I am going away for three weeks so am preparing the garden for that. I gave away a lot of potted plants, dahlias that I have split and have extra tubers of, and splitting other overgrown perennials. I hate throwing things away, so I like to find people who will take them. Was torn between whether to start my summer garden now and hope it will be OK, or wait until I come back in mid May, but by then, I would have lost precious growing time. So, I only put in two bell peppers, 2 egg plants, and 4 tomatoes. Put cantaloupe seeds in three spots, and put in some bush bean seeds. Keeping my figures crossed that all will be alive later.

Jennifer - good job in moving all those rocks yourself. I was lucky - when my neighbor decided to relandscape and get rid of his rocks, he carted them over across the street for me. Even placed the larger ones where I wanted, and I only had to deal with the smaller rocks. I was sooooooo grateful

Isn't it nice to get outside again? I got the second of my three biggest beds cleaned up, sprinklers set up in one bed, and an electric fence put up around one bed. Our new dog is a mole digger, and living in sand it didn't take her long to dig up 3 hostas with those big paws! She touched the fence once and now steers clear of it, so hopefully I won't find anymore plants dug up in that bed.

Rose

to those who joined us while I was sleeping!
I'm so glad people want to chat about what's going on outside!

chelle said:...most of the other stuff that I was really concerned about did just fine. ALL of my polemonium made it, which is absolutely amazing! I've never had any luck with them before now. Even the seed baby left to overwinter in a container is just fine.

Congratulations on THAT, Chelle. I feel the same way about my heuchera. I had a Plum Pudding that overwintered for me but everything else failed its first winter. They didn't ALL make it this year, but enough did (and the winter was harsh/long enough) to encourage me that they, at least, will be with me for awhile. Yay.

Oberon, even with all the rocks I hefted over the fence, I have used cinderblocks, too. I used them on the back border of my largest bed, where I can fill them up tall enough I won't really see them. HOPING to put a layer of rocks on top but don't know where to find enough or how to get them home....

Xer, you sent me to the database for Theobroma & Podranea! Let me know how you do with the theobroma - I'd like to grow my own, too!

Xeramtheum said:the North Charleston Plant Swap is in a couple of weeks so I'll be able to get rid of a lot of the excess.

That's a SWAP, you said. I betcha come home with more!

Cat said: the sale at Menards for the landscaping tembers will be over so, ran back to Menards to buy more top soil and 20 more landscape tembers (just in case) I decide I need more raised beds They were on sale for $.99 each, what can I say...

EXCELLENT score there!

Cat said: All in all I feel like it was a productive day! It was really nice out side and after the horrible long winter it was heaven hard work or not.

ABSOLUTELY!
Whatever got done or didn't get done pales in comparison to just being out there!

Lol .. actually I have amazing self control and only 'allow' myself to come home with no more than 4 new plants. It's a huge swap and it happens in Spring and Fall .. last Fall we had something like 200 people and over 3000 plants! Along with plants people also bring garden tools and pots. I tend to always come home with a lot of pots. Occasionally I'll grab a plant just because I like the pot it's in.

soilsandup said: I hate throwing things away, so I like to find people who will take them. Was torn between whether to start my summer garden now and hope it will be OK, or wait until I come back in mid May, but by then, I would have lost precious growing time. So, I only put in two bell peppers, 2 egg plants, and 4 tomatoes. Put cantaloupe seeds in three spots, and put in some bush bean seeds. Keeping my figures crossed that all will be alive later.

I can't STAND to let something die. I HAVE to help it. I swear it's as bad as finding an abandoned kitten. Glad you have folks to share with. I take mine to the flea market and sell for cheap.

Good compromise on the veg garden. I think that's what I would have done. If you lose anything you can restart it.

Have a good vacation!

Rose1656 said:electric fence put up around one bed. Our new dog is a mole digger, and living in sand it didn't take her long to dig up 3 hostas with those big paws! She touched the fence once and now steers clear of it, so hopefully I won't find anymore plants dug up in that bed.

What's your doggie's name, Rose? I like her yawning pic.
And Xer, who are those kitties in your avatar?
Action has died down over on my critter cubit - come over and tell me about them.
http://cubits.org/crittergarde...

Those are my Furbabies, Barney & Feif .. they are brother and sister.

I have 3.
"Little Guy", who's the largest and black.
Goldman, orange tabby male.
Cricket, a cowkitty girl who stopped growing at 6 1/2 pounds.
And a bunny named Leena.

crittergarden said: to those who joined us while I was sleeping!
I'm so glad people want to chat about what's going on outside!

great thread crittergarden ~ not much progress here in cleaning beds although I managed to weed a 2ft x 3ft space around the arbor looking for clematis. Found clematis multi - blue and it looks ok. The sweet autumn clematis seem ok too. Did a little more poking (and pulling) around the oriental poppies that are coming up.

My very best work is that I found a young man to come and do the heavy lifting 2 days a week! An adv. in the paper resulted in no takers and I was beginning to think it a lost cause. He starts tomorrow! YAY.

It was weirdly warm here the last two days (80!); rained today but tomorrow its back to a high in the mid 40's....gah

Waving at Rose - hi Neighbor!

Catherine

JerseyRidge!

jerseyridgearts said:great thread crittergarden. My very best work is that I found a young man to come and do the heavy lifting 2 days a week! An adv. in the paper resulted in no takers and I was beginning to think it a lost cause. He starts tomorrow! YAY.

Thanks - I'm really pleased people are responding!
Can I borrow your heavy lifter?

It's sputtering sprinkles out there at the moment - NOT on the forecast.
Hope it quits by the time I'm ready to step out there.

Hi Catherine!
It looks like all of the reason is going north of us, so enjoy! It's really getting dry here, so I would love to see some rain.

Critter,
Our dog is named Bella. She's our new rescue dog that we got in January. She's pretty good until she sees a squirrel! Then she's off and running!

Bella is bella!

My furbabies are rescues, too.
One came directly to me from the street.