The Gazebo Outback Garden Forum

Chestnut trees

Pburgh — Thur, 10 Jul 2008 14:33:07 GMT

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire"

I really don't like my chestnut tree!!! It blooms from the end of June for three weeks. It smells to high heaven when it's blooming. While it is in bloom you can't go near the tree due to the bugs and BEES. (every kind of bee you can think of) After the smell starts to go away, the blooms, which look like 6" long dredlocks start falling and really make a mess. They fall in both my shade gardens and on the lawn. They have to be picked out of the shade garden by hand and raked from the yard. Then I get a rest until October. That's when these spikey balls fall everywhere. They look like golf balls with spikes. You have to wear gloves to pick them up and my dog thinks they're play things and tries to pick them up making his mouth bleed!!

I don't even like to eat chestnuts!!!
Ahhhhhhh, I feel better. Thanks for listening.

You Dont Send Me Flowers

stutler — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:06:21 GMT

You-all dont send me flowers anymore -- you don't write me letters -- oh well I just need to shut up and sing with you know who at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cG7_jheC8A

No doubt about it, she can sing -- Ben

Rain Rain and More Rain

stutler — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:18:49 GMT

We sure are getting gobs of rain around these parts this summer !

I guess there is just one thing we can do -- join Gene Kelly at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkEvy-9yVyQ --- Ben

Cold Wet and Stormy

stutler — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:01:47 GMT

So far this year has been a summer-less summer !

I got an early start on the vegetable garden because we had some down right hot weather back in April. Right after I planted the tomatoes the weather turned and it has been cold and wet since. The tomato plants are only about a foot high instead of the normal 3 feet high for this time of year.
The beans are drowning -- sure am glad I am not farming for a living !

The Hosta are loving this weather -- growing like mad an providing great forage for the deer. I chased a doe away this morning -- had to approach within 3 feet of her before she would move. When she moved she ran through a rail fence at the back of the lot and broke a 2 by 6 rail in half.

We had hard rain all night and lots of thunder -- in fact tornado warnings were out -- hard to sleep.

On the positive side we had the most beautiful spring I can remember. The flowering trees were beautiful and the blooms stayed on for a long time. The Holy trees are loaded with berries -- bet that has some meaning for next winter. ( Lots of berries cold winter )

Hope it quits raining so I can mow the grass -- flustered in West Virginia --

Ben

The Garden Wall

stutler — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:24:57 GMT

Son-in-law Tim built a garden wall for Sarah and Sadie to hangout. Ben

West Virginia

Pburgh — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:39:02 GMT

West Virginia --- Our Home!

Because of our mountains, we have rivers. The oldest river in the
Western Hemisphere, the New River (quite appropriately named, don't you think) ends in West Virginia. We have the Gauley River, which confluence's with the New River in a magnificent cascade to form the Kanawha River,   which in turn flows through the center of the State, and directly through the


capital city of Charleston, the largest city in West Virginia. These rivers
in addition to the Cheat, Blackwater, Tygart, Monongahela, Ohio and
countless others offer tremendous recreational opportunities.

The tallest building in Charleston is barely 25 floors tall! ,which, if
you think about it, is a plus; how could you possibly build a
skyscraper more beautiful than a mountain?

The capital city stretches throughout the long river valley
encompassing both hill and dale.


The Charleston airport, the largest in the State, sits on top
of a mountain. The crime rate in Charleston, including the entire
population of the Kanawha Valley (around 200,000), reflects that of the
entire State, the lowest in America. No more than a handful of murders
are committed each year.

Charleston has no subway systems, but, truth be known, you can
get from one end of town to the other, even in rush hour traffic, in less
than ten minutes.

There are three major interstate systems going through Charleston,
the smallest city in America to make such a claim.

The entire State has six different interstate systems, meaning,
from Charleston, you can reach Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati,
Pittsburgh, Louisville or Charlotte in four hours or less....Ah, but once
you leave the interstates, the drive becomes a thing of wonder. Two lane
roads, winding up and down the mountains, offer amazing views and historic places, small towns, poor in wealth but rich in history.

West Virginia is the birthplace of Mother's Day, in Grafton; and Father's
Day, in Fairmont.



We have the oldest covered bridge still in use. We have walnut
festivals. strawberry festivals, apple festivals and pumpkin festivals and
buckwheat festivals , and arts and crafts fairs and stern wheel
regattas and ramp dinners.

We have Bridge Day, on the New River Gorge Bridge over 800 feet
above the New River; the only standing structure in the United States
that, one day a year, allows parachuting and bungee jumping.


We have college basketball, and minor league baseball and
hockey, and, just like all of America, Friday night high school football.

We have white water rafting, and skiing, and hiking, and caves,
and waterfalls, and camping in every direction. We have Sundays
where a leisurely drive in the car can take eight hours, and only cover
100 miles.

We have bed and breakfasts, and resorts, and golf courses, and
museums, and the Greenbrier Hotel. West Virginia has more natural
beauty and wonder than any person could ever imagine.


We have all of this, and yet .... our greatest asset is our people.
West Virginians are good people. We care about each other. We talk
to our neighbors over the backyard fence.
We grow tomatoes for the entire neighborhood. We turn around in
each other's driveways, and yell 'howdy' when we do.
We sit on the porch on warm summer evenings, listening to
crickets, and watching kids catch fireflies.

We loan a hammer, or a cup of sugar. We don't take two-hour
lunches, but we do spend a few minutes each day with a cup of coffee, and our feet upon our desk, shooting the breeze.

We rarely get in a hurry. We have relatives just down the
street. We don't just loan someone a socket wrench, we help them fix their car. We share recipes, and gardening tips, and our last cup of coffee. We baby-sit each other's kids, we housesit each other's dogs while we're on vacation, and we loan each other our cars if we have to get to the drugstore. We ask each other if we need anything as we're going to the market.

We celebrate each others accomplishments, and we cry over each
other's disappointments.


We are a friendly folk. We are West Virginians.
Mountaineers are always free! Free to take the time to enjoy
life,and hold each moment in our hearts, forever.

If you are proud to be a West Virginian, then pass this on.

Welcome A New Member

stutler — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:34:10 GMT

We need to extend a welcome to our newest member rastutler ( AKA Sally ).
Besides being a great daughter-in-law and the mother of two of our fine grandchildren -- she takes good care of our only son -- and a backyard garden in NE Virginia at http://www.thegazebooutback.com/quiet19.htm

How is that new patio doing? It is beautiful stamped concrete stone pattern with a grape vine boarder. How about posting a picture!

I hope you have escaped all those storms that eastern Virginia has been having. Welcome aboard -- Ben

Memorial Day

Pburgh — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:00:10 GMT

Well, I'm taking tomorrow and Friday off so I'll have a nice long weekend and be back to work on Tuesday. My kids and grandkids are coming home so I'm very excited. On Monday my 3 year old grandson, Jack, went to his room and packed his Leapster carrying case with a teddybear, his blankie and some underwear. He announced to the family that he was ready to go to GG's house and he wanted to leave "now"!!!! Needless to say I can't wait either. So, cooking and cleaning tomorrow and they will be in on Friday. YIPPEE

Have a wonderful holiday and please be thankful for those brave men and women who have given there all for our freedom.

Blowhards and energy

stutler — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:26:25 GMT

I'm working on schemes for solving the energy problem before it is too late.

I am selling stock in my company on the internet at www.getawaterwheel.com.

I am also offering a wind option at www.blowawayalgore.com

It looks like my company at www.coastdownahillary.com is failing -- don't know why because you can get infinite gas mileage with this energy saving scheme but it could not compete with the solar option at www.obamaisbrilliant.com

Why don't we just drill more and quit farting around ?

One thing for sure -- more taxes on the oil companys will not solve the problem !

Maybe Nancy Pelosi could come up with a program for "gas stamps" to help the poor. -- In her mind, this would make more oil. -- Have a nice day -- Ben

Cold and Wet

stutler — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:04:47 GMT

Last week was very cold for this time of the year. Lots of rain as well. The ferns are going bananas and the vegetable garden is off to the races !

The state flower of West Virginia is also doing great !!! Hope all is well with everyone. -- Ben

Good Year For Hostas

stutler — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:03:38 GMT

It looks like the hostas are coming on strong Love that plant !!! -- Ben

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0-1sQ0XOGE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpxXlhTP8os

Beautiful Spring

Pburgh — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:54:15 GMT

You know we really had a looooonnnnngggg Winter but it was worth it for the beautiful Spring. I don't think I have ever seen the flowers and trees looking more beautiful. I love it when the green leaves start to pop on those black tree trunks. My drive to work takes me over some beautiful countryside and over the Allegheny River. In the Spring, it's so amazing that it truly is a religious experience.

On the other hand, retopping and reseeding my front lawn from the grub damage was hard work. My shoulder ache, my back hurts and I think I'll be up for some minor weeding tonight along with a nice bottle of chardonnay. LOL

Have a great weekend!!!
Karan

Illinois Earthquake

hesterredhen — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:13:27 GMT

Awoke yesterday morning to loud rumbling, rattling windows and shaking house and bed. I said to Sam "I think we are having an earthquake." and he agreed and went back to sleep.
We live 1/2 mile east from a main north -south train track so we are used to occasionally rattling windows from large freight trains, but they never wake us up. This was the 3rd or 4th quake I could remember in my lifetime.

When the larger one hit back in 1968, it seemed stronger (actually was 5.4) and seemed to last longer. It also took me a few seconds to figure out what was happening .
At that time my 92 year old grandmother told me it was the only one she could remember and she had lived in Illinois all her life. With that one I remember a few bricks tumbling from the top of a 2 story building, in my hometown, 5 miles from here .

   Yesterday's quake was a 5.2 The largest after shock came nearly 6 hours later, about 10:15, and was a 4.6 It still caused a good bit of shaking, rattling and rumbling. I haven't actually looked at the miles but it was centered about 3 counties to our southeast, and was 128 miles east of St. Louis. We are 90 miles east of St. Louis.

Did any of you folks feel it?

    Cool and wet today. Looks like the new fruit trees that arrived yesterday will have to wait until tomorrow to be planted. (I think I can hear my aching body cheering!)



                                                           L. Red Hen

The Yoshino Cherry

stutler — Thur, 17 Apr 2008 12:50:34 GMT

The Yoshino cherry tree is blooming out front. It has such a beautiful, delicate, and lasting bloom. Everyone should make an effort to plant one of these beauties that were a gift from Japan.

The Magnolia

stutler — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:43:22 GMT

The late spring has been good for the magnolia. It usually blooms early and gets froze out ! NOT THIS YEAR I am attaching a picture of it -- but as always , in nature, the picture is not as inspiring as the real thing.l