Diane,

The August heat will do it just about every time, won't it? At this point, my garden may not be too far behind yours, and the grasshoppers are flocking to and devouring anything still green, so there isn't much point in watering it anymore. A green oasis in the middle of a brown patch is just a hopper magnet.

Congratulations on selling the house! I hope y'all can find one in MO quickly so you can get all settled in and start planning your 2011 garden.

I'll leave the sunchoke question for George. I think you could dig them and move them, but haven't tried it at this time of year, so let's see what he says.

I am sure you're excited about the new beginning in a new place and I'm looking forward to hearing all about your new place once you find it! I bet whoever is buying your current place is THRILLED to not only buy the house, but....oh, good heavens, all the animal pens, the greenhouse, the chicken coop, the garden plots! Somebody sure has hit the jackpot with your place and I do hope it is a gardener/animal type person who's buying it so all the time and effort your family has put into building and developing the place will be appreciated by the next residents and so all your wonderful gardens and structures will be used by them.

Dawn

Same here...its just too hot to tend the garden let alone trying to keep it watered. I've quit watering and I'm just going to let it go. I've enjoyed it and have gotten quite a lot out of it this year and am looking forward to next year.

Congrats on the home sale!!!

Congratulations Diane! Selling a home is really huge.
I have never tried to move Jerusalem Artichokes at this time of year. But I'm sure, if you can find tubers under your plants, you can dig them and take some with you. I'd recommend that you take a bit more than you think you'll need, wrap them in damp paper towels and keep them in a cooler for travel. Arriving at your new location, I'd keep them in the vegetable section of the fridge until you can plant them.

George
Tahlequah, OK

Thanks, gang! I'm still shocked that it's selling in this economy! It's the neighbors' (adult) kids so they know all of the time and work and money we've put into this place.

Thanks for the confidence boost on moving the 'chokes. I'd not thought of the moist/cooler idea -- will do that! Oh, dang, I just remembered George's beans and peas I just planted. *sigh* Maybe we'll get a few before we have to clear out. Good thing I saved half of the seed back for "just in case"! I'll have to see how they like Missouri next year.

Ya know, I'm kind of scared about having to relearn gardening -- in good soil, in a moderate climate. LOL

Diane

Hey Diane, Missouri is a great state to live in! I was born and raised there, then became an Okie!

Congrats on selling your home and good luck on finding a new one. What area are you looking at?

Thanks!

I've lived in Springfield as an adult and, as a child, I lived in Rich Hill and Bradleyville. Hubby got a job in Quincy, IL so we'll be looking within an hour's commute of there, on the MO side.

Which area did you live in?

Diane

Congrats on the house!

My garden is spent as well. Too darn hot! I am hoping to get something in for the fall, but at this rate it is not looking good.

You definitely will have to post when you are settled and let us know how you are doing!

Congrats on your sale, Diane! I hope you'll continue to poke your head in here on the forum, though, cuz otherwise, your wit will be sorely missed and we need it, I mean, we really need it! The forum without Diane, would be like a planet without water! Please hydrate us, please!

I lived in Ft. Madison, Iowa, for about a year, and it was just a "cross the Mississippi and you're in Illinois" jump. It will be a bit cooler up there, with a slightly longer winter than ours here. I'm really a transplanted Kansan, from SE Kansas, near the 4 corners. Is that going to be zone 5 or 6?

I know what it's like to have to give up a garden. About 4 years ago, I had to give up gardening in my backyard. I do a tiny bit in the spring, but I don't water or tend it at all back there anymore. Got too expensive to water and too much to care for. Now, I just garden in the front yard, where I have mostly flowers and where I grow my tomatos in containers. Not near as much watering to do, and a whole lot less space. The backyard was the big area. But, there's still that "wish" that I could do more back there, occasionally. Some things continue to thrive despite the neglect. And, when they do die back, they return next year, so it's not too bad.

Still, we'll miss you oodles!

Susan

Diane, That is wonderful news. I didn't know that Steve was working in Quincy. DH and I go to Quincy almost every year so you had better get that garden in shape because I may come to do an inspection. LOL

Tell Luke we want him to draw pictures of the Mississippi River with all of the great boats on it. I love that area along the Mississippi in the fall when the foliage puts on a show. What a great place to live.

Good question, Susan! I just looked it up and it's zone 5. Boy, that's going to be a change for sure. I'm going to have to poke through the MO extension publications and educate myself over the fall and winter.

Carol, that's great and you'll have to stop by! Do you have family up there?

Diane

And don't forget the Missouri Botanical Gardens. It's in St. Louis - a bit of a ways from where you'll be - but they have great stuff on their website. I use it a lot for ID'ing and getting info on native plants in particular.

Susan

Here is a link that might be useful: Missouri Botanical Gardens

Diane, Our destination is Nauvoo, but we normally go to Quincy as well. I sent you an email to explain.

Congrats Diane! I'm glad to hear the house sold so quickly! Hope you find a place just as easily!

Oh, and don't worry about us either... Bryan's job went from iffy to secure.

Right now, I'm at "never give up, never surrender" on my garden... LOL! :)

Beth

Congrats on the house sale and the future new place. I think (?) gardening will be a bit easier up there.

Jo

Thanks! We seem to have found/decided on our new home in MO today. Yay! Beautiful place with wonderful garden areas!!!

Beth how cool his job is now secure! Woo hoo!!!!

(A Very Excited) Diane

Diane, That's great news! I can't believe y'all found a new place so quickly.

Beth, That's great news too.

After a couple of years of tough economic times, it is great to see some of 'our' OK Forum families here on the path to economic recovery.

Dawn

WOW DIANE! Maybe this move was meant to be! It sure seems like it! I'm very happy for ya'll! :)

Dawn,
Thanks, we're breathing a sigh of relief around here!

Beth