The Hobbit Hole XXIV - Sand and Stone and Pool and Dell...

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[osagebowman]

Good Afternoon OT, got the yard cut and then put down the winter fertilizer. The dangsquirrels had covered the front yard again with cuttings, may have make a compost run.

We just finished lunch and we're heading out to look at a road study area at the north end of the shire. The road crosses the little blue and I'm checking out the oxbows that were left from the channel 'improvements' when the bridge was built. Nice afternoon for it.

Did you get your memo on Xmasinoctober for Oct. 8? We did, I saw on the website that your company was listed as participating as well as ours; even listed the houses our various companies had on the to do list. Decisions, decisions..:-)

[Overtaxed]

Nope. I missed that memo. Are we supposed to be fixing people's houses? Got enough of my own fixit projects to do.

[ExGeeEye]

Warning: The following graphic, unedited illustrations show an unapproved method of utilizing Asian tableware which may cause distress in the Orient should they be widely seen.

You have been warned.

You still have time to turn away, Ctrl-Alt-Del, or whatever you ordinarily do when shocking images are about to appear on your monitor.

Well...

...it's too late now.

[osagebowman]

Evening OT - looks like the rain finally decided to make an appearance. Nice thunderstorm. Gypsygirl has decided that she'll wait it out under the computer desk.

[osagebowman]

Oh, the project is fixing up houses, but just light stuff, like repainting a two story house, rebuilding a front porch, putting in a new bathroom or fixing foundations. You know, stuff you can easily do in a single day with a bunch of volunteers and unknown amount of tools and/or materials. Guess we'll see you there right? :-)

[Overtaxed]

Hmmm.....maybe. It would give me a chance to learn on some other sucker's house. :)

[JenB]

Learning at someone else's expense is always a good plan...

[osagebowman]

heh, like that attitude..btw, volunteers are supposed to get two meals, snacks and best of all A T-SHIRT.

Actually, that is only first breakfast, second breakfast and elevenses. What about dinner, tea, and supper? hmmm.

[Overtaxed]

Is this house "in town?"

[Corin Stormhands]

Evenin'. Reporting in with today's progress report. Whilst I did not make it to Lowes' at 6:00 a.m. I...

• attended a morning music rehearsal
• came home and cleaned up the front yard and clean out the front flower beds
• attended an afternoon blocking rehearsal
• avoided nephew's fifth birthday party (and subsequent fam'ly dinner)
• went to Lowes'
• planted 220 bulbs (60 jonquils, 160 tulips)
• spread 10 bgs of mulch on front flower beds
• made a tentative decision to go "low key" for Christmas and put a white wreath with a single focused spotlight on our red front door, maybe not even candles in the window.

And now I'm checking in with you fine people. Although I'm shortly gonna go hit the couch and channel surf (fam'ly is still out)

OT/osage. Most of my annuals died since it was so dry. But can I over-winter caladium? Would they live if I potted them up and brought them in?

Gonna get a couple of HUGH accent mums (rather than the dozen or so I usually get) and just leave 'em in pots. Also gonna pot some pansies and violas.

Rosie, this months Southern Living talks about putting pansies and violas in pots but putting in some bulbs first. Seems like where you are though, you might need to bring them in during the coldest parts of the season.

[Corin Stormhands]

BTW, I was right about your tagline...

[RMDupree]

What about the tagline? I'm confused! ;-)

And you kicked butt today, Master Stormhands.

Check out "Surface" on NBC if'n you like.

[Overtaxed]

Caladiums are not winter hardy....you have to lift the bulbs anyway. I dunno if the foliage will stay purty through the winter if you brought it inside, but if you plant them again in the spring, they should come up.

[Corin Stormhands]

Re the tagline: here.

[Corin Stormhands]

I'll try lifting the bulbs and just storing them. I got the impression (from somewhere) that you couldn't do that.

[RMDupree]

*laughing*

[SuziQ]

It's really a dull orange color.

It's different from the regular one, anyway!

[Corin Stormhands]

What's "Surface" precious?

[osagebowman]

Yes they are..yours are a bit farther south than ours but both areas are 'way in town'.

[Overtaxed]

Hmmmm.....I always thought you could. Here's what Clemson University sez:

Save caladium tubers for planting next year by digging the tubers in the fall before the leaves have lost all color. Spread them out and allow them to dry for a week. Cut or pull the dry foliage from the tubers and remove all dry soil, then pack in dry peat moss or vermiculite for storage. Pack tubers so they do not touch each other. Store them where the temperature will not drop below 50 ° F.

Starting with new tubers each year may give better results since second year foliage is usually not as good as the first year. You may have better luck storing and regrowing tubers of white-foliaged caladiums than those of other types.

PROBLEMS

Tuber rot is a fungal decay of tubers in storage or during the growing season. Select disease-free tubers for planting. Store tubers properly to avoid high humidity and cool temperatures. Never store caladium tubers in the refrigerator. Tubers purchased in early spring should be held at room temperature. Leaf spot causes lower leaves to develop light tan-to-brown spots. Remove diseased leaves as they appear.