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[Kristin Meredith]

Yesterday was Home School Day at James Madison's Montpelier.  I was there with the Rapidan River Master Gardeners. The weather was good -- crisp, but sunny and clear and not too much wind. There were 650 adults and kids who showed up, about 400 of them children. We were talking on seed dispersal and wildflowers with six interactive seed dispersal stations based on the Peter Pan Method of Seed Dispersal.  We also had a "seed bomb" making station. Our interactive stations were a big hit -- blowing bubbles, making paper wings that flew, jumping on a cannon to fire out "exploding seeds". And I think we were able to get out some basic, but informative, facts to the kids on seed dispersal and wildflowers and their importance to our eco-system. It was a nice break from cooking.  Montpelier is a wonderful place to visit if you are ever in Orange, Va.

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[Ralphie]

This brings back memories.  When I was a kid, I participated in a 4 week overnight summer camp for 3 consecutive summers in Orange, VA. On Friday nights, we went to the edge of the Rapidan River and the counselors told ghost stories.  The Rapidan Man was always the scariest.  Those were the best summers.

[Canadian John]

 Nice to see the snow gone.

 Interesting descriptions of seed dispersals.

[Kristin Meredith]

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It has been a very hard winter on the landscape garden -- some really bitter cold days and nights, not much rain or snow, really terrible winds. So many things in the garden have taken a beating and I have not been able to get out to work in the garden because we have had below normal -- many days 20 degrees below normal -- temperatures and high winds which made it very unpleasant to be out. We had snow flurries on Monday!

But Lowes was offering a great deal on mulch and today was suppose to be warm, even if windy. I was so proud of myself -- 68 bags of mulch, so much mulch, I was set for the season! Ha -- 68 bags lasted to get all the trees mulched. So back to Lowes today for 70 more for the shrubs and flower beds. Then on to planting 9 trees and 6 shrubs. And more after that. So much to do, but had to stop way early yesterday to go to a puppy training class. The Guiding Eyes trainers are really professional and I have learned so much in such a short time. I am really looking forward to working with these folks.

[ylr]

Does anywhere around there sell mulch in bulk? You can buy it cheaper than getting it in bags.....

[Canadian John]

It is good to be busy - you are doing a fine job!

[dk117]

Does anywhere around there sell mulch in bulk? You can buy it cheaper than getting it in bags.....

was writing this same response when it said response was already posted.

I don't have anywhere near the land the Meridith's have, yet I get a few yards of raised garden mix (best available) each year for the garden and it's $33 a yard.

For big jobs (over three yards) I'll get mulch delivered to the house.    WAY cheaper than per bag pricing. 

DK

[Kristin Meredith]

Does anywhere around there sell mulch in bulk? You can buy it cheaper than getting it in bags.....

was writing this same response when it said response was already posted.

I don't have anywhere near the land the Meridith's have, yet I get a few yards of raised garden mix (best available) each year for the garden and it's $33 a yard.

For big jobs (over three yards) I'll get mulch delivered to the house.    WAY cheaper than per bag pricing. 

DK

Not in our neck of the woods.  Delivery charges are about $250 for a truck and the last time I got a full truck load it was about $500 and only covered about as much as my 138 bags -- which cost me $276.  When the bags are $2 a bag, it is cheaper to get the bags.

[ZCZ]

So nice to see a picture with green grass and trees just starting to bud out.

We are looking at another 8-12 inches starting tonight into early Sunday AM.

Yuck!

Z

[pmillen]

So there's no near place to go with a pickup and get a skid-loader bucket full?  It's considerably less costly.

Do you use wood chip mulch?  It may be advisable to make your own by buying or renting a chipper.

[Kristin Meredith]

So there's no near place to go with a pickup and get a skid-loader bucket full?  It's considerably less costly.

Do you use wood chip mulch?  It may be advisable to make your own by buying or renting a chipper.

Yes, we tried getting it in Bent's truck a couple of times and in the trailer a couple of times.  It was a lot of mess and a LOT of work to get it out and spread.  Sorry, at my age and stage of life, convenience is sometimes worth a few bucks. 

I owned a pretty decent chipper in LA, but when we tried using it here on the stuff from the woods, it wasn't big or strong enough.  I have nothing else to chip except branches from the logging operation.  The last chipper I looked at that could handle that type of stuff was $3000 and I can buy a lot of mulch for $3000.  I have a couple of times convinced some of the tree trimming guys to drop their loads here for mulch making, but a lot of them are now getting paid by mulch makers for their loads so that is not much of an option.

This is our 5th year out here.  Believe me, there are not many options that I have not pursued.