Rick, could you root a cutting from the ficus and start a new plant from the old one. You could name it Little Larry and you would still keep the ficus going (in a way).

If you like where it is inside, it wouldn't have to do the seasonal in/out dance. I didn't put mine outside last summer, and it's fine.

The last time I trimmed mine (over a year ago!), I put a couple of cuttings in a glass of water and they rooted. They are still in water! I should take pity on them and stick them in potting soil. Just saying that a cutting might root more easily and be tougher than you'd think.

Good for you, getting those flower boxes filled! Back patio sounds like a nice place for a cold drink & warm memories after a long day at work.

Rick, I am thinking of you often, I know there will be many rough times still, but glad you are here with us who care about you

I never tried rooting a piece. I guess I figures since it was a tree, it wouldn't root too easily, if at all. Sounds like a plan. Anyone have any idea how long it takes a ficus to throw roots?

I think it took my tip cuttings more than a month, but they kept their leaves meanwhile, so I just kept them in the water. I started with half a dozen and kept the two that struck roots. Rooting in moist mix might be better, or try both.

Meanwhile, try keeping it inside this summer. And when you get a start or two going, maybe you can find a strong young member of your/Larry's family to adopt the huge one.

I agree with Jill. Just keep the tree in the house, if you want to keep it. I also think if you keep it in the house,, it will grow slower.----Like Sally and I am sure the other members of the club also think a lot about you. I am so glad that you decided to come to the swap---As you know, ficus trees can grow very large and very very old.

The staff at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase are planning a Celebration of Life ceremony on Friday, June 28, 2019 from 10:00 to 11:30. That's all of the details that I have at this point. If anyone is interested in attending, please send me your postal address via tree mail. They want to send out invitations.

I took the rhododendron down to 4-H yesterday. It will be planted today or tomorrow. The area where it's going is a long bed at the cafeteria building entrance that's about 8'w x 30-40' long.

They had to remove a small tree that was on it's last legs that was about 1/3 along the bed. They were going to put the rhodie on the end, but I suggested that they put it where the tree came out. Not only will it give the rhodie room to grow, the hole was already dug!

Their plan is to pretty much clear the entire bed and put a few somethings in there. They're definitely not gardeners! They're meeting today to discuss the ceremony at the end of the month. I've asked if they would be willing to let us come in and do the whole bed. I told them that we could provide variety in color, texture, heights, etc with year-round interest. Let's see what they say on that. If they go for it, I'm thinking that Sunday, 23-Jun would be the day to do it.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Is there anything in the bed now that's worth saving? Does it get full sun, part shade, ?

What do you want to use for a "repeated element" to tie it together -- rhodis/azaleas? grasses?

I should be available that Sunday. One thing I know I have is LOTS of yellow & white dwarf iris, but I don't know if that will be appropriate to the overall scheme. Oh, and I have a red-flowering azalea that I bought because it was on clearance shelf LOL and then realized I don't really have a good spot for it. I think it's a 2 gallon pot, maybe 18" tall/wide.

The 4-H symbol is green -- is there another color to keep in mind? What's Larry's favorite color?

With all the work he's done with 4-H, it would be neat to have a "memorial garden" there. Are they willing to keep it up with regular weeding and mulching? Are they willing to contribute whatever $ they were going to spend on "a few somethings" or at least buy mulch?

If the soil is pretty good, we might consider using longer-lasting mini pine bark nuggets instead of shredded mulch. (If the soil needs improving, then shredded mulch gets worked into the soil every year by the worms as it breaks down.)

If we're putting in shrubs and perennials (some grasses for texture, maybe), we're talking about leaving a lot of empty space for them to grow and mature. We may want some annuals and/or a few big containers to provide more color and interest. Big containers would add height variation that would be lacking until shrubs mature... I have a resin whisky-barrel (half barrel) container available.

I can also offer a bright yellow gaillardia and a matching yellow achillea... also from clearance shelf, should look fine if I up-pot them (big plants and currently cramped in their gallon pots). Would need 1 more bright yellow thing, maybe somebody has an extra yellow ox-eye (Heliopsis helianthoides v. scabra). I'm big on doing things in odd numbers.

When I was there yesterday, they were talking about removing most everything. There's a small tree that's probably coming out, and small azalea that no one know the color of.

I'm thinking rhodies and azaleas as an anchor. I also mention fern. The area is what I would call dappled shade, and the soil looked fairly decent.

Larry's favorite colors were ?. While I like the darker jewel tones, he went more for the bright colors.

Yes, 4-H colors are green and white. Yellow/gold are a recurring theme. That's why I was asking for prices on some viridiflora tulips.

I was also thinking of winter aconite, chionodoxa and daffodils as they multiply fairly quickly.

I'm hoping to go down in the next few days to measure and take pictures of the area.

THANKS!

You can have all the daffodils you care to dig up from my place! Most are still in leaf (green) and will have dried leaves showing likely into July. I have several beds that aren't blooming well any longer because they are so crowded. That does mean little bulbs that may not bloom next year but will put on a great show the following year. Dig a clump, put half back (or less, once you space them out), and take the rest. Front garden is all yellow & white, other areas might have some orange as well... designated areas for butterfly (split corona) daffs and double daffs, although tags are long lost. Can probably figure out where the Carlton daffs are, as well as Thalia. Since daff clumps are between perennials, should be possible to dig in fall, also, although easier when you have leaves to mark the clumps.

Terri and I could likely be persuaded to run up to PA again, although my schedule is a little tight this month with appointments for Jim's folks.

We can call ahead and see how Black Creek is fixed for ferns & hellebores. Ferns there are $5-7 for big pots, and Hellebores are like $12. (Terri knows exact $'s since she keeps good records now & I do not) A couple of Hellebores would be nice for winter / early spring interest.

I can divide some hostas if wanted, but I know you have a pretty good collection also. Most of my variegated ones are not gold and green. Do you want some of those lancefolia back? They have been well cared for, just not planted yet!

Conestoga nearby is great for trees & shrubs, so you could see if they had what you want for rhodo's or azaleas. I'm of 2 minds about reblooming azaleas... nice to have the extra color, but I'm so used to them only in spring that they look weird to me!

Do you want a kaleidescope abelia? It's a little lopsided but will grow out of it (what do you want for $1). It's not in the ground yet. There's some nice yellow in its foliage. If the red tip photinia actually re-leafs without fungus (we'll know before 6/22), I'll donate it also (another rescue)... it's fast growing and is supposed to get up to 12'x12', much too big, but I think it can be pruned easily.

How about daylilies? I can keep an eye out for Happy Returns (my favorite reblooming lemon-yellow).

This is a good time of year to hit sales at Lowe's, WM, etc., once you have an idea of what we should look for.

Oh, and I just remembered... I rooted a couple dozen Montauk Daisy cuttings this spring. They are in a windowbox planter, might need to be up-potted at least into 4" pots before setting out, but they are really tough. If you put them in clumps of 3, they'd probably do fine.

Summing up...

Daffodils available, u-dig

Kaleidoscope Abelia -- do you want it?

Yellow Achillea, yellow Gaillardia -- yes or no?

Moutauk Daisies, yes or no?

Hosta lancefolia or other varieties?

Red Azalea?

'Happy Returns' Daylily?

Do you want the half-barrel planter? I have 2 other tan planters that I got at Costco for $40 each. Joyanna and I are getting good at painting containers...

Should Terri & I try to work in a run to Black Creek & Conestoga?

Having been involved with redoing library landscape last year and this, I'm wondering if it might be best to see if they can get some good ol farm boy labor to rip out stuff and get down a good mulch layer. Then plant in fall- not now before heat of summer. Can you commit to water it?

Daffodils are dandy- but best with something coming on after to hide the old leaves

Daffodils and hosta are a great combination! I'd never really thought of that until I gave a talk to the Pittsburgh "Daffodil and Hosta Society." What an unusual combo, I thought, until the person who invited me explained. Hosta leaves are big enough to poke up through the collapsing daffodil leaves, too... unlike some of the perennials I have to hunt for as they emerge each spring!

Sally, that's a good idea about planting in fall... I know Rick was thinking of having something in place for the memorial celebration, but maybe we could do a planting around the new rhododendron in the center of the bed (hope there's a plan to keep that watered!) and then plant the rest in fall. That would give us some time to propagate plants, too (by fall, I'd have Montauk Daisies in gallon pots).

I, too, was hoping they could provide labor for ripping out old stuff and mulching, maybe even for putting in new plants & shrubs (especially shrubs... I do OK with perennials, but those bigger holes for shrubs just about wipe me out).

Whether we planted now or in fall, I was going to suggest running some soaker hoses (cheaper than drip) down the bed with a quick-connect on the end to make watering easy. I don't know how or if they water their other beds, but even "xeriscaping" plants need water the first couple of years. Well, except last summer. But let's hope it's not quite that wet this year.

Rick, I can contribute the following plants that will do well in some shade. You can decide if you want to use them:

1. Japanese Painted Ferns - they are in small pots and can be planted at any time.
2. Brunneras - 'Jack Frost' and the type with solid green leaves
3. Lots of Corydalis lutea. They are now a lot bigger than the babies that I potted up for you before the swap.
4. Lots of Carex - it looks like the 'evergold', but I am not sure exactly what variety it is. I have enough for a border of a small garden bed.

I also have hostas and Japanese Anemones, but it is probably the wrong time of the year to dig them now. They will be available if we do autumn planting as suggested by Sally.

Thanks all for your thoughts and suggestions. The more I thought about it last night, I agree that fall planting would be better. They are taking care of the removal of stuff, and they are planning to mulch the week of the celebration to make sure it looks fresh.

One of the first questions on the rhodie was "How often does it need water?" I had printed the information from the web site and tucked in amongst the branches, so I was ready for them!

As far as hiding the 'has beens', daffs are GREAT when mixed with hosta and fern. The same with bleeding heart, hyacinth and tulips. As the foliage from the bulbs is dying down, the hosta and fern come up to hide the old foliage. We use the technique in several areas of the yard.

Should we try to do a mini-bed around the rhodi? Would that complicate the watering?

Abelia (or the other azalea that's there) & Azalea (red) would make a trio with the Rhodo, ferns, Corydalis lutea, Brunnera, Hosta lancifolia, caryx & SDB iris (could do a curved border to define this small area)... If the container I mentioned works for you, that could go in with some bright annuals.

For the rest of the bed, fall planting definitely sounds better, especially since it would be easy to plant daffodils all around then. See if they'll give you some $ for bulbs or shrubs? I think a lot of the rest we can collectively supply from divisions.

Actually, I could supply a ton of daffs if we can do a dig (my digging is just very very limited these days). Put enough back in the hole, then split the rest between Larry's garden and the person digging. Some will be bigger than others, so you'll get some bloom next year and much more the following year.

I dunno what I was thinking with the gaillardia and achillea, both really need full sun. "Full sun" though is anything over 6 hours, not the all day that people tend to think.

The kaleidoscope abelia is listed by Monrovia as "part to full sun, " so that would work (you could also reject it on the spot if too scruffy). If we wait until fall, I'll stick it in somewhere where I can easily pull it up again. I'll put other potential "Larry plants" there too.

@RickM I checked the North Creek site and they won't have Autumn Fern 'Brilliance' until early April 2020. So, my Larry Brilliance volunteered to go live at 4H HDQS if you want. Problem is I can;t get him there (as far as Sallyg is current driving range)

I also have a 5gal 10 ft tall Willow Oak that needs a home where it can spread......

I'm 'seeing' a calm little island with a rhodie, some ferns and daffs and a bench and quite possibly a large rock......

Rick, is there room to make the bed wider at that "about halfway" point where you put in the rhododendron?

What do you think about getting together 6/23 to create a smaller planting in the center of that bed, then expanding and/or adding to it in fall?

Or would you rather put a marker by the rhododendron for now and take more time to plan things out for fall planting?

There's a granite marker, 12 x 8, that will go in front of the rhododendron. I'm hoping to get down there Sunday to measure. I haven't heard back from 4-H yet.

I still have Hosta, big leaves like the ones I brought last May, also small ones, both yellow and green. Frances Williams and the small ones I do not know the name. I cannot come to the ceremony though. I will be able to bring them in Fall. I also have Hellebores, just white and purple/marroon. I can share that too.