Messages

391

Chit Chat / Re: New Project in the middle of no where...

« on: February 28, 2008, 04:22:39 PM »

Hey LeeAnne,

Even I figured out that one!!!  My DW can eat dozens of them...I just don't have the patience so I always get crabcakes, but in this area forget any bread its all rich crab meat!!!  

That's quite a return on your Aunt & Uncles  investment!  We ended up buying in this area, because it was the last area on the east coast that was reasonably priced.  We closed 4-5 months later and people were offering me double the price.  It's amazing how areas just explode, and 3 years later before we started construction relators were trying to get me to sell for over 5x what we paid.  Isn't  there a realestate crisis?  Timing is everything with these silly markets.

Sounds like we could have a good size group on Jan 4 in Vancouver.  Hopefully sean can make it and maybe we'll have a chance to meet Debbie.  Mike W and Jerry are you ready for a road trip?  

Gary

392

Chit Chat / Re: New Project in the middle of no where...

« on: February 28, 2008, 04:08:45 PM »

Jerry:

This is just off the Rappahannock river that feeds into the Cheasapeake Bay.  I've been tempted to bring out my fly rod, I have seen crabs, oysters and a perch looking fish.  However, I always see a couple of Herons fishing either in the grass flats or across the way in the park.  Ironically we were down there the day after Thanksgiving and we had a gaggle? of Turkeys defiantly walk across the property.  About 500 yards downstream is a bald eagles nest and I was told by several people that this is in a hawk migratory stop and we will seen at least a dozen species.  Also Osprey nests are all over the channel markers and buoys so with all these birds I'm sure there are a variety of fish.  Just need to learn about what to fish for.  i'm sure there are blues, and fluke in the deeper water.  Perhaps karen knows since she was from the area.  Yes we have a boat, a sailboat and kayaks so I will be on the water most of the time!!  So stop by and we can head out fishing!  I just got the dock permit so that should be in by May!


Here is a picture of some kayakers I took 18 months ago.

393

Pond Chat / Re: Bucket bloom

« on: February 28, 2008, 03:48:35 PM »

Sean:

 I really like this photo, you gotta be kidding us that your not happy with it!!!  Well if Mike is unhappy with it too I will help him out and take it off his hands, and Mike no need to pay me, I'll do this favor just once!!

394

Chit Chat / Re: New Project in the middle of no where...

« on: February 27, 2008, 05:41:38 PM »

Hi Maryvonne:

We hope you and Pete can make it east.  When you come out plan on several garden visits not only at Longwood (Pierre DuPont's estate), but also the Winterthur (Henry DuPont, http://www.winterthur.org) that also has wonderful gardens that is only 5 minutes away not to mention the Brandywine museum that holds the Wyeth collection, Howard Pyle studio, and the Chadds Ford Winery.

We just booked our rooms at Whistler for Dec 28- Jan3, so maybe we can catch up for brunch in Vancouver with Sean on Saturday January 4.  This time our treat!!  We actually caught up with Sean for brunch one time on Granville Island at a nice place overlooking the water.  My daughter loved going through the art galleries and even more the cheap art supply stores.  Of course the US dollar was much stronger then.

Gary

395

Chit Chat / Re: Spring is here!

« on: February 27, 2008, 05:27:45 PM »

Hi Maryvonne:

Pretty photos, when I saw your setup before leaving I was thinking this is a nice setup...you should get a few Vandas, I think you will fall in love with their elegant roots and flat flowers.  You will have to have a stern talk with Ginger! 

My phals are just starting to bloom and I feel cloaked in Jewel Orchids that just don't stop, I keep cutting them back and starting new pots and you just can't kill these orchids.   My daughter counted 89 spikes in full bloom over Valentines day, it looks like snow in our living room!!!

Gary

396

Pond Chat / Re: Bucket bloom

« on: February 27, 2008, 05:18:48 PM »

Hey Mike I thought you were from South Africa and not Sweden

Gary

397

Chit Chat / Re: New Project in the middle of no where...

« on: February 23, 2008, 05:09:37 PM »

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Jonna I was thinking about a french drain on the high side dumping to the marsh. 

Karen, Tidewater is also pretty, but too crowded for us, but I think the Naval base is closing and they will be selling off all of that water front property so you may want to get in line.

398

Pond Chat / Re: Pics from last Spring hoping its around the corner

« on: February 23, 2008, 04:58:38 PM »

I hear you Kim.  We just got snow, ice, sleet and rain...yeuch!!!

399

Pond Chat / Re: Bucket bloom

« on: February 23, 2008, 04:56:30 PM »

Hey Sean:

 I like it!  WHile people give me a hard time about Dauben I like its cold color blue shades, which tis appears to have better characteristics.  Anyway sometimes less is more if you know what I mean!!!

Gary

400

Chit Chat / Re: Laptop brands?

« on: February 19, 2008, 06:20:37 PM »

Krista:

 At the end of the day its still a PC world.  There are a lot of good deals out there, but I would look for:

1. Dual core technology
2. At least 2 GB of ram
3. At least 160 GB hard drive

The Toshiba Satellites in our area have been heavily discounted an are within your price range, but I have been happy with Dell, Compacq, HP and Toshiba notebooks.  I usually go through one every 1-2 years at work.

401

Pond Chat / Re: Pics from last Spring hoping its around the corner

« on: February 18, 2008, 12:51:27 PM »

Thanks Tink, Pureplepshn2994 it is a Clematis that looks like the common variety of Passiflora.

Here's another pc i did not post last spring as I clean up my folders.

402

Chit Chat / Re: Oops

« on: February 17, 2008, 06:28:25 PM »

Good luck Bullfrog. 

Workman's comp should support an aide, so once your diagnosis is clear I hope you will get more support.  I wish you good luck and tell the Big Oil company to start living up to its promises..Hazmat and emergency teams are special service and the people working in them are heros!

403

Pond Chat / Re: Pics from last Spring hoping its around the corner

« on: February 17, 2008, 04:33:55 PM »

Hi Bonnie:

 FS blooms great for me with virtually hundreds of blooms in the spring and a bit sparser in the fall.  I think I first heard about it from Joyce and I got mine from k.van Bourgondien & Sons, Inc.  They shipped me healthy and reasonable sized plants (probably 2 year olds).  ANyway I'm sure yours will do well the second year!

Gary

Annette:

 A gardner's planning and work are never done!

404

Chit Chat / Re: New Project in the middle of no where...

« on: February 17, 2008, 04:26:21 PM »

Sorry forgot to mention the structure is Superior Walls that emerged out of NC.  It's an interesting approach in that they use a stronger cement (~ 5,000 PSI versus poured walls 3,000-3,500) that is 1.5" thick skin, with 2x10 joist like structures that are lined for water barrier and then insulated with styrefoam.  The joists have two holes to pass wires in and metal furring strips to hang sheet rock.  Sections of the wall are bolted together and triple caulked.  Interestingly it is extremely level and floats on 2' of crushed stone,  What is really nice the walls are up in one day!  Check out their web site,

405

Chit Chat / Re: New Project in the middle of no where...

« on: February 17, 2008, 04:16:28 PM »

Hi All:

Thanks for the kind words and everyone is invited to visit; however it really is in the middle of nowhere 2.5 hrs from D.C. 1.5 hrs from Richmond, Williamsburg and Virginia Beach so it is a bit out of the way...no chain stores within 30 miles, also means no Starbucks, Pete's or other know coffee shops.  Maryvonne and Peter will be happy to hear that there is a real Waterman's no nonsense coffee shop that makes a mean cup of Joe, black of course.  However, I will have to learn a new dialect if I want to communicate with them.  I was in the coffee shop this past weekend "talking" with a few of them and I think my current translation rate is ~ 10%.  The only part I could make out is that they would hook me up with free Blue Crabs if I let them continue commercial crabbing on my property (see first 2 photos, the sicks on the right sticking up out of the water have 25' long x4' wide nets hooked up to them vertically and evidently the crabs follow the net right into their traps).

Below is one more shot of DW day dreaming on the bank.

406

Pond Chat / Re: Pics from last Spring hoping its around the corner

« on: February 17, 2008, 07:40:47 AM »

Couldn't leave out the Astillbe with our Diamond

407

Pond Chat / Pics from last Spring hoping its around the corner

« on: February 17, 2008, 07:39:32 AM »

Here are a few of shots from around the garden that I didn't post.  Let's hope for an early Spring!!!

Enjoy,

Gary

408

Chit Chat / Re: New Project in the middle of no where...

« on: February 17, 2008, 07:20:31 AM »

Sorry ran out of kB  Here is the front and back of the first floor walls on the far right of the front picture there is a salt marsh and we will grade toward that to run the water off.

409

Chit Chat / New Project in the middle of no where...

« on: February 17, 2008, 07:18:34 AM »

Happy holidays everyone...did they pass already!   

I have a new project in the Northern Neck of Virginia, i.e. a vacation/retirement house.  While just underway the planning has been very detailed oriented to get everything we want.  Here are a few waterview shots that has us excited and has sailboat depth out to the Chesapeake!  My goal is no grass only plantings and a large pond! 

Some questions though I have a big Horseshoe drive and plan to put the pond in the middle.  Have any of used drainage pipes under a pond.  I'm concerned about drainage and of course floods (Note House in last pic is 4' up with fill that brings us 2' out of 100 year flood plain) with water coming under pond.

Thanks for any suggestions,

Gary

410

Chit Chat / Re: Happy Lunar New Year!! Are you a RAT?!?!?

« on: February 10, 2008, 06:41:14 PM »

Now LeeAnne it appears there is an omission on cheating on love  {:-P;;

411

Pond Chat / Re: Stormy Weather

« on: February 10, 2008, 06:35:48 PM »

Hi Lorenzo:

 Thanks for posting pics, we are returning to winter with the new front moving in!

I had not seen of Stormy Weather before, but I like it!!  Is the photo true to life, i.e. it is a light blue lily.

Gary

412

Chit Chat / Re: Mike W. Annette, Kaz and Mikey. Lunch was delightful!

« on: February 01, 2008, 05:06:55 PM »

Sounds like everyone had a grand time.  BTW So Cal sounds good when you are in the cold.  However, our weather is warming up...can it be too long before we climb back into the ponds?

Gary

413

Chit Chat / Re: feeling old?

« on: January 26, 2008, 07:04:31 PM »

 

414

Pond Chat / Re: WE ARE BACK !!! and we will stay BACK !

« on: January 22, 2008, 06:50:08 PM »

Hey Sean, Jerry and Crew:

 Let me mimic everyone else and say thanks for getting the site up again.  WHile there may not be as much activity during the winter I find myself searching through old pictures to get me through the winter!

Gary

415

Pond Chat / Re: Water Lilies in Bloom in January at -25C!

« on: January 22, 2008, 06:45:57 PM »

The Hardies definetely will bloom at 60F water temperature, especially the reds, but I have never seen anyone bring in the hardies for an inside pond...coolbeans!

Gary

416

Photo Album / Re: January Pix

« on: January 13, 2008, 02:15:15 PM »

TRe Bueno TIm!

Jack Wood is an old favorite.

GAry

417

Pond Chat / Re: A Beautiful Morning Beside The Pond.....

« on: January 09, 2008, 03:47:14 PM »

Very nice, I like the reflection of the tree.

Gary

418

Chit Chat / Re: LED Christmas lights

« on: January 06, 2008, 12:52:26 PM »

All you have to do is look up the tree in Rockefellar Center NYC all were LED lights this year that were powered by Colar Cells on top of NBC.  They actually were positive in the energy creation this year!!

Gary

419

Chit Chat / Re: Happy New Year!

« on: January 01, 2008, 07:14:06 PM »

I wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year

Gary

420

Pond Chat / Re: water plant pots

« on: December 30, 2007, 12:10:47 PM »

Boy this has been a contentious topic before.  Not much in this thread though.  There are pros and cons to each pot choice.

Closed container can be purchased at nurseries or as Jerry suggests the Wallmart auto section.  For lilies make sure to get at least 12" diameter to give some of the lilies the ability to run and form colonies.  The advantage of the closed pots are it keeps the pond cleaner, i.e. no dirt  that leaks out of the pot.  Unfortunately water flow is restricted and if the pot is deep then an anareobic condition can occur at the bottom of the pot (you will probably hear several people sticking fingers/spikes to the bottom to get channels).  The wider the pot the less concern, since the surface area is increased relative to pot depth.

Open containers eliminate the anaerobic conditions mentioned above.  The cons are you will leak potting media and the roots will run quickly all over the place.  Another con is the basket pots seem to break apart easier.  Lorenzo's suggestion of using standard nursery pots is valid, but I consider them more like the closed pots especially if you use weed cloth at the bottom.

My personal preference is closed large diameter pots (24").  Also if you use a gravel topping you form a good surface for beneficial microbes, good luck.

Gary