Clapping my hands... we are doing great.. all have checked in but three... This is good for a group... Snow, sleet, freezing rain.. here. UGH!!!! I am ordering away from Park Seed... bulbs, seeds.. purple fern... it's BEAUTIFULLLLLLLLLLLLLL.

Cassie

Cassie...Wow never heard of Purple fern! Sounds awesome! We have a bizzard going on, again today! Glad I'm inside looking out.. ;-)
Debi

...and our nor'easter just started. They've been revising the forecast every hour - it started out as "one to eight inches" and since then it's been upgraded to "twenty to thirty inches." A gift from back your way, Debi? sent polar express? Thankyou Secret Weather Pal! ;-) [this is a joke, everyone]

Here I was feeling lousy because after 3 days of sunny 60+° weather, we are at 45° right now. We almost hit 70° Thursday.

Now that I see what you northerners are going through I suddenly feel lucky & warmer.

Stay warm y'all!

Oh Gullible...I'm sorry! Want to borrow my snow shovel? LOL.. Have to joke about it or go stir crazy till Spring! lol..Keep telling myself Spring is just around the corner!
Debi

thanks! but I just shoveled around that corner and didn't see anything resembling spring *grumble* At least now the mailman can get back and forth between the drifts :-D You folks in MI got hit pretty hard, too. Know anyone who can administer seed catalogs by IV? ;-)

My secret pal for the month has gone out but I haven't even begun to think about the Valentines one yet. You ladies are on the ball. I have done some winter sowing but not nearly as much as I meant to. I need to get BUSY so I will have a beautiful garden this summer.

Gullible..ROFLMBO..your to cute! Rainbow..I've been working on my winter sowing a few everyday! Still have alot more to go.. Making everybody drink alot of milk and pop, so I can have the containers...lol

Debi

Suzydaze I have a note from your secret pal that your package is just getting mailed as they had a computer crash and have not been online for a while. Got on today and ask if I will post for them.

Cassie

Good Morning! Group! How is everyone today? Just thought I'd pop in and say, Hi.. Finally got a halfway decent day, today! ;-) Have to enjoy it...in the 30's today, but not going to last...Alberta Clipper on it's way! ;-( So, today..plant! plant! plant! lol
cya,
Debi

Went out today to check the garden and I have snow drops blooming. They are about 3 weeks ahead of schedule. And the daffodils and early iris are sending up green shoots. It made my heart sing but it is awfully early. I hope another freeze doesn't put the kabosh on them.

Karen

Karen,
This crazy Oklahoma weather has some of my flowers coming up too soon also.

I will be running around like a wild woman, covering things up, if we get another freeze.

Cassie, I forgot to let you know that on the 19th I mailed my SP box. I do not see where it has been received. Since it would up in a heavy snow area I hope it made it OK.
Also, I have not received anything from my secret pal.

Hi, y'all--

Just wanted to thank my Secret Pal for the package I received on Monday (1-24). Here's what my SP included in the package: a weekly planner (well...maybe it'll help *grin*), a little hummingbird decoration (I must confess--I'm not sure what it is to be used for...a pot hanger, perhaps? That's what I decided it was, so it's now hanging on one of my potted plants, but it's really cute and totally appropriate for me, since I SO love watching the hummers visiting the rosebush outside my bedroom window early in the morning), a bar of handmade "Gardener's Soap" (made with sand to get the grime off your hands AND smells wonderful), and a jar of home-canned cherry preserves (Um, yummy...and now I know one thing we both have in common--home canning!!).

Secret Pal, your timing is truly heaven-sent, and I apologize for the delay in posting that I received it.

However, I've had more than my share of tragedy in these past two weeks...On 1-17, my grandmother (92 years old and we were VERY close) passed away; I attended her services on 1-20. Then, on 1-21 one of DH's favorite uncles (aged 66) died suddenly of a heart attack at work while DH watched helplessly; I attended his services yesterday (1-25). Then this morning, I'm laying on my couch, trying to get motivated to get up and do something, when my husband calls from work to say that HIS grandmother (94) had a stroke last night.....

I'm not sure if I can take yet another service right now. Although I know it's been said that the Lord won't give you any more than you can handle, I just wish he wouldn't have so much confidence in me....

Y'all's thoughts and prayers would be greatly appreciated right about now....

So, you see Secret Pal, your thoughtful gift helped to put a bright spot in an otherwise dark period of my life. Thank you SO much....

Hi Cheryl..So sorry to hear about your losses! Just wanted to let you know, you are in our thoughts, and our prayers!

Debi

thank you s/p for my giftS i loved every thing i got i am reaLLY HAPPY

Cheryl,
I am so sorry to hear of your tremendous losses. Of course you will be in my thoughts & prayers.

I pray the Lord comforts you & brings you calming peace in the days ahead.

Cheryl,
I'm sorry to hear about the losses you have experienced. I know it seems like you cannot bear all these things. I know that God is the great comforter and He will comfort you. You are in my prayers

Cassie

Cassie

I did mail my Secret Pal's package and have a Confirmation #

Just thought I'd let you know

Marilyn

I received my package today and my husband and I loved the candy(he was helping me by opening it and was glad to see something besides seeds)It was a Whitman's Sampler. Also I did get some real nice seeds and a card and a Blueberry Cheesecake candle. Thank you pal!!!!!

I just wanted to take a minute to say what a wonderful bunch of people I have in my group... the response has been wonderful with follow throughs and package shipments. If you have not posted that you have received or mailed please do so!!!!

Cassie

Hi Everybody! How is everybody today? Thought i'd pop in and say Hi! It's a beautiful day, today up here in Michigan..Finally! Sun shine! Freezing cold, but sunshine!
Hope all are doing well today!
cya,
Debi

Dear Cheryl,
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I am sorry to hear about your losses. Hang in there. I try to remember life is like a roller coaster. It goes up and down. Please hang in there and feel free to post if you need some support. I am sure we are all happy to listen. Have a great day!!!

I received a nice package from my secret pal today. It was filled with all kind of goodies. It covered everything from practical to ornamental. The pruner will come in very handy when I start cleaning up the garden for spring. And I love the little mosaic hide a key and garden stake. I will have to start looking for just the right spot to put them. Then there was the cute little yellow flowered note book and note pad. I really do like them. And last but not least a nice little bag of chocolates. I am afraid that my husband followed along the lines of the other husband that have been mentioned here and demanded half of the candy. He really does like this robin. Secret pal, thanks so much for all your thoughtful gifts. I really do like and appreciate them.

Karen

Hi All,

I received my package. A monthly planner, some seeds, a great utility apron and a very pretty card. Thanks so much! Sent out my package too.

Toddy

Picked my way home through the drifts tonight and found a box of Spring! on the front porch, courtesy of my wonderful Secret Pal. The plants survived the wait - pretty tough cookies - and after googling them I think both the Louisiana iris and the phlox are absolutely enchanting and know exactly where they'll get planted (once it's possible to plant anything). Also some excellent seeds :-) One to winter-sow and the others for later, and a little terracotta basket. Thankyou very much, Secret Pal!

I have sent out emails to those who have not posted as being mailed or those who have not posted as being received. I will update as I hear back from these guys

Cassie

Rainbow,
Show me how to do the picture again and I will post a pick of the purple fern from Park Seed

Cassie

Hello Everybody! Well another Sun Shiny day! ;-) Still bittercold, but seeing the Sunshine makes all the difference in the world..Got alot of winter sowing done today..have alot to go..
Have a Super Day everybody & God Bless!

Debi

Cassie
It was actually Debbie SW OK who knows how to post the pictures. She was telling me how to do it but I haven't ever actually tried to do it yet with pictures, only changing the letter colors. I don't have a website yet for pictures although I think I am going to try to set on up sometime soon

Rainbow

Hey Debi
We just went from 60s the last couple of days to snowfall today. It was big fluffy flakes and very beautiful. You know what Will Rogers said about Oklahoma. It proving true this year.

Karen

IMG SRC="C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\My Documents\My Pictures\purple fern.jpg"][/img]

Hopefully you will see a purple fern and not a bunch of words.. Devilish grin. We will see

Cassie

Heeheeeheeeheeeheeheeheeheeheee didn't work

Again

Cassie--

I think in order to get your pics to show up here you have to upload them to a picture-sharing website like Snapfish or Photobucket. I've tried posting pics before from the HP website, and it just doesn't work somehow.

After you get your pics uploaded to the other site (I use Snapfish), decide which one you want to post, then right-click on the picture then click on "properties", then copy the picture's address (sometimes the address is lo-o-o-ng, so be sure you get the whole thing or it won't work).

Then come back here and type a "" (but don't type all the quotation marks...you just have to use them when you're trying to tell someone what to type).

The address will look something like this (at least, it does on Snapfish): http://images.snapfish.com/3429%3B%3A6%3B23232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E2335%3D384%3D428%3DXROQDF%3E23235%3B3483%3A68ot1lsi

So when you paste it into the code you should get this:
{{gwi:2104736}}

I know....this is probably about as clear as mud...maybe it'll help.

Oh, and BTW this is a picture of my container garden this past summer. I was told by another gardening acquaintance (note I didn't say "friend") that my little garden was a little too "tacky" for her tastes, what with the old bathtub and the tire planter and all. I couldn't help myself and snapped back that, although her yard crews did pretty good work, not everybody had thousands of dollars to spend on formal gardens. And that, moreover, the "gumdrop, lolly-pop, marching soldiers in a row" look didn't do much for me, anyway....To each his own I guess....

I think it looks very nice and to me gardening is not only about what it looks like but the ACT of getting your hands in the dirt, sweating, cursing, laughging, and all the things that GET you to the beautiful garden.. so that when you SEE the rewards of your hard efforts you have immense pleasure in the beauty around. I would rather have a garden I did myself anytime than one someone did for me. YES putting the picture on is now as clear as mud. Oh well the fern is on park seed website and just type in or click on here if it lets you the link below

http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&mainPage=prod2working&ItemId=49047&PrevMainPage=textsearchresults&OfferCode=R1H

Cassie

Here is a link that might be useful: Park web site

I just cliked on that and IT WORKED so click on the link Park web site and it takes you right to the purple fern

Cassie

Do you know how much those old bathtubs sell for at restoration hardware shops?!!! Maybe she was jealous, those cannas are mighty tall...

HeeHeeHee, gullible...mine was free...it started it's second life as a cattle trough, but we couldn't keep it full when the bull was over to "visit", so we got a bigger trough...

And here's a closeup of the tire planter:
{{gwi:2104737}}

The stand is just a scrap 2x4 that I cut into lengths, then fixed together with that metal strip with the holes that you use to suspend air-conditioning ducts to a ceiling...

I think your garden is beautiful!!! I'm not formal myself..;-) Cassie..that fern is awesome! Did you get
yours yet? Was wondering how their plants were..heathy, good shipping and ect. Let me know.
Well, only a couple of days left in this month, for everybody to hear from their SP.. I'm still waiting.. ;-)
Got most of my shopping done for my SP for Febuary..I love shopping.. ;-) Have a good day all!
Debi

i sent out my secret pal something out sry its soo late been busy will do better nent month

Dear Loam Ranger,
I am so sorry that someone insulted your garden. Looked beautiful to me. I can't wait to do a container garden this year. Nice to see how others are doing it. I hope you have a wonderful day!!!

Gullible to answer your question. I have bought from Park Seed for years. They ship very quickly, plants and bulbs have always been wonderful... they have a year replacement guarantee and of the VERY few times I have ask they have shipped without question. I buy from them every year.. I order early and they ship at correct planting time. Also they do not charge until they ship hoewever hold item which is great because many of their things sell out.

Cassie

I forgot the yummy, blueberry-scented candles my Secret Pal included in the box - Thank you! Now I have a craving for pie.

Loam, I didn't realize that was a tire planter until you pointed it out. It's really nice! Assume you're the artist, what kind of paint do you use on that?

Cassie - sounds great, but Debi was the one asking about your purple ferns ;-)

Good Morning Group! Thought I'd pop in say Hi! Thanks Cassie on the information! I think I'm going to check out their catalog.. Going to try and get some more winter sowing done today! ;-) Have a Super Day..All !
Debi

Just wanted to pop in and say hello all. Cassie you are doing a wonderful job hosting this swap. All of your hard work is very appricated!

Loam Ranger
Your plants all look so healthy in the pots. Do you do anything special. Mine always dry out so much in the summer that they get looking rag tag. I would love to have some nice looking potted plants like yours

Karen

Loam Ranger,
I love your tire planter.
I like to recycle items for the yard. Garden Junk is one of my favorite forums on GW.

Cassie.. I too would like to Thank You, for everything you have done. I love coming here everyday, and reading the post from everybody. I have really learned alot! This swap is'nt just about a Secret Pal..it's about Friendship! A big & Special "HUG" to Cassie!
Debi ;-)

Gullible-- The maroon base is that new "Fusion" paint by Krylon. (It's supposed to bond to plastic. I guess it works, since the planter was finished in June and spent the better part of the summer in the sun. So far, no peeling or anything.) As for the ivy, I stumbled on a bunch of sets of foam stamps at WM for cheap-cheap, then I just used that indoor/outdoor acryllic paint that you can buy super-cheap in the crafts dept at--where else?--WM (got a set of 24 colors, or something like that, for about $7). And I did the ivy tendrils freehand with the same paint. The hardest part of the whole process was rasslin' with that d*mn tire until I got it turned inside-out...wish I had a picture of that to share!!! Well, on second thought, maybe not *grin*.

Rainbow-- I don't really do anything special for my plants. I guess the only thing I consider "special" is make sure everything gets a drink of MG on a regular basis (every one to two weeks, depending on what the weather is like). I have a daily routine, whereby, nearly every living thing around here gets watered first thing in the morning (while it's still *relatively* cool). First, guins and chickens are fed and watered, then keets/chicks if I've had a recent hatch. Make sure the float in the cattle trough isn't stuck and they have plenty to drink. Proceed to the greenhouse, water everything and pinch as necessary. Go to the screened-in back porch, water and pinch if needed; then work your way around the house, watering and pruning or pinching or deadheading as you go...'til I've gotten everything just so.

I think the biggest thing, though, is getting everything watered early in the morning, when the plants are most able to take up the water. Most of my plants--except the ones on the back porch and the north side of my house--get full-blast Texas sun literally all day, from sun-up to around 6:00 or 7:00 in the evening. Even the things on the east side still get what is considered to be "full sun". If I'm just a few hours late with the water, you can tell...and if I'm not here for some reason and watering gets skipped just one day, I have to go into emergency mode to keep from losing everything...

Thanks for all y'all's compliments...I'll be sure to post pix of my new bulb bed if it gives me the show I'm so hoping for.

Best to all,
Cheryl