Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Another unrequited love. Do you like it, the poem, I mean?

Mr. Tipton, expert horticulturist,


B.S. in Botany from Bancroft,


Girls wiggle giggling past his tulips,


Aloof, untouched by their perfume,


Sets about his planting routinely,





Petticoat rose petals, sunlit maidens,


Unruffled, he scribes in his journal,


Hair ribbons dangling lilac in color,


Briars and thorns next to bare white flesh,


He wonders if they will be careful,





Claire and Amanda in the high phlox,


Pungent beehive nectar saturated air,


Undaunted, he gathers his fork and spade,


Songbird ballad, sunset amber behind silhouettes,


Scientific mind, unflappable, hopes they return tomorrow…

Another unrequited love. Do you like it, the poem, I mean?
You spelled "Old Perv in a lab coat" and "orgy" wrong... Otherwise it is perfect!
Reply:It made not one bit of sence to me whatsoever just a bunch of jumbled up words put into paragraphs. Report It

Reply:I was expecting "roses are red, violets are blue" or something along those lines.....but I guess what you have there is ok
Reply:it's sad...what can't they have a happy ending?





EDIT: There's a huge demand for you to write a love novel. Are you up to it, Richard? Let us all know. =) see this:


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

amc theatre

I have a cinder block wall that I need to cover...?

Hey guys, I have a HORRIBLY ugly umm approxiamately 3 foot tall cinder block retaining wall acroos the front of my lawn. I have decided to use a vine of some kind to cover it, instead of painting it, or veneering it with some crazy crap. It would just be tacky then. BUT!, I cant decide what to cover it in...I have english ivy that grows on a fence and has been growing on the brick of my house. I thought I could just take some of that and get it to root inside an replant it. Wonder if that would work? Do you all have any suggestions for a vine type plant for cover. HERES THE DEAL THOUGH...It would have to grow down the wall, not up! The wall is the end of the yard, and then there is the lovely sidewalk. We do have some established plants such as creping phlox and burberry bushes and such, WHICH I LOVE! I dont have any problem pruning, as I am always pulling weeds, planting flowers, or lord knows with the landscaping. I need some ideas people...help me out..I am in zone 7!

I have a cinder block wall that I need to cover...?
you could try creeping fig...or use the ivy. the ivy will root if you cut some off and stick it in the ground. The rule of thumb is first year a sleeper, second year a creeper, third year a leaper - so don't expect it to be an immediate fix.





hope this helps
Reply:you could try a honey suckle vine, they have nice drape, i.e. they would hang down over the wall.





Ivey roots really easily, if you decide to take that route, just pull out a few long runners and tuck them in the soil and they'll grow.
Reply:TRY A MORNING GLORY, THEY ARE A VINE AND GROW RAPIDLY AND COME BACK EVERY YEAR.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning FOR PICS AND DETAILS
Reply:I like option two, i think it would be a lot nicer if you got something that flowered


My Undecided Muse (rough draft)...how can I improve it?

My muse, she is a fickle bird


her songs stretch far and wide.


she often sings of many things


her real voice she hides.





With poet's beak, she pecks out words


that soothes or stirs or stabs.


Her silver tongue can move your soul


or cut you with it's jabs.





She'll scratch and sketch away the day


with talons of graphite.


Her nimble feet are made for clay;


she sculpts throughout the night.





Her water color tinted plumes


are such a lovely sight.


She'll paint the oceans and the waves


with rays of spectral light.





With silken oils from downy hues


She'll paint her lover's face


and touch on every part of him


with subtlty and grace.





Sweet William sits among the phlox


as roses scent the air.


She works her garden masterpiece


with poise and savoirfaire.





Since every art appeals to her,


It's hard for me to choose


which craft is most appealing to


my undecided muse.

My Undecided Muse (rough draft)...how can I improve it?
Since you excel at all of them, why choose? Outstanding imagery in this poem.





In S 2, change "it's" to "its."
Reply:Rough draft my eye!


This is as smooth as a babies bottom. Do not try to improve on perfection. You have meter and rhyme and words that flow like water in a mountain brook. Do not change jot nor tittle, but leave it as is, and let TD put it in our next book. Such beautiful words from such a beautiful lady.
Reply:I looked up the word poetry in one of my dictionaries and that was the definition it gave.


I don't think you could loose any of your pleasantries in any medium. You could probably compose a beautiful little diddy on the oboe.
Reply:I can completely relate... though mine, like Rouxe's, has apparently committed suicide. Though for different reasons. Mine just saw that I didn't need her anymore... I do miss her though, it made things a hell of a lot easier...





Blessed Be
Reply:its very good





With silken oils from downy hues


She'll paint her lover's face


and touch on every part of him


with subtlty and grace.





**i would just get with of the on part


so it would be


and touch every part of him
Reply:I'm with Dondi on this one...It's absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!


(When do you sleep, my dear?)


Question: How do you keep it all straight?? Between work, garden and TRYING to write my mind is a jumbled mess!
Reply:savoirfaire- I LOVE that word.





Wait, I love most every word in this poem.
Reply:Sweet. Get her some watercolors and a flute. TD
Reply:As the it's has already been pointed out, it saves me the job.


so.....what does that leave me to be picky-picky about?





One line....because your rhythm is so strong....we, your readers, are forced into pronouncing 'graphite' as 'graPHITE'





The second verse I think would be better like this..





With poet's beak, she pecks out words


that sooth or stir or stab.


Her silver tongue can move your soul


or cut you with its jabs.





(it doesn't matter that stab/jabs isn't absolutely exact as rhymes...it is quite acceptable)


And that's it.





I loved the rhythm and the rhyme, and your use of language


______________________________________...


Now, my suggestion is....and this was said to me when I was in my rhyming phase.....try re-doing this in free form.


I found it extremely difficult, since I naturally create rhymes in my head as I write....but, I found it a valuable exercise.





The theme you have chosen is very cleverly explored and I enjoyed it very much.
Reply:Your Muse does not speak to me of what you are and are not good at, It tells me of all the little glimmering things that catch your eye. Fickle, yes, but never unsettled (resting wise), she (or he) flits about, drawing your eye every-which-way it decides for the time being. I am nothing compared to many but I DO know how it is to have a fickle Muse.





Please tell me you know what I am saying here... do you ever find yourself wanting to try everything around you concerning art, when you do you are not too shabby but you find yourself in need of placing your brain in a completely new setting (like SpinCycle for the colors and WellDone for the Violin) AND that it is difficult to do two different styles in the same day or too closely together? Maybe I am simply insane and no one else would have a clue as to what I speak but that is what I am reminded of when I read this poem.





I loved it, though, as you said, it is a rough draft... everything, no manner who you are, could stand a little improving. Even Poe, had he went back over his work, would have found tiny qualms. He WAS a tortured soul you know.





Even Insane in a Wholesome Manner, Tilden
Reply:Line edit by an editor, no charge; hope you don't mind.





This is an almost perfect poem. I love the way you describe each of the many items a creative person does, and pulling it together from beginning to end with your muse.





I don't know why my meter count isn't showing on the lines, but they are perfect 8686 and ABCB stazas throughout. (i.e.)





Great work!





My muse, she is a fickle bird..........(8)


her songs stretch far and wide........(6)


She often sings of many things........(8)


her cheerful voice she hides............(6) %26lt;-- changed a word


Delightful stanza...





With poet's beak, she pecks out words ... (8)


that soothes or stirs or stabs........................(6)


Her silver tongue can move your soul..........(8)


or cut you with it's jabs...................................(...


Perfect!





She'll scratch and sketch away the day........(8)


with talons of graphite................................... %26lt;-- very rough line -- it fits the meter, but breaks up the flow


Her nimble feet are made for clay;................(8)


she sculpts throughout the night.....................(6)





Maybe:


touching pens and graphite........................... (6)








Her water color tinted plumes ........................(8)


are such a lovely sight......................................


She'll paint the oceans and the waves...........(8)


with rays of spectral light..................................(...


Perfect, again!





With silken oils from downy hues.....................(8)


She'll paint her lover's face...............................(6)


and touch on every part of him.........................(8)


with subtlty and grace......................................


Beautiful!





Sweet William sits among the phlox................(8)


as roses scent the air........................................


She works her garden masterpiece.................(8)


with poise and savoirfaire................................


Excellent -- love the high class of this stanza.





Since every art appeals to her,.........................(8)


It's hard for me to choose .................................(6)


which craft is most appealing to ......................(8)


my undecided muse.......................................


Getting Ready for Winter- Pond questions and Perennials?

I am trying to get my backyard ready for winter and I was wondering about my perennials and what to do with them. I have a couple of hostas that need to be split and I was wondering if I could trim them down (then replant now) or is that going to damage their growth for next spring? Another perennial I have is some type of phlox that I am not sure what to do with....





Also,I have a plastic pond with Cattails and I was wondering if i have to do anything special with them to have them come back next year. Any help would be great !

Getting Ready for Winter- Pond questions and Perennials?
you can trim back your hostas to the ground now, but do not dig up and split now. in spring, before they get too large, dig them up and divide and replant them then. you can also trim your phlox to the ground now. some people prefer to leave there perennials as is for the winter. i like to cut almost everything back for a more kempt look.


sorry, i don't know about your pond question...


Landscapers Challenge - East side, Zone 3/4?

I am landscaping the east side of my house that is in zone 3/4.


Here is my challenge:


I want to put 7-9 shrubs along my house between the house and the brick path that connects the front and back doors. The depth of the bed ranges from 4 to 7.5 feet. I want a couple evergreen shrubs (I favor yews strongly) and I want to hide the uglies of that side of the house (utilities, foundation).


My ideas for shrubs so far are yews, miss kim lilac, ivory halo dogwood, dark horse weigelas, shrub roses, and a burning bush. I'll fill in the front along the path with daylilies, sedum, and perhaps phlox.


Do you have better ideas, or can you point out a plant I've listed that you disagree with? The house is dark so I want the plants to work with it. I tried uploading 4 pictures here:


http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/...


Hopefully that link works - let me know if it doesn't.


Thanks for looking, and suggest away!!!


Thanks

Landscapers Challenge - East side, Zone 3/4?
Hi:


I am a landscaper and designer. The one thing you need to think about is do you want your shrubs to be deciduous or evergreen. There are some low maintenance shrubs that would do well along your area. Consider doing a combination of deciduous and evergreen, so you don't have dead space in the winter months.





Dwarf Hemlocks would be a good choice and also different Arborvitaes. They are both evergreen and would provide you with year around color. There are many different varieties of Arborvitaes that would hide your utilities.





I will link you to gallery of plants section of my website and also the variety of plants of my website. There are photos and descriptions that may help you. Good luck to you and if you need further help, feel free to contact me. Have a great day!


Kimberly





http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...





http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...





http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...

my horses

Butterfly Flower Garden AND Weed Problem?

In the Spring I'm going to plant a seed mixture of Alcea rosea, Asclepias tuberose, Aster novae-angliae, Clarkia amoena, Cosmos bipinnatus, Delphinium consolida, Digitalis purpurea, Echinacea purpurea, lavatera trimestris, Malope trifida, Mirabilis jalapa, Monarda citriodora, Nicotiana affinis, Petalostemum purpureum, Phlox drummondii, Salvia coccinea, Trifolium incarnatum, Tropaeolum majus and Zinnia elegans.





Last Spring/Summer we had a huge weed problem we would spray weed killer and rip out weeds but they would keep coming back. We finally put down Weed Defense Fabric that lets air, water and nutrients through, not weeds. Then put mulch on top to hold down the fabric. I would like to start a butterfly garden and I'm worried if I cut the fabric that the weeds will grow through the openings. If I plant a butterfly garden I can't use a weed killer as it will harm the butterflys. Can anyone help?

Butterfly Flower Garden AND Weed Problem?
You can use the fabric, and put mulch on top of it. I prefer to use newspaper instead of the fabric, because the newspaper will breakdown and It helps the soil.
Reply:I am assuming you are going to propagate your seeds into plants first?? because you wont be able to cut lots of holes in the fabric to sow them, as that will defeat the object of the weed fabric.


If you cut a cross in the fabric, then plant your plant in the hole and fold the 4 corners back in, this should stop any annual weed seeds from blowing in.But unfortunately there may already be annual seeds in the soil from previous years (the old saying goes-one years seeds are 10 years weeds) and these weeds may find there way through the slits.If you have perennial weeds in there they may also find their way up if close to a slit.You will just have to pull or dig these out by hand.


If you want butterflies, you will get lots if you plant a buddleia shrub.Most grow into huge shrubs which will withstand hard pruning, but there are dwarf varieties. Lavender and thyme do the trick also.


Good luck with the butterflies.
Reply:Mulch mulch mulch. At least 3" if not 4". And keep weeding. Weeds will only grow if you allow them to.
Reply:Use plants, not seeds, even if it means growing them all in pots first. The more developed they are the better they will stand up to the weed competition! A seed doesn't stand a chance and a bulb isn't much better.


I wouldn't worry too much if you use plants. You'd only be cutting small holes to put them in and you can push the fabric and mulch back around them. A few weeds probably will get through but the fabric will still suppress most of them and you'll only have to weed just around your plants.





Good luck!
Reply:I gather you want a nice pleasant low maintanance garden, that attracts butterflies. I have to say that most weed suppresents's are ineffective, I've been in the horticultural business for 20 years, and my family a lot longer. If you cut the fabric weeds suppresent, boy are you inviting trouble. You don't say which area you're from, this would help all on web to give advice.


As to to the seed mixture , I'd be a little wary of Digitais purpurea, I presume you know foxgloves are poisionous, especially where children are concerned?


Question about planting pansies. See details below:?

I bought some recently and planted them, but apparently they don't spread. Is this true? Do I need to plant them very close together to get some color? I bought more, and did that, but it still doesn't look all that great. Am I expecting too much out of them? Also, will they survive occasional freezing weather, even when the temperature doesn't go over freezing for around 72 hours before warming back up above freezing?


I live in western North Carolina in the mountains.


I also bought some phlox today, hoping it will survive, even though I planted it today. I assume it's pretty hardy, since it didn't die off when we had freezing weather a couple of times already. Suggestions? Advice?

Question about planting pansies. See details below:?
I have a few answers to your many questions about pansies. They will not spread but rather develop larger plants reducing the space between plants. They are generally planted 8-9 inches from center of plant to center of plant. They are one of the most reliable winter plants for taking extremes in temperatures and still blooming. However, this is one of the fascinating things about pansies, they bloom on nitrogen, one of a handful of plants to do so. A lot of people will fertiliuze with blood meal,(actually animal blood) purchased at local garden centers. After planting your pansies, it would be good to mulch with a hardwood mulch or with your pine straw there in N.C. Both the phlox and the pansies are great plants, always water before a hard freeze. The moisture actually protects the roots from what is known in the trade as Dry-Freeze Kill. Happy gardening.
Reply:Pansies are cold weather plants. They can tolerate freezes. They don't "spread" but will become full, compact plants given time. They are heavy feeders, you can MiracleGro them weekly. Dead head for more blooms. Or let them go to seed for you to collect. In a couple of months one pansy can grow to be 8-10" tall, bushing to 12" in diameter.





They will root in water and reseed themselves. Lovely light scent too.
Reply:If you have several colors, instead of mixing them up plant 2 or 3 of the same color next to each other. When they grow towards each other they will look more like one big plant of the same color :-)


I've always heard they can survive without cover down to 25 degrees. To be safe, mulch around them, water before a freeze and throw a cover over them during the freeze time.
Reply:Hello,


My pansies last year I would take off the developed seed pod and throw the seeds back into where the pansies were planted and I had so many pansies!!


We took them broke the roots up and planted them into the ground. In the ground they stayed nice with there flowers well into freezing. I have not been out there to check on them, but they were the longest lasting flower we had out there.


I love pansies, they are so pretty!


We are in the high deserts of Oregon (yes we have desert here :0), so I do not know what your climate is like.


Good luck!
Reply:they do not spread,but they may reseed.they will fill in.they will survive, the phlox too