What did you do in the garden today?

[Liz Birdlover]

I am starting on a new adventure with sour dough. I like the idea of being self-sufficient. I watched a few sour dough videos on how to make the starter but decided to get a head start with this San Fransico style culture. I am having so much fun.......
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I need to take a page out of your book & do this, too!

 

[Liz Birdlover]

After work yesterday, I was collecting the afternoon eggs. It looked like rain & we were supposed to get some, so I held off in the garden area. I do need to rake out more nutsedge & Bermuda grass crap before I plant there. So then something stings the back of my leg, inside my pant leg. Then the stinging increases intensity. I had to take my pants down right in the back yard to see what the heck was in there. I did duck behind a coop lol. I saw the culprit, inside my jeans, this year's 1st fireant sting. It is a little early for them, they're very sluggish, but still can sting ya. I flicked the little A-hole onto a paver & stomped it...all it did was curl up, then uncurl & walk away unscathed. So I quickly grabbed a small stone & crushed it. It actually was broken up...and the separate pieces were still trying to crawl off! Ugh, that's a sight...a mini horror movie in my own yard.

I searched around & then saw what looked like anthill activity, from the indigenous ants & also saw those nasty fireants as well. They take over & kill the ants that Should be here. I got my jug of Antixx, sprinkled some out & waited for the ants to begin hauling it off, like they usually do. Well, they ignored it. I took a whiff of the stuff & it smelled rancid, you know that smell veggie oil gets, or an old forgotten bag of leftover tortilla Chips...yeah, that rancid oil smell. That crap was over $20 a jug. I opened up a fresh jug, never opened before...same smell. I opened the remaining few jugs...never opened before, but they were very easy to open...same rancid odor. I am so Ticked Off!!! The seals failed, crappy packaging. I have emailed the manufacturer in Germany but I doubt I will get a reply.

I am just Ticked Off right now...I hate wasting money & I hate these nasty fireants. I wonder if I can salvage this stuff somehow...maybe spray sugar water on it? The fireants like sweet cookies. I will give it a try. Better than just tossing it all. Why don't they just sell the spinosad, and let us mix up our own bait fresh with it, as we use it? Meanwhile, I have a nice welt on the back of my thigh.

 

[jerryse]

First pic apple. Second pic cherry.

 

[Minanora]

So what are your overnight lows with this daytime highs?

When it's that hot here it doesn't get below 80 at night. Usually in early August. There's very little wind as well.

 

[igorsMistress]

When it's that hot here it doesn't get below 80 at night. Usually in early August. There's very little wind as well.

Wow, nice! It hovers around 90-95 at night here. No cool off.

 

[WthrLady]

I smell snake in the chicken run. It has to be underground in a mouse warren. I'll pick up the water pan tonight.
Any other ideas? I'd rather I catch it and take it for a car ride, but I can't FIND it.

 

[Smokerbill]

This is the garlic that been growing in the garden since last October. I think it might be a hard neck variety, but I'm not sure. The garlic heads are a reddish color.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Yeah, I was looking at the Harvest Right. It's currently on sale for $2300 which is still pretty expensive. Might have to wait until the fall...or Black Friday.

Yea, thats the one i was looking at too!

 

[Sally PB]

I think it might be a hard neck variety, but I'm not sure.

If you (or anyone else) didn't know: If it sends up a stalk that curls around at the end in May/June, it's a hardneck variety. Cut the stalk (that sends more energy to the bulb; the stalk is its flower) and eat it! Those are called "scapes," and have a wonderful, mild garlic flavor. I lightly sauté mine in my stir fries. Very tasty!

 

[TJAnonymous]

All the roosters in my bachelor pen have bite marks on their combs. Even the one who is separated by fencing from the others. There's some rat feces around the pen too... Wondering if the rats are attacking my roos?