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Feb 18, 2016 9:55 AM CST
Name: Lisa Olson
Washington DC (Zone 7a)
Ssg, I'd like a few parsley seedlings too. One week in the fridge and it turns to pond scum.
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Feb 18, 2016 5:41 PM CST
Thread OP
Silver Spring, MD (Zone 7a)
Butterflies Bulbs Container Gardener Hummingbirder Region: Mid-Atlantic Sedums
Vegetable Grower
Sure, you got it!

I'm at the point now where I don't want to buy fresh herbs at the supermarket, knowing how easily I could grow them. I should grow them indoors in the winter but I don't have enough space under the grow lights. And basil definitely does not do well indoors for me unless I have lights on them.
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Feb 22, 2016 3:13 PM CST
Name: Gita Veskimets
Baltimore or Nottingham MD-212 (Zone 7a)
Life is "mind over matter". If I d
SS--I thought parsley was perennial--at least mine came back the following year. I had both, curly and flat.
The flat one grow into a huge clump the following year. Right now--it is just a mess of dead leaves.
However--I can see signs of new growth at the base.

I usually p/u new pots of herbs either from Bonnies or at Chapel Hill Nursery.
"Richardson Farms" also has potted herbs--$2 a pot. It is not worth it for me to mess with
growing these from seeds. I do usually grow basil from seeds. Most places only sell the "Sweet basil"
but I like to grow the Italian, Thai, and the Lemon/Lime ones. Don't see those around--
even though "Bonnies Veggies" at HD had all 3 varieties last year. They are really diversifying.
More and more heirloom Tomatoes every year too.
Look for their sales (usually during Holiday weeks) of any 5" pot of veggies or herbs @ 4/$10.
Reg. price on these 5" pots is $3.58...or such.

Sure felt like spring today. It was so nice outside. Gita
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Feb 22, 2016 3:45 PM CST
Thread OP
Silver Spring, MD (Zone 7a)
Butterflies Bulbs Container Gardener Hummingbirder Region: Mid-Atlantic Sedums
Vegetable Grower
Gita, parsley is a biennial. It blooms the second year and then goes to seed and dies. But that's only if it doesn't get too cold during that first winter. Mine was doing really well this winter until it got around 5 degrees one night and then the whole thing turned to mush. Glare I prefer to grow cilantro from seed because they don't transplant well. And parsley is super easy to start from seed.

I LOVE basil, all different kinds. Lovey dubby Lovey dubby Lovey dubby I love their scent as I brush past them, and some varieties have really pretty flowers.

Gita, are you all better now?
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Feb 25, 2016 8:16 AM CST
Name: Gita Veskimets
Baltimore or Nottingham MD-212 (Zone 7a)
Life is "mind over matter". If I d
SS--"All better from what"???

Do you mean cruising ATP? Or--do you mean from a cold I had?
I took all kinds of "things" to make my last cold go away.
My sinuses are still junked up--especially in the mornings... Sighing!
Coughing seems to hang on too.
I tell you--that "Air Born" is fabulous! Talk to you all later. have to go get my hair cut.

Gita
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Feb 25, 2016 8:27 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Charter ATP Member Frogs and Toads Houseplants Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Region: United States of America Cat Lover Birds
ssg, I'll take parsley if you're so very kind enough to grow it awhile! I had three pots of seedlings started in October, under lights. They kept struggling, and look totally dried out from my week away. Maybe my well draining, tapla-ish soil mix was not right for the situation. Parsley in the ground here is a vole candy/crack. They love the roots.

I am loving cilantro and really hope to grow it this year. (for me not the B,B, and B)
Plant it and they will come.
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Feb 25, 2016 8:35 AM CST
Thread OP
Silver Spring, MD (Zone 7a)
Butterflies Bulbs Container Gardener Hummingbirder Region: Mid-Atlantic Sedums
Vegetable Grower
Gita, I was asking about the nasty cold that you had. Good to hear you're feeling better!

Sure thing, Sally! I also have cilantro growing from seed. That's all for me, as well, and not for birds, butterflies, and bees (that took way too long for me to figure out Big Grin ).
Last edited by ssgardener Feb 25, 2016 11:08 AM Icon for preview
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Feb 25, 2016 9:28 AM CST
Name: Terri
Lucketts, VA (Zone 7a)
Region: Mid-Atlantic Region: Virginia Dog Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Deer Ponds
Foliage Fan Ferns Hellebores Irises Peonies Amaryllis
Ha ha, ssg thank you for the acronym translation. I swear I am clueless. My mind was already in full gear trying to figure that one out before I got to your post. Hmmmm B, B, and B - Bed, Bath, and Breakfast?? Nope... B, B, and B - Blackberries, Blueberries, and Boisenberries?? Nope... B, B, and B - Better Half, Boys, and Babies?? Lol...
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Feb 25, 2016 10:36 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Charter ATP Member Frogs and Toads Houseplants Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Region: United States of America Cat Lover Birds
I will admit that was quite a stretch! Sorry!
I think I have bronze fennel seed floating around too, it gets so big it can feed a lot of caterpillars.
Plant it and they will come.
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Feb 25, 2016 10:48 AM CST
Name: Terri
Lucketts, VA (Zone 7a)
Region: Mid-Atlantic Region: Virginia Dog Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Deer Ponds
Foliage Fan Ferns Hellebores Irises Peonies Amaryllis
Well, Bees, Butterflies, and Birds IS the title for this thread - I tell ya, I AM clueless most of the time. I am also one of those people who kind of smile at the punch line of a joke while everyone is laughing, only "getting it" a short time later and then really laughing after everyone else has stopped. Get a lot of looks and laughing from the group because it is so obvious that I am so slow at it...
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Feb 25, 2016 7:57 PM CST
Name: Gita Veskimets
Baltimore or Nottingham MD-212 (Zone 7a)
Life is "mind over matter". If I d
Terri---If it makes you feel better--I have "NO CLUE" either....
LMAO... Gita
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Feb 28, 2016 7:40 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Catmint/Robin
PNW WA half hour south of Olym (Zone 8a)
Region: Pacific Northwest Region: Mid-Atlantic Region: Maryland Butterflies Bee Lover Native Plants and Wildflowers
Echinacea Azaleas Forum moderator Cottage Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level Celebrating Gardening: 2015
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/...
"After years of being ravaged by severe weather and shrinking habitats, the monarch butterflies hibernating in the Mexican mountains rebounded last year, kindling cautious hope that one of the insect world’s most captivating migrations may yet survive.
The World Wildlife Fund said at a news conference here on Friday that the orange-and-black butterflies, which fly more than 2,500 miles each year from Canada and the United States to a cluster of mountain forests in Mexico, covered about 10 acres this winter, an area more than three times as large as the space they covered last year."

Yay!! Hurray! Hurray!
"One of the pleasures of being a gardener comes from the enjoyment you get looking at other people's yards”
― Thalassa Cruso
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Feb 28, 2016 7:46 AM CST
Name: Pat (Backward Glance)
Lucketts, VA
Cat Lover Irises Ferns Hellebores Native Plants and Wildflowers Hostas
Clematis Peonies Lilies Garden Procrastinator Garden Art Birds
Wow, that is some rebound. Thanks for sharing that. Hurray!
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Feb 28, 2016 7:46 AM CST
Name: David
Lucketts, Va (Zone 7a)
Heucheras Native Plants and Wildflowers Birds Region: Virginia Herbs Bee Lover
Seed Starter Butterflies Winter Sowing Ferns Region: Mid-Atlantic Plant and/or Seed Trader
Great News! Thanks!!!
Earth is a galactic insane asylum where the inmates have been left in charge.
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Feb 28, 2016 7:56 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Catmint/Robin
PNW WA half hour south of Olym (Zone 8a)
Region: Pacific Northwest Region: Mid-Atlantic Region: Maryland Butterflies Bee Lover Native Plants and Wildflowers
Echinacea Azaleas Forum moderator Cottage Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I know how hard we all have worked for the past couple of summers--I'm so thrilled that we are all actually making a difference with our efforts! Hurray!
"One of the pleasures of being a gardener comes from the enjoyment you get looking at other people's yards”
― Thalassa Cruso
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Feb 28, 2016 8:15 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Charter ATP Member Frogs and Toads Houseplants Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Region: United States of America Cat Lover Birds
it's good news! I hope it means other butterflies and pollinators are having better luck too.
Plant it and they will come.
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Feb 28, 2016 8:27 AM CST
Name: Ric Sanders
Dover, Pa. (Zone 6b)
And his children Are his flowers ..
Birds Seed Starter Keeper of Poultry Ponds Region: Pennsylvania Greenhouse
Garden Art Dog Lover Cottage Gardener Butterflies Vegetable Grower Garden Ideas: Master Level
I'm wondering if all the awareness of planting host plants is having an effect? It's odd to see Jamie's field, all nicely mowed and the only weeds are the milkweed he's mowed around. Smiling
Ric of MAF @ DG
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Feb 28, 2016 8:51 AM CST
Name: Lyn
Weaverville, California (Zone 8a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Level 1
Catmint20906 said:I know how hard we all have worked for the past couple of summers--I'm so thrilled that we are all actually making a difference with our efforts! Hurray!


I am beginning to think that there are other variables at play than the scientists ... doubtful ... or those of us that just like the thought of helping Nature along have considered.

The monarchs as well as many species of birds also migrate down through California. With the drought of the last several years, I have noticed fewer insects and birds going through our area and many of my friends out here have commented on declining populations ... always blaming it on over-development or the use of pesticides, which do play a role. I did, too.

The bee populations was almost nonexistant in my garden for several years. Thinking back, it was during the drought years that I noticed the decline in the bee population.

Yet, already this year .. and it is early ... I am seeing more insects and birds in my garden than I have seen in the last several years. The drought is over for my part of California and I am beginning to think some of the extreme weather events we have seen in many parts of the country have played a significant role disrupting what we consider the natural role of things.

I know I need to do more research, but was wondering what you think ?
I'd rather weed than dust ... the weeds stay gone longer.
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Feb 28, 2016 9:05 AM CST
Thread OP
Silver Spring, MD (Zone 7a)
Butterflies Bulbs Container Gardener Hummingbirder Region: Mid-Atlantic Sedums
Vegetable Grower
It seems many pollinator species are still threatened with extinction.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02...

"Extinction risk for insects is not as well defined, the report notes, but it warned of “high levels of threat” for some bees and butterflies, with at least 9 percent of bee and butterfly species at risk."

And there's a parasite that turns bees into zombies! Blinking
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02...
Last edited by ssgardener Feb 28, 2016 9:23 AM Icon for preview
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Feb 28, 2016 9:21 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Charter ATP Member Frogs and Toads Houseplants Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Region: United States of America Cat Lover Birds
Lyn, I completely agree, our gardening efforts are likely a small part of some larger trends. But it is still good news FWIW.

Ric, can't you persuade Jamie to stop mowing, or divide it into a several year rotation, as I saw done at a natural reserve in our county?
Plant it and they will come.

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