So what's wrong with tire shiners?
arkansas girl
14 years ago
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kalining
14 years agojohn_g
14 years agoRelated Discussions
So tired of perennials acting like annuals!!!
Comments (27)Hello cargobean, Looks like you have gotten a lot of responses. It must be that this is a topic that struck a chord for many people. Probably because we have all lost plants at one time or another. I have lost a lot of plants for one reason or another over the years. Just two years ago I lost the new Echinacea Harvest Moon, which I can't attribute it to any reason in my garden, but have heard too many reports about problems with the new echinaceas to blame it on anything else. Sounds like you have already arrived at some conclusions about what you want to do next. Already planning a compost bin, already trying to choose no fuss plants....going to try the evergreen boughs. I hope you will forgive me if I embroider the edges of what has already been said, if not for your sake, for the sake of others looking for similar information. On the subject of fertilizer... I use fertilizer in my containers only. I try to improve my soil instead. I was fortunate to learn gardening from someone who had already had enough experience and knowledge about growing plants that he had already worked out for himself to grow organically and to 'feed the soil' not the plants. I seem to remember his family had already been doing that before him too. He also had a masters in Physics. He had a great garden, so I just followed his lead. Since then everything I have read, or experienced has only validated that. The subject of Soil/Compost is not the most exciting topic and I have a tendency to gravitate to the Perennial and Shrub forums etc., but I do spend time over on the Soil forum too. A lot of very knowledgeable people over there at times. Like you, I also take the approach of using plants that can fend for themselves for the most part. It depends on how much I like a plant, how much trouble I will go to for it. For instance, I love delphiniums and they are not usually considered the easiest, 'fend for themselves' plant. You have to stake them for starters, which I try to limit. But if I can get them to grow well, everyone here really enjoys them, so that is the one plant I have chosen to make an exception to my usual approach. :-) I haven't fertilized those either though and they performed well last year. Keeping my fingers crossed for this year. I just wanted to say again, if it hasn't been clear from all the responses. Over the years, I have heard more reports of gaura not surviving the winter than it making it. I have the impression that it is notorious for not coming back in my neck of the woods. The Northeast is well known for having a clay soil on the acidic side for the most part. I did a google search of just your Petite Pink Gaura, as you asked if it could be mislabeled. Most references give it a zone 5 hardiness, but I did find two references that refer to it as a zone 6 hardy perennial. One of them being White Flower Farm. So, it would seem that not everyone is in agreement that it is zone 6. Here are the links... http://www.gardencrossings.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/1110/index.htm http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/29475-product.html Since the last time I posted, I was looking for some information on a variety of Shasta that I have and I did run across an article reporting that they too do not like the moisture over the winter. Where I have mine planted, is a mounded bed that slopes slightly, so the drainage may be ok there for them. You asked how you tell if something has made it. I have never put much store on scraping the stems to see if they are green. I only depend on new growth. I wait it out to see if there is new growth. How long do I wait? Well, that really depends. Lots of times it won't bother me to wait until mid to late June. If it is in a prominent place and I am afraid I am not going to get something else in that position to bloom in time to enjoy it, I might not wait that long and replace it. Of course, if the plant is really important to you, that changes things. You could always dig it out and pot it up and watch it longer if there is some doubt about whether it might come back and then plant the open space in the bed without waiting. Plants have surprised me so many times, after I was sure that they were dead, that I really like to give them a chance if I really like them and don't want to replace them. You mention that you want to fix what you might be doing wrong. Really it is not about doing what is wrong so much as that with gardening there seems to be always something more to learn...lol. I am still learning after 25 years of gardening. I discovered winter sowing on the Winter Sowing forum on GW just three years ago, after someone on another forum highly recommended it to me. Wow, that was an exciting learning experience! I had so much fun and I just wished I had known about it sooner. If you have a lot of reliable plants like those you listed but still find you want to try new plants every year, winter sowing is the way to go. It is not only fun, it is really easy, very inexpensive and you end up with a ton of plants every year. Best way to try new things without it costing you a bundle. PLus a lot of annuals can be done this way and save you even more money. I found that when I did this, it really doesn't bother me to lose something as much because I have so much and I can replace things so easily. I am not able to do as much as I like, but if you don't have any obstacles in the way of spending the time/energy doing it, then you would probably get even more out of it than I have. Hope you are enjoying this beautiful spring weather and that some of your plants surprise you with some new growth. :-) pm2...See MoreSo Tired of All the Mistakes - Not Loving my New Kitchen - HELP
Comments (24)The cabinets have a fair amount of variation, but having stained a fair amount of wood with a lot of preparation, I can tell you that sometimes that is in the wood you have chosen and difficult to compensate for. I don't know what you chose, what you were expecting or what you were told you could expect -- or whether the wood choice might be one that will deepen over time. Whatever it is, I see it, but it looks like wood variation and doesn't bother me in the photos. The main thing I'm seeing is the pendants. I love the fixtures. Seeing one was great, but I wondered what else was happening -- then I scrolled down and saw four. Even though I love the fixture itself, when looking at the kitchen as a whole, my eye keeps being pulled up to these white and lots of lines spots and it becomes very distracting. Maybe they can be dropped down a bit so you see them more against the cabinets and not the ceiling. Or maybe paint the ceiling? Or maybe it's not an issue in the room -- just something to think about. I think painting a color or paneling the back of the island might be a good idea. To me, the glass tile looks good. I thought is was the floor tile that was too close and yet not a match to the cabinets. Then I looked at just the cabinets and floor -- maybe Kayl is right -- it's the fact that you have cool tones in the glass tile and everything else is warm. I like that green glass, so I'd be hesitant to change it, especially before seeing how everything comes together. That's something you might be able to accessorize to help balance everything. Worst case, the splash is easier to change once everything is done than most elements. Keep in mind that my comments are looking for issues because you brought it up. My first reaction was not one of horror. You still have a kitchen most folks would be thrilled with. During installation, we look at every detail with a critical eye and not as we will when we are living in the room. Some of the things that look awful in the rough look great when it is all put together (often an issue with tile in progress). I'd have someone look at your concerns in person so you eliminate things like camera and monitor issues. Accessories, even light bulb changes, can help you pull the things you love together. Think of it as needing some finishing detailing -- not a lot of major mistakes....See Moreso tired of this remodel...contemp. cabinet dilemma and choice
Comments (10)Thank you for the responses! I so much appreciate it! I have been so worried about this house. It really helps to hear your words of encouragement, especially about this house and location. I really took your responses to heart. I met with the architect today. I shared with him what you all said. We decided that I will stay with ikea for now. The countertop deal is too good to pass up. We decided on the grey abstrakt cabinets with white silestone. The floors are mottled light grey/white concrete. What do you all think of the colors? Alternatively, I can do white/white or white cabs/grey counters. This will let me put money towards doing the things that are going to require my imminent attn., namely new double paned glass. The good news is that my father/stepmo. came into town last night. They have high expectations for homes/etc. They saw the house today. I was so nervous about what they might think. They loved it and totally saw my vision for it. Dianalo: Thank you for your feedback. You are right in that I need to be prudent in my choices for this house. Thank you for grounding me! I have been shopping cl a lot-so far, I got a viking double oven and a ge monogram fridge. I dont cook so cant justify spending a lot on appliances I wont use much. abundantblessings: Thank you! I guess I will stay with ikea now. As I dont cook, I think the ikea will hold up for years. I agree that custom is a better route than hb, but I do believe I will wait for the right time. oldhouse1: Your house sounds lovely. I would love to see pics of it as you progress through the remodel. It is good to hear that you also plan to use ikea. lolog72: Thank you for the links. Those are beautiful kitchens! They are a real inspiration. kathylquiltz: I am not certain, but I think Leona Helmsey's house is in Paradise Valley. This house is on the south side of Camelback mtn....See MoreI am so tired, but getting there
Comments (16)Thanks all. I had several hoursleft, but I was out of energy. Nancy, I have a big flat dish that I got from a garden on lie place and find it works better for me to drag the mulch in it...(.it has a rope attached and it scoots over the grass or my stepping stones) rather than using the wheel barrow.. I only pull one bag at the time though. Kate, we did not get wind but got about a half inch of much needed rain. It was funny. I was working on one half of the bed, totally dry and it was sprinkling on the other side of the bed. Surprised me. Nancy, those surprise lilies were here when we bought the house 20 years ago. Mantis, I wish I could wish the other beds done. kay...See Morearkansas girl
14 years agograndmamusicme
14 years agoearl53
14 years agogardurnit
14 years agorobia007_yahoo_com
13 years ago
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