Anyone ever been to a Billy Graham Crusade
glenda_al
6 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (92)
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
6 years agoElmer J Fudd
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoRelated Discussions
Has anyone ever made bonsai pots?
Comments (14)I second everything Andromo..... said. Plants are wonderfully adaptable. Some years ago I harvested some red junipers, to use as bonsai, growing on the side of a high sandstone bluff overlooking the Wisconsin River here. They were stunted and twisted all on their own by virtue of where they took root. They were producing berries even though they were subminiatures of their full size brethren growing on top of the bluff. Thats what plants do, they make the best of their conditions and will do anything to reproduce. As is natures way. From what I understood from the person I harvested them for, they would actually recieve better care now ensuring a longer life for them. They'd even have their roots cropped as the tops were, to make sure as Andromo said they had that "root to shoot" ratio correct. This was so they were comfortble in their small pots. Cement is 98-99% cured at 30 days (under good conditions) and again as Androm says there should be no problems if the pot has been well leeched. This discussion has got me planning a return trip now to harvest some and plant them in MY very own pots. With what I've learned here and other forums I'll even be able to make the pots resemble the yellow sandstone from where they came from....See MoreAnyone grow Billy Graham?
Comments (6)That rose consistently attracted people to it in the upscale, beach community nursery where I worked for years, until they saw the name. It had huge, beautiful flowers and was pretty healthy there. But, unless I removed the name, I couldn't move it. Same with Cesar Chavez, though it sold beautifully under the name Beloved; Barbara Bush and Barbra Streisand. It reminded me of the stories I'd read of the President Herbert Hoover rose having to be renamed in order to either be sold or not be yanked out of gardens where it grew. I knew people whose parents had called it something else to make it "acceptable". Funny. Kim...See MoreGraham's Hellebores
Comments (28)I haven't seen this post in a while, and it does raise a number of interesting questions. I only have one of Graham's plants. It is of the hybridus "black" genre, and I bought it several years ago as a division. The first year it produced a flower. The second year it produced another flower plus a smaller less-developed bud. I was fortunate to get approximately 15 seeds the second year because it has not bloomed since. The seedlings it produced are now far bigger and more robust than the parent. Hopefully, a few will bloom this year, and I expect all to bloom next year. It will be interesting to see the variation in the seedlings since it was open-pollinated that year and in fairly close proximity to 2 H. atrorubens plants. Graham is no doubt one of the premier hellebore growers of his generation. From the photos I have seen, he grows nice plants; but the notion that they are somehow unique or particularly remarkable seems misleading to me. There are tons of hellebores of equal or greater quality that can be acquired on a number of continents these days. While I agree that if you want a particular plant you must get a division or tissue-culture product, I do not agree that you need to rely on a division or tissue culture to get any particular sort of plant. If you want a picotee or double or whatever, there are many, many places one can get a healthy seed-grown plant of equal or better quality than the ones pictured on Graham's site. And there is no doubt in my mind that a healthy, seed grown potted plant that is equal in quality to a similar division will outperform it every time. I simply do not like to buy bare-root hellebores and do not think consumers should bear the responsibility that it offers in general. The catch of course is that you must buy a blooming-size plant to see what you are getting. Having said that, I sort of like the direction Graham is moving in. I like the idea of seeing pictures of the plant you are buying. As I recall, he could not guarantee you are getting a division of a particular plant although he would guarantee you are getting a division of a particular sort of plant (e.g. a double pink, white with central zone of merged spots, apricot, etc... ). As for the issue of a guarantee for the survival of sold plants, Graham has done the right thing. There is no way you can guarantee the survival of a bare-root hellebore in the hands of most consumers unless you intend to give lots of replacements or refunds. Amazingly though, no place I know of has yet offered photos of specific individual plants for sale. Even when sold as blooming size, plants are generally grouped by color or pattern and so it is still a bit of a guessing game. With current technology, this is a fairly simple concept...sort of like pictures of used cars. Click the thumbnail, view it, then purchase it if you like it unless it is already sold (I can see it now in neon lights "Joseph's hellebores: click it, view it, buy it, grow it"). Ha, if only I were of a commercial mind! If people want a particular type of plant of a good or superb quality, then it is very possible to get just that. Many people continue to insist that certain "breeders" and plants are better because "they have been breeding for 20 years". It is true that we are fortunate to have had many great plantsmen and plantswomen who devoted time and attention to hellebores. The fact is, however, if a person right now were to go out and purchase a few dozen high-quality specimens, s/he would be able to produce equal plants to those of the "breeders" who have worked for 20 years. The reason is because much of the hard work has already been done. All one need do is get rid of the unwanted plants and continue keeping the cherished and/or special ones. Another thing I think is interesting is the notion of hand-pollinated vs. open-pollinated (I realize I am going beyond the Graham subject here, but frankly I am a little bored and hellebores are not blooming yet). I laugh when I read things like "we adhere to a strict regiment of hand emasculation" or "these are hand pollinated plants" or "these are F1 hybrids". What does this really mean? If you had two typical plants and hand-crossed them, does that mean they are good plants? I say no. It generally takes high quality plants to make high-quality offspring (although nice surprises are always a possibility). What direction are you headed when you hand-pollinate? Are you trying for a clearer white with a particular flower shape for example or are you simply doing the work of bees? Well, hellebores are wonderful plants but they will be revolutionized before long. More people are growing them and realizing the benefits of hand pollination, provenance, etc.... Tissue culture plants are already being sold, and there is a greater pool of quality than ever before. I will continue to buy seed and seed-grown plants that are not bare-root....See MoreAnyone been to Australia?
Comments (27)I am a huge Australia fan. I think you are 100% doing the right thing sticking with Australia with only a few weeks. I just love Sydney and would move there in a heartbeat. I second the recommendation to read Down Under - it had me howling with laughter. Just fabulous. The Blue Mountains are a must do. You can take the train I think or drive. If you drive there is a campsite that seems to attract a lot of wild wallabies. Tripadvisor forum might be a good spot to work out exactly where it is. Seeing them in the wild is a whole different ball game to seeing them in the zoo. Melbourne is a nice city too (I prefer Sydney), but the suburb of St Kilda beach has a pier where wild penguins come in at dusk. That was the coolest thing to me. It's hit or miss, but we went twice because I am just a sucker for that kind of thing! There is also a huge touristy penguin viewing place in Melbourne where you sit on bleachers and watch the penguins come in. I'm sure you would see many more penguins that way, but I just feel like the pier in St Kilda is more authentic, but different benefits to each. Melbourne also has the much mentioned Great Ocean Road which is stunning. PLUS there are various areas to stop off which are known for wildlife. I can't remember how I found out about them (tripadvisor forum? lonely planet?) but there is a golf course where kangaroos hang out. I got the funniest photos of kangaroos just chilling on the green. Another area with lots of wild koalas, and it also happened to have a bunch of parrots which took a liking to our car. There is also a crater called Tower Hill which is a national park at the end of the GOR which has a ton of wildlife. We did not get especially lucky there and 'only' saw emus, but it was a very cool place and I would definitely go again. The other nice thing about Melbourne is that it has short flights over to Tasmania which is much more like New Zealand in feel and is stunning. We loved the Bay of Fires and Wine Glass Bay (a hike!) which is meant to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Also has a lot of vineyards, and farms with happy, free range cows where you can go to try the cheese, etc. lovely. There is also a place on the east coast (I forget the name sorry) which is meant to have the most wonderful small tour of a penguin area. We got rained out so couldn't do it, but it is meant to be amazing. Cape Tribulation has one of the most gorgeous beaches I have seen and access to the Great Barrier Reef (MUST DO)!!! I have heard amazing things about the Whitsundays. I am DYING to go there one day. Sorry some of this is vague, but if you like any of the ideas it should give you a starting point at least to find out more. I am so jealous - have a blast!!...See Moreglenda_al
6 years agoglenda_al
6 years agoUser
6 years agophoggie
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoglenda_al
6 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoElmer J Fudd
6 years agoglenda_al
6 years agoC Marlin
6 years agoUser
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoUser
6 years agolisaw2015 (ME)
6 years agophoggie
6 years agobleusblue2
6 years agoglenda_al
6 years agoElmer J Fudd
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoglenda_al
6 years agoElmer J Fudd
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoglenda_al
6 years agophoggie
6 years agoGeorgysmom
6 years agoElmer J Fudd
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agodexx215
6 years agoElmer J Fudd
6 years agopkramer60
6 years agoChi
6 years agomrskjun
6 years agoElmer J Fudd
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoSuzieque
6 years agoChi
6 years agodesertsteph
6 years agoChi
6 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoronminsouthga
6 years agoUser
6 years agoronminsouthga
6 years agoChi
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
6 years agoElmer J Fudd
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agomrskjun
6 years agodonna_loomis
6 years agoElmer J Fudd
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
Related Stories
ENTRYWAYSRoom of the Day: The Most Flexible Foyer Ever
With zones for a bicycle, meditation and storage, and a hand-painted concrete floor, this entry mixes practicality and cool good looks
Full StoryBEDROOMSThe Cure for Houzz Envy: Master Bedroom Touches Anyone Can Do
Make your bedroom a serene dream with easy moves that won’t give your bank account nightmares
Full StoryMOST POPULARSo You Say: 30 Design Mistakes You Should Never Make
Drop the paint can, step away from the brick and read this remodeling advice from people who’ve been there
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSHouzz Tour: Glamorous Victorian in London
This eclectic, high-octane terrace house is unlike anything you've ever seen. Hold on to your hats, folks!
Full StoryFUN HOUZZDoes Your Home Have a Hidden Message?
If you have ever left or found a message during a construction project, we want to see it!
Full StoryCHRISTMASReal vs. Fake: How to Choose the Right Christmas Tree
Pitting flexibility and ease against cost and the environment can leave anyone flummoxed. This Christmas tree breakdown can help
Full StoryORGANIZINGDo It for the Kids! A Few Routines Help a Home Run More Smoothly
Not a Naturally Organized person? These tips can help you tackle the onslaught of papers, meals, laundry — and even help you find your keys
Full StoryECLECTIC HOMESHouzz Tour: Wild Ideas in the Windy City
When bold art meets great architecture and interior design, something wonderful happens
Full StoryPINKWhat Is Millennial Pink, and Why Are People Going Crazy Over It?
This peachy, grayish, soft pink can be bold or subtle
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGPortrait of a Reformed Terrible Housekeeper
See how a man who once stashed dirty dishes under the couch is turning over a new leaf for a neater home
Full Story
phoggie