Hi! I love gardening, and I need to escape from the main DU discussion boards.

[Quantess]

Sometimes, I just have had enough of politics! It makes me short tempered. However, nothing is more soothing than working with plants, so I'm really glad I found this forum!

I am what you'd call a tree hugger. Not literally, but, I just love growing and planting and caring for trees.... and shrubs, and herbs, and flowers, too. It's my #1 hobby, and it keeps me sane.

At about age 12 I started "rescuing" Douglas fir seedlings from railroad tracks and replanting them on our acreage. Proudly, most of those trees are still growing there 25 years later, even though my parents sold the property a long time ago.

As an adult, I still sometimes rescue seedlings, but mostly I grow trees and shrubs from seeds and cuttings. I have planted many trees on the property where I live (my sister's), and have given some to friends, and have even planted some of my trees in public places. This past month I've planted about 10 of my trees on government property, mostly in a neglected park, and also at highway exits.

My boyfriend has been landscaping his .66 acre yard, and I've been helping him (trust me, I do as much as he will let me, but he's a bit of a control freak). When he bought it, it was the ugliest and worst yard ever, but is shaping up to be an exceptionally nice yard. We've both done a fantastic job! And we have learned from each other (he has a lot of experience in construction).

I look forward to sharing my love and knowledge of plants with fellow DUers (I have pets and some chickens, too.) This is one forum where I know I can have peaceful discussions, LOL!

[Blue Gardener]

1. Welcome to the Gardening Forum!

It's always nice and calm here. :hi:

[Quantess]

11. Funny, it's hard to get upset over gardening!

Oh, I'm sure there are many people who can get upset over weeds, or pesky birds, or etc. But it is hard to get mad or upset while gardening.
:hi:

[noamnety]

2. Hello!

I am taking a break from the main boards as well. :)

We've got some maples here we rescued from a construction site when they were a few inches tall, and some oaks we sprouted from acorns. I'm glad to hear there's someone else doing the same sort of thing.

[Quantess]

9. Cool! The oaks take a while, but they are rewarding.

I gave one of my Oaks to a neighbor. It was shrimpy when we planted it in 2004, but now it's a respectable size.

You'll be really happy when your trees get bigger.

[Inchworm]

3. Welcome quantessd

I'm fairly new here, but I'm sure I'll hit you with questions eventually. :)

:hi:

[Quantess]

8. If it's about trees and shrubs, sure!

Otherwise, I'll be the one asking questions. :hi:

[sazemisery]

4. Welcome aboard!

:hi:

[Quantess]

12. Thanks!

:hi:

[Richard Steele]

5. Hello, and welcome to one of DU's wonderful "politics-free" zones!

Glad to see you here! :hi:

[Quantess]

14. Thanks! Sometimes the last thing I want to think about is politics.

DU is smart to have non-political discussion forums like these. :hi:

[Shoelace]

6. Hi fellow tree lover!

welcome to our group here. I come either here or to the environmental board (it's pretty nice there as well) because I too am tired of politics.

I've got many tree seedlings that the squirrels or Blue Jays have planted, or they just come up on their own. So far in my lifetime, I've planted over 1000 trees. 500 of them were tree seedlings from BLM planted in the Sierras of California when we had a cabin there many years ago and most were growing when last we visited.

The rest have been ones that we planted in the many homes in our lifetimes of landscaping, gardening.

Right now I've got about a dozen trees, mostly Birch, Maple, English Oak, that we need to plant. The weather here in Or. has been very stormy so am waiting for a good day to get them out there.

Right now, I'm busy getting veggie seedlings ready for Spring planting in the garden. Late frosts have prevented that so far.

Gardening is the best therapy around for sure!

[Quantess]

10. Hey fellow Oregonian!

:hi:

[hippywife]

7. Welcome to Sanity Island. LOL

'nother tree hugger here, too, but not with nearly the experience and success you've had. More into learning to grow food.

This is a great group. Hope you enjoy it and make frequent visits/posts. :hi:

Thought you might enjoy this smilie, too:

[Quantess]

13. Growing food is awesome! It's so healthy, and so rewarding.

I haven't been as successful at growing vegetables. I need to hang out here so I can get better at it! Love the tree-hugger smilie! :D