Re: To /Gardening

[Guest guest]

Oh, how I understand about it looking like a jungle!!! We didn't put sod

down right away, and the weeds have taken over. I also didn't get all the

perennials moved, so they are mixed in there.

I live in zone 5b, and some frequently grow things that are listed as zone

6.

This year, I tried a few new things. The perennial snapdragon all died.

But the hyssop is doing well. I have it massed, but it still doesn't show much

color. One of the colors smells just like licorice! I think it may be a late

summer bloomer.

I also bought a number of hybrid reblooming daylilies. Some have started

blooming, and are absolutely stunning.

We planted a new tree called an amelchanier, and put a landscaping brick

border around it in a half circle (it's near the edge of our lot) about 6 ft. in

diameter. Along the bricks I planted lavendar. It smells divine!

The Japanese beetles have come back! That's a no-no; they're only supposed

to be a problem every 7-10 years. So I cut some of the roses and brought them

into the house where we can enjoy them.

But I still have things to plant and weeding to do, and the days where I'm

not too swollen. the weather isn't too hot and humid, and I have at least a

little energy or motivation are few. It's been in the 90's this week, and

there's no way I can go out in that. I have enough difficulty moving in the

house, even with AC.

What part of the country are you in?

Dan (husband) thinks we should have astroturf and plastic plants. But he's

been a real sweetie and has been helping me this year. He knows how hard it was

for me to give up so much of my gardens, and this is his way to letting me know

he understands.

Dix

Re: [ ] To

Hi, Dix! I don't really have a specialty, I just love being out there. One of

my goals is to continue to reduce the amount of grass and replace it with

perennials. I do a lot of experimentation with different plants.. . .

[Guest guest]

We have those things every year. They seem to be on everything, evening coming

in on our clothes. Forget hanging clothes out. You can't shake them off, you

have to pull them off. When we had our pool the basket was filled every day

with them. It was like a horror movie! Since the pool is gone we don't have as

many. I'm wondering if water attracts them more.

Becky

Fwd: [ ] To /Gardening

In a message dated 7/13/04 4:29:58 PM Central Daylight Time,

dix7chix@... writes:

>

> The Japanese beetles have come back! That's a no-no; they're only

> supposed to be a problem every 7-10 years. So I cut some of the roses and

brought

> them into the house where we can enjoy them.

>

Dix...I have reddish green looking beetles all over my roses. Is that what

you are talking about? I have never noticed them before. Judy

[Guest guest]

Oh Judy,

Yes, and you have my sympathy! There are no insecticides that work against

them. The only ways to get rid of them are to squish them by hand (wearing

garden gloves, of course!), or put a bucket of water right under the rose, and

knock the rose downward enough to get the beetles in the water. They'll

eventually drown.

But Japanese beetle season only lasts 6 weeks. They tend to go for the most

fragrant roses. I check all my roses everyday during beetle season, knock off

the ones on open roses, and squish the ones on buds that are just opening. That

way, I still get enough roses to bring inside. And from a distance, you can't

really tell (or at least, not until they've eaten the whole rose!)

Dix

[Guest guest]

Sounds beautiful, Dix! Glad to hear that Dan is helping you and has a

sense of humor about it.

Usually the rabbits leave most varieties of lilies alone, so I was just

contemplating planting more. I have a serviceberry, too. It is so

beautiful in the spring, has a lovely shape and bark, and the berries

are delicious (if I can get to them before the birds do).

I haven't seen any beetles on my roses yet, but I haven't been out there

for a few days. If they are there, they will be feasting unopposed, LOL.

I can only fight so many battles.

I live in Naperville, IL which is about 35 miles west of Chicago and I'm

in 5a.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Re: [ ] To /Gardening

> Oh, how I understand about it looking like a jungle!!! We didn't

put sod down right away, and the weeds have taken over. I also didn't

get all the perennials moved, so they are mixed in there.

> I live in zone 5b, and some frequently grow things that are listed

as zone 6.

> This year, I tried a few new things. The perennial snapdragon all

died. But the hyssop is doing well. I have it massed, but it still

doesn't show much color. One of the colors smells just like licorice!

I think it may be a late summer bloomer.

> I also bought a number of hybrid reblooming daylilies. Some have

started blooming, and are absolutely stunning.

> We planted a new tree called an amelchanier, and put a landscaping

brick border around it in a half circle (it's near the edge of our lot)

about 6 ft. in diameter. Along the bricks I planted lavendar. It

smells divine!

> The Japanese beetles have come back! That's a no-no; they're only

supposed to be a problem every 7-10 years. So I cut some of the roses

and brought them into the house where we can enjoy them.

> But I still have things to plant and weeding to do, and the days

where I'm not too swollen. the weather isn't too hot and humid, and I

have at least a little energy or motivation are few. It's been in the

90's this week, and there's no way I can go out in that. I have enough

difficulty moving in the house, even with AC.

> What part of the country are you in?

> Dan (husband) thinks we should have astroturf and plastic plants.

But he's been a real sweetie and has been helping me this year. He

knows how hard it was for me to give up so much of my gardens, and this

is his way to letting me know he understands.

> Dix