posted on April 6, 2001 05:33:17 AM newmouse Just got in and catching up with todays chat.
Nettak was right. I can help you with your Bougainvillea.
I think part of your problem is the
posistion it is in and your general
climate.
They like a warm temperate to tropical
climate. Cold winters cause them
hardship and they struggle to take
up nutrient from the soil. This is
why they are prone to weak root
growth and brittleness in the
lower trunk.
They thrive best in full sun. You
don't need to give them too
much water. Often a neglected,
barely watered plant will do much
better than a plant which is watered regularly.
In partly shaded or cool climates
they often make to much vigourus
top growth, trying to get the
growing tips up to the sunlight.
This can cause them to be top-heavy
and fall over or break. Ideally
they should be staked by using
two stakes, one either
side of the trunk and abour 18" out.
You then support the trunk with
stretched hessian harness every
30" or so. Bouganvilleas also
appreciate some lateral support
for the branches, such as trellis
or even an old fence. If the plant
is too vigourus a hard prune wont
hurt them.
Hope this helps.
Bob, Downunder but never down.
[ edited by bitsandbobs on Apr 6, 2001 05:37 AM ]
posted on April 6, 2001 07:06:57 AM new
Hi Bob! Thanks for the info. This one is in full
sun, it's on the south side of the house (the sunny
area up on this side of the world ). I went out last
night to take a look to try and figure out what happened.
It was hard to tell in the dark, but it looks as if
maybe one of the main branches broke and was so entwined
with the rest it pulled the whole thing over. Like I
said, we had some pretty hefty wind gusts yesterday.
I'm going to take hubby out when he gets home from
work and see if we can get it un-entwined and save at least
some of it. I don't really like bougainvilleas either,
but this is a white one and it has the prettiest, delicate
flowers! It was supported somewhat by being right up against
the wall. I think what happened though was the wind was
coming over the roof and caught the upper part. I hope
that made sense...
If we manage to save it, I will take your advice and
get some stakes for it. I think the home store that's
going out of business still had some lumber left that would
work. But what is stretched hessian harness? Maybe they'll
have a trellis or two left as well. I'll put it on my to
do list.
You're right about the heavy pruning, if anything it was
making it grow faster. The pink one we have that's in the
shade, gets almost no water and I hate, is the one that
won't die. It's right outside my bathroom window and in
the pathway to the meter, sprinkler timer and fusebox.
It got very overgrown when DH was in another state
and I got one of those lovely notes from the meter reader.
But I didn't have the tools to take care of it. I wonder
how many scars the meter reader ended up with, LOL.
*wow, had a German accent for a minute there...
**me no make no sense at 7am...
~^~ Hippy wannabe ~^~
[ edited by mouseslayer on Apr 6, 2001 07:11 AM ]
[ edited by mouseslayer on Apr 6, 2001 07:14 AM ]
posted on April 6, 2001 02:12:28 PM new
Hi Bob sorry I missed you last night.
I thought you might be able to give Mouse some gardening pointers on her failing
plant.
Mouse, a hessian harness is made from
an old hessian bag (feed bag, the coarse
hairy type of bag), if you want it to have
full strength leave it whole, do not cut it
down. Attach the sling (bag) to the stakes,
this will help protect it from the elements,
and also keep it standing.
Bob I never gave this a thought last
night, but a neigbour down the driveway, has
some bouganvillea plants out in the open
paddock with just a wire fence trellis, and
they are growing like crazy, and our
neighbour across the paddock has them as a
hedge fence. I do know that they are a hardy
plant and you can grow from cuttings, or at
least that is what I have been told.
Mouse have you tried taking a cutting
and planting it out in the open somewhere else? You never know it could be a winner.
posted on April 6, 2001 08:36:51 PM new
Hello Mates, we will have to do a photo
journal of all the lovely growies in their
season. In our climate plants must be hardy
to winter over. We do have a relative of
the Hibiscus called the Rose of Sharon, they
are a lovely shrub with which come in
various colors...they do not have flowers as
large as the hibiscus but are related.
My favorite local bush are lilacs, in Mid
May they will have a lilac festival at one
of Boston's botanical gardens, the array
of colors, doubles and singles and the
wonderful sweet aroma will fill the air.
My husband & I are Daylily enthusiasts and
he estimates that we have around 250
varieties...they start in late June and
we have one called Sandra Elizabeth that
blooms in September (quite late for this
type of flower. I love peonies and was able
to save many from my Mother's old plantings
and we have added many more varieties but I
still love the old fashioned ones the best..they also have the sweetest smell.
I am getting really itchy for some good
weather so that I can get outside and start
working in the yard.
It has been three years since I could really
do much because of physical problems with
my hand and then my shoulders and legs. So
I am really looking forward to warm weather
finally able to take care of my flower beds
properly and trim back shrubs. Ooooh I can
hardly wait.
posted on April 7, 2001 03:36:20 AM new
Oh Zilvy that sounds positively lovely! You
must post pictures when everything is in bloom. I can't
wait to see all of them! Unfortunately I don't have
very many flowers around here. I do have some bulb
plants that pop up here & there. But I have no idea
how to take care of them And the flowerbed they're
in is starting to get overtaken with grass & weeds. I do not
have a green thumb! Not to mention with my own
health issues, it makes it impossible to take care of
it if I knew how.
Tigerlady, when was it more than 52 pages? I just
got up a bit ago...I still wonder what happened to
my double post (that I went back & edited) last night.
Do ya think the thread gremlins have been playing around?
posted on April 7, 2001 04:01:03 AM new
Hello Mouse, I just got home and
I thought that everyone would be in and
the party would be in full swing. Is
it just us tonight.
posted on April 7, 2001 04:43:57 AM new
Hi Netta it looks like just the two of us, and
I'm not sure for how long. Dad is back in the hospital
again. I was woken up by the phone at 2:30am. It was
the rehab place calling to say he had fallen and they
called 911 for him. Mom went on to the hospital by
herself because I have a killer headache. So far all I
know is that he hit his head on something and will
need stitches for it. Mom just called and said he scraped
up one of his hands too. They were just taking him
off to x-ray for his back. He has severe osteoporosis
and has had vertebrae compression fractures before.
He said his back was in a lot of pain, so we have no
doubt he broke something again. I'm really worried this time
~^~ Hippy wannabe ~^~
[ edited by mouseslayer on Apr 7, 2001 04:52 AM ]
posted on April 7, 2001 04:52:53 AM new
Hi mouse, Sorry to hear about your father.
We have had our own share of bad news today as well.
We have found out that my wife's sister has just been diagnosed with MS.
It is in the early stages and to be honest we really don't know much about it.
It's always been one of those things that someone else gets.
My wife is a nurse and understands
it much better than I do, but it has certaintly put a downer on things but
I'm sure that between us as a family that we will cope. Fortunately we have a
strong family sense so she will get
as much help and support as she needs.
Bob, Downunder but never down.
[ edited by bitsandbobs on Apr 7, 2001 04:54 AM ]
posted on April 7, 2001 04:54:06 AM new
We are here for you {{{Mouse}}},
I am so sorry about your dad, I hope he
is alright. I do understand your worry,
my parents are getting on in age as well,
my dad is 74 and mum is almost 70, and
although they do not think that they are
old they are not able to do a lot of things
for themselves anymore. It can be a
frightening time for us as well as them.
We will be here for you to lean on, whenever
you need us, you were all here for me not so
long ago, remember.
posted on April 7, 2001 04:56:44 AM new
Hello Bob, gosh none of us is having
a good run at present. I hope something positive happens for at least one of us soon.
posted on April 7, 2001 04:59:08 AM new
Hi nettak, Thanks. I'm reminded of the
Beatles song that has a line in it
"Life is what happens to us while we're
busy planning other things".
At least, I think that's how it went!
Bob, Downunder but never down.
posted on April 7, 2001 05:01:49 AM new
Hi Bob, wow I'm sorry to hear that But you're
right, family is a strong thing and is powerful
medicine! My best to your family!
Thanks Netta. I'm not only worried that he
may have broken his back, I'm also worried about what
this may do to his spirit, if you know what I mean.
I can't stay long as I expect Mom to call me for another
update before too long.
posted on April 7, 2001 05:03:49 AM new
Life at present feels to me like, I have
just got all dolled up and went outside and
slipped in the biggest mud puddle you could
imagine.
I am just waiting for the good to happen , and I know if I wait patiently
enough my luck will change for the better. That is what I wish for all of us.
posted on April 7, 2001 05:06:24 AM newmouse Please email me.
I have had an idea that may be helpful
to you.
It won't cost you anything and it may
make you some extra cash.
Bob, Downunder but never down.
[ edited by bitsandbobs on Apr 7, 2001 05:37 AM ]
posted on April 7, 2001 05:09:32 AM new
There have been times when I have seen my
dad so down in the dumps, I think I am about
to lose him, but somehow he picks himself up
an dusts himself off and gets on with the
fight. Mouse I am sure your
dad will do the same thing.
We went through a terrible time with my dad
a couple of years ago, when he had heart
surgery and he reacted very badly to the
drugs, but he overcame all of the bad effects
I believe it was because we all rallied
around him and let him know we were there for
him. Mouse don't you give up the
spirit or the fight.
posted on April 7, 2001 05:32:44 AM new LOL,
Just been making a cup of coffee.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
I see young Natasha is on the top of her little pile.
I wonder how Pauline will like that!
Bob, Downunder but never down.
[ edited by bitsandbobs on Apr 7, 2001 05:34 AM ]
posted on April 7, 2001 05:45:07 AM new
Do we really care how Pauline will take it.
She is such a right royal pain in
the rectum that I hope the news pains her
greatly.
I have to tell you something horrible that
happened last night. My son and his mate
were in the city and they came upon a crime
scene. This young guy of about 18 had his
head kicked in by a crowd of thugs. This
poor kid is in a critical condition in
hospital and I will be surprised if he makes
it. The thugs put a plank of wood over his head and jumped on it, I feel sick thinking
why they would do such a terrible thing to
someone who simply got in there way, and was
in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I told my son that I do not want them going
into the city at night, it has become a
dangerous place for the young.
posted on April 7, 2001 06:01:33 AM newnettak My youngest was the victim of an attack by thugs early in December.
He was hospitalised with a broken nose, cuts etc.
Charges have been laid and we are expecting
the court case very soon.
The guy who did it was twice my boys size
and has previous form for similar offences.
The police feel confident that he will
do quite a term inside. Fortunately
witnesses were prepared to come forward
and the guy has been in custody ever since.
Bob, Downunder but never down.
[ edited by bitsandbobs on Apr 7, 2001 06:02 AM ]
posted on April 7, 2001 06:07:57 AM newOMG Netta & Bob, that's horrible! I hope they
catch the hoodlums Netta and send that boy down Bob.
I just don't understand youth today. DH and I were talking
about all of the school shootings not long ago. We
both were the type to get picked on in school and
be the oner. But neither of us ever had the desire to kill
anyone! We may have wanted to beat someone up a little ,
but no go to the extremes these kids do. What is
happening in our society that is causing this crap???
posted on April 7, 2001 06:08:58 AM newBob, there were witnesses and they
went with the police and gave statements.
They were only young kids' themselves and
will most likely need counciling of some
kind. It makes me afraid for our kids',
when you see things like this happening in
your own neck of the woods.
My boy and his mate did not witness this
vicious attack, for which I am very thankful,
but if has shaken them up and I think they
will remember this for a long time.
The police are still calling for any
witnesses to come forward. They have not
caught up with the thugs yet, or at least
they are not saying that they have on the
news.
I hope your boy is alright. That must have
been a nightmare for you and your wife. I
live in fear at times, because it seems that
these days you do not have to do anything to
attract the attention of evil people.
I wish your son all the very best and hope
that when it comes to court, the offender
will get what is coming to him.
Hippy wannabe 
~^~
Not to mention with my own
