Texas

[Jessica Lynn]

I don't think it is what people do that is being discussed it is how they do it. My beef is angry and nasty people. They come in all shapes and sizes and have many different interests. So no matter what you are into you will always find some scoweling mean no gooder who has a lot to say about the info or lack of being discussed. I have worked in a place that held meeting for every plant club you can imagine. Some of those people till this day are caring friends of mine. Others well they can stick their plants where the sun does not shine!

Just wanted to clear that up. I wish every one was into gardening enough to wear the freaky title of Master!

Oh I have to agree! There are so many nasty hateful people even on this board it makes me want to scream! I have run into so many nasty people between here, the store and my daughters school that it's just so sad what the world is coming to! I was told that a poor man on a motorcycle got hit this morning because of someone having road rage!

If there is a "Master BROWN THUMB Gardner" title then I would be perfect for it! I can't even grow cactus!

 

[jajeanpierre]

I believe we are talking generalities and not hitting any one individual. Now if you want to talk about someone, what is this deal with engineers?!!!! Everything is black and white. No gray areas. (My dh is an engineer)

Lisa

I'm married to an engineer, too. They all seem to be on the autistic spectrum. I discovered that when my eldest was diagnosed with Asperger's at 6 years of age back in the 90s. I've only met one or two engineers that I don't think are autistic spectrum or Asperger's syndrome.

 

[wlhtx]

Grilled ribs for dinner or chicken parmesean? I need to think of a good side dish for one of them! 

I vote for ribs. With mashed potatoes, purple hull peas, and corn on the cob.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I wish every one was into gardening enough to wear the freaky title of Master!

What's a master gardener? I'm new to Texas--actually new to the continental US coming from the Caribbean, Saudi Arabia and Canada before that.

 

[Italia]

Thank you for the information Yin!


We love our snakes! They really keep the rodent population in check!


Beautiful!


Lady bug dirt?


I am thankful for people like you! No Master Gardener bashing here! I was born with a brown thumb; so I apprecaite all the help I can get!


Daughter started school this week. Munchkin left behind has become VERY clingy. Happy we have chickies to keep her occupied!
I am very tired of the cliques that I see every day. I thought all of that was just high school stuff but I guess some people must have their cliques to feel superior. I wish they would grow up and behave like decent adults!
Trying to start tomato seedlings; but I think I killed them all. Is it too late in the year to try again?
Grilled ribs for dinner or chicken parmesean? I need to think of a good side dish for one of them!

Lady Bug dirt is a organic brand that is made here in Texas. It is really pricey but some of the best on the market IMO. For tomatoes: Do ou have a friend with tomatoes nearby? If so get a cutting. I tried some cuttings last fall and was able to carry them through the winter. You have to protect them from freezing though. Starting from seed now is hit or miss. Luckily seeds are cheap. It is worth a try.

Mmmm..... ribs and coleslaw!

 

[Italia]

What's a master gardener? I'm new to Texas--actually new to the continental US coming from the Caribbean, Saudi Arabia and Canada before that.

http://mastergardener.tamu.edu/become/


"Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. They are enthusiastic, willing to learn and to help others, and able to communicate with diverse groups of people.
What really sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is their special training in horticulture. In exchange for their training, persons who become Master Gardeners contribute time as volunteers, working through their Extension office to provide horticultural-related information to their communities"

 

[erikk]

Quote:
When we moved to the Abilene area (HOT and WINDY) I persuaded my lovely wife we didn't need any lawn area at all. The first year we rented a mini excavator for a weekend (about $300, saves your back!) and planted over 20 trees we'd gotten at various stores/sales during the previous month.

We knew we'd need to water them to get them established, and I knew I wouldn't be reliable or timely to do so. I bought drip irrigation line and little battery-powered faucet timers. It turns on the faucet water supply to the drip lines with run zig-zag all over our 1 acre of property to all the trees.

3 years later that system is still in place with even more trees added to the zone. I did finally last fall get rid of the battery-based faucet timer and set up a conventional 24v sprinkler controller that would run on AC (no more dead batteries/dying plants making the wife angry). Still run it off a faucet through a 6 ft hose to the valve manifold/valves.

My wife gradually adds to flower beds nearly every year (we've been married 10 years, I finally figured this out). I just keep creating more above-ground drip hose areas. They're easy to add on to, require no digging, and all still run off a regular sprinkler controller. When she wants to add plants she just runs a little 1/4" side-tap from the main 1/2" line. When she wants to expand the flowerbed we branch off the 1/2" line into the new area or if pressure is insufficient we add a new separate zone/valve supply from the controller.

This year I planted a 20x40 garden, on its own new zone, all with drip line. Next year I'll Amazon or eBay order my drip line. The local home store has lines with emitters built in every 12" but after getting it all in I learned some plants are supposed to be at 12" spacing, others 6", and others 3', or anything in between. The internet will allow me to order a variety of drip lines with different spacings and next years garden will have plants properly spaced with correspondingly appropriate drip emitters.

Now, since this is a chicken forum I'll circle back and ask if anyone can recommend a hot, arid, windy-compatible meat bird or another dual-purpose bird? We got 6 Ameraucana chicks about 3 weeks ago for our broody silkie but now we're down to 4 (2 got out of the run and our dogs killed them). I've got another silkie going broody so want to get more chicks for meat and/or dual purpose. Thoughts, suggestions?

 

[Italia]

Oh I have to agree! There are so many nasty hateful people even on this board it makes me want to scream! I have run into so many nasty people between here, the store and my daughters school that it's just so sad what the world is coming to! I was told that a poor man on a motorcycle got hit this morning because of someone having road rage!

If there is a "Master BROWN THUMB Gardner" title then I would be perfect for it! I can't even grow cactus!

Awww, I am sure you got green in that thumb somewhere? I used to have a room mate a long time ago that would ask how many dead plant cadavers where going to pile up out back before I gave up. Well, it sucks to kill a plant but all those dead ones really taught me a lot. It has been a huge learning curve and many a patriotic plant has given it's life in my quest for knowledge. I would never have the garden I have now if I had not kept trying and learning.

I just figured out cactus and succulents a few years ago, so don't feel bad. For some reason I could care for an orchid better than I could a cactus!

 

[TexasLisa]

Trying to start tomato seedlings; but I think I killed them all. Is it too late in the year to try again? I am not sure where you are located. I live SE of Houston and I can get a fall crop in.
Grilled ribs for dinner or chicken parmesean? I need to think of a good side dish for one of them! RIBS and I can bring dessert. What time

Lisa

 

[back2simplelife]

Lady Bug dirt is a organic brand that is made here in Texas. It is really pricey but some of the best on the market IMO. For tomatoes: Do ou have a friend with tomatoes nearby? If so get a cutting. I tried some cuttings last fall and was able to carry them through the winter. You have to protect them from freezing though. Starting from seed now is hit or miss. Luckily seeds are cheap. It is worth a try.

Mmmm..... ribs and coleslaw!

Ok.. you say "protect them from freezing" How do ya'll do this in Texas? In Wyo we used wall-o-waters for the most part.. would occasionally use blankets as well.