Hi folks--Yesterday I got this email about an upcoming garden walk in Porter County. The date is July 17, tickets are 6 bucks each in advance. You can follow the link for more information. This is a very active chapter of Master Gardeners, and the events of theirs that I have attended have been very nice.
http://www.pcgarden.info/
If someone wants to coordinate a road trip--Have at it! Get in touch with me and I can post the particulars here. If there is a group that wants to go, I can get to Valpo and buy tickets.
Hail to the dirt!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
GET READY FOR AUGUST
Hey everybody--mark your calenders for the August meeting--it will be Tues. Aug 3. Ben Futa will be home then and he is going to come and talk to us about the wonderful, amazing, and world famous Lurie Gardens in Chicago. Ben did his summer internship with them last year, and it has carved a space out in his heart that will remain there always. He is going to give us an overview of the History of the garden, explain the symbolism and structure of the garden and introduce us to some of the people who conceived the design and made it happen. Its my hope that in the future we can all climb aboard the South Shore, which conveniently stops right at the garden, and take a guided tour so we can see everything Ben tells us about in real life. And if all the stars align right, our Tour Guide (Ben) can take us to the Art Institute to see the beautiful plantings that inhabit it as well.
Sounds like a whole lot of learning and a ton of fun in our future!
LINK TO LURIE GARDENS:
http://luriegarden.org/
Hail to the dirt!
Sounds like a whole lot of learning and a ton of fun in our future!
LINK TO LURIE GARDENS:
http://luriegarden.org/
Hail to the dirt!
Friday, June 11, 2010
New link
Hey folks--There is a new link in the list to "Tree Help.com". I stumbled across this site while trying to diagnose a problem on Rob's new baby fir tree. This a commercial site--they sell stuff--but there is also a LOT of good information here about trees, so I am including it in the link list. If you have a tree with a problem or want information about a specific tree ailment, this would be a good place to start.
Hail to the dirt!
Hail to the dirt!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
ANOTHER plant sale--KEWWWWWLLLLL!
Hey folks--here is a heads up to another plant auction put on by a fellow garden club. The Michiana Garden club has a fundraiser auction and here are the particulars:
This is from an email sent to me by Val Bartels:
We would love if you attended our plant auction on Wednesday, June 23, starting at 10:30 a.m.
It will be held at the home of Sue Loughridge, 17484 Green Oaks Court in Granger. Her phone number is 272-9241. You can also call me at 271-3637.
If you'd like to contribute plants to our auction, that would be OK with us too, but you don't don't need to do that. We serve home-made cookies and iced tea and lemonade and have a wonderful time bidding on all the wonderful plants that our members donate.
I hope some folks can get together and attend this--it sounds like a great time!
Hail to the dirt!
This is from an email sent to me by Val Bartels:
We would love if you attended our plant auction on Wednesday, June 23, starting at 10:30 a.m.
It will be held at the home of Sue Loughridge, 17484 Green Oaks Court in Granger. Her phone number is 272-9241. You can also call me at 271-3637.
If you'd like to contribute plants to our auction, that would be OK with us too, but you don't don't need to do that. We serve home-made cookies and iced tea and lemonade and have a wonderful time bidding on all the wonderful plants that our members donate.
I hope some folks can get together and attend this--it sounds like a great time!
Hail to the dirt!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
ONE SMALL STEP FOR DIRTKIND
WOOT! We're Federated!
We are now part of a group of the nicest, most fun folks it has been my pleasure to meet in a long time (with the exception of US of course!)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Ahhhhhhh--Spring Bulbs
Okay guys--make sure you know where your bulb augers are. If we all band together we can get some serious bulbs for our gardens. Last night Bobbi had her copy of the John Scheepers and Van Engelen catalogs; otherwise known as the "drool books". You can request your own catalogs by going to :
http://www.johnscheepers.com/
or call 860-567-0838.
If there are some bulbs that several people want; and we can come up with enough quantity, we can place one order with either entity for all of us, and get a bunch of bulbs for a very good price. The quality of bulbs these places ship is extremely high--so its a very good value, and with a single shipping address, the cost of that should be cheaper too.
If you think this sounds like a good idea, email me to let me know you want to participate. Get yourself a copy of the catalog and we can hash out the particulars at the next meeting. This is something else I would like to develop as a benefit of being a club member--to expand and increase our buying power by purchasing larger orders as a group.
Think about it and let me know if you are interested.
Hail to the dirt!
http://www.johnscheepers.com/
or call 860-567-0838.
If there are some bulbs that several people want; and we can come up with enough quantity, we can place one order with either entity for all of us, and get a bunch of bulbs for a very good price. The quality of bulbs these places ship is extremely high--so its a very good value, and with a single shipping address, the cost of that should be cheaper too.
If you think this sounds like a good idea, email me to let me know you want to participate. Get yourself a copy of the catalog and we can hash out the particulars at the next meeting. This is something else I would like to develop as a benefit of being a club member--to expand and increase our buying power by purchasing larger orders as a group.
Think about it and let me know if you are interested.
Hail to the dirt!
MAGGIE FOUND THE PEONY LINK!
PINK is for Peonies.
Maggie found a couple links about the storage tip she was telling us about at Bobbi's. This link actually will take you to the other link she sent me, as well as to the TV segment where Maggie saw this. And hopefully the gal that posted this will update with her results, so we can find out how well this works.
THANKS MAGGIE!!!! (her husband may not be happy about this, since his beer fridge will have to help out with the research)
http://sweetchicevents.com/blog/storing-peonies-in-the-fridge-an-experiment/
HAIL TO THE (pink) DIRT
Maggie found a couple links about the storage tip she was telling us about at Bobbi's. This link actually will take you to the other link she sent me, as well as to the TV segment where Maggie saw this. And hopefully the gal that posted this will update with her results, so we can find out how well this works.
THANKS MAGGIE!!!! (her husband may not be happy about this, since his beer fridge will have to help out with the research)
http://sweetchicevents.com/blog/storing-peonies-in-the-fridge-an-experiment/
HAIL TO THE (pink) DIRT
MARK YOUR CALENDERS (SORT OF)
Hey folks--at the meeting last night we decided we are going to take a trip to Wavecrest Nursery one of the last two weekends in August. We will be going on a Sunday. We will talk about this more later at the next meeting and firm up the dates and get carpools figured out and stuff. This will be a 90 minute to 2 hr. drive, and we will have lunch up there at Crane's Pie Pantry.
Here is a link to Wavecrest:
http://www.wavecrestnursery.com/
and one to Crane's:
http://cranespiepantry.com/
get ready for some serious PIE. Lots of fun shopping ahead!
Here is a link to Wavecrest:
http://www.wavecrestnursery.com/
and one to Crane's:
http://cranespiepantry.com/
get ready for some serious PIE. Lots of fun shopping ahead!
Bobbi and Dave's Tree Paradise
Hey everybody. We had a great time last night at Bobbi and Dave's house. Got through the business meeting without too much pain--being the great leader I am, I forgot to have us vote in the bylaws. Ooops. Well--we will do it next time. The feedback I have gotten so far is that they are fine with people. Low turnout due to holiday traveling and misc. things--Happy Birthday to Ronnie from everybody. Sue, hope you had a good trip. Mary Ann--hope you managed to rest up after your busy day with the kiddies, Marianne, hope everything got planted before the morning rain washed it all in. Ruth, we missed you, and Patrick too. Cindy--well--she is having the time of her life, we can't wait to hear all about it.
Okay--so we had a fabulous time. The weather was fine--and Bobbi even had cookies and lemonade--bless her heart. Maggie came with news of an incredible flower tip she saw MARTHA THE MAGNIFICENT do--she will look into it more for next time. Basically it involved cutting peonies when in the bud stage--after they have shed their waxy green outer coating. These are then wrapped in the cellophane florist sleeves, then in newspaper and put in the refrigerator (in a vase of water or just plain???? I forget now). According to MARTHA--these blooms can be stored in this stage of bloom for up to SIX MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!! How amazing is that?????????? Peonies flowering in October or November? Who wouldn't want that???
Of course now we all have to go out and buy ourselves a walk in cooler so we can participate in this miracle. Or for those poor slobs like me that can't grow peonies worth a darn, we first have to learn to grow the plants. Or go to Bobbi's house and cut some of the amazing heirloom varieties they grow there.
And speaking of Bobbi's--she and Dave gave us a wonderfully informative tour of their gardens. The two of them are simply mad about nature and the outdoors and it shows in every step you take. Bobbi's collections of watering cans, antique garden planters, nautical memorabilia, garden art, and everything else underscore her deep love for family and history and her strong commitment to living a beautiful life in every way she can. Dave's knowledge about all the plants and his obvious affection for them all show how plants can preserve and continue family memories and traditions, while at the same time building new ones. He has a large plot of family peonies that have come through several generations and will continue forward from him. Bobbi has a large planting in the front yard of plants from her father. Its amazing how such deep affection for someone can be preserved in a garden. The plants are a constant reminder of the person you loved so much. These plants that were watched by their eyes and touched by their hands now in turn add Bobbi and Dave's eyes and hands to the collective memory they hold within their leaves and flowers.
And that was just the beginning. Bobbi and Dave have a fascinating collection of trees, which showcase the interests and expertise of their son, Michael, who is the curator of the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard. And everywhere there are plantings, the hand of their son, Jamie, is in evidence, since he is a constant source of help to them. Two species of Katsura tree, an amazing Striped Maple, two types of Golden Rain tree along with Bottlebrush Buckeye, and other assorted Buckeyes, pagoda dogwoods all over the place, a Dawn Redwood of beautiful proportion, a wide ranging collection of viburnums, numerous St. John'sWorts that were amazing to me for their huge size, simply gorgeous plicata Viburnums, native Witch Hazels and "Arnold's Promise" Witch Hazel, Serviceberry, Hydrangeas I can't begin to remember the names of--"Nikko Blue" among others, a gorgeous climbing hydrangea--and what may have been the highlight--an amazing Kousa dogwood in full bloom. Woody plants are often something that we forget about in our mad rush to have flowers. But Bobbi and Dave's garden is a perfect example of why these plants matter and what they bring to an area. I know I haven't mentioned everything we saw--there were so many to see. For those of us that live in more suburban or urban areas, it is possible to include some of these exceptional plants because there are dwarf forms available. I know I have several dwarf viburnums, and there are numerous dwarf conifers, and dwarf forms of dogwoods, as well as weeping or contorted forms of several other species that would fit very well in a smaller setting. Dave and Bobbi's house is also a wonderful lesson about overstory development and how a garden changes over time under the influence of large maturing trees. Planning for size is an important part of landscape design, and seeing so many beautifully grown specimens really helps visualize the impact these plants would have in one's own yard. We thank Dave and Bobbi for their generosity of spirit both in planting these gardens in the first place, and for sharing them with us.
Hail to the dirt--and WOOOOOT! for trees! (the image is not from Bobbi's--its a photo of my Kousa Dogwood. If Bobbi can get some photos to me of her own garden I will change this--just wanted some "pretty" to put in the post).
Okay--so we had a fabulous time. The weather was fine--and Bobbi even had cookies and lemonade--bless her heart. Maggie came with news of an incredible flower tip she saw MARTHA THE MAGNIFICENT do--she will look into it more for next time. Basically it involved cutting peonies when in the bud stage--after they have shed their waxy green outer coating. These are then wrapped in the cellophane florist sleeves, then in newspaper and put in the refrigerator (in a vase of water or just plain???? I forget now). According to MARTHA--these blooms can be stored in this stage of bloom for up to SIX MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!! How amazing is that?????????? Peonies flowering in October or November? Who wouldn't want that???
Of course now we all have to go out and buy ourselves a walk in cooler so we can participate in this miracle. Or for those poor slobs like me that can't grow peonies worth a darn, we first have to learn to grow the plants. Or go to Bobbi's house and cut some of the amazing heirloom varieties they grow there.
And speaking of Bobbi's--she and Dave gave us a wonderfully informative tour of their gardens. The two of them are simply mad about nature and the outdoors and it shows in every step you take. Bobbi's collections of watering cans, antique garden planters, nautical memorabilia, garden art, and everything else underscore her deep love for family and history and her strong commitment to living a beautiful life in every way she can. Dave's knowledge about all the plants and his obvious affection for them all show how plants can preserve and continue family memories and traditions, while at the same time building new ones. He has a large plot of family peonies that have come through several generations and will continue forward from him. Bobbi has a large planting in the front yard of plants from her father. Its amazing how such deep affection for someone can be preserved in a garden. The plants are a constant reminder of the person you loved so much. These plants that were watched by their eyes and touched by their hands now in turn add Bobbi and Dave's eyes and hands to the collective memory they hold within their leaves and flowers.
And that was just the beginning. Bobbi and Dave have a fascinating collection of trees, which showcase the interests and expertise of their son, Michael, who is the curator of the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard. And everywhere there are plantings, the hand of their son, Jamie, is in evidence, since he is a constant source of help to them. Two species of Katsura tree, an amazing Striped Maple, two types of Golden Rain tree along with Bottlebrush Buckeye, and other assorted Buckeyes, pagoda dogwoods all over the place, a Dawn Redwood of beautiful proportion, a wide ranging collection of viburnums, numerous St. John'sWorts that were amazing to me for their huge size, simply gorgeous plicata Viburnums, native Witch Hazels and "Arnold's Promise" Witch Hazel, Serviceberry, Hydrangeas I can't begin to remember the names of--"Nikko Blue" among others, a gorgeous climbing hydrangea--and what may have been the highlight--an amazing Kousa dogwood in full bloom. Woody plants are often something that we forget about in our mad rush to have flowers. But Bobbi and Dave's garden is a perfect example of why these plants matter and what they bring to an area. I know I haven't mentioned everything we saw--there were so many to see. For those of us that live in more suburban or urban areas, it is possible to include some of these exceptional plants because there are dwarf forms available. I know I have several dwarf viburnums, and there are numerous dwarf conifers, and dwarf forms of dogwoods, as well as weeping or contorted forms of several other species that would fit very well in a smaller setting. Dave and Bobbi's house is also a wonderful lesson about overstory development and how a garden changes over time under the influence of large maturing trees. Planning for size is an important part of landscape design, and seeing so many beautifully grown specimens really helps visualize the impact these plants would have in one's own yard. We thank Dave and Bobbi for their generosity of spirit both in planting these gardens in the first place, and for sharing them with us.
Hail to the dirt--and WOOOOOT! for trees! (the image is not from Bobbi's--its a photo of my Kousa Dogwood. If Bobbi can get some photos to me of her own garden I will change this--just wanted some "pretty" to put in the post).
Monday, May 31, 2010
Okay folks--lets see your gardens!
Finally I have gotten around to figuring out a way to let everyone share garden photos. Its kind of clumsy, but it will work. It seems I can't create a second album the way I would like to in Picasa--one that will link into the slideshow. I have come up with what I am certain Rob would call a "klugey" workaround (programmer lingo for--"well it works but it stinks"). If you go to the "Handy Links for Dirty Hands" section (lower left--scroll down) you will see a new link there that says "Member Gardens on Parade". If you click on this link it will take you to a new Picasa album.
Here's what you will need to do to get photos up on here. Send me Jpeg files of your photos--please Jpegs. I know that sounds like a broken record, but it makes the process go faster, and therefore more likely to get done in a timely manner. If you want the caption to say something specific, just tell me what. I will at least captionate them with your name, so people will know whose garden it is. My hope is to organize everyone's garden into sort of mini files within the album--we'll see how long it takes me to beat that idea into submission. Anyway--then I can copy some of the pictures into the other album, so some of them will show up in the slideshow.
Hope this idea works--I want this blog to be something fun that everyone can participate in. Just need some photos from you all now.
Hail to the dirt!
Here's what you will need to do to get photos up on here. Send me Jpeg files of your photos--please Jpegs. I know that sounds like a broken record, but it makes the process go faster, and therefore more likely to get done in a timely manner. If you want the caption to say something specific, just tell me what. I will at least captionate them with your name, so people will know whose garden it is. My hope is to organize everyone's garden into sort of mini files within the album--we'll see how long it takes me to beat that idea into submission. Anyway--then I can copy some of the pictures into the other album, so some of them will show up in the slideshow.
Hope this idea works--I want this blog to be something fun that everyone can participate in. Just need some photos from you all now.
Hail to the dirt!
Monday, May 17, 2010
REDNECKS AND BLUE LUPINES
For those that couldn't attend, you missed a lovely day at Mary Ann and Blackie's house. The weather was perfect, the company amazing and the lupines were incredible. Upon arriving, everybody had a chance to admire Mary Ann's beautiful yard and garden, which is full of Asian influences. The tranquil beauty of it put us all in the mood to relax and enjoy the day. All the recent interior work they have done on their house was much admired as well.
Ebbie, the bassett, escorted us all around, baying her commentary as we went along.
Then everybody rode back through the woods in the old hay wagon--pulled by our tour guide, Blackie and his vintage Allis-Chalmers tractor. Saw many wonderful things--beautiful old trees and woodland understory, lots of low hanging branches :-) ,the uncommonly complex ecosystem that is home to the lupines, and a fern bog where Cinnamon Ferns make their homes at the top of tall hummocks. Still in the fiddlehead stage, Blackie told us that by summers' end the ferns will be towering very tall overhead.
Bobbie got some starts of skunk cabbage, so she was a very happy camper, and we all got to smell it (lucky us--UGH). Fortunately the lupine was filling the air with its very gentle perfume nearby. There was hawkweed beginning to flower among the lupine, studding the lavender blue carpet with points of brilliant yellow. Then we piled back into the wagon and headed for the campfire, where the carnivores among us roasted hot dogs on sticks, and everyone enjoyed veggies and dip, chips and queso and a wide assortment of cookies and goodies. Then we all bombed around the pond for awhile, examining the plant life and looking for the elusive turtles. All in all, a wonderful way to enjoy the spring time.
Many thanks to Mary Ann and Blackie for this terrific idea to share the beauty of their home and land with us. Maybe it can become an annual event--what a wonderful way to begin the summer!
Hail to the dirt!
Thanks to Bobbi D. for the pics!
Then everybody rode back through the woods in the old hay wagon--pulled by our tour guide, Blackie and his vintage Allis-Chalmers tractor. Saw many wonderful things--beautiful old trees and woodland understory, lots of low hanging branches :-) ,the uncommonly complex ecosystem that is home to the lupines, and a fern bog where Cinnamon Ferns make their homes at the top of tall hummocks. Still in the fiddlehead stage, Blackie told us that by summers' end the ferns will be towering very tall overhead.
Bobbie got some starts of skunk cabbage, so she was a very happy camper, and we all got to smell it (lucky us--UGH). Fortunately the lupine was filling the air with its very gentle perfume nearby. There was hawkweed beginning to flower among the lupine, studding the lavender blue carpet with points of brilliant yellow. Then we piled back into the wagon and headed for the campfire, where the carnivores among us roasted hot dogs on sticks, and everyone enjoyed veggies and dip, chips and queso and a wide assortment of cookies and goodies. Then we all bombed around the pond for awhile, examining the plant life and looking for the elusive turtles. All in all, a wonderful way to enjoy the spring time.
Many thanks to Mary Ann and Blackie for this terrific idea to share the beauty of their home and land with us. Maybe it can become an annual event--what a wonderful way to begin the summer!
Hail to the dirt!
Thanks to Bobbi D. for the pics!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
NEW FRIENDS IN LAPORTE!
Hey everybody--thanks to all of you that attended breakfast here and the plant sale in Laporte. For those of you that weren't able to make it, you missed some WONDERFUL instant coffee (yes I am being sarcastic). At any rate--it was a fun way to spend the morning and we all came home with some nice bargains to boot. I really appreciate your going to help me show our appreciation to the Four Seasons Gardeners, which is our sponsoring club. They have been really welcoming and positive, and it was great to be able to give them some of the same back. All our new babies are planted, and hopefully they will get nice and big so when the time comes we will be able to share them and keep the circle going.
And on the way home we found a nice new place to buy plants--Rosenbaum's nursery off of Joliet Rd. in Door Village. For club members of the hosta persuasion, she has about 300 cultivars total; not all are for sale yet, but she had some excellent crowns in 5 dollar pots, and some other nicely grown stock. She is not open Monday and Tues. except for wholesale orders, but the rest of the week is okay.
And we had two guests go along--Hayden and Sherri, both of whom we hope will join the club at some point.
Didn't take any photos--someone needs to get on the ball and start taking pics for me to post--of course you would think that someone would be ME, but since I can't be counted on to remember my own name, much less to carry a camera, its not surprising that nothing has happened yet. If nothing else I could have taken a photo of the KILLER house we saw on the way! Hayden already has dibs on the barn, and Rob and I will rent a room from him. The rest of you can fight over the house!
Hail to the dirt! See you tomorrow at Mary Ann McG's. Anyone needing direction can stop here on the way and follow us.
And on the way home we found a nice new place to buy plants--Rosenbaum's nursery off of Joliet Rd. in Door Village. For club members of the hosta persuasion, she has about 300 cultivars total; not all are for sale yet, but she had some excellent crowns in 5 dollar pots, and some other nicely grown stock. She is not open Monday and Tues. except for wholesale orders, but the rest of the week is okay.
And we had two guests go along--Hayden and Sherri, both of whom we hope will join the club at some point.
Didn't take any photos--someone needs to get on the ball and start taking pics for me to post--of course you would think that someone would be ME, but since I can't be counted on to remember my own name, much less to carry a camera, its not surprising that nothing has happened yet. If nothing else I could have taken a photo of the KILLER house we saw on the way! Hayden already has dibs on the barn, and Rob and I will rent a room from him. The rest of you can fight over the house!
Hail to the dirt! See you tomorrow at Mary Ann McG's. Anyone needing direction can stop here on the way and follow us.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Added TWO Links
Hi folks--Its raining and I am putzing around in the house. Was hunting for some information for Ben about clay soil and came across this excellent website. This gentleman is in Canada, so he is familar with COLD winters, and he has run a nursery and used organic practices for a long time. There is a ton of free information here--it looks like you can subscribe as well and get even more. Just look in the links for "Dougs Garden Site".
And Ben just sent me an update to his new site, Plan-T so the link to it is here too. Be sure to check out what Ben has to say--his interest in sustainability and biodiversity in the garden is an important message. The fact that a garden is created by human hands doesn't make it any less of an ecosystem over time. This is an important aspect of gardening that should be considered, and Ben is passionate about it! So click on over there and see what he has to say.
Hail to the dirt!
And Ben just sent me an update to his new site, Plan-T so the link to it is here too. Be sure to check out what Ben has to say--his interest in sustainability and biodiversity in the garden is an important message. The fact that a garden is created by human hands doesn't make it any less of an ecosystem over time. This is an important aspect of gardening that should be considered, and Ben is passionate about it! So click on over there and see what he has to say.
Hail to the dirt!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
WE ROCK!!!!
Hi everybody! We had a great meeting last night. Applause to everybody for sticking with the workload and contributing so much. We have a good, workable, sensible set of by-laws now and that is thanks to all of you. I have rewritten the by-laws and standing rules and emailed copies to everybody. Please get in touch with me if you didn't get yours. They are attached to your email and will open in Microsoft Word.
And way to go with the "Show and Tell"--Sue it was great of you to bring a plant and give it as a gift. This sets a great precedent for an ongoing climate of friendship and sharing--one of the many benefits of being a member of this terrific group.
Buscia--thank you so much for helping with the dues. You have no idea how much that helped me. I really am all at sea when finances are involved.
The "favorite nursery" portion of the meeting was terrific--I think we all learned about at least one new place to add to our shopping itinerary. For me--I can't wait to get up to Sawyer and check them out.
As reminders--be thinking about when you want to go to Mary Ann McG and Blackie's house for the redneck garden party and hayride. The field of lupine really is a sight worth seeing. And Mary Ann has lots of other garden treasures to check out as well. Her 'goddess of the garage wall' (my disrespectful name--not hers) is exquisite.
Some other things to keep in mind:
We need a volunteer to take charge of the "Retailers Roundup" page of the blog. Remember the hope is that we can build good will with area nurseries to benefit both the nurseries as well as club members.
If my guidelines for getting photos to me for the blog were unclear--please communicate this with me so I can clarify them. We all want to see your beloved BABIES.
We will discuss in more detail our possible trip to Fennville in August.
The subject for our next meeting will be TREES. Bring something that shows what trees mean to you--either some leaves or a branch off a favorite tree, a picture of a tree you love, a poem, whatever. If you have experience with certain types of trees, come prepared to contribute. Bobbi is going to see if she can line up a speaker, but even if she can't we have enough interesting ideas between us to entertain ourselves.
Guess thats all for now--watch your email and let me know if there is anything you want posted here or if you have any suggestions.
as always--hail to the dirt!
And way to go with the "Show and Tell"--Sue it was great of you to bring a plant and give it as a gift. This sets a great precedent for an ongoing climate of friendship and sharing--one of the many benefits of being a member of this terrific group.
Buscia--thank you so much for helping with the dues. You have no idea how much that helped me. I really am all at sea when finances are involved.
The "favorite nursery" portion of the meeting was terrific--I think we all learned about at least one new place to add to our shopping itinerary. For me--I can't wait to get up to Sawyer and check them out.
As reminders--be thinking about when you want to go to Mary Ann McG and Blackie's house for the redneck garden party and hayride. The field of lupine really is a sight worth seeing. And Mary Ann has lots of other garden treasures to check out as well. Her 'goddess of the garage wall' (my disrespectful name--not hers) is exquisite.
Some other things to keep in mind:
We need a volunteer to take charge of the "Retailers Roundup" page of the blog. Remember the hope is that we can build good will with area nurseries to benefit both the nurseries as well as club members.
If my guidelines for getting photos to me for the blog were unclear--please communicate this with me so I can clarify them. We all want to see your beloved BABIES.
We will discuss in more detail our possible trip to Fennville in August.
The subject for our next meeting will be TREES. Bring something that shows what trees mean to you--either some leaves or a branch off a favorite tree, a picture of a tree you love, a poem, whatever. If you have experience with certain types of trees, come prepared to contribute. Bobbi is going to see if she can line up a speaker, but even if she can't we have enough interesting ideas between us to entertain ourselves.
Guess thats all for now--watch your email and let me know if there is anything you want posted here or if you have any suggestions.
as always--hail to the dirt!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Get your Bird Eyes On
Hey dirty handers! We are right now on the threshold of a very special event in our spring season--the onset of the "warbler wave". Every spring, thousands of these chickadee size birds move north to their nesting grounds and we are along the migratory path. The "wave" refers to the fact that these birds move in multi species groups in large numbers. Often flying at night for thousands of miles, many of them come to rest and refuel in our area. A few species stay here and nest, but a great many of them continue on northward after a short stopover to eat everything they can get ahold of to replenish their energy.
Warblers are attracted to areas with very high insect populations and can usually be found in mature forests, especially if water is nearby. Many species are drawn to moving water like streams or rivers. They often stay high up in the tree canopy, and can be difficult to spot or identify for this reason. Birders often complain of "warbler neck" which refers to the many hours spent with your head cocked back as far as it can go while you scan the treetops for these little flying jewels. Fortunately, since nesting time is near, these birds are tricked out in their brilliant plumage, and usually sing like crazy. Often they can be spotted as their bright colors flash among the trees, or located and identified by their songs. Binoculars with the largest lenses are best for viewing this quick little birds--they let in more light and make it easier to get your eye "on the bird".
While places like Potato Creek attract huge numbers of warblers (and people to watch them), we can make our own gardens hospitable to them. If there are a number of mature trees in your yard and surrounding neighborhood, you can sometimes attract them with a source of moving water, like a gently flowing fountain. The first fountain we ever built (a watering can that spilled into a basin) was up and running for about an hour when a Scarlet Tanager came down from the trees to see it and get a drink. Suet--especially the kind with dead bugs in it--will sometimes attract a hungry Pine Warbler. Some warblers have a real affinity for certain conifers--the Bay Breasted Warbler is closely associated with Norway Spruce--and we have seen them in exactly those trees at our house.
So keep these beautiful little birds in mind at this time of year--and if you see a small bird moving quickly through the trees, get some bino's out and spend some time looking. When conditions are just right you will be treated to something you will never forget. We have seen as many as 10 different species in our yard in active years, and more than that at Potato Creek.
And did you know that cell phone towers are taking a very hard toll on migratory bird populations? Its something to think about.
Warblers are attracted to areas with very high insect populations and can usually be found in mature forests, especially if water is nearby. Many species are drawn to moving water like streams or rivers. They often stay high up in the tree canopy, and can be difficult to spot or identify for this reason. Birders often complain of "warbler neck" which refers to the many hours spent with your head cocked back as far as it can go while you scan the treetops for these little flying jewels. Fortunately, since nesting time is near, these birds are tricked out in their brilliant plumage, and usually sing like crazy. Often they can be spotted as their bright colors flash among the trees, or located and identified by their songs. Binoculars with the largest lenses are best for viewing this quick little birds--they let in more light and make it easier to get your eye "on the bird".
While places like Potato Creek attract huge numbers of warblers (and people to watch them), we can make our own gardens hospitable to them. If there are a number of mature trees in your yard and surrounding neighborhood, you can sometimes attract them with a source of moving water, like a gently flowing fountain. The first fountain we ever built (a watering can that spilled into a basin) was up and running for about an hour when a Scarlet Tanager came down from the trees to see it and get a drink. Suet--especially the kind with dead bugs in it--will sometimes attract a hungry Pine Warbler. Some warblers have a real affinity for certain conifers--the Bay Breasted Warbler is closely associated with Norway Spruce--and we have seen them in exactly those trees at our house.
So keep these beautiful little birds in mind at this time of year--and if you see a small bird moving quickly through the trees, get some bino's out and spend some time looking. When conditions are just right you will be treated to something you will never forget. We have seen as many as 10 different species in our yard in active years, and more than that at Potato Creek.
And did you know that cell phone towers are taking a very hard toll on migratory bird populations? Its something to think about.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
BEV KELVER VISITS DIRTY HANDS
Many thanks to the lovely and very gracious Bev Kelver, an active member of the Four Seasons Gardeners Garden Club of LaPorte, for her visit to our newly formed club. Bev has been a wonderful mentor as our club has moved forward from idea to infancy. We value her friendship and help so very much. Through her we hope to form a strong bond with the membership of her club--after all, to be a gardener is to share what you have and what you know with others.Bev brought a vase of absolutely GORGEOUS daffodils with her, which were given as a prize to the lucky Bobbi Dosmann, and talked to us about the importance of garden design for year round beauty. Such concerns as structure for winter interest (grasses are great for this), attention to mature plant size and tree canopy in the planning stages, as well as suggestions for layered planting of spring bulbs to maximize color and succession in a given space were covered. Bev recommended several books. Among them were "Color for Your Winter Yard and Garden" by G. Wilson and "Four Season Landscape" published by Rodale books. In addition, Bev spent a lot of time telling us about the National Garden Clubs, Inc., drawing on her extensive history in the organization, which includes serving as State President. She also mentioned that her husband, Donn, who is quite an authority on the subject of gourds (and has a published book to prove it!) would be available for a program--something we will certainly take him up on in the near future!
All in all, it was a wonderful "first official" meeting and a positive way to get on our feet. We all appreciate these two lovely people and look forward to an ongoing relationship with them.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Notes and junk from your Fearless Leader
Hi Folks:
Just a little philosophizing and general stuff. I want to know your reactions to the blog. If you see changes you want made, let me know. Stuff like--is the text to small--do you hate the colored text, is the layout confusing, any announcements you want me to put up. I have a brain like a sieve and this time of year is the worst. I go about 8000 directions at once so things get forgotten or left half done A LOT. I don't mind being reminded about things and poked once in awhile to complete tasks so don't hesitate to do that. Just be nice about it :-).
It is my belief that a club takes on the identity and priorities of its membership. If the priority is to be exclusive and superior feeling, then that is how the club will feel to others. This can be a subconscious thing or an active attitude. Regardless of how it happens, it will happen. For my part I want our club to be informal and fun, inclusive to everyone who loves gardening, and an active and busy organization that is a pleasure for its members. None of us has time to waste, and a club that doesn't enhance our existance as friends and gardeners isn't worth the effort. To me what this means is that everyone should feel the desire to contribute in some way, which I think most people want anyway. My job is to open the door by listening to all ideas impartially and by setting an example by my own actions. Gardeners are by and large highly creative people--after all the act of gardening is a kind of creation itself--and creative energy is the most valuable thing everyone can bring to this organization. We can foster creativity in many ways--by the kinds of programs we offer and by encouraging everyone to take an active part. To me the start of a project begins with casting a huge net upon the waters and seeing what is pulled in. I tell people when my mind takes on an idea it goes like a runaway train, with thoughts and ideas falling headlong over themselves. I enjoy this process and let every idea have its "say" and then add or reject each idea as its merits or shortcomings become apparent. I feel this club will best be served by the same type of process--so lets hear the ideas!
And patience will be needed too--I ask for your tolerance as I figure out what the heck I am doing. I have never been an officer in ANYTHING and really don't have the first notion of how to go about it--so I am just relying on my common sense. I tend to be a bit inelegant sometimes, it is not intentional and certainly never intended to hurt or offend. I value honesty much more highly than a sensitivity to whatever feelings you think might be hurt. Tell me the truth, and expect to get the truth from me. That is the highest measure of regard we can show one another--the willingness to be truthful in our interactions.
Guess thats all for now--be thinking about what you want this club to be and how to get there from here. The journey will be fun if we decide to make it that way!
Just a little philosophizing and general stuff. I want to know your reactions to the blog. If you see changes you want made, let me know. Stuff like--is the text to small--do you hate the colored text, is the layout confusing, any announcements you want me to put up. I have a brain like a sieve and this time of year is the worst. I go about 8000 directions at once so things get forgotten or left half done A LOT. I don't mind being reminded about things and poked once in awhile to complete tasks so don't hesitate to do that. Just be nice about it :-).
It is my belief that a club takes on the identity and priorities of its membership. If the priority is to be exclusive and superior feeling, then that is how the club will feel to others. This can be a subconscious thing or an active attitude. Regardless of how it happens, it will happen. For my part I want our club to be informal and fun, inclusive to everyone who loves gardening, and an active and busy organization that is a pleasure for its members. None of us has time to waste, and a club that doesn't enhance our existance as friends and gardeners isn't worth the effort. To me what this means is that everyone should feel the desire to contribute in some way, which I think most people want anyway. My job is to open the door by listening to all ideas impartially and by setting an example by my own actions. Gardeners are by and large highly creative people--after all the act of gardening is a kind of creation itself--and creative energy is the most valuable thing everyone can bring to this organization. We can foster creativity in many ways--by the kinds of programs we offer and by encouraging everyone to take an active part. To me the start of a project begins with casting a huge net upon the waters and seeing what is pulled in. I tell people when my mind takes on an idea it goes like a runaway train, with thoughts and ideas falling headlong over themselves. I enjoy this process and let every idea have its "say" and then add or reject each idea as its merits or shortcomings become apparent. I feel this club will best be served by the same type of process--so lets hear the ideas!
And patience will be needed too--I ask for your tolerance as I figure out what the heck I am doing. I have never been an officer in ANYTHING and really don't have the first notion of how to go about it--so I am just relying on my common sense. I tend to be a bit inelegant sometimes, it is not intentional and certainly never intended to hurt or offend. I value honesty much more highly than a sensitivity to whatever feelings you think might be hurt. Tell me the truth, and expect to get the truth from me. That is the highest measure of regard we can show one another--the willingness to be truthful in our interactions.
Guess thats all for now--be thinking about what you want this club to be and how to get there from here. The journey will be fun if we decide to make it that way!
Welcome to the Dirty Hands Blog!
Hello Dirty Hand-ers! Welcome to our blog! This will be a place to share information, pictures, garden tips, whatever. I have just created it, and don't know a lot about the process yet, so don't expect anything miraculous. In the coming days I will try to get a protocol established so I can post pictures or info that you send along. For the moment, please direct questions ONLY in text form to the dirtyhands email :(dirtyhandshappysouls@yahoo.com) do not send any picture files to that address. Bobbie--the email czarina is on a slow dialup connection and uploading might create a problem. We will address this later on and get everything operational. Right now--here are the following upcoming things:NEXT MEETING IS TUESDAY, MAY 4 AT 7 PM AT SHIRLEY'S. After this meeting (which will have been our third meeting) I will finish the paperwork to complete our federation with the Indiana Garden Club and the National Garden Club. If you haven't paid your dues and know you want to join, don't forget to take care of that. (its 20 bucks).
REMEMBER BREAKFAST AT MY PLACE ON SAT. MAY 15 FROM 7:30 TO 8:30 BEFORE WE HEAD TO LAPORTE AND PLANT SHOPPING. If you can't attend the breakfast but still want to go to the sale--I will get some directions to the park shelter figured out and post them here later.
MAY 1 IS THE NORTH WINDS GARDEN CLUB GARDEN PARTY IN ELKHART. REGISTRATION FOR HALF DAY IS 15.00 AND FULL DAY IS 27.00 OR 27.50--CAN'T REMEMBER AND DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME. I SENT ATTACHMENTS WITH EMAILS OUT ABOUT THIS. LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO AND WHEN--I AM PLANNING TO ATTEND THE MORNING SESSION. THEIR DEADLINE IS 4/26 BUT SINCE WE MAY BE A BIT LATE, THEY WOULD JUST LIKE A HEAD COUNT SO THEY HAVE ENOUGH FOOD.
MARY ANN MCGWIN HAS WRITTEN A QUESTIONNAIRE TO HELP GET TO KNOW EVERYBODY'S INTERESTS. MORE ON THIS LATER.
Remember that Shirley has business cards with basic information about the club on it for you to pass out if you come across someone you think might be interested.
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