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Jul 9, 2010 2:24 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: BlueFox
Grand Forks, B.C. Cdn. Zone 5A (Zone 4a)
Romantic & Rustic, Xeric & Organic
Butterflies Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sempervivums Sedums Garden Art I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Charter ATP Member Region: Canadian Cactus and Succulents Xeriscape Garden Ideas: Level 1
I've made a couple of these, and they're really fun. They're a bit fiddly, but if you've successfully made wreaths or other topiary, they are pretty easy.

The first one I made was a round wire topiary ball, which was certainly a steep learning curve to deal with - I eventually put burlap inside and filled it with Sunshine mix #4 (with the extra aggregate). I poked holes or cut them with a razor and stuffed the bareroot Sempervivum in to the holes. Some of them kept falling out so I wrapped the roots in newspaper and then they pretty much stay put. Now they are filling in with chicks, and seem to be rooted. I'm not sure how it will over winter, but I'll post more information on that topic later.

The second one I did was similar, but was two coco fibre wire baskets stuck together after filling them with the same mix. This will be better in the long term as it has more soil, as well as bigger. However, it is also lots heavier, and if it ever falls it will kill me!

The picture shows the big one with the first one (smaller) in behind it.



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Jul 9, 2010 2:37 PM CST
Name: Debbie
Denham Springs, La. zone 8b (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: Gulf Coast Region: Louisiana Region: United States of America Lilies
Roses Irises Garden Art Container Gardener Amaryllis Bulbs
Blue, those look great. I'm working on one now. Hopefully I'll be able to post it in a while. Can't wait to see how yours fill in.
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Jul 9, 2010 3:12 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Really great Jacki. Can't wait to see it when it all fills in, it is going to be spectacular.
Please don't stand under it. Blinking It looks heavy. How did you get it hung up? Rolling my eyes.
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Jul 9, 2010 5:25 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: BlueFox
Grand Forks, B.C. Cdn. Zone 5A (Zone 4a)
Romantic & Rustic, Xeric & Organic
Butterflies Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sempervivums Sedums Garden Art I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Charter ATP Member Region: Canadian Cactus and Succulents Xeriscape Garden Ideas: Level 1
Actually, I've never moved it! It's still in the same place where I put it (dry) to plant the Semps, and now I'm not sure I could move it single handedly. I will move it to put it somewhere else for the winter, where I'll cover it with leaves to protect it. I need a huge bird cage or something to put it in for mouse protection.
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Jul 9, 2010 5:31 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
A hardware cloth frame? Would that work? What would you use Chris? I know this last winter you had some problems with critters.
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Jul 9, 2010 8:50 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: BlueFox
Grand Forks, B.C. Cdn. Zone 5A (Zone 4a)
Romantic & Rustic, Xeric & Organic
Butterflies Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sempervivums Sedums Garden Art I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Charter ATP Member Region: Canadian Cactus and Succulents Xeriscape Garden Ideas: Level 1
I was thinking of a hardware cloth circle, and then put something over top to stop the little fuzzy darlings from getting in.
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Jul 9, 2010 9:45 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Good idea. We use it in the bottom of the raised beds to keep the gophers out. It's been 9 years though, and looks like the little guys are starting to find their way in. : (
I hate the thought of having to redo all those beds.
Jacki wasn't it on your web site that I saw tables with trays of plants?
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Jul 10, 2010 6:36 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: BlueFox
Grand Forks, B.C. Cdn. Zone 5A (Zone 4a)
Romantic & Rustic, Xeric & Organic
Butterflies Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sempervivums Sedums Garden Art I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Charter ATP Member Region: Canadian Cactus and Succulents Xeriscape Garden Ideas: Level 1
Could be Lynn - you were probably on the Sedum page, and I have a picture of the plugs in production. I make lots of plugs for green roofs, which as you've probably become aware, over the past few years there has been phenomenal excitement over them.

My favorite way to supply plants for green roofs is by unrooted cuttings - I go out in the morning, snip away until I have several hundred cuttings, stick them in a flat overnight to dry, then pack them in a bag for shipping. Hardly any work for a good return. Plus my stock plants get pruned and I don't have to find a use for the cuttings (more plugs = more work!)

This is the same picture as on that page - is it the one you were thinking of?

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Jul 10, 2010 7:55 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Yes that is the picture Jacki. I can't tell, is it in a green house or out in the open? Do you grow the semps under protection? That is some operation you have there.
Have any of you checked out Jacki's web site? http://www.drought-smart-plant...
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Jul 10, 2010 8:04 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: BlueFox
Grand Forks, B.C. Cdn. Zone 5A (Zone 4a)
Romantic & Rustic, Xeric & Organic
Butterflies Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sempervivums Sedums Garden Art I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Charter ATP Member Region: Canadian Cactus and Succulents Xeriscape Garden Ideas: Level 1
This is in the greenhouse, but I do grow the Semps outside as they thrive in the heat and bright sun here. They pretty much get afternoon sun, especially those in the four inch pots, just because they are on one of the only flat areas that I have!
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Jul 10, 2010 8:48 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Would love to see more pictures of how you are growing them Jacki.
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Jul 16, 2010 1:32 PM CST
Name: Chris
Ripon, Wisconsin
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Seller of Garden Stuff I sent a postcard to Randy!
Sempervivums Sedums Region: Wisconsin Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Avid Green Pages Reviewer
How did I miss this thread??? Jacki, that is going to be awesome when it fills in!! It does look heavy.

Lynn, I did have critter problems last year but only in my raised bed. They didn't bother my wreaths at all. I think Jacki's idea of using hardware cloth sounds like it will work great.

Jacki, what an impressive website you have! Will check it out better when I get some more time.

Debbie, will be looking forward to seeing pictures of yours too.
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Jul 16, 2010 8:13 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: BlueFox
Grand Forks, B.C. Cdn. Zone 5A (Zone 4a)
Romantic & Rustic, Xeric & Organic
Butterflies Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sempervivums Sedums Garden Art I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Charter ATP Member Region: Canadian Cactus and Succulents Xeriscape Garden Ideas: Level 1
Thanks Chris - glad you could visit!
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Jul 17, 2010 1:59 AM CST
Name: Chris
Ripon, Wisconsin
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Seller of Garden Stuff I sent a postcard to Randy!
Sempervivums Sedums Region: Wisconsin Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Avid Green Pages Reviewer
Lynn, got to thinking last night - I did have problems with squirrels and gophers pulling semps off my wreaths during the summer when they were laying on the ground. I just put them up on a table and that took care of the problem. They didn't bother them over the winter though.
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Jul 17, 2010 7:37 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: BlueFox
Grand Forks, B.C. Cdn. Zone 5A (Zone 4a)
Romantic & Rustic, Xeric & Organic
Butterflies Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sempervivums Sedums Garden Art I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Charter ATP Member Region: Canadian Cactus and Succulents Xeriscape Garden Ideas: Level 1
Squirrels are definitely destructive little pests, aren't they? Luckily, mine are pretty wary from having been chased by dogs - they have lots of forest where they can do whatever they like, they don't need to be in my garden wrecking stuff.
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Jul 17, 2010 8:12 AM CST
Name: Debbie
Denham Springs, La. zone 8b (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: Gulf Coast Region: Louisiana Region: United States of America Lilies
Roses Irises Garden Art Container Gardener Amaryllis Bulbs
When I first started gardening, I had such problems with the squirrels. A precious DG'er gave me this recipe and I've not had problems since. Works like a charm:

Debbie, my sister swears by the following recipe to keep away squirrels, moles, mice, racoons, possums, etc. from her garden. She has used it for years.

I bet it works for geese and snakes too. The dogs go around my garden now. It doesn’t hurt the animals, but it does keep them out. It’s like an electric fence . They go up to it and turn around

Into an old milk jug add:

2 cups water
3/4 Tbsp ground cayenne pepper
1/3 Shake a bottle of hot tabasco sauce and pour in 1/3
1 Tbsp Caster Oil
Squirt of liquid dishwashing detergent (Dawn or any other)
Shake everything well

Pour on plants or the ground where bulbs are planted. It doesn't harm plants or environment. You can mix bottles ahead of time and store as long as you wish.
----
For birdseeds, another trick that I use (my DS gave it to me) is to put cayenne pepper and tabasco sauce in a big plastic baggie. Shake well. Then throw in bird seeds and shake. Doesn't hurt birds and they don't even notice the hotness, yet keeps away mice, raccoons, etc. I especially like this because it doesn't draw rats/mice when cracked seeds fall to the ground.
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Jul 17, 2010 8:39 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Very interesting Debbie, wish it would work for gophers. I have one causing havoc in my flower beds this year. It is so discouraging. So far he has left the lilies alone as I planted euphorbia around them. It works. But I can plant them everywhere.
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Jul 17, 2010 11:30 AM CST
Name: Chris
Ripon, Wisconsin
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Seller of Garden Stuff I sent a postcard to Randy!
Sempervivums Sedums Region: Wisconsin Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Avid Green Pages Reviewer
Thanks Debbie! I actually quit feeding birds a couple of years ago because it attracted too many squirrels and gophers. We have less now but they sure like to play in the gardens....little brats.
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Jul 9, 2011 8:43 AM CST
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 Lynn, three pictures from the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show I thought you might like?
Regards.
Neil.
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Jul 9, 2011 8:47 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Hurray! Awesome Neil. Thank you so much. I can't wait to see the articles that will come from this flower show.

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