Help with our zone please.

Discussion in 'Outdoor Gardening in the Pacific Northwest' started by Keith Elliott, May 1, 2021.

  1. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    Good morning to you too Keith. That sounds like a wonderful nursery. I think I would be like a kiddy in a sweet shop. Lol. I hope you can get back there when this Covid crisis has calmed down. Not worth the chance of a $575 fine, not even for a maple !!!
    You saying 'Just can't hop in the old horse and buggy' is definitely a throw back from your South Coast of England days, lol. Always in your blood eh!!
     
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  2. Keith Elliott

    Keith Elliott Contributor

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    Well, not exactly sure about the horse and buggy bit, but I do remember the London to Brighton antique car "race". Not much of a race really, it was a matter of seeing if the old cars could actually make it all the way. I don't suppose they still have that running now.
     
  3. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    Yes they do Keith, but not last year obviously. Reminds me of a very old film called 'Genevieve' with Kenneth Moor. Lol.
     
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  4. Keith Elliott

    Keith Elliott Contributor

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    That's amazing! What's even more amazing is that I remember seeing that same Kenneth Moor film!
     
  5. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    One of our favourites. The days of innocent films, wonderful IMO.
     
  6. Margot

    Margot Renowned Contributor 10 Years

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    "Goats on Roof Old Country Market" is a real magnet for tourists so I don't shop there if I can help it . . . too many people. I have seen beautiful maples in huge pots on a patio area but not what I'd call a garden centre. Next time we go to the wonderful restaurant adjacent (Cuckoo Trattoria) I'll make a point of finding out if there are at least any maples for sale. Thanks for the tip.

    Coombs Old Country Market
     

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  7. Keith Elliott

    Keith Elliott Contributor

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    Oh no, it's definitely not a garden centre in any real sense of the word. They get tons of their stuff directly from China, and the prices used to be really good. Especially for some of their nice garden pots.

    If you're going to visit, you need to get there before the first tourist bus arrives. But they do have all kinds of really interesting things there.

    Next thing is to make sure you get one of their ice cream cones! I think they are actually illegal.
     
  8. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    Does that make them taste just that little bit better Keith? Naughty and Nice!!! Lol.
     
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  9. Keith Elliott

    Keith Elliott Contributor

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    They are so good D, and they give you far too much. Sometimes us old dudes can't gobble that much at one sitting. But hot damn, they are delicious!
     
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  10. Keith Elliott

    Keith Elliott Contributor

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    @Margot, I remembered to try and get more photos of that odd looking deck to the east of the house. For some reason, it seems to be difficult to capture it properly. Anyway, here goes.....

    IMG_4550.JPG This is what you see as you walk out the back door of the workshop.

    IMG_4551.JPG IMG_4552.JPG IMG_4555.JPG These were taken from a flat spot where I was originally going to build a Japanese style garden, complete with pond and recirculating stream. But then common sense caught up with me and I have decided to tone it down considerably. It has become a matter of what I can handle physically these days.

    IMG_4554.JPG That's where I was standing to take the previous pics.

    IMG_4558.JPG IMG_4559.JPG IMG_4560.JPG IMG_4561.JPG

    As you can see above, I just walked around to get photos that area, still not giving a very good impression.
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2021
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  11. Keith Elliott

    Keith Elliott Contributor

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    I suppose I should offer up some sort of explanation for that awful looking 6 mil poly that Val has clamped to the sides of the overhead structure. She thinks it will help stop the wind from hitting the plants. Somehow I will need to convince her that it is also her idea to take it down. I don't think that we get too much wind around that side of the house anyway.

    These are obviously inside the deck area. One of the trumpet plants is already developing flower pods. Is that the right word for those?

    IMG_4562.JPG IMG_4563.JPG IMG_4564.JPG IMG_4565.JPG
     
  12. Keith Elliott

    Keith Elliott Contributor

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    Maybe these will give you a better perspective.

    IMG_4568.JPG IMG_4573.JPG IMG_4575.JPG
     
  13. Keith Elliott

    Keith Elliott Contributor

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    She figured that if she hung her hanging baskets high enough, the deer couldn't reach them. Here's the first two she did today.

    IMG_4606.JPG IMG_4607.JPG
     
  14. Margot

    Margot Renowned Contributor 10 Years

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    The deck is beautiful and must be a lovely place to sit with a cup of tea or coffee in the morning. (But that plastic has gotta go. :-) )
     
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  15. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    What a wonderful location to sit and mull over a days work in the garden.
     
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  16. Keith Elliott

    Keith Elliott Contributor

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    The fellow that Val has who helps us occasionally with small building projects is also very much a gardener.

    He delivered several pots to Val among which are two plum trees and several lilacs. The lilacs are not on the deer menu here, and they grow prolifically from here all the way out to the far side of Lee Creek, a distance of some 35 kms. They grow right alongside the road and many are a good 12' plus tall. I will have to see if we can stop and get some photos of the different plants which seem to thrive here. That will be our guide as to what we plant in future.

    IMG_4645.JPG
     
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  17. Keith Elliott

    Keith Elliott Contributor

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    Just a few minutes ago, I took the first batch of compost out of the small plastic gadget that makes this lovely stuff. It is as light as a feather and smells quite nice.

    IMG_4646.JPG
     
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  18. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    I think my maples would like that too. Looks excellent and well draining compost Keith.
     
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  19. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    I think my maples would like that too. Looks excellent and well draining compost Keith.
     
  20. Keith Elliott

    Keith Elliott Contributor

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    I'm going to use some of it to add to the potato boxes. When I was reading about those boxes, I noticed that if the soil was loose as it was being added, that the crop was much greater. So I'm thinking that I will likely try a 50-50 mix of compost and topsoil and see how that works.

    The first addition is ready to go now - they say once the plants are 3" tall to add more soil. I have hunch they are already more than that, but it's going to have to wait until this rain stops before I venture down to have a look.
     
  21. Margot

    Margot Renowned Contributor 10 Years

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    Can you tell more about the 'small plastic gadget'?
     
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  22. Keith Elliott

    Keith Elliott Contributor

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    My descriptions leave something to be desired, don't they?

    Got this one from Lee Valley and I think it was somewhere around $100. I'm sure you've probably seen something similar.

    It has two chambers, fill one up about half way, then let that alone and fill the other side. Give it a few turns every day or three, or every time you add something to the mix. Lee Valley says it will make compost in about three weeks, although I wouldn't take that to the bank. Maybe give it a couple of months if the weather isn't very warm. This is the first load I've taken out.

    IMG_4647.JPG IMG_4648.JPG IMG_4649.JPG IMG_4650.JPG
     
  23. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    Sounds good Keith, but sorry I can't help with potatoes, as I don't grow them or eat them. But I have heard from friends about piling up the soil as they grow, so that seems the right thing to do.
     
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  24. Keith Elliott

    Keith Elliott Contributor

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    An Englishman who doesn't eat spuds? Oh my, what is this world coming to!

    Indeed it is traditional to "hill" potatoes, and there is little difference if you are adding the mix to these boxes as opposed to the usual hilling procedure. No photos of this until tomorrow, it's still pretty damp outside today.
     
  25. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    I'm a Keto diet man Keith. High fat zero carbs.
     
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