Wow, Leon (TBGDN), your blog site is GREAT! You proved a whole lot about you, including your love of airplanes and many other things. Now I love TBGDN which drove me a little crazy since I couldn't type it. WTB, guy!

My grandmother and mother in law were both big quilters. I did years ago but now I only collect them Fun reading thru this thread!

Same thing for me, Teresa!

DH and I both love planes. We purposely bought our house under the airport flight path!

Loved reading you blog and really love all of the pictures

Interesting blog Leon! I love flying too, I live next to an airport, people ask me if I'm not bothered by the airplanes. My answer is I love them they're not a bother at all. I started training to become a pilot while in College. Finished my ground school instructions and made one flight with an instructor. Ran out of money, and just never went back. I often wish I had, but other things took priority.

Tom, glad to hear that. It's something we can always hang on to no matter if we are retired. Guess we still have the memories. And we aren't too old to appreciate a lot of things.

This thread has been fun getting to know more about each of us beyond a call name and the love of iris.

I am doing a lot of genealogy lately and found that my father's family was from Carroll County (not far from you Leon) in Indiana many generations back although they did not stray far. My grandmother married her high school math teacher (eloped at a very young age) and became a school teacher in many one room school houses much like several of you described. Being a city girl, I cannot relate but loved her stories about her experiences. It is so fun to learn about folks life experiences.

Well that was very interesting reading, Leon!! I enjoyed both the story and the photos. Thanks for taking the time to post all of that!!

I also enjoyed reading your thoughts on the Iris problems that plagued many of us this year -- and seeing pictures of your own Iris *patch*!!

Muddymitts said:Well that was very interesting reading, Leon!! I enjoyed both the story and the photos. Thanks for taking the time to post all of that!!

I also enjoyed reading your thoughts on the Iris problems that plagued many of us this year -- and seeing pictures of your own Iris *patch*!!

Leon, Thank you too. It's been great to get to know a little bit about everyone.

One thing I've noticed in my life travels is most of the other gardeners I've meet have been teachers. It looks like there is a fair amount of teachers on the Iris forum too.

iciris said:One thing I've noticed in my life travels is most of the other gardeners I've meet have been teachers. It looks like there is a fair amount of teachers on the Iris forum too.

True, iciris. I wonder why that is...what characteristic of teachers makes us lean to being gardeners?

Leon love your blog!

When I lived in Pullman, WA (which is very hilly - almost small mountains to easterners) the wheat farmers often used old bi-planes to spray the fields. It took some real getting used to to look out your window and see a bi-plane pop up over the rise and be heading toward you. Thank heavens the guns weren't a-blazin'! It took even longer to get use to driving and having those planes swoop up beside you. Yikes! The brats up at Fairchild Airforce base would fly down to Pullman and then gun it and break the sound barrier, leaving all the windows rattling. They were not suppose to do that over incorporated towns, but that never stopped them! Probably thought us college students needed it.

Hi Fellow Addicts!

My hubby and I moved to Reno about 12 years ago from California. I have always loved growing things, but when we got here I hit a wall...or rather nasty soil, desert climate, Mormon Crickets, deer, squirrels, quail and rabbits. Our house is a little removed from town, so all the critters saw my garden as a buffet! The only thing I managed to grow with any success were the veggies that I don't eat (tomato, zucchini). So I gave up on the veggies and focused on flowers (which the deer appreciated). I was ready to throw in the trowel, but then I saw a group selling iris rhizomes at a Farmer's Market. They convinced me to give it a go, so I bought about 6...and have never looked back! I joined the group, and learn something new all the time.

My (flower) garden right now is raised beds wrapped in chicken wire, but we have plans to remove the individual beds and make it a complete fenced garden "retreat" over the summer. I love seeing the photos of everyone's growing areas - great ideas and inspiration. Although I love my flowers, I haven't posted photos because it seems like all you can see in the pictures in the ugly chicken wire (not to mention I don't take good photos anyway). I am looking forward to having a finished area, then will post before and after pics.

If I haven't said so before, thank you all for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. I'll also apologize in advance to all the teachers for any grammar / spelling errors in my posts ( ) I'm looking forward to having something to trade with everyone in the future!

Lestv said:Leon love your blog!

Leslie

Thanks for this fun thread, Gabe!
I'm Jan Wax, and I joined this forum. a couple of years ago. I had a brief flirtation with irises back in the 1980's, but
didn't catch the virus until a few years ago. I've learned a lot here!

I was raised on the East coast but came West to attend college at San Jose State (for my bachelor's) and
UCBerkeley for the Master's in English Lit. - taught for a while at both high school and college level. Quit to have my fourth child.
My four are grown and I also have 4 grandchildren - all males. They are my joy.

My husband Chris and I have been married for 30 years, but together for almost 40. We moved to this wild land in N.CA. in the early 80's.
Never at any danger of running out of space for irises , with so many acres - but running out of energy is a different story! I'm 79, - 80 in November. We're potters and sculptors and have managed to make a modest living making art while living on this beautiful land.

Like Gabe, I ruined (or hurt) body parts doing what I love. Throwing pots on a wheel has torn up my right shoulder - rotator cuff, bone spurs,
no cartilage, etc. In just a few days I'm going in the hospital for total shoulder joint replacement.
Wish me luck, my friends!

p.s. I've not kept up my blog, but I do have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jan.w...

Oh no! I messed up my account page.again. I have a new laptop because I'm going to be
bedridden for at least a month, I'm told. Won't be able to climb stairs. But I didn't get my bookmarks transferred from the upstairs computer !
Trying to get back in I somehow re-registered!
Youngest son, Jon, is coming up for my surgery Tuesday. He'll help me transfer computer files from the upstairs
office to my new bedroom downstairs. In case you're wondering, this is janwax. !

Right or left shoulder.... right or left handed? You got all the luck I can wish wished for you, Jan.

Take good care, Jan!! This sounds very hard.