Relish--What else besides hot dogs?
Lisa Hayes
15 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (22)
noinwi
15 years agoksrogers
15 years agoRelated Discussions
Favorite Shrubs besides Roses?
Comments (48)There are so many that I like. I favor drought tolerant/heat tolerant plants that like conditions as they are in my garden, with little to no soil amendments or fertilizer, and onlly light watering. That means plenty of California natives thrive, along with my many species roses and European/Middle Eastern origin roses. A number of these plants, both roses and others, want to go summer dormant (and if watered and/or fertilized then they won't be able to rest and often will not flower the next year) as they would naturally in the areas where they are native. Of course this kind of care goes against the grain with lots of rose gardeners in mediterranean climate areas like mine, who are then surprised that roses in these classes won't bloom for them. Salvias are in general wonderful here. Salvia 'Celestial Blue' is a CA native and has the most gorgeous blue flowers. No pictures I've seen online truly capture the stunning color. Foliage is silvery and smells heavenly. Likes full sun, lean soil, and little to no summer water. Salvia dorrii 'Gayle Nielson'. CA native. Desert sage. Foliage is silvery grey green and delightfully scented. Heat tolerant and surprisingly shade tolerant too. Winter bloomer. Has pale lavender flowers. Since it is from the desert where sporadic rainfall may occur, this plant likes a few drinks in the summer. Salvia mohavensis. CA native. Newly-planted baby plants last month. I had to wait nearly a year to get them from a specialty grower. Mine haven't bloomed yet but the pictures online show small charming blue flowers. Salvia namaensis. Native to South Africa. Has delicate lacy, crimped leaves which are deceptive because this plant is as tough as nails. Extremely heat and drought tolerant. It has lovely small pale lavender blue flowers and blooms almost year round. I have never fertilized it and rarely water now that it is established. My soil is very sandy loam and quite lean. Salvia spathacea 'Avis Keedy' (yellow flowers) and 'Powerline Pink'. Both are very shade tolerant and actually need some shade and summer water (not a lot). Powerline Pink in particular has especially yummy smelling foliage (lemony sagey scent). Various Salvia greggii and Salvia jamensis or crosses of either or both. Including Salvia 'Hot Lips' (red and white or combination flowers), Salvia 'Elk White Ice' (pure white flowers, heavy bloomer in 90+ degree heat), Salvia 'Elk Lemon Light' (beautiful clear yellow flowers and bright green foliage, nice bushy shape, blooms well in high heat), Salvia 'Mesa Azure' (striking purplish blue flowers, heat and shade tolerant, stays bushy, branches stay flexible rather than going woody and brittle, long bloom period), Salvia 'Teresa' (prolific bloomer, very bushy, lush foliage a nice shade of green, heat and drought tolerant, pretty white flowers touched with pink), and Salvia 'Moonlight' (pale yellow flowers, shade tolerant, heat tolerant, stays small). Ceanothus. My favorites include C. spinosus (almost lime green stems and trunk, yep prickly spines, will tolerate some shade, dislikes summer water, grows quickly, pretty blue flowers, bushy), C. cyaneus (aka lakeside ceanothus, absolutely gorgeous 'cyan' blue flowers, wants to be a small tree, grows fast, likes some shade, will tolerate some summer water, very nice foliage, scented flowers), C. 'Lemon Ice' (variagated yellow and green foliage, blue flowers, will tolerate some shade and summer water, small to moderate sized shrub), C. 'El Dorado' (very similar to Lemon Ice, too new to comment on ultimate size), C. 'Diamond Heights' (groundcover!, needs some shade in high heat areas, variagated foliage, small blue flowers), C. 'Arroyo de la Cruz' (bushy and low growing, mine is in a huge pot in partial shade, and seems quite happy, small foliage, gets water once or twice a month in summer), C. arboreus (very fast growing, somewhat shade tolerant, will be a tree, does not like summer water). Mimulus, aka monkey flowers! I recently planted 2 and am closely watching their progress. So far they have bloomed heavily and appear to be settling in for the worst of the summer heat. I have M. aurantiacus (sticky monkey flower, peachy color flowers) and M. aurantiacus 'Buttercup' (orangey flowers, which I usually don't like, but I do this one). Eriogonum. Wild buckwheat. CA native. I have 3 different kinds, all very drought tolerant. E. fasciculatum 'Dana Point' (has the nicest foliage and prettiest flowers (snow white in color) of all the fasciculatums I've seen--has been smashed multiple times by my big dogs and keeps on growing!), E. parvifolium (seacliff buckwheat, mine has white flowers, but some, depending on grower and where they collected their mother plants, have pinkish flowers), and Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum ‘Shasta Sulfur’ (very low growing, bright yellow flowers). Miscellaneous CA natives: Asclepias fascicularis (narrow leaf milkweed, very attractive foliage, food source for Monarch butterfly caterpillars) Erysimum menziesii (menzies wallflower, in a pot and very happy) Monardella antonina (coyote mint) Monardella odoratissima Monardella 'Russian River' Isocoma menziesii (golden bush) Penstemon 'Margarita BOP' Penstemon grinnellii Penstemon 'Electric Blue' Penstemon azureus Penstemon spectabilis Lotus scoparius (deerweed, nitrogen-fixer, yellow flowers) Olneya tesota (ironwood, a nurse plant as it is a nitrogen-fixer, eventually a small tree, but so slow growing that will take many years, now a tiny shrub, gets small pea-like violet flowers) Helianthemum scoparium (the only CA native rockrose/sunrose, bright yellow flowers) Lonicera subspicata (southern honeysuckle, likes to grow in chaparral, white and pale yellow flowers) Arctostaphylos purissima 'Vandenberg' (a groundcover manzanita with fuzzy white hairs on the stems and snowy white flowers--needs afternoon shade in hot inland areas) Not a shrub, but I have interplanted with them multiple of the CA native, sun-loving, and very drought tolerant grass Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition' (eyebrow grass, and the "eyebrows" are blonde). It's a very feathery and delicate looking grass, really lightens an area. Photo is of Salvia namaensis. Melissa This post was edited by Tessiess on Thu, Jul 17, 14 at 18:26...See MoreWhat do you collect besides plants?
Comments (34)I collect blue-and-white china, mostly plates etc that we use everyday. Cookbooks, mostly about bread baking. Kitchen stuff that I find at estate sales and can't resist. That's slowed way down since I'm out of room for it but I love the "what's this?" things. I have old Florida tourist souvenir plates like my grandmother used to collect. Turkish copper kitchen ware like gelatin molds and large platters. Can you tell I like to cook and to eat?? So much of it has come from estate sales, I feel like it's having a second life with me. I'm always looking for something interesting to put in the garden. Oh, and I guess I collect border collies since my sister says "one of something is unique, two is a pair, and three is a collection" and we have three. It would be so much fun to visit each other and see what we all collect in person. Even if I'm not personally interested in it I love to see what someone else is passionate about, that does make it interesting to me. Suzanne...See MoreDoes anyone besides me like pokeberry?
Comments (48)Hi Vineyarder - Welcome to garden web! You're certainly right about many "old weeds" being bred into great plants. Aside from asters, sambucus comes to mind as another native that was improved by plant breeders overseas before becoming popular here. The problem that sometimes arises is when the refined plants produce lots of seedlings that are not gardenworthy. I've seen this with other variegated plants, specifically Ampelopsis (porcelain berry vine). The hybrid form was lovely and, truthfully, it only threw about 4 seedlings over several years. The problem was that the seedlings quickly became rampant, uncontrollable monsters; the only way to prevent the problem was to eradicate the lovely variegated vine as well as all the offspring. Had a similar experience with butterfly bush - although I liked the wild ones enough that I eventually removed the "improved" hybrid parent plant, and just keep a few "wild" seedlings each year....See Moreanyone besides me have no Christmas decorations up?
Comments (27)Think I went brain dead when we bought our new home. I really got into giving everything to the goodwill. Have no clue what I was thinking when I sent everything for Christmas to them. Think I will buy some items after Christmas for next year. Only thing that I kept was the bubble lights that were on my grandmothers tree in the 40's. They don't work anymore, but they sure bring back the memories to my childhood, sitting in the old wooden chair looking at that Christmas tree....See Moreilene_in_neok
15 years agojoybugaloo
15 years agomscratch
15 years agowhynotmi
15 years agonancyofnc
15 years agomelva02
15 years agoDaisyduckworth
15 years agomelva02
15 years agowhynotmi
15 years agojimster
15 years agozabby17
15 years agojimster
15 years agodgkritch
15 years agoilene_in_neok
15 years agojimster
15 years agozabby17
15 years agoOrganic_CJ
10 years agoNilaJones
10 years agoherbalistic
10 years ago
Related Stories
PETSSo You're Thinking About Getting a Dog
Prepare yourself for the realities of training, cost and the impact that lovable pooch might have on your house
Full StoryLIFEThe Polite House: On Dogs at House Parties and Working With Relatives
Emily Post’s great-great-granddaughter gives advice on having dogs at parties and handling a family member’s offer to help with projects
Full StoryPETSHow to Help Your Dog Be a Good Neighbor
Good fences certainly help, but be sure to introduce your pup to the neighbors and check in from time to time
Full StoryCOLOR4 Hot Color Trends to Consider for 2013
Bring some zing to your rooms for the new year, with high-energy shades that open the eyes and awaken the spirit
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNDisplaying Kitchen Supplies — Hot or Not?
Do some kitchens just beg for a cozy row of canisters and gear for all to see? Have a look and let us know what you think
Full StoryMOST POPULAR8 Backyard Ideas to Delight Your Dog
Cue the joyous soundtrack. These pet-friendly landscape and garden ideas will keep your pooch safe, happy and well exercised outdoors
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNUsing White Marble: Hot Debate Over a Classic Beauty
Do you love perfection or patina? Here's how to see if marble's right for you
Full StoryMUDROOMSRoom of the Day: This Mudroom Is Just Plain Hot
Wait till you see what’s behind the hooks and bins in this genius family drop zone
Full StoryPETSRoom of the Day: Laundry Room Goes to the Dogs
Muddy paws are no problem in this new multipurpose room
Full StoryMOST POPULAR40 Dogs Who Are Having a Way Better Summer Than You
Houzzers share pics of their canine companions living it up — or getting down with relaxing — on warm days
Full Story
jimster