Hi Dave:

My favorite activities are "anticipation" and planting.
My favorite plants are Delphiniums, followed by fragrant flowers.

Milwdave (or Franklin): Which hardy cacti do you grow? I'm going to try some this year and would appreciate suggestions.

Right now two of my passions are:

Growing anything from seed (I'm starting lots of trees this year).

Growing things (or trying to) that I shouldn't be able to this far north.

Kate

My favorite activities with gardening are just about anything that has to do with gardening. I love planting, weeding, deadheading, watering...the list goes on. I also love just looking at different nurseries for just the right plants. The only thing I'm not thrilled about is digging a new garden. So I've taken the easy way out and since my 2nd year at this home I've done the lasagna style gardens. I just feel so good when I'm doing something with my gardens. I lose track of time. I'm looking forward to the day I can retire and just spend all the time I want in my gardens. Right now with my job it can be difficult keeping up with things.
My flower passions right now are heucheras, the purple leaf kind. I have 8 different kinds of those and I'm going to either get more this spring or divide some I already have. I do love roses, but I only have a few. I just don't have the room for more. Hubby likes his green grass. :(

Kat

My passion is for Hosta. Ive been collecting for a little over a year and have amassed over 160 varieties in my collection. Let me tell you this is QUITE an illness........Hi my name is Dave, and im a Hostaholic......(hangs his head in shame)

Dave J, Oak Creek

I've really lost it - current passions are z5a hardy Asian Maples and bamboo. Try 'em you'll like 'em.

I'm an orchid nut. Have about 100 in the house.

My favorite outside garden is my woodland garden, with a variety of hostas, ferns, pulmonaria, mayflowers, mosses, etc.

My latest passion is a 2,000 gallon pond just outside my kitchen window and on the edge of the patio. It has goldfish and koi. The goldfish spawned multiple times last summer and I ended up with a few babies that didn't get eaten. At one point last August my daughter counted over 100 frogs suning themselves. The water lillies, pickerel and iris, underwater plants and everything else in and around the pond are really fun.

Shirley

I love to grow vegetables and herbs-especially for Italian cooking. I love to go out to my garden and pick things for supper. I really enjoy planning the garden, planting, watching it grow, producing that incredible tasting bean or tomato or huge head of garlic. I love to tromp out to the garden with a flashlight to pick sprigs of basil, oregano and parsley for a late night Italian feast. I love to find answers to gardening questions on the garden web. (I love the garden web for many reasons and hope that continues) I love going to the farmers market in the spring to find the heirloom tomato plants that I am looking for, some interesting pepper varieties and maybe this year a giant pumpkin plant. I love going to farmers markets and finding out that my produce looks better then what I find and even if it doesn't, I love the fact that I don't have to buy it.

Then I could go on about my flower beds, houseplants, pond, shade garden, ornamental grasses, etc.

hello all;

KMS4ME: In zone 3/4 I think you're pretty limited to the opuntias. We have 2 that are native here, O. macrorhiza and O. fragilis whis is a miniature. some others that might make it are:

O. imbricata
O. viridiflora
O. phaecantha
O. polyacantha
O. whippleii

The imbricata can grow quite tall here in the Milwaukee area. 4 to 6 ft.as can the viridiflora. The others are all the pad type if Opuntia and stay relatively low.

If you don't mind taking some losses you might try some of the Echinocereus and Escobaria which are barrel type cacti.
It might be best to try these from seed as they can be a bit expensive to purchase and then lose. I know Mesa Garden carries a good selection of seeds. I'm going to be placing an order for some of the tender types this year.

Hope this helps:

Dave
Franklin.

I am a hosta/hemerocallis addict, about 125 hostas, 220 dayliles plus around 100 daylily seedlings. If you are going to acquire a number of addictions this is a good combo. It encompasses both sun and shade. You start in May with the hostas, by July the daylilies take center stage and then by the end of August you can go back to appreciate the hostas! I also like lilacs and rugosa roses.
Linda

Cobalt blue flowers, my fern rock garden, my veggie garden, poppies, any kind, clematis, the raised raspberry bed, fragrant flowers, stuffing flower beds so full there is no room for weeds. DO NOT like weeding--kathusha, come on up. I'll put you up for a week in July and you can go nuts! aphrodite, do you have an aereator for the pond for winter, or do you catch and eat the koi? :0 Seriously, I hear they're very good. Dave, I grew prickley pear from seed and it grows pretty fast. Don't know if it would make it outdoors up here, though. Probably not :(

Good thread, milwdave. Thanks!

Constance in Eagle River, Snowmobile Capital of the World.

Hi Elvis,

The fish stay in the pond over winter. It is about 4 feet deep in the center, so it doesn't freeze to the bottom. Also, I have my sump pump running into it. All that is necessary is for there to be a hole open in the ice so any gases can excape. This year as an experiment I left the waterfall and filter running. The pond is wide open and you can see the fish being very still toward the bottom. They slow way down and don't get active again until spring when the water starts to warm up.

Haven't tried deep fried koi as of yet:)

How were the races? Haven't gone for years. Did they have to bring snow in for the track?

Shirley

Well that's nice, Shirley. It would be wonderful to hear that waterfall all winter :)

Don't forget! Fish pulled out of ice cold water taste the best--and no mercury worries, probably.

Heck no, we didn't have to truck in snow. We have a good 10" now, and had at least 6" at race week. Snow is only important for trail riders. The races are run on ice. Scary, huh? We had 20,000 spectators, and no accidents. For the first time in years it wasn't -20 for the races. What a treat! I personally didn't go. A lot of us locals don't--we listen on the radio. Admission is pricey--

Con.

Orchids! Slipper orchids to be more accurate and a few other, hardy orchids. I have a good handful of Paphiopedilums and have been expanding my Cypripedium collection. Next I would have to say come the tuberous aroids, ferns and hostas. EASY SHADE PLANTS!

I used to have a couple of bamboos but they got too big, got "gifted", got killed :(

permaculture plants
medicinal herbs
hardy cacti & sedums
iris
purples\blues, red, whites
heirlooms

great thread! TY......SB

Just a reminder that the Madison orchid Grower's Guild is having a show the first weekend in Feb I believe. Should be fun...anyone going from here?

Dave
Franklin

Hey Constance; I've got a prickly one for you. O. fragilis, a nice minature and grows into Canada. If you'd like to try it shoot me an email with your address and I'll send you a pad or two when they thaw.

Dave
Franklin

I emailed you, Dave. Thanks!

Constance.

Irises, Dahlias, and of course Cacti. I don't have a hardy bed for the cacti outside. I was afraid the little critters running around outside our house would impale themselves. My indoor cactus are dormant now. Am trying to get my epiphylums to bloom this yr. Their flowers are so gorgeous! Attention anyone who grows cactus!! (inside or out)!! I belong to the Wisconsin Cactus and Succulent Club and we meet several times a yr., & we have an area inside the flower building during State Fair week and we answer questions as well as displaying our best. We also have a year 'round outside cactus-succulent bed at State Fair park by the DNR building. For more info our club has a site on the web. Sorry, I don't have the address offhand. Just put in Wisconsin Cactus and Succulent Club. Next month I start watering my dahlia and waking them up. Can you ever have too many irises??! (The tall bearded ones especially)!

Cactus Cathy

Well....maybe the thing to do whould be to be a "holic" of just certain types of plants which is seems that many of you more sensable folks do. I am a plantaholic/seedoholic (hanging head in shame also). Dosen't matter what kind I love them all. Can't leave the house without comming home with a new one. Pockets full of seeds. Little cups in my car and all over the kitchen with slips in them. I try to resist the ones that aren't hardy here because there are too many of them in the house, but what can you do in the winter when that's all that's available. I love vege gardening, herb gardening, perenials, my moon garden, natives, shade gardening, pond plants, house plants, and many more. ;)

My favorite gardening passion is going into the (unheated) greenhouse in February and March when there is still snow on the ground and being able to take off my winter coat to start tender annuals. Everything (in my imagination) will grow perfectly, and look exactly like it's photo in the catalogs that I have been drooling over all winter long!

Colleen

My name is junebug...and I'm a...tomatoholic. I live for the moment I can put my tomato seedlings into the ground. I obsess on them daily and inspect them for any signs of blossoming. I protect them with yards of bird netting and have been known to run out into my backyard in my skivvies to protect my tomatoes from birds and squirrels.

'skivies'? uh oh....

Dave
Milwaukee

A few years ago my passion was hostas. The next year, it was roses. Last year was Wisconsin natives. I dunno what it'll be this year.

(re:"skivvies"....I've been known to run out in my robe, to scare off the squirrels and rabbits from eating my babies. The neighbors are used to it.)

Haven't ever run out in my skivvies, but I am a rabbit chaser. Either I'm getting faster or they're getting slower. One of these days . . .

Besides, why not get some exercise with an immediate purpose?

Regarding passions, I grow anything, but I really get into:
species lilies
species iris
local natives
unusual everything, including trees and shrubs

junebug: Skivvies??? I can do you one better--no neighbors (teehee).

LOL...yeah, maybe...but too cold up there for the , um, 'obvious' LOL

Seriously though...I run around in my boxers all the time during the summer. No one's even given me a second look. Pity....LOL

Good day to you all!

Dave
Franklin

junebug: Skivvies??? I can do you one better--no neighbors (teehee).

LOL! Lucky you, Elvis...when I think of it, me prancing around out back in my skivvies isn't half as bad as what I see in the one neighbor's back yard!

My favorite plant is Clematis and I like rocks as much if not more. Rocks are not a plant, but I wouldn't be happy without them. My favorite activities are planning, shopping for plants and watching the plants progress through the growing season. All the other activities are too hard. lol

I hear you, Janet...rocks are a passion of mine as well. I bring them home from up north and even brought one back from Ireland. I have them inside, as well.

From Ireland - I'm impressed. A friend brought me a piece of mountain from Tennesse. It has a yellowish, rusty color, very pretty.

Have you seen the rocks from Lake Superior? Gorgeous! I can't remember what park I was at, there are signs on the beach forbidding people to remove the rocks, but I'm sure people do.

I have a source for field stone - I still get excited saying that. lol. There is a large rock in the pile, pinks and grays in a swirly pattern, which I want badly. We estimate it to be around 300 pounds. My husband said there is no way we can get it home, he has yet to understand that "no way" is not in my vocabulary. He will this spring. lol

The iris has been my "new" passion the last two years, but this year I need to have a feanleaf peony - the red double bloom one. Anyone know where I can get one for a good price?

Sandy

Sandy, in my last year's Milaeger's catalog they had 'Rubra Flora Plena' with double blood red flowers. The price then was $65.99 for a 1 gal. pot. It says they are slow to establish and may take a couple of years to bloom. It sounds like a beautiful plant.

Kat

Shady Acres here in New Berlin had them last year for much less. Try giving them a call and see if they have it and what they're selling it for.

Dave
Franklin

Kat - Milaeger's has a catalog? Did not know that..... I think Khlems has them for around $40 but thought that was higher than what I wanted to spend. May have to though.

Dave - Do you by chance have a phone number for Shady Acres? Now I didn't check, but do they have a website?

Thanks!

Sandy

Sorry Sandy, but I don't have a number for them...they do have a website but no sales from it.

Dave
Franklin

Sandy, it's not their old catalog with all the pics, but there are separate ones without pics that they'll mail you. If you go to the website, click on 'garden', then 'plant guides'. You can email them for catalogs. I get the annual and perennial ones. They also have lists of some of the plants on the website that they offer.
You can get the peony you like for cheaper, but remember they are probably smaller and will take longer to bloom because they are slow to mature. On some of the shrubs hubby and I have gotten over the years, we have paid more at Milaeger's, but they were bigger and fuller than others we saw at cheaper prices. If you're willing to wait, get the cheaper one. I guess I'm not patient enough to wait! LOL!!
I'm including their url in the link below.
I hope you find what you want!

Kat

Here is a link that might be useful: Milaeger's

Ahhhh! Went to Milaegers today, to "look around" and there it was (well, actually I had to ask, I missed it the first time around), the Fernleaf Peony that I want! $59.99 was the price. Didn't grab it yet..... Talked to DH about it, and will be getting it for Mothers Day. Five kids, I think I deserve it! I Will probably go back tomorrow, don't want to miss out.

Sandy

Sandy, glad you found it! I really like the foliage on that plant. Is it a good sized one? I was going to go to Milaeger's this past weekend, but the weather was so crappy out. I won't be able to go until the Saturday before Mother's Day. :( I am so antsy to go plant shopping! There is one plant I really want to get and that's sedum 'Black Jack'. I had bought 'Purple Emperor' 2 yrs ago and this past summer both plants died. I read many of the people here on garden web had bad luck with that plant. They all seemed to die the same way. So now I'll give 'Black Jack' a chance.
Enjoy your Mother's Day gift!

Kat

Speaking of Milaeger's, has anyoe been to their store in Sturdivant? It's AWESOME. I was there last Sunday and they had almost everything they had available at their Racine store ... but dry...LOL

Dave
Mil...er....Franklin

Haven't been to that one Dave. We go to the one in Racine because hubby loves going to an Italian restuarant just south of Milaeger's across the street. He just loves their pizza! LOL! I'm going to keep my fingers and toes crossed hoping that the weather will be good next weekend. I just can't wait!!

Kat

my passion is "HOSTAS",,,,,gotta have more,,,More,,,MORE...

lol....jill