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Aug 3, 2012 1:40 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Neil
London\Kent Border
Forum moderator Garden Ideas: Master Level Tip Photographer I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Region: United Kingdom
Ferns Native Plants and Wildflowers Seed Starter Cat Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters The WITWIT Badge
Here is a quiet place to chat about gardening, i hope you will use it and indeed enjoy it.
Regards.
Neil.
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Aug 3, 2012 6:16 PM CST
Name: Lucy
Tri Cities, WA (Zone 6b)
irises
Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Irises Region: Northeast US Region: United Kingdom Region: United States of America
Enjoys or suffers cold winters
As many people know our main gardening interest is the growing of irises & hybridizing same. We do have other plants (& no I don't have photos). Right now john is very pleased with the liatrus (New England blazing star) These are the wild ones, not the garden hybridized plants. There are about 10 stems in bloom & most are taller than I (5'1"). Our main hope is that the deer visit elsewhere.
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Aug 3, 2012 7:02 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Neil
London\Kent Border
Forum moderator Garden Ideas: Master Level Tip Photographer I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Region: United Kingdom
Ferns Native Plants and Wildflowers Seed Starter Cat Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters The WITWIT Badge
Dear Lucy, I love irises too! As you may know we do grow some great ones in Britain, that is not to say they do not grow fantastic ones everywhere else as they do! The problem I get is like Rose growers who become so stuffy and indeed Royal on their subject, they cannot talk to you, without an hour long explanation into how they grew it! That is why I am not interested in taking lots of pictures of Roses at the many shows I go to. I love to see all the plants on show.
I really have no time for Roses or Rose snobs, as they bore me intensely. There is no other plant in the UK that you would have to spend so much time on as Roses, to look after. Pruning twice a year, deadheading, spraying to stop blackspot, aphids, and the darn thorns. Then we get one or maybe two sessions of blooms per year in this country. I know the Tudor Rose is the National emblem of our country (England), but these people drive me mad.
Gertrude Jekyll when she went blind could tell what Rose it was by the smell, she could also tell you what tree it was by listening in the wind to its rustling. That is a gardener not a snob.
Hope you are well?
My most Kindest Regards.
Neil.
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Aug 3, 2012 8:49 PM CST
Name: Linda Cartwright
Del Rio, Texas
Charter ATP Member Birds Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Texas Roses Ponds
Hummingbirder Garden Art Dog Lover Container Gardener Region: United States of America
Well, I came in 2nd, does that count? Thanks for the new chat room!
What is your favorite flower Neil?
A Crafty Cubit
Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today. James Dean

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Aug 4, 2012 1:37 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Neil
London\Kent Border
Forum moderator Garden Ideas: Master Level Tip Photographer I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Region: United Kingdom
Ferns Native Plants and Wildflowers Seed Starter Cat Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters The WITWIT Badge
Dear Linda, i do not have a favourite flower as I love all things. I love to watch the beauty of plants as they flower, but there is also the leaves and with some plants the bark as well that is beautiful. I love to watch carnivorous plants as they fascinate me. They are such a simple design to me but so effective at there job!
Group hug
Neil.
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Aug 4, 2012 2:36 AM CST
Name: Nancy or \"Hap\"
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Region: United Kingdom Charter ATP Member Dog Lover Region: Florida Tropicals
Here I am bring up the rear, but I'm here.

My favorite flower is the Dandelion or any species of the composite family. Unfortunately or fortunately we don't have them here.

Nancy
What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail? ~~Dr. Robert Schuller
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Aug 4, 2012 4:24 AM CST
Name: Lucy
Tri Cities, WA (Zone 6b)
irises
Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Irises Region: Northeast US Region: United Kingdom Region: United States of America
Enjoys or suffers cold winters
We have not done much garden work in the past few days. With the temp over 90°F we older folk stay indoors. So Irises are waiting to be planted.
How come can I only can get into the chat room from here & not through ATP?
I like some compasites, but do not like coneflowers. The downward slant of the petals looks like a flower which is wilting. I don't care for the occasional flat 'novelty' irises either.
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Aug 4, 2012 5:50 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Neil
London\Kent Border
Forum moderator Garden Ideas: Master Level Tip Photographer I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Region: United Kingdom
Ferns Native Plants and Wildflowers Seed Starter Cat Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters The WITWIT Badge
Dear Lucy, it is on ATP but I have moved it below the Welcome pages! Nancy dandelions are most useful indeed. The leaves are good in salads and the roots make excellent ersatz coffee. You can still buy dandelion coffee and it is good for you as well.
Regards.
Neil.
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Aug 4, 2012 5:59 AM CST
Name: Doris Klene
Greensburg,Indiana.
Horse,cattle owners click klenepipe
Mules Charter ATP Member Birds Irises Orchids Plumerias
Seed Starter Plant and/or Seed Trader Tropicals Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: Indiana Hummingbirder
I am here also.
Dandelions also make good WINE
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Aug 4, 2012 6:13 AM CST
Name: Kathleen Tenpas
Wickwire Corners NY (Zone 5a)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! The WITWIT Badge Raises cows Farmer Region: New York
Garden Ideas: Level 2
Neil, you know I have to say something about roses here. I don't think you could call me a snob, my poor beauties are on their own with the exception of a pruning out of the deadwood and taking the weed whacker to the noxious weeds occasionally. They are all old garden roses and for most, one bloom is all we get, but when they do bloom, watch out! I am quite allergic to their lovely scent and rose 'bites' almost always cause some kind of a reaction, but they can be well worth the (little) effort I put into them.

That said, I am very fond of composites. Ox-eye daisies, which have become very happy living in North America, are very high on my list and I let them roam around the gardens as they will. Cutting them back to the new growth at the ground gives me daisies almost all summer and into the fall. And the native autumn asters are right up there with them, all of the blues and purple and pinks to say nothing of the small whites. I have lots of dandelions in the spring, they make a lovely contrast to the forget-me-nots, and can almost out-thug them.

Irises here are those that were left by former owners, lots of old fashioned purple and browns and some of small stature in pale blue and yellow. There are also Japanese iris, which I am quite fond of, and some Siberian that make the most wonderful bouquets.

Enough out of me. All is well as can be in a dry summer. 90F predicted for today, so I'm off to bake the bread early.
best to all,
Kathleen
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Aug 4, 2012 6:20 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Neil
London\Kent Border
Forum moderator Garden Ideas: Master Level Tip Photographer I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Region: United Kingdom
Ferns Native Plants and Wildflowers Seed Starter Cat Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters The WITWIT Badge
Dear Doris, that is so true about dandelion wine! I was having a discussion on Sharon's idea about plantains. It got on about stinging nettles in the end, as we have the Nettle eating Championship in Dorset each year. There is an art to eating nettles as the hairs are hypodermic and point upwards, so you start at the bottom in theory, although I have never tried it! Rolling on the floor laughing
I do hope you had a great Birthday and are well?
Love.
Neil.
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Aug 4, 2012 6:49 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Neil
London\Kent Border
Forum moderator Garden Ideas: Master Level Tip Photographer I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Region: United Kingdom
Ferns Native Plants and Wildflowers Seed Starter Cat Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters The WITWIT Badge
Dear Katleen, when I was Head Gardener on a certain Estate in west Sussex they had a lot of old garden roses. They were no problem whatsoever to my staff or myself. Indeed they were very nice to see and deal with.
However Rose snobs are born that way, they are a different breed than anyone else. Try going to the Chelsea Flower Show as they will knock anyone out of the way to see the latest Rose and order it. They are obsessed with having the latest before their neighbours. I just let them get on with it, and sneak in to take a few photos when it is safe!
We have ox-eye-daises in our garden, with cornflowers, poppies and Scabious. The main problem is Foxgloves as they grow everywhere around here. I love Foxgloves in the right place, but every year I spend hours getting rid of hundreds of seedlings! They get anywhere and are a pest in some places. Another pest is Horseradish as that too grows where it wants. Mine stays in a very large container and is used to make Horseradish sauce, to go with my beef!
I do hope that Stan, the family and indeed your good-self are well.
Kindest regards from a very wet England.
Neil.
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Aug 4, 2012 10:54 AM CST
Name: Charleen
Alford, Florida (Zone 8a)
Walk in Peace / I'm Timber's Mom.
Miniature Gardening Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! I sent a postcard to Randy! Tip Photographer I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
Mules Garden Ideas: Level 2 Sempervivums Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: United States of America Beekeeper
Me to, rather late but what else is new. I marched it so I could come back and find it.
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Aug 4, 2012 11:28 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Neil
London\Kent Border
Forum moderator Garden Ideas: Master Level Tip Photographer I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Region: United Kingdom
Ferns Native Plants and Wildflowers Seed Starter Cat Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters The WITWIT Badge
I know this is not about gardening but about Girl Power! Our women's cycling team won the World championships, now they have won the Olympic Gold and beat 6 world records in one day to get there.
Pure girl power!
Group hug
Neil.
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Aug 4, 2012 3:42 PM CST
Name: Magga
Reykjavik, Iceland (Zone 4a)
Region: Europe Foliage Fan Roses Peonies Lilies Dog Lover
Ferns Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Seed Starter Cat Lover Vegetable Grower Sempervivums
I am here too. Hope you are all well. I love all my garden plants, flowers and trees - roses and garlic. Foxgloves are new in my garden. Very vigorous plants. I think I have to collect all the seeds before they take over Big Grin . But I think they are lovely.
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Aug 4, 2012 6:13 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Neil
London\Kent Border
Forum moderator Garden Ideas: Master Level Tip Photographer I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Region: United Kingdom
Ferns Native Plants and Wildflowers Seed Starter Cat Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters The WITWIT Badge
Dear Magga, so nice of you to post here. I do love to see Foxgloves on our river banks as they are quite beautiful although of course are poisonous. Wear gloves when handling them! It is just we get so many of them, and they grow anywhere they can. I also love Lupins which you can find on the old railway lines, and indeed by the side of some of the busy ones. I trust you and the family are well.
Most kindest regards,
Neil.
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Aug 4, 2012 9:55 PM CST
Name: Lucy
Tri Cities, WA (Zone 6b)
irises
Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Irises Region: Northeast US Region: United Kingdom Region: United States of America
Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Our lupines have never panned out. We have creeping shade in the garden so they may not have enough sun. For shade I like lillies of the valley (which spread) & trillium. My mom liked ferns which are nice but the afore mentioned flowers are nicer.
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Aug 4, 2012 11:24 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Neil
London\Kent Border
Forum moderator Garden Ideas: Master Level Tip Photographer I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Region: United Kingdom
Ferns Native Plants and Wildflowers Seed Starter Cat Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters The WITWIT Badge
Dear Lucy, I have lilies of the valley in the front garden which is very sunny indeed! Luckily they are just shaded by a small fence and grow well there. I love them as the smell is fantastic.
Regards.
Neil.
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Aug 6, 2012 3:16 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Neil
London\Kent Border
Forum moderator Garden Ideas: Master Level Tip Photographer I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Region: United Kingdom
Ferns Native Plants and Wildflowers Seed Starter Cat Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters The WITWIT Badge
We had flash floods yesterday in many parts of the country! It was truly awful to see it! A lot of gardens were destroyed in it, which is a crying shame. It even started Hailstones in Yorkshire and turned to snow! Snow in August that is a bit rough, for I have seen in it June, but not in August!
Neil.
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Aug 6, 2012 3:37 PM CST
Name: Nancy or \"Hap\"
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Region: United Kingdom Charter ATP Member Dog Lover Region: Florida Tropicals
It has been raining all day here too. It's good, for the lakes are down.

Nancy
What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail? ~~Dr. Robert Schuller

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