Fun for themed swaps and other trades:

http://www.leafcutterdesigns.com/shop/seed-money.html

And NO, I'm not affiliated with them in ANY way. Just out mousin' around.

To all who have welcomed me, here,..."Major thanks and hugs from Elly & I!" :)

So upset! Went outside to check on my plants for the morning and Something came in and ate the tops of my peony poppies. They were
seedlings about 3 inches tall or so. All that is left about a half inch
of stem. Are they gonners? Will they continue to grow? Never grew these
before.

Oh Cinnie so sorry but yes I'd say they are gonners. If there are no leaves left. they will most likely not survive. Something nipped off my Morning glories and marigolds too. I suspect it was birds. Since then I have kept a floating row cover over all the trays
What a shame. peony poppies are so pretty. Perhaps there are still some seeds that have not germinated yet. It might be worth trying to cover them for a while

Thank you beth sorry about your mg's and marigolds. It was a pot of 3 of them. Im gonna check my stash and see if i have more seeds and replant just in case. Whatever it was also nibbled on my garden beans and malabar spinach but I guess it liked the poppies better.

Oh so last night my dog was digging at a pile of wood and I went to find out what was going on. There was a big fat rat in the pile. It got away. The pile is just on the other side of the wall where the plants are. I did have some extra chicken wire so i wrapped it around the area. hopefully it keeps it out. well time to go water before the baby gets here. have a good day everyone.

UPDATE: while watering i noticed it had gone into the area last night and did some more nibbling. It ruined almost another pot of flowers. Anyone know of anything that works to keeps rats away from the plants and out of the garden?

Happy Memorial Day!

OBF friends, this morning I was reading the daylily forum and stumbled on some outstanding photos of iris and peonies, with their names. Yes, on the daylily threads. The thread title is "Dry Summer Threatening?" under Daylily "D" go look. I would not waste your time. Mary

Darrin -- Your box went out today. You should have an email from the PO with the tracking number.

Mary - The iris and peonies on that thread were beautiful. I never tire looking at flowers.

Amy not sure why your lilies won't bloom, try feeding them with a good bulb fertilizer or just miracle gro. I get this awesome black dirt (part dirt/mulch) and the bulbs, plants and all just love it. Of course I have a fish pond and water my plants from it so they love the fish emulsion.

Nikki-the pink lily in the front is named Tiny Dancer. I would buy a big mouse trap for that pesky rat.

Update on my foot: I was really disappointed but the Dr. said I could not walk on it right now. I can use it to balance better for standing but no walking. Good news I don't have to sleep with the heavy, bulky boot any more. HR from work called and wanted to know when I would be back to work but I had to tell them I really don't know. I can't drive or walk and I have to start physical therapy this week.

I hope to work on some boxes with DH's help.

Night Ladies

Shirley

Shirley, So sorry your foot is not healing faster, hopefully it will speed up! I will try the fertilizer, that must be it because our soil in Georgia is awful!

Did anyone else get a look at those iris? Esp the apricot with the orange beard? Mary

Hoping Every1 is having a WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY!!

U wonder why packages sometimes has broken items when you receive the box/package? I will tell YOU WHY! IF you have a MAILMAN like mine who tosses the box/package into his mail car and has no care in the world that something valuable is inside that box. That's how my box/package was handled today!!! I think he is ready for retirement. What do you all think?

Mary -- I just looked at the Iris/Peony thread. There were some great pics there. Thanks for sharing.

Hi, everyone. I stopped by to say hello. After quite a stretch without any rain, we had a thunderstorm and quite a downpour yesterday. I'm sure it helped a lot. It was my wedding anniversary so I guess that was Mother Nature's present!

Shirley, sorry you are still limited with your foot and I know you must be very disappointed. I hope it heals correctly soon.

Jeanne

Jeanne ~ Happy Be-lated Anniversary!! How many wonderful years have you been married?

Happy Anniversary Jeanne!

Happy Anniversary Ms. Jeanne mine is coming up in July.

I had my pity party and I'm good now....I can get through this. Two friends came today and we went out to lunch and it helped so much. Thanks for listening to me.

Nicole-I know so well about the Mailman. When you start with a nice well made box and it reaches its destination looking like it was on a football field then you know.

Amy-I never plant anything that I don't dig out the red clay and carry it and dump it in the woods and fill back the hole with good soil. I had a problem with the Master Gardener Teacher last year telling the class we need to amend that good red clay. Shoot it would take 10 years to amend that awful red clay soil and I told him so. I told him it works for me to dig it out and get rid of it and I can plant whatever immediately. LOL

Japanese Irises are starting to bloom.

Penstemon, Egyptian Walking Onions, Cannas, Daylilies, Irises, Chinese Lanterns

Hi just checking in. It seems out mail system is the topic of disappointment today. Ours could run better also. But I don't want to pay a bundle to ship. Roses are blooming now. looking forward to the next OBF trade. Susan

Beautiful plants, Shirley. I know about that clay soil (we had it at our previous house) and we have sand which isn't any better. It's like growing things on the beach. Anywhere that isn't sand is rock hard and filled with tree roots. Containers have become my friend!

As for our anniversary, my husband and I have been married for 42 years! That certainly sounds like a long time.

Time to go out and check on my plants. I transplanted 3 tomato plants into the ground yesterday evening and it started to rain so I went inside. The shower was so brief that I think I need to get the hose out and water those poor plants. The rain on the 26th forced the top of one of my tomato plants to to aim for the ground. I'm not sure how it is going to grow now. I'm afraid to try to straighten it and possibly break it. The top already has buds on it. Maybe I will have a semi-upside down tomato plant!

Jeanne

Jeanne-Some folks do have the perfect soil but not here. I don't understand why it is so bad where I chose to build our house. My Dad had cattle on this property all the years I was growing up and until we built the house so you think it would be really good but not so. If I did not have to buy so many truck loads of dirt I could buy more plants. LOL Yes you may break your tomato plant trying to straighten it.

Shirley

Can someone tell me what is a good site i can go to to find brazilian language peppers. Here is just a couple of examples: pimenta amarela cumprida and another is: pimenta bode vermglaa. They might be spelled incorrectly due to handwriting.

Dawn

Dawn, I don't know about the peppers. Sorry.

Shirley, I've been meaning to tell you that I planted some of the calla lily seeds that you sent to me and they've started to grow. I love callas!

Jeanne

Dawn, try asking the guys on hot pepper threads. I tried googling those names, the info comes up in Portuguese and then you can translate the page.

"EricaBraun(9b)

Darrin -- Your box went out today. You should have an email from the PO with the tracking number."

It arrived today!! Woo hoo!! Talk about a jam-packed box! Wow, thank you soooo much, Erica! Gotta dig up a couple more plants for you, but your box will be along shortly. Mailed Beth's off today, since we set up a swap first. Couldn't get everything in her box that I wanted to, so she'll be getting a second one, as I expect you will be as well. Hey, you know me,...it pleases me no end to throw in extra this-n-that. Fun stuff! Now,...I gotta go give you a positive R&R. :)

Jeanne-So good to hear they came up and are growing. It will be a surprise as to colors.

Shirley

Darrin -- So glad everything got there on time. I hope it all traveled well. I look forward to reading your review and getting your box!

My boyfriend found this outside on my patio a few minutes ago. I have never seen one like this out here and never so big he is huge. Maybe hes who ate my peony poppies the other day?

Shirley, I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your month. Fun, fun, fun and funny! Especially about the bingo!!!!

sharon

Nikki-I have seen pictures of the peony poppies and they are beautiful, sorry they got eaten.

I bet he is the culprit.

Sharon-Yes I will never forget May's BINGO...too funny. Everyone's prizes will go out in the mail tomorrow for BINGO. After my Garden Club Meeting I hope to get DH motivated to digging up my plants to mail.

Nicole-WOW I received your awesome box yesterday and what a box.

Starbuck Gift Card

Hyacinth Bulbs

Calla Lilies

Dolly Madison Asiatic Lilies

Gerbera/in Pot

Asiatic Lily/in Pot

Asiatic Lilies/noids

Giant Kit Kat Bar

Sports Suckers (Dawson will love these)

Wall Decal

Tropical plant cuttings-maybe?

Thank you Ms. Nicole what a great box.

Shirley

Shirley, thank you for the tip! I told my husband that is what we need to do from now on!

Thank you for hosting on a great swap this month.

Yeah I sent off 11 prizes today.

Amy

Annie

Erica

Nicole

Nikki

Sharon

Sue G

Tammy

Tonya

Darrin

Jeanne

Be on the look out ladies and gent.

Mary E-I will mail yours as soon as I get back to the PO..thanks for verifying your address.

Nicole and Erica yours will go out this week as well.

And I will be all caught up.

Nikki-Thanks it was fun and now May is just a memory.

Shirley

THANK U MISS SHIRLEY FOR A BLAST OF A TIME IN MAY!!

U made it fun, fun, fun!! Also, this is my first time winning BINGO! Hip Hip Horray. I don't think I ever heard a team of gals winning BINGO all at once. We should all play Mega Million now :)

Now I only need to win BINGO on FOTESS before my one year anniversary :)

Happy Wednesday Every1!!!

I received happy mail and sure needed it today.

There are not enough thank you's for hosting and for sending me a very useful gift. I appreciate the time you took to get it together and sending it off my way. I don't understand the mail. I sent you something and it took almost four days. I noticed your gift to me came faster than my gift to you. Go figure huh?

Hope everyone is doing great!!

Shirley, Thank you so much for the baggies, they sure will come in handy. I really appreciate the card and your thoughtfulness. Take care, Amy

Shirley -- Thanks so much for the seed baggies! I go through them like crazy.

Shirley,

I received my lovely card and seed baggies yesterday. Thank you so very much!!!

Annie

Shirley, thank you so much for the lovely prize! Shirley sent me a small cutting board to use for cheese and crackers and it included the decorative knife to spread the cheese and some lovely napkins. I think I should enjoy these soon with a night of wine and cheese.

Jeanne

Thank you Shirley for the seed baggies.

Thank you for the seed baggies Shirley I just ran out of this size - much needed and appreciated! Sue G

"Darrin you are the winner for being the first OBFer to join this month so here is what you are

getting:

Asiatic Lily Tiny Padhye"

Shirley, your lily plant arrived here two days ago in absolutely perfect condition! Best of all, it's fixin' to bloom! Wow, thank you so incredibly much for such a beautiful plant! :)

Thank you Shirley for the seed baggies they are always a big need. Thanks again!

So happy to hear everyone is receiving their prizes. I looked and looked for something appropriate for everyone and the seed baggies won out.

Darrin-Wonderful, I hope the blooms look good and the bulb is not to stressed out.

Mary E, Erica and Nicole your boxes went out yesterday and I am now caught up. Yeah!

Thanks to all of you for playing this month.

Shirley

Shirley -- Fantabulous! I can't wait. I'll let you know when it arrives.

I received my BINGO seed bags, I did not have this handy 2" by 3" size. It was a cliffhanger if the package would come, in the window between the back hoe and bulldozer leaving and me leaving. It did. The two named iris* are soaking their feet tonight, wondering where they are, trying to talk to the little tomato seedlings and learning to love the sound of "Chelsea Dagger". Shirley this is the clearest label on a package I ever saw. Thank you, thank you , thank you.

*while you guys were wondering who's turn it is, I was winning the Books of the Bible game. Mary

Mrs. Shirley was so kind to me. She shared her lovely plants with me: Chocolate mint, Thornbirds, Tiny Diamond, Tiny Robin, Spotted Fever, Carol Todd, Crocosmia Emily McKenzie, Edith Wolford. Thank you my beautiful host/friend. I hope I didn't leave anything out. My boring garden wont't be boring anymore.

Shirley -- Holy mother load of plants! I can't possibly thank you enough for all that you sent.

Here are the 13 (yep, 13!) plants that Shirley sent:

Wonderful - My last 3 boxes reached their destination. Have fun with the plants and I hope they produce beautiful blooms.

"Darrin-Wonderful, I hope the blooms look good and the bulb is not to stressed out."

"Houston,...we have bloomage!" Ta daaa! :) Shirley, thanks so much, again! - Unsurprisingly, it looks like everyone is receiving some really great packages, fer shur! :) - Well, I'm off to post some thank you's in the "Rate & Review Exchanges" forum. Stay hydrated and cool, everyone!