You are going to have so much fun. Creative Staring is a favorite pasttime for me. Now, what is gin trash? I know what trash is and I am familiar with gin (more so with vodka, but that's another story), but I am unfamiliar with the combo. Cynthia

Yes, I can see that there could be quite a lot of enjoyable Creative Staring to be done!

Those are some whoppers of rocks. Very nice.

When you're done, bring some of that heavy equipment down here. :)

I call it constructive staring. But the idea holds true.

That's going to be a big bed. Nice to have large boulders, but I wouldn't want to have to move them.

Have you tried taking cuttings of S. leucantha, or do yours seed themselves? (Mine don't.) I've had good luck with the cuttings, though not at this time of year.

Creative Staring is also effective when done in a comfortable chair with a glass of iced tea.

Gin trash is bits of hulls, leaves and other leavings where cotton is ginned to remove the seeds and package it into bales for transport to factories. One year DH got me a semi-trailer load. The gin trash was free, hauling was dear. We gave some away, and the remainder is almost all gone. 'That old rotten stuff,' as the man who gave me the elephant ears called it, grows some fine plants.

You can get all kinds of waste material that makes good compost. Spent hops, grain and yeast from a brewery makes great soil amendment, if there's one nearby. Maybe we should start a new thread on sources of compostables?

It's Constructive Staring when you are making actual plans, Creative Staring when you are without a clue. Or is it the other way around?

Nell

Nell, I love your description of "constructive" and "creative" staring. I'd say "creative" was when you're "trying on" different plans. I do that at my kitchen window a lot. Never knew what it was until I read your posts. Just knew that before I knew it, 20 minutes had passed and I hadn't moved. I'm new here, by the way. And new to gardening too. Just sneaked out of lurkdom for a minute and will scurry back soon. You folks are all such an inspiration to me.

Foxie, As you will learn, I always make pet names for everyone from something in their web name. Anyway, I love the creative spirit in your writing as well as your garden. I am looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Judy=gaga, welcome. It's always fun to have newbies. Please don't go back to lurkdom, there's not as much cottage lovin' there.
gramma jan

Jan,
Your name for me made me laugh. I am getting a little braver and have posted on a couple of threads, as well as on the "other" forum, DG. Even posted a photo or two there. I would like to say that I have learned more lurking for a month on these forums than I picked up in more than 10 years of reading magazines and books. The garden bug bit me about 10 years ago, when I was a mere child of 60 (?), and several stumbling blocks along the way prevented me from getting started when I wanted to. The people on this forum are so wonderful and helpful and each has his or her own style and taste, giving a myriad of choices from which to learn and grow. I am also inspired by my younger sister who has been a gardener all her life. I was too busy raising, training and showing dogs to join in her hobby. I Googled for about a year before I found this place and I am in heaven, for sure. I hope I can get to know you all better as time passes and I build my own garden.

Judy in "gaga"

Nell, can't believe you're doing another bed and here I'm thinking about eliminating some! Be sure to keep us updated on the progress please.

Judy, welcome to the Forum. Stay brave and stay with us. We will all be so interested in seeing your new garden and will freely offer advice (sometimes whether asked for or not!). It is never too late to begin gardening on any scale.

Nell, I am surprised they aren't selling gin trash to cattle and dairy people. Almost all byproducts of crop production now is sold.

I have been doing too much creative staring in my easy chair lately.

glenda

Oh my God, my back hurts just looking at those. :)