Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Nikki99]

CR here's our frog pic from last night at DH's wrk. Pretty cool, biggest frog we've seen here so far!

 

[RaZ]

That's strange - because the Arbor Day Foundation sent me three of the Golden Rain Trees - and I thought they only shipped what is supposed to be in your area. I had to select the location I live in, and they said that grouping of baby trees was all I could get (Dogwoods, Golden Rain Tree and Red Bud).

The USDA plant data base is only as good as the input, which is usually done by summer interns and relies on good data from the states. All in all, I find it an excellent starting point for research. And I would trust their information before relying on ADF. (I got trees from them once and they were merely dead twigs)

 

[Stumpfarmer]

CR here's our frog pic from last night at DH's wrk. Pretty cool, biggest frog we've seen here so far!

Invasive East Coast Bullfrog, which is a kill-on-sight animal as it eats the eggs and young of native frogs, toads, and salamanders.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

That's strange - because the Arbor Day Foundation sent me three of the Golden Rain Trees - and I thought they only shipped what is supposed to be in your area.  I had to select the location I live in, and they said that grouping of baby trees was all I could get (Dogwoods, Golden Rain Tree and Red Bud).

The USDA plant data base is only as good as the input, which is usually done by summer interns and relies on good data from the states. All in all, I find it an excellent starting point for research.  And I would trust their information before relying on ADF.  (I got trees from them once and they were merely dead twigs)

My Mom got a whole lot of junk trees from ADF, none of which survived.

I know people hate botanical Latin, but if you're buying something as potentially major as a tree: BUY FROM A BUSINESS THAT LABELS THINGS IN LATIN and check online before you put the money down: google is your friend, or bing if you prefer, but find out exactly what you're putting time and money into.

And if you're an inexperienced gardener, don't buy newly introduced varieties of anything. Claridge Druce geranium was five years from being labeled an invasive thug in this climate when I originally planted it, now it is not usually sold because of its terrible reputation except at amateur plant sales where plants are innocently donated by those who still think you can get rid of the stuff.

Of course, my great-grandmother planted Himalaya blackberries the year they were introduced and the Extension Service called them "an easy and fruitful plant for the home garden" and you all know where THAT has led us!

 

[Imp]

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What part of Seattle are you in? North? South? The kids have the day off school next Monday, and I could take them on a field trip to the Museum of Flight. Plus, DH and I have been talking about sneaking off while the kids are in school and going to the King Tut Exhibit at some point (can't afford to take the kids, too. Bummer). I'm not sure when we plan to do that, though.
I'm way up north, about as far north as you can get Near Shoreline/Lake Forest Park.

Hmmm. Any way you can come down toward Museum of Flight on Monday? Or is that too far?
It's really far away--thanks anyway!

Slinglings,

If you are looking for plants, I've got some to offer. I have a couple of (Buddelia) butterfly bushes as well, in pots. A lavender and white. I also have a pink in the yard, but it hasn't volunteered. I can try to start some when I prune this winter. I have found that 1 start in 30 will actually grow. They grow like weeds. I grow/prune mine like a small standard, but they are also known as fountain bush. Can be cut to the ground in winter for a small bush look.
I also have 2 Red Prelude Raspberries, 2 Golden Summit Raspberries, and 1 pot of Thimble berries; all in pots, ready to go.
If Itsren and I can get her trees to Renton, I can bring them all into Seattle.

Russ

 

[CarolynF]

I have some questions for those with experience adding to your flock and quarantining the newbies.
If you got 2 new pullets and had only one coop, what would you do?

-- I assuming they can be outdoors in a pen away from reg. flock, and just cooped up at night.
-- If you get both birds from the same farm can they be kept together even though said farm had them in different pens?
-- Would you put them in a cage/carrier at night? If so what is a realistic size cage to hold them both, let's say they are LF near POL?
-- Do they need a roost in the cage/carrier? A nest box, just in case? Or maybe it would be smarter to get them younger than POL?

Sorry for so many questions, but they gotta be figured out when you're a newbie like me!

Thanks!!!

Anyone?

 

[CarolynF]

Wow, lots of plants are being brought to Chehalis, that's cool!
Here's the list of stuff I'll bring to share:

- Liatris bulbs,
- some crocosmia (lucifer, the tall red ones),
- dahlia tubers (Japanese Bishop & maybe Bulah Ruth),
- maybe 1 or 2 starts from my lavender plants,
- a good sized thyme plant.
- some cilantro seeds
Plus anything else that gets dug up or divided by then.

Does anyone have a tarragon plant or mint to share, or seeds for Green Slam cucumbers?

We're driving down Sat. morning.

 

[itsren]

Of course, my great-grandmother planted Himalaya blackberries the year they were introduced and the Extension Service called them "an easy and fruitful plant for the home garden" and you all know where THAT has led us!

My husband's third (or fourth?) great-aunt Catherine Maynard (Doc Maynard's wife) is accused of being the first to plant dandelions in Seattle. My husband used to get so frustrated at the sight of a dandelion, then, when I learned that she brought them here, all I had to do was remind him that the entire state can blame his family for that! He hasn't complained about a single dandelion since I discovered that.

http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=4281

 

[pips&peeps]

CR here's our frog pic from last night at DH's wrk. Pretty cool, biggest frog we've seen here so far!

I wouldn't think that kind of frog is native to the area....

 

[Imp]

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