Insomnia Thread...

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Well where the heck is everyone?...off somewhere sowing my seeds?! :ha:


I take it no one got any yet, or I likely would have heard from you. Maybe tomorrow...


Hope everyone has a good Sunday. :waving:


: )

[Willow87]

Hi Sherry I've been having some problems with my computer LOL. I didnt get the seeds yet but hopefully tomorrow =) I did some yard work today, so now I'm sore LOL

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Yeah Texas is a bit further than most states I mail to so I guess I'm not surprised to hear you didn't get them yet. You guys should definitely have them by early next week. Hopefully by tomorrow, if customs is kind. ;)


I'm gonna send out some stuff for Dean & Tom next week, since I didn't get around to it yet. I still think you should pick a few more out and let me know your choices. I'll stuff it full like the others if you tell me what you want. :D


So how's everyone's Sunday going. See what I'm enjoying today...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03523.jpg


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03529.jpg


: )

[Willow87]

Hi Sherry I really look forward to planting the seeds. Your geranium and pansy flowers are beautiful!

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I just can't wait for you guys to get them. It's very exciting! :goteam:


Are you gonna sow some of the Black Pearl hot pepper seeds? I also sent you some of the sweet banana peppers too.



I sent the blackberry lily seeds also but they require a cold stratification in the fridge...I sent instructions on the seed packet. I included some for you too, JaNan. :D


: )

[Willow87]

Im definitely going to grow the black pearl peppers, castor bean and the sunflowers. I may save the rest for next year. I'm getting some orchid cactus cuttings from a friend. She is giving me different colors and varieties. She has over 300 types of orchid cactus so she's going to pick out the most colorful and exotic ones for me

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Those sound gorgeous, Cam! :08: I bet you're excited.


I gotta go do something with my aero-garden...my one girlfriend stole my strawberry seedling and now the one pod is bare! :eek:


Until another strawberry seed sprouts in my bathroom window and I can transfer it into the system, I might get a marigold seed going in the meantime. I'm sad that my other one is gone, since it was really starting to get going, but my friend can't germinate seeds and she'd likely kill a smaller strawberry sprout.


I might sow some Impatiens seeds today...I have a mix of colors.


What are you up to today, Cam? I still gotta make some lunch too, if I can ever get off the phone!


: )

[Willow87]

She said she would give me 5 free cuttings also. I have another addiction now LOL. I almost lost my peach color Thanksgiving cactus. The soil was horrible so the roots werent getting water. It was shriveling up ,and so I repotted it and watered well and sit it outside under a tree and its looking much better now. It didnt have any roots either. The seed pods on it are turning red finally after a few months LOL. Its my oldest TC and I didnt want to lose it. I saw several half dead strawberry plants on clearance at Lowe's. I would love to have strawberries one day, because the one's in the store taste horrible lol. You are going to have so many flowers, that aero garden is really cool

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Yes, the strawberries at the stores are yuck half the time...although I sometimes get some decent ones.


Cool that you're getting addicted to orchid cacti, Cam. I've never seen them.


Yup, my aero-garden is going to be loaded with fruits, peppers, tomatoes and flowers! Did you see my one little marble hot pepper today? It's getting bigger...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03541.jpg


Too cute, eh?


: )

[Willow87]

Wow Sherry that is cute! I will post pics of the orchid cactus once I get them. I have read that they grow fast

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Your Thanksgiving cactus won't quit, Cam! It's still producing blooms! :eek:


Here it is today...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03524.jpg


It's bloodey well April!!!


: o

[Willow87]

Wow more blooms?! It must really like you lol. Here are pictures of the seed pods on my peach TC. they are finally turning red LOL

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Happy Monday! :D


Any seeds yet, guys?


: )

[Willow87]

Hi Sherry! Still no signs of the seeds, maybe tomorrow lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Customs can be slow. :( Sorry you didn't get them yet. They'll be there this week, no doubt. I mailed them last Sunday night...April 3rd.


Where's JaNan? Hope she's not too disappointed. They will be there so don't worry. I'm anxious though also.


Thanks for letting me know Cam.


: )

[Willow87]

I can afford to wait a while longer. It gives me more time to plan LOL.

[Jananas Bananas]

:woohoonaner: :goteam:

Guess what i got today!!!!!!

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110411003.jpg

I am going through seeds, seeds, and more seeds!!!!!!!

I've already got three in the refrigerator, and one microTom in the AeroGarden! Still deciding on the other AG's!!!

:woohoonaner:

Thank you, Sherry!!!!!

MmmmmmWaaaah! :nanablowskisses:

~JaNan

[Willow87]

Wow thats great Janan!

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Oh I'm so glad you got them JaNan!!! :goteam: That's just great! :D


Weird how Cam didn't get his yet but I bet tomorrow he will. Sorry Cam...it's not fair. :(


I'm glad you've got one of the micro-toms started already JaNan. Too funny. I bet you rushed to the sow one as soon as the envelope arrived! :ha:


Did you see the "purple ball" eggplant surprise? I hope you'll like it.


Let me know what you decide on sowing...


: )

[Willow87]

Its alright Sherry. Hopefully tomorrow :08:

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I know you're cool with it Cam...I'm the one who's disappointed. :ha:


JaNan, I hope you're not overwhelmed by all those seeds! :eek:


I know there's a lot of them...but you asked for them! ;)


Get ready Cam, because soon the seed nightmare will begin for you too! :08:


: )

[Jananas Bananas]

Yep, I went running down the hall with it and stuck it in first! :ha: I only used one, and we'll see how it does. I want to be sparingly with them.

I just got a new one today called Tumbling Tom Yellow. It's a trailing cherry for a hanging basket. If you're interested Sherry I will share the seeds with you. I think I will try to start a couple of the passis in the AG and a couple in starter. I could have them all over my land and wouldn't care. I do love those alien flowers. A couple of the dwarf petunias in the AG too. :woohoonaner:

I love them ALL!!! I am just giddy with the choices. I am googling sizes and stuff now.

I am farther south than Cameron, I don't understand why I beat him! Even planning everything out Cameron you will still be undecided! At least I was.

~J

[Willow87]

LOL i dont know if I'm ready for all the seeds. I may save most of them for next year. I mainly want to grow the ornamental peppers and the castor beans

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I gotta check my mailbox later tonight and see if anything arrived. So glad you got yours JaNan. I can tell you're excited. Me too. :D


Oh yes I'd love that yellow tumbling tom...sounds great. I can't wait for you to experience growing the micro-tom. Mine is so adorable and it's only a few inches tall. You don't have to wait long for fruits. It's an excellent variety for impatient people. :ha:


So you sowed the white marigold seeds, JaNan? They're one of my most favorite flowers and you'll soon see why. I tried to include as much information for you as I could on the seed packets. That's why I make my own envelopes, so I have room to write on them.


It's ok for you to store my seeds Cam. ;) They're all brand new or freshly collected in late Fall so everything is super fresh and viable. If kept in the fridge they can last five years or even
more! :eek:


I hope you'll try some of the Gaultheria Procumbens seeds. It's a small evergreen dwarf shrublet that won't get very big but will produce masses of big beautiful cheerful red berries that last all fall and winter long. Don't miss out. The seeds are very viable, as I checked them myself and they came up in 10 days in the aero-garden.


I'm glad you've got lots to choose from JaNan, but know that more are coming soon. :eek:


I think I might get Dean and Tom's seeds ready tonight because I want to send them off soon. I have to check with each of them about their choices first though before I seal the envelopes and send them.


So what are your plans tonight guys? I know what JaNan is doing...sowing seeds! :08:


So how's it going JaNan...are you making it through everything ok?


: )

[Willow87]

I showed my mom a picture of the winterberry. I'm definitely going to try that and the beauty berry. I love that shrub. Wow 5 years!? Ill definitely have to store them lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Oh yes, the Beautyberry...I almost forgot! :goteam:


The seeds will pop pretty quickly, even in soil. When the shrubs get going a bit you can plant them in the ground because they're perennial. A must grow, for sure.


Glad you'll try the winterberry. The leaves turn a maroon/red color. I am growing some seedlings right now that I germinated myself. It's a shrub that appreciates shade too. ;)


I sure hope yours get there tomorrow Cam. I know you must be anxious but you're being a good sport about it. Darn post office. I guess they just do things when they feel like it.


Yup, a lot of people will tell you that seeds only last a short time, but it's bunk and hogwash. If they're stored properly they can last an exceptionally long time. I do think that some seeds are better off sown fresh though but the ones I sent will keep a long while. You'll have lots to grow, for a long time to come.


: )

[Willow87]

I showed my mom and sister a picture of your beauty berry and they were amazed. Does it grow fast? Im glad the winterberry likes shade because most of my garden is shady. I will just have to kept the soil moist and lower the pH. I hope nothing happened to them lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

The winterberry will enjoy a very acidic soil.


Yup, the Beautyberry shrubs grow fairly quickly, but you're growing from seed so it'll take a couple years to establish. By the third season they'll be huge. You'll have berries right away but you need at least two shrubs for pollination. ;)


So glad you and your family are excited about the shrubs. They'll be so gorgeous for you. :D


: )

[Willow87]

The acidic soil will be my main issue, but I guess i'll put down coffee grounds to change the pH. Wow that's still pretty fast. I cant wait to grow it, since summers can be very hot here, should I plant it in partial shade?

[The Hollyberry Lady]

For both the Beautyberry & Winterberry shrubs...morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. Make sure they at least get some sun but intense afternoon heat could be a problem. Keep the Winterberry well watered as it's a very shallow rooting shrub.


: )

[Willow87]

Oh I guess the best spot is the east side of my house, but that's also the side with the bamboo LOL. I have a more shadier location, I wonder if the beautyberry would still do well there?

[The Hollyberry Lady]

My Beautyberry shrubs grow in an east site, if this is any indication. They will thrive in east light.


They might also do well in a shadier site too though, so I'd give it a try Cam. You can always move them if they look like they're not doing well.


: )

[Willow87]

Ok thats a good idea. I actually have a couple of ligher areas near my shade garden. I have a part of my flowerbed that I consider no mans land, well no plants land lol. Everything I have planted in that area dies. I cant find anything that will survive. The soil and light is the same as the rest of the flowerbed, and I actually added alot of amendments like compost to that area. I would like to try a beautyberry there

[tbaleno]

Maybe there are pests under the soil in that area.

[Willow87]

I dont know. I've tilled that area and never noticed anything. I know one issue is when it rains alot, the water pounds that area, but further out thats not a problem. The only thing I can think of is nematodes because i havent seen anything else and there are plenty of earthworms in that area. I have a privet plant there and that's the only thing thats doing well

[Jananas Bananas]

OK so far I've put two Vanilla Marigold seeds, one Oriental purple ball eggplant, and one MicroTom in the AG. Decisions, decisions! :) This is so much fun! ~J

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Mornin' Gang! :waving:


So glad you sowed the "purple ball" Oriental eggplant, JaNan! :D That is a very unique variety with little bitesize fruits that are purple. You'll love it.


You'll also fall in love with those Vanilla marigolds JaNan, like I did. They bloom like crazy until frost. The foliage is stunning and different from a lot of other marigolds. The blooms last forever and they make an excellent cutflower. ;)


Hoping your seeds arrive today, Cameron. :goteam:


Later I'm going to go so some laundry with my mom, at the laundromat. It's too stressful so we no longer do it here in the building. It's good though, because it's cheaper and faster.


Hope you guys have a great Tuesday. I'll be around on and off. I got some seeds together for Tom and Dean last night but I'm not finished yet.


Chat soon...


: )

[tbaleno]

Looks like some of my peppers are starting to sprout. Looking forward to seeing what colors I get from them. Sometimes the variety packs can be loads of fun. Oh, and for some reason all my other plants that I started all up and died. The just wilted and fell down. Not sure what caused it.

Glad doing your laundary elsewhere isn't too bad. At least you will be out of there in a little while and can start enjoying a more stress free life.

[Willow87]

Hi Sherry and everyone, I still havent received them but its alright lol. How is everyone

[tbaleno]

Doing good Cameron. I keep watching my blueberry bushes. I see leaves starting on some of them. I think they all survived my transplanting but I won't be happy until each and every one of them has nice leaves on them.

I'm still waiting on my fruit cocktail tree to arrive.

This time of year is exciting for everyone I think.

[Jananas Bananas]

Hi Gang!

I have a grow tail on my French Vanilla! :woohoonaner: I'll post the picture in the AG thread.

I also added the Winterberry and Little Blue Pot into the AG last night. :)

Gosh Cameron, I can't believe you didn't even get your seeds today!

This time of year is fun Tom!

~J

[The Hollyberry Lady]

It's disappointing Cam, but they'll be there tomorrow or the next day, I'm sure. I mailed you and JaNan's envelopes at the exact same time and in the same mailbox too. It sounds like your post office is as slow as ours. Don't worry, fingers crossed for tomorrow...


I did laundry today and then came home and had a big chicken dinner with my mom. Now I'm relaxing and gonna post some shots.


Tom, I will be mailing some seeds for you and Dean by the weekend, if not sooner. I only have five of your picks so far though so please choose some more. ;) Glad your blueberry shrubs are putting on growth. That's great news.


Hi JaNan! :waving:


Yup, the Vanilla marigold seeds spout super fast. Last year mine came up in 24 hours on my heat mat. I hope the micro-tom comes up quickly for you too.


: )

[Willow87]

Im glad to hear that about your blueberry shrubs Tom. I need to foliar feed my plants soon.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Also too Cam, just to let you know...I've been mailing seeds for years to tons of people and never once has someone not received my seeds, so please don't worry. ;)


I do think it's strange they're taking so long, but some places are slower than others. I really hope they arrive tomorrow so I can set my mind at ease. Funny because even though I've been mailing seeds for a long time, I still always panic until the person says they actually have them.


Can you imagine if this was JaNan instead, still waiting?! :eek: She'd be filing a missing seeds report! :ha:


So Tom, where did you transplant the blueberry shrubs to? Did you move them because you were worried they got over fertilized?


: )

[Jananas Bananas]

Can you imagine if this was JaNan instead, still waiting?! :eek: She'd be filing a missing seeds report! :ha:

: )

You got that RIGHT!!!!! :ha:

[tbaleno]

Oh, add merigold seeds to the package. I can't eat them but I hear they make good insect repellent. Feel free to surprise me with whatever. I generally only like things I can eat.

Well, by transplant I mean plant. I didn't move them. They look like they are pulling through.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Too funny, JaNan! See I knew it. :ha:


I hope you're not mad at me Cam. :(


Remember everyone, when I mail seeds to you, I have no control over when you'll get them. That's up to your post office. ;)


Ok cool Tom. Glad you let me know what else you like and I'll be sure to send you some goodies.


So I wish Dean read this thread. Guess I'll have to pm him...


I'm loading shots for the aero-garden thread but some came out blurry so I have to re-do them. Things are thriving!


: )

[Jananas Bananas]

And it doesn't help when I am so excited with mine, eh?

Sorry Cameron! I will try to tone it down until you get yours! :(

[Willow87]

Its alright Sherry and Janan lol. My post office usually is very slow. I'm not mad at you Sherry, its not your fault at all, I'm very patient anyways lol. And Janan you dont have tone anything down, I want to hear about what you are planting

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Too funny JaNan...I've been feeling the same way and not wanting to mention the seeds at all so Cam wouldn't feel left out.


You're really a good sport about it though Cam. If it was me, I'd be more like JaNan, and freaking out! I'd likely be on the phone to the post office, demanding to know where the hell my envelope was! :eek: I'd feel sorry for the poor bugger on the other end of the phone. :ha:


I'm glad you're not mad at me Cam...I was worried. I know you're cool with it, but I'm a little ticked. My mom said she thinks they'll come tomorrow or Thursday and wasn't concerned at all. Let's just see what tomorrow brings then.


I still haven't received Dean's seeds and thought I should have by now, and Olaf's too, but neither have arrived just yet. Snail-mail is so annoying. Good thing our mailboxes are locked here though. ;)


Hope you saw my post a few minutes ago in the aero-garden thread. It's a good one. Tom, don't be upset about the strawberry...it's my girlfriend's fault. Another will germinate soon. :03:


: )

[tbaleno]

Anyone ever grow perriwinkle? I'm looking for something to replace the grass on the front lawn near the street.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I've never grown it, but I have seeds! :ha:


I suspect it's fairly easy to grow, Tom. ;)


: )

[tbaleno]

Humm. seeds you say?

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Yup, let me go get them...A lady from England sent me them but I forget offhand which color.


On 2nd thought, they could be buried so I'll definitely get back to you tomorrow when I have a chance to look through my seed bin...more like trunk! :ha:


I don't wanna wake my little Henry. ;)


Do you wanna grow some Goji berries...Lycium Barbarum? It's a perennial shrub that produces the most nutrient-rich berries on the entire planet! You must have heard about them Tom...the famous Goji berry? I have seeds for them. Soon I will have seeds for many other unusual and cool edible berrying shrubs and some will be dwarf. I'm placing the order this week for them. They'll be coming from Quebec and I've ordered there before. I'll let you guys know which kinds I decide on...


Hope everyone sleeps well. It's around the time that everyone goes to bed so nighty night gang. Sweet dreams! :waving:


: )

[Willow87]

Of course I couldnt be mad at you Sherry lol. I'll just look for them today or tomorrow. Hopefully I will receive them soon. I have a few containers as preparations and I know where I'm going to put everything =). How is everyone this morning? I'll have to run some errands with my mom today

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Yes, I hope they arrive soon too Cam. I've got my fingers crossed. ;)


JaNan, be sure to check out my post in the Hot Pepper-a-holic thread that I'm about to do. You'll be very interested. :ha:


Hope you guys have a great day. I'm around, but busy with lots of stuff around here. Let me know if you get those darn seeds today, Cameron...


: )

[Jananas Bananas]

Oh I would like a couple of Goji berries! You eat them right? Are they sweet?

OK I went to the pepper thread. I just wonder, since I only had five different kinds how they got mixed up. Did the Marble in your AG come out of a fruit or loose? I was just wondering if you noticed any differences in the seeds at the time. At least you know your AG pepper is marble right? Now I am doubting myself. Baaaahhhhh!!!! You will know more than I once it blooms.

I have to leave in a few minutes for a Doctors Appointment, but I will be back this afternoon! :03:

~J

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Yup, the Goji berries are sweet and taste similar to raisins. I'll surely send ya a few seeds, JaNan. ;)


Yes, the Marble in the A-G were from one of the whole fruits so it's definitely true. :D


I think the other ones were sown from the loose seeds though. I guess we'll soon find out...


: )

[tbaleno]

I was actually looking at Lycium barbarum plants last night. I didn't know they were the same plant.

[cherokee_greg]

Yup, the Goji berries are sweet and taste similar to raisins. I'll surely send ya a few seeds, JaNan. ;)


Yes, the Marble in the A-G were from one of the whole fruits so it's definitely true. :D


I think the other ones were sown from the loose seeds though. I guess we'll soon find out...


: )

the goji berry is sweet ? I saw some plants at home depot they looked like vines. I was currious about them. My problem is im running out of earth lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Yup Goji berries are sweet, Greg. ;)


So Cam, did you get those darn seeds yet?


I got Dean's seeds today too. They took awhile but the postman finally brought them. Not sure if he reads this thread so I'll have to pm him.


I've been busy but thought I'd say hi. I got 30 more boxes today too so I'll be busy packing, but will still find time to chat.


So who's around?


: )

[Willow87]

Hi Sherry, I still havent gotten the seed yet LOL

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Oh that just totally sucks, Cam. :(


I only just got Dean's seeds today! :eek: They took a long time to arrive.


I do find it weird that JaNan got hers but you haven't got yours yet Cam, because you're in the same State. Like I said though, no one has ever just flat out not received my seeds before and I've been doing it for years, so I know they'll be there eventually, but I just wonder what the hold up is.


I know you're disappointed Cam, and so am I. They just better get there soon. I haven't got Olaf's seeds yet and he mailed them before Dean! I guess stuff just arrives when it arrives but sometimes things seem to take forever.


Well, let's hope for tomorrow then. Usually when I mail to the States they get there around the time JaNan's took to arrive, but let's see what tomorrow or Saturday brings...


There are stickers all over the envelope and it's yellow just like JaNan's and I even wrote on the envelope like I do everyone's..."Garden seeds inside, please don't crush". They gotta get there soon. I'm sorry though Cam, that you're waiting forever like this.


: (

[Willow87]

Its alright Sherry, my post office has been known to be slow lol. Hopefully I'll get them tomorrow or Saturday LOL. If not, as long as they are on the way here I can wait for them =)

[Jananas Bananas]

:waving: Hi Gang!

Cameron you might call your local post office and tell them you are expecting an envelope from Canada. They might be nice and check on it for you. Or they can be snotty too, but it couldn't hurt.

OK Cam, stop reading now.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


:goteam:


Guess what Sherry? I've got a GROW TAIL on my little MicroTom seed! :woohoonaner: I'm SOOOOOOOOO excited! Both of the French Vanilla's are standing tall with their cotyledon leaves. I'm a happy camper! I just had to tell you!

~JaNan

[Willow87]

Hi Janan. I may call them to see if they have any info

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I know you're being cool about it Cam, but for crying out loud I mailed them not last Sunday, but the Sunday before! :eek:


I'll say they're taking their sweet time. :lurk:


My mom just went out into the hallway to spray a scented spray because the cigarette smoke from the inconsiderate tenant across the hall (one of the two that assaulted my mom) is so thick you could cut it with a knife!!! While my mom was spraying, she had the nerve to come out of her place and scream "quit spraying the f%&@ing halls...I have asthma"!!! :ha:


Now that is hilarious! :ha::ha::ha:


Someone who smokes like a chimney, complaining about asthma!!! :eek: Although I didn't mean to, I couldn't help but let out a laugh from behind the door and she slammed her door nearly right off the hinges! It really was a gas.


Ok yes, I just read JaNan's advice Cam, and I think that's a good idea. In fact if you didn't get it by Saturday, I was going to call your post office myself and freak out! You'll get it when they hear from me, trust me on that. :ha:


Wow JaNan, that's great news about your seedling and sprouts. I'm not surprised to hear how quickly they came up for you in the seed popping machine! I would be thrilled too. No strawberry sprouts in my bathroom window just yet, but it's only a matter of time. I keep the window open a crack so it's nice and cool, just the way strawberry seeds like it.


That's the one seed you can't sprout in the A-G JaNan...strawberry. It's too warm for them, and they stay dormant. Unless you give them a cold-strat in the fridge but it's not necessary and easier just to sow them in soil in a cool area.


Alright, I've rambled long enough. :ha:


: )

[Jananas Bananas]

I'm taking pictures now to put in the AG thread Sherry! It'll take me a few minutes to get them loaded! :) ~J

[Willow87]

I know Sherry, I just dont understand why its taking them so long. I'll see if I have something by Saturday lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I hope so too Cam. I'm dying to know you got them.


Well it's getting late and I imagine everyone's in bed now? I will be soon. I'm tired now. Sleep well, everyone. :waving:


: )

[Willow87]

Hi Sherry and everyone. I finally got the seeds today Sherry! I'm so happy now LOL:woohoonaner:

[Jananas Bananas]

Yay!!!!! It's about TIME!!!!! I was thinking maybe they had been stolen!!!!
:woohoonaner:

Now you can tell us all your experiences with them too! Sherry will be excited when she sees this post!

~JaNan

[Willow87]

Yes I was so happy when I saw them in my mailbox. I have the castor beans soaking, the passion vines soaking. I planted all of the sunflowers and peppers in pots and the beautyberry also. Now I cant wait until they sprout.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Oh I'm so relieved that you got them Cam!!! :goteam:


That's just great news and you made my day, as I'm sure getting my envelope after all this time, made yours. :08: I just knew they'd make it.


Great you've already got lots of them sown and I wish you luck with everything.


The castor bean and sunflower will sprout quickly but you could be waiting a month for the passiflora, and a week or two for the pepper and beautyberry seeds...so be patient. ;)


Depends on how warm things are too, so maybe they'll germinate quicker for you. We'll see.


Glad you're happy Cam. Me too. :D


: )

[Willow87]

Thanks so much Sherry I cant wait until everything sprouts.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Oh you're so welcome, Cam. ;)


It was my pleasure sending them to you and I love that you're happy with them...and that you finally got them at all! :ha:


Hope you liked all my stickers. Your post office must think I'm nuts and that's likely why there was a hold-up. Too funny. JaNan got hers on Monday and you got yours on Friday. Weird though eh?


I think the sunflowers come up in 3 days or less if it's super warm. The castor beans are fast too. You'll love how pink they are when they first sprout. It gets more and more purple as it grows.


So, what are you guys' plans this weekend. I'm going out tonight and might not be around much tomorrow but I'll see. Sometimes plans change so you never know.


Cam, be sure to check the 'growing flowers indoors' thread in a few minutes. You'll be as amazed as I am...


: )

[Willow87]

I cant wait to show you the progress. I showed my mom all of the stickers and she thought it was cute and funny. I may decide to plant the micro tomatoes and the banana peppers. But I may do that tomorrow. I think I have my hands full right now. I dont have anything planned as usual. I'll check out that thread.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

So glad you liked the cat in the hat and happy face stickers, Cam. I include stickers on all my mail. Wait until you see the next stamps...they're so cool.


Ok darn it I can't wait, here they are. :ha: This is the front of the book of ten peel & stick stamps...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03777.jpg


Book opened and showing side with four stamps and seals...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03778.jpg


Here they are on an actual envelope...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03780.jpg


They even come with little matching seals for the back of the envelope. So cute...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03781.jpg


Aren't they so nice? We get a lot of gorgeous flower stamps each season. These are some of the prettiest though.


Well, I gotta go soon but have a good night. I wanna post one more shot still to. I'll likely be back on late...2 am or later when I get in.


Have a good one, you guys. Have fun with your seeds, Cam. ;)


: )

[Willow87]

Wow Sherry those are so cute! I love sunflowers and I cant wait until these grow. Its been so windy here and there are wildfires west of here, so its really hazy outside. I'm just watching some t.v. tonight. Take care Sherry

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Not to worry, those sunflower seeds will pop fast and so will the Castor Bean. I'm just so glad you got them finally, Cam. What a relief.


I hope you have a good night too. If any of you guys are suffering from insomnia later and feel like chatting in the wee hours of the morning, log on because I might be around. ;)


Chat soon gang...


: )

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Here's what we had to deal with today...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03844.jpg


Yuck! :(



Tom, did you see my new bloom that opened today from Turkey...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03848.jpg


Cool eh? I thought you'd like to see it.



I gotta load another shot and I'm getting some more seeds ready to mail tonight...for Dean, Tom, JaNan & Cameron. :D


I will be around on and off but I'll be busy writing instructions and packing seeds for a bit. I've got Dean and Tom's done but not sealed yet...any last minute wants, be sure to let me know you guys. :)


JaNan, yours is mostly done but I want to go through a few more seeds and send you some other special treats I think you might like. ;)


Cam, I've nearly got yours done too, but I need to add a few "fish" and "Fire Cracker" hot pepper seeds still...


Hope you guys had a great weekend. I missed ya. :waving:


Chat soon...


: )

[Willow87]

Wow Sherry thats so beautiful. It was in the 80s here and Tuesday its going to be in the 90s. Wow more seeds?! You have me excited again LOL

[tbaleno]

Sherry, still snowing there eh? Ick. As far as that plant that bloomed.... ICK! It scares me.

Today was a pretty fun day for me. I bought an 4' x 8 bulb fluorescent light fixture to use when I really don't need the 1K MH. I hope to bring down my electric bill. It was $600.00 last month. After I got back from the hydroponics store, my brother came over and we brought our kids out to play miniature golf. It was around 59F. It was good to be out in a t-shirt.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

It's funny that you said it scares you Tom because I've grown things that my mom says scare her too. It's not for everyone I suppose but I think it's beautiful. :D


Yup, it snowed today but it didn't accumulate, thankfully.


I'm still getting a few last minute seeds ready but everything's done for the most part. ;)


Just be prepared though Cam...they might take two weeks to get there. :ha:


Hopefully everything is cool. I double checked everything and all the addresses are correct and the correct postage is on the envelopes so no mistakes will be made.


Be back soon...


: )

[Jananas Bananas]

Oh Gosh, guys! She is walking at night to her mailbox again! Sherry, dang it!

:nanertank:

[tbaleno]

love the icon Jananas.

[Jananas Bananas]

Thanks Tom! Hope you are ready for your seed shipment! I wanted to tell you, your mylar inspired me! :) ~J

[Willow87]

Hi Sherry and everyone =)

[tbaleno]

I'm totally looking forward to it. Oh, my peach tree has blooms on it. They look cool. Nice and pink.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

No worries JaNan...I didn't end up going last night after all. ;) I had some other issues and couldn't get there before it got too late.


Everything is ready to be mailed though and sitting on my kitchen table. I'll be mailing stuff later when I go out, just to let you guys know.


Hope everyone's having a good Monday. I'm not really, because this is how it looks out my windows today...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03910.jpg


Happy April, nearly May!!! :eek:


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03911.jpg


Yuck!!! http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/emo2.gif


: (

[Willow87]

The snow looks so beautiful. Its going to be 92 here tomorrow. I cant believe it lol.

[Willow87]

I wanted to show everyone my epiphyllum cuttings from Dean
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41928&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41928)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41927&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41927)

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Very nice, Cam! :08:


: )

[tbaleno]

Cheer up Sherry. Things are going to be warm there soon.

[Willow87]

Thanks Sherry! I really like epiphyllums. He also sent me a large Orinoco corm

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I sure hope it does, Tom.


By the way...all the seeds are mailed! :D You guys should be pretty happy with what I've sent.


It's cold today but I went out anyway...in my wintercoat! :eek:


Hoping for warm weather soon...


: )

[Willow87]

Its amazing that its still snowing there, and here I'm nearly burning up lol.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I wish I was, Cam. Alright, quit rubbing it in. :ha:


Be back a little later...


: )

[Willow87]

Be careful what you wish for. At least you are having some form of precip lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

It seems that's all we've had is rain or snow. I want some sunshine and warmth.


So I went to the nursery today to pick up some plants that I ordered back in early winter. They came in finally! :goteam:


I was so pleased to see how lovely they were. I had placed the order for Bob and I, so we could get a headstart on enjoying them since they're slower growing.


You and JaNan have seeds for it Cameron...Gaultheria Procumbens "Winterberry" dwarf evergreen shrublet. Here are a couple plants I picked up today...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03941.jpg


I bought four total...two each. The cold is what makes the leaves turn red. If you were wondering whether to sow some seeds or not, I figured this would convince you. :ha:


It's a low growing ground cover shrublet. ;)



: )

[Willow87]

Wow those are beautiful Sherry! I'm definitely going to sow the seeds lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Plus in June Cam, little white flowers develop which will be where the berries will form when the blossoms drop. It's a self-fertile little shrublet too, so no pollination is required to get berries!!! How cool is that?! It's like Holly, but only better...did I just say that?! :eek:


It actually looks like it's in the same family as Holly, but it isn't. Holly leaves don't turn red like winterberry leaves do. It lives throughout winter and the berries last and last.


Happy this morning because I just dicovered an Alpine strawberry sprout, which is going to be my new little aero-garden plant, to replace the one I gave my girlfriend. I've been waiting and waiting but strawberry seeds can take 20-30 days to pop, but finally one has appeared! :goteam:


So it's overcast, cold, and drizzly here. Not nice weather at all. I don't want to hear about how warm and sunny it is there Cam! :ha:


Hope you guys have a great Tuesday.


: )

[Willow87]

That is so neat Sherry. I cant wait to grow it. I really want to plant the strawberry seeds you gave me, but I need to leave them in the fridge longer.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Strawberry seeds really don't need any fridge time Cam...just sow them in a cooler area of your home and they'll sprout within a few weeks. Keep in mind that I keep my seeds in the fridge already so that's where yours were before I sent them. ;)


I just got back from another fast run to the greenhouse and picked up two more Gaultheria plants!!! :08:


They ordered the four I got in yesteday especially for me, but they got in a few extras in case I wanted more or someone else wanted some too. I got another one for Bob so he could have three for his new shade garden and I picked one up for you JaNan, so I could keep the two I have for me.


One plant even has a berry on it already! :goteam:


Here's your new little Winterberry guy, JaNan...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03948.jpg


Here's the one with the berry...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03957.jpg


Too cool, eh?! :D


The greenhouse was looking great this morning...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03945.jpg


Cam, you're going to really enjoy the Gaultheria Winterberry when it sprouts for you. Just remember it likes acidic soil and it will thrive in it. Let me know when your seeds pop...


Any castor bean or sunflowers up yet, Cam? You can sow your strawberry seeds today. :woohoonaner:


: )

[Willow87]

Hi Sherry, I really dont have cool areas in my house, though the ac has been on, its still stays above 70, so I dont know if I would be successful. I'll have to save up coffee grounds to keep the soil acidic. None of the seeds have come up yet. I have them outside in the sunlight so hopefully they will come up soon. I love the lilies in the greenhouse, I want to get some easter lilies this year and plant them in the ground

[Willow87]

I just looked outside and several of the sunflowers are sprouting. This morning I didnt even see anything. I cant wait to plant them now lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Cam, you have no worries...the strawberry seeds will sprout for you. Just sow the seeds by covering them ever so lightly and then use a mist bottle daily to keep the top moist until sprouts appear. Place the little pot near your air conditioner and this will do the trick, you'll see. ;)


Tom, was it you that said you had some kind of seedlings that came up for you but then they died suddenly and you didn't know why?


They were likely killed by damping-off bacteria, which takes seedlings down in one quick hurry. :(


This is why it's so important to use a good sterile mix when sprouting your seeds, so you can avoid these bacterias and bugs too.


Great that your sunflowers are coming up, Cameron! Tose are going to be gorgeous for you. I look forward to seeing them as they grow and develop quickly. Too cool that you're growing some of my stuff. :D


: )

[Willow87]

Ok I'll sow the strawberries today. Some little animal or bird dug up one of the seeds, but luckily it wasnt eaten, so I replanted it. I have a grapefruit sprout also. I lost the lemons but this will make up for it lol.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

So you're sowing directly in the garden, Cam? :eek: WoW!


That's tough, even for experienced gardeners. I would start my seedlings in pots first, even if they're outdoors, and then transfer into the garden later. It will be easier for you this way, if you're having trouble doing it the other way. ;)


Well I started that germination thread you suggested, JaNan. I accidently posted it twice though so there are two threads! :ha: I hope Jarred will delete it for me. Should I contact him and ask?


: )

[Willow87]

No I have them in pots outside. Once they get bigger I'll plant them in the ground. I dont know what animal did it, but it just left the seed on top of the soil LOL

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Ok I get it now! I thought you were sowing the seeds right in the garden!


That's too funny about leaving the seed! Likely a squirrel because they like to dig. Maybe he was checking to see if it was a peanut! :ha:


So I wonder where JaNan is. I can't wait for her to see the pic of the new plant I got her. She's gonna love it. :D


It's so cold here today. I'm making a late lunch...


: )

[Willow87]

I know there is one squirrel around here that is huge, though I rarely see him. He usually knocks my bird feeder down, so I stopped filling the feeder with seeds

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Yeah, I've had squirrels and raccoons take down feeders here. I had to take them in at night to keep the raccoons from getting them and had to buy squirrel-proof feeders.


: )

[Jananas Bananas]

Strawberry seeds really don't need any fridge time Cam...just sow them in a cooler area of your home and they'll sprout within a few weeks. Keep in mind that I keep my seeds in the fridge already so that's where yours were before I sent them. ;)


I just got back from another fast run to the greenhouse and picked up two more Gaultheria plants!!! :08:


They ordered the four I got in yesteday especially for me, but they got in a few extras in case I wanted more or someone else wanted some too. I got another one for Bob so he could have three for his new shade garden and I picked one up for you JaNan, so I could keep the two I have for me.


One plant even has a berry on it already! :goteam:


Here's your new little Winterberry guy, JaNan...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03948.jpg


Here's the one with the berry...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03957.jpg


Too cool, eh?! :D


The greenhouse was looking great this morning...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03945.jpg


Cam, you're going to really enjoy the Gaultheria Winterberry when it sprouts for you. Just remember it likes acidic soil and it will thrive in it. Let me know when your seeds pop...


Any castor bean or sunflowers up yet, Cam? You can sow your strawberry seeds today. :woohoonaner:


: )

WHAT THE .................!!!!!!!! :woohoonaner: WOWZA I don't know what to say! Thank you! That berry is sooooo cute! You are something else Sherry! :ha: Now you are going to make ME feel GUILTY!

I am loading pictures right now to list in some threads. :)

~JaNan

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I couldn't help but go back and get you one JaNan...I admit I did feel guilty and knew how much you were starting to really like this plant. I'm so happy I had a source to get such great ones from.


The flowers form in June, and when the blossoms drop, you've got white berries that ripen to red later. I really love how red they are but they'll green up with the warm weather. They'll turn color again though in the Fall. I have them in a cold bright open windowsill right now. It's open a crack to keep them cool, which they really quite enjoy. They put on their growth though in spring & summer.


They like shade but some sun too. An east site would be ideal. They're native to Ontario and were born and raised here so your plant will be good and hardy JaNan. I think it will thrive for you but just make sure it has acidic soil.


No need to feel guilty...it was nothing. I want you to have one that's already growing. If you bring it inside in a pot in the Fall, you can enjoy the berries and red leaves all winter but just keep sticking it outside for a day or two each week to give it that cold period it enjoys so much.


I don't think I need to tell you how much I love this plant!!! :goteam:


: )

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Oh and Dean and Tom, you are now the proud owners of many new kinds of Heirloom tomatoes. I have 20 different varieties so I shared some seeds with you. :woohoonaner:


Cam, you are going to love the surprises I sent you! :D


: )

[Willow87]

I'm back I had to go offline because of a thunderstorm. It was a lot of beneficial rain and a few pieces of hail LOL. I like surprises, but only good ones LOL

[Jananas Bananas]

Oh Cameron, I hope we get some!!!! We are under a thunderstorm warning until 11 PM. Fingers crossed!!!!

Did it pelt your new little sunflower seedlings?

Come on RAIN!!!! :lurk:

~J

[Willow87]

I hope you get some rain too. It started out with a few large drops for 30 mins and then it got heavier and heavier. I put the seedlings under one of my cedar trees. I dont think they got damaged luckily. Dallas county had some of the worst, golf ball size hail and 60 mph wind.

[drew leonard]

We here in North Carolina weren't that fortunate! At least 30 tornadoes, softball size hail and latest estimates of 23 fatalities with the last cold front that moved through the state. Lake Norman; North of Charlotte (where I live) was spared as we usually are. Seems storms like to make their way around us. It's like we have our own little micro-climate.

[Willow87]

I saw that on the news. I looked on the weather channel and they showed damage at a University in Raleigh. Luckily the weather wasnt too rough here

[tbaleno]

Wow, you guys posted up a storm today. Sherry, I don't know much about sterile soil. I just use that stuff that comes in a bag from the home store. I can't wait to see what I get for the tomatoes.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Your seedlings likely won't cope over Tom, if you use clean sterile soil. You can get it from the nursery or greenhouse.


Have you ever grown heirloom tomatoes, Tom? They're the best tasting of all. I sent you the black cherry one and a couple others. You can view the black cherry kind in the seed trader's thread...


Easter is likely going to slow the mail service, so be patient everyone...they'll get there eventually. ;)


: )

[Willow87]

I'm very good at being patient Sherry LOL

[Jananas Bananas]

Not me! I am horribly IMPATIENT! :bananajoy:

I saw your sea of purple blossoms Sherry! Looks like the marble is getting ready to change colors too! :)

Well, we missed out on the rain, it never got further south than Corsicana. But that same system looks like it is going to hit you very soon Sherry!

~J

[tbaleno]

I grew a black one once. Nice smokey flavor. I should have saved the seeds. it was one of the first things I grew when I moved in to this house a few years ago.

I just got back from the basement. I now have two rooms in the basement to grow vegetables. One has a new 8 bulb fluorescent fixture, the other has my 1000W MH. Since I have nothing even remotely needing the light of the MH I have it turned off to save electricity.

[Willow87]

Thats terrible Janan! I was also hoping it would rain were the wildfires are. Its been so hazy here. I have a friend that lives near Decatur and he said that everytime he goes outside, he smells smoke.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Well be sure to save seeds from these black ones Tom...they're heirlooms! :08:


Shshshshsh JaNan, it is (((((NOT))))) coming our way! :ha:


Oh I saw how patient you were Cam when you waited forever for those seeds! Now we won't be surprised if they take a bit this time too but it won't be too bad, I'm sure. ;)


Yes JaNan, the flush of pepper blossoms is so pretty. :08:


Tom and Cam might wanna see too...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03993.jpg


Loving this adorable little marble hot pepper tonight...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03994.jpg


What a gorgeous plant that is JaNan...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03984.jpg


Oh and Tom, no worries..I got another Alpine strawberry seed to sprout, to replace the one my girlfriend stole! :ha: Here it is...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03967.jpg


Your baby is back, JaNan! :goteam:


: )

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Oh and Hi Drew!!! :waving:


Hope you're well. ;)




Tom...


The strawberry seedling is going back into the aero-garden shortly. :D


: )

[Willow87]

I dont mind if it takes a while. That pepper blossom is so pretty, and your little strawberry seedling looks like one of the seedlings that sprouted late this afternoon. Stupid me didnt label the seeds that I planted, so it could be the micro Tom tomatoes or the banana peppers. I know its not the passion flower

[tbaleno]

Those are nice looking pepper blossoms.

I grew some alpine in the emily's garden hydroponic system. They got all the way to blooming but at the time I also had a cucumber growing in the same system so it shaded it and it just ended up dying. Nothing like growing strawberry from seed though. It is so cool seeing the first blossom.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I'll be able to tell shortly Cam, so don't worry. ;) It is a good idea to label your seeds though.


Tom, I actually remove leaves to prevent other stuff from being shaded. I also switch my plants into other pods every now and then, and I even turn them regularily so all sides get good light. I don't think my strawberry seedling being shaded will be a problem for me.


It'll sure be fun to watch it grow...


Did you know that the aero-garden can go outside?! :eek:


A guy on the A-G site posted shots of his sitting out on his sunny patio to get real sun, because the basin and top lift up and away from the unit itself! He needed his plants to be outside for pollination but would return them to the system indoors later in the day and for the rest of the night. They were healthy and gorgeous.


Someone even grew a watermelon and posted shots of it! It was too unbelievable. Some people really grow some neat stuff in their units.


Did I hear JaNan mention that she's mailing seeds to Tom too? I'm sure you'll be getting marble if she does, since you seem to like it. JaNan tells me the fruits are quite hot as well, so I'm really looking forward to trying them. I won't be able to resist cutting the first fruit open and just putting it on my tongue to test the heat. Can't wait for that day. :08:


I intend on collecting lots of seeds from the fruits...and unlike JaNan, I'll actually be harvesting my peppers! http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/emo1.gif


Remember the old saying..."pick-a-pepper" ???


When peppers are picked regularily instead of being left on the plant (by certain anti-pepper-pickers :ha:), it signals the plant to produce more fruits. It's the same with flowers...more will develop if you deadhead on a regular basis.


Yup Cam, at least we now know my seeds will make it to you. I knew they would at some point. ;)


: )

[Willow87]

I thought I had them memorized and then when I took them down to open the window, i got them all out of order lol. Oh well LOL. That is so cool that the AG can go outside too, maybe one day I will get one

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Never rely on just your memory, Cam. I used to do it too but it rarely ever worked out. Now I'm a freak about labelling stuff. ;)


Too funny JaNan...hope you liked the wise-cracks! :ha:


We're getting that storm now. It's icy rains and thunder. Yuck! :( Go away.


I'm hoping I get more strawberry sprouts soon. I sowed the 4 or 5 seeds I had left. I'll share the extra seedlings with you JaNan, if there are any. ;)


Thanks about the marble pepper blossoms, guys. :D That plant is just way too cool. Did you see how 'blue' my "Little Blue" hot pepper plant is today also...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03962.jpg


Here's are the blossoms...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03965.jpg


: )

[Willow87]

I need to make some homemade labels lol. You have so many types of pepper plants Sherry lol

[tbaleno]

Do you hand pollinate your plants Sherry?

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Oh gawd Cam, you have no idea! :eek:


Peppers are my passion...can't ya tell?! :ha:


I have even more than you know...or that I know! :08:


I am getting a couple more types hopefully, shortly! :eek:


I could have been called The Pepper Lady!!!


No Tom, pepper and tomato plants don't require pollination when grown indoors. ;)


You can use that white tape that you can write on, Cam, to stick on labels. I remember telling Ante about this once too. :)


: )

[Willow87]

That's a good idea Sherry. When I get the new seeds I will do that

[The Hollyberry Lady]

So how are you guys today?


I'm getting some more hot pepper seeds soon. One for a type I've wanted to grow for a long time called "Filius Blue". Here's why I love it...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/filiusblue.jpg


I'm also getting several white pepper varieties. One's a hot white pepper from Hungary and the other is "white habanero". Plus I'm getting a sweet white bell type too.


How cool is that?! :eek:


I also included a type for you Cam called "Golden Cayenne" which are cayenne fruits that ripen to a beautiful yellow color, plus I sent "long red cayenne", so you'd have both. :D


Tom, you are going to be very happy...you've got 23 new seed varieties coming your way!!! Some you requested and some I sent as a surprise. I included 2 seeds to grow an enormous pumpkin, like you wanted, and lots of hot and sweet pepper types. Hope you enjoy.


JaNan, you're going to love what I sent you! I'll be sharing more as well when I send your box in May...Cam too. Perhaps you'd like some of my new white pepper types or the filius blue?


: )

[Willow87]

You are the pepper lady Sherry! LOL. Yay more pepper plants for me! How long are the pepper seeds suppose to take to sprout?

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Most sprout within 1-2 weeks, although Bhut Jolokia can take 3-4.


In the aero-garden, they come up in 5 days!!!


No worries, just keep things good and warm Cam and they'll sprout in no time. I sent you Fire Cracker also...known to be one of the hottest chilies in the world! :eek: A very ornamental trailing down the pot variety. The fruits start yellow then ripen red. Ripping hot intense heat. I love them!


I think you will like the second envelope lots. :)


Yup, I do love my peppers, that's for sure. Plus they grow fantastic inside and totally cheer me up. I've got pepper blossoms setting all over my apartment right now! :goteam:


Soon you guys will be seeing lots of shots of my pepper fruits...


: )

[Willow87]

ok I'm so glad to hear that. I thought I was doing something wrong lol. I cant wait to get more peppers and see your peppers produce fruit.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Oh you'll be seeing fruits alright...a thousand of them! :ha:


Have a look through the beginning of the hot-pepper-a-holics thread and you'll see many types I have grown and am growing again. My all-time favorite hot pepper is Aurora. I will have many seeds for it in a few months when I collect some from my fruits.


Here's one of my old Aurora plants at different stages...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/058-1.jpg


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/124.jpg


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/294.jpg


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/454.jpg


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/243.jpg


This year I'll be growing a pot of ten plants stuffed into it. They're small dwarf plants but the flavor and heat of the peppers is very impressive.


: )

[Willow87]

Those are so gorgeous! Sherry you are so luckily to have those beautiful plants

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Thanks, Cameron. :D


You're lucky too...because I like to share, without asking for anything in return. The best kind of giving. ;)


You'll have Aurora soon too, Cam. I wanted you to see how pretty it is so you'll know what you'll be growing. Wait until you see my pot of 10 of them this season. When they're grown outside they produce many more fruits and they're slightly bigger. Mine will be inside and some outside at my mom's. She loves them too.


I'll share seeds when I harvest many of them from the fruits, after they ripen to red. They all turn colors at different times so you have many colors on one plant. It's gorgeous if you grow more than one plant though, not just one. That plant you saw in the picture I was only growing for seed production.


What do you think of them, JaNan? :D


: )

[Willow87]

I appreciate that Sherry. I never really noticed the beauty of peppers before, but after looking at yours they are really cool plants. I cant wait until mine sprout.

[tbaleno]

I totally agree. I suspect most people think of peppers as just yellow, green, or red for the most part. Some of your peppers are very ornamental.

Sherry, I took this picture of my peach tree today. I thought it would bring some spring to you and push out some of the gloom of snow and rain. its only been in the ground a few weeks. I should probably pull off all the flowers so the roots grow more, but they are just so nice looking.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5268/5638617665_bcb0de6e41_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5638617665/)
CIMG_2011-04-20-191319 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5638617665/) by mysimplehomegarden (http://www.flickr.com/people/34712576@N08/), on Flickr

[The Hollyberry Lady]

The thing about Aurora too is that the peppers go through stages of colors, all at different times. Some even go through a stage of white and cream, and also many shades of purple including mauve, violet, and deeper richer purples too. It's just the most colorful little thing you've ever seen.


JaNan's Marble plant will be the same I think, where the fruits ripen different colors at different times. It's a show of rainbow colors, is what it is. :goteam:


Glad you are really getting into pepper plants, Cam. They're my passion, for sure, and I've inspired many people who don't even eat them, to grow them for their unique ornamental beauty. Even the long red cayenne I sent you Cam, is very beautiful looking. I will share many of my best varieties with you guys, so no worries. Gardeners are supposed to share with other gardeners. It's fun.


Your peppers will be up and growing in no time Cam, you'll see. I love it that you're growing them this season too. You're gonna love that Black Pearl! I was just looking at my two seedlings tonight. They are looking so good...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC03999.jpg


They'll blacken up with more sunshine soon.


: )

[Willow87]

That's a nice peach tree Tom. I like the color. Mine was a lighter pink color

[Willow87]

You definitely have me addicted to pepper plants LOL. I just love the black pearl and I cant wait for all of them to sprout. Yours are so pretty, I look forward to the color.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Tom I think we were posting at the same time! :ha:


That is a gorgeous peach tree! :goteam:


So glad you are starting to like hot peppers too. :) I'm spreading my addiction!!! :08:


Just to let you know Tom...you now own Black Pearl and Fire Cracker as well, among others. I'll have way more soon though because I'm rebuilding my seed supply this season. Soon I'll have many kinds to share...including orange mini-habanero and chocolate habanero too.


If suicide hot is what you're after, I've got seeds from a mix of some of the hottest peppers known to mankind! :eek: There's Bhut Jolokia and Naga in the mix, among many others I cannot bear to eat. :ha:


You want HOT though, I've got it. ;)


I also have purple cayenne too. Here's one of mine from before...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/186.jpg


I don't think I showed this shot of the Aurora and it shows the yellow color...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/232.jpg


: )

[Willow87]

Those all sound so interesting. I like the look of the cayenne peppers. I wouldnt mind trying the extremely hot ones lol

[tbaleno]

I've heard of naga and bhut, I'd love to make a bug spray out of those guys. I bet it would do wonders to keep the bugs at bay.

Sherry, I'm not usually an excitable type guy, but you are making feel like Christmas is coming. I'm getting all anxious.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Ok next time I mail to you guys, I'll send the seeds from the mixed bag I've got of ripping hot mothers!!! :ha:


Don't say I didn't warn you though. Even the seeds however, please use caution when handling them. When you open that bag it's not uncommon that you may begin sneezing so just be really careful, ok? Using gloves is a good idea also.


I'm excited too Tom. :goteam: I love this kind of thing, and sharing my seeds with people who will really like and enjoy them is the best reward of all for me.


Ok here's a Fire Cracker plant I grew from seed a few years back. Sorry for the crappy web cam shots, but you get the idea...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/Picture0026.jpg


It was grown entirely indoors and no I did not pollinate it, apart from just shaking the plant and tapping the blossoms a little to be sure the pollen spread around...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/Picture0027.jpg


Tom, you and Cam are going to love it so much. See what I mean about it trailing down the pot? Pretty plant, but don't underestimate it...those peppers are mega hot!



Here's a crappy webcam shot of another Aurora I grew...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/Picture0034.jpg


: )

[Willow87]

Wow I have read about both peppers and they sound so cool LOL. I love trailing plants, but a trailing pepper plant is even more amazing. Thats a good idea Tom to use the peppers as a bug spray. I may still try at least both of them, but I'll have a large glass of milk handy lol

[Willow87]

Sherry I found out in one of my plant books about a pepper called chili pequin, it grows wild here in Texas and is a perennial. It dies back in winter but comes back from the crown in Spring. I read that it has a sweet yet spicy flavor that is also nutty and smokey. It actually morphs fruit, producing hot peppers at first and then sweet peppers with the exception of a few hot ones after 3-4 cycles. I may look for that one. Another one is called chiltepin

[The Hollyberry Lady]

You don't need to look for it Cam...I sent it to you!!! :08:


Dean shared so many seeds with me for it that I decided to spread them around. It's also referred to as "Bird Pepper". :)


Yes, trailing hot pepper plants are so beautiful. I have a sweet type that has a pepper flavor to it (as in salt and pepper) and it trails too. It's called "Fruit backet" and it's great for a hanging basket because the plants branches trail downward. The fruits are medium-size and ripen to orange.


: )

[Willow87]

Great! I read that birds love it. I'm so glad you sent it! Now I have a perennial pepper for my garden. What peppers dont you have Sherry LOL

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Well it's a good thing I've got lots of them Cam, or you wouldn't have the ones you want! http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/emo1.gif


The truth is though, believe it or not, there are still tons and tons that I don't have! :ha:


I do have a great assortment of some of the best, but not all of them. There's so many, nobody could possibly have them all. I do have a lot though, for one person. :08:


It's because I've traded so many and then grown them myself to be sure they were true and produce more seeds to trade further. There's still a few I want but I'm quite satisfied with my nice collection which I like to share with other gardeners. :bananas_b


: )

[Willow87]

LOL I'm really glad you sent that. Its such a cute pepper plant. You really do have a nice collection =). Have you grown the chili pequin?

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Nope, I've never grown it Cam...but want to. It looks so cool in the pictures.


Thanks, about my collection. ;)


Henry is having a melt-down right now so I gotta put him to bed. He's squawking and bomb-diving all over the apartment. What a freak if I'm a little late putting him to bed. :eek:


Be right back...


: )

[Willow87]

I think you should to add on to your collection. Poor Henry. I need to get some rest too lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Poor Henry eh? You sound like my mom. Little do you all know he's as spoiled as they come! :ha:


He's fine now because I kissed all his toy birds and said goodnight to them in the order he likes, and then kissed him too. "Nite nite Henry" are the last words he hears each night.


Ok well I hope you have a good sleep Cam, and you dream of peppers all night! :ha: Talk again soon...


I'm not going to bed anytime soon. I'm just reading and checking out my seeds. I just sowed some hybrid Impatiens seeds this evening too.


: )

[tbaleno]

I just made a door out of some wood I had hanging around for the opening to the bulkhead near my new growing area. I also started some cantalope seeds. I doubt they will grow but what the heck, its worth a shot.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Did you collect the cantaloupe seeds from inside a fruit, Tom?


Why don't you think they will sprout? Darn right they will...and fast too!!! :08:


I have seeds for a great melon called "Canary". It's yellow on the outside but pink on the inside, and the sweetest melon I've ever eaten. I've shared seeds for it with a lot of people.


: )

[tbaleno]

I don't think they will sprout for two reasons.
1) I'm having very bad luck with sprouts lately.
2) The seeds are 2 or three years old and weren't kept at any where near ideal conditions (they were in a ziplock bag that doesn't zip very well.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

You're not having bad luck Tom...


call your local greenhouse tomorrow and tell them you want a bag of their sterile soil mix. You'll have a whole new experience and your "bad luck" will end.


Those cheap soils from wal-mart and places, end up costing people way more money in the long run...to replace seeds that die from the damping-off bacteria and to get rid of pests from eggs hatching everywhere!!! :eek:


Put out for some quality soil. It's not even that much money. I get a whole bale of it for 30 bucks. Half a bale is 15. Totally worth it and my seedlings never cope over from bacteria.


Just want you to have success Tom, and this is the way you can. ;)


: )

[tbaleno]

Won't I have to decontaminate everything before I use the good soil?

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Absolutely! ;)


I use bleach to disinfect my pots.


: )

[Willow87]

Good morning Sherry. That is so funny that you do that for Henry. He is such a cute bird. My bird is a little bit on the crazy side. LOL

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Henry wouldn't have it any other way, Cam. ;) He's very demanding and he expects things to be done a certain way...his way! :ha:


The sun was shining but now it looks overcast. I'm expecting some seeds today in the mail so I'm anxiously waiting for the mailman, even though he won't get here until 12:30-1:00-ish. My mom hears him when he comes in so she's gonna let me know.


Going to Toronto on Saturday with a group of friends. Hopefully the weather will be decent. It's only a couple hours from London so it's not that far.


What are you guys' Easter plans? I think we're having a ham instead of turkey this time.


Tomorrow's Good Friday and I'm going to church with my mom. We're Catholic, so Easter time is a huge deal to us. Hope everyone has a nice weekend and enjoys some good weather.


: )

[Willow87]

You really do have him spoiled LOL. Its chilly here still but i think there is going to be some more severe weather today, because a warm from is moving through. I told my mom about the bird peppers and how they are native to Texas. She was really glad that I will be growing them. I dont have anything planned for Easter, probably eating candy and watching tv. I really do need to exercise and get in shape lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Yes, Easter time brings lots of food, that's for sure. Tomorrow though, for Good Friday, we fast and hardly eat at all, then pig out on the weekend. :ha:


Yes, staying in shape and getting exercise is very important to me. I like to eat healthy for the most part too. I eat junk food in moderation, so I don't get fat from it.


I just hope we get some nice warm weather this weekend, that would be nice.


: )

[Willow87]

Me and my mom and sister may cook a small dinner for Easter.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Now my mom's saying she might want to go out for Easter dinner instead! We'll see how we feel. We have our dinner on Easter Monday, not Sunday.


So I might go out and run some errands, since the sun is back out. I'll be on later though. Hope you guys have a good day. :waving:


: )

[Willow87]

Take care Sherry:08::08:!

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Guess what?! :goteam:


The mail came and I got the seeds I've been waiting for!!! If they didn't come today, I would have had to wait until Tuesday, due to Easter holidays. So happy they arrived!


Check these out...


It's a plant called Aloe Polyphylla and it's an amazing succulent that grows in a spiral...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/aloepolyphylla.jpg


Some will spiral clockwise and some anti clockwise!!! I'm sowing all the seeds I have so that I might end up with two spiralling in opposite directions! How cool is that?


The only thing is, I'll have to wait awhile to know because the plants don't begin to spiral until a year's time, I think I was told.


Isn't that just about the coolest Aloe you've ever seen? :D Gonna sow the seeds in my aero-garden so they'll sprout for sure.


: )

[MissStress]

That is the coolest thing ever Sherry!! :D Can't wait to see pics of yours.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Thanks MissStress! I sure am thrilled to have seeds for it.


So where in Canada are you, if you don't mind me asking?


Alright if you're gonna join the Insomnia thread, is it ok to know your name? We're all pretty friendly here...except for Bob. :ha:


OMG Cam, I'm sowing some more pepper seeds today! :eek:


When will the insanity end?!


: )

[Willow87]

Wow Sherry! That is so amazing, it kind of makes me dizzy LOL. I've seen that plant before on another site. I cant wait to see it grow for you

[MissStress]

Thanks MissStress! I sure am thrilled to have seeds for it.


So where in Canada are you, if you don't mind me asking?


Alright if you're gonna join the Insomnia thread, is it ok to know your name?

Currently in Whitehorse, Yukon, heading south to Sproat Lake (Port Alberni, BC) on Vancouver Island in 22 days!! Woohoo! :)

My name is Trina - I will update my profile :)

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Hi Trina! :waving:


Yes I'd forgot that I knew where you were from because of your welcome thread. Sorry about that.


Feel free to pop in and chat with us anytime. ;)


Making dinner...


: )

[Willow87]

Sherry I read that cinnamon is a natural fungicide. I may try that with some of my plants that have fungus in the soil

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Yup, cinnamon is a natural anti-fungus remedy. Gnats hate it.


: )

[Willow87]

I wish I would have read about that earlier, when I was having the gnat problem LOL. Well now I know what to do

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I was pretty sure I did tell you about it because I remember you were having a gnat problem. It's usually one if the first things I recommend to people.


It also smells nice in the house if you sprinkle it in your pots. Instead of smelling soil, you smell cinnamon...and deter the gnats while you're at it! ;)


Good Luck! I hate those buggers.


: )

[Willow87]

You know I have a short term memory lol. I think in the midst of battling with them, I wasnt paying attention lol. I only have a few houseplants inside still, mainly the ones that are too sensitive to be outside, but I havent seen a single gnat lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I really hate those little bastards! :ha:


Once you have them, they're hard to get rid of. So glad you got control of them though, Cam. Good riddance! :08:


: )

[Willow87]

I think the main reason they are gone may be because most of my plants are outside now LOL. I now know what to do when I have to bring them in during winter. The sunflower seeds are growing so fast now

[MissStress]

Thanks Sherry! :)
Hey.. as you are like the pepper goddess.. what advice can you give for aphids? My mom refuses to grow peppers anymore cause her plants always get infected.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

When you bring your potted plants inside for the winter Cam, scoop out the top inch or two of soil from the pot, where the season's gnats and their eggs will be, and throw it in the
garbage. :08:


Then replace the top soil with fresh gnat-free soil and you likely won't even need the cinnamon at all. No point in bringing a bunch of gnats and their eggs indoors each Fall. If you suspect other bugs are all through the soil though, re-pot the plant into fresh soil, before you bring it in. ;)


Yes Cam, generally bug infestations are less of a problem outside because there's usually lots of beneficial insects around, that take care of the bad guys. Indoors though, you don't have that advantage.



Trina...


if your mom showers her pepper plants with hard blasts of water from the hose or tap (especially the undersides of leaves), as a preventative measure before the aphids attack, she'll never see them. Nor spidermites either. The problem is they usually infest a plant before people even know it. Folks should just assume that bugs WILL try to attack the plants and to be ready to combat them before they arrive and start multiplying. Shower them weekly at least. :)


A lot of people wait until there's a huge infestation before taking any measures to keep them away. I use preventative measures though to keep pests from ever bothering to take up residence on my plants. They know water is-a-comin'! :ha:


The pepper Goddess...that's too funny! :2127:


: )

[MissStress]

Excellent! I will let her know :)

[The Hollyberry Lady]

All of my indoor pepper plants I show you guys, get showered 1-2 times per week. That's why they look so good because I keep the bugs away. If I didn't shower them like I do, they'd be covered in both spidermites and aphids! :eek:


It's a bit of work to keep things fresh and showered, but it's important to me, so I do it. I can't stand bugs on my plants...unless they're ladybugs or spiders.


Spiders are something you should never kill...indoors or out. They are the ultimate beneficial insect and they eat a lot of bugs that infest & take down plants. My mom actually collects them for me if she sees them around her place, so I can release them on my plants. ;)


Yup Trina, if your mom gets into the habit of showering her pepper plants 1-2 times per week, she'll have a whole new experience with them...a very rewarding and pleasant one. :D


Good Luck!


: )

[MissStress]

Yeah.. love the beneficial bugs but have a hard time with the BIG spiders. I'll usually get someone to capture them and release them somewhere far far away.
There's this great place on the island I am moving to.. or at least there used to be. Was called "Nature's Alternative Insectory" and they sold all sorts of predator bugs like mite eating mites, lady bugs etc.. I hope they are still around! :)

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Yeah there's places you can order them from too...like predator mites that eat the nasty plant eating ones.


So you're moving at the end of the month are you, Trina? Bet you're so excited. :goteam:


I'm moving too, but likely not until Aug/Sept time...I'll see.


So are you having a turkey for Easter? I think my mom and I might just go out for dinner this year. She's moving in a week or so, and we just wanna keep it low key. So much to do when you're moving.


: )

[MissStress]

Very excited.. been in the frozen tundra waaay too long!
We're having Turkey tomorrow night with the MIL and ham Saturday night @ my parents. Our mothers don't get along so we get to have two dinners! :)

[Willow87]

Thanks Sherry for the advice. Most of the time I just bring them in because a surprise freeze will happen and I wont have time to prepare, and most of the times when I bring them in, I'm short on cash LOL

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Too funny Trina, about having two dinners because the mother-in-laws don't get along! :ha:


Works out well for you guys though. Two dinners...yummy! ;)


Well I'm sick today...for the first time in three years! :eek:


Weird too because I've never been sick in the spring, ever in my life. I have a sore throat, dry cough, itchy eyes, and a body-ache kind of feeling. It just sucks and I'm never sick. I don't get it at all because I wasn't around anyone who was sick. I sure hope I feel better by tomorrow or I'll be cancelling my trip to Toronto with the pals. :(


Hoping a good night's rest will do the trick. ;)


So how's everyone's Easter weekend going? :lurk:


Cam, you could save up over the summer for a decent bag of sterile soil to bring your plants inside in the Fall. I guess it just depends on what's important to you and if you want a house full of gnats or not. :ha:


I guess I just hate stuff like that, being a woman and all especially, but I know some of you guys are less concerned about the things I am, and you don't mind a few gnats flying around. I see one, and go into a complete panic...grabbing the cinnamon and soapy spray bottle and rushing to rescue my plants! :ha:


Note: A lot of people say gnats are harmless but they actually eat plant roots and can kill
seedlings. :(


It's kind of funny but I've actually had boyfriends that were totally jealous of my plants and the time I spend on them. One accused me of loving my plants more than them! :eek:


I'm taking some pics and trying to load them so I can post, but thought I'd pop in and say 'hi'. for a minute.


Happy Good Friday, gang. :waving:


: )

[Willow87]

Hi Sherry I'm sorry to hear you are sick. The humidity here has been horrible, its good for the plants but I dont like it lol. A friend of my brother invited my family for Easter dinner, I dont know if we will go. I may just have to save up for one of those very big bags of soil. I hate gnats but I have dealt with them for years that it doesnt really bother me too much. But this past winter they were horrible, the worst I've seen in years. I usually spray my plants before I bring them indoors but last year I rushed bringing them in at one time, when usually I bring a few in over a period of weeks

[The Hollyberry Lady]

It'll be worth your while to get a good bag of sterile mix, Cam. You won't have to bring a bunch of gnats each Fall and deal with them. ;)


Yeah I'm sick and I might have to sign off abruptly soon. I get tired and need to rest. I just hope I feel better by tomorrow.


Still taking some shots because the first ones came out blurry. I gotta load them too and photobucket takes forever, it seems. I'm supposed to have high-speed wireless internet but it seems more like slow-speed to me. :ha:


: )

[Willow87]

I guess it would be a good investment. I bought some really good soil from a local nursery but it was so expensive, but it had everything in it, coconut coir, peat, perlite, compost, grounded bark and some other stuff. It was probably by far the best potting soil I have used. You definitely need to get plenty of rest, you dont want to be ill during Easter. I went outside to trim my yard and my allergies are bothering me again.

[MissStress]

Monster-In-Law is here now.. I am taking a sanity break. Make the nails on chalkboard stop!

Hope you feel better soon Sherry!!

[Willow87]

Hopefully you will have a nice dinner to make up for it Trina

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I do need to get some rest but I just hate being sick and don't want to act like I am. :ha:


I know the feeling Trina, about those in-laws that are hard to deal with. Good you're able to get away for awhile though.


Have you met, JaNan? She's super nice, and she likes to gab here in the insomnia thread with us too. I think she's around but maybe she's away from her computer. Don't be shy JaNan...pop in and say 'hello'. :waving:


Yeah, there are some super expensive soils out there Cam, but you don't have to feel like you gotta put out a fortune to get something that's decent. I buy bales of Sunshine mix for 30 bucks. A bale is like 112 litres or something, so it'll do you for awhile. I buy the #1 and #4...I think.


So yeah, I was gonna go take one more shot that I just couldn't get right before. Brb...


: )

[Willow87]

I've never heard of Sunshine mix. I guess i could go searching for good potting soil, though I still have a while

[Jananas Bananas]

:waving: I'm here! I have been posting in some other threads. Now it is time to feed the animals and me and hubby. Be back in a few!

Hey Sherry and Cameron! Nice to meet you Trina!

~JaNan

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I'm certain the States has Sunshine mix too Cam, so just give your local greenhouse a call and inquire. ;)


Good to 'see' you JaNan. :03: Thanks for popping in and being social. :D


So I seem to be feeling a bit better but not 100%. I've been eating and drinking all day to try to shake this cold or whatever it is. I ate an orange and apple earlier, and now I'm having strawberry yogurt with bananas cut into it. At least my appetite is good. :lurk:


Hoping I can still go to Toronto tomorrow but I'm not gonna push myself if I feel cruddy in the morning again. This morning was just the worst for me. I woke up coughing uncontrollably and my throat was really sore. It's still sore but not nearly as bad as it was, thankfully.


Sorry to rave on about it but it's just really weird that I'm sick at all. Very unusual for me. I hope it's another three years before I'm sick again.


So I was about to take the perfect unblurry shot and...my camera died! http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/emo2.gif


I'm gonna try again...


: )

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I charged the camera for 10 minutes but I just can't get the shot right. I'll have to try again in the daytime.


Hope you guys have a good night if I drop off suddenly...


: )

[Willow87]

Hi Sherry I will check out the local nurseries to see if they have it. I hate that you are sick. I'm feeling kind of nauseous, I've felt this way for a while.

[tbaleno]

Sherry,
your symptoms almost sound like you have been inhaling mold spores. Any mold around? Has it been damp and maybe a neighbor has mold in their apartment?

[MissStress]

Sure did tonight Cameron! OMG.. I am sooo full. Turkey'd right out! :) The apple pie recipe was a hit too. SO easy to make with pre-made pie shells, that recipe is a keeper! lol
Grandma Ople's Apple Pie Recipe - Allrecipes.com (http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/grandma-oples-apple-pie/Detail.aspx) (8 apples will make two pies..)

Hi JaNan.. thanks for the welcome!

[Willow87]

I love apple pie, I bookmarked the recipe lol. Thanks Trina for the recipe link, sounds like you had a delicious meal. I only had some hot dogs for dinner LOL. I may cook something for Easter dinner.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Happy Easter, Gang!!! :D



No trips to Toronto yesterday for me...I spent the day and night in bed! It really sucks being sick like this, athough today I am feeling a bit better. Not 100% though.


Mold spores?! :eek: Omg Tom, I hope not! How would I know? Where would I look for it? Wouldn't there have to be an awful lot of it to make me sick? What should I do? Now you've got me totally freaked out. If I'm not better by Tuesday, I'll be seeing my doctor.


This is not a good time for me to be sick because my mom moves next week! We've already decided though, that if I'm not better we'll just hire people to move the boxes, which we were gonna do ourselves.


Hope you guys have a good Easter Sunday. ;)


: )

[Willow87]

Happy Easter Sherry! So you are still feeling sick?

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Guess you missed my post Cam...yup I'm definitely still sick. A bit better, though not 100%. :(


Happy Easter to you too. ;)


Making tea...


: )

[cherokee_greg]

:03:Guess you missed my post Cam...yup I'm definitely still sick. A bit better, though not 100%. :(


Happy Easter to you too. ;)


Making tea...


: )

:03:Hi Sherry feal better soon Happy Easter

[Willow87]

Its good you are making tea, hopefully that will help. I posted a pic of my prickly pear flower in your cacti thread

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I saw them and they are just gorgeous, Cam! :08: You must be so thrilled!


I can't wait to see the fruits...


: )

[Willow87]

Thanks Sherry. I've never seen a prickly pear bloom up close. I hope it does produce fruit because I'm curious about the taste. The ones I got at the store, I didnt care for because they were bland and had way to many seeds.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I would think if you have flowers, you'll have fruits soon too. JaNan likely knows...


: )

[Willow87]

With my luck they will bloom and not produce fruit lol. My sister woke me up this morning when she first saw the bloom open. I got up and started taking pictures of it lol

[Willow87]

I also wanted to show pictures of my daylily aka "Ditch Lily" Its spreading all over the place. There is another patch of it 2 feet away. It rarely blooms but its my most carefree plant
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=42116&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=42116)

[MissStress]

Hope you're able to kick that bug soon Sherry.

Congrats on the flower and good luck with the fruit Cameron!

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Thanks, Trina! :waving:


Nice Daylily, Cam. Yeah, I know what it's like to jump out of bed excitedly because something has bloomed! :goteam:


I bet you will get fruits though Cam. Those flowers are stunning!


I'm trying to get a few shots this morning of my peppers and blossoms, but the batch I just took are totally blurry. I hate blurry pictures. :(


I have fruit on my "Little Blue" hot pepper plant, and a sea of buds and blossoms everywhere. :08:


I'll be around on and off...


: )

[Willow87]

Thanks Trina! I hope you are having a great Easter. Alot of people dont care for Ditch lily because they say its too invasive, which it is, but it still gets pretty blooms on it. I have another one that I got for 50 cents. I dont know what variety it is but it produces a pretty flower. I hate blurry pictures too, I seem to take a lot of those LOL

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Actually Cam, your pictures are terrific! ;)


Great you got some good deals on some plants you like. 50 cents...wow!


Nice Lily pic, by the way! :D


I think I got the shot I was looking for, but I'll see when I load it...


: )

[Willow87]

Thanks Sherry! yes there were several daylilies and hibiscus for 50 cents. All of them were healthy too, I guess they had too many in stock. I cant wait to see your pic

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Ok, well I'm gonna post the shots now the aero-garden thread, but a couple I've already posted on the picture bar (homepage). Not as clear as I prefer but better than they were. I'm just not well enough today to fuss around.


So I was telling JaNan, that you guys should be extra patient on expecting my seeds this time, on account of Easter. I've mailed things in the past near or on special occasions and they were delayed up to a week, so don't be surprised at all. They'll be there, but just be patient.


: )

[tbaleno]

Mold Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What kinds of health problems may be linked to mold What are symptoms of mold allergy on MedicineNet (http://www.medicinenet.com/mold_exposure/page2.htm#health)

[tbaleno]

It is a nice easter troday. It is warm, the kids did an easter egg hunt in the back yard. I built a raised bed (now I just need compost and soil to fill it.). Do you put anything at the bottom of a raised bed or just fill it with compost and soil?

Also, one of my peach trees is in full bloom. Almost all the blooms are open. I put one of those sticky red apple looking traps on the tree to capture any potential bugs that want to lay their eggs in the fruit.

I also saw a huge bumble bee roaming around the back yard.

[Jananas Bananas]

:waving: Good Morning Gang! I just wanted to pop in and say Happy Easter. I am posting pictures to my favorite threads now.

I am also very picky about my pictures and hate blurry ones too!

Yep, you'll have fruit on your cactus soon. They are very seedy Cameron and the seeds are hard little boogers too, but fun to grow! The fruit I ate was a dark pinkish purple and had a mildly sweet taste. It stained my mouth and tongue too. I just ate it right off the cactus out in the heat - I think if it were chilled and sprinkled with a tiny bit of sugar it would be tastier! You just have to eat the seeds along with the fruit unless you want to make a juice out of it and strain the seeds. :ha:

Tom, I think you can put that weed guard stuff down or wet newspaper first in your raised bed. It will help keep the "extra" stuff out (not all but HELP)! ~J

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I don't think there's mold here but I'm going to keep checking. I am feeling a bit better today, so I don't think I'll get any worse now. :)


Thanks for the link Tom...that's pretty wild about how sick mold can make humans. Yuck!


I posted in some of my favorite threads too JaNan...hope you saw.


Check this out. It's my little baby sundew seedlings sticking out from the side of the sponge. They're still super tiny but growing...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC04203.jpg


Here too, are those Aloe Polyphylla succulent seeds...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC04201.jpg


JaNan, did you see the picture of how they grow in a spiral? I'm hoping to get two that spiral in different directions. Apparently, not too many people in the world have these plants and they're nearly extinct! :eek:


Let me know if you saw them JaNan. Too cool not to check out...


: )

[Willow87]

Those are so cute Sherry. I love sundew plants. I cant wait until they get bigger. Janan I really look forward to tasting the fruit, I just hope its not like the one in the store that I got. I chilled those and that made it taste a little better but I didnt enjoy the seeds in it at all. I ended up biting down on several and hurting my teeth, so after that I just threw the fruit away lol

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I can't wait for them to get bigger either Cam! :08: It'll likely take a year for them to look like much of anything though.


I was checking through my seeds again a minute ago and seeing what I could sow next. :ha:


I'm feeling a bit better this afternoon but still yucky. I just hope I can be well enough to help my mom move. She's got hired movers for all the furniture but she likes to do the boxes herself, due to all her breakables and china. She doesn't trust movers with them. In the event that I'm sick though, she's considering just paying the movers to do the boxes too, with the exception of a few that we will take over in the car to her new place. I know she will be stressed though and worried her stuff will get broken, so I'm trying to get myself well, and fast.


So how's the Sunday going today, guys? I'm hungry and thinking of making some chicken soup...


I was gonna try to take a few more shots too, if I can stop coughing long enough to snap
one! :ha:


: )

[Willow87]

Well they will be worth the wait. You may as well build a flowerbed indoors LOL. you have so many beautiful plants Sherry. My mom is baking some chicken and I dont know what else she is cooking. Sherry you cant rush getting well, and you wont get better being stressed either. I think the chicken soup would be wonderful and I hope you are drinking plenty of juice and water.

[Jananas Bananas]

Chicken soup would be really good for you. Do you have any of those really strong metholyptus cough drops. Those always help me when I get a sore throat plus clean out the old sinuses. Not the best tasting though for sure! :ha:

Cameron I saw your little MicroTom had sprouted, did you see that Sherry? It's so cute. I have a lot of different tomatoes started in the AG's since they sprouted when I was trying to save them! :ha:

I love it when you guys take pictures and post them. I love taking pictures and I take a lot so I hope I am never boring you guys with all mine! :)

Sherry I got a new catalog with my AG order and on the cover they say the next "big" thing in AeroGardens are Spruce trees! I think that is so funny since I asked for some from you! ~J

[Willow87]

I was so happy to see the Micro Tom sprout. I think my banana peppers are sprouting too. I'll have to post pics later. Can Spruce grow here in Texas Janan?

[Jananas Bananas]

I doubt they can outside Cam, but I wanted to try it because it reminds me of my Grandmother. She had two spruce trees right outside the front door where they lived in Kansas. I was going to keep it inside and if it thrives I will use it as a house plant and at Christmas decorate it. I can always keep it trimmed and I think they are slow growers also. ~J

[Willow87]

That would be so cool to grow it as a houseplant. I love spruce

[tbaleno]

Spruce smell nice too don't they? Are spruce trees conifers? i don't remember.

I'm glad everyone is having a fun Easter. I ended up going to home depot to get stuff to fill my raised bed I just built. i was looking for perlite and compost but couldn't find any. they had manure, but that really isn't compost is it? Besides it was too expensive. I ended up buying 6cf of peatmoss and 10cf of "garden soil for flowers and vegetables and mixed the two. I also picked up some sweet red and sweet white onions and ended up planting 45 of them. Unfortunately there was still a huge amount left and I didn't want them to go to waste so I'm on my way out there to plant another 45 or so of them.

See you guys in a little bit.

[Willow87]

Yes Tom spruce are conifers. I think they do have a nice fragrance too. Wow Tom sounds like a nice project. I need to amend my flowerbeds too

[The Hollyberry Lady]

JaNan...did I send you some of the blue spruce the first round? :eek:


If not, I sent some in the second!


That would be just too cool, growing one in the A-G!!! I sprouted seeds for them and they're not easy. They should be sown in small pots in moist soil, then put the pot in a bag and place it in the freezer (not fridge) for one month. Let it freeze completely solid! You then place on a sunny sill and mist with a mist bottle until you see sprouts within a couple weeks time, usually.


Are you gonna grow one in the A-G JaNan?! :goteam:


Yes, I did see Cam's new little Micro-Tom. Be sure to save seeds from your very first cherry, so that if something happens to your original, you know you've got more seeds to start some more plants.


You guys won't believe how fast they put on a crop of tomatoes. It's amazing!


Thanks for all the helpful tips you guys, for getting better. I'm finding steam is helping me the most right now...hot steam from a boiling pot of water. It's time for me to have another bowl of soup soon...I'm hungry.


How's the planting going, Tom? :waving:


Trying to load more pics too, so give me time...


: )

[Willow87]

I will definitely keep some seeds. I look forward to seeing the first tomatoes. There is some bad weather heading this way

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Oh gawd I hope it's not headed our way! :eek: Hate bad weather when I want some of the good stuff.


So yeah, check out this thankgiving cactus today...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC04229.jpg


Wtf?! :ha: See the puplish leaves too?


Soup is heating and I have to re-take some blurry shots. Back soon...


: )

[Willow87]

Thats so pretty Sherry. I cant believe it keeps blooming. I wonder why its developing purple leaves

[tbaleno]

All done with the onions. I told my mother in law not to read the planting suggestions on the seed packets but to search for square foot gardening to get an idea on the planting density. I did get the other onions in the ground. I used up most of the white onions, but I still have about 20 red onions. I'm currently on youtube watching videos about propagating onions.

The funny thing, is that generally I consider myself lazy. But there are moments where I just have spurts where things get done. Probably some mental illness but it doesn't seem to affect my life so I just go with it.

Todays handywork
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5145/5650314301_4e8081d832_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5650314301/)
CIMG_2011-04-24-155634 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5650314301/) by mysimplehomegarden (http://www.flickr.com/people/34712576@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5030/5651469204_d319b90bb3_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5651469204/)
CIMG_2011-04-24-185335 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5651469204/) by mysimplehomegarden (http://www.flickr.com/people/34712576@N08/), on Flickr

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Great you got lots done, Tom. ;) I love onions.


Yeah it is weird that it keeps blooming Cam, but I sure am enjoying it. :D


So I had the soup and took some new pics, and now I'm gonna load some hopefully unblurry shots...


: )

[tbaleno]

Here is my son. He helped.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5650141295_5923f58608_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5650141295/)
CIMG_2011-04-24-150421 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5650141295/) by mysimplehomegarden (http://www.flickr.com/people/34712576@N08/), on Flickr

[Jananas Bananas]

Good job Tom, and a handsome young helper too! :)

Cameron you know with Sherry's "Green Hands" things are going to bloom that normally don't for us regular folk! :ha:

I had to take a feed the animals and fix supper break. Somebody else needs to post in the dinner thread so it doesn't look like only me over there!!!!!

Yes Sherry, you did send me some Blue Spruce in the first round. I will take a cover shot of the AG catalog so you guys can see what they look like. It is really too cute!

Where's Trina? Everyone needs to go over to her movie thread and post something in it! :) ~J

[Willow87]

Thats true Janan. I had to go offline earlier. The storms died out before they got here, but there was still plenty of lightning, but hardly any rain. I think some more is building to the west that may effect my area