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Organizing the Home

Newbie here what a fun forum....

17 years ago

I'm enjoying reading all the posts and wanted to say this is great. I too have been fighting the battle of decluttering especially since we're getting ready to move.Greetings to all.

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Comments (12)

talley_sue_nyc
17 years ago
welcome to the club! Now be sure to brag about your triumphs (no matter how small), so you can encourage us!

pop quiz: What one are of your home or life is nearly always organized? (so we can ooh, and ahh, and admire you)
hibiscus53
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the nice welcome talley. I just did my closet simply bcuz like I mentioned we're moving and I refuse to pay to move things that I don't use. LOL at your comment of which area of my life is always organized, does the car count? LOLOLOL!!!
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Hi containergirl and welcome (although I know you've been posting around for a little bit now)!! :-D Regarding some ideas - what I tend to do is think in terms of plants that I like and then I look up the cultural requirements and hardiness, and only then do I begin to assess what to do for container culture of the plant. I think many people forget that when they go to a nursery to buy plants for their gardens, about 9 out of 10 times they buy something already growing in a container. The final 1 out 10 purchase might be a balled & burlaped specimen if they choose to go with a more mature specimen. In any case, there is a scotoma regarding the fact that most plants that people buy are already containerized and they can't seem to get past the fact that this should mean that the plant CAN grow in a container. Sometimes it boggles my mind when they insist that you "can't" grow a lilac in a container or you "can't" grow a tree in a container. You "can't" do this or you "can't" do that. It's just silly... But anyway... ;-) Many of us end up doing spur-of-the-moment or what we dubbed as "PJIC" ("Plants Jump Into the Cart"...LOL) when we buy for our container gardens. Having the internet available makes it quite easy to look up the cultural requirements and find out the hardiness. Then what's left is to right-size the container for the plant (based on size, age, vigor - and this may mean successive potting up for a time), coming up with a planting mix that best matches our cultural practices (usually watering practices), becoming aware of the environment that the plant is living in (amount of sun, wind, heat, cold), and finally, going through alot of experimentation (including many losses amongst the successes) to see the plant through a cold-temperate winter - whether we might find the plant needs protection from actual cold or perhaps (more often than realized) - from excessive moisture during winter. There are a number of Zone 5 posters, although not all from your area, but consider that you can become a pioneer and inspiration for others just by even giving it a try and posting your results! I have seen container gardeners posting on other forums who don't even realize this or the Container Forum even exist, so there are many of us out there. One thing I do always recommend is that you check out the other GW or alternate gardening forums just to get some generic info and experiences from other gardeners about a myriad of plants - whether annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees. That way you'll discover what's actually available and can then fall in love with something, and only then make an effort to grow that plant in a container in your growing space! I'd personally rather do it that way because when you tell people that you are container growing, most times they'll steer you to 99Â¢ annuals because they don't know better.
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I posted this there: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pests/msg061925008816.html?14340 And, I'm specifically asking about my money tree, as suggested. How big a pot should I move it to? Any other suggestions based on what's there to a complete noob?
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This probably sort of started long before it hit the fan. It has been awhile now, I forget which exact variety started the arguments. It believe it was one of the Portuguese figs. Someone started a post wanting to share some extra cuttings(for free) which I think came from a source that others doubted the authenticity of. People jumped on the subject because if you are going to call something a name, it better be what it is being represented as or it will just cause further confusion and problems down the line as it is being passed around. Others felt that they didn't really care what it was called as long as it was a good fig. But that will just pollute fig nomenclature further...and this went on and on. The subject of newbies was sort of somehow partially thrown in the mix. Tempers got hot, people tried to change the subject and lighten the mood, but it kept coming up. Not to mention a few trouble makers, who were newbies, it seemed were around just to keep stirring the pot because those user names aren't seen anymore either. In the end the entire thread was deleted. But the subject wouldn't die, it kept popping up in other threads..the same people carrying the same argument(s). Before you knew it some people left and started their own forum. Which is I guess good and bad. Good in the sense that if they are happy now then God bless'em. Bad in the sense that they really add a ton of great knowledge and experience. Not to mention pictures, everybody loves pictures. There have been some returns though, I hope they stick around.
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quiltglo
17 years ago
We're glad you like this forum. We all think it's one of the nicest ones on gardenweb. If anyone gets snarky, they just get told to hush.

Got to get back outside. Spring has finally hit and I'm way behind in clean-up. As always.

Gloria
macbirch
17 years ago
Welcome Hibiscus. I'm newish and I love this forum.
talley_sue_nyc
17 years ago
Oh, yes, does the car count!

If anyone gets snarky, they just get told to hush.

This is true--however, we're also willing to speak pretty straight with one another (mostly bcs we're telling someone the same "home truths" that WE need to hear. We're all in much the same boat--even if our individual "hot spots" or trouble areas are different.

And even those of us who seem very organized, can understand those of us who seem phenomenally out of whack.

Kindred spirits, and all that. It's easier to hear "you just have to stop being lazy" from someone who goes on to say, "that's what I tell myself" or "that's what I'm learning."
lobsterbird
17 years ago
Welcome aboard. I'm newish here, too. Very supportive group. Yes, what talley sue said -- definitely easier to hear things from people who have similar issues and are quite open about it.

Now, see, you had to go and mention *the car*. A stab of guilt just went right through me. Took my car to the mechanic the day before yesterday for an inspection and was really embarassed to leave it there. It needs a bath so badly. Tons of pollen, bird poo, and dust and dirt all over the outside. The inside is usually quite tidy (I don't like garbage and stuff on the seats or floor), but the trunk is packed with Salvation Army donations. I was wondering if my dirty exterior was going to give off the vibe that my car is a piece of crap and that I don't care about it. I certainly want the mechanic to treat my car as well as possible. It's 18 years old but still runs good, the body is in great shape, and only has 150,000 miles on it. I love my Celica! I guess keeping the exterior washed is something I need to work on.

Tina
macbirch
17 years ago
Oh Tina, in recent weeks my house has deteriorated from being a bit cluttered, needs work, to virtually logjammed. Won't go into the details. I was thinking of starting a thread titled do it, do it now (because things can go out of control real fast). Anyway, of course that's when three things had to go wrong and I had three tradesmen here today. Very embarrassing.

One tradesman said ignore what they told you in the shop, this is incompatible, call me back when you get one that will work. One said you know you could have just changed the battery (yes, that was the first thing I suggested to DH!) And the jury is still out on how well the third went.
lobsterbird
17 years ago
Sorry to digress, hibiscus . . . .

Macbirch -- I'm not rationalizing, but it could be worse. Our situations remind me of a story about my grandmother. My mother and uncle told me when they were growing up she was a fanatic about making sure they had on clean underwear. Not that they didn't always, it was just something she was obsessed with. Like the Underwear Police might stop by any moment. She lived in a house down the street from both of our families, and until she reached her late 90s she took care of all her own yard work. It was amazing. One day a neighbor found her lying in the backyard calling out for help because she couldn't get back up by herself. Fortunately, she wasn't injured, but it was discreetly pointed out that my grandmother hadn't been wearing ANY underwear. We all had a pretty good chuckle about that!

Tina
talley_sue_nyc
17 years ago
Tina, remember there's 1) clean; 2) tidy; and 3) organized.

They are not the same thing (though they often masquerade as one another, and they genuinely influence one another).

A grubby car is not necessarily disorganized. I suppose if it's grubbiness is contributing to outer-body rust through, then it's also disorganized, since keeping things in "healthy" condition is one aspect of being organized.
Maura63
17 years ago
Welcome Hibiscus....

I'm a daily lurker and occasional poster. I've gained lots of valuable advice from fellow-forum-members, and often am in need of that kick in the pants.

Ditto what Talley Sue said about "kindred spirits" and all :- )
macbirch
17 years ago
LOL Tina.
jannie
17 years ago
I"m a lurker and this is my favorite home forum.

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