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1. ghar72
   Member Profile

   We have a bamboo plant that needs to be dug up because of the installation of garden beds. Species is Fargesia adpressa, non-runner. We've had it in for almost 3 years and no problems with it spreading. Currently at about 6-7 feet tall, with some culms 9 feet or so, 4 feet wide, with base about 2 feet wide. In good shape. Starting to flower.
   Here's a link to some official pics with a bit of info about this type of bamboo:
   http://www.bambooweb.info/ShowPictures2.php?BooID=163&Desc=&Loc=&Match=163&Cat=*&Genus=*&s=0
   Says it can get up to 18 feet tall. It was about 3 feet high when we bought it.

   Plant is currently in the ground. If you dig, will sell for $25, cash. Would like it dug up in the next couple of days.
   If you can't dig it up, we will, but price goes up to $40.

   We live near Westwood Village.
   Here's the CL post to see pics:
   http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/grd/2301769578.html

   Thanks!
   You can contact me at ghar72 at gmail

   Posted 1 year ago #         

2. anonyme
   Member Profile

   Novices reading the above post should be informed that most bamboo dies after flowering. Some may survive with special care, but will not be pretty. Digging up a clump of bamboo this size would involve an enormous amount of labor, not to mention a waste of money. It would make more sense for the OP to offer it for free, as the person digging it up will be doing them a favor.

   Posted 1 year ago #         

3. ghar72
   Member Profile

   Huh, I wasn't aware that once bamboo flowers it dies. Thanks for the info. Now I won't feel like I need to find a home for it.
   And yes, the forums have gotten quite snarky lately.

   Posted 1 year ago #         

4. JoB
   Member Profile

   ghar72...

   posting relevant information isn't snarky...

   Posted 1 year ago #         

5. JayDee
   Member Profile

   Once most any species of bamboo flowers, the rest of the same species around the world flowers in the next 1 to 2 years or so I have read. Because most of these clumping species have only been cultivated recently, little is known of the flowering cycles which are 60 to 70+ years apart. Now if you can just harvest the seeds, the new plants that spring from them can outlive us all.

   Posted 1 year ago #         

6. ghar72
   Member Profile

   JoB,
   I'm not against the posting of relevant info. I had no idea that if bamboo is flowering that means it's probably on its way out. But the way I read anonyme's last sentence, it came off snarky. Of course, every person has their own interpretation, as we've seen time and time again in the forums, and I could be totally misreading anonyme's tone. Sarcasm doesn't play very well in the written form.

   Posted 1 year ago #         

7. JoB
   Member Profile

   ghar72

   i don't think anonyme meant to be sarcastic...
   at least i didn't take it that way...

   there are a lot of novice gardeners out there...
   and the goal is to encourage.. not discourage.. plant sharing...
   digging and transplanting a clump of bamboo that size only to have it fail in your garden is very discouraging ....

   however.. if it is still flowering..
   helping to dig it so that you can harvest the seeds could be a realistic endeavor....

   Posted 1 year ago #         

8. Cait
   Member Profile

   

   Ghar - I read it that way too so don't feel bad. I thought it was kind of snippy not to just say "Hey - did you know it's actually kinda worthless?" Why not just address the question to you? I would use the term "tattling" rather than snarky but either works. I'm sure that wasn't the intention though... Maybe.

   Posted 1 year ago #         

9. GenHillOne
   Member Profile

   Having some bamboo that needs to be thinned or removed completely, I've come to the conclusion that I'd be extremely lucky to have someone dig it out in exchange for keeping the plants. In all likelihood, I'll be paying someone to do it. Craigslist, Freecycle, etc. are filled with the free offer and because it's very, very hard work, I suspect most end up paying for the help instead. This is the first time I've heard of the flowering, but regardless, I think the royal pain in the ass is more to the point for me. I'd love to have someone "do me the favor" of digging a bunch out!

   Posted 1 year ago #         

10. anonyme
    Member Profile

    "And yes, the forums have gotten quite snarky lately."

    What is even more relevant is how often a sincere and relevant comment is attacked and distorted while the substance of the original post goes unchallenged. While those of you who obsess and analyze "tone", snarkiness, and snippiness, I suggest you consider the following FACTS:

    The OP has multiple posts on the WSB related to horticulture.
    The OP provides an internet link to the exact species of bamboo offered, one of the few bamboo links online that says nothing about expiration past flowering.
    The OP responded to my comment 24 hours ago, stating that they had no idea that bamboo died after flowering.
    The OP has made no attempt to either remove or edit their Craig's List ad offering this bamboo for immediate sale.

    "Hey - did you know it's actually kinda worthless?" Nothing snippy or snarky about THAT comment now, is there? Are you kidding me? You can twist my last sentence into all kinds of knots, and offer THAT as a "polite" alternative?

    Posted 1 year ago #         

11. anonyme
    Member Profile

    This thread has taken a trivial and unfortunate tack.

    "And yes, the forums have gotten quite snarky lately."

    "Hey - did you know it's actually kinda worthless?"

    Nothing snippy or snarky about THAT comment now, is there? Are you kidding me? You can twist my last sentence into all kinds of knots, and offer THAT as a "polite" alternative?

    What is even more relevant is how often a sincere and relevant (thank you, JoB) comment is attacked and distorted while the substance of the original post goes unchallenged. While those of you who obsess and analyze "tone", snarkiness, and snippiness, I suggest you consider the following FACTS:

    The OP has multiple posts on the WSB related to horticulture.
    The OP provides an internet link to the exact species of bamboo offered, one of the few bamboo links online that says nothing about expiration past flowering.
    The OP responded to my comment 24 hours ago, stating that they had no idea that bamboo died after flowering. And yet...
    The OP has made no attempt to either remove or edit their Craig's List ad offering this "worthless" bamboo for immediate and urgent sale.

    Hmmm...maybe those who live in glass houses should not throw stones...

    Posted 1 year ago #         

12. KBear
    Member Profile

    Anonyme, you brought up good points about the bamboo in question, but when you started out with "Novices should be informed..." it made your whole post sound like you thought they were trying to dupe unsuspecting readers. "Waste of money" is another emotionally-charged phrase.

    Why didn't you just say, "Have you considered offering the bamboo for free to anyone who's willing to dig it up? It's going to be a lot of work, and most bamboo dies after it flowers."

    Posted 1 year ago #         

13. Cait
    Member Profile

    

    KBear - thank you. That's closer to what I meant. I was paraphrasing, albiet somewhat tongue in cheek, regarding the fact that the grievance about the actual worth of the bamboo should have been directed as a question to the OP for optimum courtesy.

    Think of the forums like rooms in which one person is making an announcement and others are asked to respond and converse. If you were to just stand up and call the "announcer" out for attempting to "waste your money" it would be seen as a rather snarky and rude gesture, no?

    Operating at it's best, these forums tend to take on a conversational feel and I think the decorum used in your original response was a bit prickly in that light. The same information could have been conveyed in a tone that would not have upset anyone by coming off as merely informative instead of tattling.

    But... that's just me nitpicking social mores because I have nothing better to do and the weather is making me very very moody. If no snark was meant, anonyme, then that's peachy.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

14. ghar72
    Member Profile

    It was never my intent to dupe anyone. As I said in my first response to anonyme, I didn't know that when it flowers it dies. I didn't remove the CL post b/c no one's responded, so just haven't gotten around to it. Figured it got lost in the CL maze. My "multiple posts on horticulture" are actually quite limited and if you clicked on them anonyme, you'd see that typically I'm not throwing my vast amount of gardening wisdom and sage advice around...pretty new to it all myself. The link I provided in my ad was one of the first that came up when I searched for the species of bamboo.
    I was simply trying to get rid of some bamboo, thought someone might want it, and I could get a little bit back for what I paid for it.

    When I said that about the comment feeling snarky, what I meant was that I often cross my fingers when I post something, afraid that what I say is going to be taken the wrong way. I never thought posting an ad to sell some bamboo would result in THIS. I don't come onto this forum looking for a fight, although I suppose my "snarky" comment was looking for one. So...yeah Anonyme, my comment back to you was snippy, but I was feeling a bit attacked. But like I said to JoB, maybe I was misinterpreting your comment.

    And thanks Cait and KBear for coming to my defense, or at least pointing out that I'm not the only one who read anonyme's comments as being a bit "prickly" to quote Cait.

    If others continue to comment on this thread, I'm sure I'll read them b/c how can I not? But I won't comment anymore on it. I hope I've made it clear that my original post was innocent in nature.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

15. JoB
    Member Profile

    ghar72..

    if getting rid of the bamboo is the objective...

    you might try offering your bamboo to anyone who will come dig it up...

    Posted 1 year ago #         

16. anonyme
    Member Profile

    Last post. Ghar, it appears there was a lot of misunderstanding here and I, too, am dismayed at the direction this discussion took. We both seem to be feeling the same way - attacked unfairly and unnecessarily.

    I agree with JoB - offer the bamboo to the first digger. Or you could collect the seed and try to sell that instead. Fargesia is arguably the most desirable of ornamental bamboos, and someone might just want to start a grove from scratch.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

17. ToddinWestwood
    Member Profile

    

    If this clump does in fact go to seed, I would love to trade a 6 pack or growler for seeds.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

18. ghar72
    Member Profile

    Okay, I know i said I wouldn't comment again, but...Thanks anonyme, I appreciate that. I think it's way too easy to misinterpret the gist of the written word in forums. Sorry for calling you snarky.

    Toddinwestwood...you got it! If you know how to harvest the seeds of course. You're welcome to come by and check it out to see what you think. I'm in Westwood too. Email is ghar72 at gmail.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

19. JoB
    Member Profile

    i love a happy ending

    ****

    edited to take out double a a

    geez.. if the added or missing or substituted words i am catching are any indication of the quality of my posts today... perhaps a happier ending would start with me taking the day off :(

    might do that anyway.

    happy digging

    Posted 1 year ago #         

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