The 2020 Garden, Landscape, and Other Stuff Thread...

[grybsh7]

Yeah I totally agree. It’s aggravating. It was last weekend and everything had just opened back up and Lowes was packed so I blew it off.

 

[LEGION 12]

My fault should of brought them in garage like I usually do .

 

[taldesta]

It is over cast and cool here in central Okla. I set my container plants out on the patio about 3 weeks ago.

Sweet pooch ... and, oh the greenery - no hail, snow or ice in sight. Trees with leaves! Nice Still waiting on spring here.

 

[22-rimfire]

Yeah I totally agree. It’s aggravating. It was last weekend and everything had just opened back up and Lowes was packed so I blew it off.

Lowes and Home Depot (HD) have had steady business here as home centers/hardware stores were considered essential businesses. Sam's Club has been counting heads and only allowing a certain number inside the store.... not going there unless I have to. Not standing in line to go to Sams Club. The garden centers were closed.... but Lowes and HD are open and selling stuff since the beginning.

 

[taldesta]

Even covered the frost killed my tomatoes .

That's a pity, LEGION ... the great compost in the sky gets another one

 

[annr]

Even covered the frost killed my tomatoes .

I know that feeling.

 

[annr]

Beautiful dogwood, eisman

Recalling last spring about this time, before Busby left - the squirrels were raiding the feeders mercilessly after I quit feeding them on the platforms. You can see that I had just begun the new dig that is enlarged this spring. I tried hanging the feeders on wire, then further along on a wire. Then, in early June, on a post with a 'flimsy' baffle. What entertainment.

Leaping squirrel video is shown in slow motion then again in real time.

This was prior to my 'system' of course I am parked outside the laundromat enjoying their wifi again.

Great video! One persistent acrobatic squirrel. What was he trying to do on that pole for so long?

 

[grybsh7]

Thanks taldesta. It has been a nice spring here. This recent cold front is unusual for late spring. It will be in the nineties here soon.

 

[taldesta]

Great video! One persistent acrobatic squirrel. What was he trying to do on that pole for so long?

If you mean the black pole with the flimsy squirrel baffle in the rain, he is going for the two bird feeders at the top (not shown). He did chew through the centre of the baffle eventually and got to the feeders. I couldn't believe the leap made from the top of the grey pole - I had moved the feeders further along the wire so they couldn't jump them from the house so he climbed that grey pole, leaped onto the wire, twirled around it twice and did get the prize ... sunflower seed There was one heck of a squirrel war when I stopped feeding them on the platform feeder to entertain Busby. The system I wound up with handles grey, black and red squirrels and all the bully birds. Whew!

 

[annr]

If you mean the black pole with the flimsy squirrel baffle in the rain, he is going for the two bird feeders at the top (not shown). He did chew through the centre of the baffle eventually and got to the feeders. I couldn't believe the leap made from the top of the grey pole - I had moved the feeders further along the wire so they couldn't jump them from the house so he climbed that grey pole, leaped onto the wire, twirled around it twice and did get the prize ... sunflower seed There was one heck of a squirrel war when I stopped feeding them on the platform feeder to entertain Busby. The system I wound up with handles grey, black and red squirrels and all the bully birds. Whew!

OK, now I get the whole picture. Yes, I forgot to mention the pouring rain! And that was an impressive jump!

 

[tmd_87]

What do you guys use for killing garden snails??h? I read some stuff about using a small dish with beer in it...I put some egg shells around my plants and used some Seven dust as well.

 

[taldesta]

Methods to deter slugs are out there ... the finely ground egg shells, pine needles, diatomaceous earth - all of which I've tried but found lacking. The idea of these three is for the slugs to be put off by the sharp edges. I found slugs quite happily 'dating' in the needles and abandoned that one. The diatomaceous earth may have worked except that any moisture at all turns the surface marshmellow like - so it needs replenishing after every dew or rainfall.

There are some copper coil deterrents available commercially - I've not tried them. If I had a small area or a few plants to protect, I might try them out, depending on cost.

Finally I just took the advice from some friends in BC where slugs are said to be "as big as bananas". Get up really early, use a stick to flick them into the neighbour's garden

Seriously, I did get up really early and caught them and tossed them into the woods. I looked under rocks and logs in the garden and tossed any eggs. They love rotting wood and mossy places and they hide just under the soil in your garden. Once they fly through the air to a new location, I was betting that they could not run back in any hurry.

 

[grybsh7]

I used to work with an old guy that would say "plant enough for yourself, the critters and the bugs".

 

[22-rimfire]

Had a pretty good day at Cades Cove (Smoky Mountains NP) in terms of seeing black bears. Saw a total of 39 bears (and 39 deer coincidentally) yesterday. Lots of last year's cubs but not many of the tiny ones from this year. Photo opportunities were not great overall. I would rather see fewer bears and have more located in places that is not all cluttered up with under growth and so forth. Probably the best picture of the day is below. It is a mother bear and one of her two cubs from last year up a tree.


My red beets are up. Planted a lot of seeds hoping at least some would germinate. Looks like they all did, so I will have a major thinning job ahead of me.

 

[taldesta]

One remarkably rare and moving image of bear mom and cub - so glad for your enjoyment of your favourite nature haunt. BTW had I taken that picture, it would be enlarged and displayed (good grief, I might need more wall space, though).

 

[22-rimfire]

One remarkably rare and moving image of bear mom and cub - so glad for your enjoyment of your favourite nature haunt. BTW had I taken that picture, it would be enlarged and displayed (good grief, I might need more wall space, though).

The only photos I have ever enlarged and displayed were 35mm slide images from when I first started taking pictures. I don't have anything like this on display. Much of my available wall space is taken up with framed water colors and a couple originals. I go in cycles in terms of interests and art was one of them for a good while. There is always a residual interest, but actually spending money or significant money changes over time. I have many unframed signed & numbered prints.

That was the highest number of black bears I have ever seen in one day. It was remarkable actually. I have the itch to go back, but I'll wait until next week so I don't complicate my Sister's vacation. I usually leave mid-afternoon but my sister said they were seeing most of their bears and deer in the mid to late afternoon. So, I hung out there until just before sunset. I didn't go so early this time, so I wasn't as tired. Normally I have to roll out of bed around 3:00 AM for the trip and I get sleepy. Been known to take a nap. The sign into Cades Cove said they were opening it daily at 8:00 AM versus daylight in the past. It's pretty light here at 6:30 AM this time of the year. For bears, 8:00 AM is fine, but it is a bit late for deer as they start to noticeably bed down my 9:30-10:00 AM.

No body was wearing masks or gloves (except the few workers I observed) and things looked "normal" in terms of people's behavior except in the restroom. I tried to do the social distancing thing. No rangers or park volunteers (yet) to break up the "bear jams". I walked close to 2000 feet just to get past the backed up cars on two occasions to see what was "there". This time of year, it is almost always bear.

 

[eisman]

What do you guys use for killing garden snails?

Ravens. They work cheap. Do a good job too.

 

[taldesta]

The lone male hummer had a frozen breakfast just yesterday morning. Here's the squirrel with a sweet tooth 'chewing' sugar ice too. Between the chickadees and the squirrel, the hummingbird feeder needs refilling every day - one cupful. Who knew!



Now, this morning is overcast but above freezing ... and so a number of the plants are set out on the porch just for the day. Tomatoes, begonia, coleus, delphinium, gaillardia, perennial sweet pea, basil ... nasturtiums remain inside because the pots are awkward to move.



My experiment with the 'Smart Start' encapsulated hummingbird mix seeds is ongoing. Now in an earlier post I thought the lupine seeds had germinated, but I was wrong again

The package describes this mix as containing seeds for lupines, zinnias and cardinal climber vine. Apparently I thought the finger-like leaves were emerging lupines, but not ... with a little more growth they are clearly the climber (also called cypress vine I believe). That may be a tiny lupine starting in the near container. Like eggs for breakfast, call them when they're done because there are surprises!

 

[taldesta]

... and the mail was just delivered in the rain, brave soul my mail guy

Another step in my plan to kill grass and cut the mowiing back on this wild and weedy property. 60 Eastern white pine trees, 2 years old ... happy planting to me

 

[22-rimfire]

... and the mail was just delivered in the rain, brave soul my mail guy

Another step in my plan to kill grass and cut the mowiing back on this wild and weedy property. 60 Eastern white pine trees, 2 years old ... happy planting to me

View attachment 1340694

That would do it.