Identification Requested / Mel's Mix Possibility

capsounddad 4/19/2010, 9:02 am

Had to take an emergency trip to Dayton, Ohio this past weekend to drive the equipment truck for my son's drum line while they competed in the national championships. I'm wondering about a flowering tree I saw a lot of in the Dayton area. It looked to be about the size of a flowering crabapple but it had very delicate looking but vibrant purple flowers. Can anyone give me an idea what this flowering tree was?

I also checked at the Lowe's in Troy, Ohio for Mel's Mix. The manager of the garden department knew what I was talking about. After a brief conversation, she was convinced that she should order a pallett of the product to have in her gardening department. If there's anyone in the area, northern edge of Dayton along I-75, follow-up requests for Mel's Mix could also lead to a class/presentation.

pattipan 4/19/2010, 9:37 am

capsounddad wrote:Had to take an emergency trip to Dayton, Ohio this past weekend to drive the equipment truck for my son's drum line while they competed in the national championships. I'm wondering about a flowering tree I saw a lot of in the Dayton area. It looked to be about the size of a flowering crabapple but it had very delicate looking but vibrant purple flowers. Can anyone give me an idea what this flowering tree was?

The trees were probably Redbuds. Do a Google image search and see if that's your tree.

Identification Requested / Mel's Mix Possibility Redbud6.362110359_std

Identification Requested / Mel's Mix Possibility Redbud6.362110359_std

Patti

nancy 4/19/2010, 10:57 am

Yep, I was also going to say that our red buds are gorgeous right now. What a pretty spring!!

capsounddad 4/19/2010, 11:11 am

Nancy and Patty,

Looked up Redbud images and they sure are beautiful. The trees I saw seemed a bit more vibrant purple but it is probably just variation between the live trees and the photos. They almost look like purple lace.

Hey Nancy, are you close enough to Troy to make the trip to Loew's for Mel's Mix worthwhile. Maybe you could just call them asking to increase the demand. In fact what do you think about starting a thread about continuing to pressure as many Loew's location's as possible to carry it?

Rick Melcher

nancy 4/19/2010, 11:38 am

I could go up to Troy, but it's a bit further than I care to go. It's probably an hour and a half from my house - only about an hour from work. If Troy can get it, perhaps Cincinnati can too! I'll have to give my Lowes a try. Maybe I can get there tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up.

Wyldflower 4/19/2010, 12:07 pm

Maybe it's a Chinaberry tree? Here's an online image that I found that shows the flowers.

Identification Requested / Mel's Mix Possibility Chinab10

MasonGarden 4/19/2010, 12:14 pm

Rick/Nancy,

I live in Mason (half-way between the two of you) and I'd definitely be interested in Mel's Mix, and would be willing to go to Troy to get it. I've been "planning" on staring a SFG for weeks now, but my hang-up is the vermiculite. If I could get the mix, problem solved!!!

Renee

capsounddad 4/19/2010, 12:49 pm

Renee,

I strongly urge you to contact the garden center at the Troy Loew's. If they hear from more people they will bw more likely to actually stock it. Then maybe Claire can contact them about a presentation. Sorry Claire, didn't mean to speak for you! Identification Requested / Mel's Mix Possibility Icon_wink

Rick Melcher

nancy 4/19/2010, 12:53 pm

Renee - Burger Farm on 32 in Newtown has vermiculite. Medium grade, not coarse. I think I have all I need for my 4 current beds. Bed #4 needs a bit more compost and then is good to go. I plan on 1 more 4x4 for pumpkins and would much prefer to get it premixed. I'm only 5' tall so mixing it myself has been challenging in so many ways! Identification Requested / Mel's Mix Possibility Icon_lol

ander217 4/19/2010, 2:31 pm

Could the tree you saw have been a Paulownia tree? I found this photo online.

Our family in the Chattanooga area call these, "Polly-wanna" trees and one species there is considered invasive.

Identification Requested / Mel's Mix Possibility Paulownia_flowering_3

Identification Requested / Mel's Mix Possibility Paulownia_flowering_3

MasonGarden 4/19/2010, 6:41 pm

Nancy - Thanks for the information and pictures regarding your amazing pathways! I may give it a try once I have my garden laid out.

Nancy/Rick - I am in the planning stages for my first SFG here in the Cincinnati-area. Have either of you been able to successfully grow blueberries here? If so, what variety?

Thanks,
Renee

lisaphoto 4/19/2010, 7:31 pm

I can't believe how many people are on here from cincinnati/dayton area! That's awesome!

MasonGarden 4/19/2010, 7:36 pm

Hi Lisa!

I am new to SFG, and in fact am still in the planning stages of putting in my first garden. Are you an established SFG'er? If so, do you have photos and/or advice for plants that do well in our area?

Maybe we should create a new topic: "Southeast Ohio SFG". We might attract a few others from around here, and be able to share tips and info specific to our area!

Renee
Identification Requested / Mel's Mix Possibility Icon_flower

nancy 4/19/2010, 8:11 pm

Hi Renee - I haven't tried blueberries - yet. I want to put in a strawberry bed, but that might wait until next year. I need a pumpkin bed first! Identification Requested / Mel's Mix Possibility Icon_lol

I love the idea of a southwest ohio board! Identification Requested / Mel's Mix Possibility 27650

Someone else commented on one of my posts who lives in Madisonville, which is the next community north of me! She could be a block away!!

I was at AJ Rahn's on Saturday and they had a big sign saying the Hamilton County Final Frost date is May 15, so I was thinking of backing off of a few things I want to put in. But then on a walk with my kid tonite we saw a few people who have already planted basil and a bunch of other herbs, so I might put some in this weekend afterall. Hopefully it will not get below 40 tonite. I don't think we got frost last night, but it's been chilly the past new nights!

capsounddad 4/19/2010, 9:15 pm

Hey Everyone,

In case you missed the first part of the post, I was in the Dayton area as an emergency driver for my son's drumline. I'm actually from the Milwaukee, WI area. The differences a couple of hundred miles north or south can make can be amazing. There were lot's of trees in bloom in southwestern Ohio and ours in southeastern Wisconsin are just starting to bud.

I like the ideas about more people banding together, both on line and hopefully in person if at all possible. Keep SFG in everyone's mind!

Rick

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