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09 Dec 05 - 12:10 PM (#1623635) Subject: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie This coming year was the year I was going to seriously cut back. Can't take care of all the beds. Drought so bad this fall I didn't even plant a fall veggie garden. The lettuce, kale, etc. seeds I ordered just sitting in their packets and bags. No flower or veggie beds cleaned up and mulched for winter. No crimson clover sown. Pots of very dead geraniums and coleus lining my front steps--not one single pansy did I plant this fall. Not one tulip mail-ordered for my annual New Year's Day bulb-planting ritual. Too busy. Too tired. Too stiff in the joints. But....the seed catologs are starting to arrive. I'm starting to dream and drool of lush veggie gardens and flowerbeds awash in wind and bloom....asked for a gift certificate from Gardener's Supply or Smith & Hawkin from Santa Claus....when I imagine taking out some of the flowerbeds, I hear the plants and the neighbors weeping in sorrow. Been looking at photos from 2 and 3 years ago, when it really was stunningly beautiful out there...thinking....if I thinned that....moved that....maybe this year it will rain when it needs to...hmmm...says here that this plant likes it dry....maybe I could cut back some on work hours at the clinic (LOL!).... My name's Janie, and I'm a gardeneraholic. Ya' with me? Wanna swap seeds or catalogs? Janie, the hopeless case. |
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09 Dec 05 - 12:21 PM (#1623641) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: LilyFestre Hi Janie, Hello Everybody. My name is Michelle and I'm a seed catalog and high hopes addict. I received 2 seed catalogs this week and I know I swore that I would NEVER try to grow tomatoes from seeds again, I'm looking at those beautiful photos and just KNOW I can do it THIS year. I promise that I won't get bored with thinning and transplanting the seedlings a month after they outgrow their beginning spots. I won't bitch that I have no room on any of my tables because of all the germinating seeds, I won't. I promise. I will water/mist them as needed. I turn the flats every 4 days or so in order to help my little plants to grow up to be straight and tall. I will put a small fan on low and aim it at the seeds to help them develop stronger stalks. I also promise not to cry when the cats get in and wreck half of all my very hard earned success. Ah yes....the hopes and promise that only a seed catalog can bring when old man winter is howling outside my window.... I'm with you Janie....I'm with you. Michelle |
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09 Dec 05 - 12:24 PM (#1623644) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: John MacKenzie Spreading seeds can cause worse things than that! Giok ☺ |
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09 Dec 05 - 12:27 PM (#1623647) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Peace ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Thanks, John. |
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09 Dec 05 - 12:38 PM (#1623664) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Stilly River Sage My name is Maggie and I'm also a garden-holic. But the drought messed up my routine, and I need a fix. It has been so dry that I didn't put in my onion and garlic this fall--even though they're good in cold weather they do need water, but my hoses are put away and my spigots are covered for the cold weather. No cruciferous veggies--broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, or kale. It means that later on, once the rain starts, I'll have to do some cold weather reconnoitering (I don't really like that--my nose runs and my eyes water too much to see what I'm doing) to get the cool weather stuff in so there is some growth before the heat of next summer. It's 12 steps to my garden from the side door of the garage. I'll be okay after a while. . . once I can get dirt under my nails and haul the shovels and the spade fork out in the wheelbarrow. I will make due for now with a few potted plants on the front porch. SRS |
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09 Dec 05 - 12:43 PM (#1623666) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: MMario I managed to weed and mulch 11 of the 22 gardens on our property this year - up from 7 last year. Since we had a wedding in the family and my b-i-l (known as he who creates gardens and abandons them annually) paid to have the other 11 weeded and mulched I may actually get them all done this year. maybe. hopefully. |
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09 Dec 05 - 12:46 PM (#1623668) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: MMario SRS - when you talk about 12 step program you really mean it, eh? |
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09 Dec 05 - 12:53 PM (#1623675) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie This is a closed meeting of "Gardenholics Anonymous." If you believe you have an addiction to gardening you are welcome here. We are a group of people who come together to share our experience, strength and hope to enable others to also become addicted to growing plants, irrespective of climate zone and annual rainfall. (See testimonials above.) 1. We admit we are powerless over bermuda grass in our garden beds, that we can not pass up a tray of seedlings. 2. We admit the neighbors really wish we would get rid of the huge pile of black pots next to the compost that we are sure we will need some time. 3. We admit that we will do everything in our power to get other people to start gardening so that we can pass on perfectly good plant divisions that otherwise must be composted. 4. We admit that we don't care if the family can not possibly consume that much loose leaf lettuce--it just looks so pretty out there in the veggie garden. 5. And yes, we admit that we do NOT need 100 each of 30 different varieties of plants and veggies, but you don't expect me to waste all those seeds do you? 6. We became willing to let house go dirty and family go hungry to grab a few more hours of time in the garden. 7. We admit our children are late for school when we bump into a fellow gardener at the coffee shop. 8. We believe digging in the dirt is good for what ails ya' 9. We believe the $400 birdbath is a good investment--it should be worth some bucks to the kids at the estate sale (if it doesn't crack and craze from winters outside.) 10. We do not care that good, organic onions and potatoes can be bought for less than we can grow them. 11. We vow never to drive past a cute little Mom&Pop Garden Center on our way to or from the beach. 12. When we die, don't embalm us. Put our ashes in the compost or plant a tree over top of our graves. |
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09 Dec 05 - 12:54 PM (#1623677) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: LilyFestre known as he who creates gardens and abandons them annually) LOLOL Michelle |
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09 Dec 05 - 01:11 PM (#1623687) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Kaleea Hi, I'm Kaleea, and I'm a gardenerholic. ("hi, Kaleea.") I've been in recovery for for several years now. I'd prolly still be out in the garden if life hadn't thrown me a few curves & I don't have a yard now &, well, the old back & knees won't bend much anymore anyways, and now I'm in an apartment. I used to have houseplants, but when I moved cross country, I gave away all my plants. Cold turkey. Just like that. I even gave away my beloved Shamrock I didn't think would make it all those days in the hot car. And a few packages of flower seeds I had stashed. And the few tools I had left. No seed catalogs. No Bulb catalogs. No pots. No gardening magazines. Not even the Mother Earth News. Just a couple of vases for cut flowers. I'm a little worried, though. Friends came over for dinner last weekend & brought a Poinsettia. I gingerly watered it yesterday. It's really pretty. I'm afraid that I'll decide to keep it after the holidays. That's where it all can start again. Waltzing it in & out of the closet. Comparing notes with others re their Poinsettias. When to bring it completely back out in the light. Keeping it out on my balcony, where it would look lonely & in need of company. I'm planning to be gone for a couple of weeks over Christmas, & I think the best thing would be to give the darn thing away. Somebody has to come in & feed the cat, though, and it would be easy to ask them to just water it a couple of times. The Poinsettia--not the cat. She doesn't need water on her roots. Anyways, it's terribly tempting. It's only one plant. After the first of the year is when the real big push for getting catalogs happens. Would it really hurt to just look at a catalog? What should I do? |
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09 Dec 05 - 01:16 PM (#1623691) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: MMario we've been in the house 33 years. 9 gardens have been abandoned/destroyed. 22 - oops - 23! (I forgot one) remain. He was too ill last year to put in a new garden. So except for one year - yup - annual gardens. Occasionally he will do something in them - but usually if he doesn't put in a new garden confines himself to planting a new tree smack in the middle of my mowing pattern. Of course this doesn't count the rhodies along the drive, the rhodies along the edge of the wood, the burning bushes on the other drive, and the occsional tree. NOr the two "lilac islands" or the island in the pond, or the 3 water gardens, or the "swamp garden" or the 1/2 acre of waterlilies and lotus or the... my veggies didn't do nuttin' this year - but I did get some very nice flowers. And the roses did wonderfully - which was a shock as we've never managed to overwinter any before. |
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09 Dec 05 - 01:19 PM (#1623696) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: John MacKenzie I knew you lived near the Finger Lakes, but didn't realise one of them was in your back garden! Giok |
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09 Dec 05 - 01:25 PM (#1623700) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Stilly River Sage Yes! I would be richer if I didn't garden, but the thrill of walking out the back door and picking something that is going to go into that evening's meal is just too addictive for words. Knowing that the basket of onions in my pantry is from my garden gives every meal prepared with them an extra boost. When I serve the dish I usually tell those at the table what went into it from my garden. Tomato sauce may contain my tomatoes, onions, garlic, and green peppers. I have a Middle-Eastern pork casserole recipe that I make with my home-grown onions, eggplants, and tomatoes. Standing in the front yard talking to a neighbor who walks by can lead to a tour of the landscaping and the few veggies I've put out there. The spontaneous gift of a ripe tomato or pepper is a the best way to play "the lady bountiful." SRS |
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09 Dec 05 - 01:25 PM (#1623701) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Peace I admire gardeners. My grandfather was one, my aunt another. Avid about it they were. Loved to see things grow, get dirt under their nails and tend to the flowers or vegetables. Haven't the patience for it myself, but I can see that those who garden have a contented peaceful look as they go about their self-appointed tasks. I can't claim to really understand it, but I do know that when the bug bites, ya got it forever. |
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09 Dec 05 - 01:28 PM (#1623706) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: MMario I love to garden - I'm not very successful at it, but I do love gardening - or gardens. Would like to resurect my "thyme garden" - (one of the ones that got abandoned - the addition to the house went on top of it.) I had 9 varieties at one point - and I know there are tons more. |
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09 Dec 05 - 01:37 PM (#1623724) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Peace "While there are over 100 varieties of thyme, all of which are fragrant to some extent, there are three that have a special place in the kitchen: lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus), caraway thyme (Thymus herba-barona), and common thyme (Thymus vulgaris)." from here. |
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09 Dec 05 - 02:03 PM (#1623743) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: John MacKenzie Come all ye maidens young and fair All ye that flourish in your prime I'll have you to beware, and keep you garden fair Let no man steal away your thyme. G |
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09 Dec 05 - 02:06 PM (#1623745) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie Dear Kaleea, Definitely have someone water that poinsetta while you are gone. If indeed you peek at the seed catologs just make sure your credit card is somewhere else. Not to tempt you or anything, but there are some really good "container" varieties of veggies and fruits around now...all it takes is a sunny spot..... Enabling yours, Janie |
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09 Dec 05 - 02:18 PM (#1623756) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: TheBigPinkLad I've tried to give it up, but each year stuff starts to grow and it gives off oxygen which I can't resist. It was just easy stuff like beans I grew first, but then I got in with this crowd called Seeds of Diversity and it's been bad ever since. They keep seeds every year what they got handed down from their ancestors and they're pretty potent. We share them with each other, which is OK, but I keep seeing more and more young people taking up the habit. And you don't even need money -- the seeds are bartered for stamps, other seeds or scrip from Canadian Tire stores. I'm thinking of trying basil this year ... in Zone 8! Where will it all end? |
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09 Dec 05 - 02:19 PM (#1623757) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie Maggie, Ain't it the truth! It is just soul-satisfying to feed people with food you've grown yourself--and the additional freshness, tenderness and sugar in the veggies because they really did just come off the plant DO make a big difference in flavor. Changes the simplest salad into a gormet experience. And getting to know your neighbors....Half the people I know in Hillsborough I met because I was out working in my front garden. The woman who lives across the street from me feels very isolated. She is not comfortable out of doors, is phobic of dogs, and bugs drive her nuts. I am the only person on the street who knows her (because I am out in the garden when she pulls out of the driveway.) One afternoon we were at the end of her driveway chatting. Several people walked by or drove by and stopped for a minute to greet me. She said "How is it that you know so many people here?" I replied "For the same reason I know you. Because I spend time out here in the yard." Janie |
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09 Dec 05 - 02:21 PM (#1623760) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie TBPL, Never! (I hope) Janie |
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09 Dec 05 - 02:35 PM (#1623773) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie Help! I have lost a catalog (either a home & garden or gardening supply catalog) that had a new product I was interested in. I'm hoping one of you have seen it and remember the company. It was their own design and I have not seen it elsewhere. The product was a set of steel or cast aluminum brackets that can be bolted onto 2x4's top and bottom, and then patio pavers 12" to 24" can be slipped into the brackets to create raised beds at a very affordable cost. I explored framing in my veggie garden beds with cedar and it was going to be way beyond my means. Substantially raised beds will extend my life as a gardener for a number of years. Thankee. Janie |
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09 Dec 05 - 03:12 PM (#1623804) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Stilly River Sage Same here, I meet people because I'm out in the yard. Most of my nearest neighbors are also putterers, and sometimes a group of three or four of us will be standing at the foot of one's driveway, that one usually leaning on a rake or shovel. One day the sheriff drove by and asked if I'd noticed some youths go by on a bike--but I'd been busy digging and hadn't looked up for a while. I am out there, but sometimes you have to make a noise or walk over to get my attention if I'm focused on the project at hand. This is my disease speaking: I'm going to redo several beds next year, now that I've figured out the dynamic of the soil in this yard and the best way to keep the most things looking good (plant xeriscape wherever possible and keep the moist and tender bits near the house where the soaker hose along the foundation will water them). Never plant box-like hedges around the house. Plants don't need to be architectural, I want them to look like they're supposed to look like. But I will put a few native hibiscus there because they'll grow bigger and gaudier with the extra water. And we can all use a few big bright stunners out in the front of the house. A wonderful surprise this year--I originally had a couple of pots of spineless prickly pear cactus given me by friends that needed planting. I put them in one spot where the datura usually grows, next to a new yucca, but the datura didn't come back. The cactus was not thriving, so a couple of months later I made a sandy bed and moved them and now they're happy. Meanwhile, all of that digging stirred up the datura and we had a bumper crop after all. A few weeks ago we had our first frost, and upon examination of the spot I noticed two nice little spineless prickly pear pads that had come up under the datura. And several small yucca plants. Good! I can move this stuff around and make more desert beds next year. . . SRS P.S. My dogs just came in from a run in the yard. It's so cold they're staying in now, but Cinnamon (the pitbull) has a distinct scent of rosemary--she loves to go plow through my big plant in the back yard. |
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09 Dec 05 - 03:15 PM (#1623808) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: LilyFestre Kaleea, Cats and poinsettas don't mix. They can make your kitty cat very sick (or worse) should s/he chew on the leaves or petals. Can you trade it in for a Christmas cactus? Besides being safe for your kitty, you don't have to shut them up during the year....yeah...I know...some folks do...but hey...I *LIKE* that mine blooms at Easter! ;) Michelle PS. I love that I got a seed catalog from the Vermont Bean Seed Company.....based in Vermont? Nah..that would be far too easy...The VERMONT Bean Seed Company is based in Randolph, Wisconsin...I learn something new everyday! |
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09 Dec 05 - 03:29 PM (#1623818) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: MMario YOu can get "christmas" cactus that bloom at just about any time of the year - some rebloom. A family friend (now decades deceased) had, in addition to 500 plus varieties of daffodils and narcissus, about 75 varieties of christmas cactus. she said her favorite was really a "Labor Day: cactus - because it almost always started bloom the last week of August or the First week of September. |
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09 Dec 05 - 04:41 PM (#1623865) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie MMario--show me a gardener and I'll show you some one with an amazing capacity to tolerate one failure after another. Janie |
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09 Dec 05 - 05:53 PM (#1623928) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Peace The kiss of the sun for pardon The song of the birds for mirth One is nearer to God's heart in the garden Than anywhere else on earth Dorothy Gurney (1858 - 1952) |
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09 Dec 05 - 06:30 PM (#1623952) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Peace However, I saw that poem years back when I first memorized it and it scanned better: The kiss of the sun for pardon The song of the birds for mirth One is nearer God's heart in a garden Than anywhere else on earth |
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10 Dec 05 - 07:05 AM (#1624295) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: The Fooles Troupe Tip: If you don't put water on a cat's roots, you will be overrun with kittens. |
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10 Dec 05 - 09:43 AM (#1624345) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Donuel I'm gonna get my Morgan seed catalog, order 50lbs of "hens and chickens" and reseed my lawn with it. If the authorities ask any questions I'll just say its a tribute to the movie Wizard of OZ. |
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11 Dec 05 - 06:01 AM (#1624850) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Sandra in Sydney last night JennyO gave me a big bunch of silverbeet! Apparently it's removal did not even make a space in her garden bed. I wonder why she hasn't posted to this thread? Sandra (patiently awaiting her tomatoes) I have a colleague who is a gardener (& probably a seed catalogue addict too) who has lots of pics of her garden as screensavers, including examples of this beautiful South African flower. gazanias |
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11 Dec 05 - 10:44 AM (#1624972) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Stilly River Sage I'm thinking about hunting down a live xmas tree this year. I want an Italian stone pine to put out in the yard. They do much better here than most other types of pines. |
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11 Dec 05 - 10:59 AM (#1624983) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: JennyO Shouldn't be long now, Sandra. I've picked about 3 that were just starting to colour, to ripen on the kitchen window sill. I had the first one today - MMMMMMMM! Not enough yet to give away, but there are plenty on the way. Still waiting for the passionfruit to ripen, too. Soon, hopefully. Might be lotsa beans in a couple of weeks. Little baby ones are just starting. I grew those from last year's crop. This year, a lot of things sprang up spontaneously from seed in the most unlikely places - especially tomatoes. It's always a bit of an adventure to find out what kind they will turn out to be. It's looking like a lot of those are going to be cherry tomatoes this time. Yum! There's a very healthy basil plant growing in a crack in the path, and a few climbing beans shot up amongst the lettuce (where the beans were last year), and they have nowhere to climb :-( I'll point them towards the fence and eventually they'll reach it. I love gardening! Jenny |
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11 Dec 05 - 12:22 PM (#1625033) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: open mike the bermuda and johnson grass are VERY successful and I, consequently and NOT. I played the song Home Grown Tomatoes (by Guy and Susanna Clark) yesterday, and was re-inspired to do more plamting next spring. The last verse says "When i die don't bury me in a box in the cemetary, out in the garden would be much better, then I can be pushing up Home Grown Tomatoes....." I was travelling last summer and cut way back on the planting as i knew i would not be here to tend it. I was reminded of what I heard about one of the former members of the Weavers, Lee Hayes, who, as a diabetic had to have some of his toes amputated due to poor circulation. He wrote a song "Ode to My Toes" about them being buried in the compost pile. Mario---22 gardens??!! do you mean garden BEDS??!! but the best song for all of us un-wavering gardeners is by Stephanie Davis...called Harvest time... see www.stephaniedavis.net it is off of her Crocus in the Snow Harvest Time, Stephanie Davis Well, it starts with the catalog that comes in the mail In the middle of the winter when you've had it with those pale Thick skinned store-bought sorry hard-as-rock excuses for tomatoes with the flavor of a sock And there on the cover sits the jucey red-ripe home grown tomato that you've had dancing in your head Never mind you said last august that you'd had it up to here With the hoeing and the weeding That's what you say every year So you fix a cup of cocoa Sink into your favorite chair Put your feet up and you thumb throught the pictures and compare Big Boys, Better Boys, Early Girls, Romas, The new disease and drought resistant hybrids from Sonoma Then its onto peas and carrots, lima beans and beets and kale and you never tried Kohlrabi, Say, the lettuce is on sale What's a garden without sweet corn, better plant some marigolds And you just read in Prevention about how garlic's good for colds So you phone an order in that nearly melts your VISA card and stare out at the foot of snow that blankets your back yard and visualize a garden so peaceful and serene til at last you close your eyes and slip into a dream about Harvest Time, Bushels of red, ripe tomatoes Harvest Time, Sweet corn that melts in your mouth Well, the days turn to weeks, and the next thing you know There's a robin at the feeder and the last patch of snow disappears about the time The UPS truck backs up to your house and you stand there awe struck as 47 perishable "plant right away" marked boxes are unloaded on your porch And you say "are you sure?" Yes ma'am, need your signature here Looks like someone's gonna have 'em quite a garden this year Well, you watch 'em drive away then you sink to your knees cuz you feel a little woozy, 47 boxes please God I know i've got a problem and we've had this talk before but, Help me this one last time I won't order any more Just then as if in answer to your prayer, Your sister's van pulls up into the driveway with Aunt Martha, Uncle Stan, two nephews and a cousin who just stopped to say hello, but soon are sporting callusses as up and down each row, you , their warden, push 'em It's a scene from Cool Hand Luke, over there, the clods need breaking leave more space around that cuke, See those bags of steer manure? bring a dozen over fast! Yes I see you have lumbago But you'll thank me when at last its Harvest Time, all the zuchinni your van can hold Harvest Time, show you what a strawberry should taste like Harvest Time, might even let you help me dig potatoes Well that night it starts to sprinkle and you can't help but feelin' smug cuz your garden's in the ground gettin' watereed while you're snug underneath the covers, or at least until midnight when the temperature starts dropping and in no time you are smack right in the middle of your garden in your jammies on your knees, with a head light and a hammer and some tarps and jeez louise it's cold but you keep working til the last plant's safe from harm til there's holes in your new jammies and brucitis in your arm cuz by gosh you're a gardener, right down to your muddly clogs and even when the rabbits take your lettuce stray dogs pee on your zuchinni, and a fungus goes to your kale cuz it's rained for 2 weeks solid, do you falter? do you fail? yes of course you throw your hoe down stamp your feet and call it quits declare for all the gods to hear gardening is the pits, and you'll never plant another and this one can bloody rot and suddenly the sun breaks through the clouds and like as not you see a couple of weeds you must have misssed the last go round shake your head and meekly pick your hoe up off the ground and hoe and keep on hoeing til your Romas dangle red ripe and juicy on the vine Sweet corn towers over head, Beans hanging from their trellis big orange pumpkins sprawl about, and you get that satisfied feeling once more when you shout Harvest Time, man the pressure cooker Harvest Time, break out those canning jars Harvest Time, you HAVE to take zuchinni, we're related Harvest Time, now THIS is a tomato |
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12 Dec 05 - 05:01 AM (#1625469) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Sandra in Sydney Open Mike - I love the song & have sent it to my gardener friend sandra |
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12 Dec 05 - 10:12 AM (#1625610) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie So here in the Northern Hemisphere we're in daydream mode, while you Aussies are waiting on that first ripe tomato. It is good to know it is the growing season somewhere in the world. What are silverbeets? Janie |
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12 Dec 05 - 10:12 AM (#1625611) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie So here in the Northern Hemisphere we're in daydream mode, while you Aussies are waiting on that first ripe tomato. It is good to know it is the growing season somewhere in the world. What are silverbeets? Janie |
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12 Dec 05 - 10:39 AM (#1625633) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: JennyO Well, we also call it spinach, but it isn't the same as English spinach. Here's a picture - silverbeet |
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12 Dec 05 - 11:10 AM (#1625653) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: bobad It looks like what we call Swiss chard around these parts (Canada). |
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12 Dec 05 - 11:11 AM (#1625658) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: LilyFestre I think it looks like Swiss Chard too. Michelle |
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12 Dec 05 - 11:52 AM (#1625688) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie Me too! Do you have the latin name for it? (sorry about the double posts above--not sure how I managed that) Janie |
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12 Dec 05 - 11:59 AM (#1625694) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie Yes, it is the same as Swiss Chard! And it is related to beets. Have you seen or grown the "rainbow" chard? It was originally developed in Australia. Pretty as well as tasty! Janie |
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12 Dec 05 - 01:39 PM (#1625730) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: open mike how about new zealand spinach? [it has plump little leaves] sort of a viney-thing and quite resistant to frost as i recall and to heat, too, and salt, I see http://www.humeseeds.com/spnchnz.htm http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/newzealandspinach.html http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MV139 oops i guess that last article said it IS frost sensitive http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/N/NewZ1spin.asp http://www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/vegetable/greens.html http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/vegetables/spinach.html i have never heard of Malabar spinach... does any one have any favorite on-line catalogs they want to share here? mine are Nichols Garden--http://www.nicholsgardennursery.com/ Papa Geno's (lots of lavendar!) http://www.papagenos.com/ and Seeds of Change that also has a newsletter, and food products http://www.seedsofchange.com/ then there are the heritage and heirloom seed companies and groups http://www.seeds.ca/ http://www.saltspringseeds.com/ (cannot ship sees to U.S.) http://www.yankeegardener.com/ http://www.yankeegardener.com/heritage_heirloom.html oh oh maybe i should not have started this like offering a drink to an alcoholic??!! of course there is Burpee, Henry Fields, Jackson-Perkins, Roses, Bulbs, fruit trees, and many other catalogs which must be piling up but if any of you have a web site that you like for seeds and plants, please post here! it is 12 steps from the kitchen counter/sink area to the compost bucket....the first step is to realize you are powerless over the gardening bug... |
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12 Dec 05 - 01:50 PM (#1625736) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: bobad The seed supplier we have been using exclusively for many years and have never had any disappointments with is William Dam Seeds. |
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12 Dec 05 - 02:05 PM (#1625751) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: open mike unfortunately THEY also now say: *** Due to new US import regulations we are unable to ship to the USA *** that may pose problems... is this because of mad cow disease? |
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12 Dec 05 - 02:14 PM (#1625760) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: open mike www.burpee.com/ www.seedman.com/ www.johnnyseeds.com/ www.parkseed.com/ www.henryfields.com/ www.stokeseeds.com/ seedrack.com/ www.organicseed.com/ www.thompson-morgan.com does anyone have a source for the tomato variey called Mortgage Lifter? or Tennesee Bradley? |
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12 Dec 05 - 02:25 PM (#1625769) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Stilly River Sage I love Swiss Chard! It's great in a lot of recipes, and I also like it steamed with a little vinegar. That rainbow one looks marvelous. And it tastes okay? No, not Mad Cow Disease. Mad Administration (Mad as in, "delusional"). SRS |
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12 Dec 05 - 02:55 PM (#1625781) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie Maggie, I confess I don't like swiss chard so don't grow it, but my friends who do say the rainbow chard is every bit as tasty as the white stemmed varieties. Re: catalogs, I probably order from Johnnys more than any other place, then Seeds of Change (all their seed is organic, but selection is limited.) Flower seed I get from amywhere I can find what I'm looking for. Johnny has a great selection of cut flower seed, but for common annuals I am just as likely to use Park or Burpee as any other. I don't grow a lot of annuals, though, and tend to stick with those that easily self-sow. I have enough perennial gardening buddies to swap plants with that I rarely buy potted perennials anymore. If I'm buying seedlings I try to shop at the local farmers market or at one of several locally owned nurseries and garden centers. From my years as a cut flower grower, I have a couple of people who will start anything I want them to from seed, and grow it on until I'm ready for it. The Wayside Gardens and White Flower Farm catalogs are a delight to browse, but I only buy from them when they threaten to stop sending the catalog. If you like dahlias, check out Swan Island Dahlias. Great and large selection and good info in catalog. On the web I think they are just dahlias.com. Speaking of dahlias, Mine are all coming out *sob*. I love them. More than that, I ADORE them. But they take as much work as hybrid roses (maybe more) to be at their best. Some of them I dug up and gave away last year. I kept 20 or 30 of them. This spring I'll bit the bullet and dig up the rest(eyes tearing, voice trembling, hands shaking in horror.) Janie |
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12 Dec 05 - 03:18 PM (#1625798) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: open mike any news about http://www.earlmay.com i heard they were closing? they had 50 shops... i have used Dahlias as dye plant...esp. the big red dinner plate varieties... sorry you are giving up on them...what will you replace them with? i did not find them work at all except to protect them from gophers.. |
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12 Dec 05 - 03:35 PM (#1625813) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Cats Ok, I own up. I've got a greenhouse for Christmas... and I've already been out and bought loads of seeds for my borders. |
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12 Dec 05 - 03:47 PM (#1625824) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie Where the biggest dahlia bed is now, I planted a very late blooming perennial sunflower 2 years ago and I will let it take over the entire bed. I've never been able to key it out. It blooms in October here and grows 6 to 10 feet in height. Early-spring, that bed already has daffodils and tulips. Midspring Cerise Queen yarrow is scattered through it, and tuberoses in summer. I will probably also go scatter some opium poppy seeds to bloom in May. The sunflower does not really start growing up until late spring and the other stuff should do well enough around and under it. I'm not real sure what I'll do in other places. I'm moving more and more toward natives and plants that naturalize easily. Maybe it is just because I have so many of the dahlias, but the rest of the garden was being neglected as I tried to keep up with deadheading. I have big cages around them that I built, but they get so big that they still needed additional staking, and/or many would topple the cages during high wind. In general, I found the selections I grew exceeded their expected height by 1 1/2 -2/12 feet. They also require supplemental watering here, and I am trying to move away from having to routinely irrigate. If I can legally ship dahlias to California and you want any of mine you can have divisions. (same offer to the rest of my fellow "12-steppers" of the garden. Let me feed your addiction!) I've got photos of all of them, or can direct you to photos of them on the Swan Island website. Janie |
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12 Dec 05 - 03:48 PM (#1625826) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie You got a greenhouse!!!???? Janie, green with envy. |
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12 Dec 05 - 04:13 PM (#1625844) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: open mike and it isn't even christmas yet... you must have opened your prezzie early! shame on you... yes i would love to give a home to dahlias.. they do well here..no need to dig in winter (hopefully) at least in my former garden I was a bit higher elevation...here the frost settles...do you think that mulching will be sufficient in this zone..let's see what zone am i? checking on this... |
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12 Dec 05 - 04:31 PM (#1625860) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Stilly River Sage I saw a really cute and functional greenhouse for sale at a tool outlet store in the U.S. called Harbor Freight. I don't know how broadly their stores are distributed, but I found a nice little model of it yesterday when I was looking for some storage bins. This structure is a bit too small (not tall or wide enough) but it is along the right lines. A friend of mine has a big plastic one they bought at Sam's Club many years ago and it is really quite durable and well designed. It looks very elegant out in their back yard. SRS |
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12 Dec 05 - 04:44 PM (#1625877) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie OK dahlia lovers. Assuming they all overwinter, you can go to www.dahlias.com (or dahlia.com) and look up the varieties I've listed below. PM me with your list if you want some of them. First come First served. I also have a few more that are not in the Swan Island catalog. Dahlia divisions are heavy so I may ask you to help me with postage. I will probably dig them mid April and won't know how many divisions I will have of each until then. Gitt's Perfection, Oregon Reign, Banana Rama, Bold Accent, Chilson's Pride, Gitt's Attention, Herbert Smith, Lady Liberty, Nadine Jessie, smarty Pants, Snow Flake, Ted's Choice, Victoria Ann, Voodoo, Jennifer's Wedding, Miss Delilah and Who dun It. Love, Janie |
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12 Dec 05 - 05:01 PM (#1625894) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Cats Yes I got a greenhouse. We moved into a 400 year old house just over a year ago and the garden had been under sheets of black plastic for over 4 years. In the last year we have brought it back to life and I decided that for my pressie I wanted my partner, father out law and brother to buy me a greenhouse. I ordered it last week and it arrived yesterday. It's a 4 x 6 lean to variety, and will fix against my woodshed, but after Christmas we have to level the area out and start putting it together... anyone know any greenhouse putting together shanties? I have a very good farmer neighbour who brings me as much well rotted manure as I want, he brought me a tractor load when we first started on the garden and two more sacks last week for my rhubarb crowns. I know, most people put custard on their rhubarb...... |
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14 Dec 05 - 11:07 AM (#1627196) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie Oh Boy! Two more catalogs and Horticulture Magazine came yesterday. The wholesale catalogs that started coming in early December are interesting, but the retail catalogs are so full of pictures and so much fun--really can get led astray easily with them. Every year I think "This is the year when I will really be successful with lisianthus from seed." Hah! Catalogs like Johnny's give really good information about what is easy and what is not to grow from seed, and excellent culture info. Park and Burpee, while they offer a lot of variety, don't give you a clue. Janie |
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14 Dec 05 - 02:21 PM (#1627335) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catologs comin' in the Mailbox From: ard mhacha What is all this rubbish about a drought, come to to Ireland lovely damp soil, you can grow anything, the nearest thing we have to a dought is when the local Clubs run out of drink. |
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14 Dec 05 - 06:34 PM (#1627514) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie Hey am. I'm all green too--with envy! Janie |
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14 Dec 05 - 07:20 PM (#1627559) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: LilyFestre You got Johnny's already? *POUT* That's one of my favorites...I'll trade you a Johnny's for a Totally Tomatoes...*GRIN* I can't wait for more seed catalogs to start arriving and then of course you have to keep track of who is offering what deal...some will give you $20.00 worth of your pick of see when you spend $20.00....but then some offer free shipping, others offer other free stuff....oye......decisions decisions!!! :) Michelle PS. Even if you don't want any dahlias, you should check out www.dahlias.com....the photos of the flowers are beautiful!!! :) |
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01 Jan 06 - 04:15 PM (#1638963) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: LilyFestre Another favorite has arrived: R.H. Shumway....it's not so much in what they have to offer as the design of the actual catalog. Most of the catalog is made up of drawings that have the coloration and style of drawings found in magazines of the 1940's era. I LOVE THAT! Call them and get one for yourself...they are free and truly beautiful to look at! 1-800-342-9461 Or, sign up for a catalog on their website (which is nice but definately NOT the same as looking through this oversized catalog). RH Shumway's Garden Guide Enjoy! Michelle |
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01 Jan 06 - 07:25 PM (#1639088) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: Kaleea Turns out I was out of town earlier & longer than I had anticipated due to my father being ill. I gave away the Poinsettia, and the kitty cat went to an "auntie" for a few weeks. She gained about 3-4 pounds! I didn't get the opportunity to look at or send off for seed/bulb catalogs, but things got a bit dicey when a relative asked me to help her figure out what was wrong with her plants. We went to her "sunroom" which was filled with plants. An entire roomFULL of plants! They were potbound, needed new soil & fertilizer, different light, pruning . . . I very nearly succombed to the old evil. She had plant catalogs & gardening magazines on the coffeetable in her living room. I saw them. It was scary. After I finished helping her, I had to leave & go cold turkey! Then, I drove back to Southern CA. I was ok till I saw the cacti. I could get into serious trouble with the Giant Saguaro. I just love "The Old Man of the Desert!" When I lived in Phoenix, people were always bringing fresh oranges & lemons & limes to the office cause they had so much on their trees--their own trees in their yards! Oops. I gotta quit thinking about it all. I need a meeting! |
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01 Jan 06 - 07:28 PM (#1639092) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie Usually I celebrate New Year's Day planting spring bulbs. I didn't order any bulbs this year, but have spent the last two days in the garden. Don't know if I am late with fall clean-up or early with spring clean-up--but it sure has been a grand two days. It also really brought home the need to significantly downsize. The Bermuda grass has seriously invaded two large beds, and has got a really strong foothold in another two. The last couple of years I haven't had the money to buy mulch, and heavy mulch is the only way to keep the B-grass in check. (It takes two dumptrucks of mulch to cover all the beds.) There are larkspur and ammi seedlings coming up all over the place, and here and there poppies are beginning to sprout. My earliest daffodils and species tulips are peaking through the dirt and the reticulated iris leaves are up. Should have blooms in about a month. For Christmas, Mom got me an Earthway seeder. I was hoping the ground would be dry enough by tomorrow to try it out with lettuce and kale, but it is supposed to start raining tonight. So tomorrow I get to cozy in with the catologs again! Happy New Year! 2006 is the year when the rain and sun and temperatures will occur just right so that we all have splendid gardens! Janie |
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18 Feb 12 - 04:24 PM (#3310673) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: Stilly River Sage Tell me what some of your favorite current seed sources are for ordering online? And what kinds of things are you planning to grow this year. SRS |
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18 Feb 12 - 05:09 PM (#3310695) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: maeve Fedco Seeds and Johnny's Select Seeds are our two Maine favorites; other excellent North American companies are listed in this article in Mother Earth News: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2007-11-01/Best-Garden-Seed-Companies.aspx I'm also tempted by: http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/ & http://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/ |
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19 Feb 12 - 01:47 AM (#3310853) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: Stilly River Sage Are you testing your USDA zone boundaries? What are you planning to put in this year - and is any of it new? I know you're so far north that it may not contribute to the choices I make here, but it's an interesting process, deciding what is going to be on the dinner table several months from now. :) SRS |
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19 Feb 12 - 09:14 AM (#3310954) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: Janie What a pleasure to read through this thread again. Thanks for digging it out, Maggie. It brings home how much my life has changed over the past 7 years. |
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20 Feb 12 - 02:37 AM (#3311135) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: Stilly River Sage Janie, I hope it isn't torture, that this serves as a reminder why you need to have the knee heal properly and soon, so you can get back to the garden! SRS |
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20 Feb 12 - 09:49 AM (#3311241) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: Nigel Parsons "There's seed catalogues comin' in the mailbox" Hold -on Phil Collins anyone? |
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20 Feb 12 - 05:47 PM (#3311377) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: Stilly River Sage I put potatoes in yesterday, and have more to plant, but those are from existing potatoes. I'd like to get seeds for some simple things, like my favorite variety of tomato (Super Fantastic) and start my own. I have simple needs as a gardener. :) SRS |
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20 Feb 12 - 09:52 PM (#3311430) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: MAG anyone else just love "Harvest Time" by Stefanie Davis? captures this perfevtly 47 boxes just sign right here looks like someone's gonna have 'em quite a garden this year" i used to get a ton, but have discontinued them until I cab put in more raised beds -- or cut the trees down -- Portlanders wpild pocket me == |
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21 Feb 12 - 12:04 AM (#3311452) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: Stilly River Sage I dug another section of the garden this evening, but I'm still not doing seeds, I'm doing potatoes. I'll put them in tomorrow. This is chatter, mostly just to run it back up to the top, see if we can snag any more gardeners in the net. SRS |
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21 Feb 12 - 04:03 AM (#3311506) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: Nigel Parsons Okay, Just to refresh the thread once again: What's large, round, and has holes in the bottom? ... ... It's a Riddle |
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21 Feb 12 - 10:32 AM (#3311628) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: Stilly River Sage There wouldn't be much of my garden left if I used one of those, but it is lovely to look at! SRS |
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21 Feb 12 - 02:51 PM (#3311674) Subject: RE: BS: Seed Catalogs comin' in the Mailbox From: gnu Thanks! I have two sets of sieves for doing gravel grain gradation analysis that I shall never use again. I'll pull out the approriate sizes and sell the rest for the brass. |