Gardening as therapy.

I thought of trying to germinate seeds but was concerned that they too would have the virus - or a cutting as well. I don't think it is worth it. Some things are for a season.

When I move, if I move into a house, I will plant something in my son's memory.

Golden, can you take cuttings from your lodge pole pine and try to root them, far away from the infected tree? Or are there any cones that your could heat up in the oven (yes, I heated my cones in the oven to kill any unwanted bugs) and then try to create new trees from the cuttings, perhaps growing them far away from the mother tree?

Thx GA and real - I know it worked before and obviously did something the grass really liked BUT I don't know if it was wood ash or paper/cardboard ash. I don't remember. If it was wood ash it was poplar - a hardwood. I suspect the soil is acid - it is in most places here - and the ash would adjusted the pH to a better level. I read about cardboard ashes and chemicals before . I think I will try a bit in an out of the way place and see what happens. I didn't use much before - just sprinkled it on the fairy ring and the mushrooms died and the grass took off. I have ordered a soil pH tester so we can at least find out about that.

In the past I have found that water is the main thing needed by my lawns. One year it rained all summer. I didn't fertilize and the grass was wonderful. We are getting some rain these days so hopefully the front will improve. The back looks great already, but it gets more sun.

My lodge pole pine has a virus according the the Fish and Wildlife people. Parts of it are fine and parts are decidedly not fine . We sent them photos last year and they said a number of trees in the area had the same problem and they think it is a virus but had no solution to offer. 😟 It is the tree my youngest son brought home from school in grade 2 and we planted it so it is a bit of a memorial to him. I would hate to lose it.

Sea weed is not an option here, nor milk. Almond milk keeps well so I don't have leftovers.

Golden, be careful what kind of ashes you use.

Hardwood ash creates a natural lye and could kill your soil.

Soft wood and paper ashes add good nutrients.

I had no idea until I started making soap, that black African soap, yep all natural hardwood lye. Fabulous soap by they way.

Golden, I don't really have any experience with using ashes on the garden, as I don't have a fireplace and have no way to create ashes! But I recall reading decades ago when I started the garden at my house that ashes were a good source of specific compounds, and are beneficial, including adjusting the pH of a garden.

This is a good article on that aspect:

https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/woodash.html

If you have pH sensitive plants, such as hydrangeas, additives can cause the color of the flowers to change.

This is another good article as it addresses not only the different types of wood ashes that are beneficial, but it also the potential side effects, including using ashes of cardboard, painted wood, and treated lumber (such as that which was used some years ago as landscape timbers, but was treated with arsenic.

https://www.seattletimes.com/explore/at-home/fireplace-ash-can-be-a-boost-for-garden-soil-but-be-cautious/

I'm somewhat surprised to see that caution against cardboard, as I know organic gardeners who freely add it to their soils. I've always been reluctant to do that, b/c cardboard has to have some type of adhesive to hold it together, and I would think that dissolves just as the paper type content of cardboard does.

Two other substances I've found to be useful in the garden are seaweed and milk. The former is also available in liquid form, I assume from good garden supply stores. The latter is just left over from a milk bottle.

My father used to bring his trailer to the local lakes during spring when a harvester pulled out the seaweed overgrowth. We then put it on our gardens as mulch. It dried out quickly. My roses loved it.

The milk is just what's left at the bottom of a milk jug (in plastic). I watered it down a bit and fed my roses and morning glories. Both of them were more healthy for it and produced more flowers.

(If I could afford the pricey milks like almond milk, I'd try the leftovers from that as well.)

Interesting - I use baby oil on my face which is mineral oil. it works for me. My dd says it is too greasy for her,

A lawn issue. A small strip by the front driveway on the side of my property had very poor grass and a mushroom fairy ring appeared. R said put ashes from the fireplace on it so I did and the fairy ring disappeared, but also the grass grew like it never had before. Obviously the soil was lacking nutrients. A neighbour from long ago used to put ashes on his vegetable garden every year and he had a great crop. The past few years my main front law has been slow to grow and yellowish for too long in the spring. It faces north so gets less sun than the back which is greening up nicely. I am thinking of putting ashes on the front as it worked so well on that side strip. Then I plan on getting it weeded and feeded in a couple of weeks. I know it needs nitrogen.

Anyone have experience with ashes?

Mayday, castor oil is great for a bellyache, just rub in your belly and cover with a wool cloth. Then wait for relief.

I love it as a hand moisturizer and I even use it on my face when I feel overly dry. I am going to try it on my lashes, never hurts to have more of those.

It is a wonder product, much like witch hazel, both multi use natural products that have been in use for many decades.

The cleansers we use at work gets the dirt off quickly... GoJo,, orange cleanser, Lava soap, and there is one that has borax in it...

I had someone tell me to add mineral oil afterwards, and now I add this to my lotions should they get low enough where the pump will not pump... get a bit more out of the lil bottles,,, mineral oil, seems to help in that department.

Also Castor oil is making a huge comeback. I remember this as a kid.. now you put a dab with a Q-tip to your eyelashes to make them grow longer. I wonder if I add that to my head, if my hair will grow in.. I guess I could take by mouth, but I remember the after taste was not so good... Then again stress doesn't do well for hair growth.. So perhaps it's worth the bad aftertaste.

I'll go for the high quality chocolate. I mostly use good chocolate. I can get it free of allergens. And my hands are surviving all the washing pretty well, Or it is the gold bond hand lotion or maybe both!!!

I've been reading the posts on moisturizing hands and just realized that for the last year or so I haven't needed to use any moisturizer on my hands. Now I'm wondering why, as they used to be quite dry, sometimes weeping a bit of blood, when I was taking care of my father.

And I'm washing them more b/c of the virus.

I think it must have something to do with my diet, to which I'm paying more attention now. Or maybe it's that the chocolate is of a higher quality? Hmmmm....

geraniums grow in our area really well. If I see one I like, I will take a little stem of it home, and stick it in the dirt. Helps to put Root Grow on it first.

The other day, I snapped off a branch of my hybiscus, it got too close to the lawn mower...oops. So I trimmed it up a bit, sprinkled root grow on it, and stuck it in the ground in my front yard... so far it doesn't look too well,, but maybe, just maybe? It will work?
And does anyone know how to get rid of those pesky white flys that suck up the hybiscus juice in the leaves? It's killing my other hybiscus tree :(

All the moisturizers sound very good but the product I had was more of a cleanser with moisturizing and soft hands as an extra bonus.
I tried the vegetable oil and sugar yesterday and that works very well (thanks Linda), I hadn't thought of using sugar as a scrub. I think that if I tinker with the formula I might come up with something similar to the commercial products for a fraction of the cost.

I found Jason creme, powered with Ester-C. Vitamin C creme. It's around $12.00 for a small jar. It does not leave an oily feeling. Just softer skin.

Found a few interesting articles on using vinegar and making it.

https://www.gardenmyths.com/vinegar-weed-killer-myth/

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/20-acetic-vinegar-kill-weeds-46792.html

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20705796/vinegar-weed-killer-danger/

https://www.seasonedhomemaker.com/a-vinegar-weed-killer/

20% vinegar? Household vinegar is 5% Where do you get the more concentrated stuff? I read that adding salt and a little dish soap is good too, but you will never grow anything in the area after using a solution with salt. I have a section that is mulched that I never want anything to grow in so that would work there.

I gather you can use the 5% household vinegar as is so I may try that. It is cheap and easy.

Golden, the vinegar works best with salt added.

I make 20% vinegar and just use that for areas that I don't want to add any salt to the ground.

Sometimes it takes a couple of applications, depending on what you are trying to kill.

I recommend it.

Gold Bond extra strength medicated (with menthol) - the green bottle - is really good stuff. I have been using it with all this hand washing and my hand skin has improved and no hang nails as long as I use it regularly. AVEENO Eczema Cream is a good one too. I had so many ongoing skin issues after the fire and evac that are slowly disappearing. I still get stress rashes occasionally. Gold Bond was a life saver the last time.

Weather here is iffy - some sun, some cloud, some rain, cool to chilly but warmish today (high 60s).

I pulled some grass out of the junipers in the front. If you do it after the rain they aren't so prickly and the grass comes out easier. The kitties 🐱🐱 joined me and were so happy to have company outside.

Does anyone have experience using vinegar as a weed/grass killer? I have a couple of beds out back that need treatment before remulching.

I read an article years ago about the best lotions for after gardening. I remember the Crabtree one was there. Never got it but used another one, Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion With Cooling Menthol. Loved it! It isn't made any more either. The warming of the menthol was wonderful for sore hands.

Found the article.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-07-04-0407040374-story.html

Found a Good Bond lotion with menthol. Will try it.

CW, I've done both. If I want to clean hands, I add a little handsoap and put the mix in a little jar. I think I used a recipe from Pinterest for this mix. You could probably add a little essential oils for fragrance. But if I just want to exfoliate, I get a spoonful of sugar in my hand and pour on a little olive oil.

CW I'll pm you an address for a Canadian company that ships Aleppo soap, which to my mind is the best there is for kitchen, gardening and general household use - you can scrub your hands all day long and your skin won't get sore, and it cuts through gunge/grease like a charm.

Their prices look a little bit high? - but then again it does last.

Thanks Linda. Do you make it ahead or is it better to just mix up enough for a single use?

CW, I use a homemade concoction of coconut or olive oil, and sugar. It's probably not at good as the Crabtree but it does help.

Holy smoke it's listed at $22 (American dollars I presume), plus shipping! And I can't find any information on whether or not they ship to Canada, and their shipping page has information in British pounds 🤨. Thanks anyway Send, I liked the product but not THAT much!

CW,
Still available online?
https://www.crabtree-evelyn.com/pages/thanks-for-signing-up-to-our-newsletter#footer_form

Acquired by a company in Hong Kong, may be an actual store
(flagship store) Islington, London:
 "All UK stores are set to close by the end of 2019, with exception of a new flagship concept store in Islington, London."

Now known under the name: "The brand relaunched on 16th July 2019. [7] Under its new ethos "Born Curious, Grown Wild" the products are available to purchase online only.[8]."

Second resource: Sold on Amazon under the name Crabtree & Evelyn for some crazy high prices: $125 for a $22-23 dollar product! Don't do it!

Years ago my SIL gave me a tube of gardener's hand recovery from crabtree and evelyn - it was a wonderful gritty scrub and emollient all in one, and it smelled wonderful too. Since they have gone out of business I've been looking for a substitute, does anybody here have any recommendations?

Weather, especially during seasonal changes, is unpredictable. Last year at this time, the days in Northeast TN were in the upper 80s with evening lows in the 60s. This year, the days are in the low 50s with freeze warnings every night. There's a reason my grandparents said to never plant the garden before May 10...

GA,
Lol....for those 'familiar' or even believing in a weather goddess, it is apparently not working.

There is sun, and mild 76 degrees here today, after a week of disturbing heat in the 90's.

But gardening has gone on twice a week. Hubs is out pulling weeds by hand, has to be reminded, (begged actually), to come inside, out of the heat after several hours out there. Rewarded him with an Amazon gift card so he can order what he needs, this after receiving our stimulus check, made out to both of us. Whew, so relieved! The cactus are blooming! The landscaping is doing fine, except for next door. Weeds along the boundary growing rampant.
Cannot justify asking hubs because he cannot see his chiropractor.
Great way to catch something, face down into the crack of the chiro's table. That paper covering isn't going to do diddly for protection. And 'social distancing' at an office for treatment is non-existent. Maybe I should walk on his back.

Cwillie,
snow. There are times when I would like that environment.
Yeah but.......

I dream of planting orange trees someday.....eating oranges help moods, ya know. And the orange peels help the garbage disposal smell fresh. Also, inhibit bugs?

Getting through today, and another week, staying at home.

It's not unheard of to get snow here in May but it's usually a one day event that flattens the daffodils not this prolonged bout of cold we've been having this year, I was not happy to wake up to white on the ground this morning! The night time temps are well below freezing so I expect the fruit farmers will be seeing damaged blossoms, and the cold wet spring has me wondering if much planting has gotten under way out in the fields.

GA your comment that "It's something I've thought about for years.. and thought and thought, and yet the hoops don't seem to appear on their own" resonates with me, I do a lot of planning (dreaming) but I tend to fall down on the execution!

Golden, would you agree to be in charge of the weather? We had a 23 degree Farenheit low last week, another last night and tonight will be the third night of aberrant weather behavior of May. First time ever that I remember freezing temps in May.

Maybe we need a Weather Czar , or for those familiar with Greek mythology, a Weather goddess, to help protect our crops.

CWillie, do you have enough of a fall season to plant peas, greens and broccoli? I often (well, more than often) miss the Spring planting, and sometimes get some cool weather crops in during Fall....but not always; usually I think about it more than I get it done.

I haven't grown sweet potatoes in some time, but I love to just b/c of their lacy foliage. They're so ornamental. Have you seen the hybrid sweet potatoes apparently grown more for their foliage than as edibles?

Do you have any raised beds you can use? One of the fellows I know has hoops over all his early crops so he can just cover them up when the temps plunge. It's something I've thought about for years.. and thought and thought, and yet the hoops don't seem to appear on their own. I guess I need to get busy and create some.


Glad, sounds like you have some really great neighbors, and some youngsters who are good candidates for learning to garden. Do you have space to create a children's garden for them, not only to encourage gardening but to highlight self sufficiency?


Little Orchid, sounds like a very nice, relaxing Mother's Day. And you're right - some of the things that seemed so important are distanced or put into perspective by a pandemic or other disasters. Although the pandemic creates anxiety, I find that I'm also beginning to relax more as I accept that there are some things I can't do. Unfortunately, house cleaning isn't one of them.


It was a bit chilly here, the wind chill having plunged down to the low 20s (Farenheit), but I enjoyed peeking out the window. The Lunaria are more plentiful than usual; there's a companion plant with similar leaves but smaller white flowers. It appears annually but I haven't figured out what it is.

Something yellow is blooming well; it might be wild mustard. There's also another volunteer plant that's decided to spread its wings and move from the back of the garden to the front. It has lovely little lilac flowers. It looks like a ground cover, but I think it's a wildflower.

My Siberian Squills were mobile this year as well and moved about 250' from my garden to the front yard of the neighbor across the street.

The violets are still blooming, both in white and pale lilac; they're good faithful bloomers.

The peonies have the most intense and deeply burgundy foliage I've ever seen. I don't recall that color intensity of the leaves in past years. There are a little over a dozen, spanning generations: some I planted, some are from Mom's garden and others from my grandmother's garden. The latter are probably a good 40 or more years old.

My mother used to have a whole side of rambling roses which were lost over the years, including when some church people cut them down while alleging cleaning up the yard when Dad was in a series of hospitals. Ramblers have always reminded me of her gardening expertise, so I'm going to start buying and propagating them for my own yard.

My trilliums aren't growing as tall as they usually do, but they do have a lot of buds. The burgundy one has its usual dozen or baker's dozen. So far the rabbits haven't nibbled on them, as they have in the past.

Someone broke off a juniper branch in the front yard; I think it was the lawn service. I wasn't pleased. They aren't going to get tipped this year. But hopefully I can have my own broken mower fixed and get back to mowing my own lawns.


I hope each of you had a pleasant and relaxing day yesterday, despite all the turmoil on the medical front.

Today is Mother's day and I began my day with a time of total self-indulgence caring for my gardens. Everything is looking pretty and spring is moving from early spring to late spring, with the daffodils gone, the tulips nearly gone, but the azaleas and rhododendrons in full bloom, with the dogwoods blooming above them. It is a marvelous sunny day and it is hard to believe that there is a world-wide pandemic.

One of the lessons of the last 6 weeks of staying at home has been that many of those appointments that I used to make weren't really very important. I am much happier staying here in my gardens, doing the daily chores of weeding, fencing, and dead-heading is a much more fulfilling life than rushing to meetings and appointments. Perhaps in the future I will consider my week "booked up" when I have 2. For the whole week.