greenouse's topics - tribe.net

My Shrinking Cephalotus follicularis

Azazeal — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:05:52 GMT

Greetings,
I've heard that the San Francisco Bay Area weather is perfect for growing Cephalotus follicularis, the Australian pitcher plant. I picked one up a couple of years ago. I know that it's suppose to go dormant and grow back in the spring. However, each time it grew back, it came back smaller and smaller. Can anyone suggest a reason why this is happening?

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

Humidity sources in Greenhouse

Dan — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:31:16 GMT

First of all I have a relatively large living room w/a heater and a sliding glass door that leads to my pateo (on the 3rd story). With that outside area converted to a greenhouse, would it work to put one or two humidifiers inside of the greenhouse with the door open to heat it during the cold months? I am new to this greenhouse thing and would like some suggestions. Thank you so much, Peace, Dan

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

introduction

judy — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 12:06:08 GMT

Hi I am new here. I just wanted to say hello.

I have a 26 foot glass greenhouse. I keep all tropical plants in it. I also am from cold climate and keep it heated to 70 degrees all winter.

I have added a 8X10 onto the end of it for my tall plants. de

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

germination house

talisunbrow — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 04:29:06 GMT

Hi folks, I posted awhile back on germination racks..tanks for thereply...since then I have devised a structure tat can germinate seeds in 24 hours. Yes ! 24 hours....secret ...I put a turkey frier with water to low flame all night, steam house too 80 deg and walla! sprouts. 2 days later secondary leaves and moved to the secondary lighting rack until ready to bench. TRy it...

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

Interior Tropical Plants and Flowers

Clare — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 12:23:36 GMT

Design, install, and maintain interior tropical plants and flowers for corporate buildings, hotels, restaurants, ect. Provide short and long term rentals,lease or purchse options, elaborate holiday displays, and special event packages. Network with architects, interior designers, Green Building members, facility managers, and more. Our mission is to enhance the quality of occupants working environment by bringing nature indoors. Recent studies show most people spend up to 90% of their time indoors, with long term exposure to chemical vapors that have major threats to health. Evidence shows plants can indeed clean the air and improve overall moral in the workplace.

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

New Tribe: "Botanical Conservation and Research"

Cynorkis — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 19:40:50 GMT

Hi, check out this new tribe if you are interested in protecting plant biodiversity, participate in rare plant propagation or restoration, scientific research, or grassroots conservation efforts.

Thanks,

Cynorkis

-----------------------------------------------------------
Botanical Conservation and Research

This is a forum for individuals interested in understanding and protecting the Earth's botanical diversity. Discuss scientific research, conservation efforts or organizations, rare plant or ecosystem restoration, systematics, funding resources, conferences, and academic institutions.

Keywords: Botany, plants, mycology, bryology, ecology, conservation biology, evolution, horticulture, flowers, pollination, seeds, soil, forests, wetlands, deserts, montane, tropical, temperate, earth.

posted in greenouse - 1 reply

germination racks

talisunbrow — Sun, 07 Aug 2005 17:57:48 GMT

Hi folks, been a member for a while just had nothing to say. Now that I do...here it goes. I just purchased 4 ... 195 X 30 ft green houses. I plan to do major buisness next year by April 1rst. I need to know...are there any web sites or member sugestions on how to construct germination rooms that can winter through an ohio winter season? Realy all I need is some pointers on proper construction of germination racks and environmental control issues. thanks.

posted in greenouse - 1 reply

For sale nursery business located in El Paso, TX.

Radical Racer — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 15:33:25 GMT

Consisting of two greenhouses and all the plants that are in them. One is 20 ft. X 76 ft. The other one is 10 ft. X 32 ft. Includes the Heating and cooling systems and lots of nursery pots. $6000.00 for everything. Will consider a trade. What do you have to offer? These greenhouses must be moved. Pictures of them can be seen in my profile. I will help with disassembly. Can be moved with a few loads in a pickup truck.

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

Pine tree

Wed, 11 Aug 2004 22:06:59 GMT

Can anyone tell me the best way to save a pine tree from dyeing. The branches have turned downward and brown. Not all but the ones toward the bottom.

Thanks!

posted in greenouse - 5 replies

Can I eat 'em?

Jeremy — Sat, 02 Apr 2005 02:10:36 GMT

So I've got a bunch of violas and nasturtiums in my stairside planter, which aside from being beeyouteeful are also edible. I don't pesticide anything, but I did treat the soil with Osmocote, and I give 'em a healthy low dose of all-purpose plant food with every watering.

Are they still okay to stick in salads or on cupcakes?

posted in greenouse - 1 reply

What is the best type of greenhouse?

PaulaC — Sun, 12 Sep 2004 22:58:48 GMT

Hello everyone. I am not yet a green-houser, but I am looking in to it. I've noticed that there are not only different brands, but drastically different designs, with different materials.

I'm wondering if you would mind chiming in with your experiences with regard to...

Plastic vs. glass

number of pane layers (1,2,3)

Shape/design...do you have a sun room, a stand-alone greenhouse, a partially sunken greenhouse, a geodesic greenhouse?

Is pest/disease contol easier or more difficult?

Thanks.

Paula

posted in greenouse - 3 replies

Testing for NPK and others???????

chance — Fri, 12 Nov 2004 03:11:56 GMT

Help me, ok here it is. Got some great bat guanno hook up over seas, means of importing also gathering it with out any harm to the bats BUT where do I send it to get it tested for NPK and other specs any help would get you free bat shit when it gets here, how about 5 pounds of the black gold...email is chance@mikegibbons.net or post here and I'll be back
thank you all

posted in greenouse - 1 reply

scale

snarkoutqueen — Thu, 17 Jun 2004 04:04:46 GMT

so, i had/have scale, but i was afraid to spray, and now its BAD, so i sprayed *sniff*, but its SO bad, ive read a little about it, and do i REALLY have to remove all the hard brown ones? and re-spray? i have one plant that got hit HARD, and has maybe 50 hard-shelled, brown scale on it . . . . i know i know, i should have delt with it sooner, but i was afraid of spray . . .

what should i do? i even had some ants move some to a new plant and start milking them!

posted in greenouse - 4 replies

The new garden addition

Asha — Sat, 07 Aug 2004 09:34:43 GMT

Shouting on soapboxes isn't getting us anywhere. Living solution will. I have decided to start my own tribe for people to come and learn to implement sustainable local protein food production methods. I have named it Grow Your Own. I intend to use this tool to promote sustainable land based aquaculture as solution to corporate controlled food sources, as solution to strip mining our oceans, as solution to contaminated food, and as solution to environmental damage done by conventional protein production and harvesting. This tribe is being created to challenge as many consumers as I can to put your money where your mouth is, take control and make a change. "Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach him to (grow) fish; he eats for a life time."

This method is adaptable for an individual, a community, a co-housing development, for soup kitchens, alongside community gardens and directly inside greenhouses etc. We have also found it to be economically sustaining.

The main goal here, of course, is to get ~ the ~ clean ~ fish ~ on ~ the ~ market. If it’s not made available than consumers have no option accept to stop eating fish period. And are they really going to do THAT? And how many need to make that choice to impact a change? And that's ~just ~fish. What it takes to impact water conservation, pollution, environmental damage, even wasted land raising cattle and pig and all the damage continuously done doing THAT protein food production. Gotta make available a better alternative.

We are located in Maine and have a fish farm ourselves. We believe strongly that anyone concerned with health, environment, sustainability, ecology, corporate control, local food production, and local economies and the communities effected, as well as water conservation and land conservation should take a real good look at this solution. I invite you to participate. Hello.

posted in greenouse - 2 replies

plumerias

Moira — Sun, 15 Aug 2004 23:32:28 GMT

added a few pics taken in our garden this afternoon.

the two plumeria twigs i bought last August at the county fair are doing well. I thought they had died during the winter, they sure looked dead, but they are flourishing.

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

sweet peas

Jeremy — Sun, 13 Jun 2004 20:06:53 GMT

my window box just exploded. I'm gonna be up to my armpits in sweet peas for the next few months. They're such bee-you-tee-ful blossoms, does anyone know if they are edible? They'd be such a sweet treat atop cupcakes or in salads.

posted in greenouse - 4 replies

First Aid for Potted Plant Enthusiasts

Gareth_dp — Thu, 03 Jun 2004 10:58:25 GMT

I don't know. Maybe I just fed it the wrong fertilizer. During my fearful, half-delirious nights, I now have thoughts about investing in some baby mice for it. Horrid thought. I just wonder what it might do ... if I don't. My new Amaryllis. My new nightmare.

I mean, there I was on a sunny Saturday afternoon, pottering around Cronenberg Nurseries, as is my wont most weekends. Admiring an orchid here, a new range of succulents there. I was all set to take home another Basil to keep the present one company, when in the shadows behind the Brazilian Cocktail Ferns, I saw this strange plant. Long, straight stalk, with a huge bulb rooted in sandy soil. I gaped at it. Then I was startled by the wizened old plant beds supervisor at the nursery, a gnome-like figure who smells of Formaldehyde. He hovered at my shoulder, almost brushing it with his overbite.

'Er...hello', I ventured, gruffly. 'I was just wondering about this plant here; what is it; where'd you get it?'

He grunted. 'Not for the likes of you. That's from Butan, that. Type of Amaryllis, isn't it? Not for the likes of you. Not for your sort.'

We have always had our little verbal duels, us two. I don't like him and he doesn't like me. Long story.

All has to do with a sabotage attempt on my prize-winning Spirit Lillies at the '92 Floral Contests in Botswana.

Well, my mind was made up. I had to have the plant, if only to spite him. I waited until the unpleasant gnome had buggered off to feed his African Grays, then quickly lifted the plant from the shelf, threw some money at the cashier, and dashed home. I had the strangest feeling as I drove, though, that the plant was, well, looking out of the window. Stem inclined towards the glass, as it were.

Anyway, for a while things seemed fine. Days passed, wars broke out, people fell in love, and on the Moon, a small NASA roving jeep was appropriated by aliens from another dimension. Go look for yourself; it's gone. That's what happens if you leave space junk lying around.

Then, one Friday I came home to find that
a) the plant had somehow moved about 10cm to the left
b) the Basil - called "Basil", obviously - next to it was looking somewhat ragged.

That night, I awoke to hear strange muttering sounds emanating from the windowsill. And clicking noises, like the mandibles of a large insect. Worse even: when I got up for work, everywhere I walked in the room, the plant seemed to be watching. Staring at me insolently.
But you know - heavy workload, the occasional Tequila binge. I chalked it up to an over-tired imagination.

A couple of days ago, my flat mate woke me with a blast on his trumpet and said the plant simply had to go. It was a case of 'me or it!' he shouted (He's deaf in one ear; accident with a champagne cork during the millennium. The twit never wears his hearing aid. I think he LIKES
shouting).

'Thing creeps me out!!' he yelled. "Not normal!!"

I weighed up the situation. The plant didn't pay rent. What's more, it was beginning to give me the willies, too. The novelty had worn off. I was starting to get interested in Bonsai, anyway. The Amaryllis craze was pretty much over for me.

So I went over to the windowsill yesterday and reached for the plant.

What happened next is hard to talk about. But basically, it bit me. Nothing major, you understand, just a quick warning snap on the thumb; enough to hurt like hell.

I leaped back and fled the room, trailing droplets of blood.
The plant had teeth! Slyly, it had kept its mouth shut all this time, just waiting for the moment, humming to itself with the eternal patience of all flora.

I haven't gone back in to the room yet. I'm typing this from work. I've set up a little sleeping place behind my desk; quite comfy really. Thank Heavens the flat mate's attending an Aggression Therapy Camp near Knysna.

What to do next, though? What's really worrying me, apart from the fact that the Basil, Rosemary and Thyme in my room must have undoubtedly been murdered by now, is the yellow pollen that's been drifting down from my open bedroom window, into Mr. Spuntle's bountiful rose garden outside his flat below ...

That little homunculus at Cronenberg's had known just what he'd been doing, curse him. Butan, my third eye! I'd better phone the flat mate. Wouldn't want him barging in and trying to manhandle the plant himself. I should tell somebody, really. The press or something. Never believe it, of course. Maybe I could blow torch the thing from the doorway. Not that I have a blow
torch. Who do I know with a blow torch? What would Wyndham advise?

'G'

GD PIKE
222 Ninth Avenue
Durban 4000
South Africa
gareth@modernmuseum.co.za

posted in greenouse - 3 replies

I've whined....

HarleyLady — Mon, 26 Apr 2004 01:48:00 GMT

on all my other tribes, might as well whine here, too.

Oh, my aching back...and legs....and neck...and arms...and feet...and...

Our new property slopes and today I took another load of plants and most of the contents of my garden shed over there. Didn't do much gardening although got a small start on cleaning out a few areas, but between that and loading and unloading the truck and trailer and walking up and down the hill between the house and shed I'm exhausted. I think I need a quad with a little trailer for hauling garden stuff around the property - either that or I will need to have tools stashed in 3 or 4 locations and numerous compost areas as well.

Anybody else hurting from spring gardening?

posted in greenouse - 3 replies

Costco Score !

HarleyLady — Thu, 22 Apr 2004 01:38:38 GMT

Costco has their bulbs, tubers, bareroot perennials on clearance!

I just bought dahlias: Autumn Fairy, Snow Country, Seattle, Akita, Cafe au Lait, Carribean FAntasy, Garden Wonder, Explosion, Sisa and Kevin Floodlight and two sacks of glads (70 bulbs per bag) all for ~$35. Will be going back for perennials tomorrow.

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

Theobroma cacao

Roy — Sat, 17 Apr 2004 00:26:37 GMT

I'm involved with a group that has an exciting plant growing project, to experiment and help indigenous people here in Costa Rica to reconstruct their old system of cultivating cacao, by planting it in small patches in the forest. It's interesting that the "modern" form of cultivating cacao, planting it as a dense monoculture and using massive amounts of chemicals, failed utterly leaving Costa Rica's cacao cultivation pretty well destroyed, supposedly due to the monilia fungus.

Recent work has suggested that many fungi native to the rainforest, automatically control many cacao fungal diseases. So we'll suggest that the indians return to the old ways and make their plantings small and dispersed within the native forest. Less yield per hectare of course, but there WILL be a cacao harvest. Right now, Costa Rica's chocolate, in part, is from imported cacao beans! Sort of like importing ice cubes into Greenland!

posted in greenouse - 1 reply

So what...

HarleyLady — Sat, 20 Mar 2004 02:21:16 GMT

...projects do you have planned for spring?

posted in greenouse - 22 replies

clay soil

Thu, 19 Feb 2004 18:01:14 GMT

i have a small area out back that i'd love to start planting in, but my question is how to deal with the clay soil? in the wet months it's muckymuck and in the summer it's hard as rocks. is it best to ammend the whole area? and to do it in the wet season? what kinds of plants do well in tough soil?

posted in greenouse - 10 replies

Any insect experts here?

HarleyLady — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 20:50:22 GMT

What are these bugs? I posted this to tribe bugs but they said unless the critters seemed to be in my 'puter, I had the wrong forum ! ;)

I forgot to put something in the picture for scale but these things are 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. They are all over the ground, seem to be feeding on a little wooly looking plant that is only a few inches high. They fly a little bit, have red on their bodies beneath their wings. Additional info: this is in the desert of Baja

http://www.tribe.net/tribe/servlet/template/pub%2CViewPhoto.vm/context/tribe?albumpage=7&photooffset=36&parentid=c6f9b3e1-02ea-4ba2-b393-4ca2a1ea3d6d

posted in greenouse - 4 replies

book recommendation

floramone — Tue, 17 Feb 2004 17:14:21 GMT

I just read the newest book by Portland's Barbara Blossom Ashmun, "Married to My Garden", and highly recommend it...garden essays ripe with humour. Anyone else read any good garden books lately?

posted in greenouse - 2 replies

new photos

Moira — Sat, 28 Feb 2004 17:18:45 GMT

wandered around with the camera this morning recording new stuff. cyclamen sure look happy. i don't know what the 'volunteers' are. i think the front page photo is of a freesia. i vaguely remember planting the little bulbs, though the package said they'd be blue! no complaints, love the color

your graden update photos welcome!

posted in greenouse - 5 replies

naked ladies

snarkoutqueen — Sun, 08 Feb 2004 01:47:13 GMT

so . . . i have some naked lady bulbs that my step mother just sent me, but the weather here has been about like this:
snow/rain/snow/rain/snow/ice/sleat/freezingrain/snow/rain/ect.

anyone know if i should plant them? store them till springish? ive never had to plant things where it actually snows before . . . i feel so winter naive all of a sudden.

posted in greenouse - 6 replies

Missing any garden ornaments?

HarleyLady — Sat, 21 Feb 2004 06:06:01 GMT

Gnome Gnapper Gnabbed

http://www.oregonlive.com/metrosouthwest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_southwest_news/107719569873340.xml

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

alocasia

snarkoutqueen — Thu, 08 Jan 2004 06:26:20 GMT

so i just got my second alocasia today (rain got my first, which i could never get to have more than 2 leaves at a time, when i moved, but i didnt kill it!). and i have to admit that although it is by far one of my favorite house plants, i cant for the life of me figure out how to keep them happy. alive, yes, happy no. whats the deal? all i learned from my first one is that it HATES direct sunlight (it burns) and hates low light (stringy and sad *sigh*). so ive got it in a window that gets filtered sunlight (through a giant tree) for about 1/2 the day, and im thinking: fertilizer? is that where i went wrong? i did fertilize it, but maybe i had the wrong formula? does anyone have success with them? its the only plant ive ever owned that has stumped me, and now that i have a new one i want to start off on the right track.
please help.

posted in greenouse - 7 replies

winter dormancy

Rain — Sat, 20 Dec 2003 14:42:09 GMT

it's not just affecting my garden but seems to be having an effect on gardening/plant related tribes and their discussion.

it's almost Solstice and then we can start looking forward to the lengthening days...where is that sun?!?

posted in greenouse - 3 replies

epys

Moira — Fri, 21 Nov 2003 14:35:30 GMT

several of my students have given me cuttings from epyphillums (sp?). They are alive, but aren't doing a lot. What kind of fertilizer should I be applying? What kind of light, watering and soil do they need, and how much?

I have some kind of gift orchid getting ready to to bloom that looks interesting. I think the flowers will be a red cluster. They've been kind of dormant for months. Will add a picture when they flower.

Cannis lillies also blooming back there. We've had the weirdest weather lately; cold and drizzly or hot with Santa Ana winds. Everyone's allergies are going off. I wonder if some plants have allergies too.

posted in greenouse - 9 replies

Grafting cacti

Roy — Thu, 08 Jan 2004 19:53:12 GMT

I just added three cacti photos to our album. The first is a cactus seedling. It's the same species as the white flowered pitaya in an earlier photo & is about 3cm. tall, germinated in tree fern root fiber. In the second are some of my newest cactus grafts. The bases are also of this pitaya species. And the third is of an older grafted cactus of which I have cut out the terminal growing point to force the development of offshoots, which I use to graft, as in my new cactus grafts. Cactus grafting is not hard to do once you've got the bases and young seedlings or offshoots.

posted in greenouse - 2 replies

one more try.....

Red — Tue, 13 Jan 2004 16:52:21 GMT

so i know i posted about wheatgrass before, but it was for different reasons...
i have now been offered a gig growing wheatgrass for a sprout farm nearby, but on a much larger scale than i am accustomed to dealing with.
Has anyone ever worked a sprout farm?
Any experience growing lots of wheatgrass?
I am in the process of figuring out the details of how this will work. the farm owner has left that up to me. And for now i have been sprouting it in pickle jars in my kitchen cabinets. this place is like sprout technology at its finest..
so if anyone has any input i could use it..thanks!

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

oxalis everywhere

Thu, 08 Jan 2004 21:22:14 GMT

at least i think that's what it is - the cloverlike leaves with the bright yellow flowers. is there no other means to get rid of it besides pulling them out one by one? it seems that no matter how many i pull, the next year they're back in huge numbers...

posted in greenouse - 4 replies

Pretty please, Santa....

HarleyLady — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 20:29:03 GMT

...fergit the coal, but I wouldn't mind a nice big load of Shit! I know most of my other gardener friends would love a sleigh load of manure, too.

So, what else is on your list? What plant is your latest lust object? Must-have book?

posted in greenouse - 17 replies

YOW! Be careful of that frost...

Rain — Mon, 05 Jan 2004 02:50:15 GMT

Those of you that live with the reality of consistant snow have your own awareness of cold hardiness and how it relates to your gardens but here in California, our "mild" climate can lead to laxness in paying attention to what the skies bring.

We just got hammered by a very cold frost and fortunately I saw it coming ahead of time and took precautions. By doing so, I saved my citrus and cold sensitive bamboos (both of which would be costly to replace, not to mention how sad it would make me being as I get attached to plants).

So, if you have to, remember to use that frost blanket. Most offer 6-8 degrees of protection which doesn't seem like much but believe me when I say it makes a world of difference. Also there are products like Cloud Cover which are synthetic polymers that coat plants and aren't too harmful to the environment.

posted in greenouse - 3 replies

sick plumerias

Moira — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 08:27:47 GMT

The plumeria twigs i purchased at the county fair last July did great for months. Then they started to look like this. I don't know why. Can anyone tell by looking?

The soil seemed neither overly wet or dry yesterday. Perhaps they simply disliked being transplanted to larger pots, or being moved to a sunnier spot in the backyard. I moved them back. They still look miserable.

posted in greenouse - 8 replies

Ding Dong the witch is dead...

Rain — Mon, 05 Jan 2004 02:54:52 GMT

Another evil li'l product only has one more year to raise hell on the environment all in the name of garden/house maintenence.

The evil-doer: Diazinon.

The E.P.A. has pulled the plug on this nasty agent known for it's effectiveness in killing ants and other "nuisance insects" and also for it's long term negative effects on fish and birds. Distributors cannot distribute any more of the product to stores as of 1/1/04 and the stores cannot sell it after 1/1/05.

So let the celebration (and I suspect for some individuals, stockpiling) begin...

posted in greenouse - 1 reply

Calochortus weedii var. intermedius

Moira — Sun, 04 Jan 2004 15:42:38 GMT

We just returned last night from four days in Death Valley CA. We camped in tents for two nights and in the stone Geologist's Cabin at Anvil Springs the third night.

I saw several dried stems of the marsh poppy Harley Lady identified, Calochortus weedii var. intermedius, on a hill near Striped Butte.

Wow! It can survive an extreme range of temperatures.

It was in the thirties at night while we were there, not counting wind chill, and of course the park reaches temperatures over 120 in the summer.

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

Rain = Green

Moira — Sat, 27 Dec 2003 18:59:18 GMT

Wow! Our yard looks ecstatic! It got a decent watering for Christmas.

posted in greenouse - 2 replies

fuschias

Moira — Sun, 21 Dec 2003 15:44:33 GMT

they look so good in the nursery, and I am never able to maintain them at that level. does anyone have a formula or tip to keep them healthy and blooming? I'd settle for healthy.

I have noticed that cutting them way back almost always resuscitates sick fuschias, but wish i could keep them from getting sick in the first place!

posted in greenouse - 16 replies

wheatgrass growers??

Red — Sun, 21 Dec 2003 02:17:38 GMT

Just wondering if anyone else has grown wheatgrass much??
I have been growing it for one of our juice bars in town, since summer....but now that it's colder it seems to take twice as long to get a full tray and they are much more sparse. I put them in the window on bright days and under a cheap grow light in the bathroom otherwise...
Is it possible for the wheatberries to get old (stale)?....because this cold business coincides with being at the end of a 50 # bag as well....
thanks for any input...

posted in greenouse - 3 replies

hardy orchid

Moira — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 08:30:23 GMT

on a happier note, this red orchid is currently blooming in our yard (see new photo). wonder what kind it is.

posted in greenouse - 2 replies

re: the mystery plant photo

snarkoutqueen — Sun, 07 Dec 2003 19:56:29 GMT

i dont know how helpful this is, because i dont have my native plant books for california anymore (seeing as im in penn now), but one of my favorite plants in the bay area was called a "globe lily" / "chinese latern lily" and looked very similar (though the petals were always closed more). same color, same growing structure . . . might be something to go on though, if whoever put that picture up is still curious.

posted in greenouse - 5 replies

copihue / lapageria rosea "chilean bell flower"

snarkoutqueen — Mon, 17 Nov 2003 00:00:51 GMT

does anyone know how i can get this plant??
the closest thing ive come up with, is that once a year there is an arboretum sale in sanfrancisco, where a woman sells them, but, she ONLY sells them there, and usually only has about 5 (and sells out in the 1st hour), and i dont know her name, and i now live in philadelphia.

ive even gone so far as to read through chilean copihue nursery sites (in spanish) to see if they ship (they dont).

any suggestions? its one of my favorite plants.

posted in greenouse - 4 replies

You know you're addicted ...

HarleyLady — Fri, 14 Nov 2003 04:56:59 GMT

to gardening when:

You spend your grocery money on plants then figure out how to make meals for a week out of a sack of rice and some dried up cheese.

All nursery personnel within 100 miles know your first name and exact growing conditions.

Your neighbors don't panic when they hear noises at night - they know you're smuggling plants from the trunk into the backyard while your partner is watching TV.

OK...now your turn...feel feel to customize for your area as in:

You know you're an addicted Pacific NorthWET gardener when you keep a saltshaker by the back door.

posted in greenouse - 2 replies

backyard birds

Moira — Sun, 02 Nov 2003 02:37:44 GMT

can't find a site about backyard birding, another interest...oh well. i've already started too many tribes. if there were one, i'd join it.

our list is limited by urban locale, but probably at about 12 species observed on our property. i like the finches, phoebes and hummingbirds best.

posted in greenouse - 9 replies

Kinda quiet here in the greenouse...

HarleyLady — Tue, 11 Nov 2003 05:01:59 GMT

What was your biggest success in the garden this year and what failed to perform for you?

posted in greenouse - 7 replies

ladybugs

Moira — Fri, 17 Oct 2003 18:14:18 GMT

Anyone know a better source for these than Home Depot...half are dead in the bag.

How does one keep them around for awhile? once released, my survivors apparently head for Disneyland

posted in greenouse - 5 replies

'What is it?' volume II

Moira — Fri, 31 Oct 2003 14:03:13 GMT

Dr. Ramon Perez took these photos (I loaded three last night, looks like of the same flower)in the Santiago Hills near Tustin (So. California) last June. Anyone know what they are?

I grew up back East, not familiar with the wildflowers here.

Can someone recommend a field guide? I prefer color photo to watercolor illustrations.

Thanks!

posted in greenouse - 9 replies

garden catastrophe

Wed, 06 Aug 2003 09:07:41 GMT

I left town for 10 days, and my house-sitting friend didn't think to water my back-yard. (To be fair, I forgot to ask.) I've got a small japanese maple, a small Datura, dwarf fig, and various kinds of bamboo in deep trouble. What do I do?? Obviously, I've watered. Is it better to cut things back, or to let them try to recover naturally?

posted in greenouse - 10 replies

Mexican tin pepper plants

Moira — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 06:07:02 GMT

whoever posted, you have a real gift for growing those things...

posted in greenouse - 3 replies

seed exchange program

Moira — Fri, 24 Oct 2003 18:54:39 GMT

I sent Harley Lady's seeds out in todays mail. I hope the Feds don't mistake them for pot! anyway, with any luck you should receive them soon. I saved some in case for any reason you don't get the packet. You asked if I'd like a trade...umm sure, anything hummingbirds like, or anything slightly unusual and easy to grow that has any shade of pink, red, or blue flowers would be lovely. Half of our plants are in containers, so if you would please specify soil type and watering/food preferences, I'll provide them.Thanks!

posted in greenouse - 25 replies

What is it?

Radical Racer — Fri, 10 Oct 2003 18:23:35 GMT

I uploaded a picture of a strange looking plant with seeds that grow on the edges of the leaf. Can some one tell me the name of it and where it comes from? All so uploaded is a picture of one of my green houses. Later, Chuck

posted in greenouse - 21 replies

worm bins

Wed, 06 Aug 2003 22:47:03 GMT

are they hard to maintain? smelly? any good links or personal experiences?

posted in greenouse - 7 replies

Article - Bring in the butterflies

Douglas — Sun, 24 Aug 2003 20:11:18 GMT

Attract more color to your garden: Bring in the butterflies

This is a nice article from the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson on attracting butterflies to your garden. I must be doing something good by accident as I tend to have a good collection of butterflies visiting my garden. I am sure, though, that some more information like this and I would be able to attract even more.

posted in greenouse - 2 replies

anole lizards

Moira — Fri, 17 Oct 2003 18:19:18 GMT

I live in Southern CA. My friend who lives nearby purchased anole lizards and let them loose in her garden. Her child is fascinated by reptiles and amphibians. I like these too and miss having them, as I lived in HI for five years and had many in my garden there. Concerned about degrading the local ecosystem though, haven't done it. Are they already out there (beyond her yard)?

posted in greenouse - 2 replies

magnolias

Moira — Sat, 11 Oct 2003 19:49:11 GMT

what happens if they are overwatered? that's my suspicion for blight affecting our two saplings that look like hell. leaves are shriveled and black with a white moldy looking residue. will take to a nursery today for analysis. maybe the automatic sprinklers are keeping them too wet.

posted in greenouse - 2 replies

Shade Gardening

Xoe — Tue, 07 Oct 2003 21:44:53 GMT

Hello fellow gardeners. I have a very shady plot of ground and am looking for inspiration. Any ideas on shade gardening?

Some more info: located in Lawrence Kansas. Extremely hot summers, quite cold winters. Other problem -- a plethora of squirrels and rabbits that want to dig up everything I try to plant.

I do realize that it's not the right time of year for this question; I should be thinking of putting the garden to bed...but...

posted in greenouse - 2 replies

More "Free Trees in LA" info

Douglas — Mon, 22 Sep 2003 18:41:33 GMT

I got a quick response from the LA DWP Green LA program regarding their workshops and the types of trees they make available.

Tree List HTML MS Word

WorkShops HTML MS Word

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

see the photo?

Moira — Sun, 03 Aug 2003 17:45:39 GMT

A friend gave me some bulbs back in January. This lilly grew from one. Anyone know what kind it is? could ask him, but embarassed that i don't remember what he told me at the time. Sure is a healthy plant. They must be very hardy-it survived!

posted in greenouse - 4 replies

My Garden

Douglas — Thu, 07 Aug 2003 07:26:26 GMT

There has been a request here for more pictures of our gardens, so I am launching a new project here at the Welch homestead, My Garden, a gallery of pictures showing various areas of the garden. I am hoping to expand this by including maps and plant lists over time, but for right now, it contains 2 photos looking into the garden from the back patio.

Click Photo for Gallery

The shot is taken facing due East around mid-morning today. In the bed along the left hand side you can see the Nandina, agapanthus, the small trunk if an overarching Locust tree, 2-3 iris, a gazing ball, my favorite tree, a Japanese Maple which is over-shadowed by the large Eucalyptus behind it.

Just peeking in on the right is the wisteria trellis.

The building you see is a 1970's addition to our 1943 house. It was designed as a master suite but now includes our extensive offices and a large play room for our son.

posted in greenouse - 7 replies

organic cure for leaf curl?

xtyn — Sat, 30 Aug 2003 20:49:15 GMT

Does anyone know of an earth-friendly way to cure leaf curl in peach trees? I know that it overwinters in the bark and limbs, but not really what to do for it. Thanks in advance!

posted in greenouse - 5 replies

Summer Garden Party

Douglas — Wed, 03 Sep 2003 02:53:21 GMT

Last Sunday we held our annual summer garden party. This one was actually an "end of summer" party since we held it so late in the month.

Read more about it (with more pictures) at:

posted in greenouse - 2 replies

A photo walk through the Getty Garden

Douglas — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 02:11:10 GMT

While visiting the Getty Center yesterday, (August 23), I came upon the idea of creating a walk-through of the striking gardens, for those of you who have never had a chance to visit.

While it is far from a comprehensive survey of the garden, I hope it will give you a small idea of what it is like. (Click the photo or go directly to the photo gallery.)

The garden changes from season to season, especially so in Winter when the Sycamores lose their leaves. The meandering path takes on an entirely different character. The usually shaded path opens to the sky, letting in the warming Witner sun, low in the sky.

We live just down the hill from the Getty Center, and visit frequently. Even my 5-year-old, Joe, loves the place. The gardens give him some room to roam and there is an excellent Family Room with lots of kid activities, including dress up costumes.

I hope you enjoy this photo visit.

posted in greenouse - 1 reply

beans galore

nom — Thu, 21 Aug 2003 22:54:15 GMT

i grew bushels and bushels of stringless green and purple bush beans this year and i am going to have to look into drying a whole wack. they are getting really fat. i've already been eating them green for weeks and am going to freeze some as well but really want to try my hand at dried beans for the winter.
any tips? suggestions?
a neighbour friend told me once she used to pull up the plants when they were ready and hang them up to dry, i am thinking with paper bags tied round them or something....but those were soy beans (maybe) but i think the same idea would work for my beans.???
never done this before so any advice will probably help.
thanks in advance~ will check google now

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

New photos

Moira — Sun, 03 Aug 2003 20:01:35 GMT

wanted!

posted in greenouse - 3 replies

Plumerias

Moira — Thu, 07 Aug 2003 19:01:34 GMT

anyone in (Sunset Western Garden Book)zone 22 growing them? Bought 2 sprouted twigs from the county fair last week. Last time i did so, 5 years ago, they immediately croaked. This time being careful not to overwater. repotted in loose soil, as recommended by seller. shocky, several leaves lost, but think they'll pull through. am using a spritz on the foliage (few drops of fertilizer in a qt of H2O) as recommended by seller, not in heat of the day. hope they'll thrive. had em all over the yard when i lived in Hawaii, love the scent

posted in greenouse - 0 replies

Pest Decided Not

Moira — Mon, 04 Aug 2003 01:53:27 GMT

agree w/ your opinion on that. We have an old dog given to tasting fertilizer (anything fishy), eating dirt. I hand pick snails, release ladybugs, cut back or throw out diseased stuff. it's amazing how much one can do with just spraying water on the undersides of things. gardening is new to me, thanks for the tips in your link.

posted in greenouse - 0 replies