Hi Ya'll,   My name is Timberley Valentine.  I am currently living with my mother who has Alzheimer's, she was diagnosed back in 2002.  I am trying once again this year to grow vegetables.  I have had little success, I definately don't have a green thumb, but would love to  have one.  The only plants I haven't killed are a christmas catcus my daddy and step-mother gave me three years ago for my 48th birthday, and a snake plant my aunt gave me after my father died last June.  I want to plant herbs and flowers in my front yard,  a vegetable garden in the back, a rose garden down the sides of the house and on one side of my backyard.  I also would love to have a tent with a table and chairs in the middle of the backyard for entertaing.  I plan of sometime setting up an in one of the rose gardens where I can do Reiki on anyone who wants it.  I am studying to be a holistic practioner.  I would love to have about 5 or more clients that would pay $20.00 a week for as many Reiki sessions as they like.  If anyone out there doesn't know what Reiki is I'll be glad to give a free demo.  I live at 1412 Marlborough  Road, and my e-mail is boyandgirlcats(a)yahoo.com.  I hope to meet everyone soon.  Timberley                                        --- On Sun, 5/15/11, gardening-request(a)eastraleigh.org &lt;gardening-request(a)eastraleigh.org&gt; wrote: From: gardening-request(a)eastraleigh.org &lt;gardening-request(a)eastraleigh.org&gt; Subject: Gardening Digest, Vol 1, Issue 11 To: gardening(a)eastraleigh.org Date: Sunday, May 15, 2011, 12:00 PM Send Gardening mailing list submissions to     gardening(a)eastraleigh.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit     http://www.eastraleigh.org/mailman/listinfo/gardening or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to     gardening-request(a)eastraleigh.org You can reach the person managing the list at     gardening-owner(a)eastraleigh.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Gardening digest..." Today's Topics:    1. Re: Introductions? (SJF)    2. Re: Introductions? (Hope Rollins)    3. Re: Introductions? (Michelle C)    4. Re: Introductions? (Ryan Parker) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 15 May 2011 00:08:54 -0400 From: SJF &lt;sarah.farber(a)gmail.com&gt; Subject: Re: [Gardening] Introductions? To: Gardening &lt;gardening(a)eastraleigh.org&gt; Message-ID: &lt;2DF0A5FB-6CB5-4363-A309-659EF880C023(a)gmail.com&gt; Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes Hey gang! I am new to North Carolina gardening.  I had a big garden in my  parents' backyard about 15 years ago where I grew lilacs, roses,  lilies (Asiatic type and hemerocallis) and penstemon and Jacob's  ladder, among other things.  I'm really surprised I can remember  everything I had growing back there!  Well, here I am, still a renter  15 years later and I can't put off gardening until I buy a home. This year I'm working on creating some front perennial beds.  I am  also thinking about starting a veggie garden out back using straw  bales to create a raised bed (and to give the baby vegetables a bit of  a buffer from my three rowdy dogs).  I'm late to that particular game  so I'll probably head to the farmer's market for some starter plants. I prefer to use organic gardening methods, I'm beginning to think even  a nuclear-type toxin could not eliminate the poison ivy that is  winding its way around the pine tree in my backyard.  I didn't have  many problems in NJ with pests or disease -- there is a reason they  call that place the garden state - and I am keeping my fingers crossed  that the dirt here is also kind to me.  I try to swap plants when I  can (I might have some spare irises soon) and to choose species that  spread rather than specimens that are higher maintenance.  I have a  baby compost pile that I hope to get some good use out of this summer,  so your composting tips are most welcome.  I have lots to learn and  hope to soon have lots to share as well! Sarah Jessica ("SJ") 213 Dennis ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sun, 15 May 2011 08:30:40 -0400 From: "Hope Rollins" &lt;hrollins1(a)gmail.com&gt; Subject: Re: [Gardening] Introductions? To: "'Gardening'" &lt;gardening(a)eastraleigh.org&gt; Message-ID: <F781826614764DF1B62237C365EECEB6@HopePC> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii" Hi Sarah Jessica and others, Good to see you on the list serve.  Sounds like you have some great ideas. I live in Oakwood.  I have several raised beds.  Had poor luck with even tomatoes last year. Frequently, something got to them before I was able to bring them in. However, I am having great luck with lavender, herbs, knockout roses, and perennials.  Also, I have pond with 2 koi, 2 gold fish and recent purchased 3 bullfrog fish. I am looking forward to hearing about everyone's successes and frustrations in the garden. Hope Rollins 326 Oakwood Ave. -----Original Message----- From: gardening-bounces(a)eastraleigh.org [mailto:gardening-bounces@eastraleigh.org] On Behalf Of SJF Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2011 12:09 AM To: Gardening Subject: Re: [Gardening] Introductions? Hey gang! I am new to North Carolina gardening.  I had a big garden in my  parents' backyard about 15 years ago where I grew lilacs, roses,  lilies (Asiatic type and hemerocallis) and penstemon and Jacob's  ladder, among other things.  I'm really surprised I can remember  everything I had growing back there!  Well, here I am, still a renter  15 years later and I can't put off gardening until I buy a home. This year I'm working on creating some front perennial beds.  I am  also thinking about starting a veggie garden out back using straw  bales to create a raised bed (and to give the baby vegetables a bit of  a buffer from my three rowdy dogs).  I'm late to that particular game  so I'll probably head to the farmer's market for some starter plants. I prefer to use organic gardening methods, I'm beginning to think even  a nuclear-type toxin could not eliminate the poison ivy that is  winding its way around the pine tree in my backyard.  I didn't have  many problems in NJ with pests or disease -- there is a reason they  call that place the garden state - and I am keeping my fingers crossed  that the dirt here is also kind to me.  I try to swap plants when I  can (I might have some spare irises soon) and to choose species that  spread rather than specimens that are higher maintenance.  I have a  baby compost pile that I hope to get some good use out of this summer,  so your composting tips are most welcome.  I have lots to learn and  hope to soon have lots to share as well! Sarah Jessica ("SJ") 213 Dennis _______________________________________________ Gardening mailing list Gardening(a)eastraleigh.org http://www.eastraleigh.org/mailman/listinfo/gardening ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Sun, 15 May 2011 09:01:35 -0400 From: Michelle C &lt;michellelcz(a)gmail.com&gt; Subject: Re: [Gardening] Introductions? To: Gardening &lt;gardening(a)eastraleigh.org&gt; Message-ID: &lt;BANLkTi=k201EeLgosQePD+F5SFk9mLo0TA(a)mail.gmail.com&gt; Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" This is fantastic! I am pleased to see so many shared interests and varied experiences. Recipes are always welcome! I'm not much of a cook but am trying to learn (now that I have a kitchen with more than 2' of counter space.) I hope to get some chickens in the future. (I figure I'd better get a handle on general house and yard maintenance first.) And am also interested in bees. I remember hearing that bee populations are so low, everyone who keeps them helps. I'm very interested in the urban permaculture movement - have been ever since hearing Will Hooker give a talk about permaculture several years ago. It's kind of what inspired me to actually get a house with a little yard this time rather than another condo (used to live in the Cameron Village Condos.) I also have a tiny pond in the back with three goldfish. I know I still have a lot to learn about maintaining it, too. After one of the fish was eaten last fall, I've become more concerned about putting plants in there to give them more places to hide. And yes, I love watching the wild birds, too. I've found that the little pond in the back is the greatest draw for them! So, I also have a few feeders up and would like to give them a couple nesting sites with predator guards in the future. I've seen bluebirds in the yard. I'm assuming it's because fields aren't far away - between the athletic fields at St. Augs and Oakwood Cemetery. Thanks, everyone! Michelle 714 Glascock