Wanna Make Legs?

[Busy B]

Last year I passed on to some a decorative plant grower that I tweaked to make it work for me. If your interested, now would be the time to start getting one ready to go. You need to use small seedlings for the best results. Lobelia, pansys, petunias, dianthus (pinks) all take a long time to grow from seed and these are what I use in my legs. I use plugs (small seedlings the size of my pinky) but if you use bigger, say what you would find in a nursery, like the 6 pack size, it can be done, you just need to make sure you don't have too big of holes.

I have it typed out and saved on Word, so if your interested, PM me with your email address and I'll send a copy:-)

First pic, what they look like when first planted and second pic, growing in. These need to be mounted vertically.

[Jackie Ramo]

Oh heck Busy cut and paste it here or send it to me. How long are those legs and just how much dancing can they stand :smile: I have a couple of pillars that would look great deck out like that.

[Busy B]

Only members get the secret! :lol:

Depends on what size form you want to use..I've made them 4 ft to 8...taller than that you need a really big ladder to water!

[marla]

OK, Busy those are special, are you going to cut and paste or do I need to PM?

[Busy B]

PM your addy and the the "bot's" won't find it :smile:

[Jackie Ramo]

Ok I'll pm my addy to you :frisbee:

[Busy B]

OK..for the ones that asked, I've emailed you the instructions...I think you have to have "Word" to open it...hope you do;-)

If none of it makes sense, don't blame the author!:-? I just reread it myself and I hope it's not too confusing. If it is, just post a note and I'll try to explain myself further.

Another side note..if you use a high quality soil, it will have more perlite in it. So when your seeing if they need to be watered, feel along the plastic and if it sounds crunchy, it's dry...if it's soft and squishy, it's wet. Best bet is to water well till it drains out the bottom. The top will dry out faster. Some people use a drip line to keep up...just depends on how much you like to play with them!dude

Good luck!

[Jackie Ramo]

Its a little confusing at first as there isn't a drawing but once I read the entire thing it became clear - sort of - maybe like mud :-? Sure is a great looking arrangement once its filled out.

[Busy B]

Refer back to the pictures...it will make more sense..

You know how it is, when you do something over and over and then have to sit down and explain it? :eek:

[GregBickal]

Those are cool !!! !wow!

[Jackie Ramo]

Busy do you sell those? Maube I could get one shipped :grin:

Actually I envision the grape arbour with these going down the walkway

[Busy B]

Thanks Greg! Coming from you that means alot:grin:

Yes Jackie...I don't make them if they don't have a home..too much product and time involved to have them hanging round here...and that goes back to what my plants look like at home..:-P

Here's one at it's home..

[Jackie Ramo]

Looks fabulous. I'll have a challenge because this would be shade under the grapes that I have almost killed off but not quite - hardy things grapes !wow!

Have to get my thinking cap on as I certainly don't want a wall of impatiens there.

[Busy B]

They actually do better in the shade...less watering!

I think it would look great going down that path...I've always planted a mix of stuff cause I never know if it's going to be a scorcher or rainy summer. That way I know something will grow..I've put impatiens in, but they get overgrown by the other stuff. last year I tried baby's breath but didn't really like it. One year alyssum too..smelled pretty but stayed too short and started to mold out on me..

I'd like to try purple waves...think that would be outstanding..

And I've used the mini petunias...don't have to pinch them so much to keep the growth in check.

[Jackie Ramo]

Yeah the one thing about plants is they never read the instructions. Actually in summer under the arbour is quite deep shade. Its ok I'll think of something that will work or I'll cut back the vines over the top to let some light in. Have to be careful as the plants on the ground want shade... never ending delimas, doncha just love gardening :grin:

[The Other Lynda]

Hey, Busy - didn't get my instructions. :unsure: I wanna make "legs!"

[Busy B]

:-? I'll send them again then Lynda...maybe I messed up on your address...do you have a junk box on your email?


I'll try again...

[marla]

Busy, thanks for the PM, started to read it got confused :-| , but then I'm really tired, try to finish it tomorrow got to get to bed 4am comes early.

[Busy B]

It's kinda confusing but if you need help just ask Marla..

I sent another copy Lynda..hope it makes it..

[Busy B]

So did the instructions make it?

[Jackie Ramo]

Busy do you think I could just put them on the arbour supports? Then they couldjust be there... yeah, lazy Iknow

[Nancy N]

B, That is really clever and beautiful! Who'd a known you were so smart! :grin: I'd ask for the instructions but really dont have any space for that, besides, sounds like nobody here understands them. :unsure:
LOL! Just teasing ya, they are reall neat, did you come up with the dancers?
If so, you should win an award for it! :-)

[Busy B]

Smarty pant Nancy!strut

I found them in an old gardening book but they used moss...moss doesn't hold water long enough and they went with the lobelia tiers/balls that I make..so I tweaked them:-)

If I'm putting them next to a deck or some other wood support, I screw them in. One place in town is on metal pillars so I have to wire them on...so they don't get legs :lol:...noone has stole these yet (and better not!) cause when watered they are heavy and pretty hard to fit into a compact car!

I named them legs, cause when I first did them, they were on the bottom support of a cache.... little cabin set up high in the air on support so the bears would stay out of your food...there's your trivia for the day:-D

My balls...

And tiers...

[Nancy N]

Wow! You make my landlords greenhouse skills look so pathetic, think I'm going to tell next time he tries telling me I'm wrong about something that I have a friend that puts his horticulture self to shame. :lol:

Will you marry me B? :lol: My curser is still dancing speaking of dancing.

[Busy B]

I've already got one PITA, I don't need two...:lol:...no I will not marry you but I'll share my tricks..:smile:

My mouse decided to dance the other day too...cute little thing, wigglin all over..

[Nancy N]

My mouse stops for a second and then back to boogy woogy mow towne! :D

No marry eh, oh well, keep your tricks coming..I love to make my landlord feel silly since he really believes he's Mr.Horticultural Man. !rofl

[Busy B]

I think most gardeners are like that in general...I'm far from an expert...I just keep plugging along :lol:

Last year I ran into a small problem...a nursery in the area that has been in biz forever and does really outstanding things had a bullitin board up. I was stocking up on some supplies when I looked at the board...pictures of homes and biz's....There were 5 of my clients pics! It kind of threw me for a loop...didn't know whether to be complimented or PO'd ...they made it look like it was there product...

Went there this year...the pic's are still there..

[Nancy N]

What is an expert anyway? :unsure: Have you seen the new fake mulch?

[Jackie Ramo]

I'd have pinned my business card to the pictures.... they probably wouldn't even notice :D

[Busy B]

Fake mulch? Made out of recycled pop bottles or something?...

I don't use alot of mulch...we have voles that like to bury in it and eat the roots :mad: I know it serves a purpose but if I need something like it, I use landscape bark.

This ghouse would notice Jackie...looks like the pics stand for another year..

[Jackie Ramo]

Maybe they had a contest and your clients entered. It seems weird that they would have pictures. Mind in a small community folks have more time to drive around and take them I guess. Could be your clients are two timing you Busy :twisted:

[Busy B]

No...one of them went in after I told her about it, and said..why do you have a picture of my biz on your wall? BusyB does my flowers..

They said they were only showing options ...ah hah...yeah right...

Really not a biggy now..Took me a year to get used to it tho..

[Nancy N]

I would of asked them about it anyway B, maybe shine a little embarassment anyway. :roll:
The fake mulch is used mostly in playgrounds I reckon, it looked real but felt rubbery. It would be good to use around ponds since there is nothing in it when it comes to run off. They also had chocolate mulch! Now, we're talking my language.. :lol:

[Busy B]

Must be pop bottles..never have to replenish and never break down from the sun?

Choclate...hmmmm..now we're talking!

[Busy B]

Just a pic to show you what they look liked when they were on the cache...full sun...hard to get a good pic..

[Jackie Ramo]

Well, I've pulled out the gardening books to look for shade options. I really think these will be smashing uner the arbour but if I can't find the right plants to work I will put them on the posts that hold up the roof on the patio. Hubby was supposed to build a trellis... the clematis can grow up these just as easy.

[OttawaPonder]

No...one of them went in after I told her about it, and said..why do you have a picture of my biz on your wall? BusyB does my flowers..

They said they were only showing options ...ah hah...yeah right...

Really not a biggy now..Took me a year to get used to it tho..


BusyB not to stir up any thing. However you have a right to the content. I guess is the right way of saying it.

If I were in your shoes; you have three choices.
1) Let it be
2) Talk to the owner/manager. Remind them that they are a valued vendor to you and that you buy XYZ - $$$ from them. Let them also know that is your cusomter's place and your work being shown in the picutre on the wall and you like to place your business card on the picture.
3) Ask them to please remove it as it was your cusomter and you did the porject/work they are protraying/pormoting.

If it is merely showing "options" ;-) (yeah right lol) and they want to keep you as a cusomter them selves - they should not have a problem with #2.
It be a win win for all involved as it might bring you more work and free advertising and them more $$$ - because you have more work and need more supplies, which you buy from them.

Srry if I stepped out of line here. However being a business person myself and have owned and operated a few businesses over the years ;-) I try to work through things differently then some.

To me its a long the lines of something "close" to copy rights. Don't be afraid to stand up and speak your mind. Heck if they are unwilling to see eye to eye - there are other vendors/suppliers right? :grin:
GOOD LUCK

[Busy B]

Once upon a time, they were the only game in town...they have a great reputation but don't like competition. I buy very little from them...odds and ends that either I don't need 100 of, or I don't want to pay the shipping. My biz is different from there's as I don't do retail. They know what I do and I don't infringe on their bottom line..

The word was passed back to them and the pictures are still there...the legs are obviously mine..noone else does them...so far anyway :grin:...

I was upset last year..but ahh, what the heck..

[OttawaPonder]

Once upon a time, they were the only game in town...they have a great reputation but don't like competition. I buy very little from them...odds and ends that either I don't need 100 of, or I don't want to pay the shipping. My biz is different from there's as I don't do retail. They know what I do and I don't infringe on their bottom line..

The word was passed back to them and the pictures are still there...the legs are obviously mine..noone else does them...so far anyway :grin:...

I was upset last year..but ahh, what the heck..

That was my point. Your not in competition and you are a patron of their establishment. They should want to keep you happy. And if you did buy from them - it would of been a win - win. Free Marketing for you - show the options as they put it fro them and they also get your repeat business - you buying from them.

You are a better person then I am. I would of put my foot down if they were not willing to work something out 50/50. I would of told them to remove it as its my customer or client and I did the work. It is misleading on there part.

Oh well... :smile:

[Mudsow]

Busy it won't let me send you an e-mail, my sister wants to make legs :wave:

I'm not much of a green thumb, I've got the animals in the family. She however has a HUGE garden. So you can put me on the list for instructions!

Thanks a bunch.
mudsow@comcast.net
Mudsow

[Busy B]

Ok...I'll send them your way :smile:

[Busy B]

Just curious...anybody make them yet?

[Jackie Ramo]

Too cold for me, but I've started seedling for them. starting to come up, I'll also buy plants. But other than spring bulbs and pansies there is nothing available as yet.

[marla]

I had good intentions, but have been so overwhelmed with work, here and at work, I haven't gotten to it. I don't know where I'd set them up to grow, it's to cold outside and there is no room in the house. I may get to it yet, I really want to they are so neat. Don't loose hope in me

[Busy B]

Never Marla...I did a count...so far I only have to make 16 of them...last year I made 21. I'll be tearing apart the old ones soon to start them again..I'll take pics if that would help anyone.

[marla]

Pics would be fantabulous. I'm more of a see and do, even though the instructions were good. I might even down size a bit, not sure, the normals are great.

[Jojopotato]

WOW... those are tooo kool...

[Busy B]

I'm about to get some semblence of my life back:) I'm down to some planter boxes and the legs are covered, filled with soil, watered to get them to settle some and waiting for me to plug away with the plants:-P

As long promised I finally took some pictures of the process...

The leg laid out to figure out how long to have the plastic

The leg stapled half way

Plastic pulled taut and stapled again

The bottom portion of the plastic folded like a gift package and stapled

TA DA! Standing up, anchored with string, and waiting for me...

Now get busy and if you haven't made them yet...Get to it!:frisbee:

[Jackie Ramo]

Well at least I know what hog wire looks like now :lol: I'm going to try to get mine together this weekend.

[Busy B]

5000 plus plants/plugs...now just some time to grow..

[Jackie Ramo]

Oh Wow, no wonder we haven't seen much of you.... looking good. Do you have a list of plants used?

[Busy B]

Hmmm can't remember if I had the list in the beginning of the thread or the instructions..

I use small pinks (dianthus), small petunias, (Fantasy work well), small pansy's or a viola, and lobelia...

Bigger plants, more robust, you spend alot of time pinching them to control their growth so the thing doesn't get unruly. The lobelia helps to cover the plastic so all you see is color popping. Wherever their at, someone always brushes aside a spot to see how their made.

I tried alyssum and baby's breath but the alyssum got overgrown by everything else and turned to mush and the baby's breath did the same.

[Jackie Ramo]

Sorry to lazy to look back and read or pull up the note you sent. Can't find hog wire at thelocal home depot... anyway will see what I can come up with. There a small trellis that is for downspouts looks like it may do the job and even be easier. probably costs more but then convenience always does.

[Busy B]

If all else fails, just use Al's Flower Pouch :grin:

Same effect, less effort.

Hog wire would probably be found at the local feed/animal store. Ours you can buy what you need..don't need to buy a whole roll.

[Jackie Ramo]

I think my 'local' feed store is out of town :lol: Mind I've killed off most of my seedlings ... firs tover watered then burned them. The few left should be pretty indestructable.

[Busy B]

Few more days to go and their away to their new homes...

Spent most of yesterday watering them good, one last time...takes awhile to drain down for all 17 of them !bonk

[Jackie Ramo]

And to think, other than killing the seedlings I had planned to put in them I haven't even started the construction... Maybe next year I will get them done if this year I gather the materials...I can't believe how wonderful they look. my seedlings are still an inch high, the dozen than lived...