July 20, 2010 - My raised beds are so easy to weed because of their
extra height...
So, if that appeals to you, here's how I made them.
1. I dug up, enriched,
and surrounded with
small stones an oval in
the scorched, angular
corner of my garden.
(See how dry looking it
was? And, that's about
as good as it ever
looked.)
Though, the area in the
foreground eventually
sported sunflowers and
straggly corn. But it never looked as good as the raised bed.
2. Because plants thrive on water conserved by rocks I
wanted a raised bed using big rocks, but hiring help to
move them was going to be costly. So, a raised bed was
out of the question... until I found this cart that can
handle 250 lbs. And, it folds up for storage. Basically,
I rolled a big rock onto it, then strolled the rock to the
place I wanted it to be in my raised bed.
3. When I didn't have quite enough rocks, I built a
couple of large plastic pots into the bed.
4. I leveled the top, somewhat, by putting stones and clay on the ground
where I wanted a particular rock. It was easy to roll a rock up on top of
the clay -- But, overall I kept it to one rock a day. (I'm still recovering
from tetanus, and overdoing things sets me back.)
5. I mixed bark chips, compost and top soil in my shady corner and
carted it to the finished beds.
extra height...
So, if that appeals to you, here's how I made them.
1. I dug up, enriched,
and surrounded with
small stones an oval in
the scorched, angular
corner of my garden.
(See how dry looking it
was? And, that's about
as good as it ever
looked.)
Though, the area in the
foreground eventually
sported sunflowers and
straggly corn. But it never looked as good as the raised bed.
2. Because plants thrive on water conserved by rocks I
wanted a raised bed using big rocks, but hiring help to
move them was going to be costly. So, a raised bed was
out of the question... until I found this cart that can
handle 250 lbs. And, it folds up for storage. Basically,
I rolled a big rock onto it, then strolled the rock to the
place I wanted it to be in my raised bed.
3. When I didn't have quite enough rocks, I built a
couple of large plastic pots into the bed.
4. I leveled the top, somewhat, by putting stones and clay on the ground
where I wanted a particular rock. It was easy to roll a rock up on top of
the clay -- But, overall I kept it to one rock a day. (I'm still recovering
from tetanus, and overdoing things sets me back.)
5. I mixed bark chips, compost and top soil in my shady corner and
carted it to the finished beds.
April 14, 2008 - There were many bees in my pear tree today. Bees are
more difficult to photograph
than I had thought. Treating
them as if they were birds
doesn't quite work. As you
can see, the bee in the photo
at right is not as obvious as a
bird would be, and this is
with the image showing at
100%,
Last year I felt so lucky if I
saw more than one bee in an
hour. Today there were
dozens at one time in my
pear tree. :)
I even planted borage for them last year -- it's touted as their favorite
flower. But they hardly paid any attention to it, whereas they nuzzled into
the dandelions in a true display of love. I found one little one that must
have been out too late and been overtaken by the cold of the night or sheer
exhaustion, because it was curled up, asleep on a dandelion in the morning.
more difficult to photograph
than I had thought. Treating
them as if they were birds
doesn't quite work. As you
can see, the bee in the photo
at right is not as obvious as a
bird would be, and this is
with the image showing at
100%,
Last year I felt so lucky if I
saw more than one bee in an
hour. Today there were
dozens at one time in my
pear tree. :)
I even planted borage for them last year -- it's touted as their favorite
flower. But they hardly paid any attention to it, whereas they nuzzled into
the dandelions in a true display of love. I found one little one that must
have been out too late and been overtaken by the cold of the night or sheer
exhaustion, because it was curled up, asleep on a dandelion in the morning.
And my grape, which had looked dead for lack of water
last year, isn't. So maybe next year it will do grapes.
last year, isn't. So maybe next year it will do grapes.
When he kept saying how the tree was on his property, while he was
leaning far over the fence to cut it, he reminded me so much of President
Bush and Vice President Cheney saying there were weapons of mass
destruction in Iraq, when there were not.
I asked him if he was a
Republican, and he said it
was none of my business.
But I felt as if he was, as
if he didn't care that he'd
raised the temperature in
this area of our neighbor-
hood. I felt that he didn't
believe in global warming,
that if it was something
that didn't profit him, he
didn't care about it.
I asked him if he had stock in Halliburton. He had begun to look to me as
if he would enjoy profiting from the war in Iraq, from destruction and lies.
I was glad the tree had badly cracked one of his urns when it fell.
leaning far over the fence to cut it, he reminded me so much of President
Bush and Vice President Cheney saying there were weapons of mass
destruction in Iraq, when there were not.
I asked him if he was a
Republican, and he said it
was none of my business.
But I felt as if he was, as
if he didn't care that he'd
raised the temperature in
this area of our neighbor-
hood. I felt that he didn't
believe in global warming,
that if it was something
that didn't profit him, he
didn't care about it.
I asked him if he had stock in Halliburton. He had begun to look to me as
if he would enjoy profiting from the war in Iraq, from destruction and lies.
I was glad the tree had badly cracked one of his urns when it fell.
Mushrooms are an after-the-rain-in-
the-fall kind of thing. One description
said, "after a thunderstorm." I love
mushrooms, so when I found this 6 inch
wide, white mushroom in my garden I was
tempted to fry it up. But, that didn't seem
wise. Instead I went to a mushroom forum
and showed them my pictures.
It turns out that some big
white mushrooms are the
most deadly mushrooms of
all. So, I had to do a spore
print.
When the spores were
chocolate brown, I was on the right track to having an
edible mushroom. The fact that the gills don't attach
straight to the stem is another characteristic of this edible mushroom. But,
by now it had spoiled.
So, when I saw Portobello mushrooms to grow in the house I had to order
them. The tiny mushrooms have just come up and are darling, if I do say
so myself. This picture is of one of the many groups of little Portobellos. It
looks a little cloud-like... and cloudy because I took the picture through the
plastic tent. But, aren't they cute? My mouth is watering. Seriously.
the-fall kind of thing. One description
said, "after a thunderstorm." I love
mushrooms, so when I found this 6 inch
wide, white mushroom in my garden I was
tempted to fry it up. But, that didn't seem
wise. Instead I went to a mushroom forum
and showed them my pictures.
It turns out that some big
white mushrooms are the
most deadly mushrooms of
all. So, I had to do a spore
print.
When the spores were
chocolate brown, I was on the right track to having an
edible mushroom. The fact that the gills don't attach
straight to the stem is another characteristic of this edible mushroom. But,
by now it had spoiled.
So, when I saw Portobello mushrooms to grow in the house I had to order
them. The tiny mushrooms have just come up and are darling, if I do say
so myself. This picture is of one of the many groups of little Portobellos. It
looks a little cloud-like... and cloudy because I took the picture through the
plastic tent. But, aren't they cute? My mouth is watering. Seriously.
Gardening -
Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder
(Wait till you see how I'm beholding this...)
Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder
(Wait till you see how I'm beholding this...)
| A humble beginning... |
5/31/06 My garden is a tad uninspired
right now, I'll be the first to admit it. In fact,
there would be waist-high grass if it weren't
for me walking in a great circle around my
garden over and over again, to build up
strength.
This corner of my garden under the
Ponderosa was so completely not beautiful
that I hardly looked at it. But, now that I've
been walking here every day, I know this is
a very cool, temperature wise, part of my
garden. So...
right now, I'll be the first to admit it. In fact,
there would be waist-high grass if it weren't
for me walking in a great circle around my
garden over and over again, to build up
strength.
This corner of my garden under the
Ponderosa was so completely not beautiful
that I hardly looked at it. But, now that I've
been walking here every day, I know this is
a very cool, temperature wise, part of my
garden. So...
In March or April, after I received a Dharma catalog in the mail, I know
no reason why, I began to think about how neat it would be to have a
calming statue set among ferns under the Ponderosa. I thought ferns might
grow, despite this being high DESERT, because of how cool it is.
Thinking that I should raise the back corner so that the ferns would be
higher, as if they were on a little hill, and so that I could have other plants
beneath them, I collected the red cinder block edging (that I hated) and
arranged it to protect the fence bottom a bit; then I put stones on top of
the edging. You can just see the stones. I filled the area with Russian vine
clippings, leaves and dried grass that had overgrown my yard last year
when I had a tetanus relapse and I couldn't do anything outside.
As I dug beds in other areas for the plants I wanted to order, I used some
of the dirt to cover the leaves and grass. I'm thinking the leaves and grass
will compost into a moisture holding material. (I would have rescued some
fishing night crawlers from Wal*Mart, because they do such a dynamite
job of eating up leaves, but I was afraid I might crush them if I was still
working on the area and was stepping on it.)
no reason why, I began to think about how neat it would be to have a
calming statue set among ferns under the Ponderosa. I thought ferns might
grow, despite this being high DESERT, because of how cool it is.
Thinking that I should raise the back corner so that the ferns would be
higher, as if they were on a little hill, and so that I could have other plants
beneath them, I collected the red cinder block edging (that I hated) and
arranged it to protect the fence bottom a bit; then I put stones on top of
the edging. You can just see the stones. I filled the area with Russian vine
clippings, leaves and dried grass that had overgrown my yard last year
when I had a tetanus relapse and I couldn't do anything outside.
As I dug beds in other areas for the plants I wanted to order, I used some
of the dirt to cover the leaves and grass. I'm thinking the leaves and grass
will compost into a moisture holding material. (I would have rescued some
fishing night crawlers from Wal*Mart, because they do such a dynamite
job of eating up leaves, but I was afraid I might crush them if I was still
working on the area and was stepping on it.)
The dark area at the base of the Ponderosa, in the picture at top, is where
I dug out a Russian olive. I filled the hole with the original clay soil, to
which I added steer manure, and ... darn it, I can't think. Peat moss!!!! It
finally came to me. That's where I'm going to plant the wintergreen that I
ordered.
I dug out a Russian olive. I filled the hole with the original clay soil, to
which I added steer manure, and ... darn it, I can't think. Peat moss!!!! It
finally came to me. That's where I'm going to plant the wintergreen that I
ordered.
I wanted wintergreen because as a child I went "Up
North" to my maternal grandparents' cottage on Little
Lake St. Germaine where I loved seeing the bright,
little plant in the woods. When Grandpa told me it
was Wintergreen, he made it sound special. He knew
so much about plants, I credit him with my A in
botany. (I'll put in links in case you love looking at
plants and flowers as I do.)
North" to my maternal grandparents' cottage on Little
Lake St. Germaine where I loved seeing the bright,
little plant in the woods. When Grandpa told me it
was Wintergreen, he made it sound special. He knew
so much about plants, I credit him with my A in
botany. (I'll put in links in case you love looking at
plants and flowers as I do.)
Beyond the shovel in the picture at top you can see a small area that's
being edged with dark rocks. I'm planting pink lilies of the valley there.
Grandpa taught me the name of this plant, too. (not the pink kind)
being edged with dark rocks. I'm planting pink lilies of the valley there.
Grandpa taught me the name of this plant, too. (not the pink kind)
There was a bed of lilies-of-the-valley on the north
side of grandma and grandpa's home in Stevens
Point. It was all shade on that side, the narrowest part
of the yard edging right up to the neighbors'
driveway, so it was only once in a great while that we
played there, always noticing the little bugs with lots
of legs and shells that had bend places in them.
side of grandma and grandpa's home in Stevens
Point. It was all shade on that side, the narrowest part
of the yard edging right up to the neighbors'
driveway, so it was only once in a great while that we
played there, always noticing the little bugs with lots
of legs and shells that had bend places in them.
6/15/06 This is way more exciting than it looks.
It's my asparagus bed, in the making. (I just ordered
seeds, given how well the Bio Dome is working.)
And, it's 12.5 feet more garden than I had before --
see, this is a narrow, triangular corner of my garden
that's hard to do anything with; so I've used it as a
compost area ever since I bought my home about 16
years ago.
I've just dug the compost pile down, so it's not as
obvious as before. It used to start at the reddish rock
just above the hole, so you can see I was giving it a lot
of space.
It's my asparagus bed, in the making. (I just ordered
seeds, given how well the Bio Dome is working.)
And, it's 12.5 feet more garden than I had before --
see, this is a narrow, triangular corner of my garden
that's hard to do anything with; so I've used it as a
compost area ever since I bought my home about 16
years ago.
I've just dug the compost pile down, so it's not as
obvious as before. It used to start at the reddish rock
just above the hole, so you can see I was giving it a lot
of space.
The dainty plant on the
right is a mulberry
bush. Amazing! It's
been there ever since I
bought the house, I
think. As has a little
hydrangea I just found
straggling under the
edge of the deck.
These plants appear to
have hung on with no
care or appreciation.
But now, that's
changing!
When I was a kid one
of my favorite songs
was, "Here we go
round the mulberry
bush, mulberry bush,
right is a mulberry
bush. Amazing! It's
been there ever since I
bought the house, I
think. As has a little
hydrangea I just found
straggling under the
edge of the deck.
These plants appear to
have hung on with no
care or appreciation.
But now, that's
changing!
When I was a kid one
of my favorite songs
was, "Here we go
round the mulberry
bush, mulberry bush,
so early in the morning."That's the song that continues, "A penny for a
spool of thread, a penny for a needle -- That's the way the money goes,
pop goes the weasel." I didn't know that the song wasn't about a little
animal, a weasel, that it was about having to pawn the shoe making tool
called a "weasel."
I wonder if it would be wise to not let kids get attached to songs about
poverty...
Meaning: I wonder if I had liked a song about wealth if I would have had a
wealthy life. The thing is, I've had a rich life: When I lived in London I
was able to walk from my home in the derelict building (or equally from
my home on the preserved historic street next to Regent's Canal a few
years earlier) past The Eagle. In the song, part of the lyrics go, "in and out
The Eagle." It was the exact pub from the song, I was told. I loved
England because of how beautiful it is in the way you can see the work of
people over centuries and centuries. So, it was a part of my rich life to live
in England, and if a song about poverty is what made it happen, sort of
like an answer to a prayer, then I am delighted.
7/16/06 I like to sit in my cool corner and give my burdens to
the Angel of Divine Love. I attached a necklace my cousin sent me
some years ago to my fence, to give me something to remind me of the
Angel of Divine Love. It's been working quite well.
I have felt scared so much for the last several years,
for several reasons to include the foreclosures and
court things, as well as the tetanus which was
terrifyingwhen the muscle seizures happened
because they were so extremely painful. They
made me understand how torture could make
anyone say anything to stop the pain. My point,
however, is that by giving my burdens to the Angel
of Divine Love, I have regained some peace. (I hope
the primroses come back. I was sad they disappeared. Primroses are said
to spring up where there is love. I used to feel love for the earth and
people and America and so many many things. But the pain has taken
over, and that's not good. I want to get back to feeling love, not pain.)
spool of thread, a penny for a needle -- That's the way the money goes,
pop goes the weasel." I didn't know that the song wasn't about a little
animal, a weasel, that it was about having to pawn the shoe making tool
called a "weasel."
I wonder if it would be wise to not let kids get attached to songs about
poverty...
Meaning: I wonder if I had liked a song about wealth if I would have had a
wealthy life. The thing is, I've had a rich life: When I lived in London I
was able to walk from my home in the derelict building (or equally from
my home on the preserved historic street next to Regent's Canal a few
years earlier) past The Eagle. In the song, part of the lyrics go, "in and out
The Eagle." It was the exact pub from the song, I was told. I loved
England because of how beautiful it is in the way you can see the work of
people over centuries and centuries. So, it was a part of my rich life to live
in England, and if a song about poverty is what made it happen, sort of
like an answer to a prayer, then I am delighted.
7/16/06 I like to sit in my cool corner and give my burdens to
the Angel of Divine Love. I attached a necklace my cousin sent me
some years ago to my fence, to give me something to remind me of the
Angel of Divine Love. It's been working quite well.
I have felt scared so much for the last several years,
for several reasons to include the foreclosures and
court things, as well as the tetanus which was
terrifyingwhen the muscle seizures happened
because they were so extremely painful. They
made me understand how torture could make
anyone say anything to stop the pain. My point,
however, is that by giving my burdens to the Angel
of Divine Love, I have regained some peace. (I hope
the primroses come back. I was sad they disappeared. Primroses are said
to spring up where there is love. I used to feel love for the earth and
people and America and so many many things. But the pain has taken
over, and that's not good. I want to get back to feeling love, not pain.)
7/20/06 I took this picture
this morning shortly after
dawn. The thing is, this is
how my cool, shady corner is
in my mind.
When I'm stressed by
something, like the court
things, and I think about my
cool corner, this is how it
beckons to me in my mind.
During the day, the sun
outside my shady corner is
hot and parching, the shade
under the ponderosa pine is
not nearly so deep, and the
morning glories have retired,
but the haven quality remains.
this morning shortly after
dawn. The thing is, this is
how my cool, shady corner is
in my mind.
When I'm stressed by
something, like the court
things, and I think about my
cool corner, this is how it
beckons to me in my mind.
During the day, the sun
outside my shady corner is
hot and parching, the shade
under the ponderosa pine is
not nearly so deep, and the
morning glories have retired,
but the haven quality remains.
9/6/06 I've had so much trouble walking that digging and working in
my garden wasn't an option. I think the pain that caused my legs to all but
buckle under me is from the stress related to my condo. I got better when
the bankruptcy judge denied my motion to reopen my Chapter 13, but said
I could do an adversary proceeding against Deutsche Bank and its lawyer
for violation of the automatic stay. (He isn't saying the violation existed,
he's saying I can bring the case to court.)
I could barely get to the chair in my calm and lovely corner. But, knowing
that it was there was enjoyable.
Now, everything is overgrown except for the small but lovely corner. But,
I filed an appeal in the state case that foreclosed my condo and sold it
without any notice to me. I found errors in it, Again. But at least it is filed.
my garden wasn't an option. I think the pain that caused my legs to all but
buckle under me is from the stress related to my condo. I got better when
the bankruptcy judge denied my motion to reopen my Chapter 13, but said
I could do an adversary proceeding against Deutsche Bank and its lawyer
for violation of the automatic stay. (He isn't saying the violation existed,
he's saying I can bring the case to court.)
I could barely get to the chair in my calm and lovely corner. But, knowing
that it was there was enjoyable.
Now, everything is overgrown except for the small but lovely corner. But,
I filed an appeal in the state case that foreclosed my condo and sold it
without any notice to me. I found errors in it, Again. But at least it is filed.
9/26/06 In June I was picturing lots
of zinnias. But now, when summer is
past, there's only one.
Not much of my garden is the way I
pictured it. In June there was so much
time ahead of me that it didn't seem
like a problem that I can do so little at
one time. One shovelful, I thought,
adds up over a few days. And in truth I
got a lot done at the rate of one or two
shovelfuls at a time.
The thing is, there were times I had
trouble walking. So there were periods
when I didn't do even the small amount
I was counting on.
I've been depressed, looking at my
garden, and seeing how much it's not
what I had planned.
But when I focus on
the zinnia I am
thankful I planted it
and it came up and
flowered.
of zinnias. But now, when summer is
past, there's only one.
Not much of my garden is the way I
pictured it. In June there was so much
time ahead of me that it didn't seem
like a problem that I can do so little at
one time. One shovelful, I thought,
adds up over a few days. And in truth I
got a lot done at the rate of one or two
shovelfuls at a time.
The thing is, there were times I had
trouble walking. So there were periods
when I didn't do even the small amount
I was counting on.
I've been depressed, looking at my
garden, and seeing how much it's not
what I had planned.
But when I focus on
the zinnia I am
thankful I planted it
and it came up and
flowered.
*** If you are thinking you would like to do a bit of a garden, there's
a neat program from Microsoft called OneNote where you can put
pictures and things together really easily. You just have to drag things
from web pages, you don't even have to copy and paste. It came on
my new computer, so I don't know how much it would be to buy.
Later -- All of the pages disappeared and there was no way to
get them back! NOT my favorite!
I used OneNote to study the different plants that I wanted, to
become familiar with what the plants wanted. It was good for that,
but from my free experience with it, I sure wouldn't buy it.
a neat program from Microsoft called OneNote where you can put
pictures and things together really easily. You just have to drag things
from web pages, you don't even have to copy and paste. It came on
my new computer, so I don't know how much it would be to buy.
Later -- All of the pages disappeared and there was no way to
get them back! NOT my favorite!
I used OneNote to study the different plants that I wanted, to
become familiar with what the plants wanted. It was good for that,
but from my free experience with it, I sure wouldn't buy it.
http://www.health-boundaries-bite.com
- Your fingernails reflect your health --
Learn some warning signs --
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
6/3/06 I like Rosy Summersweet
and Fothergilla Blue Mist for the cool,
shady corner, and I'm rethinking the
would-be compost.
Though the catalog says Rosy
Summersweet "will grow in just about
any soil," I decided to move the compost
makings, dig a hole, put the makings into
it in layers with dirt, and build up the
area above with dirt, steer manure and
peat moss. That way I'll be planting into
rich dirt rather than a tangle of vine
stems and dirt.
But I can only do three spadefuls before
my muscles tighten, so this is taking a bit
long. It's worth while, though. (I was
surprised to see that the leaves in the
debris pile had composted already. The
vines and twigs were not so quick, so I
think this will be good.)
and Fothergilla Blue Mist for the cool,
shady corner, and I'm rethinking the
would-be compost.
Though the catalog says Rosy
Summersweet "will grow in just about
any soil," I decided to move the compost
makings, dig a hole, put the makings into
it in layers with dirt, and build up the
area above with dirt, steer manure and
peat moss. That way I'll be planting into
rich dirt rather than a tangle of vine
stems and dirt.
But I can only do three spadefuls before
my muscles tighten, so this is taking a bit
long. It's worth while, though. (I was
surprised to see that the leaves in the
debris pile had composted already. The
vines and twigs were not so quick, so I
think this will be good.)
6/10/06 I guess because of my brain damage, I was a little unclear
on which plants would arrive as plants, and which as seeds. Because I've
always bought my creeping thyme as little plants, I was expecting what I
was familiar with. But seeds arrived. Inside the packet was a small wax
paper packet with a trace of something in it.... apparently that trace was a
hundred seeds.
I tried planting about a quarter of them in a small container, but nothing
seemed to happen.
So, I ordered a greenhouse-like seed starter kit . It arrived yesterday, I
planted something in each of the cells, and today the two rows of Statice
are already sprouting. I'm going to take a picture of it, because if you have
kids, this is really instantaneous results and I bet they'd love it.
on which plants would arrive as plants, and which as seeds. Because I've
always bought my creeping thyme as little plants, I was expecting what I
was familiar with. But seeds arrived. Inside the packet was a small wax
paper packet with a trace of something in it.... apparently that trace was a
hundred seeds.
I tried planting about a quarter of them in a small container, but nothing
seemed to happen.
So, I ordered a greenhouse-like seed starter kit . It arrived yesterday, I
planted something in each of the cells, and today the two rows of Statice
are already sprouting. I'm going to take a picture of it, because if you have
kids, this is really instantaneous results and I bet they'd love it.
Okay, they aren't huge, but
you can see in the second and
third rows from the bottom,
tiny Statice sprouts. 6/10/06
you can see in the second and
third rows from the bottom,
tiny Statice sprouts. 6/10/06
I ordered a "natural" light, and it is just
great. It was really easy to put together
and it looks good. It's not the clamp kind,
and the base is very heavy.
great. It was really easy to put together
and it looks good. It's not the clamp kind,
and the base is very heavy.
Layer of compost makings
Now, I'm going to plant a
Beautyberry right where
the two fences are four feet
apart. (Beauty-berry grows
about four feet wide.)
Beautyberry right where
the two fences are four feet
apart. (Beauty-berry grows
about four feet wide.)
12/2/06 Planning for next summer. I'm thinking about kiwis,
honeyberry because it grows in the shade, a white peaches tree... astilbe
for the cool corner where the Summersweet turned out to be white rather
than rosy.
honeyberry because it grows in the shade, a white peaches tree... astilbe
for the cool corner where the Summersweet turned out to be white rather
than rosy.
2/21/07 I've been wondering if someone should have warned me what
it's like two months down the road from the happy, anticipatory days of
planting in Bio Domes.
I was thinking, "Echinacea, delfinium, Irish moss, astilbe, pansy, foxglove,
salvia blue queen and thyme (to start)" when I blithely got more Bio
Domes and put seeds in about 180 cells. It was so exciting I completely
overlooked the "180" part of it.
As they sprouted and I matched them to my layout map to see what was
coming up first, they were flourishing, compact and so fun. But... it soon
became clear that my January indoor garden was crying out for more root
room. At which point I opted for tallish, red, beverage cups... and the 180
part of it struck me.
it's like two months down the road from the happy, anticipatory days of
planting in Bio Domes.
I was thinking, "Echinacea, delfinium, Irish moss, astilbe, pansy, foxglove,
salvia blue queen and thyme (to start)" when I blithely got more Bio
Domes and put seeds in about 180 cells. It was so exciting I completely
overlooked the "180" part of it.
As they sprouted and I matched them to my layout map to see what was
coming up first, they were flourishing, compact and so fun. But... it soon
became clear that my January indoor garden was crying out for more root
room. At which point I opted for tallish, red, beverage cups... and the 180
part of it struck me.
The wooden boxes, as an aside,
were a wonderful way to hide all
my extra sponges, my seed
selection and my tools. (I have a
few very handy plaster of Paris
trowels that I use to get the little
plants out of the white cells.)
I've transplanted a few of the
perennials outside, and they are
doing very well. But I don't have
the beds ready for all of these, so
this is how my little planting table
looks now.
(Maybe it's messy, but it makes
me smile.)
were a wonderful way to hide all
my extra sponges, my seed
selection and my tools. (I have a
few very handy plaster of Paris
trowels that I use to get the little
plants out of the white cells.)
I've transplanted a few of the
perennials outside, and they are
doing very well. But I don't have
the beds ready for all of these, so
this is how my little planting table
looks now.
(Maybe it's messy, but it makes
me smile.)
2/21/07 The door blew off my Mason Bee home during the winter. I
just found it the other day. I wasn't able to walk very well toward the end
of fall, so I hadn't been outside in quite a long time. When I saw all the
straws exposed, the straws are made out of cardboard and are larger than
soda straws, I wondered if they had been ruined.
Surprisingly, they looked fine except for
grass that seemed to have blown into
several of them. By whacking the straws
on the side of a crock pot that had
broken in the cold, I was able to empty
the straws quite easily, except for one.
One was so tightly full of grass and bits
of weed that I had to whack it over and
over again, growing ever more amazed
that the wind could have driven the
weeds into the corkscrew shapes that
came out.
But then a shape came out that was like a flying creature of some sort that
was in a cocoon. My heart sank. I had been told that the bees would not
use my house last year because I put it up too late. Yet here was this poor
cocoon... not really a cocoon, more like a translucent envelope around the
shape of a flying insect.
If shaking a baby hurts it, then all the whacking must have been horrible
for the poor bee, if it is a bee. I put it back into the straw and put the door
back on. Gosh, I felt so bad, and still do. I bet the mother bee put all the
grass and weeds inside the straws for her baby, to keep it warm. Maybe it
would have been a queen Mason Bee and I would have had lots of
wonderful bees in my garden.
I hope I haven't jinxed my Mason Bee homes.
just found it the other day. I wasn't able to walk very well toward the end
of fall, so I hadn't been outside in quite a long time. When I saw all the
straws exposed, the straws are made out of cardboard and are larger than
soda straws, I wondered if they had been ruined.
Surprisingly, they looked fine except for
grass that seemed to have blown into
several of them. By whacking the straws
on the side of a crock pot that had
broken in the cold, I was able to empty
the straws quite easily, except for one.
One was so tightly full of grass and bits
of weed that I had to whack it over and
over again, growing ever more amazed
that the wind could have driven the
weeds into the corkscrew shapes that
came out.
But then a shape came out that was like a flying creature of some sort that
was in a cocoon. My heart sank. I had been told that the bees would not
use my house last year because I put it up too late. Yet here was this poor
cocoon... not really a cocoon, more like a translucent envelope around the
shape of a flying insect.
If shaking a baby hurts it, then all the whacking must have been horrible
for the poor bee, if it is a bee. I put it back into the straw and put the door
back on. Gosh, I felt so bad, and still do. I bet the mother bee put all the
grass and weeds inside the straws for her baby, to keep it warm. Maybe it
would have been a queen Mason Bee and I would have had lots of
wonderful bees in my garden.
I hope I haven't jinxed my Mason Bee homes.
I'm posting the picture today because when
I was outside this morning I saw two of
them... and they looked really happy with
each other. I wish I had a picture of the
two of them flying playfully together.
chocolate colored caterpillar that was eating
one of my grape vines. I should have. I'm
pretty sure it was related to these. (Or, I
like to think so.)
There's a special kind of plant these
butterflies are said to really like, and I have
them. But they aren't up yet.
I was outside this morning I saw two of
them... and they looked really happy with
each other. I wish I had a picture of the
two of them flying playfully together.
chocolate colored caterpillar that was eating
one of my grape vines. I should have. I'm
pretty sure it was related to these. (Or, I
like to think so.)
There's a special kind of plant these
butterflies are said to really like, and I have
them. But they aren't up yet.
March 25, 2007 - Cut and torn away is
the bough that supported the wall of vines
and flowers above my shady corner. My
garden is so much louder without it. There
is a major road not far away, and without
the vines and tree boughs the noise
bombards into my garden.
It made me ache to see the man saw into
the bough, then break it with a great tearing
gash. He said it was keeping the sun out of
his garden. I said I'd planted a shade
garden. When I looked over the fence, his
garden is mainly cement, gravel and
architectural urns.
the bough that supported the wall of vines
and flowers above my shady corner. My
garden is so much louder without it. There
is a major road not far away, and without
the vines and tree boughs the noise
bombards into my garden.
It made me ache to see the man saw into
the bough, then break it with a great tearing
gash. He said it was keeping the sun out of
his garden. I said I'd planted a shade
garden. When I looked over the fence, his
garden is mainly cement, gravel and
architectural urns.
3/30/07 - Joy! I was just thinking that it's hard to continue believing in
God when so many bad things happen. Judge Pfeffer just dismissed my
appeal without granting me the extensions I requested by motion as an
accommodation of my disability. It is discrimination for him to do that. But
I'm so tired and I've been so sick since the lawyer asked for a hearing
without letting me respond, that I began to wonder what had made me
believe there could be a basic Goodness in the universe. God.
I went outside, because I was thinking that maybe if I could break away
from the power I've given to the state district court, I wouldn't be feeling
so bad. I was supposed to have surgery on my jaw for an infection around
my old dental implants, but I postponed it because of the court case and
believing the court would not give me a continuance. But then the woman
who was supposed to give me a ride to the later appointment went out of
town on family matters and I had to postpone again. And I've been so
sick, and stressed by the court things and being denied the due process that
is supposed to be my right.
Okay, so I went outside, it's a cold grey day, and just sat in my chair on
my deck, soaking in the day. Being outside was lifting my spirits, and I
wondered if the Christmas roses would have bloomed a whole three
months the way it said they would, if I had deadheaded them. I went to
my shady corner to take a look at whether or not they were doing seeds.
When I was finished looking at them, and their very noteworthy seeds, I
wondered whether the man who cut down the tree boughs had found the
note I'd thrown over the fence, that had landed near his cement porch. I
looked over the fence and saw that it wasn't there any more.
I decided to sit in my shady corner for a bit, and was focusing on how my
Jack Frost is getting ready to flower, when I saw two stones I hadn't
noticed before. I went to take a look, and they were mushrooms.
God when so many bad things happen. Judge Pfeffer just dismissed my
appeal without granting me the extensions I requested by motion as an
accommodation of my disability. It is discrimination for him to do that. But
I'm so tired and I've been so sick since the lawyer asked for a hearing
without letting me respond, that I began to wonder what had made me
believe there could be a basic Goodness in the universe. God.
I went outside, because I was thinking that maybe if I could break away
from the power I've given to the state district court, I wouldn't be feeling
so bad. I was supposed to have surgery on my jaw for an infection around
my old dental implants, but I postponed it because of the court case and
believing the court would not give me a continuance. But then the woman
who was supposed to give me a ride to the later appointment went out of
town on family matters and I had to postpone again. And I've been so
sick, and stressed by the court things and being denied the due process that
is supposed to be my right.
Okay, so I went outside, it's a cold grey day, and just sat in my chair on
my deck, soaking in the day. Being outside was lifting my spirits, and I
wondered if the Christmas roses would have bloomed a whole three
months the way it said they would, if I had deadheaded them. I went to
my shady corner to take a look at whether or not they were doing seeds.
When I was finished looking at them, and their very noteworthy seeds, I
wondered whether the man who cut down the tree boughs had found the
note I'd thrown over the fence, that had landed near his cement porch. I
looked over the fence and saw that it wasn't there any more.
I decided to sit in my shady corner for a bit, and was focusing on how my
Jack Frost is getting ready to flower, when I saw two stones I hadn't
noticed before. I went to take a look, and they were mushrooms.
Totally beautiful mushrooms. I wish I'd cut
them off instead of pulling them up, because
there were more little mushrooms around the
base of their stems. When I saw the little
mushrooms I took the base out and put it back
where I'd found the mushrooms, and covered
it with some earth and leaves. You can see two
of the little mushrooms in this picture.
I just cannot tell you how happy this makes
me, and how sure I am that the judge is not
very important in the full measure of things.
them off instead of pulling them up, because
there were more little mushrooms around the
base of their stems. When I saw the little
mushrooms I took the base out and put it back
where I'd found the mushrooms, and covered
it with some earth and leaves. You can see two
of the little mushrooms in this picture.
I just cannot tell you how happy this makes
me, and how sure I am that the judge is not
very important in the full measure of things.
Aren't they beautiful? I've got to
go thank the forum people who
helped me identify them. (The
mushrooms are Agaric bitorquis.
Which are considered "Choice"
among edible mushrooms.)
Without the help from the forum
I wouldn't have been able to
have them for lunch.
This is the Mushroom Forum thread about the first mushroom I found:
http://www.shroomery.org/forums
go thank the forum people who
helped me identify them. (The
mushrooms are Agaric bitorquis.
Which are considered "Choice"
among edible mushrooms.)
Without the help from the forum
I wouldn't have been able to
have them for lunch.
This is the Mushroom Forum thread about the first mushroom I found:
http://www.shroomery.org/forums
I'm wondering
if these Chinese
pots I got are
toxic at all... if
the cadmium
leaches into the
soil... and
eventually gets
into the
plants... like
my avocado....
More on this...
if these Chinese
pots I got are
toxic at all... if
the cadmium
leaches into the
soil... and
eventually gets
into the
plants... like
my avocado....
I haven't worked on this page in ages... when my cool corner
became loud and sun-bright after the tree cutting... Well, let's just
say it wasn't as fun.
but here's a link to an interesting video on Permaculture;
And, here's a link to a dynamite article on composting.
became loud and sun-bright after the tree cutting... Well, let's just
say it wasn't as fun.
but here's a link to an interesting video on Permaculture;
And, here's a link to a dynamite article on composting.
Health Boundaries Bite
7/15/06 I am so happy with my garden. : ) Here's how my "cool
corner" is looking these days. It's the rainy season, so grass is sprouting
everywhere.
corner" is looking these days. It's the rainy season, so grass is sprouting
everywhere.
3/13/07 This is my favorite kind of butterfly. I took the picture last fall.
(The flower-like things are young morning glory seed pods.)
(The flower-like things are young morning glory seed pods.)
6/6/06 The bare root plants arrived this evening. They are quite
different than I expected. About a dozen plants arrived in one small box. I
had been so worried I wouldn't be able to carry the plants in, imagining
that they would be heavy. But this small box was light, filled with packing
popcorn, and once opened didn't seem to contain any plants. I had to
burrow through the packing material to find them. Some were long, egg
bean sprouts. Inside, once the saran wrapping was taken off, there were
very naked little plants, indeed. But with hopeful sprouting bits.
I'm glad I used the OneNote program (see footnote below ***) to plan
where everything would go, and keep track of the beds I had prepared.
Whew! I was able to immediately take the plants to their new homes. And,
there's a light rain, which I bet the plants are loving.
I did make a mistake with the bed for the lilies-of-the-valley, though: I
didn't add very much decayed manure. The instructions that came with the
plant said it likes decayed manure. I was thinking grandpa never put
manure over his bed, so I only faintly added any. Wouldn't you know it,
there's so much I can't remember, then the thing I remember is wrong for
the occasion.
Equally, I may have too much manure in the Creeping Wintergreen bed.
The soil looks a lot blacker than the soil in the other beds. My plan is to
watch the plant, which will be really easy because it is so cute -- it has one
red berry. (It wasn't "bare root.") If it starts to yellow or look distressed in
any way, I can take it up and amend the soil. At least, that's my plan.
different than I expected. About a dozen plants arrived in one small box. I
had been so worried I wouldn't be able to carry the plants in, imagining
that they would be heavy. But this small box was light, filled with packing
popcorn, and once opened didn't seem to contain any plants. I had to
burrow through the packing material to find them. Some were long, egg
bean sprouts. Inside, once the saran wrapping was taken off, there were
very naked little plants, indeed. But with hopeful sprouting bits.
I'm glad I used the OneNote program (see footnote below ***) to plan
where everything would go, and keep track of the beds I had prepared.
Whew! I was able to immediately take the plants to their new homes. And,
there's a light rain, which I bet the plants are loving.
I did make a mistake with the bed for the lilies-of-the-valley, though: I
didn't add very much decayed manure. The instructions that came with the
plant said it likes decayed manure. I was thinking grandpa never put
manure over his bed, so I only faintly added any. Wouldn't you know it,
there's so much I can't remember, then the thing I remember is wrong for
the occasion.
Equally, I may have too much manure in the Creeping Wintergreen bed.
The soil looks a lot blacker than the soil in the other beds. My plan is to
watch the plant, which will be really easy because it is so cute -- it has one
red berry. (It wasn't "bare root.") If it starts to yellow or look distressed in
any way, I can take it up and amend the soil. At least, that's my plan.
I didn't post a picture of the bed under one of the
pear trees, nor the gladiolus bed adjacent. I'll put
pictures here when the plants begin to come up.
The neat thing was that when I dug the small hole
for the Coral Bells, there were lots of earth worms.
In most of my garden there is nary a worm. I don't
know whether that's because my tenants were
bug-spray happy, or because it's been so dry.
In any case, I put a container of Wal*Mart night
crawlers under the pear where I hoped they would
turn the fallen leaves into castings.
Then I put several inches of manure, peat moss and
clay earth over the whole area, hoping it would be
to the worms liking. I guess it was. (If these little
earth worms were babies.)
I'm planting a Harlem Poppy in front of the
gladiolus. I'm hoping it looks good. (Once in
London I thought a flowered skirt would look good
with a striped blouse; I was so wrong.)
pear trees, nor the gladiolus bed adjacent. I'll put
pictures here when the plants begin to come up.
The neat thing was that when I dug the small hole
for the Coral Bells, there were lots of earth worms.
In most of my garden there is nary a worm. I don't
know whether that's because my tenants were
bug-spray happy, or because it's been so dry.
In any case, I put a container of Wal*Mart night
crawlers under the pear where I hoped they would
turn the fallen leaves into castings.
Then I put several inches of manure, peat moss and
clay earth over the whole area, hoping it would be
to the worms liking. I guess it was. (If these little
earth worms were babies.)
I'm planting a Harlem Poppy in front of the
gladiolus. I'm hoping it looks good. (Once in
London I thought a flowered skirt would look good
with a striped blouse; I was so wrong.)
March 22, 2008 - It's nearly a year since I lost the shade for my shady
corner. I sure missed having my quiet meditation spot after the leaves were
gone and the noise was loud from the highway not far away.
I've been having a hard time focusing hope on my garden. Last year I had
all my seedlings well under way when PNM shut off my heat and lights
and they all died. I planted them all again, but without the indoor DayLight
lamps and controlled environment they mostly languished rather than
flourished.
Now, I am facing foreclosure again, and it's hard to not be worried. I hope
I am still in my home this fall... but whether I will be is unknown. So, it's
been hard to focus on my garden, hard not to feel scared.
Then, yesterday I wondered if my daffodils from last year were going to
corner. I sure missed having my quiet meditation spot after the leaves were
gone and the noise was loud from the highway not far away.
I've been having a hard time focusing hope on my garden. Last year I had
all my seedlings well under way when PNM shut off my heat and lights
and they all died. I planted them all again, but without the indoor DayLight
lamps and controlled environment they mostly languished rather than
flourished.
Now, I am facing foreclosure again, and it's hard to not be worried. I hope
I am still in my home this fall... but whether I will be is unknown. So, it's
been hard to focus on my garden, hard not to feel scared.
Then, yesterday I wondered if my daffodils from last year were going to
September 2, 2006
have flowers this year. It seems like all the
daffodils I plant bloom one year, then do no
more than foliage forever after.
I planted these daffodils under my ponderosa
where sunlight hits the many fallen needles most
of the day. I put potting soil around the bulbs
before I realized that its moisture holding pellets
were not good for bulbs -- all my bulbs planted
that way in pots died, though admittedly the pots
were cadmium glazed. The pellets appear to have
culled only some of these daffodils.
In the same way I didn't see how bad my old
deck was until I saw a picture I took of it, I didn't
realize how sparse my daffodils were and how
straggly the surrounding "landscaping" was.
daffodils I plant bloom one year, then do no
more than foliage forever after.
I planted these daffodils under my ponderosa
where sunlight hits the many fallen needles most
of the day. I put potting soil around the bulbs
before I realized that its moisture holding pellets
were not good for bulbs -- all my bulbs planted
that way in pots died, though admittedly the pots
were cadmium glazed. The pellets appear to have
culled only some of these daffodils.
In the same way I didn't see how bad my old
deck was until I saw a picture I took of it, I didn't
realize how sparse my daffodils were and how
straggly the surrounding "landscaping" was.
March 28, 2007
The flowers are later this year, so I wonder how much better I can make
this look by the time they are up and open. This will be fun!
March 23, 2008
March 23, 2008 - It must be a lot drier this year,
or else this is the effect of not watering last year
after the beginning of October when they shut
my water off for a day and I hurt my back and
couldn't move without extreme pain.
There was pretty much snow during the winter,
but maybe the preceding months without water
were too much for the grasses and plants. My
Creeping Wintergreen looks dead, and so do a lot
of other plants, but maybe the others are dormant
for the winter. The Creeping Wintergreen is an
evergreen, so I think it is really not alive.
So far what I've done is put a rock by each
clump of daffodils and spread dirt mixed with
peat moss over the pine needles to even out the
look and to make them compost. Plus, I took
some of the compost from my avocado in the
living room and put it in a large Whey Protein jar
with water from my algae thick Britta pitcher and
I shook it for a count of 300 to mix up the micro
organisms, then I watered the dirt covered
needles with the mixture which I hope is "pro
biotic" rich for the soil.
I also planted a lot of seeds that I had for plants
that I love. They are all the ones I had last year
(shown above), but many of which died after my
heat and lights were turned off on April 4, San
Isidro Day, the Patron Saint of Agriculture.
I hope I can keep my house. (Meaning my garden that goes with it.)
I hope I can keep my house. (Meaning my garden that goes with it.)
April 12, 2008 - My daffodils are looking good and I'm inspired to believe
that I will be able to keep my home and garden. So, I'm going to see about
ordering a few more plants and possibly bulbs for my garden. (that feels
really good.)
April 13, 2008 - The picture from yesterday shows that the changes I've
made since March 23 don't make as much visual difference as I imagine.
Except that the raised bed behind the bird's water dish is much darker
because I raised it and added a lot of darker earth so
that I can plant some blue
geraniums there, that I've
already ordered. I doubt
they will bloom this year,
though.
This fall I'm going to plant
chionodoxa to the left of the
stones. Chionodoxa are the most
charming flowers I have ever
seen. I just love them. Here is a
picture of some of the ones
under my pear tree.
I ordered some plants two weeks ago, but I can't remember what I
ordered. I just have to trust I ordered things that will be good for this
location. I want to order some more things, but I also don't want to reorder
what I already ordered and I have a hard time keeping it straight.
that I will be able to keep my home and garden. So, I'm going to see about
ordering a few more plants and possibly bulbs for my garden. (that feels
really good.)
April 13, 2008 - The picture from yesterday shows that the changes I've
made since March 23 don't make as much visual difference as I imagine.
Except that the raised bed behind the bird's water dish is much darker
because I raised it and added a lot of darker earth so
that I can plant some blue
geraniums there, that I've
already ordered. I doubt
they will bloom this year,
though.
This fall I'm going to plant
chionodoxa to the left of the
stones. Chionodoxa are the most
charming flowers I have ever
seen. I just love them. Here is a
picture of some of the ones
under my pear tree.
I ordered some plants two weeks ago, but I can't remember what I
ordered. I just have to trust I ordered things that will be good for this
location. I want to order some more things, but I also don't want to reorder
what I already ordered and I have a hard time keeping it straight.
April 12, 2008
April 15, 2008 - Well, I did
better today. I took the pictures
earlier so that the wall behind the
pear tree wasn't glaring in the
sunlight and I used the zoom.
So, today I could find the bees in
the pictures.
I was going to read about
changing the shutter speed, but
for some reason I got sidetracked.
I think if I use a faster shutter
speed the bees might actually be
better today. I took the pictures
earlier so that the wall behind the
pear tree wasn't glaring in the
sunlight and I used the zoom.
So, today I could find the bees in
the pictures.
I was going to read about
changing the shutter speed, but
for some reason I got sidetracked.
I think if I use a faster shutter
speed the bees might actually be
as clear as the flowers, not that the flowers in this picture are that
clear. In some they are brilliantly clear -- but there's no picture where
the honey bees are clear. I have some shots of mason bees that are
really clear, so they must be a lot slower.
Anyway, this was lovely. The sound of all the bees around me when
I was standing amid the branches was lovely.
April 19, 2008 - When I was taking pictures of the bees I noticed
that the grass in front of the chair I sit in to shake the compost tea,
three hundred pretty sturdy
clear. In some they are brilliantly clear -- but there's no picture where
the honey bees are clear. I have some shots of mason bees that are
really clear, so they must be a lot slower.
Anyway, this was lovely. The sound of all the bees around me when
I was standing amid the branches was lovely.
April 19, 2008 - When I was taking pictures of the bees I noticed
that the grass in front of the chair I sit in to shake the compost tea,
three hundred pretty sturdy
This picture really
bothers me. It looks
so hard and old
fashioned.
Did you find the
bee? Look right from
"Last year I felt so
lucky if I..."
bothers me. It looks
so hard and old
fashioned.
Did you find the
bee? Look right from
"Last year I felt so
lucky if I..."
after the requisite shaking I changed to the sprinkler cover and shook the
tea onto my raspberries and several other groups of plants.
I am so eager to see how this works.
To make the tea I put about three heaping tablespoonfuls of compost
from the pot with my poor avocado that appears to have succumbed to
the cold in my living room, into the Whey jar and fill it about three
quarters full with water from my Brita pitcher that is coated with algae.
Then I take it outside, sit in the chair and shake it three hundred times.
The compost is from leaves, fruit peels, apples and pears that went bad,
watermelon rind, scraps of fish and meat, a dead black widow, some
spider webs, dead flies and moths, and coffee grounds -- all things I
thought would make a richly bio-diverse compost similar to what would
occur in nature if everything were left to enrich the earth, rather than
thrown neatly away.
Then, because the humus described in Secrets of the Soil is created by
aging cow dung in cow horns buried in the earth, I seasoned the
beginning mixture with probiotics dissolved in warm water. I have
pictures on my avocado page.
shakes, is much greener than anywhere else.
Since I water it all about the same amount, my
guess is that the drops of compost tea that escape
while I'm shaking are fertilizing the grass they land
on enough to make the difference.
I wouldn't think that would be possible except that
in Secrets of the Soil it describes making a very
particular compost tea and spraying it on a
relatively vast field, so that the concentration is
tiny. But, the book says, the results are a startling
increase in fertility.
Before I noticed how green this particular patch of
grass was, I was shaking up compost tea and
pouring a whole Whey bottle full for each set of
plants. Now, wondering if just a small spray would
work, and since I don't have much compost, I
made holes in a second cover to the Whey jar and
August 9, 2008 -- I saw a solar shower at Real Goods and wondered what
I could hang it on. (It would be so great to have a hot shower. It's been
years since my shower worked and I had hot water inside, so "great" is an
understatement.) I'm hoping the shower arrives today since the arbor I
ordered from Plow and Hearth is up and ready to support it.)
I could hang it on. (It would be so great to have a hot shower. It's been
years since my shower worked and I had hot water inside, so "great" is an
understatement.) I'm hoping the shower arrives today since the arbor I
ordered from Plow and Hearth is up and ready to support it.)
get one to grow against the adjoining townhouse where it edges my garden.
I feel sure that having the building covered in leaves and flowers will cool
my garden considerably during the summer, especially since simply
encouraging the weeds to grow has cooled my garden. (I found a web site
some years ago that showed how black asphalt was ten degrees hotter than
gravel, and, plants were ten degrees cooler than gravel.)
The natural clay of my garden makes
it a difficult place for many plants to
grow. However, once weeds have
penetrated the ground with their
roots and come and gone over a
couple of seasons they make
the earth a bit more garden like.
There are some lovely, low growing
grasses that thrive after weeds have
softened the ground for them. (But
in any case, I love dandelions: once
in London I ordered dandelion seeds,
much to the dismay of John the topologist.) I think that my desire for
dandelions must have had to do with my iron deficiency which was
constant before I had B12 replacement. (Dandelions are high in iron.)
In my arbor picture, above, you
can see toward the bottom right
my wasp swimming pool.
Why provide wasps with a
swimming pool?
Well for one thing, they love it.
If that isn't convincing, consider
how wasps take care of plants for
us so that we don't have to use
pesticides. Pesticides are known
to interfere with human brain
chemistry, so wasps do us a
tremendous favor when they
relieve us of the need to use
pesticides.
If you are afraid of wasps then perhaps you have never watched them
and out of fear have missed seeing how they work. They are quite
amazing! They fly along the leaves and stems of plants looking for aphids
and other small insects that attack plants, and taste good to wasps.
The other day I accidentally bumped into a wasp and noticed that it
immediately flew in a direction away from me which shows that they do
not attack the way that many people are taught.
I was taught something a little different by my mother. She was stung
repeatedly as a child by bees or hornets, I forget which, so that she had to
keep a kit to hand because the allergy she developed could be fatal if she
were ever stung again. What she told me, however, was that she was
attacked because some other kids had knocked down a hive or nest for
the "fun" of it and then run away on a path that took the angry creatures
to my mother. Her feeling was that the only reason she was stung was
that the other kids had destroyed their home.
9/14/08 -- I saw a fly that was so large I thought at
first it was a huge grasshopper. When it flew it was
the size of a hummingbird, but it was black, looked
like an armoured attack machine, and was carrying a
bee, clearly intent on eating it. The Google picture at
left of a Robber Fly doesn't show how menacing the
insect in my garden looked, but that's what it was.
Apparently Robber Flies eat spiders, and two of my
best ones are missing, as well as small snakes and
lizards. I didn't have small snakes or lizards.
first it was a huge grasshopper. When it flew it was
the size of a hummingbird, but it was black, looked
like an armoured attack machine, and was carrying a
bee, clearly intent on eating it. The Google picture at
left of a Robber Fly doesn't show how menacing the
insect in my garden looked, but that's what it was.
Apparently Robber Flies eat spiders, and two of my
best ones are missing, as well as small snakes and
lizards. I didn't have small snakes or lizards.
9/1/08 -- Here is a Katydid on a fall, fading grape
leave. It's missing one leg, so I guess it's had a
struggle in its life. (I rather identified with it.) It could
be one that hatched from eggs I found on twigs in
my big pot last winter. I had brought the pot in, but
after I saw the eggs I took it back outside for fear
that the abnormal temperature inside, in comparison
to outside, would cause them to hatch before there
was anything to eat.
I was surprised to read just now on the net that they
eat leaves, flowers, seeds, other insects and even
small lizards and snakes. I find that hard to believe.
leave. It's missing one leg, so I guess it's had a
struggle in its life. (I rather identified with it.) It could
be one that hatched from eggs I found on twigs in
my big pot last winter. I had brought the pot in, but
after I saw the eggs I took it back outside for fear
that the abnormal temperature inside, in comparison
to outside, would cause them to hatch before there
was anything to eat.
I was surprised to read just now on the net that they
eat leaves, flowers, seeds, other insects and even
small lizards and snakes. I find that hard to believe.
8/25/08 -- I was pretty surprised when I saw this in
my garden. I was going to go to a mushroom forum
to ask what kind of mushroom it is, but managed to
find it in my mushroom book, and low and behold, it
belongs, appropriately enough, to the genus Phallus.
At first I hoped it was a morel and sprayed it with the
hose to wash the black stuff at the bottom of the cap
off. Cleaned up it did look like a morel and its odor,
described as "fetid", actually smelled sort of sweetly
perfume-y when I picked it. Still, all my efforts could
not change it from a stinkhorn into a morel.
my garden. I was going to go to a mushroom forum
to ask what kind of mushroom it is, but managed to
find it in my mushroom book, and low and behold, it
belongs, appropriately enough, to the genus Phallus.
At first I hoped it was a morel and sprayed it with the
hose to wash the black stuff at the bottom of the cap
off. Cleaned up it did look like a morel and its odor,
described as "fetid", actually smelled sort of sweetly
perfume-y when I picked it. Still, all my efforts could
not change it from a stinkhorn into a morel.
I like the way the additional trellis frames the end of my deck. I'm
thinking of growing clematis on it, maybe the large, red flowered one
from Parks. (It says hummingbirds love them.) Or, possibly the blue
one that is long blooming and not as tall as many of the species. On
the other hand, maybe both of them would be good!
My original plan when I had my deck done was to have a wooden
fence to support my Navajo blackberries, with the fence being close
enough to the deck to act as a kind of railing. While the trellis is not
strong enough to keep someone from falling off the deck, it does
indicate where the deck ends.
I love clematis SO much! In London there was a house with an old
vine that had climbed well above the second story and covered more
than half of the brown-brick house in purple flowers during the
summer. I think that must have been the jackmanii variety. I want to
thinking of growing clematis on it, maybe the large, red flowered one
from Parks. (It says hummingbirds love them.) Or, possibly the blue
one that is long blooming and not as tall as many of the species. On
the other hand, maybe both of them would be good!
My original plan when I had my deck done was to have a wooden
fence to support my Navajo blackberries, with the fence being close
enough to the deck to act as a kind of railing. While the trellis is not
strong enough to keep someone from falling off the deck, it does
indicate where the deck ends.
I love clematis SO much! In London there was a house with an old
vine that had climbed well above the second story and covered more
than half of the brown-brick house in purple flowers during the
summer. I think that must have been the jackmanii variety. I want to
Fothergilla was great the
first year, but then suffered
from how dry it is here.
first year, but then suffered
from how dry it is here.
I bring the begonias in during the winter, and let them sleep. They die
back and give the impression that they are dead, but no, they are
sleeping. In the spring I add some fresh compost mixed with a bit of
peat moss to the top of each container.
Last year when I watered them too much, being afraid they couldn't
take the high desert climate, they dropped their flowers just when I
was most looking forward to them opening into greater display. This
year I water far more sparingly, and all is well.
I also bring in the aloe vera plants.
What is hard to see in the above image is the cyclamen which began
flowering just the other day. So charming! Plus, they are a delight
because they received hardly
any water. I was, in fact, sure
they had died or been eaten
by the ever ravenous
armadillo bugs. Then, I saw
them. A totally lovely surprise
on an otherwise somewhat
trying day.
Now that you know what they
look like, can you find them
in the top picture?
I'm ordering more bulbs for
the area under the begonia on
the right. (I had some lovely yellow flowers there,
which were lunch for the armadillo bugs. I no longer
like those bugs!)
September 14, 2009 - I've tried three different plants in the narrow corner
of my garden: The beautyberry hung on for a year and a half, then expired;
the butterfly weed, which is supposed to thrive in dry conditions, apparently
thought this too dry, and died.
The point is about ten feet higher than the garden on the other side of the
fence, so there's not much earth to shield water from evaporating away.
Finally I tried sedum which I ordered from Dutch Gardens, ice plant which I
grew from seed. So far... so good!!!!!
of my garden: The beautyberry hung on for a year and a half, then expired;
the butterfly weed, which is supposed to thrive in dry conditions, apparently
thought this too dry, and died.
The point is about ten feet higher than the garden on the other side of the
fence, so there's not much earth to shield water from evaporating away.
Finally I tried sedum which I ordered from Dutch Gardens, ice plant which I
grew from seed. So far... so good!!!!!
When it turned out to be
white I moved it to a pot
on my deck
white I moved it to a pot
on my deck
The wintergreen
died. Not sure
why.
died. Not sure
why.
The lilies of the
valley died, too.
valley died, too.
The Coral Bells
flowered this yr.
flowered this yr.
The glads kept
turning toward the
sunny wall, so I
moved them.
turning toward the
sunny wall, so I
moved them.
Oriental Poppy
Harlem
Harlem
75-watt Natural Light Energy Saving
Desk Lamp
Desk Lamp
August 28, 2009 - This is how my shady corner looks today, in contrast to
the picture from 5/31/06.
the picture from 5/31/06.
Variegated Beautyberry
April 3, 2010 - A rather downy, newly-woven-looking wind-downed
bird's nest under my ponderosa. And the birdhouse I made for it.
bird's nest under my ponderosa. And the birdhouse I made for it.
October 13, 2010 - My hyacinth bean is behaving as if it believes it has
several years at its disposal, so I checked the web to see if by some
chance it is a perennial. Low and behold in zones 10 and above it is. So
I'm thinking I'll cover the base of the plants with a lot of leaves or
something for the winter, and see if it springs up, come Spring.
several years at its disposal, so I checked the web to see if by some
chance it is a perennial. Low and behold in zones 10 and above it is. So
I'm thinking I'll cover the base of the plants with a lot of leaves or
something for the winter, and see if it springs up, come Spring.
December 4, 2010 - Spring! In the
depth of winter when I'm looking at
seeds and planning my garden, it
feels like spring.
This year, because I have my full
spectrum lights shining on my
avocados, I'm going to try planting
some seeds around the edges of the
huge avocado pots and covering the
seeds with small, round plastic food
containers (I'm imitating my Parks
Bio Dome seed starters which work
depth of winter when I'm looking at
seeds and planning my garden, it
feels like spring.
This year, because I have my full
spectrum lights shining on my
avocados, I'm going to try planting
some seeds around the edges of the
huge avocado pots and covering the
seeds with small, round plastic food
containers (I'm imitating my Parks
Bio Dome seed starters which work
I have always loved these
darling miniature pansies.
darling miniature pansies.
You don't need the pesticides in grocery veggies!
Many people unknowingly consume pesticides on a daily basis. "If you
analyse the fruit and vegetables we eat, they're full of chemicals," says
Serge Przedborski of Columbia University in New York, US. He adds
that traces found in foods can accumulate over a lifetime to potentially
harmful levels.
In 2006 the Annals of Neurology reported a study of more than 140,000
people that showed Exposure to pesticides - even at relatively low levels -
may increase an individual's risk of developing Parkinson's disease by
70%. Alberto Ascherio of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston
suggests that non-farmers may have encountered pesticides while
gardening.
Many people unknowingly consume pesticides on a daily basis. "If you
analyse the fruit and vegetables we eat, they're full of chemicals," says
Serge Przedborski of Columbia University in New York, US. He adds
that traces found in foods can accumulate over a lifetime to potentially
harmful levels.
In 2006 the Annals of Neurology reported a study of more than 140,000
people that showed Exposure to pesticides - even at relatively low levels -
may increase an individual's risk of developing Parkinson's disease by
70%. Alberto Ascherio of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston
suggests that non-farmers may have encountered pesticides while
gardening.
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wonderfully)... I hope the lights heat the soil under the covers and that the
seeds happily sprout.
I'm excited to see seeds for Johnny Jump Up Violas.
seeds happily sprout.
I'm excited to see seeds for Johnny Jump Up Violas.
October 15, 2011 - Planting seeds around my avocados and covering the
seeds with clear plastic containers did NOT work as well as Park Bio
Domes. It was much harder to keep the soil moist enough for seeds when
avocados do not like their soil to be very wet.
seeds with clear plastic containers did NOT work as well as Park Bio
Domes. It was much harder to keep the soil moist enough for seeds when
avocados do not like their soil to be very wet.
Mycorrihizai... is an important part of the soil, but a lot
of soil lacks the amounts necessary for the best plant growth. In watching
a video today I was astonished at how similar the plants grown without
adding Mycorrihizai were to mine... so, I'm ordering.
of soil lacks the amounts necessary for the best plant growth. In watching
a video today I was astonished at how similar the plants grown without
adding Mycorrihizai were to mine... so, I'm ordering.