The only things I will pot up and take for sure are my Itoh peonies but do I just leave all the the daylilies and hostas? And what about the lilies, Baptisia, mums and so many other things that have taken so long to acclimate and become gorgeous. We are in our 70's and if I start over from scratch, am I going to live long enough to enjoy a new landscape? Whine whine.

Yes, I am complaining and I do think if I try to take a bunch of stuff, I will just add more burden to what seems like an impossibility anyway. Can't even imagine moving these cats but they are afraid of everyone and will be impossible to give away.

Good luck!

I'm so glad you posted this so I can catch my breath again, lol. No one should ever, never, ever abandon a cat! Do your best to get them acclimated to their new surroundings before letting them outside, ....if that's what you're going to do.

No matter what age moving is a big deal. I bet your head is spinning with all the things you have to plan ahead for. I moved two states over from z9 to z5, so I didn't bring a lot of plants with me. But I was surprised at how well some cuttings have done, after being packed on the truck earlier than I intended, in damp paper towels, inside a tin box.

I can see you being able to pack a lot of pieces of hostas and daylilies into a plastic bag with dampened paper towels or newspapers. Open and let the plants get some air when you get there. It's not the end of the world if they don't make it, but they just might surprise you.

Good luck on your move! I hope your new home is filled with happiness and many good years to come.

In addition of the great idea of inviting over the garden club (or craigslist, or Habitat for Humanity), I do hope you can save some favorites. Won't it be fun to have some of these faithful companions in your new home so they can put down roots just as you are doing the same? If it were me I would take some hostas and daylilies - just the choicest, fattest ones that would be the most fun to set up camp with in your new home.

Hang in there - good luck, keep us posted.

There are some legendary gardens which have been created in just over 3 years - grow a lot of annuals and propagate like crazy - you will see the results of your efforts in just a few weeks rather than years. Sounds a bit glib...but it is about the process rather than the results....try not to fret and good luck herding the cats. Sardine traps?

As far as the cats go, I am not that great of a person. We are not taking the cats with us to help anybody but ourselves! They are family.

(In fact, I like certain cats quite a bit better than certain people, but I suppose that is a topic for another thread...)

didnt i google up your county in KY just last winter ...????

seriously.... am i really this confused ... at least tell me it was two years ago???

ken

Three years ago DH and I drove in separate cars from MA to NM. I had the two cats and all the container plants. DH had luggage and stuff we needed when we arrived. It took a week and fortunately I've blocked most of it from memory.

When I left Iowa, I invited friends to come and take cuttings, divisions and gave away most of my gardening tools. So even if I left the gardens I had created over 10 years, at least some of the plants survived in other homes. I'm sure the new owners managed to trash everything in no time flat.

I would take cuttings or divisions of rare plants, give away lots to friends and neighbors and leave everything else. Gardens reflect their owners. In a short time your garden won't be recognizable.

Good luck,
Cheryl

whatever.. good luck ...

ken