Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Sally PB]

I brought a redbud seedling up from NC from my in-law's house. We have them around here, but no seedlings. Now I know why: their yard is fenced in. They probably get rabbits, but not deer.

I put the seedling in a five gallon bucket that I sunk in the dirt of the garden for its first winter here. It survived, so I planted it in the field ad surrounded it with 2x3 welded wire fencing. I've had to do that with every thing I planted for the bees as well as my fruit trees.

 

[Chickin Fairy]

If someone were to offer a trade of organic blueberries for a dozen eggs, what would you consider fair? A quick Google search tells me 2 pounds of blueberries is roughly equal to the cost of a dz eggs (mine are $4.00/dz).

 

[Folly's place]

Sure, why not? Fresh blueberries are terrific!
Mary

 

[Chickin Fairy]

Sure, why not? Fresh blueberries are terrific!
Mary

I'm totally open to trades, I just don't know what the "fair value" would be.

 

[saysfaa]

https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/09/22/what-makes-jam-set-the-chemistry-of-jam-making/
This was very interesting!

Thank you.
This and its sources were very helpful.

I tried watermelon jam and knew it failed even before I put it in the jars. I should have written out the recipe; trying to follow it on my phone, hampered by bad internet connection, led to thinking I remembered how much lemon to add.

The link above saved me from trying to fix it. I wonder if lemony watermelon sauce is good over ice cream? Hm, or if lemon/watermelon pie tastes good?

 

[Chickin Fairy]

Black cats? We grow them in pots round here...

 

[1muttsfan]

The deer made a raid into my garden two days ago and demolished about 25% of my hostas . There aren't very many of them around here and they don't come every year. Got my deer spray out and doused everything else down.

 

[Sally PB]

Deer have taken all the leaves off my hostas. The plants are about 10 feet from the front porch.

 

[Folly's place]

Hostas only survive in my fenced back yard, deer do love them!
Mary

 

[Chickin Fairy]

Please send the deer my way, I have tons of hostas for them and have always disliked these plants. Go figure, the deer around here don't touch mine so they keep popping out lil new plants every year. Seriously, if you want some please come take them!