Hehroe!

[stoney321]

I had a garden party yesterday so I was busy busy pulling weeds, pruning, rushing to the nursery and spending ridiculous amount of money on much needed plants to impress my friends, who ended up drinking themselves silly and proclaiming everything beautiful. But... now my flowerbeds are purdy!

Mojitos are delicious and make you have yummy drunk breath. All of this means I wasn't on-line yesterday which means I missed:

• paynbow's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOVELY!!


• crazydiamondsue and uberaeryn drunk and spamming our flists


• itsabigrock's slumber party where I could have braided dovil's hair

But. I got drunk with friends, sat in the warm sunshine and came away with new plants. Whee!!

Today I am hiding from my husband who is playing "construction worker," and not in that fun, sex-game way. He has decided to climb onto the roof of our 2-story house and replace A SHINGLE that blew off. He had me rig an elaborate system of knots around a pair of shingles to hoist up there. I love my husband, but he's, um... a bit soft when it comes to DIY type things outdoors. I'm sitting in my office (under him) and waiting for the inevitable *thumpthumpGAH!* of his slipping off the roof into my flower beds. I will hurt him further if he smashes my David Austin rose. (Why do you need hiking boots on the roof? Um, maybe a flexible sole would be better for gripping? No? Fine. Make your own damn splint when you need one.)

I'm off for my sunshiney 7 mile walk. He's climbing down now... *whew*

Comments

[swmbo.livejournal.com]

EEe! That sounds lovely and also very, very productive. Gardens! I love gardens, but when other people do them because I think my thumb is purple.

*sips mojitos and watches you work*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I will plant that garden for you... Japanese? Cottage? Formal French knot?

*snips more mint from herb bed, freshens that drink for you*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

We have averted danger. He has come off the roof without incident and is preening like he re-shingled the whole damn house.

*wry smirk*

[inlovewithnight.livejournal.com]

What is it about men and insisting on being on the roof? My dad does this ALL THE TIME. ::shakes head in puzzlement:: He made my brother and I hold the 40-foot extension ladder for him one time...yeah, like we were going to be able to stop it if that thing started falling.

So far, though, whenever he falls off the roof/out of the rafters, he's just broken his collarbone or dislocated his shoulder, so it's not too major. Except for the truly epic levels of whining.

I dunno why I'm spamming you, other than teh fun! Pretty flowers! Enjoy your walk! :)

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

He's insane. Of course, I, who am a seasoned rock climber and hanger on of scarily tilted things was not offered the chance to save his neck and do it myself.

But then, I'm sipping mojitos and enjoying the breeze, so....

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

Oooo, which Austin? I've got Abraham Darby, Prospero, Dark Lady, Ambridge Rose, Queen Nefertiti, The Nun, and Pat Austin. And maybe "Wise Portia except I think the grape hyacinths may have eaten her.

I've done the guys on the roof thing lately, mostly to fet Souvenir de Malmaison, Mutabilis, and most especially Long John Silver OFF the roof.

Plant sale yesterday at the Rhododendron Species Foundation (which is at the Weyerhaeuser corporate campus); bought a tiny species rhodie, a huge violet, and a culinary sage plant to replace the geriatric one that has to be hoiked out so I can replace some siding.

Julia, wanting to go to more plant sales but needing more money and fewer things sitting around unplanted first.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

See, here's where the love is strong. It's an Abraham Darby, new cutting from my garden party yesterday. Hooray!! It's going amidst the bugleweed (Ajuga x Chocolate Chip - oh, it is the MOST vivid blue right now), my coral flowering Quince, Star-gazer lillies (which are peeling their heads out of the ground), white verbena, and various sedums.

I'm getting crazy over sedums like you are with roses. I'm up to 23 kinds? But they are so wee and lovely and tumbly!

My Japanese maples (Red Glory and Crimson Queen) are the most vivid burgundy. Pictures are warranted and shall be taken today.

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

Abe's supposed to get gigantic in warm climates, but- who'd care. Best Austin for bouquets, in my opinion.

I'm getting obsessed with stuff that survives invasion by grass, myself. One of the results of (boring body problems I don't want to talk about) is that weeding is getting more and more difficult, and hiring a gardener is one of those things close to the top of the "After both kids are through college" list. Which is part of the species Rhododendron thing; as long as they get sufficient water they do pretty well up here.

Julia, having a bit of a mental grumble about trellis materials and forgetting what else I meant to say: OH! Having more money left after paying taxes than I'd planned for, a digital camera is in my future!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

ooh! What kind of grass, as I have a list of plants for that very thing...

I'll assume you don't have Bermuda, in which I would advise you to suffer through the occassional stolon and tiller near your thorniest of roses...

I'm very excited about my new rose, which is joining a bed with a beautiful climber and adjacent to my Yellow Rose of Texas, double bloom, and GORGEOUS scent.

The best method for keeping grass in the lawn and plants in the bed that I know of is to use a square shovel and edge the grass sharp and at 90°, then mound the bed up high. Rhizomes won't cross in the air, and most stolons can be pulled before they get to be a nuisance, then stop growing altogether. (a shape like a check-mark, or this:|/ )

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

The worst problem, right now, is whatthehellever "Velvet Grass" annual, sets a gazillion seeds and has an absolutely deadly root ball that will fill a gallon pot in about a month. I have to replot about half of the plant jail because of that.

The long-term problem is Festuca repens and Festuca idahoensis, one imported, one native, both of the massive stoloniferous root growth which, in sand, cannot be discouraged by anything less than bamboo barrier. Oh, and Sweet Grass, which stupidly I planted on purpose and which has more numerous and gracile stolons.

And, just to make everything more interesting, Reed Canary Grass, which came in in the hay from the delta, and has stolons as big as my little finger.

Oh- and, after my flirtation with Grass B Gone, I've now also got a lovely infestation of "hair grass" which is a sedge and makes a huge woody root mass 18-24 inches down.

Julia, and I shuld be finishing Chapter 21, but I wrote 600 words in 40 minutes and now my brain is not cooperating

[anelith.livejournal.com]

It terrifies me when my husband gets on the roof -- which he does to clean the gutters at least twice a year. Sometimes he makes me hold the ladder, which I'm not sure why. Could I really save him if he took a header? I think not. And once he gets up there on the roof, there's not a thing I could do. Except listen for that sound which you so aptly describe, and look for the body as it goes hurtling past the window.

On a more pleasant topic -- yay for the new flowers! I can't buy anything except pansies until late May... *sigh*

At least the snow is almost all gone!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I'll take pictures later today of my plants - they are so vivid in my shade bed... Ooh! New plant for you to look into: Jacob's ladder. Try and find a variegated version: the light green brightens up dark shade beds. Pretty, ferny foliage with interesting clumping forms. I picked up two yesterday in my quest to impress the ladies...

[anelith.livejournal.com]

I had one Jacob's ladder a couple of years ago but it did not do well -- I think it was situated in a bad spot. I'll try it again in a better place!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

*ahem* 90% of plant death is caused by overwatering... The other 10% is generally from shade plants in full sun, or vice versa.

What happened? Burn up? Wilt to death? Get walked over by running children? :-)

[anelith.livejournal.com]

It probably *was* overwatering! It was planted right next to a new holly bush, which I was worried about not getting enough water -- so that sounds like an accurate diagnosis.

When I bought these bushes, the nursery put the fear of God into me about making sure they got enough water, so I really did try my best to be there with the hose every few days. Unfortunately that particular bush got a fungus, so maybe I overdid it?

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

*shakes fist at stupid nursey men*

No offense, but they generally know NOTHING about the biology of plants. Wanna know how many times I ran my sprinklers on my lawn and flower beds last year? In the blazing hot Texas heat? 5 times. And it was probably 4 times too many.

Water plants in well at planting, then LEAVE THEM ALONE. Unless you have an unusual drought period, if they sell it in your region, it should take what Mother Nature gives it. And save your receipt. If it dies, they are obligated to replace it within one year.

Fungus? Yeah, too much water. If you have to water, water in the early AM (like, 4!!) so the plants are dry in the cool evening, which is when most bacteria, fungus, etc, go nutso.

I'm here for you!! I'll hold your hand through this gardening year!!

[anelith.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD, you don't know how much effort and water this knowledge would have saved me. Well, you probably do know. I was Mrs. Old Faithful, out there with my hose, sure that I was doing the Right Thing for my plants, especially my bushes, since they were SURE TO DIE (according to the hand-out from the nursery) if I didn't do my duty.

OK, this year, will give the hoses (and me) a rest. It will be a lot more peaceful that way.

[paynbow.livejournal.com]

*smooches* Thankyou. It was actually really good. Had fun, ate too much, drank some too *g*

<--happy for you!!!!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I'm sorry I missed posting yesterday. I'm glad you had a good one. Are their details? Puking? Rough sex with sailors in town for the night? Hee!!

Re: <--happy for you!!!!

[paynbow.livejournal.com]

Hee! I just posted my B-day details. There's nothing spectacularly exciting...I usally have quiet B-days, which works for me. The one time I tried to have a bigger one it wasn't a good. Man...that year I had people I went to highschool with and people from work and people from University and...some of them did not really get along and some of the highschool people...well, I realized why we'd kinda drifted apart. I like thi 'people taking me out' thing. It works for me *g*

[crazydiamondsue.livejournal.com]

Flexible soles. That'd be a good name for a band. Actually, Mr. Uberaeryn came up with a good one the other day while I was listing what was in my new garage: Kevin (Mr. Ubeaeryn) and Seldom Used Bathroom Stuff.

7 mile walk...*envies your committment* I uh, only ate a 2-inch piece of pizza and a hand full of popcorn last night, despite the drunk hungries. Of course, the 4 giant glasses full of pineapple, cranberry, orange and coconut juice (ew, not all at the same time) probably weren't WW kosher. Mmm...kosher...I'm making a brisket for the dinner to celebrate our love. Well, mine and Caza's. I'd make enchiladas to celebrate our love. Cause we're hot and cheesy.

Okay, off to find a snack. Holler at me 'bout the garden party (Oh, Ricky Nelson, taken from us so young...and leaving behind Nelson...) later.

<-- because I never get to use this icon...

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I always thought a good name for a band would be Subclavian Groove. You'd get all the Pre-Med students at your shows...

I'm making Mr. S walk with me. He's getting pudgy and feels crappy all the time. He's getting put on a diet. We'll see if he sticks to it while traveling....

My trellis is in, the clematis is under it, and lily of the valleys are popping up. My bluebonnets are maroon (A&M had fun this winter) and blue and lush, and I should have bearded iris and daylilies any day now...

[crayonbreakygal.livejournal.com]

I'll trade you my hubby to fix the roof if you'll come weed my garden. ::waiting patiently:: Shoot, too damn far away. My hubby is a total DIYer. He's putting the trim in the family room as I type this. He put in the flooring yesterday. Yeah.

My gardeners are kind of kaput. It's hard for me to bend over to pull the weeds. So my flower beds look like shit. Damn rain in CA has helped matters, although I haven't had to water at all. Maybe tomorrow since it's been so hot.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

It's usually easier to weed after a rain, so good thinking. ALthough a healthy layer of mulch will keep future weeds from growing... And benefit your plants, and keep you from buying fertilizers, and... :-)

I promise that if I lived close, I would dig 'em up fer ya.

[somecandytalkin.livejournal.com]

Yesterday was the most perfect day ever for a garden party! Sounds lovely!

I'm glad the roof adventure turned out fine. One time? At b....okay, - My grandfather was cleaning pine needles out the gutters and slid off, landed standing up and crushed both of his ankles. Then he got addicted to Days of Our Lives but that's another story.

Did you see AD? Secular Love?