What did you do in the garden today?

[oldhen2345]

Yeah, my kid didn't always listen...and then I would intervene. But I truly think a lot of people are ignorant of animal body language, and it's a shame. It puts the animal in uncomfortable situations that all the humans think is fun. And then they are shocked by an attack "out of nowhere."

when my niece visited and was about 7 yrs old, she picked my little dog up and carry her off to another and closed the door. A few minutes later, Penny, the dog, rocketed around the corner and got behind my legs. Whenever the niece comes over (she is now 14) Penny gets under or behind me. I have no idea what happened, but it made a believer out of the dog.

 

[WthrLady]

I honestly haven't been looking for lids, but I'll pay attention next trip.

 

[oldhen2345]

View attachment 2600327View attachment 2600332
I put the seedlings out for some sun yesterday View attachment 2600334View attachment 2600335View attachment 2600336View attachment 2600338View attachment 2600339View attachment 2600342View attachment 2600345View attachment 2600349View attachment 2600348
wild flowers I saw on a walk around the property View attachment 2600343
The river washed sand up on the bank last week and now it looks like beach!View attachment 2600344
Pawpaw trees are blooming
View attachment 2600347
Iris is budding
View attachment 2600350View attachment 2600351
I don’t have any pics but I candled 2 of the eggs today and they are both developing!

What is the wildflower with heart shaped leaves and purple bloom? I have those cropping up in my garden and under my magnolia tree. I have decided to let them stay under the magnolia, but don't know what they are. Your pics are beautiful.

 

[oldhen2345]

Funny I was just reading an article today saying that 1/5 houses on the market is being snapped up by big investor groups to be turned into expensive rentals. Hence the stupid high overpay with cash that's driving up values artificially.

However lending practices got cleaned up and tightened post 08 crash, so I don't know how repeatable it is exactly. Individual areas may see bubbles pop, but I doubt we'll have a nationwide catastrophic "pop."

So long as we, the ordinary day job peoples, keep our mortgage rates at something affordable, and look to our own food production on some level, we have good chances of making it through smaller events unscathed.

I think my "prepper" side is showing, hmm. Very, very mild though. I like having a month or two of food on hand.

Garden beds outside are showing more signs of life following nearly a week in the 60s and 70s. Pots inside are still sluggish though. Basil and strawberry aren't really doing much.

I think you are right. Am on a fixed income and let me tell you, the taxes are horrid and may only go up. Lucky for me and mine, we keep about 6 wks of food and bottled water stored- also have gardens and chickens. February Snowmageddon was a headache- no water- but there was no want for food or warmth among us. Lesson learned.

 

[oldhen2345]

@NewBoots I'm glad things seem to be recovering, that's scary to have an unexpected frost!

I am not a fan of blackberries or raspberries - it's the seeds. I love the flavors of them & love seedless jam but I just can do the seeds.

I usually strain out at least half the seeds when I make jam. I love blackberry jam, but not so many seeds.

 

[oldhen2345]

I couldn’t find Kidney or Pinto beans to grow this year so I picked up a few bags for dried at the store on Saturday to do a germination test on. It’s only been 2 days and I’ve already got 80% germination on the kidney beans and one of the pinto beans! The other bag of pintos is it about 50%. I’m very tempted to take the sprouted beans and stick them in a bare spot in the garden tomorrow.
Edit: forgot to add that I saw the first firefly of the season on the way home tonight!

Oh, I love fireflies- but have not seen any for years. Do not know where they went.

 

[oldhen2345]

For those who are interested, here is my suspicious chicken at 6.5 weeks (before vacation):
Grrrrr.

Don't give up on your pullet. My Abigail gave me nightmares of her being a rooster for months. I just knew she was a rooster. Turns out, she is a very pretty hen.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I noticed Walmart has canning supplies from time to time. that gets scooped up pretty quickly. I’ve picked up a few boxes of lids but definitely need more. I really don’t go there frequently but I may check in a bit more often. I bought 2 cases of jars a few months ago just because they had lids on them.

 

[oldhen2345]

Good evening gardeners. You guys have been busy and everything is looking great! I’m just maintaining right now but there are new flowers on the artichokes The Arabian lilac is also doing well still, I read my zone could be too cold but I think someone was crazy when they wrote that! Most of the desert plants are blooming. I bought some stuff to keep algae from growing in the duck pool. It’s primarily in shade but does get some sun for a bit during the day. Got the spot cleared in the freezer to make ice blocks also and I have a container to use that I like more than what I used last year. The squash is taking off but the luffa not so much so I’m going to pull it next weekend if doesn’t look any better. I have two rosemary starts to plant yet but one is looking a little rough; they are currently soaking up some water before I go to bed. I’ll get those into the xeriscape garden tomorrow morning on my break, I’ve already got spots ready. Anyway, headed to bed in a few, have a great night all!

Sounds like you have been busy too, igorsMistress. Good idea to start ice blocks now. I only have a 3 gallon waterer, but can put a frozen bottled water inside during the summer.

 

[oldhen2345]

you will get nice plants. that's what I do.

Whoop, never thought about growing those suckers. Will do.