Deb, thank you so much for the houseplants that you sent to me. They all arrived in great condition. All the leaves look nice and healthy. I read all of your tips and am keeping them to reference when I need to. They are all so pretty. I especially like the Hindu Rope Hoya, Heart Hoya and the Strawberry N Cream Hoya! The Pothos is so pretty too. Heck they are all pretty! I have them rooting in water for now and will need to pick up a new bag of potting mix tomorrow. Thanks again. I am on my way to becoming a green thumb grower indoors too now thanks to you!

Hugs!
Tracy

Hello everyone,
Just got back yesterday from my sister's farm in northern PA. We had a great time. My aunt was out from Calif. with her husband. I haven't seen her in 6 years.

Took some pictures of a celebrity cow.

ELMBROOK LILACS LILY (AYRSHIRE Dairy Cow)

I hope everyone had a good weekend. My DD has been at a Blue Grass Festival for 4 days selling her stained glass and candles. At first she was concerned because it rained for 2 days. Dispite that she was able to sell quite a few items.

I'm looking forward to swapping with Melanie. We've already been in touch.
Mariann

Mariann, How sweet Lily is... I hope she does well in Harrisburg, and getting to see your aunt after 6 years - very cool!

Karen,
A bulb swap will be great! Oh, and I forgot that I have the list of everyones address' (sometimer moment!) but if you still need mine let me know.

Marie

That cow is beautiful, I love the coloring on it. I am glad your DD had a good sale and congrats on getting to see your aunt.

Melanie

WOW what a beautiful cow Mariann!! Cows are the best! They provide my two favorite things... MILK and BEEF! They are also soo sweet most of the time! Congrats to your DD for her sale!

Hello Marie, glad you got your box, I wonder if the postmaster sent the package ground, I asked for 3 day. If anything is dead I would be happy to resend, 8 days in a box in this heat is a long time, I sent all pretty tough plants, but still 8 days is a long time with no soil or light. The colus gets huge, around 3 to 4 feet high, I broke off a piece last year, from someones plant, could resist, it is a beautiful colus when it fills in, it grew great in the house over winter. Please let me know if any fried in their long trip.
Take Care Tammy

Good Morning
I was wondering if anyone, besides me, gardens in containers. I'd love to see some pics. Here are a few of mine.

Tammy,

Everything arrived in GREAT shape even for being stuck in a box that long. You did wonderful wrapping and packing them - all were still moist, green & healthy. In fact so heathy one of them bloomed! Thanks for such an awsome box!

Mariann,

This is my first year attempting to use containers. All I have are some tomatoes & a few flowers - I decided to do it as an experment to see which ones grew better - in containers or free range LOL So far, they are about the same and use the same amount of water. Yours are lovely! I don't have any recent pictures but I will try to post some tomorrow.

Marie

I took pictures of mine:

Ice Plants from Meli
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Tomatoes #1
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Tomatoes #2
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Tomatoes #3
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I have 2 other tubs of tomatoes but they all look about the same.

These are some cactus that I am starting to make sure they are good and health before I put them in a garden next spring along with a few other plants to fill in.
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Dalhia and viney stuff - looking a little dried out due to the heat.
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and these are one of the pots on either side of the entry way to my Secret Garden/Gazebo room
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These are the first 2 tomatoes of 2008!
{{gwi:1292787}}

If my daughter ever gets sick of eating them right off the vine and I get enough to ripen at one time, we will be making Salsa! I have 20 plants that made the summer so I bet I will have plenty!

Marie

Marie-Great pictures! I like the ice plants. We tried tomatoes in containers one year but the containers were to small. Had to take them out. Good looking tomatoes. Many of mine have blossom end rot.

FYI-We are having a cutting swap next month. I like to over winter some of my annuals. So it would be cuttings from Coleus, Begonias, Geraniums, etc. If anyone is interested please sign up this month.

I don't know if everyone has checked out Petal Pusher's this month. Sassy's DH had an accident at work and had to have surgery. We are sending out warm wishes, prayers and hugs to her and her DH.
Mariann

hello
I finaly got some picks of some of my cantainers
photo bucket is not working well for me today so I can't make the picks smaller of turn them but if you tilt your head you can see them LOL

this is the south side of the porch.
I have coleus, bananas, cannas, hibiscus, flowering maples, parsley, dill, pentas, and other odds and ends

this one is plumeria and white ginger my brother in law got me for christmas

the mini rose I got for valentines day and a coleus

the steps up to the porch, here I have more coleus, and dill, and some grasses, baby rose of sharron, geraniums and other mixed pots of plants my coconut palm up front, and a stalk of corn the squirrels planted for me, and last but not least Timmy and his popsickle

if I can get PB to work I might post some other later

Tammy did you want to send plants? Temps are comming down so I was going to send plants to you this month unless you don't want to.
let me know, I will be sending the week after next becouse my BIL's boys are out to visit and we will be very buisy next week.

marie those are some great planters

mariann too bad about your bottom LOL I mean blossom end rot we had that a few years ago

see ya later
michelle

Mariann, I have some container plants here but none as pretty as yours. I did see some wonderful container gardens at the County Fair yesterday though and wanted to share them with you.

This container is made of concrete and moss to form the base. I love the use of the mosses and herbs along with the figurines.

Here they used a chair as the planter.

A closer look

This is a simple terra cotta planter using mini hosta

A hanging basket

A pair of old drawers

It was really inspiring to see the use of different plantings, accent pieces and containers by other gardeners. I left feeling a little inspired on what I can do for my containers next year.

Tracy-How creative those planters are! I really love them. As I scrolled down I saw what you wrote above one of the pictures. Actually before I got to the picture 'A pair of old drawers'. I was wondering whose old drawers they were.LOL Plants in a pair of boxers. NOT!!!
Well-Sweep Herb Farm plants up a white brass double bed. By midsummer it's beautiful. I hope to get up there soon so I'll take a picture of it.

Michelle-Glad you're feeling well enough to post. The rose is lovely. How many different varieties of coleus do you have? I particularly like that corn.LOL I've had problems with Photobucket resizing so I resize before I upload pictures. Timmy is adorable!

I've been running all over the place today. I save up my errands so I don't waste gas. We have to have 2 license plates, on our cars, here in NJ. Noticed last week that my front plate was missing. So I had to go to Motor Vehicles to report it and get new plates. Then I had my blood work done, stopped for peaches and did some shopping. Came home and spent 1 hour on the phone with my Prescription Drug Plan customer service. Now I'm done. Looking forward to seeing the opening ceremonies tonight.
Have a great day
Mariann

A big hello to everyone!
Love the pictures you have shared. I have instructions on how to make the planters that look like stone. I have made them twice now. This last time it was hard to get them out of the molds so I think it may be best to avoid really hot temperatures when you make them. Anyway, they last a long, long time. I leave mine out year round and have it planted with a sedum and thyme.
I think it was someone in this group who sent me a cayenne pepper plant. Anyway, it did great and now I have picked one of the peppers that turned red. Please, someone, give me a hint what to do with it. Do I dry it and then crush it to make the spice? I'm sure I will have some more getting ripe in a few days.
Hope everyone is enjoying the Olympics! The opening ceremonies were so well done. I will love to learn more about China.
Jeanne

Jeanne-I have no idea what to do with a cayenne pepper. I guess I would dry it. They are pretty hot aren't they?

OK where is everyone???
Mariann

Michele, plants work great for me, we are having nice weather right now, no huminity has made a huge difference.

I have really enjoyed all the photos of containers gardens, I do not do well with containers around the house, I forget to water, now we grow thousands of pot grown plants, for our small nursery, but all that it on a watering system or they would all be dead.

Mariann, I have been weeding the weather has been cooler, so trying to get a million weeds pulled and pre- emergent down to help with the weeds this fall. Maybe others are doing yard clean up with the cooler temp's

Everyone have a great week, Tammy

hello
I have been over to my inlaws house alot.
they are watching their gradsons ( 8, and 6,) for a week, and have needed help keeping them buisy.
tammy I will send next monday, I need to peek at your list.
I need to do some serious weeding, with all the rain we have had they are enormus.

I will be in touch
michelle

hi everyone :)

michelle- thanks for the email and explanation of how your group works I'm happy to join in for the sept swap

happy gardening and stay cool
whew its hot here

danielle
firegurl

Michele, here is a strong hint!!! Would love some of your cuttings of coleus and geraniums, they do not need to be rooted, I an do that if you have some cutting to spare! Also would love to have some of your cuttings of sedums, I do have the light green, flowers pink, but have none of the others, again I can root them, that is no problem. If you see anything on my list you want let me know, I really do need to update it. Have a good evening, Tammy

Danielle/firegurl

We've had some cool weather here in NJ. Hoped to get more work done outside but it poured for 2 days. Although it does make it easier to pull weeds. I feel more energized when it's not so hot.
Mariann

hello
finaly the itching has subsided. YAY!!!!!
and Timmy starts kindergarden next wenesday. also YAY I'm hoping to get a lot done in the garden once he is in school.
Tammy - I saw lots of things on your list I like but the one that stood out was the corkscrew willow if it roots easily I would love a few cuttings of it.
I will get your box out on monday or tuesday, I will post when it leaves and the DC#.

the butterflies have been great now that they have finaly showed up, I have tones of monarchs, black swallow tails and tiger swallow tails. there are lots of buckeyes and skippers at the comunity garden, but they have not showed up here yet.

well thats all for now
see yall later
michelle

Michele, I will send you one already rooted, they grow fast and love a moist area, but keep them away from your house they get around 30 feet high and they are very beautiful. I love them and you can use the branches in flora arrangements. If there is any other wants, just let me know makes it easier to make up a box. Oh so cute, kindergarden, I have one in Jr year of college, one grad. HS this month, planning her party and my baby going to 7th grade, I miss them being little. Take lots of picture, tomorrow he will be getting married, LOL Have one getting married next June, maybe We will get a grandchild in a couple years. I will not be surprized if we don't have another wedding soon, The one grad. this month finished up early from school because she is in a hurry to grow up and has been dating her BF for quite a while now.
Tammy

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been so absent! As I wrote in another post, I just seem to be getting so bogged down lately! School cannot come fast enough!! lol. In case anyone didn't know, I have a home daycare, and summer has taken its toll on me!! lol. I'm sure the kids are ready for school also! Ours starts the day after labor day, but I will be on vacation for a week prior to that!

Marie, I will send your box Monday the 25th. I'm going to send ya an email about it.

Tracy, the fairy gardens are beautiful! Thanks for sharing the photos!

Michelle, I love your plumeria! Marie, your cactus' are really cool! and Mariann, your containers are beautiful! I'm so bad a watering them. I've done a pretty good job this year so far. Usually they end up drying out and half dead by this time of the year!

Danielle, welcome to the group!!

Hope everyone is having a Great month!!
Talk to ya'all later!
Karen

Melanie-With a little luck your box should be in the mail tomorrow. I'll post the DC# when I have it.

I'm going to post a new thread for signups for September. We are going to have a cutting swap.style>
Mariann

Melanie-
Your box will go out tomorrow
DC# 0103 8555 7494 8388 0530
Mariann

Thanks for letting me know Mariann. I will be sending your box on the 25th. I was planning to ship tomorrow but on saturday my fridge decided it didn't like us anymore so I didn't get to dig anything. Tomorrow is also the first day of school for my sons, so I will have some free time this week to get everything ready to be shipped. I will let you know when I ship.

Melanie

hello
tammy I sent your box off today
DC# 0103 8555 7493 7927 1251
it went priority so it should be there in 2 days, don't worry if the coleus are droopy when they get there, they usualy are, everyone says they purk right up when you put them in the water.

please let me know when they get there.
thanks
michelle

Karen,

Your box is going out this afternoon.

Enjoy your week, Marie

I'll be looking for it! Wednesday I'll be out of town when the mailman comes, but hopefully I'll be back before the PO closes. I have to go to my uncles funeral. He passed away Saturday. He had been on life support, but aware of his surroundings, and who was with him, but he had a living will, and so the drs finally agreed to unhook him. He was on the life support for about 3 days. Its been kind of tough on my dad. Who is also having health issues himself. He has to wear nitro patches as of today. He has such low blood pressure so often. So much to worry about. Its been quite a week end. Yesterday my son finally finished their Little Legue tournament. (they came in 2nd) and my hubby and I look like lobsters! Thursday, my daughter has to see a specialist for her spine (may have scoliosis sp. ?) My hubby met with a neurosurgeon today. I'm telling ya'll, I can't wait for this summer to be over! I feel like I'm hardly here on the GW anymore. I'm hoping that will change next month. (with the kids back in school). Well I've rambled on enough I suppose!

Take care everyone,
Karen

I recieved my box from Mariann today! Wow, what nice plants she sent.

Tiarella- Spring Symphony
Coreopsis- Zagreb
Columbine- William Guinness
Monarda- Blue Stocking
Huechera- Palace Purple
Sedum- Frost Morn
Mediovaruegatium

She also sent me some Dicentra "Alba" seeds, a marker and plant tags. Thanks so much.

Melanie

Melanie-I'm glad you liked what I sent. There should have ben a daylily in there too. It's 'Happy Returns'.
Mariann

Yes, It is there. I must have missed it when I posted. I was in a hurry, my daughter wanted a bath. Thanks again.

Deb, I will be mailing your box out on Monday. Sorry I have been absent lately. I will post the DC on Sunday night or Monday morning for you.

Tracy

Marie, I received your box yesterday! Thanks so much for everything!

Marie sent me:
Mini Iris
Bearded Iris
Chocolate Sunflower
Blue Spruce Sedum
3 Asiatic Lillies
Sweetie White Begonia
Tangerine Echinacea seeds
White Zinnia seeds
Burgundy Gaillardia seeds
Mixed Zinnia seeds
and White Marigold seeds

I love all of it Marie, and can't wait to get it all planted! Thank you again! I still plan on getting your box out on Monday.

Have a great day!
Karen

Karen-What a terrific box Marie sent you. Is the Blue Spruce Sedum actually blue?

I took a picture of a hot air balloon that was floating over my house yesterday. It was foggy and the balloon just appeared out of nowhere. There is an area near here where they take off. I was hoping to get a clearer picture. We see these all the time.

hello
Tammy - did you get the package yet, I sent it on the 18th and USPS delivered it on the 21st.

I have around 80 cuttings I just put in to root for next months swap, I may not root the supper easy ones like sedums and coleus. I would love some begonias mariann, we could do a side trade for some coleus( if you still want them.) I would also like some sweet potao vine cuttings they didn't do good for me last year over the winter, but I would like to try again

see ya all later

michelle

Deb, your box is on the way. DC# 0103 8555 7494 8982 2343.
We have perfect weather today. The high is going to be 74! Perfect for digging plants and weeding. :o)

Have a great day!
Tracy

Michele, What a wonderful box you sent, so many beautiful colus cuttings they fill a whole rooting tray. I have them all stuck and they look very happy, Michele sent me many, many various colors of colus, 5 or so different kinds of sedums cutting, white echinaea, some red geranium cuttings and a mexican petunia and one other plant I can't remember, I keep forgetting my list in the barn and thought I have to let you know I have everything and it arrived in beautiful condition. I do not have any of the plants you sent me, great choices!!!
Michele if all go well tomorrow, planning on sending your box out tomorrow. weather has cooled perfect to ship out your box. Will post tomorrow with DC#
Michele thank you so much for all the plants!!! Love them all and they are all stuck or planted.
Looks like everyone is getting some nice plants
Take Care ladies
Tammy

Michelle, Your box went out today, shipping employee at our factory was busy so I did not get a tracking number, if it don't get to you by Thursday let me know I will get the tracking number. Tammy

Karen,

So glad you like everything and I am excited about getting mine.

Mariann - nice picture, they are pretty neat! I don't think I can be in your cutting swap - I do not have a very good success rate starting things from cuttings unless they are house plants. It does sound like fun though and I am sure there will be some really great plants!

Marie

Tracy's box arrived today! All the plants are enjoying a good soak and a shot of superthrive. I'll plant them in the morning. ;)
Everything arrived in perfect condition!

Zebra Iris (Variegated, love it)
White Swan Echinacea
Double Decker Echinacea
Double white baloon flower
White Gayfeather Liatris
Snow Angel Heuchera (Variegated again a favorite!)
Geranium Pratense Albaflorum

I've never tried Echinacea & Liatris, so am looking forward to growing them! I love geranium and baloon flower!

Thanks Tracy for such a nice box! I'm working in the yard tomorrow! I think rains coming too, perfect weather for planting!

I love trying new things to grow!

Deb

Deb, you are very welcome. I am so glad everything arrived ok. I was very excited to send the variegated plants for you. I love the markings on the leaves of the heuchera. The liatris and coneflowers are attracting so many butterflies and bees to my yard this year. The bees decided to set up a hive in the center of my rock garden. I have to make sure I don't stand still on the path nearby or else I am right in the middle of their landing zone. Yesterday I was pelted in the head 3 times with incoming bees. Thank goodness my hair was put up. Might have had an angry mob stuck in it. lol!

Marie, your box went out yesterday! I have a dc#, but not with me at the computer. I'm hoping you will receive it tomorrow.

Galium, the sedum has a bit of a blue green color. The foliage looks like blue spruce foliage. Its really neat!

Tracy, watch those bees!! At my nieces birthday party, my son (7) and my nieces cousin(4) from her dads side crawled through the steps and under their deck to find some change they dropped, and the the 4yr old stirred up some wasps, and got stung on his head 3 or 4 times, once on his hand, and his sister who came out with the adults to see what all of the screaming was about, got stung on her leg. My son sat frozen in place, and they left him alone. You never seen 2 boys squeeze through the steps to get out faster than they did!

Well, I better go, I picked tomatoes and I suppose I better can them. I'd rather relax on the couch and watch football.

Have a great evening everyone,
Karen

hello
I got a very nice box from tammy yesterday
it had
dragonfly columbine(I love columbines)
a very dark red coleus
some day lily seedlings
2 golden curles willows, these are so pritty
a coriopsis
a butterfly bush
a potentilla goldfinger (is this hardy or should it be wintered inside)
3 crazy daisies
some ox eye daisys
and 6 tall steel plant markers

thank you tammy, I hope the coleus do well for you

I have been harvesting seeds and getting them dried and bagged, and I will starting potting up some tender plants for living in the house for the winter. last year I had several plants die over the winter, is there anyone that can give me any pointers on keeping overwintered plants healthy over the winter? I end up with lots of white flies and a cottony stuff on my coleus and several other plants.

trina - are you in any danger from the huricane? is anyone else in the area? we will be watching it, take care.

well got to get timmy ready for school

see ya later
michelle

Hello Michelle, glad you got your box, the potentilla is hardy to zone 4, so you are fine, they are tough plants, will get around 3 feet wide and tall, it is a shrub and flowers all summer. likes full sun. Coleus are doing great they are all nice a perky, I bet they will root this coming week, when our temps get back in the 80's. Over wintering in the house an be a hard, to keep white flies and fungus down use a small fan on your plant store area, just on low, if the air is moving it keeps these things down. I store all my plants in one location in front of a large window that get tons of sun ot at least when we actually get sun, with a little fan going all the time.
Tammy

I received a fantastic box of plants from Melanie/metull today. She was unable to post because of computer problems. She sent me:

Daylily 'Storm Of The Century'
Daylily 'Siloam Red Toy'
Heuchera 'Snow Angel'
Lemon Balm
Siberian Iris 'Caesars Brother'
Sedum kamschaticum
Seeds: Jacobs Ladder, Balsam and Painted Daisies

Melanie you won't believe it but I did have 'Storm Of The Century' and Heuchera 'Snow Angel'. They didn't make it through the winter last year. I was so upset because they were 2 of my favorite plants. Were you reading my mind???LOL

Each one of the plants had it's own homemade label. I took a pictures of two of them. They are adorable!!! You are so clever Melanie. Sorry the picture isn't clearer.

OK Melanie, we all need to know how to make this adorable plant markers, what a great winter project! I just love them.
Tammy

Mariann, those are adorable plant markers! I want to know how to make them too!

Melanie - PLEASE tell us what you made those markers out of! I have made a few from the clay you bake but it is a little pricey.

Karen - WOW WOW WOW!! I got my box yesterday and I love what you sent : ) Iris: From a Distance & Thornbird, Daylilys: Kindly Light & Little Joe, White tiger Lillies. These are not tiny puny little starts - they are HUGE, very mature plants! And then lots of seeds! Annuals and perenials and wild flowers. These are wonderful as I have 39+ acres to cover and I have been collecting wild flower seeds everywhere I have been this summer - my neighbor 'Steve' is rather shy (we have been neighbors for over 6 years and he has only been to my house once - my cows were out) & I even have him leaving little bags of seeds on my step LOL I don't think he cares so much for collecting seeds, he just would like something better to look at besides the over grown weed patch that it is now. hehehehe

Also - my cleaning lady 'cleaned' off my desk and I can not find my sheets of paper that the names of those Iris that I sent you are on. All the bills and junk mail that were cluttering it up are present, though! :( I don't think they are gone forever, just MIA for awhile... but when they turn up I WILL get them to you.

I hope everyone had as good of a weekend as I did! I caught & released fish, took pictures and saw my eye doctor. My vistion is 20/20 and everything is healing wonderfully! Life is good : )

Marie

My computer is finally alive again. The power supply went out so I had to order one and have it installed.

Mariann I am so glad you like everything. I was nervous with this being my first CPG swap that I wouldn't send things you would like.

The plant markers are made out of the oven bake clay, flattened in a pasta machine, cut out with cookie cutters, and sharp pencil to carve the name. Then poke a hole for the stand and bake. It can get pricey if you want the colorful clay but I buy a box of the terra cotta color for around $9.00. I just use the colored clay for a little embellishing. I have used these in my garden for 2 years and they still look good and have made it through the snow and the rain just fine.

Melanie