Signs of Spring

[Dexter Morgan]

This morning I went out, and started looking for signs of Spring. I'm happy to report that Spring has sprung.  One of my 6 Hyacinths has broken ground. The Tiger Lillies are about an inch high. I'm not sure if I'm keeping those, I might mow them off. I found out recently that they are poisonous to pets. I've never had a problem with them, but I am worried now that I know. The worst thing is.... my Tiger Lillies are in the same area in my flower bed, as my cat nip crop.  So now that I know this I'm scared to death. The Tiger Lillies are most definitely gone. Before I do it though, I'm going to do some research.

I also looked at my berry bushes and grapes, and they all have little buds on them, so I'm guardedly optimistic. *fingers crossed* Hubby's peach tree has buds, so he'll be thrilled when I tell him LOL!!!

This is the update I'm most proud to report.... Champ's rose bush is green,and it's getting buds on it.  When it went dormant last fall I sat and cried. I know it seems stupid, but it was a kind of acceptance of her death, through the "death" (dormant stage) of her rose bush. I'm sooo glad it made it!!!! This is the most harsh Winter Illinois has had in about 30 years. I have to say,I was skeptical that the rose bush would survive.

I'm beginning to plan what I want to plant in the garden this year. I know I'm going to grow pumpkins. Last year, I had sooo much fun with that,I gotta do it again.  I'm not sure what else I'm going to plant. I need to order the beneficial insects, and get that going, before it's too late.

This thread will be about Springtime planting and gardening. What are you going to plant this year??.........

[kimmi]

Well I've mowed once and will have to do it again before next weekend.  My rose bush is green again.  I just recently read that roses like sandy soil and are drought tolerant to an extent so along with my grill for my b-day, I'll be buying some more rose bushes.  I've also just heard that grapes like sandy soil too.  I'm getting more eucalyptus for my back yard.  I have an area that is really the pits!  I'm trying to buy drought tolerant stuff to put there so the grass can start to spread there and not get washed away.

By the way, I bought an Easter Lily and want to plant it in the ground now.  Do I have to wait for the thing to stop blooming or can I do it now?

I just ordered and should be getting soon Bridal White Spirea that I will plant fairly close together for a pretty hedge, a 50 piece bulb garden, daylillies, 2 Hydrangea trees, a river birch, creeping phlox, and an Old Fashioned Lilac.  I'm getting some free items too.   That ought to make my yard have a bit more curb appeal. 

[Dexter Morgan]

Wow!!! You're going to busy with all of that stuff to plant. I don't know about planting Easter Lilies. I've had them before, but they never made it to transplant stage. I'm extremely limited on what I can plant here. There are soooo many common plants, and flowers that are poisonous to pets. I love flowers but pet safety comes first. I don't have any house plants at all. The only things I can plant in the house are cat grass,and cat nip. As you can imagine, that stuff doesn't make it very long. The cats grass only makes it to an inch, because as soon as the cats know it's there, they nibble it down to the base. When I plant outside plants, they have to be raised, or built up from the ground, because cats love to take a ducer in the flower beds. 

[me]

We'll probably plant the same as usual.  Tomato's, bell peppers, green onions, swiss chard, and radishes.  We have a limited area and thats about all we can get into it.  We do have some 55gal plastic barrels which were cut in half that we're gonna plant some cucumbers and zucchini in.  We've also got some strawberries coming from Henry Fields because we ordered ever bearing a couple of years ago and they sent us the wrong ones so they're replacing them. 

[kimmi]

I'm thinking about making some beds.  I need topsoil or planting soil and that might break the bank.  I have bushes in the front that I would love to move but they are so big that I don't think I could do the job without killing them. 

I noticed that some of the mint I planted last year is coming back.  I was hoping it would grow and take over a little portion of my yard.  My yard is so huge that I can live with something that will grow and spread so I have less to mow.  We'll see. 

[Dexter Morgan]

We'll probably plant the same as usual.  Tomato's, bell peppers, green onions, swiss chard, and radishes.  We have a limited area and thats about all we can get into it.  We do have some 55gal plastic barrels which were cut in half that we're gonna plant some cucumbers and zucchini in.  We've also got some strawberries coming from Henry Fields because we ordered ever bearing a couple of years ago and they sent us the wrong ones so they're replacing them. 

What you need is some of those hanging plants, that come in the bag. You just add water and hang them up outside, and they grow right in the bag. They have flowers like that too. When you're limited on space thosewould be great, if they work like they're suppose to. I've never tried them before, but I see them on TV all the time. My Grandma used to plant Swiss Chard every year, she absolutely loved it. She had the greenest thumb in the world. I learned a lot from her. 

[Dexter Morgan]

I'm thinking about making some beds.  I need topsoil or planting soil and that might break the bank.  I have bushes in the front that I would love to move but they are so big that I don't think I could do the job without killing them. 

I noticed that some of the mint I planted last year is coming back.  I was hoping it would grow and take over a little portion of my yard.  My yard is so huge that I can live with something that will grow and spread so I have less to mow.  We'll see. 

If you want something that spreads, you need to check into Creeping Phlox. Around here people plant it on the hilly side of the roads, so they don't have to mow the inclines. I don't know if it would grow where you live, but they are great for covering large areas. Not only are they pretty, but they smell soooo good. 

[me]

I'm thinking about making some beds.  I need topsoil or planting soil and that might break the bank.  I have bushes in the front that I would love to move but they are so big that I don't think I could do the job without killing them. 

I noticed that some of the mint I planted last year is coming back.  I was hoping it would grow and take over a little portion of my yard.  My yard is so huge that I can live with something that will grow and spread so I have less to mow.  We'll see. 

I found some stuff called Irish Moss that you can walk on too.  It is low to the ground and has little tiny white flowers.  It also comes in 3 different shades of green. 

[kimmi]

If you want something that spreads, you need to check into Creeping Phlox. Around here people plant it on the hilly side of the roads, so they don't have to mow the inclines. I don't know if it would grow where you live, but they are great for covering large areas. Not only are they pretty, but they smell soooo good. 

I've got some coming to me.  It was pretty inexpensive from the place I ordered from - 12 plants for $3.95.  I hope it spreads like hell.  I'm tired of the drainage ditches on both sides of my property.  I'd like to get it in the bad part of my lawn too. 

ME I'll have to look for the Irish Moss.  Hell I'll take anything right now!

[Dexter Morgan]

I've got some coming to me.  It was pretty inexpensive from the place I ordered from - 12 plants for $3.95.  I hope it spreads like hell.  I'm tired of the drainage ditches on both sides of my property.  I'd like to get it in the bad part of my lawn too. 

ME I'll have to look for the Irish Moss.  Hell I'll take anything right now!

Wow!!! That is a great price. I'm thinking about planting some of it myself. Where did you order your's? I need to check that out. I don't think I've ever seen it that cheap. You must really take your time when you pick out your flowers.  I think your yard is going to be beautiful. When it's in full bloom, maybe you can post pictures? 

[kimmi]

burgess seed and plant company website - look them up.   They are having a penny sale right now on some stuff. 

I will post before and after pics.  I really wanted to work on some things outside today but it is cold and rainy.  I need to purchase a storage shed for my lawn stuff.  I found one online at Home Depot that is made by Rubbermaid.  Anyone have one?  All the reviews say that people love theirs.  I hate it that this place doesn't have a garage.

[Dexter Morgan]

Cool, I'll check them out. 

[Dexter Morgan]

Thing are greening up pretty good here. I'm hoping in the next couple of weeks, I can start planting. The stores in my area have just started putting up the greenhouses. We missed the Good Friday deadline on the potatoes, and I don't know if I'll plant any of those. I'm still not sure what flowers, or produce I'm planting. Pumpkins are a necessity. 

[me]

I got a notification that our strawberry plants had shipped today so we'll be puttin' them in the ground in a few days.....

[Dexter Morgan]

I got a notification that our strawberry plants had shipped today so we'll be puttin' them in the ground in a few days.....

I hope you have good weather for planting. We're still getting frost here at night. I hate planting anything if there is a fear of frost. Hopefully, we wont have much more.