swokiedokie - I didn't remember that we had anyone down your way...so welcome. Can you grow good melons? It seems like anytime I drove in the southwestern part of the state in summer, I always bought great melons at roadside stands.

My mother was born in Cotton County in 1911, and will be celebrating her 99th birthday this week.

Hi to all of you who don't post often. It is good to know you are still 'out there'.

SWOkiedokie,

I believe you win the prize for being the furthest southwest. I'm pretty far south (surrounded on three sides by Texas....Cooke County on two side and Grayson County on the third) but you're a lot further west. We both have the same horrid clay soil, I guess, but your climate is more challenging by far.

I think you're gardening in just about the harshest possible climate and soil. A dry climate is much harder to garden in if you have clay soil, and a little easier with sandy soil or sandy loam soil. Maybe with all the rain coming through you end of the state, you'll have a great garden year.

Carol, Ninety-nine!!!! Happy Birthday to your mom. That is simply amazing.

Dawn

Thanks Dawn. I just talked to her on the phone and she was telling me how much she liked to take care of the garden produce this time of year. She did it for a lot of years. In more recent years she didn't have a big garden but she would still grow a tomato plant and a few green onions in with her flowers in the little flower garden that was about table-top size. She always had a rose or two and lots of African Violets (inside). I caught all of that except the need for roses, I guess, because I do not like to grow roses.

I have been told that I have a very high tolerance for pain, and I believe that is true, but it doesn't hold true for rose thorns. If I get stuck by the thorn on a rose bush, it will burn and sting for hours. It is much more intense that a bee sting and I can do without that misery. I'll take mine, long stemmed, de-thorned, and in a vase, thank you. LOL

Hey - all - sorry for my late reply. We had company in for the 4th and today is the first day I've had to breathe let alone read the forums! :-)

I am in Tulsa - born here and live here now, but I've also lived in the following Oklahoma cities/towns: Stillwater, Broken Arrow, Moore, Norman, Edmond, Beggs, Mounds, Bixby, Jenks. (moved around a TON growing up.) I also spent two years in the Little Rock, AR area which is where I lived as a young wife and where I planted my first garden. :-)

~Laura

dawn-I have to agree with you about the gardening conditions in this part of Oklahoma. I gave up the garden for 2 summers and kept the garden spot covered with thick plastic to kill off the horrible Johnson grass then after that, last year, we added everything possible to try to loosen up the soil and make it workable. So this year I have gorgeous squash and zucchini plants, very nice tomato plants and cukes that are growing everywhere. The moles have pretty much destroyed my green beans and the squash bugs have destroyed 2 zucchini plants. Fortunately we have had some rain and cooler temp so I'm hoping the tomatoes will come on strong again.

I really enjoy reading about what others from our state are doing.

Oh, James, we're close! I am in Haskell County, but in Pittsburgh County every day for work! I live near Stigler.

I'm in central Oklahoma, just north of Oklahoma City. We were also so blessed by the rain - we are in a rural area that has continual fires between June 15 - and July 6, because of all the people who "come to the country" to pop their fireworks and leave their trash. It's great to know that we are all from different areas but still share a common bond of gardening.

I'm in Warr Acres, toward the north edge of the little town, which is the equivalent of saying NW Okc.

Jay, where are you in relation to Meade? I lived in Meade for a couple of years back when I was much younger, in fact my youngest daughter was born there. Very nice little town with wonderful people. I liked it there very much.

Susanlynne, I found a small hawk, no idea what type, INSIDE my netted garden one morning last week. I have no idea how it got in there! I've tried to lace closed every possible gap in the netting to keep the birds from pecking my peppers and tomatoes, yet the silly things keep finding a way in. Doves and little sparrows I figure slip through any small opening, but a hawk? And, of course, he panicked when I went out there to provide an opening for him to leave. Ended up breaking off a stalk on a pepper plant, luckily a decorative one.

Debra

I live in the Tulsa area. We just finished building our house and moved in this year so all of my gardens, flowerbeds and trees are new. I'm learning how to grow plants in this type of soil.

Debra,
90 miles SW. On the OK state line and 10 miles west of the CO line. We all laugh when they call Dodge City, Bucklin or Greensburg southwest KS on the Wichita TV stations. Great people in this whole area. When you have a crisis in your life you find out how great they all are. No trees here, flat but a great place to live and raise a family. Jay

While I have been a member of the forums for many, many years I haven't posted much. When I first started coming to Garden Web there wasn't the state divisions so it was hit and miss when you asked for help. What helped in one area didn't in others! Any way I am in Bryan County, almost in TX, near the Denison Dam.

I'm lucky to have sandy soil that with a few amendments can grow anything I care to try. I converted a large flower bed that was near my back door to a small garden a couple of years ago and have had moderate luck so far, mainly due to lack of time. I have put soaker hose down each row and then newspaper covered with grass clippings for mulch. Very little weeding for me and the sand toads just love getting under the paper where it's nice and cool and damp after I water. I just love my toads and earthworms and have lots of them. I prefer to garden organically tho I am not fanatic about it, if an organic method doesn't work I'm up for something that will, but it is a very last resort!

I'm in Jenks!

Hello, Charlie.

I am glad you ask. I live just east of the Ar. Ok. line about 15 miles south of Ft. Smith Ar.

Larry

Hi to everyone and a Big Thanks for responding. Now if I can only remember where everyone is from, this wonderful. Maybe we could put our city or County in with the zone slot. Just a thought!

Charlie

I'm in southwest Logan County, between Edmond and Guthrie. We just moved out here last October after living in Oklahoma City most of our lives, and are totally enjoying the transition from city life to country life. My vegetable garden this first year is very tiny, only some tomatoes and peppers, but I'm making big plans to expand it next year. Sorry to be so late posting to this thread, but we spent the Fourth at Lake Eufaula and I've been away from the computer for a few days.

Suzie

Hi, I'm in the panhandle, east of Guymon. I think I am the most westerly OK resident on the forum. Jay is west of me but in KS. I have enjoyed reading where everyone lives and about there gardening conditions. I have wonderful sandy loam soil but hot, dry, windy conditions most of the time. We have had cooler days for the last couple of weeks, but no rain. The lack of rain did provide perfect wheat harvest weather. We are finished with harvest as are most others in this region, so rain would be welcome again.

Jan

Suzie, where did you stay on Eufaula? I might have seen you, I work there!

i am in Sequoyah ... its between Claremore and Chelsea

I've created a map to better visualize where everyone is located. Below is a link to the map thread...

Here is a link that might be useful: MapMe Thread

In Tulsa county, in an urban area with a small lot. So great to hear about everyone's garden. I don't post very often, but I gain so much from what I've learned here.

DH wants to move out of the city within the next few years. I hope we can pull it off.

See Boomer's post titled MAP ME at the top of the forum and everyone go add. What a brilliant idea!

Jo

Catwoman,
We were at Leisure Land, which is just west of Hwy 69, halfway between Eufaula and Checotah. We weren't in Eufaula much this time though. My DIL and I had planned to go to the farmers market Saturday morning, but with all the rain we ended up not going. Where do you work in Eufaula?

Suzie

Oh, I see. I thought you stayed in one of our parks. I am a park ranger, so I work pretty much all over the lake. Makes for a long drive! ;)

I have seen that farmer's market sign, but it kind of points to the neighborhood and I never ventured in. Is it a good one?

Cathi

Don't want to bump the map thread down the page so posting this here:

I've stuck a pin on my head, well, actually my neighbors' heads, twice now and it disappears after a while. It could be that the neighbors' heads are filled with hot air and composting manure and the pin prick cause an explosion, causing the map to be blown clean in my area.

Or maybe the internet just hates me.

Diane

Diane, never fear, you did not blow up your neighbors.

It was tough for me to figure out how to map myself too. I think I did it four times. But I was DETERMINED to be on that darn map! (laughing).

First, sign in.

Then click edit map.

Then click Add Hotspot and choose an icon. Type your location in the bar (town and state, or full address).

Put a title and description in the pop up, then click add hotspot over on the left.

I think that's it.

I don't want to try it again and add myself twice.

Jo

Yep, I did that, Jo. Twice. It was even on there for a while. Then I heard a boom and saw lack of brains flying.

I'll do it again tonight after the short, loud people are asleep.

Diane

You're on there Diane. I think you just have to zoom in to see you. I thought I was gone, or in Tahlequah at first, but now I think I'm on there!

Cathi

Okay, I'm now seeing myself on there about half of the time but it has me clear over in Arkansas, halfway to Little Rock. LOL Once I zoom in, though, it shows correctly. Oh, wait, no, it doesn't. On the default map, I'm not there. Click once to zoom and I am. There seems to be someone else who lives near Russellville.

I'm going to leave well enough alone before I blow up the internet.

Diane

Cathi,
We've stayed in Fountainhead State Park many times over the years. One time we made the mistake of picking a spot near the boat ramp and got very little sleep that night because of the fishermen putting their boats in and out of the lake all night long! I think your job as a park ranger must be very interesting and I'll bet you have a ton of stories you can tell. You really have a lot of territory to cover, considering that lake is huge. The water on the Fountainhead side is really muddy right now! I haven't made it to that farmers market in Eufaula yet ... have tried twice and both times it rained. It is supposed to be one of the all-Oklahoma-grown markets though. I think it's supposed to be across from the library?

Suzie

I live 4 hours from the Oklahoma/Texas border I-35 way in Sam Houston National Forest in Southeast Texas. First time gardener. Grew the living hell out of everything I grew. Learned quite a bit. I have decided to share in the Okie forum because,well, I like Oklahoma better.Except for football. Hook 'em.

Diane, I see you! Hi!

Nothing exploded in my house..Yet.

Jo

Give it time, Jo. Give it time...

;-)

Diane

On the map, I choose edit then the "let me do it myself mode" to put mine in the right place. The automatic feature didn't put me where it should have. No matter anyway, because it likes Marcy more than me, so I'm behind her. LOL

I don't believe I've ever posted before, but sure enjoy reading all the knowledge passed around.

I live in the south part of Warr Acres (west OKC)

Sharon B.

Hello MrsB, and welcome to the forum. We hope you will visit often and become addicted to tomatoes just like the rest of us. Sorry, the insanity may be addicting as well.

Well, gee whiz. I disappear for a few days (painting and messing with my butterflies) and everyone starts showing off. :) I'm late to the party, but I'm here in SE Oklahoma.

We are up to 18 locations on the map. Lets keep up the good work.

If you don't want to sign up for it, let me know and I'll just add your hotspot to the map.

Just wanted to plug Boomer's map again, and beg for more pictures.

We don't care if you are 2 feet tall, 850 pounds, with green teeth and no hair! A pipe in your teeth, chest hair down to your ankles...it's all good.

I'd love to put some faces to some names.

Jo

Boomer Sooner,
You can add me to your map if you want. I'm in Garvin County. Been on Garden Web for about ten years now but don't post much any more. I lost much of my gardening obsession when I moved a few years ago, and left my beautifully landscaped gardens and flower beds. It's been hard starting over in a sea of Bermuda grass. I check in here once a week or so. :)

Springlift34,
Welcome to the OK gardening forum. Nice to see a Texan who likes OK better, ROTF. Except for the football part. Go Sooners!

Diane, it seems to be "grouping" people strangely on the zoomed out view. You show up in a large group right around Fort Smith. Dawn is showing up grouped with those of us in the Okc area. Once you zoom in though people start appearing more nearly where they should.

Jo, Here's a link to the pictures I took at this year's plant swap in April. I tried to get names for everyone in the descriptions underneath the pictures. That might aid you a bit in putting some faces to names.

2010 Plant Swap

Sharon B., we're neighbors! Well, sort of. I just bought a house in Warr Acres in late 2007 so I'm sort of new to the little city and not terribly familiar with the boundaries. I'm in the vicinity of NW 63 & MacArthur.

Debra

Wolflover, I added you to the map.

Debra,

Thanks. It's so nice to see everyone!!!

Jo

I don't post all that often either, but I am a devoted lurker :). I am in the northern part of Leflore County, not too terribly far from the Haskell County line. I added my Hot Spot to the map. Thanks for setting it up Boomer.

Michelle

Sorry Diane. Did not mean to throw you off by adding me in dare I say it Arkansas.

Beerhog, how dare you live in Arkansas! LOL I swear the map thing doesn't bother me in the slightest. I was just worried I messed something up. Diane + anything techonology = surefire disaster.

Diane

Boomer - I tried to add me to the map from work the other day...but I just got all kinds of messed up. (Diane & I might be twins from different mothers and seperate fathers!) Would you be so kind as to add me to the map? Might come in handy next spring when everyone's trying to decide if they can make it to the swap. Besides, I'm chained to the stove & sink putting up veggies for the winter.

MrsB & Debra - you live probably within blocks of my sister!

Springlift34 - I absolutely LOVE that part of Texas! My BFF lived several years in Grapeland and she could grow ANYTHING there! I visited her every chance I got to get away from the big city. Beautiful country and really nice people down your way!

Thanks in advance, Boomer!

Paula

The Map Me thread scrolled halfway down the page. Does it automatically unstick itself after a set amount of time? Should we start bumping it?

Jo

I'm not sure. Maybe we should.

Boomer, You might contact the Garden Web administrators and see if they'd add the MapMe thread to our FAQ at the top of the page. That's the only way I know of to keep it around 'forever'. Otherwise, it will be bumped down continually. Our FAQs are old and probably out-of-date anyway, but I have no idea how willing the GW Administrators may or may not be to allow anyone to add anything to the FAQs. It might be worth a try, though.

Dawn

I asked them. I'll let you guys know when I hear something back. Thanks