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Is NOW the time to start planting????

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Posted by dwbeckett on Thursday, April 12, 2007 10:23 AM
I not done planting rock's yet 24sq ft of patio leveling to go will be complete with that today. Then it's off to relocating the path to yard. 30 more 12X12 paver's to move. start leveling the rest of the yard  for sod. I do have 8 plants that need to get in the ground today. they will boarder the ONBR . We are off to Reno tonight so we can plan out the big back yard. lots of small pavers to match the driveway. Plan where the Pool Room will go, the patio, the built in BBQ, walk ways and lots of spreading junipers on the rock wall and hill side, with some trees. BTY the current temp is 30.5 deg. with snow shower's in the forcast. The soil when wet sticks to your shoes. LOTS of space for trains but no way to secure them. we have a HOA directed split rail fence that spans the back yard. so its indoor's for me. remember to keep up the good work you are doing it will pay off in time. DONT worry about the weather __it Happens.   

The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.

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Posted by altterrain on Thursday, April 12, 2007 9:48 AM

Sorry for your loss but maybe you'll take the advice of someone who has been designing and building gardens in the DC area for a dozen years next time...

On the topic of tomatoes, peppers and other warm weather veggies, I usually do not plant those until May as they prefer warmer soil temperatures.

-Brian

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Posted by FJ and G on Thursday, April 12, 2007 8:49 AM
snow predicted for Sunday; all flowers except for a few are now dead; sometimes ice on the garden pond in the mornings; wife's 2 days of planting down the drain; but I understand this cold was 130 years ago, so I guess rare event; until global warming makes the gulf stream stop, usherijng in  a new ice age and the end of mankind as we know it; or so it goes
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 7:09 AM

 FJ and G wrote:
the flowers actually did better than many of the green plants like tomatoes; probably lost about $125 worth of plants.

I had luck with mulch and a dome of plastic over my tomatoes, buddy next door wiped out. We was several nights in 30s.

I do feel your loss on $125, seems my bluebonnets did not come up this year I panted last year only the ones that have been here came back up.

Tax write off?

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Posted by tangerine-jack on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 7:07 AM

I've been seeing mosquitoes for about a month now.  So much for that theory.

Hey, sometimes nature can't be controlled by mankind.  It's odd I know, but once in a while nature does what it wants to do, not what we want it to do for us.

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

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Posted by FJ and G on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 6:15 AM
the flowers actually did better than many of the green plants like tomatoes; probably lost about $125 worth of plants. Guess it was an adventure; but next time, I'll wait until the mosquitoes come out next time before planting. They seem to know when the time is right to get blood and not freeze.
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Posted by cacole on Monday, April 9, 2007 8:38 PM
After several years here in SE Arizona where we get freezing temperatures because of the high altitude and sometimes snow, I learned to watch the Honeysuckle.  When Honeysuckle begins to bloom, the last of the frost danger is over.  Mine hasn't begun to bloom yet even though we have had daytime temperatures in the lower 80's.  We're getting a cold spell right now.
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Posted by tangerine-jack on Monday, April 9, 2007 8:25 PM

We had snow the day before Easter.  Big flakes and it didn't stick, but it was snow none the less.  The last time it snowed this late in the year was in 1986.  So much for global warming.

My plants seem to be very happy and are nice and green and blooming.  Probably because nearly everything I have is some derivative of a wildflower species, evergreen, or is naturally occurring in this area.  I call it "lazy man's gardening".  I even planted some raspberry bushes in the snow.

This is one thing about garden railroading that you can't plan on, prepare for or really predict.  It adds a sense of adventure, don't you think?

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

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Posted by imrnjr on Monday, April 9, 2007 7:19 PM

well... I can feel the pain of all the folks who got sleet, rain, snow, and Ice over the week end.... spent the last three weeks planting new stuff and and replacing the dead annuals.  My memory is weak (CEO sez' "selective") but I think this may be the 3rd time in maybe  30 years there has been a freeze in April... had 2" of ice and snow with the temps at about 30 degrees F and lost a lot of container plants on the Patio ... alas no place to put them... but told the CEO/CFO their probably just temp burned and will come back by next spring if not we'll repot and replace in april next year....fat chance!!!

 

mark

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Posted by dwbeckett on Monday, April 9, 2007 8:16 AM

We had a frozen lemon tree to deal with at the end of feb lost all the new fruit and most of the current crop plus some of our rose's. just picked the last rotten lomon yesterday it was hiding. still have some dead branches to deal with. Having lived in the D.C. area twice on both sides of the Potomac, and in Philadelphia I know how unpredicable your spring can be. I have been planting rocks for the new ONBR along the new fence that replaced the old one (19 years old, blown down ). I have lived in California for 17 years now and it's the second time I've had deal with hard frezzes and relandscapeing. Neather are fun. BTY Oakley is 60 miles or so north east of San Francisco. 

Dave    

The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.

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Posted by FJ and G on Sunday, April 8, 2007 1:53 PM
the rock thing is pretty funny but not for me; the frost cracked a lot of my rocks; had a bunch of plants that might be dead; I've got to run back outside now and give them some more mouth to mouth
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 7, 2007 3:59 PM

 dwbeckett wrote:
I have been planting rocks in my back yard for a week or so have not had to water them yet.

I LOLed so hard my sides hurt! Big Smile [:D]

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Posted by FJ and G on Saturday, April 7, 2007 9:58 AM

they all survived!

 

 

Snowplowing on Easter video; unfortunately, the plow was removed because of warm weather and the poor locomotive had to push snow on Easter weekend:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy0S-XUDGxs

 

Flatcars built from a kit hauling logs and Christmas trees on Easter weekend. Chains secure the large log while stakes secure the Christmas trees. A Lionel docksider pulls the consist. The trees are for all the kiddies whose parents couldn’t afford to buy them trees on Christmas day.

 

 

 

MTH Railking

 

 

 

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Posted by dwbeckett on Saturday, April 7, 2007 7:23 AM
I have been planting rocks in my back yard for a week or so have not had to water them yet.

The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.

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Posted by tangerine-jack on Thursday, April 5, 2007 8:58 PM

Think happy thoughts.   Cover with some pine straw mulch and you'll be fine.  If anything happens only the top part of the plant will be affected, the roots will be fine and regrow in a few days. Since when has the weatherman been right about anything????  Next week will be in the 80's, you wait and see.   Plants like a little cold weather, it keeps the roots from being shocked.  

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 5, 2007 7:21 PM

Remember the zones have changed!!! Rene has the new link to it. Or Google it.

Texas went from 80s to 60s....I am near Houston.

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Posted by altterrain on Thursday, April 5, 2007 5:36 PM

Nonsense? Predicted night time temps in the 20's for the next few days (especially out towards Manassas). Hardy plants will be fine though new growth and sprouting flowers might get nipped. Any annuals or young plants should be covered up (blankets, tarps, soda bottles, plant pots, mulch, leaves, whatever you got..).

 -Brian

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Posted by tangerine-jack on Thursday, April 5, 2007 5:23 PM

Nonsense.  Your plants will be fine.   My wisteria is in full bloom, the coreopsis and Liatris are coming up great, and the Scabiosa, sage and butterfly bush never stopped blooming at all.  Nature does trick you sometimes, and it is colder than normal for this time of year, but plants are tough, and you should have no problems unless it becomes a hard freeze, and that is very unlikely.

 

Worst case scenario is some plants die.  If that happens then you will know which ones are weak and unworthy to be in your garden.Wink [;)]

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

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Posted by dwbeckett on Thursday, April 5, 2007 10:02 AM
when you need rain the sun shines, when you need sun  it pours. Mother Nature only smiles when she's happy. and i don't even know what i'm doing here. 

The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.

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Posted by FJ and G on Thursday, April 5, 2007 6:25 AM
with snow in forecast and temps in 20s over next few nights, having second thoughts but too late; all planted; too many to cover up over a wide wide area. We shall see
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Posted by FJ and G on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 1:49 PM

thanks; I'll get moving on this and trick the beagle with a bone. when she sees me planting she comes back and digs whatever I put in up.

I'm hoping the parsley and chamomille self propogate after they die this fall so I don't have to replant

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Posted by tangerine-jack on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 10:18 AM

Yes, absolutely!  Plant right now!  This is the best time to do it, no more danger of frost and cool enough not to shock the plant roots or seeds.  I've been doing yard/garden work for the last two weeks.

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

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Posted by altterrain on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 9:44 AM

Our average last frost date is usually mid to late April. At this point I believe we will not see another hard freeze but light frost is not out of the question. I would go ahead and plant your seeds and parsley. Just be prepared to cover them up at night in case the cold returns.

-Brian

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Is NOW the time to start planting????
Posted by FJ and G on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 9:37 AM

zone 7a.

Want to replant some parsleys outside that are inside.

Want to plant some chamomille seeds (don't know how to spell it)

Or, will Old Man Winter come back and take revenge on me?

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