I started composing this thread on Wednesday afternoon, details to follow!
I know I'm not the only one who's garden was cooked by the wrath of old man winter!
Most of my neighbors are aghast at my dead twigs still looming.
There is a method to my madness!
So many annuals planted that my cooler weather friends say resow for them.
I'm giving those a chance to sprout and I'll do a further pulling after I can identify them.
Most of my overgrown Durantas are coming back from roots. Just need to prune old trunks with a saw. They will look much neater.
My Crepe Myrtles are finally leafing out and that pretty lace leaf Japanese Maple is leafing too.
At least one Brug is returning and a wonderful fellow sent me 11 more cuttings, now all rooted.
I also have these coming to fill in the bare spots;
360 geraniums,
70 Raggedy Ann Copper Leaf,
210 Impatiens all from e-bay
29 varieties of ten each cuttings from NCF ten person group buy.
39 different coleus from the Gebhart Co-op.
I am taking it slow and easy. Knowing where all the plants are established I have determined I have to do all the clean up work in garden beds my self.
This is great for my health, great for my garden and great for my pocket book.
Sidney

AAuuugggghhhhh! That's my primal scream!

I decided I would very carefully clean out my front beds by hand because I knew where bulbs were planted. As I was gently raking the leaves I was discovering new plants coming up every few feet.
A fellow pulls up and brings me his yard care card. He says he will bag all of my weeds and mow my yard front and back and we negotiated a price of $125. My yard is small and I often have 100s of plants crammed in.
I proceeded to show him several plants and explain I wanted to rake myself as I didn't want to lose my beautiful little Chinese Peony Tree, my budding Amaryllis, and my Stargazer lilies.
Well I was going to town raking the leaves out of that front bed. He said why don't you let me blow those leaves out? It was hot and they were deep, so I said ok. Well I heard him out there "blowing".
When I went out they were roughly raking out what was LEFT of the leaves, AND My beautiful little Chinese Peony Tree stub, my budless Amaryllis, and remains of my Stargazer lilies. He had weed whacked my whole front flower bed!
I have been experiencing a very bad bought of Turrets Syndrome ever since!
The heavy layer of Live Oak leaves were excellent mulch. The only thing left growing were the Black Berries. It's now easy to find and pull those.
I was going to grow my little new plants out in the back yard. Now I'll put a layer of newspaper, some mulch, trays and plant trays in the front bed. That will do until I jump them up to the next larger pots.
I have very shallow trays to put contractor flats in. I put my sprinkler on "New It runs for two or three minutes every 3 hours.
What they don't absorb, evaporates. I will turn that spray off at night.
I have been "Ashley-ed again!
Sidney

Never let a man alone to do anything! They are not trustworthy!!! And can not follow directions. IMHO

Hap

OH So sorry.

Maybe I need to send my yard guy to you. My yard is much bigger than yours and he only charges my 50 dollars and he does listen to what I want left allow.

Sandy

I just prefer to do it myself and save myself the anguish (and the murder trial).

Wish I could do it my self the mind is willing but the body has gone on strike..

Happy, remember when Ashley dug up my whole garden and put all my plants in straight little lines while I was in D.C. in January 2005?
Sandy
The kicker to this is the fellow had a blind helper and a 5yr old was out there helping also. That's a HUGE no-no to me.
He said I would be hearing from his attorney!
Please have your attorney call me!
I should not have paid him anything!
I was in a state of shock and dumbstruck! to
I have put in about 12 hrs outside while it's been cool.
I now need to get some weed blocker out there while dirt is clean.
I wonder who takes the newspaper here in Jax.
Sandy I do need a good yardman here. Give me a call.
I'm good until around May 1st.
I have learned over the years that deciding how to get-over losses like this is to say to myself "It's the best thing that could happen!" every time it crosses my mind.
Intent is very powerful!
Sidney

Oh, Sugar, I sure do. You were fit-to-be-tied!

So far no one has pushed my C-button.
Mess with my coleus!
Those are fighting words!

Sugar,

You mentioned putting in 70 Raggedy Anns? I have one and it's about 20' tall. Sure you want 70?

I'm not putting all of those here. I lost 4 different Copperleafs.
I still need the one that has pink rick-rack around the ruffled olive green leaves.
Most years these don't even loose their leaves
I did take one to Betty's greenhouse in NC. It had leaves shaped like feathers.
I believe Betty kept it close to not frozen. My least favorite.
I would appreciate any tips on bringing out the pinks and corals in Raggedy Ann's.
I have been pulling ferns for the last couple of days. Azaleas are through so am pruning those too.
We will grow some of all of these out to sell in North Carolina
Hal's going to help me do a hoop house next fall and I'll overwinter coleus there.
Sidney

Sidney cmail you the number for his wife, I will let her know tomorrow that you may call. He is unable to drive as he has E(can not spell the dumb word) seizures. But he is a good worker. I had him pot up an number of plants for me and to weed some flower beds. I am paying him to help build a patio of stepping stones.

Sandy

Great, I call you tomorrow too.

What are Raggedy Ann? Please explain....they sound interesting and I don't want to be the only one outside the circle of knowledge...

Sugar,

4/10 @ 12:24 you posted:

70 Raggedy Ann Copper Leaf,

That is what I was referring to.

Hugs

Yes mam, that's it.
Monchi, These are similar to the ones I won.
http://cgi.ebay.com/50-ACALYPH....
Flowers are fleeting, foliage is less so!
I will keep a few for myself and some will go to RUs.
Sidney

Go Girl!!

Here is a little corner of spring, and please notice the Irises growing from the tub...I'm so proud of them! Never had so many and new blossoms every day. Could it be that some plants enjoyed the cold weather? This area is part of my herb garden and the herbs all need to be cut before they go to seed! Very early this year. Still have paper bags filled with last years herbs, waiting to be ' processed'. I think I will rub them oof their stems and fill baggies with Oregano, Thyme, Marjoram etcc..and give them as presents
not to mention my monster Rosemary

The bare trunks all have new growth and will cover the holes in the picture with their new leaves.
Here is my funny-fuzzy Kangaroo paw

Yes Mam! on your cold stratification for Irises. Hosta's are the same way.
I am watching for a big refrigerator to give some of mine 30 nights of below 30º.
I would pot my Iris and chill those tubers probably the coldest possible that I could for a week or so.
Sidney