I typed in our zip code for kicks---not that I am looking for new native plant recommendations because most of our 14.4 acres are covered by plentiful numbers of native plants, and we've carefully tried to remove invasive non-natives as much as possible. I did want to see how many of the plants on the Audubon list for our zip code already exist on our property. I thought it would be interesting to know that, and it is. Of the 59 native plants they listed for us, I found 7 or 8 of them that I've never specifically ID'd on our property, though they might still be here and I just don't know it. Of the ones on our property are a couple I wish very strongly were NOT on the list list Eastern red cedar. Anyone who tells people to plant that invasive monster here in OK needs to go out and fight a few fields full of them on fire...and they'll drop that recommendation right away. They are dangerous monsters that turn into big flaming torches worse than any other tree I've ever seen, and they are so invasive they make bermuda grass seem benign.

Cool! Thanks, Amy.

Yeah, Dawn, I saw the Eastern Red cedar and freaked. I'm still thinking I will email them and tell them what invasive, water hogging, fire hazards they are.

Prairie Moon has a sale on native seeds for two dollars a pack. It was two days only, think. So probably over Friday, February 23. We won't discuss how much money I have dropped at Prairie Moon this year... :)

Couldn't agree more on the red cedar issue. Thanks to both Amy and Lisa for the heads-up(s?)

Carol

They were on sale! That's not addiction, it's saving money! (hahahaha)

Lisa, Thanks for enabling. I hate when I am the only enabler around.

And, I refuse to go look at their website or I'll just buy more seeds.

Dawn

I'm late to the native plant party. Better late than never, right? Thank you, Amy! And Prairie Moon is my new favorite place!

Well, I fell off the "Seed Wagon" today also. I bought 13# of seed today and mixed up a batch, about 5 # of wildflowers, crimson clover, ladino clover, forage collards, rye grass, and, elbon rye to plant along the edge of the wildlife garden. That finished off my wild flower seeds, but I still have plenty of everything else. I hate to stop planting, but I think it is too late for good germination. I think that many seeds will sprout, but the frost may kill the small plant. I noticed a lot of elbon rye and winter peas luing on top of the ground today, that were sprouting, but I am afraid the weather or birds will do them in.

As far as my garden goes, it is showing signs that it was planted too late. I picked 10 radishes today, and we have had one mess of turnip greens and one mess of mustard greens. I liked the mustard better, but both were good.

It is so wet here.

Larry, It is so wet here as well. Normally the heat dries up the mud fairly quickly, but we are rather lacking in heat right now.

I guess you'll known soon enough if it is too late to get good germination.

I've noticed that the random rye grass (left over from many years of reseeding itself) that we have mixed into our lawn hasn't even popped up yet. Usually it germinates before the first freeze but this year's first freeze was really early. Still, we've had that reseeding winter rye continue to germinate all winter long some years. I suppose the germination is driven by the warmer temperatures we have on occasional warmer days. Maybe that will happen for you with the seeds you've most recently planted. I don't know of any way to keep the birds from getting young sprouts though.

Dawn

AGGHH. I signed on a few minutes ago to ask a specific question--Dawn, other experts. EVERY site says test your soil. I haven't done it for many reasons. The native soil here is only in one place. Additional dirt/soil (?) was brought in from many different places. If I sent test kits into extension office, should take samples from 5 different places here. I haven't done it; I know it's naturally acidic here by the behavior of my plants; and there would be way too many variations to submit.

My big question is, we've built many beds either by lasagna style or raised beds. Can naturally added compost materials produce a good ph?

I don't have much faith in the extension offices. If I check into MY county extension office lessons, I get you tubes about which pesticides to use.

Nancy, I have a lot of faith in the extension office. they have students in the ag classed do the testing. I think they do a good job, but they are only human, and can make mistakes. If you dont think 5 samples is enough, take a 100 and mix them all together. Here in Arkansas it use to free to have two samples tested a year, I think it is still free. They do not test for nitrogen because it can change so easily. I have not tested my soil in several years and I think it is time that I do it again.

The kind of compost you use can change the PH, how much I dont know.