Scott Hildenbrand wrote:
HettieŽ wrote:
Scott Hildenbrand wrote:
Well with a little work I'm sure I can get rocks to trail. In fact if
I'm bored one day I just might do that to see how it looks.. 
Know the overloaded feeling.. Since we moved and have so much more
space now, all kinds of things are popping into my head that I'd like
to try.
Yes, it isn't so much fun when you are tired and have other heavy
chores to get done before the snow flies. For me, even smaller jobs
are a heck of a lot of work. Grass coming up through chicken wire
isn't such a big deal, but after all I went through planting over 200
bulbs, trying to do it right, reading up on how to keep tulips going,
my heart just sank.
Instead of tilling the sod under, cut it out and remove it.. That's the
best way to make sure the grass doesn't come back.. But then, that
depends on the grass, if it's bunch growing or if it spreads via runner.
That's what I should have done even though it was mostly brown from
being covered, stuff is stubborn. I recycle my potting mixture into
compost and found some garlic chives that have gone months without
water, stuck them on top of some soil, put in east window, watered them,
and they took off again.
I'm going to build a loooong one for the front window here, plus
shutters.. Thing that I'd noticed with planter flower is that it's best
to pick things which don't require hardly any care, especially those in
harsh sun.
My son was going to do that for some pretty iron grill facing south
relected against light tan stucco. Like it will be hot up there. I
asked for suggestions for suitable plants for him. I remember
angelonia? & sweet potato vine, things that don't need constant
watering, trail, etc., might be able to find that again.
That sounds really pretty, a long window box and shutters. Maybe you
can rig up a drip system with clear plastic tubing?
Sounds like too much sun to me.. What I have, I didn't watter at all
since we'd moved besides during the drought. It thrived in its shady
location.
Yes, too much sun. It can tolerate a certain amount of drought. Mine
drooped when I was slow to water the rooted ones inside, they snapped
right back. They were happy in the east window dining room windows,
sunroom was too sunny and hot for them but not as bad as outside.
We had a small yard, which I'd have done more with... Well, but the
house was her ex's which carried a stigma to it.. I found it hard to
take pride in anything I did to it. Odd, huh?
No. You need to start fresh. Usually enough baggage as it is. I wish
you well.
Anyway, I could have done much more to it..
I'm not good at planning, better once it's in, oh I should have . . .
Never messed with redbuds.. Or trees from seedlings for that matter..
Why do you think in the house would be "too warm"? I'd think too cold
would be the issue at hand. But then, don't know much about those.
I never grew trees from seeds before but some people told me to rub them
with sandpaper. It worked great. Eastern redbuds are more northern,
and I would think they would prefer a simulated northern environment
from the git go, hot and cold cycles. I could bring them into the
house, easier to monitor them for the first winter. I kept rose
cuttings in the sunroom last winter, now they will have to tough it out
their first winter outside, thought I was disrupting their natural cycle
by doing that but justified that the roses I buy from Texas that are
hardy in my zone have been bred in milder temps and have to adapt
anyway. I think redbuds are tough. I could get some cheap on ebay from
somebody across the river for gosh sakes, but I wanted the fun of
watching them grow.
Going to see if I can mail some starts next season. I'll end up posting
to the list to see if anyone wants any.. Have a surplus ATM, but it's
dying back for winter.
I've never been real keen on coleus but have seen it used effectively.
This was my neighbor's, he's young and busy, and I hoped I could have a
couple for myself and give him the rest back for next year. I don't
have a spot for them anyway. I don't have a spot for 24 redbuds either.
We have a boulevard, and if I get them far enough along, I will see if
I can fill in where they have cut some trees from a neighborhood project
years ago. Then I got to thinking smallish trees might branch out too
much over the street. My daughter wants a couple. I can find spots for
about two. I have a farm, but I tried to plant trees there before and I
can't drive 50 miles to water, weed, and mulch. Well, I could, but you
know how it goes.
If I really get roses and lilies and other things going strong, I am
going to have to think about the farm. I even looked at some cheap city
lots in rundown neighborhoods, but think I'd be taking on too much. If
weeds get out of control on the farm, nobody gets on my case. Not so
the city.
I'm licking my wounds. A lady gave me six cuttings of a gorgeous repeat
rose, very doube and deep pink/cerise, and they all died (I'm guessing I
had them too tall and medium too wet for how I am doing this batch. I
took two of one I didn't particularly like as well, mostly because it
was a rose with unusual foliage, at least two more sets of leaves and
deeply veined, lush grayish green. One I look at today and large roots
growing through the holes, so I potted that one up, didn't think that
mess of dry leaves had a snowball's chance in you know what of rooting.
Her bushes were languishing, and I begged for cuttings before she
whacked them because I needed ones with leaves so I thought. Then I
thought too late to ask her for all she whacked off the two ones I liked
the best (same rose), hoping to revitalize them. So I'm SOL on those,
and I don't know if she will give me any more for a long time. I'm
getting older, I may not have a long time.
I guess you have to roll with the punches. I didn't expect so many
failures and setbacks with all my planning. I didn't want to spray my
roses, and they got hit with almost everything, and didn't factor in
trees which were leafless when I planned it out. Duh. The two in front
that get the most sun are doing the best, rest look awful and ravaged,
expensive Austin roses. At least I'm learning a lot from it, my
mistakes included.
I kind of envy you having all that room, but I'd better just be thankful
I have what I do. I could grow more if I cut down some trees, no have
to work around the trees for now.
I LOVE lilacs, have just one common purple one, would like at least six.
Sorry I made this too long. I get so enthused just thinking about
some of it.