My gosh, you all are a sociable chatty group today! I enjoyed reading through. YIKES, Danny! Our forecast says 14 and 18 for lows on Saturday and Sunday--and highs of 37 and 28. Yikes! Enjoyed your introductory paragraph. What year is your Dad's car? I'm laughing, because in 2014 my mother moved into assisted living and I got her car. This car was such a princess. 2002 silver Honda Civic EX 2-door coupe with 18,000 miles on it! Had never had to sit outside a garage. I drove it back to Mpls, and occasionally drive it now, so after 6 half more years, it now has 30,000 miles on it and still doesn't ever have to sit outdoors. My son teased me and said, "Hey Mom, do you realize that's the last car you'll ever have?" I said, "WADE! Do you realize it's probably the last car YOU'll ever have!" Kinda bummed in a way that I don't have a car with all the bells and whistles they all have now. . . but would be really dumb to get rid of it.

We were laughing about our hermit life. We fit into it very well.

That learning the new plant quirks. I got a "Thanksgiving" cactus for a Christmas present. The friend had gotten it at Southwood in Tulsa 3 weeks earlier (at Thanksgiving time), and she said she bet I could save it. LOL I prayed. Obviously it was about to die from being overwatered. I didn't really have a good mix to replant it, so left it in its initial pot--it DID survive and looks pretty good now. I FINALLY watered it a little bit for the first time--just today.

Yes, Kim, you need to explain how you fell out of your house! Are you basically okay, with just a few aches and pains? Yep, congrats on the van and gardening course--what aspect of gardening will you be boning up on?

I was just refreshing myself on seed-planting stuff yesterday. . . primarily about flower and native requirements. I had to pull up the OK Gardening clip to see how she made her bamboo cages. The ones I did last year were WAY too tedious. Hers certainly looks doable, and perHAPS we'll do some like that at Lincoln--I bought all the bamboo last year. She was supposed to come visit Lincoln last year but Covid wrecked the plans.

And congrats, Marleigh, on your new growing center! Will you be starting lots of stuff on it? I am maintaining my firm resolve not to start anything until close to March 1.

I'm glad I missed the 2011 summer!

Yes, 2011 was the year of weather purgatory. Hottest temperatures on record, coldest temperatures, longest stretch of below freezing, longest period of triple digits, and one town had a 100 degree temperature change in 48 hours (-30 to +75).

If I had lived here in 2011, I’d probably have been ringing a bell and wearing a sandwich board of “The End is Nigh!” 😜 All that sounds like a series of tests designed to drum out the weak Navy SEALs or something.

Nancy—Yes, I start quite a lot indoors. I’ll be doing a bunch of brassicas and other early things, and hot stuff later on. I don’t bother with tomatoes until March, either. It’s too tempting to plant them out early if I start them early, and I don’t need to lose sleep over late freezes! I also tend to start a lot of plants for friends, so it will make my life easier to have a home for my plants.

I do have a few things I need to get started in milk jugs - milkweed, tall snapdragons, nasturtiums, poppies, bunching onions. Lettuce and spinach are already started in totes. I got a pack of small fabric pots for seed starting. I‘ll give them a try closer to March. I think I can maximize space in totes by using them. Just may have to pot up at some point.

I always have trouble direct sowing seeds and getting good germination. Last spring I had good luck germinating parsley, cilantro, and catnip using 5 gallon fabric pots set inside a plastic kiddie pool. I just kept the pool filled partway with water until stuff grew. Kinda want to try this now with my nemesis plants, carrots and beets. I love carrots and mom loves beets. 10 gallon fabric pots may work better.

Danny, sounds like your car concerns for attending Spring Fling (if we do it) have been solved.

2011 was my first real year of gardening. I failed and thought I had the black thumb. A customer of mine told me it wasn’t my fault. We were in a drought. Try again next year. I did and was hooked. On gardening

How I fall out of a house. The house/barn/shed is 18” off the ground. I have makeshift not done yet steps. I stepped out to the first landing. Did not connect at all. Hit my leg On the deck big huge bruise Keys purse Papers 6’ away. I finally landed in the soft mud. Screaming. No help. Waited to sense injuries. Yes some but no broken bones. Headaches and pain s everywhere but especially the right side. Cleaned up and off to look at mini van.

day 2 stayed in bed all day.

day 3 chased Lillie all day: )

Rebecca, traditional wisdom says poppies and tap rooted milkweeds are best not transplanted.

However, I've had excellent success transplanting milkweed very early, like either cotyledon or first set of true leaves stage and being very very careful of the little root.

Oh my, Colder than a banker's heart on foreclosure day at the widows' and orphans' home (I went to a website to look that saying up). Saturday and Sunday are now scheduled for 12F (which is 5 degrees lower than we've seen all year). Ole Mother Nature has to get in a last kick it seems.

Edit: Now saying 12 and 17 respectively, hopefully it continues to go up as week progresses.

Oh my gosh Kim... that sounds so painful... after all, I did similar the week before Thanksgiving... and I know how long it took till I wasn't in pain any more. I hope, you will be painless a whole lot faster.

Danny sounds like a win win situation with the car.

All, yes, 2011 the hot summer I was watering/working in the garden center at Home Depot. I had totally wet clothes on during all my shifts... way to much sweating... and finally I just wetted myself down all over cause it didn't look any different. :)

I am unsure about the seed starting. I had so many gnats when I did such two years ago... and really don't want that again.

I wish it would quit raining so I can finish digging BG in the two areas I want to complete. It's just to wet... almost dry enough to dig... and it rains again. YUCK.

I wish, I had gone south for the winter. I don't want another day like yesterday... but I know, they are coming. Arthur (arthritis) has really made me hurt all day yesterday. He hates the roller coaster weather.

Moni

I ordered some 3 gallon fabric pots on Amazon over the weekend. I use them for flowers in the pools. I don't know your method, Rebecca, but I drill some holes in the pool side about an inch and a half above the bottom. That way rain water can drain but I can bottom water as needed. I saw something new. Smart pots now has a bed 6' long and 16" wide and 16" tall. This appealed to me since my reach has shortened and the round bed I can't reach the middle. There is also an 8' one. There are various places in my yard I could fit these in. They'd probably kill Bermuda. Ron would cut them with the weed eater though. I haven't bought one yet. Individual pots are easier to fill. https://store.seedtospoon.net/products/smart-pot-big-long-bed-6?goal=0_89ea3cf727-e02fd469f5-105302445&mc_cid=e02fd469f5&mc_eid=588289251e

I am sorry Kim. Maybe your next project should be stairs. It's also very scary when you're alone. I was lucky when I broke my wrist a few years ago that Ron was home (all be it in the house). I try to remember my phone when I go out, but I rarely do. I even bought a utility vest last year to put it in. It's the kind police wear with lots of pockets and a concealed weapon pocket. Trouble is the vest itself is kind of heavy.

I am not looking forward to the cold weather, especially if I will be making trips to Bartlesville.

Thank you all for your well wishes. Thankfully I did not have my phone in my back pocket like I usually do. I would have smashed it.

it was in my purse.

i have tags ready to label and trays and lights ready. Here we go. I think on sunny days the flats will go in the car. Two shop lights in the cave is not going to be enough

Kim, better than me year before last. I was walking dog and trying to entice him into playing in the stream I was standing in....and slipped..and phone soaked and dead. I wasn't too happy either..but it wasn't really the dog's fault (other than being scared of everything).

Hey, the weather forecast for the weekend is now up (lows) for 17 and 18. Yay!

And since we had sun, I got opening of crocus (this is one of 2 clumps that came in today)

Unfortunately, it's cold...so my camera lens fogged up. At least this is a promise that spring isn't TOO far off.

I don’t know what’s going on but Houzz was kicked off my frequently visited section of safari.

Where’s Larry?

Kim, I am here. There is not much going on today. I had another Dr. appointment, and just had to stop by Ace hardware and buy 4 packs of seeds. I have not started any seeds yet, I just cant get in the mood. I did get a mess of fresh greens today, Madge had them cooked when I got back from the Dr. I keep saying, {"today I need to start some seeds", but just cant get with it.

I was wondering. I looked back to see when your last post was.
I can relate on starting seeds. I have light ready tags ready Seeds still hiding from me.

Glad you are okay

My dad went to the hospice facility today. I'm in shock. I caught him looking at me several times like he didn't know who I was. At least my sister got to sleep.

Amy, that's very disconcerting. My mother (before she passed on) apparently didn't recognize her baby sister, and it always disturbed my aunt that my mother was scared of her. That's really hard on the families overall, I guess.

Dad was evaluated by a hospice nurse on Sunday and they didn't think it was time to go to the facility yet. Monday his oxygen had dropped into the 70s and he had stomach issues. He slept a lot yesterday. He asked me "where did Betty go?" Betty was his twin sister who died years ago. I told him Laura (my sister) went home to sleep. Maybe he had been dreaming about Betty. Maybe she visited. I just realized he could have said Beverly, my mother (also dead). The place is nice and would be great if it weren't for Covid restrictions. 4 people are on a list to be in his room. Any one else has to stand in the outside doorway. This lets cold air blow in the room. This is not going to be the week to have the door open. He was occasionally lucid and he's on oxygen, though he doesn't like it, LOL.

May God be with you, Amy, and family. I have some wonderful memories taking care of mom in her later years, but at times it was a lot of work. Mom was about 94 1/2 when she pasted.

I had my helper plant some seeds in the cold frame today, and till some of the south garden. I am thinking I will plant sweet potatoes in that area. I will need to get a fill-in crop going to get full use of the area, but if I dont get to feeling better, it may be time for me to retire.

Oh Amy, I'm so sorry your Dad's failing. So you were in Bartlesville yesterday? Are you still? How are YOU feeling, with your cold? Ron? Prayers to you all.

Yep, I'll still lollygagging with seed stuff, though have been refreshing by reading lots of gardening stuff. While out doing a walk around, I noticed a couple little kale plants coming up--and our mustard plants are getting big. Also noticed the neighbor's dog chased Tiny all the way through our yard. The neighbor was hollering at his dog. . . luckily, Tiny can run faster than a speeding bullet when the occasion calls for it. Still, neighbor best take care of that situation. I don't want to have to be worrying about our cats constantly.

We found an upholstery place in Broken Arrow we hope can make some boat cushions for us; and we watched Repair Clinic videos on GDW's chainsaw. Laughed at one on disassembling various parts for it. They used a flat head screwdriver and hit it with a hammer against the clutch to loosen it. Garry laughed and said, "So THAT's how to get that off!" Here he'd been thinking he needed a special tool to do it. I guess it's a "you had to be there" thing, but we were highly amused. So--between that and the boat cushions, we felt like we got a lot done today.

I know how you're feeling Amy, been there..done that. My uncle is in hospice right now, or may no longer be. Of course, I went through it more immediately about 7 years ago when my mother was to go into hospice care, but died in the nursing home early that day. You're never ready for this stuff.

I've dealt with insurance, phone company, brush piles (yes that one is mine), and father's wife today. More fun to come tomorrow (already scheduled) with a visitation and rejecting giving money to the wife.

Wow..and no one else had anything yesterday ? :)

Well, each warm day brings another crocus into flower it seems.

I visited my father and told him that overnight, his brother had died. I dealt with the wife who wanted money (told her (truthfully) that there was none to spare). I'm trying to chase a lawyer (unsuccessfully so far) and unsnarl Dad's bills. Then fending off the wife that wants to sell his house fast at 1/2 price. Addressed his 'it's always cold in here' (and I agree), by ordering an electric throw blanket with hand and feet pouches, arrival next week.
The weather (polar vortex) seems to have abated and normal temperatures are now in the forecast, with a current low of 21 forecast sometime next week..that's much better than 12.

That may enable me to start transplanting some of the stuff that I've germinated. First off is the heliopsis seedlings that are now starting their 2nd set of true leaves. They look sturdier that the ones I grew outside (I can't believe that) two years ago (which didn't make it overwinter for some reason). The 'Mellow Yellow' coneflowers are up, though not in need of transplant for a few weeks probably. I need to get the european marsh gladiolus potted and let them start sprouting too. And then, that is the last of the indoor started stuff till we're closer to real spring!

Hadn't done much in the garden/yard... and thus, not posted.

Amy, sorry about your dad... Danny, that's a lot to have to handle. Hang in there, both of you.

Yesterday and the day before I dug up some more Bermuda. Really haven't done as much progress as I hoped to, but the soil was just to wet. It's almost good at the moment... and now the cold and possible rain are in the forecast. CARP.

I had another outing with my girl friend... this time we just ate a box of icecream from Braums in the car, as we felt like it was going to be to cold to sit outside while using the camp stove to cook lunch and then sit around.

I am sooo ready for warmer temperatures and the cold is coming instead. RATS.

But I have some spring signs. Hyacinth, and crocus, plus henbit. :)

Amy praying for y’all as you go through this. I sent you a big hug.
Danny isn’t it good to have your garden to come home to. Such hard days for you. And somehow we keep going.

I. Am. Planting. Seeds. Today.

I am taking courses for my new business Gardening Consultant. It is so much knowledge in a short time. I feel like I need all day to digest.
My gardens are doing well.
Harvesting baby kale baby collards chard cabbage dill cilantro mustards mint.
Snow peas have stopped producing but the plants are still hanging in there.

Not much going on here either.

Got another Dr. appointment today. I hope to stop by the CPAP place today and get some supplies, the DR. has really been on me for not using it. I am having a much harder time using it now than when I first got it.

I busted up a place to plant potatoes, it will need much more work. I hope to buy a yard or two of compost, I am almost out, and it takes me too long to make it.

Well off to see Dr., but this is just an eye appointment for Madge and me. We may even eat out. We have been going to the Dr., and eating out so often that I am afraid Madge will forget how to cook, that would be really bad, because she makes better meals than I buy.

Danny (and anyone else), go over to the ornamentals thread and see if you have an answer to Larry's question.

Will do...been a traumatic 2021 so far, my fathers brother's death yesterday morning, my mother's father's sister's death last night (my great aunt).

Oh my gosh, Danny... I am so sorry.

Danny I am so sorry.

Yes, 21 is not getting off to a good start for you, Danny. I am also sorry to hear these things! And thinking of you, Amy.

Larry--got the seeds today. Thank you! I also got a bunch of Apache blackberry plants--and a not ready for them! Agghh! I need to read up on them, figure out where they'll go (at the school).

Slowly, the rest of the seeds are showing up. I know I said I didn't need any--but DID need some vegetable seeds, and so ended up with a few flower seeds, as well. Really, not many, though. I have SO many wildflower seeds in the freezer, I'll get them out in a couple weeks.

Danny and Amy, continued prayers.

Not much to report.

The broccoli and cabbage seeds are getting a little leggy, but they usually work themselves out once the first true leaves show up.

Also, the Winter Density lettuce is up, as well as the Rouge d' Hiver. I really enjoy Rouge d'Hiver. The next round of lettuce will probably be the more heat tolerant ones...Red Sails, Jericho Romaine, Drunken Woman, etc.

Tonight, I placed a fan on the light shelf.

Making plans to recover everything before next week.

Work on the hoop house continues.

I cleaned up around the elderberries and will try to get those up and thriving. Lori Darling gave me some advice a few months ago and I can't remember what fertilizer she suggested...seems like it was fertilizer for azaleas? I did add compost and then wood chips. I really want elderberries. I have five plants and need for them to get with it.

Does anyone remember the types of figs that Dawn grew? Would like to add figs and Nanking Cherries to our property.

I might start a few cups of tomato seed this Sunday. Just a few, though. They others will wait a couple of weeks--those and the peppers.

My red periwinkle seed came in today. I should start those tonight but probably won't. It is time to go through the flower seed and get those going.

Jen, I can’t remember what figs Dawn had, but my mom has a Brown Turkey. It does really well and she loves the fruit. So do the squirrels.

I‘m going to start a couple tomatoes Sunday too, in Dawns honor.

Not much going on in the garden here either.

That reminds me. My daughter has three thriving figs I need to get cutting from. I plan to do extra for the fling

Nancy, I hope you are not talking about the seeds that I sent you, they were mailed on Jan 4. I think I could have walked and delivered then quicker. That may be the reason all my medication is sent UPS now.

I hope I have the energy to start some seeds today.

I have not checked to see if any of my blackberries or elderberries survived in the wildlife garden, I doubt that did. I have 3 Kiowa in the north garden that did survive. I will be using them as parent plants to get some roots for the wildlife garden.

It is 21* now, if it gets warm enough for my tractor to start, I will work on the wildlife garden a little today.

I am really feeling tired and old.

Larry!! I AM talking about the seeds you sent Jan. 4!! WOW. Only a month to be delivered. Now I wonder what the heck is happening at the Wagoner post office. Garry was waiting for our water bill all week. Finally I called the water department yesterday. The guy laughed and said, "They got lost!" I said, "ALL of them?" He laughed and said, "YES! ALL of them." He said they've been getting calls all week. Good to know folks are paying their water bills, even without paper copies. Very strange.

I'm not feeling REALLY tired and old. Just tired and old. I'm feeling sorry for Madge and you, missing little Hercules. I was visiting with one of the cats this morning, Tiny, and I thought of you both. Dennis the Menace was holding a box with two kittens in it yesterday. He said to his Mom, "The kittens cost a quarter, but if we rent them out to catch mice, we'll have a business." I was thinking I could rent one of them out to you. I know, not the same as Hercules, but. . .

Wow--I just spent about 2 hours looking at herb sites. I got so confused. In a good way. . . . but still. I got so confused I had to go look up the definition of herb. Covers a lot of territory--and I realized I have a lot of herbs out in the yard. It was a fun couple of hours.

Heading out to Atwood’s in Sand Springs today. Looking for seed potatoes other than Norland and Yukon. Hopefully some fingerlings. And, just to see what I can see. Might check Riddle and Tractor Supply while I’m in the neighborhood.

Tomato seeds tomorrow for Dawn.

Rebecca, call Carmichaels and see if they have them out.

Thank you everyone for the kind words. My dad remains about the same. Sometimes he knows us. My sister is still sleeping in a chair, but it reclines better. When my brother stays he sleeps on a camping cot. The hard part is there is only one decent seat, the recliner. There's a love seat, but it's too low for my sister or me to get up from. It's only marginally more comfortable than the folding chairs, which are awful. So if more than two people are there it's very uncomfortable. Since my brother is there today, we're staying home. Dad sleeps most of the time. It would not be this way if it weren't for Covid. They have a "living room" area with couches that could be used under other conditions.

I ordered some clothes December 31. Half have arrived, the other half haven't even shipped. The seeds from Farmacie Isolde came very quickly.

I have one sprout in the winter sown tub. I should have been out there sowing more yesterday afternoon. It was reasonably warm.

I wonder if the super cold will kill my arugula and Chard, and the baby cilantro.

I saw a video today of growing cilantro in water kind of like sprouts. They said to cut the seed in half. Ever heard of THAT?

Have a good weekend and stay warm. Larry and Danny, they were talking about snow for you.

Amy, if the snow comes by mail we may get it about June.

Amy, did you mean cut the seed in half, or the seeding rate in half. If I had to cut a seed in half it would have to be large enough to fit in a pill splitter.

I have heard of sand the seed to get them to germinate quicker. If I feel I ever need to sand seeds, I will just poke a hole on a can, line it with sand paper, dump in the seeds and bolt it to the lawn mower wheel and mow the lawn.

I am sorry about your dad. Madge and I took care of mom in her later years, it was a blessing for me and mom.

Oh Amy, what an incredible uncomfortable hassle for you all. I am so sorry! Is your Dad just peacefully sleeping, then, for the most part? That, at least, is good. That's how my Mom passed away. And he's in Bartlesville, right? That's quite a trip.

I do the sandpaper trick on a few things, Larry! lol I just put the seeds into a folded piece of sandpaper and roll over them with my hand a few times. Moonflower vine and other ipomoea--and when I saw the partridge pea sees, I thought I'd be "scarifying" them, as well; after I do that, I soak them in lukewarm water for 4-8 hours, then plant.

Holy mackerel--that forecast! WHAT?? I guess we won't be planting any blackberry bushes THIS week.

We are getting very wet, large snow flakes, but at 37* and warm ground it will just be a big mess.

I have only tried scarifying seeds a time or two. I did not know what I was doing and really did not see much difference.

I noticed yesterday as I was tying up my blackberry plants that looked like small buds were starting to form for side shoots. I need to pay more attention to them. I saved 3 or 4 plants out of the 35 I bought to use a parent plants because I was afraid that the others might not survive. It looks like I lost all the others, I planted them in the wildlife garden, things get harsh over there without water. I will amend a few spots each year and try to transplant better plants over there. I just dont do as well with bare root planting.

Amy, we quit going to Carmichael’s because they are anti-mask. It’s a shame because we were good customers. But, we can’t go back if they won’t even pretend to care about others.

Is there really no mail order company who will ship in time to plant before March 15? What calendar are they using?

I am a little nervous about the forecast. I've never cared for so many animals in weather like this, that lasts for so long.

Tom did a DIY chicken waterer warmer today. Hopefully that will work well.

We pulled the torn frost cloth off the hinged hoop and added plastic today. Lettuce is in that bed. I covered the other beds with frost cloth while Rick worked on the hoop house door yesterday. I am considering placing plastic over the artichoke. Artichoke is a surprise for me. I thought it thrived in the heat, but it seems to prefer wet and cool.

The dogs will be miserable stuck inside. And I'm sad for my neighbors' pets that live outdoors.

Rick bought a couple of 50lb bags of potatoes (one is a red and the other a white potato, I think) at Ellison's, Rebecca, but Norman is a little far for you to drive. I'm not sure what their mask policy is.

Will probably start more broccoli tomorrow, as well as some flowers....and a few tomatoes for Dawn. I haven't decided yet which tomatoes to start. It will just be a 4 or 5 cups.

Kim, I would take some fig cuttings if you're sharing at the Fling.

Out of the 36 cabbage and 36 broccoli pellets, about 24 each look good.

Lowes has broccoli and other plants out.

My leek order is placed. I ordered more black bean seeds because we only have 5 jars left. Need to focus more on the beans this year and less focus on the peas. SESE was out of black beans. Vermont has the small packages, but not the large ones available.

A woman at Walmart breezed by me today. Her cart was completely loaded with canning supplies including jars. I mean, overflowing with supplies. Also, food saver things. She must have grabbed all the lids because both the regular and wide mouth were gone.

I wish I didn't feel so unsettled about the weather.

Well, no need to feel unsettled, it's the weather, there's not much (other than a few precautions) you can take. Feeling unsettled won't help at all, let it go.

I'm not at all fond of the forecast, when I had thought it was past, however, it's not truely unseasonable weather for our area. It may be like the year a few back and we may lose the years daffodils and early growing veggies, but it's certainly not the end of the world :0

HJ, I’m just going to start a couple Early Girl seeds. I’ll wait until it warms up a hair for the rest. I do need to bundle up and run out back tomorrow and make sure I unhooked the hose after the last time I used it, and move the lettuce and spinach tubs closer to the house. I can put Dawns tomato jug out too.

Atwoods had the nice big square tomato cages. I just bough one, and I hope they’re still there next payday. I also got a packet of Dawns favorite Heavenly Blue morning glories. Not my favorite, but I’ll have a few this year for her. And I guess I’ll just have Norland and Yukon potatoes this year. So many I want to try, just can’t get them.

I have my warm soft flannel sheets and fleece blanket in the wash to put on tomorrow. More worried about my arthritic joints in this cold than my garden TBH.

Rebecca, I have some Early Girl seed. Maybe I'll start those too.

Danny, you know how Dawn talked about her intuition? I sort of have that too...so listen to my gut when I'm feeling unsettled. I'm not exactly sure why or what....but there's something causing it.

But, you are right, feelings aren't going to help anything at all.

The trend (so far) is every time I look it moves farther out and somewhat warmer, up to 8F now as the low. However, it's certainly possible we would have that once in a lifetime polar vortex like about a decade ago (2008 or 2009 probably), when I hit -27F in Chelsea one night, with three foot of snow on the ground, and a 6 inch layer of ice under that. Oh..and no electricity for a week.

Please no....I am sorry I brought THAT up.

If we're thinking the same one, it was December 2007. I remember mom calling me to go do her Christmas shopping, ignoring my protest that I didn't have electricity and my car was an ice sculpture. Her biggest argument was "but the mall has power, so you can go warm up there." Can't fault that sort of logic lol.

I remember later in that week, going out to eat in Claremore, mainly because they had hot food and heat :) Otherwise, I stayed in bed mostly...for warmth. I cracked my windshield trying to thaw the ice off it...which windshield is still in the garage.

Rebecca—Try Wood Prairie Farm in Maine. I have always been happy with seed potatoes from them and they’ll ship ASAP.

https://www.woodprairie.com