tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349573151839897302024-03-06T12:00:26.600-08:00High Desert GardeningMy adventures in gardening (with Chickens) in the Northern Nevada High Desert.KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-65019782107585869932014-12-16T22:18:00.001-08:002014-12-16T22:18:52.339-08:00Beginning a new chapter of our livesAfter two years of renting and NOT digging in the dirt, we have saved our pennies and will be moving back onto some land. I will be chronicling our new adventures at <a href="http://thelittlebiddyhenhouse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Little Biddy Hen House</a>. Hope to see you there.<br />
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<br />KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-75307952273309752522012-07-15T13:07:00.000-07:002012-09-15T22:29:18.241-07:00Moving!After much deliberations, we have decided to pull up roots and move back home to The South. As a result, the chickens (including Kickstart) have been re-homed, as well as my kitty. And, I did not plant out a garden this year. Still, I cannot "not garden." The land and the cycles of the seasons are so much a part of me. Luckily, I have my apple trees and perennial herbs to amuse me. And, yes, I planted out a packet of beans. 24 bean plants almost doesn't seem like a garden. Still, it's better than nothing, and beans take almost no effort and are forgiving.
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But first, a vacation photo. Some people go to museums or amusement parks for vacation - my daughters and granddaughters and I went to a U-Pick strawberry farm in California! Oh how I long for enough home grown strawberries to make jam and syrup with!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alas, not My strawberry fields!</td></tr>
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And now for today's updates from the not-garden garden..<br />
I planted a mixed packet of bush beans. The yellow wax ones are coming on strong, and are ignoring the heat. The green ones are about a week behind. And so far, the purple ones haven't even set any tiny beans yet. They were planted at the same time and given the same neglect. Hopefully the purple ones will start setting soon. Yellow and purple are easier to see and harvest than the green ones.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Bean Harvest of the Season</td></tr>
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Apples doing well, and even hanging on during our wind storms; however, we won't be here to see them ripen. Well, the birds and chipmunks will have a feast. The really sad part is, even though I will water them deeply before we leave, all of my trees are probably destined to die.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They are about golf ball sized now.</td></tr>
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Oregano, Sweet Marjoram, Lemon Balm, Culinary Sage, and Silver Thyme all came back from last year and are doing well. I sheared back the Oregano a few weeks ago, but it is threatening to bloom again. I have harvested some of the sage. I love the soft, pebbly feel of the leaves. Sadly, my two foot tall rosemary did not survive the winter. Her dried stalks still smell great, though, and I've left the dead plant there so that I can rub my hands on it and capture that scent.
The 3 unknown day lilies have returned, and the two that get full sun are blooming.
Lizards continue to find my 3 little garden beds to be an oasis.
A few hardy tumble weeds have sprouted in the main area of the garden (where I did not grow anything and am not watering).
Took down my bird feeder and washed it out. It isn't super expensive, but enough, and it's going with me. ...as are my bearded irises!
And now, back to packing...<br />
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<br />KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-60446381122198877692012-05-30T06:07:00.000-07:002012-05-30T06:09:22.598-07:00Good Morning!Not sure why I woke up at 4:30 a.m., but glad I did. Lovely 50*F morning in the garden this morning. Golden sunlight. Unfortunately, I think I have dropped my phone one too many times, and the pictures are now a little out of focus. Still, a little sepia tone can fix a lot of issues. View of the chicken coop through the branches of my little Royal Gala apple tree from Stark Bros. I have no illusions that I will actually get to eat these - summer winds are sure to tear them from the branches when they are about golf ball size.
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Today's garden activities and comments
<ul>
<li>ate 6 strawberries</li>
<li>took some semi-blurry pictures
<li>watered everything
<li>weather predicted to be in high 80*s today
<li>did my morning exercise in the garden
<li>inhaled fresh, cool, <i>not dusty!</i> air
<li>listened to neighborhood roosters crow
<li>yellow clover is over 2 ft tall
<li>beans in beds 2 and 3 doing well
<li>one iris blooms
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Ok, now time to get ready for work. Maybe I'll take the top off of the Jeep. Starting out to be an excellent day.KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-54694131041812709822011-11-28T15:57:00.000-08:002011-11-28T15:57:19.634-08:00Seed Catalog Season Already?Thanksgiving brought some balmy days in the mid-60's (*F) and mild nights that only flirted with freezing. Bright blue skies and wispy clouds. Makes it difficult to believe that it could be Seed Catalog Season already! But it <i>is</i>, and my second catalog arrived this week - from <a href="http://www.totallytomato.com/">Totally Tomatoes</a>. The tomatoes have such delightful names, like Jaune Flammee, Tigerella, and Purple Russian. I want to buy them all!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5u3DAZ14Tvph1d2wbR2IKwbhyphenhyphenxzJFb3l-8XDsrIjG8_JcM9JVbZ8vzZbNREqiW1UWEax9bWrkSOjd3K2CfX-LGE7-7TpUelXid3F5-qef2o1k0SMY8SKeEgA_pfNkE00PgqW-cZej_YoB/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5u3DAZ14Tvph1d2wbR2IKwbhyphenhyphenxzJFb3l-8XDsrIjG8_JcM9JVbZ8vzZbNREqiW1UWEax9bWrkSOjd3K2CfX-LGE7-7TpUelXid3F5-qef2o1k0SMY8SKeEgA_pfNkE00PgqW-cZej_YoB/s320/photo.JPG" width="312" /></a></div><div>This week it is going to be down in the teens at night again - Winter is doing her best to arrive. All those cold desert days with barely a hint of green raises the odds that I will buy way more tomato seeds that I could possibly grow... Today is a breezy 54*F, though, and feels more like early Autumn, before the apple trees shed their leaves and the chill nights killed the last of the tomato plants. In keeping with that lazy Autumn feeling, here's a picture of one of my ducks napping in the warm October sun. Well, almost napping - the eyes are not quite closed yet.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dXOEoGMrCxlo1X4CtoP1qwy75zZfG8sPkMWrjr2b-58FR0BpY8ZsfFKi8yGc8thjwjQt1yb7x5o4PTl_IPXiHycod9gJJHUR-gi3KDCh4oFlT7Cvu0DYqQ3HNyeQ_GBneWWM-XevFg4A/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dXOEoGMrCxlo1X4CtoP1qwy75zZfG8sPkMWrjr2b-58FR0BpY8ZsfFKi8yGc8thjwjQt1yb7x5o4PTl_IPXiHycod9gJJHUR-gi3KDCh4oFlT7Cvu0DYqQ3HNyeQ_GBneWWM-XevFg4A/s400/image.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am so blessed to have had such a productive and enjoyable year in the garden. The soil continues to improve with every wheel barrel full of composted chickie-poo pine bedding. Automatic waterer did wonders to keep everything alive during the blistering Summer sun, and my flock were all to happy to devour excess zucchinis bigger than my arm! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... Hill Billy, Old German, Orange Strawberry, Merlot and Mexico Midget - tomato dreaming...</div><div><br />
</div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-15480729735325543022011-11-14T23:34:00.000-08:002011-11-14T23:34:12.190-08:00Been a long time since I've postedToo busy for words... but, as if I haven't anything else to do... my newest blog <a href="http://atinysliceofparadise.blogspot.com/">A Tiny Slice Of Paradise</a>. It isn't a blog in the traditional sense. It is, essentially, where I am transcribing my garden journal. Grouping everything by date. One might think that the two blogs would eventually merge, but I don't think so. They serve two different purposes for me. Well, we shall see...KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-73078973274506871282011-08-27T21:49:00.000-07:002011-08-27T21:49:03.987-07:00Vacation Time in Tennessee<div style="text-align: justify;">Spent one of our mornings at the historic <a href="http://www.carnton.org/carnton_history.htm">Carnton Plantation</a>. Although the outside has seen some wear and tear, the insides have been restored back to the original time period - sans carpeting in most rooms, so as to display the blood stains of the wounded Confederate Soldiers. Alas, they don't allow indoor photography, so you will have to visit to see it; however, there are no such restrictions on the outside or in the garden. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUumgWGYldW4pEdUFhGPrZbp5EYoSa5RYJ6DkAzjrBu1OvDRlTYh7Y6Lswpw3wUiTORX_iF2qIKe_Iq1GDa5AW3o1MXhCCQu7WnJ1KIdMVSTAPPcWYGM46BXgnYbIzjD36y2Q7gGQpfIJ/s1600/carnton-backporch-P8271744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUumgWGYldW4pEdUFhGPrZbp5EYoSa5RYJ6DkAzjrBu1OvDRlTYh7Y6Lswpw3wUiTORX_iF2qIKe_Iq1GDa5AW3o1MXhCCQu7WnJ1KIdMVSTAPPcWYGM46BXgnYbIzjD36y2Q7gGQpfIJ/s320/carnton-backporch-P8271744.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And, of course, being of the <em>homo sapiens jardinis</em> species, a brief hour in the gardens was just a tease. (Don't forget to click on the photo to view the full sized picture).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMJiGpffWszCFOUjimBA_uMnDGwsMsj9ODaJXvI-ef4Kkyrqb59dpL-zJNMh6myASMJbNflJ-pFPuojMv8dbXpkTNOeqlJG4whM13ogjPlOI4XsyJtkUokpydZuULLGQC5T_2QomnGWFh/s1600/carnton-garden-P8271789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMJiGpffWszCFOUjimBA_uMnDGwsMsj9ODaJXvI-ef4Kkyrqb59dpL-zJNMh6myASMJbNflJ-pFPuojMv8dbXpkTNOeqlJG4whM13ogjPlOI4XsyJtkUokpydZuULLGQC5T_2QomnGWFh/s400/carnton-garden-P8271789.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was somewhate disappointed by the gardens, thinking they would be well tended; however, there were weeds in the beds and cherry tomatoes seemed to have been allowed to sprout and grow randomly. And, of course, I was visiting at the end of the season, so the bearded irises were sporting berries and most of the flowers were beginning to put out seed heads. Still, there were many delightly little vingets to be had. For example, bees that were as big as the first joint of my thumb and darn near as fat. Their favorite food? Some purple runner beans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilS1IzPW5WdhRLOlK5XQK-gWCCeGfhqRq964C6nLNno5jwZkmW1gno-zJLbYw6DRvRpa8FprjaFy0GiqLXQI8woDjiLiw8RnGnfZq2Ekg9suzvMycFDfBvBlhocS9q7QCDRkAglminN9nr/s1600/Bee1-P8271798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilS1IzPW5WdhRLOlK5XQK-gWCCeGfhqRq964C6nLNno5jwZkmW1gno-zJLbYw6DRvRpa8FprjaFy0GiqLXQI8woDjiLiw8RnGnfZq2Ekg9suzvMycFDfBvBlhocS9q7QCDRkAglminN9nr/s320/Bee1-P8271798.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And, the little copper colored butterflies that I chased in my youth, hundreds of them enjoying the late summer bounty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWNd6r5LcEOjtABk-02UAiS9qWUH-cUVCSXoezSkyLuLbbFs8TSg5AZW4uSA74tQ8lpfsgPRtiATvOwY4bnCKanSP92X6dkVsQSPAHP48vrAxYOH1EdwA83l3_3oeETAJerN1KmJM0PUP/s1600/Bfly1-P8271804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWNd6r5LcEOjtABk-02UAiS9qWUH-cUVCSXoezSkyLuLbbFs8TSg5AZW4uSA74tQ8lpfsgPRtiATvOwY4bnCKanSP92X6dkVsQSPAHP48vrAxYOH1EdwA83l3_3oeETAJerN1KmJM0PUP/s320/Bfly1-P8271804.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4gNJgTJ0JE-2C3f9_6CawKKIjeHChZ1benLDYaXdvHSQnJ4fS0HfjcLhuJO-bDj470OD1TESsVPxAwMqF4k2nayPpC8CSed_iMVbh-4IOY4-6sa1WmL2ZU8Sq4Ye7rriJneH_rHou2Ui/s1600/bfly2-P8271806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4gNJgTJ0JE-2C3f9_6CawKKIjeHChZ1benLDYaXdvHSQnJ4fS0HfjcLhuJO-bDj470OD1TESsVPxAwMqF4k2nayPpC8CSed_iMVbh-4IOY4-6sa1WmL2ZU8Sq4Ye7rriJneH_rHou2Ui/s320/bfly2-P8271806.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I love my little garden in the desert; but sometimes, I really miss living in Dixie.</div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-12797955703128864422011-08-01T05:00:00.000-07:002011-08-01T05:00:10.557-07:00Current StatusCurrent state of the garden:<br />
<ul><li><b>Sunflowers </b>- 10 in bloom in the main sunflower location - one "Mammoth" has a central disk about 8" across; however, most have central disks closer to 5 and 6 inches. Both of the ones in Raised Bed 2 are blooming, as are two of the volunteers (from bird seed) near the nectarine tree. About 10 more main buds. Good soil, good water means that many of them look like they will have smaller "side buds" that will bloom later one. Need to protect the ripening heads from birds and other creatures.</li>
<li><b>Corn </b>- first set is beginning to tassel. Second set is growing strong, as well as the bush beans planted in between them. The sunflowers planted between them, of course, have been devoured by some wildling. I am thinking of planting more corn next weekend - a losing bet to get ripening ears of corn out of them; however, I am sure the chickens will enjoy tearing it up at the end of the season when they are let loose in the garden to eat and till things under.</li>
<li><b>Bush beans</b> - in full swing. They will probably be done with their crop in a few weeks. Then time to till them under.</li>
<li><b>Dow Gawk</b> (Asparagus or Yard Long Beans) - the ones in the corn are starting to flower; the new ones planted against the fence along the South are barely surviving. The ones by the dead apple tree keep getting eaten up.</li>
<li><b>Blackeye Peas</b> and <b>Purple Hull Peas</b> - are both beginning to bloom and set tiny bean pods. The blooms are lavender and turn brownish after pollination. A few more weeks and we will have "shelly peas." One nice thing about them is that they hold the bean pods high above the plant, so they are easy to see.</li>
<li><b>Cukes </b>- They are producing the first of their flowers and fruits; however, I think the heat and water stress are causing them to ripen small and fast. The 3 inch ones I plucked today were prickly and bitter. But the chickens like 'em!</li>
<li><b>Blue Bedder Salvia</b> (Ornamental Sage) - Has so far survived critter depredations and has its first buds. It is a perennial, so maybe I will get lucky and see them again next year. I have 3 small plants that have survived so far.</li>
<li><b>CA Poppies</b> - 3 plants are barely surviving, and one is actually thriving and blooming. One bloom is done, one is open, and 3 more will be ready later this week. The plant is small, and the blooms are small, but perhaps next year's seed will sprout sooner and be stronger by this time of year.</li>
<li><b>Morning Glories</b> - in all locations, MGs and Moon Flowers are suffering from being too tasty. They are prolific and vigorous, so the plants aren't dead, yet - but they don't actually get a chance to thrive. A casualty of laziness and a disinclination to use synthetic chemicals. I heard about a fermented solution of garlic and hot peppers that is supposed to keep critters away. I might try some next year.</li>
<li><b>Raspberry</b> - lives and looks healthy - but not flower buds yet, so no fruit. But it lives, so that is a grand improvement over its several predecessors. </li>
<li><b>Strawberries </b>- The runners from three hen-pecked plants have re-filled bed two, and I have foolish hopes that next year I will have strawberries to eat.</li>
<li><b>Silver Thyme</b> - done blooming, and now going to seed.</li>
<li><b>Rosemary </b>- finished blooming a while ago, but still sending up new shoots. This is the longest into Summer that it has ever done so. I wonder if it is because of our relatively cool weather, or if it is just because it is big and old enough to do so now, or some combination thereof.</li>
<li><b>Oregano </b>- some that I let go to flower looks lovely; the rest looks tired. Much of it is getting woody. I think it may be time to give it a sharp trimming so it will grow mostly on tender new stems next year.</li>
<li>Melissa (<b>Lemon Balm</b>) - Looks sad and brown around the edges as it always does this time of year.</li>
<li><b>Day Lilly</b> - the one in sun has bloomed several times this season; the other two, not. I should move the other two now so that they have time to become established before winter. I am actually quite surprised that they came back this year - they were looking quite poorly at the end of last season.</li>
<li>Desert Mallow - my original weed in Raised Bed One from several years ago is in great decline. I think she is done. The good news is, I sprinkled seed in Raised Bed Three last year, and one of her progeny has taken root there and is looking quite vigorous. Perhaps at the end of this season, it will be time to rip out the original plant.</li>
<li><b>Unknown summer squashes</b> - probably yellow straight neck, yellow crook neck, a patty-pan and some more zukes. Laziness means that I will be surprised when they produce. They should be ready to bloom in about 4 more weeks - in time to get some good squash before frost. They are, of course, planted too close together. I cannot seem to bring myself to either plant further apart or to thin.</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdURB7ylvBVnmPvlrckRcXGQNM8ZXGBuFOU1mKcUWLnnZMlFqN1y8RpnW_Z2vuCy7FSO-Qp_IDIU64SAiIgQgivD2Urs7-7icV2BvUOLPjYUwCfATCSPuw1AM4z4Q7EpmL77c4khLyJGn4/s1600/duckie-P7241325-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdURB7ylvBVnmPvlrckRcXGQNM8ZXGBuFOU1mKcUWLnnZMlFqN1y8RpnW_Z2vuCy7FSO-Qp_IDIU64SAiIgQgivD2Urs7-7icV2BvUOLPjYUwCfATCSPuw1AM4z4Q7EpmL77c4khLyJGn4/s400/duckie-P7241325-small.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ducky enjoying the kiddie wading pool. They really <i>are</i> waterproof.</div><br />
<ul></ul>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-29373764978193265692011-07-31T05:00:00.000-07:002011-07-31T05:00:00.971-07:00Harvest Begins<div style="text-align: justify;">Gathered enough green beans today (and a tiny purple one that I couldn't resist) to actually have enough to eat as a side dish today. There are still 30 or more tiny, tiny ones that will hopefully be ready to eat next weekend when I return home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCI716OIFZzqJJZVcZ71qfYdMx0tteXp26qIgDtno76TqKbbOnvfSx35T3lgRWP3NqjEVkXNA6ZPDnNUJvQmSKeCErhEtLROyttFzMZV0CRi-pGUiyFcsPHUxnH_A_oSIuCJv43vRGX6B/s1600/beans-P7301488-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCI716OIFZzqJJZVcZ71qfYdMx0tteXp26qIgDtno76TqKbbOnvfSx35T3lgRWP3NqjEVkXNA6ZPDnNUJvQmSKeCErhEtLROyttFzMZV0CRi-pGUiyFcsPHUxnH_A_oSIuCJv43vRGX6B/s320/beans-P7301488-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The harvest actually started in June with the first of the garlic. This place is from last week - the last of the small garlics to be cured and the first little beans to be picked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunVJC-MprgIbsBWY28KYcvPVrrns_B_jPtSxLKkMGRevXIoam9VSNyxMxoYfBxvdshHQnkZ5F51O-GdxIbMJbzOx4O1b_tQSpiPbqm0oAZWRw2T5yCYrpDEE2Bzsi-xihZGVmwn7ywi6D/s1600/garlic-P7241377-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunVJC-MprgIbsBWY28KYcvPVrrns_B_jPtSxLKkMGRevXIoam9VSNyxMxoYfBxvdshHQnkZ5F51O-GdxIbMJbzOx4O1b_tQSpiPbqm0oAZWRw2T5yCYrpDEE2Bzsi-xihZGVmwn7ywi6D/s320/garlic-P7241377-small.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I just love the colors and textures of the hard necked garlics. It was a cool, wet Spring, and many of the garlics did not bulb up as much as I expected. Still, my house smells either delightful - or stinky - right now, depending how much one loves the stinky rose.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBvMDQFdrnCnnvUqUOVlP8psxSUAQ4PI6PwervZZLSihvvJiYDrMlKR4NTJyzDy5q4PC0jTWfgnYquULaTgzzqRKG15slamhDDs5CkympPQtgUnJWpbDpmq28ntMAXRWpX3rbNLVg82Ep/s1600/Garlic-P7241381-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBvMDQFdrnCnnvUqUOVlP8psxSUAQ4PI6PwervZZLSihvvJiYDrMlKR4NTJyzDy5q4PC0jTWfgnYquULaTgzzqRKG15slamhDDs5CkympPQtgUnJWpbDpmq28ntMAXRWpX3rbNLVg82Ep/s320/Garlic-P7241381-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Herbs that were chopped fine and added to my home grown eggs this morning: a sage leaf, a touch of oregano, and some tender new growth from my rosemary. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oDs6_mIQReFcWaryoyXu22nCHxqgWkLu7bJw4MIKWrHC_fbR8mpFbLbkGVV6Dlc3KSidQaAx2AwifcQuMFJRmmv0bkKFjSqnVzGq22pIJZgTWQ_RXC_GB7K-OPBX4Z9YhxE-DKoTVznV/s1600/herbs-P7301492-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oDs6_mIQReFcWaryoyXu22nCHxqgWkLu7bJw4MIKWrHC_fbR8mpFbLbkGVV6Dlc3KSidQaAx2AwifcQuMFJRmmv0bkKFjSqnVzGq22pIJZgTWQ_RXC_GB7K-OPBX4Z9YhxE-DKoTVznV/s320/herbs-P7301492-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I worried about taking my eye off the zukes for 5 seconds to go on business travel. While I did not find any that were baseball bat sized, I <i>did</i> find one that was as long and as thick around as my fore arm! Won't have time to do anything with it, and there are 5 young ones on the vine right now, so I think I will slice it length-wise and let the chickies devour it tomorrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrmtee0LwkVFPFpLfUtYJpb8vqXHkCB0wCf0juYMmbhq5_nn8zAiOOj2zMJr2kyJMMYk5W1fPS4V-T0f3sO-peR1W5lTSHVhCWDlGHTEAZUgLV3KbpY6785-qwvxQepZ94gXGNd4HKNVt/s1600/zuke-P7301485-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrmtee0LwkVFPFpLfUtYJpb8vqXHkCB0wCf0juYMmbhq5_nn8zAiOOj2zMJr2kyJMMYk5W1fPS4V-T0f3sO-peR1W5lTSHVhCWDlGHTEAZUgLV3KbpY6785-qwvxQepZ94gXGNd4HKNVt/s320/zuke-P7301485-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-2949632139525561072011-07-30T23:54:00.000-07:002011-07-30T23:54:17.061-07:00Critters in the Garden Day<div style="text-align: justify;">Over a dozen sunflowers are blooming in various places in the garden - and the bees are intimately familiar with all of them. Often times 2, 3 or more bees will be collecting pollen and nectar. Note the pollen-filled legs of these buzzing ladies. (Click on the photo for a larger version)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHFoez6T6lW-CVBhlAxNvAta9E6UobBWfqBBMLubQng4sm41KGXrvnwx741lNNDCaXNzzk0bn0JH4JXYPPqR9-x_v6g5lC7PgaGG84I3BiZ3NF6QGaChZ330lE4wrLhdygV1_WjjjuOvf/s1600/bdd-P7301435-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHFoez6T6lW-CVBhlAxNvAta9E6UobBWfqBBMLubQng4sm41KGXrvnwx741lNNDCaXNzzk0bn0JH4JXYPPqR9-x_v6g5lC7PgaGG84I3BiZ3NF6QGaChZ330lE4wrLhdygV1_WjjjuOvf/s400/bdd-P7301435-small.jpg" width="353" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8sioYvPNlDXZv17ishg4yXslUeS9uvl1-Kou3kiCrwhIAa8WRT1Hn0a0dPZctRvZ8dxF_3hyILHK_YPT56HBCRVnfQUAMQLsmTTIL4j5ehWgEXPEIz9Y9q-7NXZKBybj0fjqFMden4Ql/s1600/bee-P7301431-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8sioYvPNlDXZv17ishg4yXslUeS9uvl1-Kou3kiCrwhIAa8WRT1Hn0a0dPZctRvZ8dxF_3hyILHK_YPT56HBCRVnfQUAMQLsmTTIL4j5ehWgEXPEIz9Y9q-7NXZKBybj0fjqFMden4Ql/s320/bee-P7301431-small.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7f8sYedO0TEs_fFkFABB89McOKsLWjmRlrR1p88JHxx_GtZGNer8s68P9Y_JZS0iQkTu2XzwGItBed1ZQz2F2W1eocV5Cn2gLiGfBkrzgm72DEEeen_UBCNwaNgLkJwsjdRfmgbgFoNT/s1600/bees-P7301439-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7f8sYedO0TEs_fFkFABB89McOKsLWjmRlrR1p88JHxx_GtZGNer8s68P9Y_JZS0iQkTu2XzwGItBed1ZQz2F2W1eocV5Cn2gLiGfBkrzgm72DEEeen_UBCNwaNgLkJwsjdRfmgbgFoNT/s400/bees-P7301439-small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Besides the buzzing of bustling, busy bees, there is also the humming of dragon flies as they patrol the skies for mosquitoes and other flying, biting things. This one rests on the tip of my dead cherry tree. See - laziness on my part (in clearing the dead tree) provides a place to relax for this mighty hunter!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVtlGEPW4RL4mRQQlcdLgquy7_INnRqKMG79Mbr09qU25YExq0LIfTIgyKa1w7NsBQfWhepQiGFk_zfev9wwRmDGTpQYR3nAjAT4C_veuayMECxH1j2T7zWifcqvpC5DW7s161XRYQX7q/s1600/Dragon-P7301408-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVtlGEPW4RL4mRQQlcdLgquy7_INnRqKMG79Mbr09qU25YExq0LIfTIgyKa1w7NsBQfWhepQiGFk_zfev9wwRmDGTpQYR3nAjAT4C_veuayMECxH1j2T7zWifcqvpC5DW7s161XRYQX7q/s400/Dragon-P7301408-small.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Speaking of hunters, not only gatherers frequent the sunflowers. Several of these spiders also frequent the sunflower disks. Their legs are a semi-translucent white color that picks up the yellow hue of the sunflowers - making them appear to be just a light yellow dot on the disk - nothing threatening looking at all. I haven't seen what it eats, yet, but a number of little gnat-like creatures also seek sustenance from the sunflower, so I suspect those are what this arachnid hunts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkuYYrLpKtHU8AO84muP-Bm3qIUsK6X7tHCDy0-2qpFd1jWwbsrZmRuj8Cz7SzoMbkWV46V3BIZN4mHeYUWZ0jyiLuvMEn5i3mjzaNz6BmYwAFt9mfp1tlTY39zUuD5NDDNboIuBNNT-K/s1600/apider-P7301444-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkuYYrLpKtHU8AO84muP-Bm3qIUsK6X7tHCDy0-2qpFd1jWwbsrZmRuj8Cz7SzoMbkWV46V3BIZN4mHeYUWZ0jyiLuvMEn5i3mjzaNz6BmYwAFt9mfp1tlTY39zUuD5NDDNboIuBNNT-K/s320/apider-P7301444-small.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another hunter, but not of the insect or arachnid family - a local lizard that frequents the garden. Here it is chomping on an ant. We are fairly used to one another, so if I move slowly, I can often get withing 3 feet of this one before it scampers off. I try and back away before invading it's personal space, however, and I think this contributes to its tolerance of me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dlDXx7WQujgQoWFARQHkZy1IKl51qGSFf4IxtnHMr5GXzKcD24n_wRWbHKXCICRcM5XITqoWvXsrVozojDys9gGC54u1Tu9Bg7LlrJMuByAHOL09VriEFj14Ba3bjBMeJL_LyFBhza6z/s1600/lizard-P7301452-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dlDXx7WQujgQoWFARQHkZy1IKl51qGSFf4IxtnHMr5GXzKcD24n_wRWbHKXCICRcM5XITqoWvXsrVozojDys9gGC54u1Tu9Bg7LlrJMuByAHOL09VriEFj14Ba3bjBMeJL_LyFBhza6z/s400/lizard-P7301452-small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, <i>this</i> critter is <i>not</i> allowed in the garden to place. He continues the canine tradition of the "race track" around the garden/chicken run, and so runs his laps while I am puttering around inside the fence. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9kY5tPvDsRG1QbElrUVtar_4uaK3TlrpLIJCpV8C3S_h-YylUb5Xkwh0glES9P7lU6v3qNIx-00h5L7RO8Zs2icL65zexYIJCdAopX5jKgZayTLWoR47-CgynE_22cHArEzUn2aXDcqJ/s1600/Scout-P7241386-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9kY5tPvDsRG1QbElrUVtar_4uaK3TlrpLIJCpV8C3S_h-YylUb5Xkwh0glES9P7lU6v3qNIx-00h5L7RO8Zs2icL65zexYIJCdAopX5jKgZayTLWoR47-CgynE_22cHArEzUn2aXDcqJ/s320/Scout-P7241386-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-75039408882941997672011-07-24T17:59:00.000-07:002011-07-24T17:59:12.487-07:00Random Photo Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Some early morning photos from this morning. Nothing fancy or revolutionary - just a nice little walk around the garden before the blazing sun warms everything up. The rule of thumb is, 60*F by 6 am, 70*F by 7 am, 80*F by 8 am, and 90*F by noon. Remember, you can click on the photo for a larger version.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwNxkZ1y1mRZDUSNreg4CGyCEQ5RDlIVsaJc-z-OoTjkzScauorNz1OGhlzylsIpxnsQh4YG4mIZ3CNs313YLM76p4uXfGp6TAUivukLsYa9EN6tAFwTJn37CBf-5h2wwm5SCXOY5n8pE/s1600/apple-P7241340-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwNxkZ1y1mRZDUSNreg4CGyCEQ5RDlIVsaJc-z-OoTjkzScauorNz1OGhlzylsIpxnsQh4YG4mIZ3CNs313YLM76p4uXfGp6TAUivukLsYa9EN6tAFwTJn37CBf-5h2wwm5SCXOY5n8pE/s400/apple-P7241340-small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just a few years ago this apple tree was a mere stick, barely bigger in diameter than my thumb. It now sports a trunk bigger around than my wrist. Fickle Desert Spring froze all the buds this year, so no apples. Still, it is nice and green - and I harvest the suckers (some call them water sprouts) for the ducks and chickens to dine on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5IuaTkdsyDLfgf4jPec2n_t2KALqpf1ikIKHR7hrzAjsaTllDzJo4kzI78TVCZWyVglMSxrRnhnepxHFXhWIbDG0gXd71B9UggnJFi_pkB7BoW1gtxSYR13hAY_AlniuuiBWJCf-dPga/s1600/bean-P7241211-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5IuaTkdsyDLfgf4jPec2n_t2KALqpf1ikIKHR7hrzAjsaTllDzJo4kzI78TVCZWyVglMSxrRnhnepxHFXhWIbDG0gXd71B9UggnJFi_pkB7BoW1gtxSYR13hAY_AlniuuiBWJCf-dPga/s320/bean-P7241211-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> This is a purple bush bean called <i>Velour</i>. The flowers and stems are purple, and some of the leaves have purple flecks in them. The tiny beans (the one in the photo is about an inch long) turn purple as they mature, and turn deep green when blanched or cooked. The plants are not as vigorous as say, Kentucky Wonder; however, they are cute, and the purple beans are easy to find among the green foliage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0OqEyHICXdUO-e8Z1NgmTRlhQTtQDtUhJg4MEUlZUzoHwheZkiVi7WW4EJO7KY_fGxOUc5nix5h5JxjTtaRIfy24RyDfm7wBisXm-1fZMSxaaaRinZR0to8C4FP7ShGQYILF784NnnzY/s1600/corn-P7241255-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0OqEyHICXdUO-e8Z1NgmTRlhQTtQDtUhJg4MEUlZUzoHwheZkiVi7WW4EJO7KY_fGxOUc5nix5h5JxjTtaRIfy24RyDfm7wBisXm-1fZMSxaaaRinZR0to8C4FP7ShGQYILF784NnnzY/s400/corn-P7241255-small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Early morning view of sweet corn in the foreground, the root stock of a peach tree (redish leaves), all overlooking sunlit weeds in the distance. Fill flash was a little too heavy, giving it a very contrasty, almost artificial look compared to what I saw - but it still picked up the glow of the weeds, and that was one of my main objectives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAn0_IC6PzG0r_5m5TQPKuhOfnMwg86353aUWY2JPXfamelQoySX_1jNUAF7M3H8lhAeaNz72Yu5qTX3lkstB1zXGNz2_OHxqeHAktURGPPDAuEoAxSZ9BZdURuJTE-TgNXk4ZIixUMpY/s1600/garlic-P7241222-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAn0_IC6PzG0r_5m5TQPKuhOfnMwg86353aUWY2JPXfamelQoySX_1jNUAF7M3H8lhAeaNz72Yu5qTX3lkstB1zXGNz2_OHxqeHAktURGPPDAuEoAxSZ9BZdURuJTE-TgNXk4ZIixUMpY/s400/garlic-P7241222-small.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Detail of a garlic scape. I let about 50 of these form bubils. Not sure that they will make new garlic plants, and even if they do, it could take 5 years before they are big enough to harvest. Chickens really do eat anything, however, so I have been giving some to them. Garlic is supposed to act as a natural de-wormer. I don't think they have worms, but I'm feeding them the bubils just in case. Besides, they love chasing down the little balls of garlic when I throw them in their pen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmWKqndHhghGW-vDNatAygskN6rJGCNAHpHEvhQ27JOvuPj6nmTfB65IivzGYiNuJesak5CkgvfmKDSqucpdz6mXZB1u_bKZ5e4rLhybWWAUYhyphenhyphenzqkuZ1u_YueiBpNv2mmS7U2UJUZZ6L/s1600/garlic-P7241238-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmWKqndHhghGW-vDNatAygskN6rJGCNAHpHEvhQ27JOvuPj6nmTfB65IivzGYiNuJesak5CkgvfmKDSqucpdz6mXZB1u_bKZ5e4rLhybWWAUYhyphenhyphenzqkuZ1u_YueiBpNv2mmS7U2UJUZZ6L/s320/garlic-P7241238-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Nodding garlic scapes with their hundreds of tiny bubils. The early morning golden light really brings out the pink colors in them. During the flat light of the day, they look more brown.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx71TkgCt_4GerElFFg-58CAcwH3tcvNAziLZ_xtSNhDCpth_zNUqANpQuzvlQVdHWAjLymfHAZZq64xJhCJKnh29JSlghOOXNoDMRS6EC1fcbUyk8BSacCy9VSisc8HQRWrzOL2qKBvdf/s1600/spider-P7241234-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx71TkgCt_4GerElFFg-58CAcwH3tcvNAziLZ_xtSNhDCpth_zNUqANpQuzvlQVdHWAjLymfHAZZq64xJhCJKnh29JSlghOOXNoDMRS6EC1fcbUyk8BSacCy9VSisc8HQRWrzOL2qKBvdf/s400/spider-P7241234-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> My girl on patrol. Her web is in bed one and is strung between Sweet Marjoram, Rosemary, and Lemon Balm (although I like it's official name better: <i>Melissa Officinalis</i>.). I know she is a girl because most male spiders have hooks on their front legs to hold the female with during mating. She has been hanging out for a few weeks, now. Eat and be merry, Garden Friend!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3GaipUcmU5ep6VE-ussEFPrYRCj9mhvsc7fV1C6PKu9_i4wDg_fjSbCg4otIWuByjksR2oU0S3dwUVal_o3PP3qbLQTl1vASh6r23wt6lFuRlh4MmcwtCPWxi2tsqj_GZgqgJT3NeBdz/s1600/weeds-P7241331-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3GaipUcmU5ep6VE-ussEFPrYRCj9mhvsc7fV1C6PKu9_i4wDg_fjSbCg4otIWuByjksR2oU0S3dwUVal_o3PP3qbLQTl1vASh6r23wt6lFuRlh4MmcwtCPWxi2tsqj_GZgqgJT3NeBdz/s320/weeds-P7241331-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">More weeds and morning sunshine. This time the weeds are <i>inside</i> the garden. I left them there because I want them to spread their 900,000,000,000 seeds all over my garden. Actually, I left them up because the ducks rest on the other side of the fence in the shade of these weeds in the late afternoon. Makes a decent wind break for them.</div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-28089003196373456652011-07-23T00:41:00.000-07:002011-07-23T00:41:15.989-07:00A Sunflower Kind of Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jasTNuNeaM30Fdr4q3LxJzZANVDZuHOF86KxfrOwyFx7I-Lpl5HuA2gxM8sa5hkl-NoU_67AadtPeEUyUQQMNV1yTffrDnkieKnjirNYixnRubGjXdWw9oiwC9ijvHUx-0-FEq-YM9wA/s1600/SunFlower-IMG_5570-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jasTNuNeaM30Fdr4q3LxJzZANVDZuHOF86KxfrOwyFx7I-Lpl5HuA2gxM8sa5hkl-NoU_67AadtPeEUyUQQMNV1yTffrDnkieKnjirNYixnRubGjXdWw9oiwC9ijvHUx-0-FEq-YM9wA/s400/SunFlower-IMG_5570-small.jpg" width="297" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">My little plot of 15 sunflowers planted early in the season is now beginning to bloom. The short sunflower in the foreground was the first one to bloom and is facing East. I'm not sure why the Mammoth in the background is not. Maybe it didn't hear that sunflowers are all supposed to face East when they bloom? My sunflowers never get very tall. In the several years I have grown them, even Mammoth is lucky to top 5 feet tall. Still, they are bright and cheerful, and if I can keep them from getting munched down to the ground when they are little, they will provide me with months of bloom. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNkDwePrw2CUQnSBRKXaDolgvlc6RVWVzu8LmXBZI98RtEwi-O4U_8cg3K1JQdQu4VTU-V1Bs62b5nvZ0MFt-MEt6uan92bJq-2hEYD6KQsZw3-I23ifaHfjaDq16ly4jIQYKKWMpkrlj/s1600/Sepia-sunflower2-IMG_5535-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNkDwePrw2CUQnSBRKXaDolgvlc6RVWVzu8LmXBZI98RtEwi-O4U_8cg3K1JQdQu4VTU-V1Bs62b5nvZ0MFt-MEt6uan92bJq-2hEYD6KQsZw3-I23ifaHfjaDq16ly4jIQYKKWMpkrlj/s400/Sepia-sunflower2-IMG_5535-small.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>Yes, that is real desert sunshine from behind the first sunflower to bloom this year. While the disk is only about 4 inches across, the long petals make the flower head seem much larger.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ibe1zpUGd7SQrVzGbjUbVIJqd-QYegqLlfoWnUdlNfD-jL0HwfFC4Uora2a-XMdujnnNssdXtmKrFvlYYaUFPWAj0O6qzMAD3eMNrkNFR7gDGIT1P-K5echDBo0S6Rm7JXflYzzX4nU4/s1600/Sepia-Sunflower-IMG_5533-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ibe1zpUGd7SQrVzGbjUbVIJqd-QYegqLlfoWnUdlNfD-jL0HwfFC4Uora2a-XMdujnnNssdXtmKrFvlYYaUFPWAj0O6qzMAD3eMNrkNFR7gDGIT1P-K5echDBo0S6Rm7JXflYzzX4nU4/s400/Sepia-Sunflower-IMG_5533-small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Difficult to tell from the photos, but this is a Mammoth, and while it won't get to Mammoth proportions here in the desert, the center is a good six inches across. If I can keep the critters off of it, it could provide a nice snack for the chickens in the middle of winter.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibYFQAJGzKUjo569qGl3WwjswUYCbGzvPPAYm9t4oLCh4umKL1qYz3qUfZDsZGpZDxFQUvsELJSb3vILmdtAaDijqr8eOYifasgWItqxKuCHbHBas4WltQT9mMDGSYNUBpAmgtFMPJCRD/s1600/Sunflower-3-IMG_5542-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibYFQAJGzKUjo569qGl3WwjswUYCbGzvPPAYm9t4oLCh4umKL1qYz3qUfZDsZGpZDxFQUvsELJSb3vILmdtAaDijqr8eOYifasgWItqxKuCHbHBas4WltQT9mMDGSYNUBpAmgtFMPJCRD/s400/Sunflower-3-IMG_5542-small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Blooming in bed number two - a dainty dwarf sunflower. As it is supposed to, this one is happily facing East.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyw8Gk5J9pixnJ9ydUMbjLuZu4Ym8OJz7qIcET_HeOjJgf56gGvHAhmDRIsB6wErwZX9AJimkb2NFn2Sps7N-FS4o9YiH2aqHcSGOACtsk7OD80Bfd8tCrgyyrSNooB2Bv9BfekPzW2w-/s1600/Sunflower-bud-IMG_5531-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyw8Gk5J9pixnJ9ydUMbjLuZu4Ym8OJz7qIcET_HeOjJgf56gGvHAhmDRIsB6wErwZX9AJimkb2NFn2Sps7N-FS4o9YiH2aqHcSGOACtsk7OD80Bfd8tCrgyyrSNooB2Bv9BfekPzW2w-/s400/Sunflower-bud-IMG_5531-small.jpg" width="378" /></a></div>A promise of sunflower delights to come - a 4 inch flower head wrapped in layers of frilly green. By the time I am back from business travel, the main sowing of sunflowers should be in full bloom. Big, bold, bright - and edible to boot!KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-77752691733669388162011-07-16T16:01:00.000-07:002011-07-16T16:01:09.553-07:00Lazy Day Tour of the Summer Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Well, after a week of bronchitis, strep throat, doctor's visits, chest x-rays, antibiotics and asthma inhalers, I am feeling mostly alive again. Of course, the chipmunks and birds took advantage of my inattention to the garden and have mowed down the last of the late sunflower seedlings. At least one chipmunk made an attempt at young squash plants, too, but was foiled by the floating row cover. Still, it left its calling card.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjns5NyDDrMB7BXf0thwkfKiurFOinAxKMEWLFV5shDdrdUIRKAj7Eo8szvNW4LfhY4o5ePQ2tXvtsl1UUuY_9_T_ULXv5MaSx4mffGI1ieZnQlrkooBVFAUhN9OQQTYSc5T_Wm7JTyXXSr/s200/ChipmunkPoop-P7161071-Small.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="193" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chipmunk Poop on Floating Row Cover</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The first sunflower is in full bloom now, obediently facing the sunrise, no longer tracking the sun in its daily arc over the sky. Only 2 foot tall with a 6 inch bloom, I believe this is on of the dwarf sunflowers called <i>Sunspot</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskmRlxzK40G5HPrEgtwW4_FUUfY8U_5MFWUlALxDHvH1K_aG9pwG6e81rDO-QV1sCZ_2-1BDA_Gkp23w7xlEAXFjEA9RqAszrOVEp9prs2lxZd2SmEGGv5r8MBeMI03mTNHPuxQyJQryY/s1600/Sunflower-P7161051-Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskmRlxzK40G5HPrEgtwW4_FUUfY8U_5MFWUlALxDHvH1K_aG9pwG6e81rDO-QV1sCZ_2-1BDA_Gkp23w7xlEAXFjEA9RqAszrOVEp9prs2lxZd2SmEGGv5r8MBeMI03mTNHPuxQyJQryY/s320/Sunflower-P7161051-Small.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNQ1zOngqmuLPhZx1YGe4xO262koycaXrfsDAUlqCwcN_deo56lLsw6avfuzl8wZ1OAIwAk6zMrPTIStmtWWOT1Ag55bOkaPfXzHL9k4TWLPHhUcVWSD5c8Yg2gw6qGLauaGZP1cIDNdQ/s1600/Sunflower-P7161051-Detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNQ1zOngqmuLPhZx1YGe4xO262koycaXrfsDAUlqCwcN_deo56lLsw6avfuzl8wZ1OAIwAk6zMrPTIStmtWWOT1Ag55bOkaPfXzHL9k4TWLPHhUcVWSD5c8Yg2gw6qGLauaGZP1cIDNdQ/s320/Sunflower-P7161051-Detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The first set of corn is doing well, enjoying their heavily amended and composted bed. They are heavy feeders, and at the end of last year, I put two wheel-barrels full of semi-composted chickie-poo and pine shavings in that bed to decompose and mellow over the winter. This seems to have worked well as the corn is flourishing and putting out suckers. I will trim the weaker suckers and feed them to the chickens; however, the more vigorous suckers may also fruit. We'll see. It's one giant experiment. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQt9pGtb_2q3dbZMLIVlD8R3kgyfLhkphjdRJ-6zdjg7T9Onh6CrlrN-gaBrlRhCQGaegvKY9KTmzhZNbGpRXy97jgOc0XJkyx2dPlr_ObU-6SjhdmllpL-7NFMNyeTLLzOOnRUd2fe8h/s1600/Corn-P7161043-Med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQt9pGtb_2q3dbZMLIVlD8R3kgyfLhkphjdRJ-6zdjg7T9Onh6CrlrN-gaBrlRhCQGaegvKY9KTmzhZNbGpRXy97jgOc0XJkyx2dPlr_ObU-6SjhdmllpL-7NFMNyeTLLzOOnRUd2fe8h/s400/Corn-P7161043-Med.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The second planting of corn did not have the autumn prep that the first set did, so I have tried to compensate by adding finished compost and growing bush beans with them. They are growing an inch a week, so I think they are happy.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The garlic harvest is just about complete. Yesterday I cleaned 7.4 pounds of good garlic and 3.2 pounds of garlic that has one issue or another that will necessitate its consumption within the next two months. Stored cool, dark, and with ventilation, the better garlic should keep 6 months. Frozen, it will last a year. I'm going to make some garlic and olive oil paste and freeze it. Although it may lose some of its potency that way, it will also be edible for about forever.</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7DeH66TRVcpOnEzUtegi531IFDiZ1sdgTyxKOH5wRuLYS6ZtOvFi4Ks3-O51BybbRAopVTjsxAiVmHmMHpcaFP2BfOOdGE_MbRDRubaMv3cDVQPk9Y3h1VwiJkhXB-Rb1NIdS8AXtizY/s1600/Garlic-P7161082-Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7DeH66TRVcpOnEzUtegi531IFDiZ1sdgTyxKOH5wRuLYS6ZtOvFi4Ks3-O51BybbRAopVTjsxAiVmHmMHpcaFP2BfOOdGE_MbRDRubaMv3cDVQPk9Y3h1VwiJkhXB-Rb1NIdS8AXtizY/s400/Garlic-P7161082-Small.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garlic that has been allowed to go to "seed." The "flowers" are really tiny garlic bulbs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>First of the bush beans are starting to produce. It will be a few days, still, before they are big enough to harvest. I planted purple podded beans as my main crop this year, just because I like the color purple. And because I wanted to add as much color to the desert as I could. Especially since the critters ate up all the flowers that I planted.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFi8PuISmPZV7AOyJlGDutlwoWYvd8HRNlbUapKaqdIToE_TuE5nJJpCSA8Nv31wRc10ECRX6GVFzybQiGX9DcU_7Ylv2rRoONOksJfD85yNuM6F1TaXrgtJdyIBZ9SAc9PDN2KJBdZrL/s1600/Beans-P7161064-Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFi8PuISmPZV7AOyJlGDutlwoWYvd8HRNlbUapKaqdIToE_TuE5nJJpCSA8Nv31wRc10ECRX6GVFzybQiGX9DcU_7Ylv2rRoONOksJfD85yNuM6F1TaXrgtJdyIBZ9SAc9PDN2KJBdZrL/s400/Beans-P7161064-Small.jpg" width="342" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Hopefully I am back to work on Monday, and able to hack down weeds sooner than that. The beds in the garden are mostly weed-free; however, the paths and edges have the desert denezines creeping in: cheat grass, tumbleweed and some type of eucalyptus plant. </div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-27842551458640901762011-07-11T04:59:00.000-07:002011-07-31T00:55:18.158-07:00Late Start In the GardenDue to the last killing frost and last <i>snow</i> being at the beginning of June, it took a while for the garden to get into full swing this year. This means that getting a corn, pumpkin or winter squash crop will be a gamble this year. But heck, growing a garden of any sort here in the high desert is a gamble.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RCSsXrZaGZwM2p7OE0zCoCi9RWk5FXOOGoibqzea9TDTBrUKQHs6ir7qez6GSR0YmKxymQ_i59f-4-FzzXbQ58B56UtuHpGPZMef2Fvweuws13V_J7ddaouCndPTkh-tj9MIuycQvsO0/s1600/Squash-IMG_5304-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RCSsXrZaGZwM2p7OE0zCoCi9RWk5FXOOGoibqzea9TDTBrUKQHs6ir7qez6GSR0YmKxymQ_i59f-4-FzzXbQ58B56UtuHpGPZMef2Fvweuws13V_J7ddaouCndPTkh-tj9MIuycQvsO0/s320/Squash-IMG_5304-small.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Either a Zuke or a Yellow Squash - of course, I am not organized enough to label them. Good thing I like surprises.</div><br />
Veggies currently in the ground:<br />
<ul><li>Black Beauty Zucchini</li>
<li>Yellow Crook Neck Squash</li>
<li>Yellow Straight Neck Squash</li>
<li>Acorn (Winter) Squash</li>
<li>A small, short season (90 day) pumpkin that I can't recall the name of</li>
<li>3 sad Alaskan Fancy determinate tomato plants</li>
<li>40 stalks of Golden Bantam Cross (F1) Corn</li>
<li>Sweet Dumpling (Winter) Squash</li>
<li>Lemon Cukes</li>
<li>Market More 76 Cukes</li>
<li>6 sad little Okra plants that don't like our cold nights (still in the 50*F at night)</li>
<li>A few garlic that really should be pulled by now</li>
<li>Blue bush green beans (turn green when cooked - or when the temps top 100) - French Velour and True Blue</li>
<li>Yellow "Pencil Pod" wax bush beans</li>
<li>Dow Gawk "Yard Long" pole beans</li>
<li>Kentucky Wonder pole beans</li>
<li>Blackeye Peas - both purple hull and California No. 5</li>
<li>Last of the snap pea vines (to be fed to the chickens and ducks this weekend) </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFPyWf7XpKEW3PWMmZbW20Q_iub2_iLHrlLpbnz8dJ_YrmX0q59UqTuxS7qabTKriFX6qmB9hCbTnUFa5AhNilWnBlLEtlvqRculNEax9vM8i_Zi3SV0GBfm9eECH-qxC-KbEdrwjJLUg/s1600/Blue-Bean-FlowerIMG_5321-Med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFPyWf7XpKEW3PWMmZbW20Q_iub2_iLHrlLpbnz8dJ_YrmX0q59UqTuxS7qabTKriFX6qmB9hCbTnUFa5AhNilWnBlLEtlvqRculNEax9vM8i_Zi3SV0GBfm9eECH-qxC-KbEdrwjJLUg/s320/Blue-Bean-FlowerIMG_5321-Med.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bush beans are beginning to bloom, so probably two weeks before we start eating them. I'm not sure how blue the blue beans will be - the flowers are decidedly purple. Planting more bush beans every week as they ripen their crop over a short time period (as opposed to pole beans that will bear until frost kills them). Also, beans will fix nitrogen into my sand. Since they are cheap seeds to buy, I am using beans like a cover crop.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of cover crops, I found some old clover seed, and it is making a fair stand under the apple trees.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for veggies, the rest of them will probably start being ready for harvest whenever I'm on my next business trip. It's just the way of the world. A new sprinkler and battery-operated timer setup should at least help insure that the plants will live. </div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-52846762490827527352011-07-10T05:15:00.000-07:002011-07-10T05:15:00.100-07:00Duckies Enjoying Their Kiddie PoolIt isn't deep enough for them to actually swim, but they enjoy it none the less. My Granddaughter saw cute little baby duckies at the feed store, but of course, couldn't keep them at her apartment in town. But since Grandma already has chickens, how much more work can duckies be?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyTOs5EeC1_XHwGC8Jy422CjMvnhoDHpW5xeJUkL_Qs31wDofyCdI1AGCy_7VKcLCHv_Ve47mVic0XWEzKOzQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-5466175324301285922011-07-09T13:23:00.000-07:002011-07-10T04:05:58.317-07:00Summer Garlic<div style="text-align: justify;">Summer, to me, doesn't really start until the harvesting of the garlic. I think our heat contributes to their early maturity, and while most people may be harvesting their garlic in July and August, mine are usually ready by the end of June. Being sporadic with the watering may also encourage them to ripen earlier. I planted about 150 good sized cloves and about 200 smaller cloves. There was, of course, chipmunk depredations, a little bit of winter-kill, and some were so small that I have chosen to let them mature bulbils on scapes instead of trying to force them to grow big bulbs. One could certainly tell the difference in the quality of the ground (I don't think I would call it "soil" still yet). The sand amended with chickie-poo/chickie-bedding created compost had overall healthier and bigger bulbs - even from cloves that were not top sized.</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/3 garlic harvest curing.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Average size, about 2 1/2" diameter.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyc-pAImbBszijiNmoNeZLpqDsnoDRCmfhL8_c64oZhN62AiLweUI1D8DiH7woOyaJogbKvFUrQr9Zc_5_2t5MISdmPLIsZO4ChXTbz7G12HAk9MQSqJxhQYqBBUZRAT6LH0fSNshjG1i/s1600/Garlic-Harvest-IMG_5359-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyc-pAImbBszijiNmoNeZLpqDsnoDRCmfhL8_c64oZhN62AiLweUI1D8DiH7woOyaJogbKvFUrQr9Zc_5_2t5MISdmPLIsZO4ChXTbz7G12HAk9MQSqJxhQYqBBUZRAT6LH0fSNshjG1i/s400/Garlic-Harvest-IMG_5359-small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Garlic Scapes producing</div><div style="text-align: center;">bulbils for tiny new garlic plants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv_ezXOt3wlAFZhgUg9WXCcge_aKk6KIdT-x_IVmZ5ME-jcPCW6kwpEU-nMgULlxurUOwaktOwxuX-pk9tk_kgzjYNGiRqVUcpNln3y3Cd4H4Io1imsoJE0XFXKff-vJD-kNc_QLWc0uU/s1600/Garlic-ScapesIMG_5343-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv_ezXOt3wlAFZhgUg9WXCcge_aKk6KIdT-x_IVmZ5ME-jcPCW6kwpEU-nMgULlxurUOwaktOwxuX-pk9tk_kgzjYNGiRqVUcpNln3y3Cd4H4Io1imsoJE0XFXKff-vJD-kNc_QLWc0uU/s400/Garlic-ScapesIMG_5343-small.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Close-up of a scape and</div><div style="text-align: center;">its bulbils.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfakGgbIfzZ_Jr7VhZYGka0wOceK2zjrMIn0JwCH_0CmyO5Khqx5mM9m2LoDIrUXWwB8h6OYsb0wwMsNztjjSQgaQ6uG-iWSS7ZWdXQNC9zkP9dR5JodfJDOKGk7TK7H3jq6H4U7pT0Db/s1600/Garlic-Bulbils-IMG_5369-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfakGgbIfzZ_Jr7VhZYGka0wOceK2zjrMIn0JwCH_0CmyO5Khqx5mM9m2LoDIrUXWwB8h6OYsb0wwMsNztjjSQgaQ6uG-iWSS7ZWdXQNC9zkP9dR5JodfJDOKGk7TK7H3jq6H4U7pT0Db/s400/Garlic-Bulbils-IMG_5369-small.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Summer is also when all the critters come out to hunt. Taken too close with my phone camera, so it is somewhat out of focus, but this dragon fly spent some time chasing gnats and then alighted on an old sunflower stalk from last year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuJu8pqw9PW7mqluMZXCopJ-fBL0uFruX8g7Flpb7DgXHIiphN-48Ml2h7o167jCps52NL8enEf1gGdVkfz3ht2HOZJb1G1wwxBGEZKN38iip_GqlPXgdbF2Q89cGkaaQlciskoEiqDIr/s1600/Dragonfly-IMG_5414-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuJu8pqw9PW7mqluMZXCopJ-fBL0uFruX8g7Flpb7DgXHIiphN-48Ml2h7o167jCps52NL8enEf1gGdVkfz3ht2HOZJb1G1wwxBGEZKN38iip_GqlPXgdbF2Q89cGkaaQlciskoEiqDIr/s400/Dragonfly-IMG_5414-small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-88418350699540267162011-06-30T06:00:00.000-07:002011-07-10T04:04:54.953-07:00Spring Arrived for a Day, and now It is Summer<div style="text-align: justify;">One day it was 70*F or so, and we all thought, "how nice." The next day it was 90*F. And since then, for at least three weeks now, it has been pleasantly warm in the high eighties and low nineties. Looks like a cool summer again this year - maybe only a few days in the triple digits? If so, the garden will love it!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwlhetfqGxjG1bGKfsmoUBBoFSFg7NBJeFyBEdvT_FuzFM_k9u8QH1o34Bbv7SLhOJPJGeQT62z4dF3LQaIsYIwyfyApAc1KbJC7ecSPT7rki1Xg0CCajBTlpPiFpEyFxiycNWWnCNg-I/s1600/IMG_5002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwlhetfqGxjG1bGKfsmoUBBoFSFg7NBJeFyBEdvT_FuzFM_k9u8QH1o34Bbv7SLhOJPJGeQT62z4dF3LQaIsYIwyfyApAc1KbJC7ecSPT7rki1Xg0CCajBTlpPiFpEyFxiycNWWnCNg-I/s400/IMG_5002.JPG" width="298" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two week old corn is two to three inches high. What survived initial bird depredation (in spite of using a row cover), is now healthy and growing rapidly. Planted out the second set this past weekend. I may set out some more next weekend, but the beginning of July means that there is a 50-50 chance of a hard frost in September followed by several frost free weeks. Still, if the third planting just turns out to be a place for the chickens to play, that works ok for me, too.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Ate a few peas yesterday. Chickens like the shells, but the ducks thought I was throwing rocks or something, as they were not enthused about green things flying over the fence. The chickens were all to happy to go into "shark attack" mode, however, and swarmed the pea shells. Sorry, duckies.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Been feeding the ducks and chickens tufts of grass that still have the seeds in them. The ducks like to thresh the seeds out with their bills while the chickens like to "scratch and attack" the grass stems until the seeds fall out and can be eaten. The benefits to the birds are that they get some fresh food and exercise. The benefit to me is grass weed reduction. The benefit to the grass clump is that they get a trim and extra water and get to grow more seeds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F75SnoE3pEA09cDhBScl95747iRaDXygW7dYLWMaCcf04DSnQp0IJsWFIS_yWyDyL6au1BBfku5bI3M-nzD-6MycmTZWExCBtg0LWqcHYDhsR1MzEy2UqTW6JDsQn31yRWKJGuTygqyF/s1600/Eggs-June2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F75SnoE3pEA09cDhBScl95747iRaDXygW7dYLWMaCcf04DSnQp0IJsWFIS_yWyDyL6au1BBfku5bI3M-nzD-6MycmTZWExCBtg0LWqcHYDhsR1MzEy2UqTW6JDsQn31yRWKJGuTygqyF/s320/Eggs-June2011.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>Egg production is in full swing. Out of 15 hens, I am still getting 6-8 eggs a day. In some ways, it is better than the 10-12 eggs a day that they laid in their prime. Still, it is almost like zucchini - be careful - if you stand still, I will hand you eggs!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I hate to jinx myself, but there may be a chance that I have morning glories this year. I need to plant more. I am babying along the 6 or 7 that I currently have. They are getting one new little leaf every few days. Hopefully they will hit critical mass soon and start climbing several inches a day.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Also looks like I will have more than two dozen sunflowers this year. I planted a dozen or so more on Sunday, but it's getting late for planting sunflowers, too. I have a set of volunteers from bird seed - we'll see how they do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeuyXD530qUP3czPOAgBrYMtPBD5uhNdw8iUNZZbzXXhVWrI4PQYOlFceFbLmEJ7xgYIKTxYJgjJVYT5CkEP_CzarUgYt9VoBkFP45MW4ulxWiPG6lxa2mx2xOpSWo6rYh_9I-xIEy1hP/s1600/IMG_1291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeuyXD530qUP3czPOAgBrYMtPBD5uhNdw8iUNZZbzXXhVWrI4PQYOlFceFbLmEJ7xgYIKTxYJgjJVYT5CkEP_CzarUgYt9VoBkFP45MW4ulxWiPG6lxa2mx2xOpSWo6rYh_9I-xIEy1hP/s400/IMG_1291.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am letting the garlic that is too small to bulb go to "seed," so to speak. Their scapes will "flower" with tiny bulbils - each a tiny, tiny garlic. If I time things right, I can plant out hundreds, which in a few years, will be almost big enough to use as planting stock.... or, I might just eat them. I planted hot garlic, however, so they will definitely add a fiery zing to whatever I put them in. Maybe put them in pasta sauce to mellow.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_B_TkWC0LGofurvjfZS2QFu9xtI2DqagN5RjAmvXmTMNXBRud4luTr_k_hqE2Vcsjek5Qg6ZLBZhj2N8tIciGFW86YUg5mjbedyYwpIGzxeGLp_mXAOwEwvJ70vlATFrGfb4Bl2-USKLy/s1600/IMG_4975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_B_TkWC0LGofurvjfZS2QFu9xtI2DqagN5RjAmvXmTMNXBRud4luTr_k_hqE2Vcsjek5Qg6ZLBZhj2N8tIciGFW86YUg5mjbedyYwpIGzxeGLp_mXAOwEwvJ70vlATFrGfb4Bl2-USKLy/s400/IMG_4975.JPG" width="297" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you build it, they will come. </div><br />
</div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-53171763396651862332011-05-30T00:48:00.000-07:002011-05-30T00:49:08.024-07:00Weed-eaters are growing up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOif22yqdTLcYUzBUCMS98ILWkXd5CaGl9uJVPAhE_YRLnAZEZS20oNUMLoKo3ES5iJ0bR5v6194NQjnEGbE4tBGci1PSTaCltOAW4SGBo-qWPIGNpELZABoqyLkqeG3NXABHeuSJzk6S3/s1600/Duckies04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOif22yqdTLcYUzBUCMS98ILWkXd5CaGl9uJVPAhE_YRLnAZEZS20oNUMLoKo3ES5iJ0bR5v6194NQjnEGbE4tBGci1PSTaCltOAW4SGBo-qWPIGNpELZABoqyLkqeG3NXABHeuSJzk6S3/s400/Duckies04.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Started integrating them with the chickens this week. <br />
I still don't trustmy rooster with them yet,<br />
so they had to spend the rainy day</div><div style="text-align: center;">in their dog crate and not in the snug chicken coop.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The weather doesn't seem to bother them nearly<br />
as much as it seems to bother me, though.</div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-30895407091566731912011-05-16T04:49:00.000-07:002011-05-16T04:49:00.481-07:00Random Photos<div style="text-align: justify;">My son is helping me paint the chicken coop so that it looks like a "Red Barn." Next payday I'll buy the white paint for the trim. You might recognize this photo as a sepia-tint photo from a recent post. Notice how the weeds between the garlic and the chicken coop are not nearly as prominent looking in the sepia-tinted photo! The weeds keep the sand from blowing around, so even though they harbor bugs, I keep them around until I am ready to plant - which means most of them will make it to viable seed production. That's ok, though - as the weeds also add valuable green matter to my compost pile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_VYcrqNOctgbGzVtsTlo-MHwGF2UhvNEiXLKag2X541QGLSzKJeSdUX3H7RGOSb4kYjqBZzE4x-Ml839i0lR-MYYbzqrn9BCHyAjwgBEk8e-nJoaUpCt8A5FIVK0OWtIbHBj9qsIKpRf/s1600/RedBarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_VYcrqNOctgbGzVtsTlo-MHwGF2UhvNEiXLKag2X541QGLSzKJeSdUX3H7RGOSb4kYjqBZzE4x-Ml839i0lR-MYYbzqrn9BCHyAjwgBEk8e-nJoaUpCt8A5FIVK0OWtIbHBj9qsIKpRf/s320/RedBarn.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I will likely never see fruit from my hardy nectarine. It seems to always burst into bloom shortly after the first 70*F day - never learning that here in the High Desert, that a day like that invariably is followed by a 20*F night later in the week. Still, it's a beautiful tree all covered in pink. And it survived two winters where we got into the negative temps for a week or more each. So I can't complain at all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-Un739kqnZIS3NSLs1NyiPNk3HszOPK892GMwC5U9GM3lGPrd7YLLw1AG8acuA9rcRdz17hbSjRE98jC6ezFeKW7BOu8h6kTCWZ0P9ZBF9c2nD9nTMCLreZiSap2t4D6lyEK9T1AC6Jy/s1600/NectarineBlooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-Un739kqnZIS3NSLs1NyiPNk3HszOPK892GMwC5U9GM3lGPrd7YLLw1AG8acuA9rcRdz17hbSjRE98jC6ezFeKW7BOu8h6kTCWZ0P9ZBF9c2nD9nTMCLreZiSap2t4D6lyEK9T1AC6Jy/s320/NectarineBlooms.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oregano is growing like crazy, tender and strong smelling amid last year's woody flower stalks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sN-Z6Ef9xeVyHRG6zXc5ClF-kg2WbKIAEHCJ563oHBZ_rJDCPUPF-7xMHz3rIAWbwV_f25KoYSSuiDKBmJTwyl5xOJvhc-PDPv1FpmxD2uitanroLeTCNZu23TvPNfSgr6hwKY5kWQz2/s1600/Oregano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sN-Z6Ef9xeVyHRG6zXc5ClF-kg2WbKIAEHCJ563oHBZ_rJDCPUPF-7xMHz3rIAWbwV_f25KoYSSuiDKBmJTwyl5xOJvhc-PDPv1FpmxD2uitanroLeTCNZu23TvPNfSgr6hwKY5kWQz2/s320/Oregano.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This photo is from a few months ago - a Maran and an Easter Egger hen - my organic weed-eaters. They chickens don't like garlic at all, and are very dainty about not stepping on it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6SdbzbaTgJ_74jrOYkNytxGJomUA6CjOxS0OWjNMw5cA2CY5lI13MOYGx2C85YEucLDnf7HA36rgthOVcrazUCeeU6rYXhBMQ7Oj9_DpldSQyBum0OkZO2FExx9o19R2vTV2ci3umfJf/s1600/WeedEaters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6SdbzbaTgJ_74jrOYkNytxGJomUA6CjOxS0OWjNMw5cA2CY5lI13MOYGx2C85YEucLDnf7HA36rgthOVcrazUCeeU6rYXhBMQ7Oj9_DpldSQyBum0OkZO2FExx9o19R2vTV2ci3umfJf/s320/WeedEaters.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
</div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-82136490235007609902011-05-15T04:30:00.000-07:002011-05-15T04:30:00.178-07:00Springtime Ramblings<div style="text-align: justify;">It's amazing what one can do on their phone these days. This photo was taken and edited on my phone. I suppose I can also blog via my phone, but haven't spent the time figuring it out because - I have been spending every spare moment in the garden! As you can see, the garlic planted last fall is doing well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNzC6-_V7h4r7eb-kNLGpARj0M61qfCGb8CYrrMCPkcP9gw9OHMW1IQ04OxooE3JHzS6FpBZ_-l0wyGse7Wt_p67ZSJeevaLehNdbN7vocgF7aFXAhrgEGXVZBLEoWnfAx6eg5lUCPRq_/s1600/OldTimePhoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNzC6-_V7h4r7eb-kNLGpARj0M61qfCGb8CYrrMCPkcP9gw9OHMW1IQ04OxooE3JHzS6FpBZ_-l0wyGse7Wt_p67ZSJeevaLehNdbN7vocgF7aFXAhrgEGXVZBLEoWnfAx6eg5lUCPRq_/s320/OldTimePhoto.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And, I have finally found the solution to the birds and other critters eating my sunflower and other seedlings - row covers. Duh. I bought about $30 worth of them this spring, and in stead of losing half (or more) of my seedlings to the voracious wildlings, out of 50 sunflower seedlings, I've only lost 5 (ok, I stepped on two additional ones, but that is a separate issue!). In this photo is the first bush bean planting - all under wraps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYTjh-kNpTD1Iat5zyKhciWR4m2G34INvCzcHKWQzPMG1_yTC4Jb8Zmt8xn60HzsmISJywysr4hJX4NcvnYPoRphE2MVQtipaVvDaP3maXX6EgkKVyay5FRof39_31Pzh55aQpyPCV0JU/s1600/BeanPlanting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYTjh-kNpTD1Iat5zyKhciWR4m2G34INvCzcHKWQzPMG1_yTC4Jb8Zmt8xn60HzsmISJywysr4hJX4NcvnYPoRphE2MVQtipaVvDaP3maXX6EgkKVyay5FRof39_31Pzh55aQpyPCV0JU/s320/BeanPlanting.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rows are about 5 ft long. Top set includes 4 rows, right to left, one row each of: Ferry Morse "Royal Burgundy" Purple Bean (<a href="http://homeharvestseeds.com/">Ferry Morse Seeds from Home Harvest Seeds</a>) (2011 seed), Pinetree Garden "Pencil Pod Yellow (wax) Bush Bean" (<a href="http://www.superseeds.com/">Pinetree Gardens</a>) (2008 seed), Park Seed "True Blue" Green Bean (<a href="http://www.parkseed.com/">Park Seed</a>) (2011 seed) and Park Seed "Velour" Purple Bean (2011 seed). The row on the bottom left has a mixture of them - just figured it would look nice. I dropped a bunch of the pencil pod yellow wax bean seeds in a puddle, though, so there is a higher percent of them than I originally planned. The row on the bottom left has radishes. It's a little early for both beans and blackeye peas, but I couldn't help but plant a 15 ft double row of Ferry Morse "California Blackeye." Also planted them under row covers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A note about the row covers in this photo - right now they are plastered to the sand because I have just heavily watered in the seeds. They do "float" when they are dry.</div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-51478183731046636072011-05-15T02:58:00.000-07:002011-05-15T03:05:06.480-07:00Duckies!<div style="text-align: justify;">My granddaughter gave me a trio of unknown ducklings for Easter - falling for their cuteness as the feed store so hoped. They have turned out to be three boys of a white, "Peking" type.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">As with all the fowl in our little micro-farm, they started life out in my bath tub.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RRz2_wttgSnWStUvJK1jJSkwp-k1SNcV6tCMo6OeMINLh9aTvcLBF3R3vpV4z9-ROy2Y-SV61VyXAKPseaSJuPGgUdTWE1kwves005M0PkBWlPvdmh-IzMpiCkkunU_cnCQ4QDvxkh7s/s1600/Duckies01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RRz2_wttgSnWStUvJK1jJSkwp-k1SNcV6tCMo6OeMINLh9aTvcLBF3R3vpV4z9-ROy2Y-SV61VyXAKPseaSJuPGgUdTWE1kwves005M0PkBWlPvdmh-IzMpiCkkunU_cnCQ4QDvxkh7s/s400/Duckies01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the picture below, their feathers are just starting to come in. Their wings are so tiny compared to their bodies. I don't recall the chickies' wings appearing so small. They are starting to lose their yellow coloring here, too. Their beaks are also turning from a pale peach color to the more yellow-orange color that we associate with duck bills. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQB76Q0b6xs2TohoJU_Pa1lqIcCbza08z02lh6Pl8QNehxFzmegiYpvBgP4Gj6EqyeViskeSh-f9vy5Ucp6DZnk067ZD3aKUqyLClr7yZim50NZKZJN3gONHok4be-_6fYrVbAOMWP4xdR/s1600/Duckies02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQB76Q0b6xs2TohoJU_Pa1lqIcCbza08z02lh6Pl8QNehxFzmegiYpvBgP4Gj6EqyeViskeSh-f9vy5Ucp6DZnk067ZD3aKUqyLClr7yZim50NZKZJN3gONHok4be-_6fYrVbAOMWP4xdR/s320/Duckies02.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Once their feathers started coming in, we set up a little wire enclosure in the garden. They share a woven wire fence with the chickens, so they can see each other. Eventually, the ducks will move into the chicken run/coop with the chickies. We put duct tape over the ventilation holes in one of our dog crates for a shelter; however, they still prefer to sleep in the open if it is not windy. I guess that's why they have more fat than chickens - at the first hint of the possibility of coolness, the chickies head for home.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y6AUyx0oQCDT7Bn3LN7a1xQwxtjzeL3OTL1SgdEK6mXmJNqzh_O4wXNIl_RVI09y5u2xaKkZEmLn-ffIwTHo1zSa_PNxTXpWGL0aqZokJ6OL77FIaRVI556geUjMygiap9QkI4zY6jz6/s1600/Duckies03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y6AUyx0oQCDT7Bn3LN7a1xQwxtjzeL3OTL1SgdEK6mXmJNqzh_O4wXNIl_RVI09y5u2xaKkZEmLn-ffIwTHo1zSa_PNxTXpWGL0aqZokJ6OL77FIaRVI556geUjMygiap9QkI4zY6jz6/s320/Duckies03.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">They currently use their water tub for bathing. As soon as I put fresh water in it, they rush to see who will be the first one to get in. Whomever gets there first defends their right to the water with much to do. When the little kiddie pools start showing up at the store, I shall have to get them one. They muddy up the water pretty good, though, so for sanitation, it will need to be rinsed at least daily. The chickens hate water, so there won't be any competition there.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Favorite duckie food right now is chopped up spinach leaves floated in their water. They get the leaves that are too tough for people or that are bug-eaten. They are also getting all of the immature seed stalks as the spinach that overwintered is trying its best to bolt now.</div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-25105511631219708602011-01-03T05:13:00.000-08:002011-01-03T05:13:00.100-08:00"Year Over Year" Journal Entries<div style="text-align: justify;">My Mom got my gradeschool-aged nephews a digital microscope for Christmas. I am totally green and purple with envy. But, alas, that is out of my budget at the moment. I <i>did</i>, however, purchase a little 45 power field microscope with battery powered LED light - and while it isn't quite the same thing, for $5, it is a whole lot of fun. I would say, ounce for ounce and dollar for dollar, it is my favorite new toy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXcuxubTysEooF-KPosSAE3mL87i3sehHbnwcb7BOngR4YYh21tfR-UJphxBGOgB82EXs72XGKt8YOV8nZ1QATjhfSUUZcqXBy75_qLVfizwa2YIBJdMWnsmPSCUQXXXsjXqFmDr2nzAY/s1600/P1010443-a1-fieldscope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXcuxubTysEooF-KPosSAE3mL87i3sehHbnwcb7BOngR4YYh21tfR-UJphxBGOgB82EXs72XGKt8YOV8nZ1QATjhfSUUZcqXBy75_qLVfizwa2YIBJdMWnsmPSCUQXXXsjXqFmDr2nzAY/s400/P1010443-a1-fieldscope.jpg" width="369" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Below are some Journal Entries from the last several years. Current comments in brackets [like this].<br />
<hr><b>4 January 2009</b><br />
<hr>Thinking of fencing off some of the west side of the chicken run so I can plant corn and stuff for them there. Then when the summer heat hits, they'll have shade and also stuff to play in. Open it up in sections so they don't destroy it all at once. corn, sunflowers, maybe try pease in the fall. [I never did do this. Perhaps I will do this in 2011?]<br />
<br />
Can I really keep them [the chickens] out of the garden all summer? I am going to have to if I want any flowers or food [for us] out of it.<br />
<br />
Last year was the Year of the Chicken... this year is the Year of the Garden.<br />
<br />
Maybe next fall I [will] spend 3 months raising a feeder pig - but maybe not. We'll see just how far I want to take this farming thing. [I didn't, but the question comes up every year...]<br />
<br />
I still can't believe that I am living the dream! It isn't perfect, but it IS very good. I am so very blessed.<br />
<br />
Fresh eggs for breakfast - most only hours old, the rest laid yesterday! Gave away 18 to the neighbors. DSR is going to bring some to work tonight to give away. Whenever I end up with eggs that are over a week old, I feed them to [the dogs] and back to the chickens - glad they both like scrambled eggs! Yum!<br />
<hr><b>10 January 2008</b><br />
<hr>Snow last night [is] keeping my trees watered with "sweet" water as opposed to my salty, alkalai well water.<br />
<br />
[Need to] clean and move my plant shelves. Then I will allow myself to start some seeds.<br />
<hr><b>14 January 2007</b><br />
<hr>Still frozen; no water [the water line from the well to the house and from the hot water heater to the house were frozen as we experienced nighttime temps in the 2-3*F range and daytime temps in the mid 20*F range. Yipes!]<br />
<br />
[Reading] <i>Cutting Gardens</i> by Anne Halpin & Betty Mackey. [My notes on] Conditioning Flowers<br />
<ul><li>Recut at a slant</li>
<li>Underwater Cut - carnations, sweet williams, dianthus, china asters, marigolds, marguerites, snapdragons, sweetpeas</li>
<li>Hollow [stems] - fill with cool water and plug with cotton - delphinium, dahlia, hollyhock</li>
<li>Sear sap bleeders - campanula, hardy mums, daffs, narcissus, dahlia, forget-me-nots, heliotrope, hollyhocks, hydrangea, lantana, lobelia, poppies, stephanotis</li>
<li>Tough flowers - split stems, dip in boiling water for 20 seconds - asters, chrysanthemums</li>
<li>Strip leaves that will be underwater</li>
<li>AFTER cutting treatments, put in cool, dark place for a while</li>
<li>Conditioner - 1 TBSP suger + 1 TBSP bleach [I don't state "in how much water" in my journal, but I am assuming per 1 gal water]</li>
<li>Foliage - lay in flat pan of water and soak</li>
<li>Silver Foliage - wrap in tissue, dip stems in boining water [for] 20 seconds, then [dip] in cold water</li>
</ul>With this cold, I wonder how my tiny orchard is doing? [Survived.]<br />
<hr><b>14 January 2010</b><br />
<hr>First sunny day in a while! Makes me want to go out and dig in the dirt!<br />
<br />
Snow if finally nearly all melted. I know it insulates things, but I hate snow. I hate weather below freezing, and especially weather below negative 10*F.<br />
<br />
Still months away from seeing if any of my fruit trees survived - and if any have, did anything above the rootstock make it? Only time will tell. [Lost the cherry tree and the old apple tree brought from California to late snow.]<br />
<br />
And another question - did my super rosemary survive [the negative degrees]? It isn't <i>supposed</i> to live through ANY of our winters, so I won't be too devistated if it's gone. Still, I'm rooting for it. [It <i>did</i> survive.]<br />
<br />
</div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-42054812226508938942011-01-02T04:29:00.000-08:002011-01-02T04:29:00.089-08:00Is it Spring yet!?<div style="text-align: justify;">One thing good about being past the Winter solstice - that means the days are getting longer and soon it will be Spring! But, alas, Spring will not be here soon enough. So for the first time in a long time, I am endevouring to bring Spring inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_2L8JdJe0vdg10ThSlelVHsZKtOmPTgW3f1CJEGVkBGT-ECQWWPZHpFc9w3g8eXHAD-yKftRbYR5X6LJnVI-Enqicv8Upn8NzymwPWsD_Ml2uWp6z31dSCNKonxYzYKMqcWtwb5-EWyw/s1600/P1010423-a1-lettuceflat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_2L8JdJe0vdg10ThSlelVHsZKtOmPTgW3f1CJEGVkBGT-ECQWWPZHpFc9w3g8eXHAD-yKftRbYR5X6LJnVI-Enqicv8Upn8NzymwPWsD_Ml2uWp6z31dSCNKonxYzYKMqcWtwb5-EWyw/s400/P1010423-a1-lettuceflat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a small flat of basil and lettuce that was started about a week ago. The ultra-tiny seeds were glued to single-ply bathroom tissue to help keep their spacing. The tissue was then set on top of potting mix and more potting mix was gently pressed over the tissue to a depth of about 1/4 inch. Watering was done by gently dripping water from my hands as I discovered my misting bottle has been devoured by the black hole. You can see some of the exposed tissue where there are no seeds. While the seeds would probably stay in place better if I let the glue dry, they seem to have stayed reasonably well. I used Elmer's school glue - the washable, gel type.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissAiGfVybJCyd-wjZ_celJ6A7y1VV9Eq1kl-2TaE4SwSAkI5nyWnlJEFVCF7QG3Es7P6fWWCTOPRmFBJ7dMNXyG4hceZDZNY0fintjtEmbfWIMM5tcukd69aIOwHGLTbEb7GRPYAFaK3V/s1600/P1010428-a1-lettuce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissAiGfVybJCyd-wjZ_celJ6A7y1VV9Eq1kl-2TaE4SwSAkI5nyWnlJEFVCF7QG3Es7P6fWWCTOPRmFBJ7dMNXyG4hceZDZNY0fintjtEmbfWIMM5tcukd69aIOwHGLTbEb7GRPYAFaK3V/s400/P1010428-a1-lettuce.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's a closeup of some of the lettuce as they germinated. The flat is kept under ordinary (not "grow" type) flourescent lights controled by a timer - 12 hours on, 12 hours off. Day temps run about 75*F with night time temps dipping into the 50*F - 60*F range (they are in my unheated laundry room, and once the lights go out, the temps drop pretty quickly).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ktu4HhW1Cbut9HHs8DVqPT2_FhufnR7wRUJj9TEI8VOAWS21OsvOyPBM9cqXXK_tnJV0IiVP6w5hPQBRKCArRz2s8RLhF3EiztY9XJorb9yyIjkqLw5xuBqpi68-KEQX4UZwDVvPBqRg/s1600/P1010423-lettuce-2011-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ktu4HhW1Cbut9HHs8DVqPT2_FhufnR7wRUJj9TEI8VOAWS21OsvOyPBM9cqXXK_tnJV0IiVP6w5hPQBRKCArRz2s8RLhF3EiztY9XJorb9yyIjkqLw5xuBqpi68-KEQX4UZwDVvPBqRg/s400/P1010423-lettuce-2011-1-1.jpg" width="351" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I love my camera - here's a closeup of one of the seedlings. This one is about a week old.</div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-5771163887275763292011-01-01T15:48:00.000-08:002011-01-01T15:48:14.485-08:00Happy New Years!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWPvv-6qUyj3QfYr5NidpPsKd0-hupm4dLvX78HI9Y2y7jSACVxgXrAjecJum9JFIq0fyQHHVUS9ShNMPDy3RMRRoRWYrXA7y0r_1lPBQ2PtaHhPQG1nby7WGusiYHdktb-gKFcLoc7ak/s1600/P1010415-a1-Scout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWPvv-6qUyj3QfYr5NidpPsKd0-hupm4dLvX78HI9Y2y7jSACVxgXrAjecJum9JFIq0fyQHHVUS9ShNMPDy3RMRRoRWYrXA7y0r_1lPBQ2PtaHhPQG1nby7WGusiYHdktb-gKFcLoc7ak/s400/P1010415-a1-Scout.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Apparently Scout likes to help with "catching" the snow when it's time to shovel the back patio. Lows in the teens on the overnight, reaching the high twenties during the day. A little more snow predicted for tonight/tomorrow morning, but that should be it for a while. As for me, I'd rather stay inside and dream of Spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMrnxyYtCVUylkWHG9SC40_7uYjkjpzPQBjuVEpfTMiwgdJ5Dg4ffxdAlu6osqlGoR_Ef-7VxrGYtK7UNC__Q-J_ap3TWw0O_ZcAIaZaTbHdz-FyQNwR-8F03mOfCRxcMUBTOkfTsrOtj/s1600/P1010350-a1-corn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMrnxyYtCVUylkWHG9SC40_7uYjkjpzPQBjuVEpfTMiwgdJ5Dg4ffxdAlu6osqlGoR_Ef-7VxrGYtK7UNC__Q-J_ap3TWw0O_ZcAIaZaTbHdz-FyQNwR-8F03mOfCRxcMUBTOkfTsrOtj/s400/P1010350-a1-corn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There are a few thoughts on what to do with last season's "trash." Some maintain that the left over crop residue should be removed from the field and composted, thus removing insect eggs, mold spores and disease. Others believe that the crop stubble will protect the ground, prevent erosion and hold water. Since the desert is in need of keeping every particle of organic matter and every drop of water that it can, I am going with the later method. Besides, I just like the look of dried corn "trash" after a winter snow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptmnG5SRHmvjdbIW07zaaJANR63hRIWXIANDkazU-95TvcGsIxQRZEsLcIUodq9GKURXiZZ_8THAmg9DFUs-3bCCVeAA0j9APIH4kMIm8OwEmtx5PIHSLeb2AvmrcZzgGTYQPzZGyeE7v/s1600/P1010329-a1-chickies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptmnG5SRHmvjdbIW07zaaJANR63hRIWXIANDkazU-95TvcGsIxQRZEsLcIUodq9GKURXiZZ_8THAmg9DFUs-3bCCVeAA0j9APIH4kMIm8OwEmtx5PIHSLeb2AvmrcZzgGTYQPzZGyeE7v/s400/P1010329-a1-chickies.jpg" /></a></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The chickies are not particularly fond of snow, and when they realized I didn't have any goodies for them, decided that they would stay in the confines of their toasty coop.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLg-tDUAfPua_zaZPybIaQjiWZujw_BrFh1Ppii1oJMqbv-VFfeE3LniG3zndT59PBrmJ2YqxdtSEogTN8mXwRVBv9ubivt-mujMQsT1j3s6PF_2jBoY2xUItltpbpM4X2pY6medSUnLZx/s1600/P1010382-a1-chores.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLg-tDUAfPua_zaZPybIaQjiWZujw_BrFh1Ppii1oJMqbv-VFfeE3LniG3zndT59PBrmJ2YqxdtSEogTN8mXwRVBv9ubivt-mujMQsT1j3s6PF_2jBoY2xUItltpbpM4X2pY6medSUnLZx/s400/P1010382-a1-chores.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I am, of course, using the weather as an excuse for not cleaning out the chicken coop. Too windy last weekend. Too snowy this weekend. Supposed to be above 30*F tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow. It isn't too nasty yet, but it will be if I don't get my act together soon. Besides, it's time to get the compost bin filled up with chickie-poo soon if I want more of that good stuff ready for the spring garden. Takes a good 3 months during the summer to cook the excess amonia out of it and turn into to sweet smelling compost. I assume it will take longer when the temps are regularly below freezing at night.</div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-26255615834519084612010-09-27T04:52:00.000-07:002010-09-27T04:52:00.783-07:00Random Autumn Flashbacks From My Garden Journal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1HnKrafyE3YIMqbHTfzFMbCo4a2RPL3-CgbNvjYcZv0KlrlJFJFO4N-Ty4t-DRIBtByBKE5_oTLOUkOLH3q8JVOcREiTtV5ahv-_DLC9qA4JFcjh2XQODnWqzlFwQ576Hf2OY_LXKTE4/s1600/Butterfly-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1HnKrafyE3YIMqbHTfzFMbCo4a2RPL3-CgbNvjYcZv0KlrlJFJFO4N-Ty4t-DRIBtByBKE5_oTLOUkOLH3q8JVOcREiTtV5ahv-_DLC9qA4JFcjh2XQODnWqzlFwQ576Hf2OY_LXKTE4/s400/Butterfly-05.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">No, not from my garden - I took this picture in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains. The edge of the field was filled with two dozen or so of these butterflies flitting from place to place. They did not sit still long, being much preoccupied with eating! Out of 100 photos taken over the course of an hour, I think I got 4 that are pretty good. This is probably the best photo I've ever taken.<br />
<hr />Some old journal entries - in order by day of the month. My current comments in [brackets]. Spelling is as written in my journal - no spell check when writing with a pen!<br />
<hr /><b>2007-09-30 7:03 a.m.</b> Well, I guess one cannot argue with 25*F - That is a killing frost with no ambiguity. The sun is up - I am not looking forward to seeing the damage.<br />
<br />
On the up side, this will mean that I can procrastinate no further on ripping out marginal items and planting out garlic.<br />
<br />
Soaked peas last night - 150 are ready to go. I guess I shall find out if they can germinate this cold. [No, they didn't]<br />
<br />
Trees have been full of rich, green leaves - will the frost signal them to change color? So far, just a very few yellow leaves on the apple tree and only 2 orange ones on the nectarine.<br />
<br />
Days will hopefully warm up. no wind, but cold right now. I should go do something useful in the garden or yard.<br />
<hr /><b>2006-10-01</b> Bought a wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer last week - need to set it up and start checking highs and lows [presumably to help predict frost].<br />
<br />
Funny how much you can get done when you are motivated - D. got a job offer for a job in Iraq, so this weekend we got<br />
<ul><li>5 posts for enclosing my garden up</li>
<li>concreted the edges of the dogs' pen (one more side to go, but I can do that side)</li>
</ul>Things to do<br />
<ul><li>Move the 1/2 barrels to the garden area and use for garlic - make <i>drainage holes</i> [There's a notation that this did not get done.]</li>
<li>Plant plant gifts from James W. of Dave's Garden [www.DavesGarden.com]</li>
<li>Top dress bulbs with low nitrogen fert. (bonemeal)</li>
<li>Look at the weather report (definately fall, but no hard frosts yet)</li>
</ul><hr /><b>2005-10-05</b> The sweet gums [trees] are looking decidedly perky this morning. I was concerned that yesterday's dry winds would have been hard on them, but I guess the cooler temps and deep watering helped them. Of course, I took pictures yesterday. Need to add them to my [photo] database. <b>2006-10-05</b> <br />
<ul><li>Watered back yard & fruit trees</li>
<li>Watered most east sweet gum [presumably the sweet gum tree to the East of the group]</li>
<li>Watered front poplars (south)</li>
<li>Irises from Dave's Garden arrived today - about 20 lbs worth</li>
<li>1300 bulbs to go into the ground</li>
</ul>All this and David leaves for South Carolina in less than two weeks and then on to Iraq 4 weeks or so later. So much to do. So little time left to be together. A year apart - with the chance of it being permanent. So I plant and plant and grow babies to fill the emptiness.<br />
<hr /><b>2007-10-06 21:00 ish</b> After a good nap...This year was the first year in a long, long time that I had a real garden. I am totally so very blessed. To be able to come home from work and eat a few cherry toms from the garden, water the trees, take photos of a sunflower, spy on a lizard. What a joy. To have hopes and dreams. To feel, smell, taste the cycle of life. Delicate yellow tomato flowers, lush green growth, baby tomes smaller than a finger nail, sweet yellow fruit bursting in your mouth, frost blackened leaves and deep roots chopped for the compost pile...seeds for next year. The dance of rain and cloud and wind and sun. Birds, lizzards, tiny spiders, giant grasshoppers - if you build it, they will come. Butterflies, catterpillars and ants. If you grow it, they will come. Solitary bees, irridescent wasps, tiny flies. If it blooms, they will come. There is not lack of life in the desert, although conditions are harsh and existance is tenuous. If you provide an oasis, it will be recognized far and wide, and the denizines of the high desert, they will come. I have no idea where they hail from, but across sand and arid winds, they find this tiny island of green and in droves, they come. If 3 4[foot] x 8 [foot] beds - not even 100 sq ft out of 180,000 sq ft of our land - brought such diversity to our land, what might I expect with a garden twice as large [as those three beds]? And if I add more flowers, will that increase the draw? If I spied a dozen wasps and one hawk moth at one of 7 sunflowers, who and how many will visit if I grow 20 sunflowers, 50, 100 or more? If I grow a veritable forest of sunflowers, what will happen to the insect population? And will lizzards take up household there to dine on some of them [I can say that yes, the lizards are in the garden to stay] </div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534957315183989730.post-80783001158979165382010-09-26T10:59:00.000-07:002010-09-26T10:59:00.196-07:00September Garden Status<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7zN0kRQJPbYIOtkdkJfWRMkABKCw_zmYgeNotazurHHmUEtfE92deCFbqRZPPGJGShUr1rGlv1aW4KRcyTDfxDIOW2WNnZ67rAGKzKzyX7-k1c9sdPIz_1GEGL_4gUi5yiKXHb9JdBdI/s1600/Sunflower1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7zN0kRQJPbYIOtkdkJfWRMkABKCw_zmYgeNotazurHHmUEtfE92deCFbqRZPPGJGShUr1rGlv1aW4KRcyTDfxDIOW2WNnZ67rAGKzKzyX7-k1c9sdPIz_1GEGL_4gUi5yiKXHb9JdBdI/s320/Sunflower1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The last sunflower is blooming, along with oregano, sweet marjoram, yellow squash and desert mallow.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0HBB6zHHxacVkiN5emKfPSdvsR8pRkuAIM2A-Z1o8aDlLroUnSf3QcCvkTPFyyLnB6oSPJmjeQesIG-rh4HfoIFgZVd042OtzgnN3Yt4wBwauIu_YBDNzRa_moI3s07iuscf7_TxH7lL/s1600/Corn1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0HBB6zHHxacVkiN5emKfPSdvsR8pRkuAIM2A-Z1o8aDlLroUnSf3QcCvkTPFyyLnB6oSPJmjeQesIG-rh4HfoIFgZVd042OtzgnN3Yt4wBwauIu_YBDNzRa_moI3s07iuscf7_TxH7lL/s640/Corn1.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Well, some days I actually feel like I had a real garden this year with an actual harvest. A review of some of the crops:</div><ul><li>Birds and everything else will pluck out newly sprouted sunflower seeds and peas - <i>must</i> rig up some protection for them. At least a dozen sunflower sprouts and 100 pea sprouts were donated to the local wildlife.</li>
<li>Garlic beds dug up a month or more in advance worked out very well - nice, soft, easy to plant beds. Ones not made up early are not nearly as easy to plant out. Now I am looking at planting some directly in unprepared beds, and that will be even worse, probably inhibiting good bulbing up in the spring.</li>
<li>Sunflower seed heads need to be well protected or the wildlings will eat them all - even before they are mature. Chickies got very few this year, and there are <i>none</i> for the wild things for the winter. Sunflower <i>leaves</i>,however, made excellent chicken greens all summer long. And after the sunflower seeds had been consumed by the wild things, I pulled the stalks out and the chickens had a riotous good time eating up the leaves and pecking at the seed head itself.</li>
<li>Collards grew very well under the shade of the large, yellow squash leaves. Next year, need to grow more. The chickies really like collards, and I added some to our salads.</li>
<li>Spinach was a great success. I only half-hearted saved seeds. Some of the ones I saved did sprout when planted in the fall, but I don't know if <i>Matador</i> is open pollinated, so I didn't really work at it. Chickies and Granddaughter indulged in much spring spinach.</li>
<li>No matter how many edible pod peas that I grow, there is never enough! I like to eat them right off the vine. The chickies like the peas, the pods (from ones that have grown too old to eat more than the peas themselves), and the leaves.</li>
<li>Peas sown in September will probably not ripen before the first hard frost - still, at least they will make some nice greens for the chickens.</li>
<li>Bi-colored corn was stunted as usual, but flood watering them produced a significantly higher number of ears of corn this year. Pollination was spotty, so most ears were missing kernels here and there - not pretty, but still very sweet and yummy. I ate several raw, right off the stalk - and happy chickies got to peck at the resulting cob. The bright red stalks and leaves of this variety is beautiful - need to look up what type I planted so that I can order that type of seed again.</li>
<li>Yellow squash was a great success in bed no. 3. The ones in the ground, however, were eaten the moment they sprung forth from the earth.</li>
<li>My garden blessed me with any wild things in the garden this year. I saw my first and only humming bird while sitting quietly in the garden before work one summer day. Lizards lapped water from the herbs in bed no. 1 all through the summer. Pigeons nested in the chicken coop (although Old Biddy kept destroying their nests, so they did not raise a brood). Chipmunks and mice raided the garden from time to time, and red tailed hawks (or so I believe them to be), soared overhead. Rabbits, luckily, are well-fenced out!</li>
</ul>Well, I am sure there is more, but if I am ever to get this posted, I shall have to stop for the moment. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxVWOVSm7bynNKN6e22uhtgu3f7vsLJfYsBrx2Bmu64amYuMjjheEy14qZzASpazR4A0Kv9o4UB4zUfBXwuSbGSNyelO7QpImkqPGwxL4FKICXV69JVB_YKzo9TluWL4JIzLvsmLVOd18/s1600/Chicken1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxVWOVSm7bynNKN6e22uhtgu3f7vsLJfYsBrx2Bmu64amYuMjjheEy14qZzASpazR4A0Kv9o4UB4zUfBXwuSbGSNyelO7QpImkqPGwxL4FKICXV69JVB_YKzo9TluWL4JIzLvsmLVOd18/s400/Chicken1.jpg" width="400" /></a>Chickies and Hungry Jack (the rooster) enjoying sunflower stalks for a late afternoon snack.</div>KMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484941432422697840noreply@blogger.com0