Green Thumbs Gardening

[Sunbeam]

I heard Roy Dublik speak a week ago, got his book Know Maintenance Gardens, finished reading it yesterday. He has some great ideas, using a smaller pallet of plants. My problem is, I want to grow all the plants. Maybe it is time for me to focus a bit.

[Rags]

Hello Gardeners!
Back from sunny Queensland, and catching up on your posts.
While I was away, Mr Rags put out some traps and not only Gerald went to rat heaven, but also
Geraldine and cousing Gerard. He went to the hardware store and bought three ultrasonic
thingys that supposedly keep rodents and reptiles away. As the ultrasonic waves won't go through walls,
we got yet ANOTHER last night from a trap set outside on the verandah.
I suggested Mr Rags run an extension cord to under the house
and set up an ultrasonic there.

I've not heard about Roy, but googled him. I kinda like this video .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvf9k2NxkUA

This looks downright brilliant!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuykRRspWOY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9vN2eudWcQ

[SKendall]

Hi Rags, check your inbox, pls.

[MossRose]

Sun - I was so excited to see your post. I haven't read the book yet, but I am very familiar with Roy Diblik's. farm. Northwind is my go-to place when I'm stressed. I love to just walk through the gardens. The barn is full of cool stuff too. They also have a farmer's market on the weekends, and all sorts of programs. I don't know where you are exactly, but if you get a chance, visit Northwind. I'm very lucky - it's less than half an hour from me. I always take out-of-town guests there because it's just that good.

Rags - glad to hear you are fighting the good fight. I hate rodents in the house. Well, anywhere near the house to be exact!! Let me know how the ultrasonic thingy works out. I have no need now, because I'm no longer out in the country, but I will be again one day. So very interested.

Mick - haven't tried the cold frame yet. It's still too frosty here, but plan on giving it a whirl later this spring.

As an aside, one day I was out in my gardens (at the old house), and it was hot, and I was tired, and I swear, the weeds were growing right in front me. I wasn't really having a good time. The gardens just seemed like too much work that day. A neighbor I didn't know walked up, and thanked me. I was stunned. For what?, I asked. She said ... for painting the neighborhood. That was enough to inspire me. It reminded me that gardening is more than just growing plants. It has a positive effect on people, and communities.

Here's a link to a TED talk that really means something to me. A guerilla gardener in South Central LA This is a man that I truly admire. He isn't just talking about it, he's doing it.

[Mick]

hiya folks ..back on my own puter now ..finished the planter ..now all I have to do is fill it up..that will take time to get the right plants...weather is getting quite good here ..during the day its pretty warm..but the mornings are still frosty!!so far at the moment...chard this pic..chard.jpg is growing ..quite bitter in taste but my rabbits love it...speaking of which.......20150323_181531.jpg my leeks have done well and survived both the frost and snow..quite thick and ready to be used...pulled the last of my parsnips too..they have survived the winter..they are lovely halved and roasted with rosemary on them they love sandy soil..so for people with that type of ground you are laughing.....otherwise do what I did ..dig holes and fill them with sand and plant into it parsnips.jpg got turnips in as well..tho they have hibernated through the winter..hows everyone else doing?

[MossRose]

Mick - the rabbit pic is priceless. Most of us are trying to gently persuade the critters from visiting our garden. You are a nice person!!! I don't have much to talk about in the gardening world. We are still below freezing at night in my part of world, although it was sunny, and beautiful here today. But I can't add much of value. I just don't want this thread to end up on page two or further. It's important. So bumping for all my fellow gardeners.

[abcowboy]

Thanks Moss!

[Rags]

Hi there,
Sorry I haven't been around for a while.

Love those pics Mick.
I love roasted parsnip.

[techie]

Living now in Northern California, I've become very invested in dealing with drought. Just had my lawn removed to be replaced with Wooly Thyme as ground cover. Uses very little water. I welcome any other suggestions!?

[Tabbers (a.k.a. KTAB)]

We dont know much about drought here in Ireland Techie, haha. I think maybe clover and trailing rosemary would be a lovely addition to the wooly thyme and should do well in dry conditions, plus the bees love them.

[Sunbeam]

Techie, some of the sedums spread densely, the short varieties. Clover needs less water than grass, but more than short herbs, sedums, and other drought tolerant plants.

[abcowboy]

Hi everyone! Got my plants from the jiffy pots transplanted into the ground and they are doing well! I want to get a few more trees planted down the lane, and thought this would be a great day to do it...

[abcowboy]

Howdy gardeners! Pretty slow here, thought I'd post a pic of "my garden" Bubba's is straight behind mine on the outside..

IMG_0596.jpg

Cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes are grown in the dirt area's down both sides, behind the table are lilies and gladiolas, they aren't up yet though lol

[MossRose]

Cowboy - thanks for sharing the photo. That is a very nice setting. I love the flowers in the vase. Nice touch, and very inviting. Not much gardening going on here. I had moved all of my potted herbs outside, and then...the temps dipped back below freezing. So, everything came back indoors and I am on hold. It's supposed to warm up next week, so fingers crossed. It's still early in the year, so I need to be patient. C'mon spring!!

[Mick]

ab thats smart....