Betty:  I know!  Where are all the other Louisiana gardeners?    We've got one of the best gardening climates in the continental US!  It can't be just us.  Attention all you other gardeners--come out, come out, wherever you are!


I am VERY excited about my greenhouse!  I got a bit behind on all the things I wanted to do while the folks were away.  (and of COURSE 60 isn't old--unless you're raising toddlers.  I wouldn't want to do that at 50!)  One of the cute little petrie dishes at work got me sick.    I'm starting to get over it, though, and I got the last of my January seeding done today.  Now to begin bedding preparation in earnest--if I can fit it in around Mardi Gras preparations!  Seriously, I need to cut back. 


Hope everything's going well up there.  Has the morning walk thawed any?

Brandi

Ick!  Sorry to hear you've been under the weather!  I hope you got some of that good weather this past week.  It's been WONDERFUL down here!  70s in the daytime, 50s over night.  I've had to leave my greenhouse open so my plants don't die of heat stroke! 

On that note, I ran into my first greenhouse snag.  The way it's built makes it impossible to have windows or flaps for ventilation, so if I don't open the door everyday, the moisture and heat build up and spawn . . . TOADSTOOLS!!!!  I came out after 3 days of forgetfulness to find a hoard of bright orange column-shaped fungus, and the entire greenhouse smelled like a garbage dump!    I got the first batch cleaned out, but now I have to keep daily watch, because apparently the little creeps had just enough time to propagate, so every once in a while I find another one trying to grow.    Little monsters!  I hope they don't affect my crops!  On the up side, my seedlings are doing very well indeed!


My sisters are 5 and 10 years old.  They're going to Houston this weekend to see their youngest sister get baptized.  (THat's where their biological mom lives.)  They're so excited!  I'll be staying behind, working, of course.  But that does mean all of Saturday to spend cleaning house and gardening with no family obligations.  Whoop! 


Yeah, I know what you mean about seed ordering.  It's so hard to keep it down to a dull roar, especially when the number of catalogs sent grows yearly.  I'm at work right now, and it's a slow day, so I have over a dozen catalogs piled up at the desk, and I'm blissfully thumbing through the pages and making plans, ignoring the {1}******s and rolled eyes of my collegues over "my strange addiction."  They JUST don't understand. 


Stay warm!

Brandi

No, I haven't heard of that festival.  When is it?  Where is it?  What is it?  I wanna go!  (and I have to put in schedule requests for March very soon!)

Don't feel too bad for Avery.  I was an only child (practically speaking) until three years ago, and it ROCKED!!!  No sharing mommy and daddy with any other snot nosed brats,  and no sibs to bring home viruses to get me sick.  Tell Avery to enjoy it while it lasts.  *sigh*

On a more serious note, I know what you mean about the weather.  Crazy, right?  I want to dismantle my green house since it's so warm lately, but the minute I do that, it's gonna freeze again.  Oh, well, I'll just enjoy the weather for now.  We're getting lots of rain at the moment.  Love that!  It really helps with the water bill! 

Gotta go!  The ER's crawling with 'em today!

Brandi

Forest Hill is just below Alexandria, close to LaCompte.  They have a festival every year in March.  This year it is March 16, 17, and 18.  I've never been but I've heard others talk about it.  There used to be a bunch of LA folks on here and they talked about it.  http://www.louisiananurseryfestival.com

Oh, I don't feel too badly for Avery.  Stacey is an only child too.  I know how much she always wanted a brother or sister but it just wasn't to be.

It was almost 75° again today but now they are saying it is going to storm.  We really, really need some cold weather before spring gets here.  I hate that we haven't had any to speak of.

Better close this down.  I believe the storm is getting closer to us.  Have a good week.  Keep your feet dry! : -)
Betty

Hey Betty! How are you? I'm not sure you would remember me. I'm Christy from Baton Rouge, La. It has been years since I've been on here. I believe it wasn't long after your daughter adopted her little girl (How old is Avery now?) I got busy over the years and just haven't been on here. My yard has changed so much over the years. I got a card in the mail stating Gardening Club needed to hear from me or my LIFE MEMBERSHIP could not continue to be delivered. I paid for a LIFE Membership so of course I want my magazine. I've got many of them I believe as far back as 2000. Funny ;o) I hope you are doing well. Take Care.

Hi Christy,
Of course I remember you.  I don't get this business about the card from NHGC.  If a person pays for a life membership, how is it that they can't continue to send the magazine?  I've noticed some others that have come on that haven't been on in a long time. 

Anyway, Avery is great.  She is 5 1/2 now and about to lose her front teeth. We don't get to see them as often as we would like, but she is growing like a weed.   Didn't I send you some Confederate Rose cuttings?  I know I sent someone some.  Take care of yourself and come back when you can.  Good to see you on.  How's your family?  It took me a minute but I finally found a picture of Avery that was taken a week before Christmas.  We were in a Christmas store in Edmond, OK, where Avery was to have her picture made with Santa.

Spring is almost here and I'm glad.  We didn't have much of a winter, but I'm always glad for spring.  I love the new blooms, etc.

Later,
Betty

Hello!  Sorry to flake again.  It's been a busy couple of months.  First Mardi Gras--I'm in the Krewe of Tucks, and boy did we have a fiasco this year with weather changes and rider shuffling at the last minute--then my birthday this month, and joining the local farmer's market this month.  This is the first time I've had a breather, and it's all because IT'S NIGHT SHIFT WEEK AGAIN!!!  Talk about your mixed blessings.

SO much has been going on in the garden.  The greenhouse is down, the tomatoes are up up up!  My herbs are doing wonderfully, I STILL have kumquats, and the loquats have just become ripe (yum!).  The oleander is blooming way too early, the camelias are blooming way too late, the roses are blooming everywhere!  Lilies are flowering alongside tulips and amaryllis, and nasturtiums are outblooming the sweet peas.  My garden is officially schizophrenic.

I love it! 

Brandi