Sprinkle a half cup of Epsom salts on the surface of the soil (not touching the plants) around newly planted roses. It gives them deeper color, thicker petals, and stronger roots.

For a mid-summer pick-me-up, sprinkle any leftover tea leaves on the soil underneath each bush. The tannic acid in tea makes the soil slightly acidic, which roses just love. You can mulch with pine needles which will give the same result.

Dolittle: yes...agreed, and of course when you get those deeper color, thicker petals etc flowers....you can send them to me ;)

Dolittle: Yes it does Epson Salt also makes plants produce more fruit.I use coffee grounds to make soil acidic.

BerniceC: Me too

Put the Epsom salts by my rose bushes today girls so be watching your mail for those beautiful roses!!!LOL

Dolittle: woohoo!! can't wait to see em!

Dolittle: I bought a small rose bush which needs to be transplanted.I've used the Epson Salt all thru my veggie garden but not sure how much too use with this minature bush.Of course we still have snow so i'll keep it in the house ,it's all in bloom with yellow roses.Any ideas?

Foxy Lady: Yep, I would say the same amount that it says in the tips below. Don't think it would make a difference that it is a miniature!

...a saw a few...pushing there way thro the last of the snow in the cemetery of all places near me.

I'm going to sprinkle some epsom salts around & see what happens.

Dolittle: Ok i'm gonna wait a few days before i do anything with it.

nobleheart: Oh that must be pretty to see the snowdrops peeking thru the snow.

Foxy Lady: I'm not very materialistic.but one thing I want to get is a digital camera & take lotsa outdoor pics

Foxy Lady: I would wait to sprinkle that Epsom salts on that rose bush till you set it out.

sounds like you need the salt to melt the snow,so you can plant!!
soil here in Missouri is naturally acidic,and low n nitrogen....roses do very well. good luck with all your gardens!

bwildman: LOL it does huh but know were not.We still can't plant till May,our temps are going up into the 50's now during the day but at night in the 20's.

nobleheart:
In line with the gardening subject.how about a challenge for all of us who like gardening.just for fun & to get us in the mood for the coming spring.the challenge is to find & post the link to a picture of a beautiful garden or just some scenic gardenscape that you like.
my picks:
>http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/fun/wallpaper/pages/images/laburnum1024.jpg

http://www.hermanek.cz/photos/hawaii/TN_IMG_1947.jpg

nobleheart: Breathtaking!!

but it is mine and I own it LOLOL....it has changed slightly from what you see but not much :)

http://www.geocities.com/damudda2000/garden.html

BerniceC: Very nice site Bernice.. :)

at the moment I have Grapes, Passionfruit, PawPaw (Papua New Guinea - red flesh) and Banana's fruiting in my yard :)

The Banana's are of particular interest to us as we have never seen so many Banana's on a single bunch...
I cant weigh it as it is too big, but Vern and I together couldn't carry the bunch, we needed the wheelbarrow. I have counted the bananas on this bunch and it totals 134 sugar/lady fingers.
Also they are the most tasty we have ever had, and we get about 2-3 bunches each year from the single "plant" that we aquired in 1993....of course it keeps getting suckers which inturn produces fruit, so there is something special about the last 4 months or so.....they are so clean skinned and sweet :)

BerniceC: Oh the gardens are a site after having so much snow.You have a nice web page and a beautiful family.

nobleheart: I still liked the site you posted by accident.......lol

if I plant wild bird seed....what kind of birds will I grow?

bwildman: Wild ones lol

Bird seed can be microwaved...it will prevent the seeds from germinating.
Going to plant my tomatos this weekend!

CindyInTN: Mcorowaved for what? the birds to eat or??

I planted my tomatoes, sunflowers, hollyhocks and chicks and hens saturday indoor. WOW they are shooting up already!
Do you plant yours outside from seed or start em in doors Cin?

Microwaved so the seeds won't germinate...grow into little plants in your feeder, or underneath your feeder. Know what i mean jellybean?
I bought some tomato plants (about a foot high) from the local farmer's market...I like to get a variety.

BerniceC: wow,that is a nice garden,lovely.save me a paw paw seed,seriously.

we have pau pau tree that are native to Missouri. taste alot like bananas.

bwildman: LOL...nice quip man.maybe you might get a crazy bird like this:
http://www.ilovehou.com/twonicknames/gifsite/1/june02/crazybird.gif

Tuesday: pawpaws

bwildman: Thats a lot different to the paw paw we get in NZ.

skipinnz: I wondered about that.

my hubby tried to get our garden ready today and the rototiller threw a rod right threw the motor :(

bwildman: Would the paw paw grow in my kind of climate? Say i keep it on my sun porch during the winter.I have a banana tree about 5ft makes a pretty plant but i'm sure i'll never see any fruit.

spicieangel: Oh wow what bad luck.We finally got to 51 today and it's 45 now,but very damp.Here's hoping the snow will be all gone by next week.

Foxy Lady: soil doesnt seem to be an issue...but they like damp areas...one article I read said they'll handle full sunlight once established,and are easily grown from seeds,but dont transplant well.6' to 30' height.

bwildman: I must disagree with the "like damp areas"...ours never gets watered and we haven't had much rain in the last 3 years...also we have a sandy soil so their is no retention of water. They are easily grown from seed as I have 3 about 18inches tall waiting to be transplanted....once it cools down a bit here. Yes the will handle full sunlight...well mine do.
Mine are Papua New Guinea variety and are about 18in - 2ft long and about as round as a bread and butter plate...maybe even bigger and the flesh is red as opposed to the pinky/orange flesh of normal paw paw. Also it is juicier:)
There is only one tree and I dont know how it got there...They say you need a male and female but I only have one tree so maybe it is bisexual? I have no idea, it is still flowering and they all become fruit unlike passionfruit that have male and female flowers....can anyone enlighten on this?

BerniceC: Bernice, the PawPaws that bwildman is talking about are not the same as we know in this part of the world. Check out his link posted on the 31/3/05 in reply to Tuesday.

We hit 66 today now thats warm for us this time of year.I was able to get in the yard got twigs picked up and did some raking.My husband cleaned out the garage and i read the paper. This is what i saw http://suescornerweb.com/news/scwn/SignsOfSpring.gif Now thats my right up my alley.

Does anyone know if I can buy those seeds anywhere?

Dolittle: I can send you some of our PawPaw seeds if you like :)

and I only just looked at Bwildman's link.....our pawpaws are nothing like that as skipinnz said.

That is more like a custard apple except a different color flesh...

we are having trouble at the university greenhouse,with these giant plants.this morning one ate a small child.
http://www.flytraps.com/newimages/oreo%20x%20psitt%20triffid.jpg

BerniceC: That would be great..I appreciate that!! Do you think they would grow here?

Dolittle: you could try :) Im also sending them to Bwildman....

gimme a week or 2 to be able to disguise them from the customs department....as a cake of soap or something LOLOLOL

BerniceC: That would never work. Bwild and soap? The authorities would instantly be suspicious! (sorry, bwild - couldn't resist!)
Hide them in a can of 4X!