Messages

91

Chit Chat / Re: Guess who's here!! Pics added

« on: May 11, 2007, 08:59:13 AM »

It's getting better by the minute . . . walked upstairs (computer is in office in basement) and thought there were lights on in the kitchen . . . it was sunlight coming in and I'd never seen that before!!  Very cool!!!  You wouldn't believe the difference in the backyard . . . the patio is so sunny and the parking area is too!  Lots of room for sunny plants . . .

Oh yeah, DH wants to put a tree back where the river birch was . . I think a nice fig tree would be good . . . especially if it was trimmed to stay relatively small and narrow . . . . and some really nice person gifted me with a "Danny's Delight" . . . .

92

Chit Chat / Re: Guess who's here!! Pics added

« on: May 11, 2007, 07:55:05 AM »

All 16 are being trimmed - like severely trimmed.  They took so many branches off the ones at the bottom of the driveway that they look like a different kinda tree now . . . got before pics but there's too much debris out there right now to get after. 

The tree guy is recommending taking the three at the back of the driveway down so we can have better access to the upper backyard - I'm all for that!  (DH would KILL me if he came home and there were 3 less trees in his yard . . . that happened last time and he didn't speak to me for months . . . .)

The riverbirch next to the house is coming down now and the more branches they take off the sunnier it gets . . . both on the parking pad AND the back patio . . . my passion flowers are already smiling . . . .

Yes those are hydrangeas - and they're already blooming.  Behind the river birch is a gorgeous rhododendron that's just starting to bloom . . . it's one of my favorites . . . the reds in front are blooming and when the big fat flowers on the pink ones out front are out I'll take a pic . . . they are HUGE balls of flowers, almost as big as a soccer ball, never seen another rhodo with flowers that big . . . .

93

Chit Chat / Re: Guess who's here!!

« on: May 11, 2007, 06:49:54 AM »

We have sunlight on the driveway and a bucket truck parked by the garage . . . . things are getting sunnier by the minute!!!

The debris in front of the truck is just from 4 trees . . . . there are like 16 of those suckers . . . . . 

94

Chit Chat / Re: Baby Jay

« on: May 11, 2007, 06:49:23 AM »

He's just darling and what a terrific shot! 

We used to have a gross overpopulation of jays and they'd attack the cats unmercifully . . . then a few nice hawks moved in and now things are normal again.  I think Jays are neat just because they have such personality . . . but then I pretty much like all the birds in my yard . . .

95

Chit Chat / Guess who's here!! Pics added

« on: May 11, 2007, 05:51:09 AM »

The tree man . . . . gotta go take pics.

96

Aquatic and Terrestrial Plant Exchange / Re: Water Forget me Not

« on: May 11, 2007, 05:50:41 AM »

They usually have it in the watergardening store here but don't this year.

97

Pond Chat / Re: WHAT Are the Six COLORS of the T-Shirts???

« on: May 10, 2007, 05:37:47 PM »

And can someone post exactly which sizes are available in the 50/50 and the cotton?  It would be nice to know before I hit that button . . . . and I hate paypal . . . . just so you'll know.

98

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Garden labels .... latest version

« on: May 10, 2007, 09:25:06 AM »

Those look like something you'd see in the botanical gardens!

99

Aquatic and Terrestrial Plant Exchange / Water Forget me Not

« on: May 10, 2007, 06:30:42 AM »

Anybody have any for trade or postage or whatever?

100

Pond Chat / Re: Water Wych

« on: May 10, 2007, 05:50:23 AM »

I've not seen that before.  The site says that it has carbon, volcanic rock and silicate and my guess is that they are what makes it work.  If you put carbon in a flow thru type container in the pond, it is bound to help with tanins and will work even better with water flowing thru it.  I imagine the volcanic rock provides a place for bacteria to grow, further helping with water clearing.

The prices are higher than just going and buying carbon, but not so high as to be prohibitive.  If you decide to try it, let us know how it works.

101

Pond Chat / Re: How to move a boulder without machinery?

« on: May 10, 2007, 05:44:24 AM »

I had to have mine moved with a bobcat or something similar . . . . and it still left the lawn a mess.  DH was NOT happy.

102

Photo Album / Re: Nature's Helpers up close and personal

« on: May 09, 2007, 06:01:16 PM »

Oh - Ok, the first set of butterfly photos is from last year.  Didn't catch that.

first off, I'll send you a lutea . . . it's a weed, and the flowers are small, but it's great butterfly feed and if you ever get into hybridizing, it's hardy and sets fruit easily, so it's a good one.

Second, they will eat almost any passiflora . . . but the nice thing about having lots of lutea or incarnata or caerulea (all weeds) is that you can move the cats there and still have the butterflies.   Give me another couple of weeks and I'll send you whatever you want of those 3 cuz they are growing all over the back 40 . . . . and I will owe you forever for that song . . . .

103

Pond Chat / Re: Portable Generator

« on: May 09, 2007, 05:47:19 PM »

Wish I had a clue . . . just happy to see you back here and posting every now and then! 

104

Chit Chat / Re: Wow, I am amazed

« on: May 09, 2007, 05:45:51 PM »

That is so very cool!  Whoda thunk that film would last that long . . . probably because it was black and white because I know that color film develops funny after just a couple of years . . . .

105

Chit Chat / Re: laptop

« on: May 09, 2007, 05:44:32 PM »

Do NOT buy a toshiba . . . . ever.

106

Chit Chat / Re: The tree man cometh . . . .

« on: May 09, 2007, 05:44:11 PM »

Oh and, here it is, Wednesday night already, and the tree cutter man that my DH promised still hasn't shown up.  Do you think that he mighta been pullin' my leg?  Promising things he didn't plan to deliver?  Getting my hopes up for NUTHIN? 


(Don't you think he'd have learned not to play games with me by now?)

107

Chit Chat / Re: The tree man cometh . . . .

« on: May 09, 2007, 05:42:53 PM »

I think I'll just leave my pretty baby in a pot . . . maybe I'll train it as a standard  . . . .

108

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Hey Southern Californians!

« on: May 09, 2007, 05:41:48 PM »

If you have already planted those seeds I sent, you might have some of those to trade by then . . . . hope so anyway - they multiply pretty quickly.

109

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Think I finally found a way to lick my bone dry banks ......

« on: May 09, 2007, 05:40:36 PM »

Why would you want to 'lick' your bone dry banks?    Just funing with you, I know what you meant!
Tammie

She's been 'funning' with too many people lately . . . . someone needs to slap her!

Glad you figured something out . . . . we want pics and detailed progress reports . . . if it works, I might try it on my hillside . . .

110

Pond Chat / Re: Another Season, another reason to take fish photos!

« on: May 09, 2007, 05:37:34 PM »

They look so happy to be back in front of the camera, where they belong! 

111

Pond Chat / Re: Water Wych

« on: May 09, 2007, 05:36:39 PM »

Seems like I've heard of it, but cannot remember details.  I find it hard to believe that it removes tea stain too - that comes from tanins and the only things that I know of that remove them from the water are carbon and water changes.

Do you have a link?

112

Pond Chat / Re: Are snails good or bad for a pond?

« on: May 09, 2007, 05:35:39 PM »

Yes, very big, black, with the pointy tail. 

Nope, not the same snail at all.  Trapdoors are indeed livebearers and I always believed that the mother died after having babies - and all mine did die after giving birth - but was told by several people that this was not true.  They do give birth to lots of babies, but only if there is enough food in the pond to support them.  The new babies are tiny, but fully formed replicas of mommy.

As snails go, the trapdoor is a particularly nice type to have . . . . if you have babies, I would love to have some of them.  (Yes, they can be mailed - I got my first ones by mail and shipped some out to friends via mail as well.)

113

Pond Chat / Re: May I offer a photo of Peace

« on: May 09, 2007, 04:46:11 PM »

Absolutely gorgeous Lou!  Thank you for posting it - I feel more peaceful already . . .

114

Pond Chat / Re: By Jerry Request my PM to him on the forum problems....Please read with care...

« on: May 09, 2007, 10:07:00 AM »

That story shows just how little we know about each other and just how much a forum could mean to a member.  I'm sure that nothing you did caused that boy's suicide, but I'm also sure that you will always wonder if there could have been a different outcome.  Thanks for sharing it.

115

Photo Album / Re: Nature's Helpers up close and personal

« on: May 09, 2007, 07:06:24 AM »

I see the Gulf Fritillaries have found your passion flowers . . . . I always plant some lutea (which grow like weeds) so they'll have plenty of food . . . . do you have zebra longwings?

116

Pond Chat / Re: I guess it belongs to them

« on: May 08, 2007, 07:07:32 PM »

BOOHOO I have no frogs still

Gots a question.. why do you have to put holes in a bog anyway?  I didnt put them in mine is something bad gonna happen?

tinskter

It depends on how wet you want your bog and what you are going to grow in it . . . if you grow plants that really like to be in water, you don't need holes.  Most bogs should be damper than normal dirt, but not soaking wet, thus the holes.

117

Pond Chat / Re: Racooons

« on: May 08, 2007, 07:06:23 PM »

If you don't want them dead, don't call the DNR or animal control or even a licensed trapper to remove them.  They don't advertise that they are required by law to destroy the animal and test for rabies and, in fact, will out and out lie to you about what the animal's future holds.  I didn't know that all the raccoons I was having removed were being destroyed when I called the guy to come get them . . . . didn't find that out till much later and not from him.  He even told me stories about releasing them.  Later I tried trapping and releasing them myself for a while, but it was a never ending battle . . . . too many of them and only one of me.

118

Chit Chat / Re: The tree man cometh . . . .

« on: May 08, 2007, 06:50:36 PM »

I was doing some research and found this little blurb that says that olives are pretty hardy - just don't fruit in cold climates:

Cultural Requirements Some olives are self-fruitful, but all are best with cross-pollination. Due to the olive tree's hardiness & adaptability, the majority of varietals can survive in just about any climate except the tropics or the poles. They can withstand drought. However, it must be noted that olives will often survive in a harsh climatic zone at the expense of the crop; where the grower wants healthy, trees and regular, heavy crops, climate must not be overlooked.

Cold Climates Includes areas where temperatures can fall below 18°F and snow may fall occasionally. These regions generally only grow oil olives as they are less prone to heavy frost damage. A brief International Olive Oil Council summary of the cold hardiness of olives follows: "The olive can withstand low temperatures of 18°F or even 14°F, and even lower as long as it is not subjected to them for many hours, thawing proceeds slowly and the tree is not at the active growing period (March-October in California). During the vegetative stage, the olive tree is sensitive to low temperatures which can cause damage to twigs and secondary branches, and even to the trunk and scaffold branches. Resistance to cold is a varietal trait. To ensure it fruits well, the olive does, however, need temperatures close to 32°F which induce vegetative rest. It withstands high summer temperatures well, and even lack of ground moisture, although it then adjusts its growing activity to an essential minimum". Out of the cultivars we offer, the most commonly selected for these cold climates are Frantoio, Pendolino and Ascolana.
Moderate Climates - Areas where minimum winter temperatures are generally 25°-27°F and very rarely go below 21°F. Such areas are considered to be typical of the world's olive growing regions. These areas provide the necessary winter chill requirements for dormancy without being so cold as to possibly damage any late season crop. All the cultivars we offer are known to be suitable in such areas.

So now I need to go find the exact type of olive tree I have and see what it says about hardiness . . . . think I still have the tag . . . .

119

Chit Chat / Re: weird request

« on: May 08, 2007, 06:46:48 PM »

Please, please don't do what a lot of people do  . . . they fill a kiddie pool with water and feeder fish and let the kids 'fish' for them with a net.  Then each child takes a fish home to die a horrible death.  Maybe take the same idea and fill a kiddie pool with water and rubber fish . . . .

120

Pond Chat / Re: Racooons

« on: May 08, 2007, 06:44:35 PM »

I don't know where you live, but in our city animal control will oan you a live trap and they will release the pesky critters far away. They don't cost that much online and you can bait them with cat food or sardines.

It's worth a try.

In most states east of the Mississippi if you have animal control trap a raccoon, it will be euthanized automatically because of the high incidence of raccoon rabies.  And in my experience, no matter how many you trap and relocate, there will always be more coming in behind them.


LuAnn - I had one that could open the freezer door and would eat the ice cream every time!!!  There is nothing they cannot get into given time . . . I wanna hear when that little devil learns to open the jeep doors!