What did you do in the garden today?

[Sally PB]

However, in my state, Ohio, you need to register the hives.

You don't need to register hives in Michigan.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I'm so OVER this dang polar vortex already.....

I have SEVEN de-icers plugged in to keep water available to all the animals. DH came in last night and said it blew the panel in the barn and we had no power out there. So we suited up in our coveralls & layers of clothing to go figure out a solution. Ended up running extension cords from his shop/mancave. I went out this morning to feed everyone only to figure out that the breakers popped in the shop too.... So, of course, everything was frozen solid. It took me an hour & a half to re-route extension cords to various places between the house and shop to split the loads. Since DH didn't have to work today (snow day), I asked him to run to the hardware store (which was open) to get new breakers. That solved the barn issue....everything working out there now. We still have the loads split between the house, barn, and shop, for now....

Ugh. I hate winter.

FWIW, I also have 3 automatic chicken doors that run off those circuits too....and lights...and a heated pet pad for our barn cats.

 

[TJAnonymous]

After spending 4 year in the south during my college years, I really struggled to readjust to the winters in Michigan!

I don't envy you. Well...except for mushroom season. Then I envy you.

 

[TJAnonymous]

What color flowers would you recommend for along the front of a small white house? About as simple of a house as is possible, a little bit of medium-gray colored trim (only on small steps to the door), black roof. Nothing else to coordinate with.

Dark red poppies or red dahlias. Just my opinion....

 

[TJAnonymous]

A huge mix of yellow daisies, red poppies, geraniums, blue larkspur, hollyhock... GO WILD.

Good point! I'd probably also go with a mix of colors.....

 

[saysfaa]

I like the go wild, multi colors best

I don't think I have a good enough color sense or design sense to get it to look good. Or experience with growing very many flowers.

I can grow zinnias. Maybe the Giant California mix would get the effect. Not as well but acceptably, you think?

The seed catalog says 36" tall.

Maybe another, shorter variety in front.

 

[WthrLady]

I am so sick of this painful cold!
We'll start getting warmer on Sunday again (warmer being at or near freezing).
Until then, more snow, and wind chills to -45 and saturday morning will be reg temp of -22'F)

I finally dug a path to the barn with the tractor. Piles the whole way are 5 feet high, and it was a 4 foot drift. LOL.

SICK OF IT.
Oh , and my truck is in the shop again. ANnoying as heck and damn.
Still an electrical gremlin.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I like the go wild, multi colors best

I don't think I have a good enough color sense or design sense to get it to look good. Or experience with growing very many flowers.

I can grow zinnias. Maybe the Giant California mix would get the effect. Not as well but acceptably, you think?

The seed catalog says 36" tall.

Maybe another, shorter variety in front.

I have the Queen mix of Zinnias....they are easily 36-48" tall. So beautiful though....

 

[fuzzi]

Is there a bee club anywhere near you? We found one about 35 miles away, and the meetings have been VERY helpful.

Get a book and read it. Do some research online that pertains to your area. (Speaking of which, you can add your location to your profile, and then people can see it and tailor advice accordingly.) Climate matters a lot for chickens, bees, and gardens.

We were "thinking about getting bees" when we had the chance to buy a lot of the equipment (but not the bees) for $400. Once we bought that (which was a VERY good deal), well, we had to go through with getting bees.

According to the bee club members, there are years when 90% of the hives make it through Michigan's winter. And years when 10% do. You do the best you can. If our hive dies, we still have all the equipent and will start again.

I saw this and thought of you and your bees:

https://www.beeculture.com/remembering-kim-flottum/

 

[fuzzi]

What color flowers would you recommend for along the front of a small white house? About as simple of a house as is possible, a little bit of medium-gray colored trim (only on small steps to the door), black roof. Nothing else to coordinate with.

Blue, like salvia?