good morning MICHIGANDERS lets yak.....

I thought id start a thread here where we can yak and visit!!!
I know you are all out there somewhere. Can you believe this weather-are we going to go straight into spring? well I hope we either get alot of snow or we get SPRING early! Silly me didnt cover my daylilies with straw this fall because last yr I had tons of new weeds that i figured were in the straw. I sure hope they all survive!

I also found out where the VOLES are living in my garden and have to set some traps today! grrrr I hate those lil varmints so much!!! grrrrrrrrr

I was out in the greenhouse the other day when the sun was shining and it was puching 80inside. I cleaned it up a tad and emptied all the rain buckets(shes a leaker) I cant wait to get out there and get some stuff started!!! Right now I have daylilies underlights in the basement and in my bedroom! lol I need to cut down on house plants as i have no room for all the daylily seeds i need to get started!

Its a very sunny morning over my way 25 degrees with a windchill at 12 and winds are 14mph out of the east-P.U. I can smell the sugar factory. I had to take daymein to school this morning cuz we over slept and when i got out of the car gag!!! I dont know how people(al)can live that close to that stinky old factory! praying for a west wind!!

So grab a cup of coffee and yak yak yak!!!!! I will be here from time to time popping in to see who is around!
good morning Michigan!

Good Morning yourself!! Sunny and cold here in Flint. Sure wish it would snow snow snow!! Not only does it protect my garden, but I make money plowing too!!

Dori is trying to turn me into a daylily queen too (it might work but not her level). I have a small area in comparison to her.

Hope all of you come and participate in the plant exchange this year. Not only do you trade new flowers but you meet and make new friends. Some that last longer than the day!! I met Dorie just that way a few years ago and we have nurtured our friendship as well as our flowers.

To change the subject a bit, I just got a recipe for Peanut soup that might warm me up today. Well any soup would probably work! LOL

Well, I am going to order some plants and seeds. Have a great day.....................
Arliene

Dori - we only get the beet odor a few days each year. The wind needs to be dead out of the south before we can smell it.

Here's your vole medicine. 5 of these filled with Ramik green (Bay Farm Services or Larson Salvage) keeps my gardens and raised beds vole & mouse-free all winter. Cover it with a flat rock or something to keep dogs, fox, coyotes out of it. Made from 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 inch PVC & fittings. The open ends are cut at 45* so that when it lays flat the opening is shielded from rain & snow.

Al

Brrr- freezing cold here today (sun in the morning tho) but with an east wind that finds every nook and cranny in this house. I just loaded up the woodstove, so in a few minutes I should be toasty!!

Not a lick of snow here- but freezing rain coming tonight!! Glad I don't have to get on the road anymore!!

Started a few trays of lily bulbils (spx) and they have all popped up!! And one lone DL is showing it's face. I'm taking cuttings of cuttings of coleus and some verbena. Everything else looks good.

I received a double heat mat for Christmas and man is it the berries!! I wish I had another one, in fact I saw one for a lot less then I got it for from Parks! Isn't that always the way!

Time to be thinking about dinner!!

Arliene-would i try to make you into a daylily addict like me!!! (tucking my horns down) Yes our friendship has grown with leaps and bounds!
So did you make the peanut soup? If so how did it taste?
What plants and seeds did you get ordered??

Al
your very lucky then to be upwind from the old sugar factory-Most of the time I
cant smell it here becuz the winds are from the west but man this morning was bad when I dropped dayme off at school(2mile)the sugar factory was reaking-P.U.
I did see another trap something like that-today i just sat a mouse trap with peanutbutter out there by their holes and a container with some dcon in it! I will check them in the morning.

Sue
Yes it sure is cold,right down to the bone! I live in a drafty old farm house in the middle of flat open farm land. I keep the heat down during the day while the family is away. Cant wait for some warm spring air.
I have been planting daylilies this weekend after seeing all the daylilies seedlings in the daylily forum! I crossed daylilies everyday as many as I could, so i have tons of them to get planted. Today I washed out some more of those little seed domes and tonight i shall work on more planting. I ran out to the GH(unheated)today that wind was so cold, it said it was mid 40s inside but there was a thin layer of ice on the water buckets.
WOW a heat mat I sure could use a few of those-does it really help that much?
Maybe i should invest in one of those instead of more daylilies!

I made a english cut roast with potatos,carrots and mushrooms slow cooked it all
day on the stove it fell apart as you ate it and was yummy good! Could smack the boys having to dip it in ketsup!!!!!grrrrrrrr

Tonight i will plant more seeds(DL of course)and watch my favorite show "two and a half men".
They say an ice storm is going to hit Michigan tonight-so dont park under any trees. ;) My son works 3rd shift at the casino and i just hate when he has to drive back and forth in crappy weather!!!
Then warmer temps come Thursday! think SPRING!

My knees hurt from falling on them watching the steelers football game! lol
I got a lil excited at the end of the 4th quarter, but they pulled it off!
I like both denver and the steelers-so i figure the broncos will win but im going to pull for the steelers since no one thinks they can do it and for my sore knees! lol

I hope the rest of our group are ok and staying warm.
I will be back later :)

Well I dont know if you can call this a good morning-the ice is horrible.
My dh just called to let me know he got to work a hr late becuz he was in a 50car pile up on US10! He is fine and the car is too-not a scratch on either! We awoke at 6am and Bay City schools were NOT closed-everything around us was. So I get Kegan fed and dressed and Im watching for the bus and then Dale(dh) said they just closed Bay city schools!! I almost sent him back to bed becuz it was so icy out and I wasnt sure I wanted to send him!
My son made it home from MtPleasant but had to be detoured around the pile up that my DH was in!!

Dale watched a fire ladder truck spin around in the east bound lane as dale was in the median heading west! There are accidents everywhere, it is just horrible out!
They say it will change over to rain and then snow-what a mess it is.
STAY HOME unless you have to go out!!!!!

I had Kegan run the mail out and it was a good thing he still had a hold of the door handle otherwise we may have needed stitches! I was saying slow down its ice as his feet were going up in the air!! The bad think is it only looks wet and shiny not icy!

How is everyone around the state-I know arliene is heading out to salt parking lots with her son Aaron. Be careful girl!

This message was edited Jan 18, 2006 8:17 AM

Hi everyone,

I just saw the salt truck go down our road. It is cold again, and we have about 1" of snow here in the "Heart of the Thumb".

I'm a Daylily Adddict, like Dori, and as I look out my window, the beds look like little cemeteries with all their markers and no plant growth. Can't wait for spring ................ I start saying that about November. :)

Keep Warm,
Kathy

I had to go out in this icy mess today because I had a dentist appointment. It was my first visit with my new dentist since we moved to AuGres and I hated to cancel out on him. I had a time shuffling out to the van but managed to get in without falling. I drove very very slow down the road. Everyone was going slow. I made it to the dentist in town and there was a parking spot right by the door just waiting for me. He has a very sturdy handrail to grab and I was thankful for that. I just love my new hygientist and the dentist was very nice too. I left a couple of my son's plumbing cards with him since he's trying to build up his new business and then creeped up the road back home. I don't plan to go back outside at all.

At our old city house I had probably 50 or more daylilies. I loved them till it came time to divide them all. It was such a hard job that I dug them out and turned them all to mulch. I did move some of my favorites up here to the farm. I know the deer and rabbits like them. I'm hoping the Liquid Fence keeps them away again this year. I am pretty much sticking to perennials now that aren't as labor intensive. Daylilies can be a passion though. I had a friend who was a collector downstate and I think she had about 300 varieties. It was all she grew. I have some daffodills coming up. They're up about an inch. It sure would be nice if we had an early spring but I'm not holding out hope for that. :)

I cut my amarillys back after it bloomed and another bloom shoot is coming up. It's my first time growing them so I'm not sure if that's normal or not. The old Christmas cactus is still blooming it's head off and all the other houseplants are happy. What would we do without something to watch grow during these bleak winter days?

Kathy
Daylily addicts we are. I cant seem to stay off the LA, I tell myself Im just going to look and then the next thing you know Im bidding and I just HAVE to have it! lol
I got the rest of my DL seeds planted last night! Now i wait! I remember when i first
got a computer DL meant download not daylily.

Loon
It sure was a mess out there yesterday. The news said over 200 accidents. Where my DH got in that pile up was on us10 at the curve-it is a curve banked really high there was a truck sideways in the slow lane and the cars would slow down and just slide right off the road unto the grass and were piled 3 deep there. He said it was really crazy. He could see down the highway a little further to the overpass where he needed to exit there were cars and flashers all piled up there as well!
Im glad your trip was a safe on and you like your new dentist and staff!

YIKEZ mulched the daylilies!!!! say it isnt so!
They can be hard to divide but I was the dirt off and wiggle them till they start to break free,otherwise out comes a good knife. Now you have 2 friends down state with 300 named ones and lots of unnamed ones. LOL

Got a nice hot cup of swiss white chocolate coffee this morning-ahhhh!
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!
Im really glad to see the morning snow here-everything has a thin layer of ice and snow!! The daylilies have a light blanket :) We got about 2inches over night but they say the temps are going to go up again this week!!! This winter is unreal we started out with so much snow in Nov and then she melted before New Yrs.
It is absolutely gorgeous out this morning the snow all stuck to every branch but i think spring would look even better.

**no voles trapped yet! grrrrrr may have to rig up on of them there traps!
I hope your mornings are wonderful and warm!
dori

Wow, you guys sure got all the bad weather. We didn't get ice here just about an inch of snow and still falling this morning.

Dori, you described what it looks like here this morning perfectly. Everything is covered in white. I have to admit the trees look beautiful with a layer of snow covering their branches but I'd rather see green.

Rained like the dickens all day yesterday and today we have snow!! Everything is blanketed and it is sill drifting down, altho not heavy. We're supposed to get a dumping on Sat!! DIL is having a creative memories (scrapbooking) party all day Sat and I am bringing the food= hope it passes us by!

I am chaffing at the bit to start some more seeds. I only have 1 DL pop up. Are they really really slow?? This is my first year trying DL seed. Have a huge tray of browallia up and I need to get it closer to the lights- they appear to be stretching some. Found some stinkin aphids on my cuttings of sweet potato vine. Ran them under water- hope that helps some.

Lots of 2 hr. delays here today, but few closings (had a bunch yesterday) I'm staying inside and looking at my plant books. Sure wish Parks Seeds would get here....they are soo slow...

Hey all long time no see. Been away from the garden way too long need to stop doing that I miss out on too much. Yes I was one of those unlucky ones on the roads yesterday too. Waited at a dead stop on US10 for about 20minutes only to finally get onto I-75 thinking it would be better then anything else bad choice slip sliding all over the number of accidents were just mind boggling. Today was a much better drive, yesterday qualified for my aerobic workout for the day. I am so jealous that you can garden in the winter Dori I think my family would disown me if I did that so I just sit and wait for spring. Great to see you all still here and a few I haven't met yet.

Sandy

Our Rollercoaster weather continues ................ they are saying 40's on Thursday and snow storm over the weekend. We'll see ..........

welcome back sandy!!
My house is full of plants some are even blooming-id go nuts during the winter if i didnt have them to tinker with!!
The DL seeds are a joy to watch sprout and in another yr(lol)i may even know what they look like!

The sun is out right now(wont last) and will most likely melt the lil bit of snow we have! They say a snowstorm on saturday-we shall see! I sure hope it snow to beat the band and last till march-is it march yet? LOL

I want to start some tomato seeds-i luv the smell of the plants. Last night Lizzy was here and said to daymein; Lets go in the garden and pick some mators! bless her lil heart-she loves her mators!!

Kegan is home with a cough/cold and daymein is playing hooky! Im not sure what im going to do today besides some laundry and a shower!

ALAN-that pepper plant you gave me is blooming again-i just luv it! TY TY TY
i will repay you this spring! :)

Hi I don't know many of you...But my name is Loretta and I'm a plantalcoholic..But it sure is fun..!

Loretta.. ;o)))

Welcome Loretta- you have a ton of company!!!

Dori.....I finally made it to this great thread you started....What fun!!

Going to start to do the Winter Sowing thing....Not sure how it will turn out, but heaven only knows I have a ton of seed to play with. I belong to another group of gardeners who have this Michigan Perennial Garden group and we did a Round Robin of seeds. It was like Christmas when I got the Robin. So many seeds, so little time....you choose your seeds, and then you replace with as many as you took, or more should you want too. Maybe we could start a Robin here at the Michigan Site. Let me know if your interested.

Loon......how the heck are you....how are you fairing the winter here.....I sorta hibernate during the winter and don't go out much, I just want you to know that I have not forgot about you. If you would like to come to the February Garden Club meeting, please let me know, and we can talk about it...

Dori.....are you still thinking of a Roundup here in Michigan? If so, lets start talking and thinking about it now....

Deann

Did someone say "Michigan Roundup" ?

well i hope to have one here again this spring

AGain! How did I miss that.

I've never been to a Round Up. What exactly is it Dori? Sounds like fun.

kathy
well what Im thinking is we will pick a day and then we get together for a potluck lunch and planttrade if all agree to this!
Visit and share are knowledge.
the roundups that davesgardeners have had in the past are usally the whole weekend. Im really not sure what we might want to do a weekend or a day outing!

I will be talking this over with family! ;) then posting to see what everyone thinks
give me a week or so and i will be posting something here in our Michigan forum!

Good Morning! Well afternoon maybe!! LOL I have been snowplowing and salting this week and taking folks to ER and not getting alot of sleep! Tonight BIG snow hits so I will be busy all night and all day tomorrow!

I have a ton of seeds to plant-son is going to hook me up some grow lights in basement.

I didnot get soup made--yet! I will and let you know. It sounded so good!

Arliene you sure have been busy!! Thats a really pretty Hibby. I have one that is blooming now also, sure helps break up the winter blahs to have something blooming!!

Well they say(weathermen)we are going to get alot of snow! I sure hope so, the kids havent had a chance to use their snowboards they got for Christmas. Dayme is having a birthday party sunday-last yr it was a blizzard and only one child showed up. I sure hope more make it this yr!

Have you heard of the local boy that will be in the Olympics-IZZY?
He and my son Teig have been buddies since 6th grade. They were both accuse of stealing at the 7-11 in auburn(in their track uniforms)when they were in 7th grade!
I got to school and found Teig in tears being yelled at by the principal. I flew in and pulled Teig out of the office and off to 7-11 we went where we watched the video and the owner apoligized for accusing the boys falsely!!!! I was so darn mad i think i was spitting nails! These were 2 good kids and the kid that said they stole was-well to say the least he wasnt a honor roll student!
LOOK at izzy now going to be in the OLYMPICS!!! Im really proud of him as I know how hard he has trained!!!!!! GO IZZY

Hurry run out and get your supplies before the storm hits!! ;)
talk at ya all later!

snow is falling heavily - weatherman was right about when it would start - we've been upgraded to heavy snow warming....sob....I want spring...

It's snowing to beat the band here in AuGres. Not sure how many inches we're in for. I was supposed to go to a tea tomorrow but I doubt my driver will want to get out in that mess.

Hi Deann. I've been keeping busy helping my son get his house done so they can move into it. I'm all settled in here pretty much. My pole barn is overflowing with excess stuff from my old house. Most of it I'm giving to my son for his house. My pond is full to the top. When spring comes we'll have to get together. I think I'll pass on the garden club meeting. Like you, I don't like to get out too much in this weather.

Maybe we can build a snowman tomorrow!!

Weatherman was wrong here. He said 4 inches and I woke up to just a dusting. Maybe it will come later today.

Well, I'd say that we got about 8 inches at my house. I got up early to shovel my way out for the dogs to get out to potty. They're happy about the snow and just jumped in and plowed their way through.

It's beautiful. Love it.

4 - 5 honest inches here in Bay City.

Al

Im really not sure as how much we got my DH says 6 and i say 8 so we agreed on7 LOL
here is a pic of the garden this morning! I have to get the boys ready to go snowboarding!!! be back later

I'm pretty sure we got about 6 inches here....DH was out this morning pushing snow, the sun is out shinning and melting it....I took this these pictures this morning around 8am... Birds were out early eating...

Here is another picture I took....this morning...looking at the pond from my sunroom

About 8 inches of snow here, but at least the sun is shining. I can hardly wait for spring! This is a picture of my perennial garden under the snow.

Marilyn


This message was edited Jan 21, 2006 4:24 PM

This is a picture of the same spot above, but in May. I think I am getting cabin fever!

Marilyn.....are those blue iris??????.......I would love to have some of those....be happy to trade you something for them....Just take a look at my garden pictures and if you see something you like, just let me know.....Your garden is beautiful in may....Mine does not start to look like that till June...and I am only 40 miles east of you.....

http://community.webshots.com/user/deannmi

Deann

Hi Deann. You have a beautiful garden! I really enjoyed looking at your garden pictures this morning, a little dose of medicine for my cabin fever. I checked the date on my picture (I had it in my spring flower folder). You are right, it was taken on June 19th, not May. Those are blue irises. They are siberians called Big Blue. I got them at Blue Stone Perennials a couple of years ago. I might divide them this year, and if I do, you will be the first to know. I cropped the big picture I have so that you could see them a little better.

Having a Round Up would be fun! A lot of my perennials need dividing and I have no one to share them with. Whenever I divide, I usually end up throwing the extras in my weed pile. I also have a lot of "babies" that pop up all over the place because I always wait to long to put Preen down. I hope you and Dori talk about it and figure something out. It sounds like it would be fun, and also a chance for everyone to meet in person.

Marilyn

We didn't get a bit of snow here. In fact Saturday was a sunny beautiful day. Frost here this moring 24 degrees.

Paul

six inches of the heavy wet stuff here- a pain to plow and even worse to get the car out of the unplowed driveway!! Beautiful sunny day tho and the roads were completely clean by afternoon.

Today (sun) it started out sunny, but is now cloudy. I just can't seem to get warmed up - need to crank the heating pad up a notch or two.

Sent an order into Pinetree gardens - can't wait to get some more seeds a going! Anyone ever start allium seeds? I have a ton and love the plants. Mine don't seem to spread at all....

The snow we got in Flint was VERY heavy because of all the rain we got first. Pushing it (I plow for my son) was hard going and some of the frozen stuff underneath was nasty. We lowed for about 7 hrs straight and I was exhausted when I got home.

Sunny and cloudy here today too! Spring needs to hurry! LOL

Arliene

My weather is the same as Paul's nice and sunny..!
I never started the allium from seeds just bulbs,the one I'm after is called Hair and everyplace sold out,and I ordered early..
Loretta..

This message was edited Jan 22, 2006 4:21 PM