How Does Your Garden Grow? III, Hosted by Oiseau

These have been moved up off the deck itself onto to a large planter since I took this picture.

Different but equally special. xoxox

I know how it is when we move on and buy something new to learn...(with me it's new uptodate PSP programs)

once you get the hang of your new camera, I'm sure you'll love it too :)

I have so enjoyed your photo's at the Seniorocity site! Your such a talented photographer!!

Speaking of roses...my side yard around the spa is filled with the scent of my miniature roses...oh so wonderful!!! :)

Gardening by Starlight
Gene DeFazzio

The first farmers were probably the first practical astrologers. Their crops seemed to respond to the signs in the heavens and this became a convenient method of ensuring good harvests and provided a functional approach to husbandry.

Modern agriculture echoes many of these ancient principles. Certain seasons brought changing conditions which seemed to either help or hinder the growth of crops. Each season presented different alignments in the constellations and these patterns would evolve into horticultural astrology as it is often practiced today. The following is a brief outline of the zodiacal roots of gardening by the stars and signs of the zodiac.

Pruning

It was believed that in order to insure against infestations when pruning vine crops, trees and woody growths the following formula applied. The Moon must be full in the constellations of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Sagittarius. When pruning is done during this period the plants will not suffer from parasites nor disease.

Grafting

Ancient gardeners were believers in never grafting plants or trees when the moon was waning or not visible. Decreasing moonlight or the total absence of moonlight was considered crucial in the successful propagation and grafting of all types of vegetation.

Harvesting

Crops and other plants that were to be preserved for future use were always cut while the light of the moon was decreasing. This was believed to aid in the length of time that produce could be stored without spoiling. This was especially true of timber which was to be used in construction. If wood is cut at the end of the winter and during the decline in moonlight it will be hard and durable.

Plant Regeneration

When cutting or gleaning crops and plants that produce more than one yield the moon should be waxing and in its first quarter. Also, the moon must be high in the sky at this time and in conjunction with the planets Venus or Jupiter. When this equation is followed yields will increase and new growth will be rapid.

Sowing

Sow or plant your garden when the moon is in Taurus, Virgo or Scorpio and is near Saturn. This is the time of maximum benefit for seeds and transplants which, if planted now, will grow with strength and vitality. Also, when the moon is in Libra or Capricorn it is a good time to weed your garden and trim trees and shrubs.

When to Avoid Planting

Never plant any type of vegetation when Saturn is in one of the fixed signs of the zodiac. This will cause poor crops and limited harvests. In ancient times this stellar alignment was associated with famine and death.

The Stellar Gardener

Planting and husbandry by astrological signs should be examined by any gardener as an insightful way to round out ones knowledge of horticulture. The ancients studied the natural order of things. It worked for them and it will still work for us if we care to heed these echoes from the past.

What if you want to stop and smell the roses, but there's nothing there to smell? These days, we are less likely to be lured to a garden by the aroma wafting through the air. University of Virginia researchers recently reported that the scent molecules of flowers travel about 20 percent of the distance that they once did; when they leave the flower, they bond with pollutants in the air, destroying the flowers' fragrance. Pollinators such as bees are also affected. The insects have to search longer to pick up the scent of the flowers; this is one of the reasons that bee populations are dropping. The bees' primary source of food is nectar from flowers. Now, the bees find it more difficult to find the flowers and they are unable to feed themselves.

Dan Steckenberg

Tue, 1 Apr 2008 09:25:00 -0500 Subject: Registration System Changes

Hi,

My apologies for being out of touch for a few weeks. There simply wasn't any big news to report for a while, but I do have some news for you now.

Because the new site will be based on a completely different programming language than the current site, we need to update our registration system. Now, I know that all of you have usernames that you use in the Discussion area, and which you may have used for Chat and Homepages as well. We want to make sure that you'll still be able to use those usernames even as we overhaul the back end of what we call the user management system.

If you go to http://www2.thirdage.com/user, you'll be able to reserve your current username for the new system. Simply type in your current information in the username/e-mail and password fields and follow the on-screen instructions. When it tells you that you're logged in, you should be all set for the new system. When we move over to the new site, this username and password will get you into all the new member areas, including, of course, the discussions area. Unfortunately, if you currently have multiple usernames for your e-mail address, you will have to choose just one username per e-mail address.

In the meantime, you should still be able to post on the current discussion boards with no problems. Let me know if you experience any difficulties.

Dan

How To Post Pictures To Forums
A tutorial by Margaret Austin (Irish)

Pictures which are to be posted to a TA forum page MUST be on the web. For most people, that will be on a TA Home Page, but pictures on home pages elsewhere can also be posted directly from that site.

We recommend that you copy and print these instructions.

IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A TA HOME PAGE, you need to have the picture on your home page site in order to post it to a forum page:

* 1. Scan your picture or use one from your digital camera, put it in either JPEG format (primarily for photographs), or GIF89a (primarily for clip art and line drawings) of a reasonable size for posting. Standard dpi for the web is 72 x 72 dpi.

JPEG is a compressed format. Even a physically large picture will seldom have a file size of more than 25-50 kbs, and usually much less.

Simple GIFs will probably be less than 20 kbs, though large or animated ones can run much higher.

Remember that the higher the kbs, the longer the load time on a page. Few viewers will wait to see a very slow-loading page.

Keep the JPG or GIF picture in a folder on your computer where you can find it easily. (Don't have a scanner? Ask a friend or have Kinko's scan and put it on a disc for you. Many places will also do this now when film is developed.)

* 2. Go into your TA home page Site Manager (log in takes you there) and click "Upload" and then "Browse" to upload the picture to the Site Manager. You do not need to actually put it on your Home Page; having it on the Site Manager is enough. The uploaded picture's name will show in the list on the Site Manager page.

* 3. Select the picture in the Index and click the grey "Display" button at the bottom of the list. This will show you how the picture will look on a TA page. Check for color and physical size. Will it fit on a TA page without spreading the margins? The TA message width is 458 pixels; keep the picture width less than this, please. If necessary to correct either the color or physical size, delete the picture, revise it, and upload the revised picture to the Site Manager Index. You'll feel better about it , and so will others.

* 4. Copy the name of the picture as it appears on the Site Manager list. Copy the URL of your Home Page from the link just above the list or from your Home Page.

* 5. Use this code: < img src="(Your Home Page URL. no parentheses)/ (name of picture. no parentheses)"> Do not leave any spaces except between "img" and "src," but DO leave a space there between "img" and "src." Do not omit any part of the code.
The finished code will look similar to this, but without the space needed after the first "<" so that the code will appear instead of the picture:

< img src="http://home.thirdage.com/Gardening/irish/mbr.20mo.JPG">

This is the code that you will put in the message box to post the picture. On a TA page it will open automatically.

* 6. Type your message in the forum page message box, double space, then add the code - or vice versa, depending on whether you want the picture below or above the message. You may want to go to the practice area in Tech to test your first code. You'll do fine!

IF YOU HAVE A WEB PAGE ELSEWHERE, begin with #4 above and follow the instructions. Use the URL for the page that has the picture and use the picture name used there.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A HOME PAGE ON THE WEB, then you will have to create one in order to post a picture in a forum. The picture must be on the web before it can be posted.

Follow the TA Home Pages instructions to create a home page. Then follow the instructions above to post a picture to a forum page. Here are a few additional TA home page hints:

* "index.html" is the name listed for your main (first) home page. Strange but true.

* If you choose the simpliest format (like the old Personal Profile page), or already have that format without a picture, and then upload a picture, it will automatically place the picture in the #2 section of the page as mapped in "Edit."

* If you add a picture to your page or change the picture on the page, it may not seem to appear until you click reload/refresh to get rid of the old cache page.

* If you delete the posted picture from your Site Manager or change its name, it will disappear from the forum page where posted. Be careful.

I was quite surprised that the company from whom I bought my late husband's casket, Bates, in NC actually sent me a certificate and the name of the tree they planted to recompense for the wood used to make the box.

Nice touch I thought.

Here is my deck with plant table and umbrella table.

Question: How should I take care of my amaryllis after it is done blooming, so I can encourage it to bloom again?

Answer: Amaryllis can be kept alive and be brought back to blossom the following year but this takes a little work. Once the flowers fade, trim away the bloom stalk and allow the foliage to grow. Bright, indirect light is best. Keep the soil slightly moist and fertilize monthly with a liquid fertilizer so the plant grows vigorously. In late summer or early fall, the leaves should begin to turn yellow. The yellowing indicates the amaryllis needs a rest. If they do not begin to yellow on their own, simply withhold water beginning in September and force the plant into dormancy. Once the leaves wither, cut the leaves back to the neck of the bulb and store it, pot and all in a cool (55F), dark place such as a garage or basement for about eight to ten weeks. Do not water during this rest period. Then place the pot in a bright location and water lightly. The bulbs should resprout and bloom again. Repot every 3-4 years in the spring after blooming. Enjoy!

The discussions here are always so lively and informative. Friendly. Why do they have to change it? :(