I just bought a rain barrel - The DIS Discussion Forums

amid chaos · 05-10-2002, 12:57 PM

Water is always an issue here, especially in the summer. So, I went out and bought a rain barrel to put under a downspout. I have the perfect place for it and it even has a screen to keep mosquitos out. It comes with a small hose so I can drain water into a watering can or I can attach a longer hose. I feel so politically correct...LOL

Yesterday I planted 8 rhodies and 7 azaleas on the side of the yard that really needs some work since my neighbor never cuts grass or rakes. I understand though, she is elderly and I do it twice a year for her, but am sick of looking at it. Blooming rhodies will be a great addition there.

I also found a place for free compost. This guy accepts leaves and stuff and turns it into great compost...and it's free and soooo nice. His compost farm is so big it takes 2 huge tractors to handle it.

Waiting another few days before I put my seedling babies out...it may get cold tonight. Someone suggested putting clear plastic cups over them...kind of like a green house...a good idea.

so, what kind of gardening week have you had?...and what are you looking forward to doing this weekend?

gina2000 · 05-11-2002, 06:18 AM

Amid, darling, lover of all things green.....

I spent the entire week at DS's school doing schooly things.

I never even looked at the garden except coming or going.

Shame on me.

It's still so dry....it's tough to pull weeds.....and do I have weeds!

I'll get there, I'll get there......

Snowwark · 05-11-2002, 07:21 AM

You are one busy bud Vanessa!

DH has always wanted to get a rain barrel too. I think it's a great idea!

Are those some of the plants from the cottage?

I'm hoping, hoping, hoping, that we get to the garden centre today. Betweeen Mother's Day dinner tomorrow, and the mess DH is making downstairs (we're getting new flooring put in on Monday) I'm not sure it's going to happen, we'll see.

It would also be a big help if the weather improved, it's been VERY cool and wet here.

Kim

crazyforpooh · 05-13-2002, 11:18 AM

Does the rain barrel have to go under a gutter down spout or can you just place it out in the open to collect the rain. I would love one of these.

I am so happy I spent from 6:30 am to 10:30am yesterday planting since we are going to get 3 days of rain now.

Happy planting,

Laura

Tulirose · 05-13-2002, 11:55 AM

I'm interested in this rainbarrel thing too. We have a rainspout that just comes out onto cement. There is no place for the excess water to go. This may be an ideal solution for this corner of the house. Tell us more. Where did you get it? How big is it? Tell, tell, tell!

Very busy weekend and I even did some gardening: Mostly weeding at my place and some planting but alot of planting at my mom's including cutting lilac bush back and moving an azalea!! Went to that plant swap and only two of us showed, so I got all that the other lady brought with her! :D I got my sweet woodruff which I wanted and some german iris (which I gave to my mom because she always wanted that) and one other plant but I forgot name. I'll get back to you on that one.

At my mom's house, I planted some hosta for her that I dug up at my place and some sedum and the iris and some daffodils bulbs that I accidentally pulled up from my yard. It was fun even though it was drizzling, doing all this for her, and DH and DS were there too!

Lanshark · 05-13-2002, 03:21 PM

Just as a note I know a concern in the South this year is West Nile Virus. We are being told to make sure there is no standing water around the house because they are mosquito breeding grounds.

amid chaos · 05-13-2002, 03:49 PM

Mine looks somehting like this one pictured here. As for the mosquitos....the one I have has a screen covering it. My mom uses an open one and uses a proiduct called "mosquito dunks". This si the product the farmer uses in his cattle troughs. It is harmless to pets and kills the mosquito at the larva stage.

<img src="http://www.urbangardencenter.com/product/rain/images/urbgray3.jpg">

patriciathorney · 05-30-2011, 07:44 PM

i envy you guys, you really have lots of time to take care of your garden, i am a busy bud too like Vanessa...

Tulirose · 05-31-2011, 10:28 PM

Got an email notification of a new posting to this old thread.
Thank you Patricia for posting as I got to read what I planted at my mom's house over ten years ago -- back in May of 2000.
We now have that house on the market to be sold.
Mom passed away in February just shy of her 90th birthday.

That lilac bush I trimmed then, and many times since, still bloomed beautifully this spring.
I had forgotten I moved an azalea. She asked me to move it because it was in the way of the oil delivery hose.
That azalea has stayed little and hasn't faired as well as her other beautiful azaleas.
I was looking at the German Iris the other week when I was there and I knew I planted them for her
but I could not understand why they were a lighter purple than the ones I have.
Reading this posting reminded me that I didn't give her some of my iris plants but rather the ones I got from the lady at the plant swap.
The hosta and sedum I planted look beautiful. And the daffodils were up earlier this Spring. Some were cut and brought into the home
earlier this month for the Open House. I had forgotten that I planted those daffodils too.

Hard to believe I will soon be unable to walk around her yard anymore....

Tulirose · 05-31-2011, 10:32 PM

oh and the peonies that my grandmother had brought down from the farm in Connecticut
and planted in my parents yard when the house was new and I was so very young are still
my favorite-most flower in the whole world and we have it written into the contract that
we will be digging them up, not all of them but enough to be divided among the siblings who want them
and also some to be planted at the cemetery for mom and dad.

LindaBabe · 06-01-2011, 04:23 AM

You're not alone, Tulirose! It's hard selling the 'home place' - you have my sympathy. We brought rhubarb, raspberries, iris, and a lilac bush from my dad's place. Finally had to do away with the raspberries - they're not 'townhouse garden' friendly - but everything else is going strong.

Did you know that iris sometimes will be a different shade depending on where they're planted? I brought some from Holland, when we came back to the US - in a semi shaded location, they're quite dark, but in full afternoon sun, much lighter.

We also rainbarrel. The new ones are much nicer than the ones we bought 20 years ago. I get my mosquito dunks from Gardner's Supply. It only takes half a small one to keep my barrel clean. We also compost - I have two wire bins and a rubbermaid composter. Yeah, it's work, but my garden looks pretty good as a result.

Happy planting!

bobbiwoz · 06-09-2011, 05:17 PM

Wow, this was an oldie! Best wishes to Buds!

Sorry to read of your loss, Tulirose.

05-10-2002, 12:57 PM	#1
amid chaos DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Ma. Posts: 7,675	I just bought a rain barrel Water is always an issue here, especially in the summer. So, I went out and bought a rain barrel to put under a downspout. I have the perfect place for it and it even has a screen to keep mosquitos out. It comes with a small hose so I can drain water into a watering can or I can attach a longer hose. I feel so politically correct...LOL Yesterday I planted 8 rhodies and 7 azaleas on the side of the yard that really needs some work since my neighbor never cuts grass or rakes. I understand though, she is elderly and I do it twice a year for her, but am sick of looking at it. Blooming rhodies will be a great addition there. I also found a place for free compost. This guy accepts leaves and stuff and turns it into great compost...and it's free and soooo nice. His compost farm is so big it takes 2 huge tractors to handle it. Waiting another few days before I put my seedling babies out...it may get cold tonight. Someone suggested putting clear plastic cups over them...kind of like a green house...a good idea. so, what kind of gardening week have you had?...and what are you looking forward to doing this weekend? __________________ Recruited by OK'sPS.

05-11-2002, 07:21 AM	#3
Snowwark DIS Veteran Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 9,106	You are one busy bud Vanessa! DH has always wanted to get a rain barrel too. I think it's a great idea! Are those some of the plants from the cottage? I'm hoping, hoping, hoping, that we get to the garden centre today. Betweeen Mother's Day dinner tomorrow, and the mess DH is making downstairs (we're getting new flooring put in on Monday) I'm not sure it's going to happen, we'll see. It would also be a big help if the weather improved, it's been VERY cool and wet here. Kim __________________

05-13-2002, 11:18 AM	#4
crazyforpooh Proud American who loves her little piece of heaven on earth Help me resist PLEASE Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: NH Posts: 1,048	Does the rain barrel have to go under a gutter down spout or can you just place it out in the open to collect the rain. I would love one of these. I am so happy I spent from 6:30 am to 10:30am yesterday planting since we are going to get 3 days of rain now. Happy planting, Laura __________________ A scrapaholic

05-13-2002, 03:21 PM	#6
Lanshark Peace be still Congratulations on your flower bloomin thingy Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Georgia Posts: 6,853	Just as a note I know a concern in the South this year is West Nile Virus. We are being told to make sure there is no standing water around the house because they are mosquito breeding grounds. __________________ Peace Marcie Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

05-13-2002, 03:49 PM	#7
amid chaos DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Ma. Posts: 7,675	Mine looks somehting like this one pictured here. As for the mosquitos....the one I have has a screen covering it. My mom uses an open one and uses a proiduct called "mosquito dunks". This si the product the farmer uses in his cattle troughs. It is harmless to pets and kills the mosquito at the larva stage. <img src="http://www.urbangardencenter.com/product/rain/images/urbgray3.jpg"> __________________ Recruited by OK'sPS.

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05-11-2002, 06:18 AM	#2
gina2000 anonymous Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: USA Posts: 11,400	Amid, darling, lover of all things green..... I spent the entire week at DS's school doing schooly things. I never even looked at the garden except coming or going. Shame on me. It's still so dry....it's tough to pull weeds.....and do I have weeds! I'll get there, I'll get there......

05-13-2002, 11:55 AM	#5
Tulirose "MIS-ter Garibaldi!" Imagine ornery picture of Daffy Duck here I have no clue but I'm okay with that Peonies are Tulirose's most favorite flower! Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 4,190	I'm interested in this rainbarrel thing too. We have a rainspout that just comes out onto cement. There is no place for the excess water to go. This may be an ideal solution for this corner of the house. Tell us more. Where did you get it? How big is it? Tell, tell, tell! Very busy weekend and I even did some gardening: Mostly weeding at my place and some planting but alot of planting at my mom's including cutting lilac bush back and moving an azalea!! Went to that plant swap and only two of us showed, so I got all that the other lady brought with her! :D I got my sweet woodruff which I wanted and some german iris (which I gave to my mom because she always wanted that) and one other plant but I forgot name. I'll get back to you on that one. At my mom's house, I planted some hosta for her that I dug up at my place and some sedum and the iris and some daffodils bulbs that I accidentally pulled up from my yard. It was fun even though it was drizzling, doing all this for her, and DH and DS were there too!

05-30-2011, 07:44 PM	#8
patriciathorney Earning My Ears Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1	i envy you guys, you really have lots of time to take care of your garden, i am a busy bud too like Vanessa... __________________ rain barrels \| composter \| compost tumbler

05-31-2011, 10:28 PM	#9
Tulirose "MIS-ter Garibaldi!" Imagine ornery picture of Daffy Duck here I have no clue but I'm okay with that Peonies are Tulirose's most favorite flower! Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 4,190	Got an email notification of a new posting to this old thread. Thank you Patricia for posting as I got to read what I planted at my mom's house over ten years ago -- back in May of 2000. We now have that house on the market to be sold. Mom passed away in February just shy of her 90th birthday. That lilac bush I trimmed then, and many times since, still bloomed beautifully this spring. I had forgotten I moved an azalea. She asked me to move it because it was in the way of the oil delivery hose. That azalea has stayed little and hasn't faired as well as her other beautiful azaleas. I was looking at the German Iris the other week when I was there and I knew I planted them for her but I could not understand why they were a lighter purple than the ones I have. Reading this posting reminded me that I didn't give her some of my iris plants but rather the ones I got from the lady at the plant swap. The hosta and sedum I planted look beautiful. And the daffodils were up earlier this Spring. Some were cut and brought into the home earlier this month for the Open House. I had forgotten that I planted those daffodils too. Hard to believe I will soon be unable to walk around her yard anymore.... Last edited by Tulirose; 05-31-2011 at 10:38 PM.

05-31-2011, 10:32 PM	#10
Tulirose "MIS-ter Garibaldi!" Imagine ornery picture of Daffy Duck here I have no clue but I'm okay with that Peonies are Tulirose's most favorite flower! Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 4,190	oh and the peonies that my grandmother had brought down from the farm in Connecticut and planted in my parents yard when the house was new and I was so very young are still my favorite-most flower in the whole world and we have it written into the contract that we will be digging them up, not all of them but enough to be divided among the siblings who want them and also some to be planted at the cemetery for mom and dad. Last edited by Tulirose; 05-31-2011 at 10:40 PM.

06-01-2011, 04:23 AM	#11
LindaBabe DIS Cast Member Let them try to get me out - heheh Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Upstate NY transplanted to NW Georgia Posts: 9,952	You're not alone, Tulirose! It's hard selling the 'home place' - you have my sympathy. We brought rhubarb, raspberries, iris, and a lilac bush from my dad's place. Finally had to do away with the raspberries - they're not 'townhouse garden' friendly - but everything else is going strong. Did you know that iris sometimes will be a different shade depending on where they're planted? I brought some from Holland, when we came back to the US - in a semi shaded location, they're quite dark, but in full afternoon sun, much lighter. We also rainbarrel. The new ones are much nicer than the ones we bought 20 years ago. I get my mosquito dunks from Gardner's Supply. It only takes half a small one to keep my barrel clean. We also compost - I have two wire bins and a rubbermaid composter. Yeah, it's work, but my garden looks pretty good as a result. Happy planting! __________________

06-09-2011, 05:17 PM	#12
bobbiwoz I'm happy to dance with you I have 2 opinions We had tried usual things to keep them away, including something like coyote urine, it is sold in hardware stores by us Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Washington Township OH and Cape May NJ Posts: 50,488	Wow, this was an oldie! Best wishes to Buds! Sorry to read of your loss, Tulirose. __________________

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