New to site.... not new to gardening!

5 Jan '06 2:56 pm

Hi everyone!

I'm new here at Mooseys, but I'm not new to gardening. I've been gardening since childhood. During my teen years and early twenties I strayed away from the obsession.... but later rediscovered the joys of playing in the dirt and have been at it ever since!

I have been working on my current home for just 2 seasons... I live in the Midwestern (Zone 5) United States. Its come a long way, but there's still alot to be done. I'm not so patiently waiting for spring so I can get back to work outside....

I'll include a photo of the small pond in one of my flower beds... this one is for the birds.... Laughing

6 Jan '06 7:02 am

Howdy!

Welcome to the forum.

What a lovely pic of your pond, I bet the birds love it!
Is that Cleome behind a sedum? Looks very pretty Wink

Hehe..So many of us are finding our way back to playing in dirt the same way you have described Very Happy

which must be why gardening is the most popular hobby in the world?!

We are very patiently waiting for Winter here, enjoying Summer in all its' beauty.
What sort of weather is expected in a 'Zone 5' area?

7 Jan '06 1:57 am

Those are Cleome behind the sedum! In the spring I have Iris in that bed, and in the summer I plant Cleome. Iris aren't all theat pretty after the blooms are gone, and the Cleome hide the leaves and look pretty all summer.

We're also having winter here. At this time of year we normally have snow and below freezing temps. It starts warming up around the second week of February, with the last frost aroundthe end of April... Although our zones last frost date is May 9th (or about), we usually won't have frost that late.

It is unseasonably warm right now.... We're expecting highs this weekend in the 40's. I think its more of the same wether pattern that brought all the hurricanes to the south.

Tell me about winter in Auckland.... Very Happy

7 Jan '06 6:57 am

Hmm..well, it is 7:30 am and the wind has stopped blowing! finally! Very Happy

A pleasant gardening day ahead!

We are in midsummer here, the temp is in the late 20's (approx 80-85 deg F)
We can expect (and often get Confused

) blustery winds and big, fat, hot, black rain clouds (great for the garden Cool

)
Then the sun pops its' happy face out and can roast or melt you, depending on where you are standing!

Winter is rather mild in Auckland with very occassional light frosts but it can still take its' time getting here Wink

Cleome are wonderful plants, I love them for their brilliant flower and usefulness in the vege garden garden when attracting those sucky little green sheild bugs. Bonus! Very Happy

You must be well organised in your garden. I never manage to have plantings grow in time to hide the demise of the last one!
Sounds like a good reason to pull on the old sneakers and zoom off to the garden hehe...

Have a great day!

9 Jan '06 9:00 am

9 Jan '06 1:37 pm

I love gardening.... everyone thinks I'm a certifiable nut! LOL.

So what's your favorite flower? I love so many its hard for me to choose.... I really like my lilies... Wink

10 Jan '06 12:49 am

...you are just one of those people who are born "greenfingers", feeling at ease, or at home, among flowers , plants, alone in a forest -with no fear, only awe and admiration. It is so very natural. Other people are different, don't share these really deep feelings with you, taking you as an.... extra-terrestrial...

I personally I'm in love with all the wild flowers! Especially the clear blue, red, and golden yellow ones. In my garden I admire my Columbines(: Aquilegias) and my Delphiniums for the form of their flowers. The whiteness of my happy Daisies and the perfect beauty of the Roses make me feel a deep gratitude, because I have eyes to watch them and admire them...

And your flowers in the picture are emanating the love and care you feel for them. So beautiful!

10 Jan '06 1:56 am

Thank you Liza! Very Happy

I too love wildflowers... especially my Purple coneflowers. And I always feel my best when I'm outside.

this time of year we tend to get what we call "cabin fever". Its caused from lack of nice weather and sunshine! LOL.

11 Jan '06 5:12 pm

Beautiful photographs! Please post lots more, CottageGarden!

23 Jan '06 2:18 am

Thank you Moosey! But, as they say, be careful what yu wish for! LOL. I have hundreds, upon hundreds of photos of my garden.... Very Happy

New to site.... not new to gardening!

New to site.... not new to gardening!

Re: New to site.... not new to gardening!

Dear friend,....