PrettyCurious

Nice to see another “Michigan-gardener” here … WELCOME to GT!!! :-)

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

Welcome from another Michi-goose!

-- the day you quit learning is the day you quit living.

Hello again … I think I just figured out a connection. Your husband is a LJ (like mine) and was at the picnic on Saturday … Sorry you had to work; as it would have been lovely to meet you.

I am so glad you have joined us here (as I said above) and look forward to chatting more!!

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

Yep, my Hubby is a LumberJock [Gotta love a man who plays with his wood!], and I’m the one who gave him his posting ID “DHG” for dodge hemi guy, back when I was dating him. [I’m realy a Ford girl, but I always said if I could find a man as dependable as my Ford truck, I’d consider marrying him]
When he told me one of the wives snipped off a piece of a plant on the way by, I said, I gotta meet these people! LOL
I carry plastic bags [and sometimes a shovel] in the car with me.
I don’t usually work on Sat., but since we’re short of help, I’ve been doing it, for awhile.
Actually I work everyday, but only 7am-ish to 9am-ish in an Alpaca barn, then I work Sun-Wed in a bird house after that. Plus we have our own cats, one who’s old and mellow like us, and a teenaged back-talkin one, who even talks back to the love bird, 3 finches that sing delightfully all day, a coupla fish, a dog who follows us around, and a bunny I rescued many years ago. I’m practally a zoo keeper!
Plants are the only thing that don’t talk back.

-- ~ Michigan, zone=Cold! aka: DHG's Wife

Yah I LAUGHED when Nancy pulled out those scissors after I said, “man, too bad we didn’t have scissors on us” ... as I was thinking about how could we snap off limbs full of those Lilacs. She is one prepared gardener!!! :-)

I love all your animals …loved the description of your cats … my daughter’s cat (when she was younger) was a sassy gal … but we loved her personality.

Sooooooo, I’m sure we’ll be a chatting and you will definitely LOVE it here!! Look forward to see pics of your gardens once you have time and get acclamated.

Maybe if there is another LJ or GT Michigan picnic we will get a chance to meet. Have a great week …

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

A Lilac? Here’s my Lilac story:
I tried for years to get what I was sure was a lilac to grow, at my old house, but it was in the shade, and all I got was some heart shaped leaves out of it. When we moved here, I bought a small one at K-Mart for a whooping $15 [I’m cheap, so that was expensive], planted it in the sun, and the 2nd year it finaly flowered. On the W/E that DHG’s mom was visiting, the blooms were just about dropping minutes after flowering, but I had been watching it all week, and I thought “How special for it to flower while she’s here” She looked at it and said “Oh, that must be one of those french ones that don’t flower very long” and I almost cried.
Lately I have been looking longingly at large lilac bushes growing by the side of the road, and thinking to my self, “I bet they won’t notice a small portion missing …” I’m not that good, I gotta get some root.

We may be moving this summer, so I have been splitting everything I’ve planted for the last 4 years, and stuffing it into huge pots, so they’ll have room to grow before I stick them in the ground somewhere. I’ve got pots all over the place, and I’m not done yet. I’m thinking about posting on free cycle for more of those containers that plants people buy come in. I guess if we don’t move, I’ll have tons of plants to start another garden. I took some pictures, but it will be a few days before I get around to posting them.

-- ~ Michigan, zone=Cold! aka: DHG's Wife

Oh I feel your pain with the Lilac!!! hahaha!!!

I took quite a lot with me when we moved here and have been adding to that initial planting every summer. We want to move; just don’t know when … but I cannot take my plants with me this time cuz we are heading out to Arizona. But like I said, don’t know when at this point. Cuz nothing is going as initially planned. So like you … if you don’t move, you’ll have a wonderful, full new garden … me, I am enjoying every moment of my gardens till “the” day arrives when we pack up.

-- "A beautiful garden is a work of heart" -- Royal Oak, MI - Zone 5

Glad to see that you joined us Prettycurious. Nancy and I enjoyed having your hubby over for a few hours Sat. Can’t wait to meet you. And yes Nancy is always prepared. She is also a rock collector for her garden. Anywhere we go she is always looking at the ground for rocks. Ijust roll my my eyes everytime she picks one up.I still love her though. Where you movin too? Hopefully not out of state.

Rick

-- Rick Kruse Kentwood, MI zone 5b

We don’t know where we’re going yet. I don’t like hot states, so staying in MI is a possibility, but at the very least, we have to get out of this county. The taxes are rediculous.

-- ~ Michigan, zone=Cold! aka: DHG's Wife

I have to chuckle at your stories PrettyCurious.I too carry a shovel and bags in my van because you never know what gem is waiting for you at the side of the roads.I have transplanted many lilacs from the roadside and they all lived and bloomed beautifully.Just make sure you get lots of root when you dig them up.I also go around to some of the town gardens in the fall to collect seeds.I love trying new plants every year.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

hate to see ya go. We need to get together before ya leave the state Come to G.R. we’d love to have ya

-- Rick Kruse Kentwood, MI zone 5b

Oh, DHG wants to stay in MI. We’re used to the weather, and I enjoy all 4 seasons. Nothing is pointing toward leaving the state. We’re just not ruling it out.

-- ~ Michigan, zone=Cold! aka: DHG's Wife

That’s good to here. I am starting to get my stock ready for a craft mall that is opening here in Grand Rapids soon. Nancy also paints terra cotta suns.

-- Rick Kruse Kentwood, MI zone 5b