jump-Up) at this point are still very small they have started blooming. Last year I also dug up some Early Blue Violet AKA Hookedspur Violet (Viola adunca) and transplanted them to a spot and they were just about as early as the Chives coming in. Yeah, I know most people are trying to get rid of them, but I personally think they look good as a nice native perennial ground cover if you plant them were you don't need to worry about their creeping habit and I'm a sucker for purple! They bloom from early spring through June and when not in flower the foliage is still attractive. They usually are blooming again in mid fall too. I'm also going to see about using them as ground cover under my tomatoes :)

As for winter-sowing, I didn't sow no where as near as many containers this year....not even a fraction! So far, I only have 12!! By now I usually have somewhere between 70-100 containers LOL! Really, I just couldn't get with the program this year. I got the last 8 out there on 3/20. The first 4 were shrubs/trees that were put out in November. As of March 31st the following have started germinating:

1. Blue Elderberry (Sambucus nigra caerulea...formerly S. mexicana)....sown Nov

2. Inula helenium 'Goliath'...sown 2/19

3. Echinops 'Platinum Blue'....sown 3/20

4. Dianthus knappii....sown 3/30

The rest I'm waiting on sown on 2/19 and 3/20 are:

5. Agastache rupestris 'Apache Sunset'

6. Pentemon pinifolius 'Compactum'

7. Aruncus dioicus

8. Platycodon grandiflorus

9. Baptisia australis

Shrubs/trees (sown in Nov.)

1. Pacific Slope Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus)

2. Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

3. Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa)

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Comments (29)

shoregrowin
Hey Hey Vera, Happy Easter! Glad to see you back in the fold, you have been missed girl!
This seems to be a very strange occurrence amongst many of us old-timers this season. (that makes me feel REALLY old, ha ha!)
Usually I have sown between 100-300 containers, this year I have a WHOPPING 6 out there. Six... Six... What in the world is up with that?
A friend was here for cocktails yesterday evening and related that she and her husband were at the local ACE hardware store and the hubby suggested she go ahead and buy her basil and tomato plants. She replied- "No way, I know where to get my plants, she will have the good ones that she grows organically." The she would be me. I have no basil, no tomato plants sowed... I couldn't say a peep because I plan to sow my butt off over the next few days so I can save face.
Isn't that weird though, that many of us oldies but goodies did not ws near the amounts we normally would- THIS year.
And speaking of early blooms and such, we had over 50 inches of snow in our area. That is more than the brotherinlaw in Syracuse had. Unheard of. Then I'm out poking around in the garden and I find an annual Gerbera daisy that WINTERED OVER. Granted, it was in a semi micro climate area, but a few perennials in that same area have yet to show themselves.
Very strange doings indeed.

Good growing to you Vera, hair and winter sow! :)

Shore
shoregrowin
Oh this IS great to see you fellow oldies! Waving and sending ((((hugs))))! Thanks to you Vera!
I love seeing all the newbies too, isn't this cool watching the ranks grow every year?
We're a winter sowing army!!!
I now have NINE containers, San Marzano maters and Summerlong Basil added to my list. :)
Have a happy day all,

Shore
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shoregrowin
Hey Hey Vera, Happy Easter! Glad to see you back in the fold, you have been missed girl!
This seems to be a very strange occurrence amongst many of us old-timers this season. (that makes me feel REALLY old, ha ha!)
Usually I have sown between 100-300 containers, this year I have a WHOPPING 6 out there. Six... Six... What in the world is up with that?
A friend was here for cocktails yesterday evening and related that she and her husband were at the local ACE hardware store and the hubby suggested she go ahead and buy her basil and tomato plants. She replied- "No way, I know where to get my plants, she will have the good ones that she grows organically." The she would be me. I have no basil, no tomato plants sowed... I couldn't say a peep because I plan to sow my butt off over the next few days so I can save face.
Isn't that weird though, that many of us oldies but goodies did not ws near the amounts we normally would- THIS year.
And speaking of early blooms and such, we had over 50 inches of snow in our area. That is more than the brotherinlaw in Syracuse had. Unheard of. Then I'm out poking around in the garden and I find an annual Gerbera daisy that WINTERED OVER. Granted, it was in a semi micro climate area, but a few perennials in that same area have yet to show themselves.
Very strange doings indeed.

Good growing to you Vera, hair and winter sow! :)

Shore
shoregrowin
Oh this IS great to see you fellow oldies! Waving and sending ((((hugs))))! Thanks to you Vera!
I love seeing all the newbies too, isn't this cool watching the ranks grow every year?
We're a winter sowing army!!!
I now have NINE containers, San Marzano maters and Summerlong Basil added to my list. :)
Have a happy day all,

Shore
shoregrowin
Hey Hey Vera, Happy Easter! Glad to see you back in the fold, you have been missed girl!
This seems to be a very strange occurrence amongst many of us old-timers this season. (that makes me feel REALLY old, ha ha!)
Usually I have sown between 100-300 containers, this year I have a WHOPPING 6 out there. Six... Six... What in the world is up with that?
A friend was here for cocktails yesterday evening and related that she and her husband were at the local ACE hardware store and the hubby suggested she go ahead and buy her basil and tomato plants. She replied- "No way, I know where to get my plants, she will have the good ones that she grows organically." The she would be me. I have no basil, no tomato plants sowed... I couldn't say a peep because I plan to sow my butt off over the next few days so I can save face.
Isn't that weird though, that many of us oldies but goodies did not ws near the amounts we normally would- THIS year.
And speaking of early blooms and such, we had over 50 inches of snow in our area. That is more than the brotherinlaw in Syracuse had. Unheard of. Then I'm out poking around in the garden and I find an annual Gerbera daisy that WINTERED OVER. Granted, it was in a semi micro climate area, but a few perennials in that same area have yet to show themselves.
Very strange doings indeed.

Good growing to you Vera, hair and winter sow! :)

Shore
shoregrowin
Oh this IS great to see you fellow oldies! Waving and sending ((((hugs))))! Thanks to you Vera!
I love seeing all the newbies too, isn't this cool watching the ranks grow every year?
We're a winter sowing army!!!
I now have NINE containers, San Marzano maters and Summerlong Basil added to my list. :)
Have a happy day all,

Shore
pitimpinai
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Vera. :-)
tiffy_z5_6_can
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Glad to hear from you!

I know what you mean about spring (or is it summer??) coming in so quickly. Usually the perennials only start emerging here when the daffs start blooming but this year is a first with the perennials emerging as the daffs break ground. Even my Blue Poppies are showing off and they usually wait until at least mid-May.

We could be in for a great gardening season as opposed to last year. Yippee!!
not_a_contessa
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey Vera, welcome back! Tell me about rhubarb strawberry custard pie, I'm intrigued. Do you have a recipe, or the source for one?

Mary
highalttransplant
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey, Vera! I feel honored that out of 12 containers, 3 of them are seeds out of my garden : ) Hope they do well for you!

Bonnie
mnwsgal
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi, Vera.

Keep that snow away from MN. I spring sowed most of my containers outside yesterday when the high temp was 81F. Still in the 70s when I finished in the wee hours of the morning. (Great light on my back patio.) Will sow annuals in the next couple of weeks.

Spring bulbs are blooming here early also. Saw some portulaca sprouts by the mailbox next to the curb. Haven't seen any other seedlings yet.
token28001
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey Vera. Just wanted to let you know that I have three sprouts in my White Texas Star container. I've got your name on those first seeds that develop this summer. Keep your fingers crossed that they're white.
kqcrna
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi, Vera. So good to hear from you. I just emailed Carrie this morning and asked if she'd heard from you lately. Glad all is well.

Karen
brandymulvaine
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Vera!!!
-B
albertar
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey Vera....seems some of oldies to WS are slowly fading away, LOL, I don't post nearly as much as I used to, but I'm still around and read the posts daily. You did 12 containter this year and I did only 8, and have germination in 5 out of 8, LOL. See you over on F/B my friend.
Happy Gardening and Happy Easter.

Alberta
kqcrna
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Good to see you too, Alberta. I guess I qualify as an old timer now, and yes, we are slowly fading away. I do read threads regularly but don't post nearly as much as I used to, either. And I have only sown 15 jugs this year, way down from my 60-80 of recent years.

We ought to set a date for an old-timers reunion in the conversations section some day, see who we can find.

Karen
PVick
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey, Vera! Missed you - glad to hear all is well.

Oldtimer here too - still read posts daily, though, and respond when I have something to contribute. I've only done 30 containers so far, and the majority of those are for other people. 13 of those have germinated so far; not bad, since most of them have only gone out in the last couple of weeks. Still gonna do some more annuals; just gonna chock them in somewhere for some color this year.

It is nice to see all the "newbies" and the success they are having.

WS rocks!

PV
karendee
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
glad you are back...

Karen
noinwi
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Welcome back, Vera! I've always looked forward to your posts and photos!
GawdinFever
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey, Vera! (And everyone else!...jumps up and down!)

Welcome back! Wow! I just recently came back myself, and was thinking there was hardly anyone I knew...all newbies. (Which is good, but missed seeing so many I knew. Before I had gotten to think of GW'ers as my closest family! LOL

Do you all remember this? ;)

Here is a link that might be useful: WS Members
not_a_contessa
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I did a search on your pie and found quite a few recipes, I have a stash of rhubarb in the freezer, and now thanks to you I have a new way to use them. DH will love it, what a great idea!

Mary
ellenr22 - NJ - Zone 6b/7a
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey,Vera
wondered where you were!

nice to hear what's up. :)

I guess I'm an oldie now.

I remember when I was only asking questions, now I am more answering them, altho still asking.
ellenr22 - NJ - Zone 6b/7a
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
wow, that link to members' pics is beautiful.

I didn't recognize too many names, I think WS'ing must go back further than I thot.

What's the longest anyone on here has been WS'ing?

I think I've been about 6 years.
kqcrna
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Wow, it has been a long time. I joined GW in Sept '04, but found wintersowing in '05, too late to start sowing that year. I was here on the forum in '05 but didn't start WSing seeds until '06.

A lot of the people in those gallery pics aren't around any more. Just a few of us, really. And I don't look like that anymore, either. I'm older, fatter, and grayer.

Karen
albertar
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I'm guessing us "Oldies" have filled our yards up nicely, good to see so many familiar names, :) and I'm thrilled when I come to this forum and see all the newbies, Yes, Winter Sowing rocks!!

Alberta
mnwsgal
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I guess I'm an "oldie" and agree that it is nice to see some others posting here and have missed you all but it's great to see so many newbies.

I have also been slow to get started sowing this year with only 12 containers until a few days ago when I did 92 containers. Still have many more to do and have lots of yard to fill including a new bed prepared last fall.
albertar
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I started WS in 2001, at least that's pretty much what my profile page says but I really thought this was my 10th year not 9th, Oh well, who remembers anymore, LOL. All I know is my yard is pretty full with perennials and I'm happy, :)

Alberta
PVick
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
bump for Vera ..... while the pages are availa again.
northforker
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Vera,

Even though you haven't planted many containers, we ARE going to insist that you take pictures of your beautiful establsihed beds! Being able to see what your "babies" will turn into when you are a newbie is so important! Your pics are the reason I have a flat started that has about 35 blue flax seeds sprouting in it right now!!!!!

I loved looking through the pics. I was pretty new when I added my photo, so does being on that thread make me an oldie? (smile)

Nancy

Hey Hey!! (Long Post)

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shoregrowin

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