Welcome

hummerNut · 10-05-2003, 11:13 AM

Welcome Swindyi. Glad to have another gardener aboard. The winters are long here in MI. also. I pour over seed catalogs, and visit many nurseries on the web. Nothing takes the place of looking out at your garden in bloom, but it's a good time to plan next years garden. I also take many photos of the flowers, so I can see what did well, or what needs to be changed the next year.

**crafty1** · 10-05-2003, 03:06 PM

Welcome, swindyi, glad to have you with us! We need more gardeners here. Actually, where I am, your 'down' season is when I can enjoy the great outdoors the most. When you are in the middle of gardening, I am stuck in the house 'cause it's too hot to be outdoors. But I do try to keep things I enjoy looking at close to my windows, such as bird feeders, plants that survive the heat (Probably would be evergreens to survive the cold in your area). That helps a bunch until I can really get out there and dig again. I also indulge in other interests (such as crafts & reading) more during those months. Do you enjoy house plants? They help fill the off season garden void, too.

**Newt** · 10-05-2003, 10:03 PM

Hi Swindy,
I also like to look through garden catalogs and lust after plants I don't have in my garden. I like to winter sow seeds too. It's easy to do and lots less expensive then purchasing new plants. I try and save seeds to sow from my own plants or trade with others for something new.

Newt

**swindyi** · 10-06-2003, 05:43 AM

Hummernut,Crafty1 and Newt
Thanks for the warm welcome This spring I decided to start a garden journal to record growth, layout , flowering time etc. . It started coming together nicely and then the garden started taking over all my free time and left me little time to make notes of the progression of the garden. So I think this winter I will spend some time catching up on the journal and laying out plans for next years beds.
I have a question about planting out seedlings. I have seedlings in cell packs that I haven't planted in the garden yet , they are perrenals,Hollyhocks,english daisys & Rose mallows, is it to late to plant them in the garden and expect them to survie the winter?I am in zone 7a.
Again thanks for the warm welcome
swindyi

**Newt** · 10-06-2003, 09:03 AM

Hi Swindyi,

I don't think it's too late to plant out your seedlings as long as there is a month before the ground freezes. Your seedlings will need to establish their roots. Be sure to mulch well and not to put the mulch up against the base of the plants. You don't want the ground to heave the plants during a thaw and then refreeze. It would be best if you could have the mulch ready and apply it after the ground freezes the first time. Fall is a great time to plant.

When I'm home, I too garden in zone 7 in Maryland, but I've been in Peru since August and won't be back home until mid December. Maybe someone who has a closer view of the weather can tell you, but your plants should be ok. I think it would be difficult to keep them indoors over the winter as they really need to go dormant.

Here's a site on your English dasies that should be helpful.

http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/modzz/00000200.html

Newt

**swindyi** · 10-09-2003, 07:05 PM

Newt
Thanks for the advise on planting out my seedlings , I do have a plie of mulch left over , that will come in handy .
you should try to stay in Peru until after the winter passes , I think I would if I was there!
swindyi

**Newt** · 10-09-2003, 10:40 PM

Swindyi,
Glad you found the info helpful! I am finding that I'm getting homesick for all things US!! By the time I get home, I will have been gone for almost 4 months. Besides, it does take a bit of money to see all that is here and it can get expensive. I have had the opportunity to go to Ecuador and that was quite an experience!! The seasons are reversed here, so winter is just ending and spring has begun. I'll be home in time to experience winter again. It's odd to say the least!

Newt

**amc929** · 01-19-2004, 12:54 PM

hello, i've just discovered this site, and hoping to visit often. (i just have to figure out how to work the boards). i've been trying to find a little information on hollyhocks, and the search engine took me to the welcome page. oh well, i'll just keep trying, and will be back to see if anyone can help a little...talk to everyone later. :D

**dustin** · 01-19-2004, 01:47 PM

Hi!
I'm in Tulsa, OK and just found this site and I imagine you'll be pleased to know it turned up as the third option when I did a google search for madagascar dragon tree tips (I was trying to figure out if they can handle drafts well) I'm a relatively new gardener, but I've got it bad (I think I have dirt under my nails right now, and I'm at work... Thanks to you moderators who put the energy in, and check out my other Q: under houseplants.

**Newt** · 01-19-2004, 02:13 PM

Amc,
what type of info did you need on hollyhocks?
Newt

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