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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2021 11:29:16 GMT -5
Got started on the iris bed but holy cow it's big. As in maybe 30' x 30'? Bigger? Only managed to cut back (and dig weeds) from about 20% of it. Rome wasn't built in a day, and the iris bed won't be tidied in a day, either. When I sat down on the teeny tiny patio to admire the garden in back, I got a wild hair and decided to move a few more things. Just a few. There are now black-eyed Susan plants in between blanket flower plants. I had a couple of BE Susans that really needed to be divided. So they were divided and replanted. These aren't the big ones the size of daisies; their petals are finer. I don't know the name. And the gomphrena? They are either extremely happy or very good at faking it ETA: I went out again and cut more but didn't clean up any of it. It's just too drippy humid and hot. And yeah, it's big, but after looking at it again, probably only 20x20, not 30x30. I'm just a whiney wimp. How do you cut back your iris? Ours are planted around/under some crepe myrtles. Mister trimmed the trees because the foliage was shading my new babies, and the bonus was that the trees themselves looked much better after he trimmed them. But now you can see the iris stuff too and it’s not pretty. OAN, one of the first pictures I bought after we moved was a black and white picture of a flower. I didn’t know what kind of flower it was, but I thought it was soooo pretty every time I came across it while endlessly searching online for wall art. I finally bought it, in a very large size. It’s been in a few rooms in the house and is currently in our bedroom, but I don’t think that’s it’s permanent home either. Anyway, a couple weeks ago, the picture caught my eye and I realized the flower in the picture is an iris lol. Idk why it took me so long to realize it was the same as the flowers I was oohing and ahhing over this spring. A couple nights ago, I told Mister to look at the picture and tell me where he’s seen that flower before IRL. It didn’t click for him either, so I told him. And he was like “NOW the picture makes sense!”. Apparently the picture has always bugged him because a couple of the petals look almost translucent (I hadn’t even noticed until he pointed it out) and he thought it was a mistake by the artist. But after having seen IRL how delicate they look, the “mistake” made sense to him. So 1. It’s amusing to me that it took so long for one of us to make the connection between the wall art and the flowers in our yard. 2. I must REALLY like irises.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jul 16, 2021 12:00:49 GMT -5
Got started on the iris bed but holy cow it's big. As in maybe 30' x 30'? Bigger? Only managed to cut back (and dig weeds) from about 20% of it. Rome wasn't built in a day, and the iris bed won't be tidied in a day, either. When I sat down on the teeny tiny patio to admire the garden in back, I got a wild hair and decided to move a few more things. Just a few. There are now black-eyed Susan plants in between blanket flower plants. I had a couple of BE Susans that really needed to be divided. So they were divided and replanted. These aren't the big ones the size of daisies; their petals are finer. I don't know the name. And the gomphrena? They are either extremely happy or very good at faking it ETA: I went out again and cut more but didn't clean up any of it. It's just too drippy humid and hot. And yeah, it's big, but after looking at it again, probably only 20x20, not 30x30. I'm just a whiney wimp. How do you cut back your iris? Ours are planted around/under some crepe myrtles. Mister trimmed the trees because the foliage was shading my new babies, and the bonus was that the trees themselves looked much better after he trimmed them. But now you can see the iris stuff too and it’s not pretty. OAN, one of the first pictures I bought after we moved was a black and white picture of a flower. I didn’t know what kind of flower it was, but I thought it was soooo pretty every time I came across it while endlessly searching online for wall art. I finally bought it, in a very large size. It’s been in a few rooms in the house and is currently in our bedroom, but I don’t think that’s it’s permanent home either. Anyway, a couple weeks ago, the picture caught my eye and I realized the flower in the picture is an iris lol. Idk why it took me so long to realize it was the same as the flowers I was oohing and ahhing over this spring. A couple nights ago, I told Mister to look at the picture and tell me where he’s seen that flower before IRL. It didn’t click for him either, so I told him. And he was like “NOW the picture makes sense!”. Apparently the picture has always bugged him because a couple of the petals look almost translucent (I hadn’t even noticed until he pointed it out) and he thought it was a mistake by the artist. But after having seen IRL how delicate they look, the “mistake” made sense to him. So 1. It’s amusing to me that it took so long for one of us to make the connection between the wall art and the flowers in our yard. 2. I must REALLY like irises. If your iris is getting too much water/rain, you might want to consider Louisiana iris. The flower don't look like bearded iris and others like them. Louisiana iris can even be planted in swampy/wet areas. They thrive under those conditions. I had the yellow version of the Louisiana iris. They do spread. I dug them up years ago and planted another moist soil plant in their place. Picture below is what Louisiana iris look like. Zero maintence other than thinning out from time-to-time maintenance. They do come in several other colors as noted in the picture.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2021 12:09:42 GMT -5
How do you cut back your iris? Ours are planted around/under some crepe myrtles. Mister trimmed the trees because the foliage was shading my new babies, and the bonus was that the trees themselves looked much better after he trimmed them. But now you can see the iris stuff too and it’s not pretty. OAN, one of the first pictures I bought after we moved was a black and white picture of a flower. I didn’t know what kind of flower it was, but I thought it was soooo pretty every time I came across it while endlessly searching online for wall art. I finally bought it, in a very large size. It’s been in a few rooms in the house and is currently in our bedroom, but I don’t think that’s it’s permanent home either. Anyway, a couple weeks ago, the picture caught my eye and I realized the flower in the picture is an iris lol. Idk why it took me so long to realize it was the same as the flowers I was oohing and ahhing over this spring. A couple nights ago, I told Mister to look at the picture and tell me where he’s seen that flower before IRL. It didn’t click for him either, so I told him. And he was like “NOW the picture makes sense!”. Apparently the picture has always bugged him because a couple of the petals look almost translucent (I hadn’t even noticed until he pointed it out) and he thought it was a mistake by the artist. But after having seen IRL how delicate they look, the “mistake” made sense to him. So 1. It’s amusing to me that it took so long for one of us to make the connection between the wall art and the flowers in our yard. 2. I must REALLY like irises. If your iris is getting too much water/rain, you might want to consider Louisiana iris. The flower don't look like bearded iris and others like them. Louisiana iris can even be planted in swampy/wet areas. They thrive under those conditions. I had the yellow version of the Louisiana iris. They do spread. I dug them up years ago and planted another moist soil plant in their place. Picture below is what Louisiana iris look like. Zero maintence other than thinning out from time-to-time maintenance. They do come in several other colors as noted in the picture. Our irises are done blooming for the season (I assume) and the foliage is turning brown like missR mentioned. It’s my rosemary and probably my lavender that’s been getting what probably amounts to too much rain for them.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2021 13:48:45 GMT -5
@pinkcshmere Just cut the foliage down to about 2-3" from the ground. Done. Whatever you do, do not mulch them. They don't like to be mulched and won't produce blooms in the spring. Mulch makes the ground retain too much moisture and will rot the bulbs.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2021 16:31:57 GMT -5
I'm thinking about dwarf barberry in one of the new beds we're doing this fall-anyone have any experience with this?
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CCL
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Post by CCL on Jul 16, 2021 18:17:58 GMT -5
I'm starting to get some little squash, pumpkins and cucumbers. And I've got one rogue sunflower that's twice as tall as the others. I wanna see how big it gets.
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ken a.k.a OMK
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Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Jul 16, 2021 18:43:38 GMT -5
I started getting yellow squash then found some half eaten 20' from the plant. Rabbits or maybe squirrels.
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Post by Opti on Jul 17, 2021 8:32:18 GMT -5
Found my first dead red & white spotted nymph lanternfly. Maybe the insectisidal(sp?) soap is working after all. They are strong plant hoppers.
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Post by Opti on Jul 17, 2021 8:34:28 GMT -5
I love irises, but with the trees victim to various storms, everything I plant needs to tolerate full on sun all day. I was going to plant siberian irises in this one area that always floods, but I am unlikely to now unless they appear as a discounted item at Walmart or Depot.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2021 18:25:40 GMT -5
The hostas I bought for Mister are still on the deck, and blooming. I just looked up and a hummingbird was hovering at one of them. Idk how long it had been there, I was looking down at my tablet. A few seconds after I looked up, it flew off.
I think I’ve seen a hummingbird IRL before, but I can’t remember when or where. Definitely not anywhere I've ever lived.
If growing flowers will encourage visits from creatures like that, and I get to see them if I sit outside, it might, MAY be worth all the running I do from the undesirables.
I wish I’d thought to take a picture in the few seconds before it flew away!
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jul 17, 2021 18:48:10 GMT -5
The hostas I bought for Mister are still on the deck, and blooming. I just looked up and a hummingbird was hovering at one of them. Idk how long it had been there, I was looking down at my tablet. A few seconds after I looked up, it flew off. I think I’ve seen a hummingbird IRL before, but I can’t remember when or where. Definitely not anywhere I've ever lived. If growing flowers will encourage visits from creatures like that, and I get to see them if I sit outside, it might, MAY be worth all the running I do from the undesirables. I wish I’d thought to take a picture in the few seconds before it flew away! Red flowers will attract hummingbirds like a magnet.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2021 19:16:28 GMT -5
The hostas I bought for Mister are still on the deck, and blooming. I just looked up and a hummingbird was hovering at one of them. Idk how long it had been there, I was looking down at my tablet. A few seconds after I looked up, it flew off. I think I’ve seen a hummingbird IRL before, but I can’t remember when or where. Definitely not anywhere I've ever lived. If growing flowers will encourage visits from creatures like that, and I get to see them if I sit outside, it might, MAY be worth all the running I do from the undesirables. I wish I’d thought to take a picture in the few seconds before it flew away! Red flowers will attract hummingbirds like a magnet. Well I need some red flowers lol. The flowers on the hostas are a very pale lavender/white.
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Post by CCL on Jul 17, 2021 19:34:33 GMT -5
My hostas attract hummingbirds, too.
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finnime
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Post by finnime on Jul 17, 2021 20:44:25 GMT -5
Red flowers, yes, and generally bell- or trumpet-shaped flowers attract hummingbirds, such as those on hostas. We've had some out of control trumpet vine growing over a pergola and shed roof and if you watch you'll see up to 20 hummingbirds darting in and out.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jul 18, 2021 10:56:29 GMT -5
Red flowers, yes, and generally bell- or trumpet-shaped flowers attract hummingbirds, such as those on hostas. We've had some out of control trumpet vine growing over a pergola and shed roof and if you watch you'll see up to 20 hummingbirds darting in and out. I'm of the opinion Major Wheeler honeysuckle naturally came into being with hummingbirds in mind. I get to watch the hummers from my kitchen window.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2021 5:01:25 GMT -5
I love irises, but with the trees victim to various storms, everything I plant needs to tolerate full on sun all day. I was going to plant siberian irises in this one area that always floods, but I am unlikely to now unless they appear as a discounted item at Walmart or Depot. What? Irises not only tolerate full on sun all day, they thrive on it. They need to have sun starting first thing in the morning.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2021 5:12:19 GMT -5
Well. More rain today and tomorrow, and the iris bed still needs a lot more work before it's all cleaned up. It would be okay except that it's the bed in front of the house. Half done makes it look like our house is in the low-rent district.
Furthermore, the grass in back is no longer a lawn; it's a field with grass as high as an elephant's eye. If the weather is ever again dry enough to get out there, I'm going to have to cut it with a scythe.
If we have spells of dry in between downpours, I need to take a turn around the *South 40* to see how the flowers are faring.
Fiddlesticks. A day off and I can't even sit outside with a cup of coffee because I un-cranked my patio umbrella the other day and hadn't put it back up again so my chairs and table need some serious drying out. Sigh.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2021 7:09:50 GMT -5
Dandy. I got dressed, dried off the patio chairs, cranked the umbrella back up, made coffee, and sat outside while I hatched a plot to get some garden cleanup done. No sooner got started that the rain started, too. Why me? All I can think is that I must have sinned in a former life.
According to the radar, it will be over by 9, so I'm gonna leave my gardening grubbies on and wait it out, dammit.
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finnime
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Post by finnime on Jul 19, 2021 7:39:48 GMT -5
I'm excited. A young man / neighbor who has been working for a landscaping company for a couple of years is now planning to strike out on his own when he can. I've hired him for a full 2 days of digging up the GIANT pokeweed that has completely surrounded the backyard, digging out vines that just loooove Maryland (I read that it was due to the pollution), cutting off a tree branch that is dive-bombing the back yard, clearing up the brick patio, trimming and clearing the weed trees that have sprung up and every other bit of green strangling the yard. The job suddenly became overwhelming in the past few weeks. Before that, no problem.
I'd take before pictures but I'm embarrassed.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2021 8:04:15 GMT -5
Wow, finnime, he sounds like just the person I need. As soon as he's done, send him south! The rain has stopped for at least a little while so I'm going to venture forth and try again. BBL
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jul 19, 2021 8:53:19 GMT -5
Dandy. I got dressed, dried off the patio chairs, cranked the umbrella back up, made coffee, and sat outside while I hatched a plot to get some garden cleanup done. No sooner got started that the rain started, too. Why me? All I can think is that I must have sinned in a former life.
According to the radar, it will be over by 9, so I'm gonna leave my gardening grubbies on and wait it out, dammit. If you had fun doing it, no need to lament it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2021 9:52:23 GMT -5
Okay. I went back out just before 9 and got a lot more done. At least now all the foliage is cut back and a good bit has been raked up and disposed of. Rome wasn't built in a day, and this garden ain't gonna be cleaned up in a day, either Maybe two or three more days of my...ahem...labor of love will get the job done. I'll be glad next spring when the iris are in bloom.
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on Jul 19, 2021 11:13:26 GMT -5
We can’t get the grass cut either, due to the wet weather. Some of it is knee high now. I realize I will get zero sympathy from any western posters who are suffering through a mega drought with no end in sight.
I watched a news article about that this weekend. They may have to cut water use 25%. Lake Mead is incredibly low. What will Vegas and LA do without water for drinking/cleaning/firefighting?
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jul 19, 2021 19:54:22 GMT -5
We can’t get the grass cut either, due to the wet weather. Some of it is knee high now. I realize I will get zero sympathy from any western posters who are suffering through a mega drought with no end in sight. I watched a news article about that this weekend. They may have to cut water use 25%. Lake Mead is incredibly low. What will Vegas and LA do without water for drinking/cleaning/firefighting? Hopefully, hotels like the Bellagio in Las Vegas have turned off their fountains and drained the water wasters.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2021 4:40:02 GMT -5
We might have a spell with no rain for a couple of hours this morning when I can get out and get a little more cleanup done. Might. It's not raining right now, but that doesn't help because it's still as dark as the inside of a cow's belly.
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finnime
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Post by finnime on Jul 20, 2021 5:18:44 GMT -5
We've had no rain for long enough that it's getting to be a problem. Will need to water the lawn tomorrow plus the gardens.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2021 9:14:33 GMT -5
Yippee! Yay! Pin a rose on me! I finished cleaning up that blankety-blank iris bed. Woohoo and stuff. Dang. It's so humid out there that when I came in my grubbies were stuck to me and hard to get off so I could get in the shower. Now I'm all clean and sweet-smelling
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ken a.k.a OMK
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Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Jul 20, 2021 9:26:15 GMT -5
According to the seed packets my Sunflowers should be 5'. They are now 10'. Zinnias should be 2'. They are 4'. Well this is a raised bed, at ground level, filled with Miracle grow soil.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2021 9:34:15 GMT -5
According to the seed packets my Sunflowers should be 5'. They are now 10'. Zinnias should be 2'. They are 4'. Well this is a raised bed, at ground level, filled with Miracle grow soil. Wow. Guess they aren't lying when they say "Grows bigger more beautiful plants (versus unfed plants)" You could use the sunflowers as shade trees
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Jul 20, 2021 9:43:46 GMT -5
general question, TIA. I'm also researching via google (not the mfg website....) and calling my vet in a little while. has anyone used Roundup while also having dogs around? initial answers are saying once it is dry, it's fine for them - same as OrthoMax by the same awful company. Also, since I've never used this stuff before, what does cleanup of the dead weeds look like in the coming days? do they wilt and disintegrate, do I have to rake them up, can the pups be around the dead stuff if the chemicals have dried? neither is all that inclined to eat weeds, but they do eat grass.
I'm taking the pups to an overnight at M's place, so my painter can crank out some work tonight in spaces that are high-risk for catching pet fur. it's HHH here through tomorrow, so I can't just throw them outside for the duration. I figured I could take advantage of them being gone and spray this afternoon.
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