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| I'm already in my 70's and life isn't as fast paced as it used to be. I have a lot of time on my hands now days and could use something to distract myself from the rut of everyday life. I am not an expert gardener by any means, so I'd like to start with something small and extremely manageable. What do you suggest? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by daffodillady (My Page) on Mon, Dec 13, 10 at 23:04
| I garden in pots and totes. I use my pots for flowers and grow tomatoes, peppers, and cukes in the totes. I started with perenials like daylilies and irises, but found that I like a variety of annuals for quick colorful satisfaction. Marigolds, vinca, pansies and petunias are (almost) never fail flowers for me. I am becoming fascinated with the hardy sedum and sempervivums- especially the rosette-shaped varieties. Winter sowing seeds is a blast on a cold blustery snowy day! I hope to be able to learn to make the garden junk totem ladies some day. I also think it would be fun to learn to paint rocks, and make twig furniture and trellises/arbors. And...and...and...so much to fun stuff to do...so little time (-; |
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| Now that depends whether you are planting into real dirt - or you live in an appartment many feet above the ground. ;-))) It also depends on whether you like to fuss with your plants or not. A possibility is some of the friendlier cacti. They don't all have mean spines and many of them flower when they're quite young. They don't need much care over the winter but they do appreciate being watered and fed and given fresh mix to live in over the summer. They can be addictive, if you know you have 'collector' tendencies. I like Lithops and Dinteranthos and Astrophytum. The Cactus forum here is pretty friendly, too. Another possible, something that looks quite exotic but isn't really, is the Bromeliad family. Some of the Tillandsias don't even need to be planted (but they do need watering). I would stay away from orchids. I would. They can be seriously tempting. Just one more... and the next thing you know is you've lost your yard to a glasshouse or tunnel house. Orchid addicts anonymous. However, if you did - have a look at Pleione. There are some lovely varieties. They are reasonably frost proof in z8, happy in ordinary pots and potting mix and have big flowers for their size, with quite a long flowering season. But you have been Warned. ;-))) None of these get to any massive size, usually, though there are massive specimens. And daffodillady's suggestions are delightful Well worth exploring if you are more interested in 'regular gardening'. PS 70-ish is a very good age to be gardening in. And 80+. There's no upper age limit at all. |
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- Posted by najoba 8b (najoba@hotmail.com) on Sun, Aug 5, 12 at 21:16
| You could grow daylilies. Please come join our very active forum. You can grow them in pots. You can even put the potted daylilies in a kiddy wading pool full of water so they don't need to be watered often. They really are fun. You can even grow them from seeds. Nancy |
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- Posted by dreamgarden z6 (My Page) on Sun, Oct 14, 12 at 21:01
| Some seniors knit. Others have bake sales. Perhaps you might be interested in growing flowers/herbs that schools, scouts or youth groups could sell to raise money? |
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| hey guys i want to be busy life,but its really boring life,can you guys help me....how to b i make a garden? |
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| Hello rait56. What size of garden or balcony do you have for growing? Do you want to grow foods or flowers? If you have a disability - how does it limit what you can do? (I'm not being personal as this forum is for people who are gardening despite health issues.) |
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| I agree with all the posts above, you should start with planting flowers in the pot, may be roses and other flower plants and then slowly increase the number of pots or area you are gardening. This will keep you busy for quite a long time. |
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- Posted by wally-1936 Richmond Tx (My Page) on Sat, Jan 12, 13 at 10:46
| I have been keeping records of my successes and failures on my computer. I use a free photo program as well as a genealogy program where I place my information. This way I can store photos and anything I find on the internet pertaining to any plant or seed I wish to try and see if it will grow in my soil and area. This also helps when I am not able to work outside for what ever reason. I do starts indoors as well as outdoors. I use my photos as screen savers and background. By posting and sharing information here as well as if I have seeds or plants to share. It can become a big project, it all depends on you and how much enjoyment you get learning more about your plants and the people you share them with. |
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- Posted by Lynndeloopy none (My Page) on Thu, Jun 13, 13 at 21:08
| Hello.....I am extremely busy with my potted plants, which are placed on outdoor tables so that I can garden without pain. I have 3 tables for flowering plants, and another one to do my propogating on near my back door, and close to the compost bin. Living in an Aged Care Facility, we are about to embark on a large raised garden strictly for vegetables. The garden is accessible both to wheelchair residents, and those of us with wheely walkers. To be honest, there are never enough hours in the day to do all I want. The residents here go for a "walk" about 3pm, and it is so rewarding to hear their "oohs and ahhs" when they spy the flowering plants. |
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