What did you do in the garden today?

[AllenK RGV]

I do not fool with my own health really just seems I am able and needed to care for others here and hoping my body will take care of itself still try taking generic mucinex
about twice day hard part is to remember

Yup the remembering sure does get harder for me as I age. I can even leave myself notes to remind myself and forget those too!

 

[pennyJo1960]

I pained the living room before we moved in it was red and yellow horrible so used chalkboard Disney paints dark grey one side a blue grey very light the other side but we are able to leave notes then wipe them off

 

[Acre4Me]

I pained the living room before we moved in it was red and yellow horrible so used chalkboard Disney paints dark grey one side a blue grey very light the other side but we are able to leave notes then wipe them off

Nice idea!! Chalkboard paint! We have a spot that could use this treatment. Right next to the garage door and kitchen area!

 

[pennyJo1960]

made me notice the spell check did not want me to say painted it corrected that

 

[igorsMistress]

@Acre4Me I've had luck with gypsum and aloe of all things. I dug out a bed the best I could, maybe 3 or 4 inches deep, then put down a layer of gypsum, backfilled and planted aloe. Then covered the soil with composted mulch. When I dug out the aloe a few years later I was able to plant gallon sized plants in that bed. The soil was still heavy but not so hard to dig. I did the same in another area and then planted oleanders a couple of years later. Aloe roots stay fairly shallow but spread out and really help break up the soil here.

 

[Acre4Me]

@Acre4Me I've had luck with gypsum and aloe of all things. I dug out a bed the best I could, maybe 3 or 4 inches deep, then put down a layer of gypsum, backfilled and planted aloe. Then covered the soil with composted mulch. When I dug out the aloe a few years later I was able to plant gallon sized plants in that bed. The soil was still heavy but not so hard to dig. I did the same in another area and then planted oleanders a couple of years later. Aloe roots stay fairly shallow but spread out and really help break up the soil here.

That could work too. I was thinking of planting cheap peas or beans (or maybe another cover crop), letting them grow but not to produce, then turn under for green manure.

 

[igorsMistress]

That could work too. I was thinking of planting cheap peas or beans (or maybe another cover crop), letting them grow but not to produce, then turn under for green manure.

I'm going to try that in one of my beds in the garden this Fall while I use the others, then switch in Spring. I use the aloe method for my perennial beds and get the soil going while I decide what I'm doing in an area and then test plants for chicken appeal.

 

[AllenK RGV]

@Acre4Me I've had luck with gypsum and aloe of all things. I dug out a bed the best I could, maybe 3 or 4 inches deep, then put down a layer of gypsum, backfilled and planted aloe. Then covered the soil with composted mulch. When I dug out the aloe a few years later I was able to plant gallon sized plants in that bed. The soil was still heavy but not so hard to dig. I did the same in another area and then planted oleanders a couple of years later. Aloe roots stay fairly shallow but spread out and really help break up the soil here.

interesting you mentioned it, here was one of todays projects:

Trial run of 6' of native aloes, yellow blossoms on tall stalks in early spring. I have been wanting to get the pups off the moma plant for a good long time.

Here she is after being de-pupped this afternoon, still a long way to go before this is thinned:

 

[AllenK RGV]

 

[WthrLady]

Long day everyone.

15 more cases to go. The majority of my day was spend sewing and studying.

It POURED and thundered most of the day, so sorry penny, the mustard is still in the garden. I'll get picts and show you the pods when I harvest it in the morning.

We'll be 90 degrees tomorrow, before we get storms and 3-4 inches of rain over two days.

We are done with alpaca pedicures. We had the youngest and the two grumpiest ones tonight. UGH. At least with all the rain, their nails were soft and quick to cut. It was the wrestling, the spitting, and the growling I could have done away with. PLUS the fact that the two biggest and most powerful ones have the art of passive resistance down to a science, they go boneless. But dang if they aren't heavy. And if you try to do their toes while they're boneless, suddenly it's like a bee stung them in the butt.

We have a 'paca trapper, but I only use it in dire cases and they don't care for it. I HAD to use it tonight on all three. The previous owners only cut their nails once a year, and so I've been working with them SLOWLY over the year. I got them to 6 months, then 4 months, now I'll do them every other month. They are dumb as rocks, but have memories like elephants.

At least I managed to get halters and leads on all of them today. It's a start. We'll work all winter on just putting on halters going for a short walk, and taking them off again, so they learn that every time they have a halter on they won't be tortured.

I wish they all liked treats, but only three do. So a calm voice and a pat on the head is all I can offer the other three.