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Apr 28, 2014 4:11 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
Thanks Elaine Thumbs up

Good Morning and everyone have a productive in what is going to be a cleary Very WARM week!
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Apr 28, 2014 5:38 AM CST
Name: Jean
Fleming Island, FL (Zone 9a)
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers
Thunbergia battiscombii, ...........................say that fast 5 times!!!!!

A bit warm - yes but looking for the promised rains every afternoon & Thur.

A few new additions followed me home over the weekend. A low growing Tibochina, to go at the base of the taller 1, 3 different coleus, and another blue flowering plant & the name escapes me just now. And 6 Caladium bulbs to add to the growing display under the palm tree.

Almost brought home a White Sky vine to go with the blue.

Weeding at my friend's again today so my new babies may not get in the ground till tomorrow. Stopping at harbor Freight for a long auger for my drill so I can get my trellis built.
Blessed are the Quilters for they are the Piecemakers.
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Apr 28, 2014 5:56 AM CST
Name: mj
Central Florida
Butterflies Region: Florida Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Garden Ideas: Level 2 Plant and/or Seed Trader
Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Jean, careful what you wish for with the Sky Vines. They eat trees and buildings when your not looking....never the less I love them too.

Here's a pic of the white one on our smaller horse barn last summer. It faces west, so made nice shade on the front of the stalls. Horses easily learn how to duck between the vines hanging down. Course I was concerned I might go out one day and find the vine had eaten them also. Hilarious!

God gave us wings. He just called them horses
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Apr 28, 2014 7:27 AM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
I agree
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Apr 28, 2014 8:18 AM CST
Name: mj
Central Florida
Butterflies Region: Florida Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Garden Ideas: Level 2 Plant and/or Seed Trader
Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Forgot to add, the White one doesn't bloom at a smaller size the the Blue one. It likes to get fairly big, then blooms more on the vines that hang down. Which is nice in one way if you have a nice big Arbor or other structure to plant it on and allow the vines to hang. We have one on a fence line along our riding arena. We let it go up a light pole and over to a sparse tree, BUT, if it tries to go any where else gets the chopping block.
God gave us wings. He just called them horses
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Apr 28, 2014 2:46 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
They handle chopping well and love that Picture MJ Smiling Thumbs up
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Apr 29, 2014 10:52 AM CST
Name: Jean
Fleming Island, FL (Zone 9a)
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers
I've been out digging holes all AM. Getting a bit "warm". Tara came by with some Ginger this AM so those are the next holes I need to dig. Think everyone else will go into pots & sat in the shade garden till I decide where the permanent home will be.

Looks like at least 1/2 of the Kings Mantle will make it.

Thrilled to see a bit of growth starting on my Butterfly Calendendrom & Coral Bean.
Blessed are the Quilters for they are the Piecemakers.
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Apr 29, 2014 1:09 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
Yes indeed Q!

We know we're off and running now as far as growth here in Florida, ....................................and (Oy vey . (-:} ) now Summer has its own challenges as we know. Well. We're a GROWIN'! Thumbs up Weeds too.......I'll try to selectively weed and keep the pretty ones! Smiling

You are fortunate to live close to Tara. Smiling
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Apr 29, 2014 1:24 PM CST
Name: Tara
NE. FL. (Zone 9a)
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener Garden Sages Birds Frogs and Toads Dragonflies
Butterflies Hummingbirder Orchids Container Gardener Garden Procrastinator Foliage Fan
I must admit, I kind of hated to give those Ginger away...They are beautiful, but they just don't do well in as much sun as my area is getting, and DH decided that I should do something else with this spot. Grumbling Whistling I'm thinking that his back, and my shovel should be introduced! Hilarious! Not his backside, mind you, (although that's a thought) but the back muscles! Hilarious!
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Apr 29, 2014 2:50 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
Hilarious! Hilarious! Hilarious!

We got out this morning & tackled the rest of the &%$#@* hedges the former owner planted alllllllllllllllllllll around the house. OY! It was coolish when we started but you know how quick it warms up here. I had to wear jeans as a goodly # of them are prickly holly hedges. By the time we were done they were so stuck to me (& they were very loose jeans) he had to pull them off from my feet. The job is done & no finesse but at least we aren't overgrown anymore. I would take them out in a second but the root systems are so strong & entrenched..... there's just no way we could handle that kind of job these days.

Already sore so you know what I'll (we'll) feel like tomorrow. Thumbs down
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Apr 29, 2014 3:14 PM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
I would still try to remove them because that battle will never end. Maybe just one at a time, or hire some strong backs to help?
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Apr 29, 2014 5:16 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
I know Hetty. I do have a concern though. Unlike down there, where slabs are flat on flat ground, up here it's a different story. We have real hills. The house is on a slope & the slab is what I, coming from down there, would term a modified stem wall footer. They call them stem slabs up here. The front is close to 5' high & the rear is level with ground. So they build a stem wall, dump dirt in it & compact it, then pour the slab over the whole. We have both sand & clay here. I have heard of foundation problems where the house starts sliding off a slope. I have a friend in Alabama who has had to have piers poured twice. The last time, they had to go right through her flooring inside & add some piers. It's expensive not to mention replacing the flooring & a messy job to have the piers poured inside the house.
There doesn't appear to be any problem like that here now & the house was built by one of the best builders in the area BUT...... you just never know. My concern is those roots have made their way under the foundation in the last 13 years the house has been here. I worry about disturbing things & making a problem. You know how roots can grow in even the hardest soil & when you remove something & the roots under the foundation decompose then they leave a void so to speak. That might allow the soil to shift. I don't really know. I just know that Murphy's Law lives in our attic & if we go messing around with what *is* then we might be setting ourselves up for a bigger problem than trimming hedges.
At any rate, they aren't going to be removed this year. We have so much on our to-do list that come first. When we get that stuff done, maybe I will get the builder out here & ask him what he thinks & even get some other professional opinions too.
I dislike hedges in the first place. Too structured for me. I like a much more casual & soft look. I would like native ornamental grasses, a bush or two, some small standard trees, & perennials, using as much native vegetation & xeri as possible. I also don't like that many of the hedges are invasive. Dwarf yaupon holly & nandina. They pop up everywhere in the plantings around the house & if you don't catch them small, they are a bear to pull out. The yaupon seems to crawl underground or if a stem gets covered with soil or mulch, it roots!
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Apr 29, 2014 6:31 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Get yourself into a hot bath with Epsom Salts, Ann. It will help a lot with your soreness tomorrow. Great for people as well as plants!
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Apr 29, 2014 6:47 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
I am a big fan of Epsom salts Elaine. Bath soak already done! Thumbs up
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Apr 30, 2014 5:36 AM CST
Name: Jean
Fleming Island, FL (Zone 9a)
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers
Speaking of overgrown hedges.................neighbors to the left have let the thorny vines overtake what were beautiful hedges. After 2 years of looking at that mess, I decided to them them a favor & clean the area up yesterday. I pulled & tugged & snipped those thorny vines for over an hour. I can now see the sad looking Azaleas & her cat can now sit & look out the window again.

Wondering how long it will take her to realize the mess has been cleared. Then wonder how!!!

I'm taking the next couple days off from yard work - well I may get a couple small coleus planted & move the pavers to make the back shade garden a bit larger !!!!! All that work would be in the shade so not too bad.
Blessed are the Quilters for they are the Piecemakers.
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Apr 30, 2014 4:14 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
You are clearly a fabulous neighbor to save Jean!

Just sell that house and buy the one for sale across from me and we'll grow old and garden together. Smiling
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The front entrance wildflower garden experiment is starting to bloom,.........and sooner or later the rest of the blooms will be following!. Thumbs up
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Thumb of 2014-04-30/DavidofDeLand/24d8bb
Thumb of 2014-04-30/DavidofDeLand/a3acf1
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Apr 30, 2014 6:36 PM CST
Name: mj
Central Florida
Butterflies Region: Florida Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Garden Ideas: Level 2 Plant and/or Seed Trader
Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
David,
What is that thing that looks like a Zebra Longwing Butterfly on Steroids in the 2nd Picture ?
God gave us wings. He just called them horses
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Apr 30, 2014 6:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
No.

Just a regular one. Smiling
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Apr 30, 2014 7:24 PM CST
Name: Jean
Fleming Island, FL (Zone 9a)
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers
WOW..................what would I do living across from David? Gardening Wars!!!!
Joking now that I'm going to start gardening in the empty lot across the street fm me. If only my hose would reach that far, I just might!!!!
Blessed are the Quilters for they are the Piecemakers.
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May 1, 2014 4:47 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
And if you did add on and it could reach,...it would be heck getting a kink back by your faucet! Hilarious!

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