So if you can look at these pictures and still say "I miss daffodils" which are not yet blooming in a lot of places up north well, I just don't know what to think.
Siloam Double Classic daylily, smells divine too!

@drdawg .... I'm sure I would enjoy your talk.
I went to a propagation class this morning; taught by our county agent (she headed our master gardener classes way back when). She is very knowledgeable, a good speaker and can be funny; so it was time well spent. There were a couple of things I had forgotten but will remember next time I plan on sowing seeds.

Elfie.

The Master Gardeners asked me (again) to consider teaching an orchid/tropical plant segment for the Master Gardener's certification, but I told them I simply did not have the time or the expertise for putting together such a program. I am not an "organized" speaker and don't have a clue how to use all the AV stuff out there.

Aw, c'mon Ken -- you can do it !

I am really enjoying my geraniums right now:

Had to go to Home Depot today -- and saw the most awful plants -- dyed succulents. I can only think that small children would be interested in getting something so colorful (call it gaudy) for Mum on Mother's Day ! What do you think ?

A very warm spring is visiting us.
White & Red caladiums - not in pots this time.




Berries on the Ti Plant

Now those are "colorful" succulents for sure, Elfie. Dyed flowers, even orchids, can be quite beautiful, but I am not sure I like those succulents.

Hate the intensely blue moth orchids, the spray-dyed flowers in flower arrangements (we see a lot of them in the hospital). I saw the spray-dyed succulents a few days ago and hated them even more.

They wouldn't keep doing it if they didn't sell, but why take beautiful flowers and plants and spray them to make them look fake?

For me it goes back to tropical fish. I don't mind the Glo-fish type fish, where the fluorescent pigment producing genes are spliced into the genetic makeup of the fish, and as such is inherited generation to generation. OK, that's a bit bizarre and created a lot of controversy. But I draw the line at dyed fish. I was in the tropical fish industry for a number of years, and had my own store for a while. I did sell the Glo-fish, but refused to carry the dyed fish even though they were quite popular.

I saw all that colored stuff at HD myself. I wasnt sold. It looks so, like you say guady, and fake.. I guess kids would be drawn to them and people who dont really 'do' plants, but think they are cool. I dont even like the dyed orchids, might as well get a silk flower. Of course I dont like those either unless they look real. The might be nice in a business lobby thats trying for a certain color. I do say go for it tho, Im all for capitalism, and if people buy them, bring it on.

One more thing...we had 100 chance of badly needed rain yesterday. We got ZIP. This is the third time in less that three weeks the weather man has been dead wrong. errr

I think it's all about the $ and making a sale, which is sad. I've seen a lot of Phalaenopsis orchids that are dyed deep blue and deep purple and many non-gardening/plant folks see them and think it's the true bloom color. When we bought our current home almost four years ago, our realtor knew that I loved plants and gifted me with a deep blue Phalaenopsis. Another friend (who is not into gardening or plants) raved at how beautiful that orchid was and that she'd never seen one with such vivid color ... she was shocked when I told her it was dyed and that the future blooms would be white.

.... don't get me started on the dyed chicks that are popular at Easter time.

If people want a plant with flowers that color, they should buy fake ones. They'd last longer, too.

Over on the Orchids forum, those dyed blue orchids are fondly known as the Ti-De-Bowl orchids because they look like they were dyed with toilet bowl cleaner.

Whatever, plant lovers won't buy those dyed plants, and there will always be people with bad taste who will, I guess. I try to make a loud comment about the dyed orchids whenever I see them at the stores . . . I'm not usually loud or rude but those things bring out the worst of my manners.

Pam, perhaps you will get some of the rain we are getting. We have a good chance for rain and thunderstorms every day this week.

It's been really dry here but we got probably an inch and a half of rain yesterday! We have more predicted for today and the sky is getting black and I think I heard thunder so hopefully we'll see some raindrops soon.

I was out in the yard pulling weeds this morning (bare handed) and I grabbed a handful of weeds that contained Stinging Nettle! Wow, they don't call that stuff Fireweed for nothing! I immediately came inside and made a thick paste of baking soda and water and applied it to my hands ... I've re-applied it off and on the past couple of hours and although the major burning sensation has ceased, there's still some stinging going on. For years I've been really bad about wearing gloves; I usually start out with them on but within a few minutes I'm bear handed again. I got some of those Nitrile Gloves in a co-op here on ATP last year and love them but was lazy this morning and didn't put them on!

*** Reminder to Self ....... WEAR YOUR GLOVES when weeding!

Thats so funny, well not really, but just today I made a note to self, as I saw the stinging nettles had the side of the road lit up in white flowers. I get some every year in the woodsy part of the yard.

The rain missed us yesterday, too. I'm hearing thunder now and I've got my fingers crossed! And if it makes anyone feel better, Stinging Nettles are a host plant for the Red Admiral butterfly. So at least they serve a useful purpose in nature.

mellielong said: And if it makes anyone feel better, Stinging Nettles are a host plant for the Red Admiral butterfly. So at least they serve a useful purpose in nature.

LOL, I figured they must serve some purpose but I didn't realize they were host plants for the Red Admiral. I haven't seen many B'flies around yet but when more arrive they won't find the stinging nettle in my yard.

Ooo, Lin that's too bad. May I suggest instead of the baking soda paste, try soaking your hands in hot water with the baking soda dissolved in it for 5 or 10 minutes? The hot water not only softens up the skin so the soda can penetrate, the heat will send a flush of white blood cells to the injured tissue and help to dissipate the irritant. This works great for bites and stings, too, and I am allergic to bee stings so I've used it often! Ice is the best for fire ant bites, though, if you can get it on there quickly.

I buy those nitrile gloves in a package of 6, and keep a pair near every door so that I have no excuse to go out without them. I've definitely hurt my hands and been stung or bitten too many times to forget those gloves. A week or two ago I grabbed something in a pile of weeds and a young black snake struck at my hand. Its teeth didn't penetrate the nitrile glove, thankfully and we both just got a surprise.

Elaine, I've actually been doing the hot water thing a few times today and it does help! At first I stuck my hand in cold water but it seemed to make the stinging worse and then I was washing the dogs dish in hot soapy water this afternoon and realized my hand didn't sting as much ... so hot water it is! I still have an odd tingling, needle-like feeling in my right hand but it's getting much better as the day goes on. I think this memory will stick with me for awhile and keep me wearing gloves whenever I'm doing chores in the garden.