The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SEVEN

See our "who's who" page! ^

[HairOfTheDog]

The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - Who's Who *pics*

This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.

I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!

I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.

So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.

Previous threads:

The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SIX

New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, it sounds like a good thing to me, to have her back close.

[HairOfTheDog]

But I'm getting more bang for my fat-burning buck, I think!

[FrogInABlender]

Are you bringing Okie back too?

[RMDupree]

Those boo-boos still look ouchie!!

I'm heading home. There is a HORRIBLE storm outside!!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I bought a few mums the other day and planted them. I was told they would come back every year???? i want to get more if they do.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

If they don't freeze they'll come back, but I don't know how hardy they'd be to a hard freeze. I've had them survive under the eaves of the house in mild winters.

[Rose of Sharn]

The trick with cleamtis is to make sure its roots stay in the shade at ALL times, put some rocks over them or something. Not mulch or bark as it can lead to cleamtis wilt. They do not like it hot. Keep the soil moist, not too hot and not too dry. I grew a lot of these in the UK. A really good clematis is Montana Ruben.


Another favorite of mine is Nelly Moser, huge big flowes! D

[Rose of Sharn]

How am I spelling cleamtis! LOL Knock me on the head someone! LOL Clematis! DUH.......is it Friday yet?

[Rose of Sharn]

The first one, the montana comes in white too and is VERY fast growing once it gets its roots down. It grows kind of wild, covering fences beautifully and has small red flowers that turn from red to light pink in the sun. Very natural flowing plant! : )
Nelly Moser has much bigger flowers, almost china saucer size! They are beautiful folded up before they come out in the sunshine. The most important rule is to keep those roots shaded and they will grow for you. I have never had any problems about hardiness with them in the winter and we have had some cruel winters.

[Rose of Sharn]

But I'd really like to try clementis on the arbor. You ever have any of that??? I'd like to know how thick it gets.

I found that the smaller the flower the quicker growing the plant to become a screen, this may just be the plants I bought though. You can cut back some to whatever shape you desire, but you have a "English cottage garden" look going on which is more loose than formal so it would be nice to see it flowing over the arch and along the fence at will! Beautiul photos! My flower garden is overun with grass. : ( Too hot to do anything about it right now! ??? Will you travel????? : D

[Rose of Sharn]

~sobs~ I post pretty pics but you have all run out on me
~ sobs~ : (

[HairOfTheDog]

Can you conceivably have a screen 6+ feet high within a season with Clemetis? I'd sure like something to screen between me and my neighbor, whether it's flowers, or English Ivy.

[Rose of Sharn]

To be honest I dont know. I have always found that by bying two year old plants and making sure their roots are comfortable they take off pretty quick. Sometimes its the second season when they will shock you!
Clematis montana and montana rubens are easy to grow and fast, but flower for a shorter time that Sweet Autumn Clematis which provides profuse white blossoms from late summer to fall. Sweet Autumn is VERY fast!
What about a buddleia bush? pretty fast growing. Commmon name is butterfly bush. grows very tall or can be pruned.
Clematis should do very well in your climate I think.

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, I don't really care about flowers, I want the green wall back that I had before they logged it.

I'll probably try to prop up a trellis and plant ivy on it.

[Rose of Sharn]

Well now, if cover is what you really need, there is a climer called "mile a minute" Russian Vine. It grows VERY VERY fast and you will probably have to cut it back one day! LOL It is vigorous and rampant and highly invasive, but covers trellis, etc FAST! I wonder if I can find a photo?

[Rose of Sharn]

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, I probably don't want anything ~too~ wild to manage. LOL

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Clementis loses it's leaves in the winter too. So yo wouldn't have a screen i the winter. i think planting a row of evergreens would be your best bet. Might take awhile for the to completely shield you tho.

Rose, clementis doesn't start back growing from the ground every year does it. doesn't it grow a woody stem and just grow new leaves every year?

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh - yeah - good to know.... I'd want it to be evergreen.

[CindyDawg]

I bought a fig tree last week. Funny, because about the only thing fig I like is fig newtons. It was a nostalga buy. It reminded me how when I was a kid when my friend and I would hide under one and throw figs at the boys!