Gardening to divert depression

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2012

     How do I get rid of rust?....at least I think it is rust...whatever it is, it is spreading.  All of my hollyhocks got infested and I just had the guy who is doing yard work pull them all up.   I love hollyhocks and it makes me sick losing them.   They came up, grew tall, but then got these rusty yellow sort of raised things all over there leaves and just sort of shriveled up before they every bloomed.  Last year they had something on the leaves also, but they  at least bloomed.  I noticed that my columbine that was right next to a hollyhock has it also.  I need to find out how to treat and get rid of this stuff or it will take over all my plants.  HELP!!!  Still have not gotten rid of the dead tree, but think I am going to follow one of your suggestions and have just have all the dead branches cut off and then allow vines or something to cover the base that is left.   The grape vines since they get more sun now are growing out onto the pergola extension and there is going to be nice shade there for my ferns which seem to be thriving.  Right now we are 30% low on rainfall for this time of year so I am going to start soaking my remaining shade tree so it doesn't die. 

    I had a lovely visit with 3jays in Florida.  She has some wonderful plants and ButterFly World had a beautiful assortment of flowers and trees I had never seen before....will post a few. 

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  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited June 2012

    I had luck controlling a fungus that started out rust colored and then turned to black spots.  I used 80% water and 20% milk in a spray bottle.  Test is on one plant to make sure the mixture itself doesn't damage the plant.  Tomaotes do not like this mixture but almost every other plant I tried it on did well.

    You may also want to try a tsp of liquid soap like Dawn mixed with a quart of water in a spray bottle.  After applying the mixture, rinse it off with a hose sprayer.

    Good luck.

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited June 2012

    Marybe call you local Extension office.  If you have pictures you can email to them or they can come and look at your plants.  If you don't have any luck PM me because I work at our local extension office and I might can get some info for you.

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  • TwoHobbies
    TwoHobbies Member Posts: 2,118
    edited June 2012

    Marybe I have some similar stuff on my hostas but it seems to be dissapating with the dry weather we are having.  I'm in the Chicago area and last year was rainy and wet and we got fungus all over our cherry tree and phlox and roses.  I bought some fungicide but I haven't used it yet, but I think the rust color is fungus.  Once before I called the extension office about fungus on a tree, and they said just clean up the bad leaves and wait until spring to spray.  So I'm not sure if that is the only time its effective or not. 

    Something has been eating my carrots and cucumber even though I have a fence.  It must be the chipmunks.  Darn them!

    I have to replace my ash trees on the parkway due to emerald ash borer!  I'm so sad because they are big and we will have no shade.  I think I'm going to do maples but the neighbor does have a honey locust, so it might look nice to be consistant.  Does anyone have any input on honey locust?  The leaves are tiny too.  Are they hard to rake in the fall?  

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  • 3jaysmom
    3jaysmom Member Posts: 4,266
    edited June 2012

    yup, i agree.. sounds like a fungus, marybe.. i never've heard of an extension office, maybe pm Sherry for more info.. i did the dawn thing, and it worked out pretty good when i had a problem.. i left it on a few minutes, though.. good luck, sweetie..

      Sneh!!its so good to "see" you back!!!i too, have a lot of "grenery" as oppossed to flowers, but am trying to add a few. tommorrow, in the light, i'll take a pic of the red velvet mandvilla vine we got at butterfly world w/marybe. i've never seen something so yummy!!!3jays

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited June 2012

    3jaysmom, Google Florida Agriculture Extension Office. There's one in each county. They're connected to the university.

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  • Raj20
    Raj20 Member Posts: 1,112
    edited June 2012

    Marybe ! I was also going through with the same rust infection in my garden. I had consulted with  the florist in my area who had suggested me to spray neem oil in the affected areas. And as a  general fungicide Baking Soda Spray is also works. If you agree  with me  you can try it as below..

    Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda, 2.5 tablespoon veg.oil with one gallon water. Shake it up thoroughly and add half teaspoon of pure castile soap and spray  to the infected plants and also  on the soil. Repeat every 5-7 days  as needed.

    If it does not work  you take help from the expert florist of your area. But it works  for my garden.

    You know, my chilli plants got powdery mildew.. I felt so bad seeing the plant so I sprayed Neem oil and now  the leaves of my chilli plants  started growing and flowering too.

    I am just sharing little experience with you all which might serve as a care for your plants.

    Sneh

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  • TwoHobbies
    TwoHobbies Member Posts: 2,118
    edited June 2012

    I'm going to try that baking soda spray.  It sounds safer than using the other stuff.  I noticed my phlox have the powdery mildew, as does my foxglove.

    Between the birds and the chipmunks, I may only have tomatoes and peppers this year.  They are eating everything else.  I'm trying to decide if I should re-plant and cover with netting. 

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  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited June 2012

    We are having a great crop of beans this year.  We plant a variety called Blue Lake.  They are tender, sweet and easy to grow.  The tomato plantst are a bit short this year but they are loaded with tomatoes.  The early heat ruined the blackberry crop.  Those that ripened weren't particularly sweet.   Here in Arkansas we are in a sever drought so I am having to do supplemental watering and I don't think water from a hose can ever substitute completely for a good rain.

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  • Raj20
    Raj20 Member Posts: 1,112
    edited August 2012

    I have just finish seedlings  of herbs, vegetables like brinjal, Lady,s finger, broad bean, green pea and many local vegs which is not grown in other countries. My chillies  of 3 varieties give my family suffiecient  quantity so need not to buy from market. I have also started using organic manure for vegetables to avoid toxic consumption.

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited August 2012

    Just planted my fall garden.  So far I have tomato's, broccoli and cabbage.  Not sure what else I'll plant.

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited August 2012

    Sherry, It's a different world up here. We have finally gotten some red ripe tomatoes. Just the cherry ones, but we were beginning to despair of having any at all. Fortunately, we like fried green tomatoes.

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited August 2012

    Wren the south is hot during the summer but we do get more growing seasons.

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  • karen4u
    karen4u Member Posts: 194
    edited August 2012

    Well I did a little garden therapy this morning.....pulled a few weeds from my flower bed.  So proud of the rain we have been getting and it appears with Isaac headed this way we will be getting more.  I haven't posted here in a while.  Hope everyone is doing well.  

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited October 2012

    planted a few plants for a fall vegetable garden an my broccoli and cabbage are doing great.  Spinach did not come up for some reason.  Not really sure what happened there.

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  • karen4u
    karen4u Member Posts: 194
    edited October 2012
    I haven't raised a vegetable garden in several years and even then never raised a cool weather one.  I think I've just become obsessed with my flowers.  They are definitely my therapy.  Went on a wildflower hunt on Monday with a fellow gardner and had a blast.  She wants to go on another one Friday.  Laughing  We really enjoy trading plants. 
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  • journey4life
    journey4life Member Posts: 517
    edited October 2012

    Hi,

    I just came across this topic and thought I'd join in. I haven't been doing much gardening since my dx - can't seem to muster up the energy or enthusiasm. Has anyone else gone through those feelings and gotten over them? How did you do it? I want some peace in my life...

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  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited October 2012

    I am going through it now.  My lovely garden is full of weeds.  I am hoping this feeling passes soon.  It's something I go through every couple of months and then it gets better.  I hope it will get better for you as well.

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited October 2012

    I've experienced the same lack of enthusiam in other areas as well. I think it might be due to needing the energy for healing. Gardens are peaceful and that is good.

    Journey, love your tag line. That would be a great T-shirt to wear during pinktober.

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  • evergreen9
    evergreen9 Member Posts: 131
    edited October 2012

    Once my treatment ended, and I had my energy back, I was so happy to work again in my garden. If I got tired, I would sit in an outdoor chair, watch the trees move in the breeze, listen to the birdcalls, and worship nature ... it was like worshipping for me. I found after I felt myself again, that I appreciated nature even more than before. But it has been over a year since I finished chemo....

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  • journey4life
    journey4life Member Posts: 517
    edited October 2012

    ever - I like the visual your post evokes...peaceful. I need to try your solution (without looking around at things I should be doing).

    wren - thanks. maybe I'll try to find a t-shirt company to print some. Someone gifted me with a shirt that has "Cancer Sucks" written in glitter. Pretty much sums it up for all of us.

    About 2 weeks ago, I went to my PCP and she prescribed Zoloft for my emotional mess. I don't think I like it. Is anyone else taking anything since dx?

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  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited October 2012

    I took paxil once.  Hated it.  Yes, I get depressed, but gardening works as well as medication and all of the side effects of gardening are good ones. 

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  • ksh248
    ksh248 Member Posts: 4
    edited October 2012

    Hello, all.  I think it was in this forum where there was the greatest analogy of fruits and vegetables to correlating health benefits to similar looking parts of the body (Carrots that hel the eyes, caulfiflowre for the brain, etc.) Does this ring a bell with anyone?  Could you re-post?

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  • karen4u
    karen4u Member Posts: 194
    edited October 2012

    Lisa - have you tried Lexapro?  As my onc put it, "it is a very clean drug."  I had very good luck with it for years with no side effects. 

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  • journey4life
    journey4life Member Posts: 517
    edited October 2012

    Karen - I was on Lexapro for several years, prescribed after a life-changing event. Recently, I've been unable to find a happy place so my PCP thought a change was in order. She took me off Lex and put me on Zoloft. I wonder now if she could have increased the Lex...its been a little over 2 weeks and I'm not feeling any better. Has it been long enough for it to get in my system and work? My life is a mess...

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited October 2012

    Journey, Most antid's take a few weeks to start working. Maybe an increase in the Lexapro would have worked, but for me, most antid's just quit working after a while. Do let her know you're not better or she'll assume it's working.

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  • karen4u
    karen4u Member Posts: 194
    edited October 2012

    Lisa - were you on 10mg Lexapro or 20?  My PCP told me 20 was the max which was what I was on so she changed me to Zoloft 50mg.  I was a mess when she changed me to the Zoloft and I did feel a slight improvement after a week.  I have been on it for about 2 months now and I am doing so much better.  I did have to adjust when I took it due to insomnia and I tend to graze through my kitchen pretty regular now but I am trying to get a handle on that.  I agree with Wren in that you need to let the PCP know that you haven't shown any improvement with how you are feeling and maybe she can adjust the dosage or try something different. Good luck to you.  Karen 

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  • karen4u
    karen4u Member Posts: 194
    edited November 2012

    Any gardening activity going on in the BC community?  Surely somewhere, something is going on.  I have been harvesting my seeds for next year.   

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited November 2012

    Our gardening is pretty much raking very wet leaves. We have the neighborhood's largest trees and they're still losing leaves. Wish they were like our Katsura. It turns a gorgeous yellow that lasts about a week, then loses all leaves over 2-3 days.

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  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited November 2012

    I only partially cleaned my garden, so I still have plenty of work ahead.  I'm taking it easy, not rushing to get it done.

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