Becky, they look so nice with the white rocks, I think I need some white gravel for mine.

robinbunch5 said:Becky, they look so nice with the white rocks, I think I need some white gravel for mine.

They have 2 purposes, prevents soil from drying too fast and looks good I get mine from Amazon, but Lowe's (and probably HD) carries them

It's almost HOT out already this morning. and due to the new garage, I lost the morning shade on the deck rats.

Did you notice the sturdy gazebo on our back deck? We've had it for quite a few years now, and the frame is holding up well. We are on our second cover/top... even with taking it off in the fall (which you definitely want to do), the sun is pretty harsh on the fabric. We started out using a relatively inexpensive pop-up sun shelter (like people brought to the swap), but they did not last through any type of weather (not always home to take it down when it looks stormy), not even when we lashed closet rods to the horizontal supports LOL.

Anyhoo, I highly recommend something like that for morning shade...

Thanks for the suggestion. I much preferred the tree canopy. It had no actual footprint on the deck. But it did block our view of other trees, and was a Norway maple.
The rain has been so constant, maple seeds are sprouting like mad in the gutters.

I love this article!

A Maryland woman was having an awful time with invasive bamboo in her neighborhood. Then her Chinese-American neighbors came by and asked if they could harvest young bamboo shoots from her garden to eat!

https://www.washingtonpost.com...

The article describes how they harvested, prepped, and cooked the bamboo shoots. I personally don't like the taste of bamboo, but I wonder how much of that is because I've never had them fresh.

I love fresh bamboo (and cooked) shoots! As well as heart of palm, artichokes

ssgardener said:I love this article!

A Maryland woman was having an awful time with invasive bonsai in her neighborhood. Then her Chinese-American neighbors came by and asked if they could harvest young bamboo shoots from her garden to eat!

https://www.washingtonpost.com...

The article describes how they harvested, prepped, and cooked the bamboo shoots. I personally don't like the taste of bamboo, but I wonder how much of that is because I've never had them fresh.

My little collection is growing, not so little any more - this was last nights playing in dirt

The variety is fascinating, I don't blame you for being hooked

Holly usually has a pretty good selection of semps but has gotten away from cacti. It a prickly subject. You'res look good Beck.

We are melting...it has been SOOOOOOO unbelievably hot and it is only June 1st It'll be high 90's by next weekend

Much warmer here than normal 92 yesterday, 88 today. Our average for now is 72. Yesterday and Mondays humidity was killer.

I agree--that this heat is unbearable.....almost...glad I have a natural tolerance to heat.
Must come from all the garden-related jobs--mostly inside GH'es-- sweating away.

Watering all the tables and racks of plants at the HD is pretty brutal. I actually am wearing
a small shade hat and a towel around my neck. My scalp sweats like a wet sponge!
Then--it runs down my neck...and face. The towel helps a lot.
They have a cooler stocked with cold water bottles for us garden workers.
I can drink 2 or water bottles and no even realize it. NO extra trips to the potty either....

I am so happy to have the trees in my back yard (am I actually saying this????)
as they lower the temps by 10* instantly when you walk out on the patio.
I am also glad to have the high patio roof. I can work under there pretty comfortably.
Rain or shine--it is a nice place to work on plants and potting.

Bless the smarts of my EX. He sure knew what he was doing....

Gita

I can only imagine how frigging hot it has to be working outside at HD (or anywhere for that matter) - they had a tent set up for the guys working outside at Lowe's - cover, fans and water/ice, I felt so bad for them, it has been unbearable

Beck--Here are a couple views of my cozy patio. This is from 2011.

Very nice and peaceful, Gita!

Thanks--Yes it is. Specially the Porch swing.
My refuge from the World. G.

I just love Gitas patio.

check out the nifty hint today about making scoops

NIce job, Ric!

Thanks for the tip, Ric!

Would you drink wine that came from a vineyard in a cemetery?

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06...

Years ago, ornamental grapes were planted around a church cemetery because sod was too expensive. When they recently decided to make communion wine with the grapes, they were found to be of outstanding quality.