Best books this year

Let me give you my parents' address. You are welcome to all the leaves you can haul off in the back of your truck.

Me, too. But it's very warm again today - after a cool yesterday. So, I'm figuring the bulbs might get bought in the next couple of days, but won't get in the ground for a little while.

Ellice

It might be a bit of a ride! But I do acquire leaves from the side of the road!

Cheryl

I'm going to see if my library can find this one!

Sorry, I should be like Cheryl and do the tiny url thing.

You are so right.

Yup, lots of people around here having the sinus headache thing, DH included who played hooky from work for a couple of days last week - he calls it "feeling loggy" and then, being a man, refuses or puts of taking anything for it. Personally, sad to say that I'm having a psuedo-tumor flare-up, so have the full symptom suite coming and going. I'll get my doctor to call in some anti-vert tomorrow. In a pinch, Benadryl will help a bit, but it makes me really drowsy. Amazing Benadryl fact - dogs take many multiples of the human dose. Puckster (the white skinned springer) has to take 2 or 3 pills

Understand the drowsy - drinking lots of caffeine at this time of year. Plus, last night - well, DH was out reffing and didn't get home til about 1, and, well, then he had to shower, and then go out to the 24 hr Harris-Teeter while I was still stitchin' (in the neighborhood) and bring back late night snack-ums (a.k.a. Frozen treats) and then we just had to eat them - so we went to bed sometime around 4. We're idiots. No wonder my head hurts.

ellice

Dora, I have to vote a second on All that Glitter by Allison Cole. It has tons of great info in it. Pat

I have a different kind of book related question to ask anyone who might have an answer for me. I just started to read Running With Scissors. I'm only about 50 pages in but I'm befuddled.

Should I be laughing, or crying, or apalled at the goings on, or what??

What a strange story.

Lucille

I think it is all of the above!

Dora, since you are so very interested in long/short, I really want to coax you into getting Chung's book "Painting with a Needle". It is well worth the price, teaches well, and gives you enough brilliant photographs so that you can get a good handle on what it should look like. Since it is from a Korean artist, it gives you the Eastern method, which I found much more comfortable than the Western method. It's truly a wonderful book to add to your library. You will immediately be struck by the difference between this and Burr's book, as well, Chung uses ordinary silk threads and prompts you to use whatever you have on hand . . . no flat silk methods in this book.

Dianne

Ok, it's on the list. I'm going to be very broke next year if no one gives me any books, because I'm going to have to buy them myself. Dora

Dianne Lewandowski wrote:

I have a question for you and Dora and anyone else who plants bulbs in the fall.

How do you mark the location of existing bulbs so when the greenery is gone you don't dig up/plant over existing bulbs? Someone suggested plastic straws but I tried that and it didn't work so well.

Joan

Nada - I do nothing. Most of my bulbs are fairly deep (helps them perennialize) and if I dig one (or a 100) up, I just replant it.

Cheryl

Irises - deep? Which kind?

I tend to use tulips, if I plant them at all, as annuals.

Cheryl

I think the answer is just look for the holes the squirrels made whilst digging them up!

Sue

Iris Germanica (Superstition and Liaison). There was one which had worked its way out of the earth and another couple beside it which were a bit high. They are at the back of a raised bed so I wanted to make sure they were well covered

Dora

Cheryl Isaak wrote:

We don't mark where the bulbs are--we mark where there were bare spots this spring that we want to fill. Cheap wooden garden stakes or popsickle sticks will work.

One tip I've heard of is to take an empty margarine (sour cream, old planter pots, whatever) container, cut into inch rings. Then press the ring over your bulbs. If you dig up a ring, you will dig up your bulbs if you go deeper.

Tara