Hello fellow plant enthusiasts!
Yes, I can honestly say spring has sprung here in Rhode Island. We hit 64 degrees today, and you can bet your life I didnt waste it. Went to the nursery this morning, and had a ball. Took me forever to check out though because the girl on register had to ask me what each plant was... DUH! You oughta know... But I digress The majority of my annual herbs were purchased: cilantro, basil, and dill. I also bought broccoli seedlings, and planted those as well. As promised, pictures of the afternoon's work were taken and as soon as the film is developed, the pictures will be posted on sierra. I took pictures of the radish and broccoli seedlings, as well as the shelf o' herbs, the greenhouse itself, inside and out. Watering system gets put in April 14 hopefully as my Sundays are booked until then.

Now we play the waiting game for the rest of the veggies. The nursery also had peppers started in the seed house. I dont get those for another few weeks though.

Nina, if you read this, Schartner Farms on route 2 in Exeter is where I was. Huge variety of flowers. 95 south to exit 9, and then exit 5B off route 4. Turn left at the light. Schartner Farms is about a half a mile down on the right.

Boy did I just sound like a radio commercial or what????

Eric

 

Sounds like you had a great time! Here in San Diego the weather seems to be bouncing back and forth ... but my tulips have already started blooming! Good luck with your plantings!

 

64 degrees? That was the temp here this morning when I went out to get the paper! LOL

 

Hi Eric,

You should have been paid for that! Good job! But, hey, if you find a nursery you like and trust--brag about it and spread the word.

It'll be in the 60's here for at least 5 days and probably longer. Since my garden slopes, it doesn't dry out soon enough to plant cool season crops, but that's OK. We're not pea lovers anyway.

Now what should we do about The Tow Guy? Shall we all tell him how much fun it is to snow ski, toboggan, ice skate, make snow angels, snow ice cream, snowmen, a white Christmas, licking icicles, snow ball fights from an igloo, no school on bad days, hockey, ...

Gami

 

LOL. Been there, done that. I was born just outside Milwaukee, family moved to Sunshine State in '66 when I was 12. And you forgot shoveling snow, scraping ice off the windshield, shoveling snow, salting the ice on the sidewalk, shoveling snow, and.......shoveling snow.

 

Gami,
Or we should tell him that even though it may have been 64 this morning where he was, we also dont suffer through stifling heat and humidity 8 months out of the year And yes, you are right... snow and wintery conditions are nice at the onset of winter. Anyone can live in Florida, but it takes REAL men and women to brave mother natures elements

Also, just came across pictures of the greenhouse I took last summer. I think I might turn the scanner on Check for updates in my gallery by the end of the night!

Eric

 

Yeah, it really sucks wearing shorts and short sleeve shirts 350 days a year! LOL. Only miserably warm weather in this part of state for the mid-summer months (Jun-Aug). I'll concede that mid-July would NOT be fun without A/C and swimming pool!

 

Hi The Tow Guy,

I didn't want to mention the "fun" things, like shoveling snow, icing the sidewalks, shoveling snow, icy roads, numerous accidents, hibernating through the winter, shoveling snow, chopping firewood in the cold, shoveling snow, no electricity for days, and last but not least shoveling snow. ...because all the other fun things make up for those FEW days that the above happens.

I'm from SD. Been there done that too, and I'll take KC any day!

I hear ya! Eric, from one REAL WOMAN to ONE REAL MAN! Go, guy!

Gami

 

Yuo're right Eric.

It has SPRUNG in VA too.

The peas and onions are up. The daffs and hyacinths are blooming. And the tulips are getting ready to open. The pear and peach trees are blooming. And I shot an 84 today with five three putts. (I blame it on the aerated greens covered with sand.)

And I don't miss the northern Ohio lake-effect snowbelt.
fred

 

Just got this from my niece; good timing:

Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Heaven, God was missing for 6 days.
Eventually, Michael, the archangel, found him resting on the seventh day.


He inquired of God, "Where have you been?" God sighed a deep sigh of
satisfaction and proudly pointed downward through the clouds. "Look,
Michael, look what I've made." Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said,
"What is it?"


"It's a planet," replied God, "and I've put life on it. I'm going to call
it earth and it's going to be a great place of balance. "Balance?" inquired
Michael, still confused. God explained, pointing to different parts of the
earth, "For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity
and wealth while southern Europe is going to be poor. The Middle East over
there will be a hot spot," God continued, pointing to different countries.
"This one will be extremely hot and while this one will be very cold and
covered with ice."


"The Archangel, impressed by God's work, then pointed to a large land mass
with oceans as its borders and said, "What's that one?" "Ah," said God,
"that's Florida, the most glorious place on earth. There are beautiful
beaches, rivers, lakes, and climate. The people from Florida are going to
be modest, intelligent, and humorous and they are going to be found
traveling the world. They will be extremely sociable, hard working, and
high achieving people and they will be known throughout the world as
diplomats and carriers of peace."


Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then exclaimed, "What about
balance, God? You said there would be balance! Everyone and everything
seems so totally perfect in this place you call Florida!" God replied
wisely, "Wait until you see the idiots I'm sending down from the North every
winter!"

 

Elizabeth

 

Ummmm...

tow_guy - Not sure, but I think I re(pre)sent that... LOL

btw - spring's sprung here in Toronto, too (I hope...)

Howie

 

Hey All,

On to Bomber's original post! It will be 70 here tomorrow! I'm so sore from working out in the yard, but MAN, it feels great!

Eric, I nominate you KING of thread starters!

Gami

 

*leans over and accepts crown*

Thank you very much, indisputed queen of links And thanks again for getting the thread started again I havent checked the greenhouse (see pictures on sierra) in a few days. May have to go back out there when I get home tonight. I actually applied for a job as a "plantkeeper", or thats what oso.com (Rhode Island's web site) called it. I hope I get it and move out of here... Details to follow!

Keep your fingers crossed everyone

 

Hi Eric,

Fingers crossed here! BUT, when you said "move out of here", you didn't mean you'd be leaving us, did you?

Your greenhouse looks great. Can't wait to see the inside. It looks quite full!

Gami

 

Gami,
No of course not. I couldn't leave here; we are like a family What I meant was I would get out of phone support. It makes me batty... The only reason I maintain my sanity is to come on here and post during the day That, and talking to Marcia (one of my coworkers) about gardening. In fact, my friends and I are going to help her build her greenhouse in a few weeks

I have made an executive decision... I have convinced myself I need to go back to the nursery today. ok, so maybe it didnt take too much convincing

Eric

 

Gami - you know Bomber wouldn't never leave us!!!

Ya know, I think phone support would be a big drag and I would likely "go batty" within the first day!

You wanna hear something really weird? I am going to interview with a horticulturist Apparently the guy does hort lectures and owns a successful landscaping business not very far from where I live. And he's not taken aback by novices in the field -- in fact, the word I got from a very close friend is that he loves teaching and has a "bottomless" heart. I'll let you know if anything comes of it.


Wish me luck...

"Liz" (that one's for you Eric)

 

Shame on me, Eric!

I meant to wish you bunches of luck!!!! You'd be great as plantkeeper! Aw heck, you'd probably be good at anything you got into for that matter. As much as you love plants and not to mention how much you KNOW about plants, that's where you should be!

Liz (again)

 

Good luck Liz!

Thats exactly the type of job I need. Phone support was ok for a while, but it'll be two years in July, and I need out! Ive got "office fever" In fact, on Friday, when I told Marcia I went to the nursery, I described it as "a life altering experience" She told me I ought to get a part time job there. I said, right out loud, "Or maybe full time. Oops! Did I say that out loud? " My boss poked her head out of her office, but she didnt say anything. Let me put it like this though... if looks could kill, she'd be standing trial for murder Ill let you all know what I get at the nursery today.

Eric

 

A classic
~~~~~~~~~~~

Spring has sprung
The grass has riz
I wonder where my posies is.

 

WOW ... when you guys post, you REALLY post! Being new to this site, it is great to hear about the exciting things you all are doing in your gardens! Spring Fever is alive and well in Sunny San Diego ... some some even better than the great state of Florida

 

Rusty Can,
Thats the point of this forum: to post and to share stories and laughs I will be honest with you... when I first posted a question about eggplants last July, I had no idea of the "relationship" that I would develop with everyone else here. You have picked a great place to come for friendly advice, funny stories, and just an all around good time

OK guys... It's off to the nursery. If I'm not back by sundown, send a search party

Eric

 

Hey Bomber

Here is a soggy Saturday thing to do.

In Old Weathersfield Conn there is a Comstock Ferre Seed Co.

They have been selling plants since the 1770's and seeds since the 1820's.


Byron

 

Well, the latest trip to the nursery came up dry... Same stuff as they had on Friday. Now I need to get home and see how all my "friends" in the greenhouse are doing

 

Hi Eric,

Keep us posted about the new job. I think I'd like phone support--but then I like to talk! I'm sure it would get old after awhile. Let us know if your new job comes through.

I think I'm going to have to set up some kind of hoop house once my plants start growing.

Gami

 

Hi Eric ~~

I just have to say, if you're as helpful and knowledgeable at "Phone support" as you are on this gardening board....I know your employer will miss you! As far as I'm concerned, good tech support guys are gods!!!! I don't know how many times I've had to call and get help in correcting some stupid thing I've done. It's such a relief to get someone on the other end of the line who says, "OK, lady, just calm down. Everything's gonna be fine." BUT, you'll be great with plants, too!

 

Florajo,
I cant even BEGIN to tell you the horror stories of working the "other side" of a tech support line. One guy I talked to this morning spent 20 minutes of my time trying his own solution before I finally told him, "Bob, look. Just do what I tell you to do and NOTHING else, and everything will be fine." Lo and behold, we were done in 10 minutes after that! Someone help me

Still looking for gardening jobs. I was told by one of my coworkers today that the nursery I've been to the past few days has open positions. Hmmmm... looks like I may have to go back down and fill out an application

Eric

 

As I may have unintentionally offended some members of the boards with one of my earlier posts, let me offer apologies.

For the record I have lived or been through most parts of the country (and a goodly portion of the rest of the world) during my military career and found many regions/areas to be very livable. A partial list:

Wisconsin - 12 years
SoCal - 2 years
NoCal (Bay area) - 2 years
Coastal NC - 14 years
Florida (off & on) - 14 years
Georgia (Marietta) - 2 years
Japan - 7 stays totaling about 5 years
N. Italy - 2 stays totaling about 12 months
Also, assorted short-duration side trips to Korea, Okinawa, Philippines, Australia, and Norway overseas and about 6-8 states here in the US.

Now, having said all that, it is now 7:56 pm and the temperature is a very pleasant 74 degrees.

 

Hi Tow_Guy

I thought the story was cute, actually...

Seems a lot of Canucks make use of your fine weather and finer hospitality to get over the winter blahs...

And, I sometimes DO represent that (not resent it...) LOL

Best Regards

Howie

Btw - we just got another 3" of wet snow today - maybe I'll just pack up and start on my way down there NOW... (if you'll let us Northerners back down there )... Supposed to get warmer during the week, maybe it'll be better then

H.

 

Hi The Tow Guy,

No offense taken here either--maybe a little jealousy! Yesterday it was 78, and today it's in the 40's. Low will be 25.

We were in Orlando in March. The day we left, it was 78 there. Got off the plane here, and it was 32 degrees with the wind howling! Not fun!

It must have been fun traveling so much. I know it can also be hard, but seeing other parts of the world would be fascintaing.

Gami

 

The Jays spring train in my home town. Lots of Canadians around here, howie; half the retirement parks fly both the US and Canadian flags. Big back & forth a couple of weeks ago on the Letters to the Editor page about flying the Canadian flag as high as the U.S., etc. Told someone as far as I was concerned there were 3 flags that could be flown at the same height as ours anytime - Canadian, Australian, and the UK - since they pretty much make up about 99% of the REAL friends that Americans have. [Side note: If that offends anyone I will NOT be making a retraction]. Spring not quite sprung up there yet, eh? It would actually be a lot easier getting INTO the state right now if you're driving than OUT; northbound 75 & 95 are pretty crowded.