They have a medical degree, we don't...
What did you do in the garden today?
- Thread starter Dara77
- Start date
Sometimes we need to do our own research................
I was gonna recommend you for the extra poultsPicked up 3 poults from a fellow BYC member today. Then I had to stop at the farm supply store for feed and bedding. I forgot the bedding and picked up 4 black silkies, 1 wyandotte, and 2 buff I-forgot-whats.
DW just found out about the turkeys earlier today before I went to pick them up and then was surprised by the chicks. I another it over though because she has been wanting silkies for a long time.
because you’re much closer than i am 
Mid-70s here today, slight breeze, delightful weather.
I needed to attach the tomatoes to the trellis before they got too big. I clipped off the lower branches of each plant, and the suckers, then tied the string loosely around the base.
First tomato blossom!
I planted basil seeds by the tomato plants, and lettuce between them, where they'll get shade in hot weather. I planted zucchini seeds next to the Summer squash already sprouted, then transplanted Petite marigolds in between.
The melons will be growing up a trellis this year, a first-time experiment for me. There were a number of watermelon volunteers already growing (must have come from the compost pile), so I just added three varieties of cantaloupes.
I weeded the bush beans, then watered both beds.
In the front yard I side-dressed my vincas with compost, then replaced a few that failed.
Oh, and my dh helped me cut the dead blueberry bushes to the ground.
I needed to attach the tomatoes to the trellis before they got too big. I clipped off the lower branches of each plant, and the suckers, then tied the string loosely around the base.
First tomato blossom!
I planted basil seeds by the tomato plants, and lettuce between them, where they'll get shade in hot weather. I planted zucchini seeds next to the Summer squash already sprouted, then transplanted Petite marigolds in between.
The melons will be growing up a trellis this year, a first-time experiment for me. There were a number of watermelon volunteers already growing (must have come from the compost pile), so I just added three varieties of cantaloupes.
I weeded the bush beans, then watered both beds.
In the front yard I side-dressed my vincas with compost, then replaced a few that failed.
Oh, and my dh helped me cut the dead blueberry bushes to the ground.
I have, my entire life. I work with physicians, respect their training, but know they are not infallible.
Planted my new Dahlia bulbs today! 
Romantic Mix
Celestial Mix
I also planted a peony where the Madame Blue roses used to be. The peach roses nearby have started to die, along with the lavender tea rose in the garden. I really think it's a virus or something.... Just beyond weird. I don't know what to do to try to save them. If these 2 die, I will have lost 3 of the 4 rose bushes I had that were perfectly healthy last year and when they budded out at the very beginning of spring.
Romantic Mix
Celestial Mix
I also planted a peony where the Madame Blue roses used to be. The peach roses nearby have started to die, along with the lavender tea rose in the garden. I really think it's a virus or something.... Just beyond weird. I don't know what to do to try to save them. If these 2 die, I will have lost 3 of the 4 rose bushes I had that were perfectly healthy last year and when they budded out at the very beginning of spring.
Today was all about the poop.
It was time to allow the chicks (age 3 weeks) to mingle with the flock - its been a week or so since they were introduced on the other side of a fence. So, I needed to raise the fence up for the chicks to get underneath. I began by removing 8 wheelbarrow loads of straw that had been in the run to move to the compost pile. Then I realized the run was highly mounded with dirt. I guess that is what happens after 5 years of chickens pooping in the run, and scratching up the ground and bedding.
So, I pitchforked the ground in a 25'x10' area. We removed about 4-6" deep of beautiful black dirt! It all went into the newest (least amended) large bed.
Look at that! fully aged and dark!
Here it is getting dug up.
Afterwards. Firm ground, but now we have to step up to go anywhere. We added 2 bags of pine shavings for the girls to kick around.
So, of course, we had to clean out the coop. All that went into the compost bins:
These bins are 4'x6'....thats a lot of poopy bedding.
In the other compost bin (older compost) we turned it over (from one bin to the other) and it was FULL of worms - it was a great sight!
The girls thoroughly enjoyed the new bedding and straw to scratch around.
It was time to allow the chicks (age 3 weeks) to mingle with the flock - its been a week or so since they were introduced on the other side of a fence. So, I needed to raise the fence up for the chicks to get underneath. I began by removing 8 wheelbarrow loads of straw that had been in the run to move to the compost pile. Then I realized the run was highly mounded with dirt. I guess that is what happens after 5 years of chickens pooping in the run, and scratching up the ground and bedding.
So, I pitchforked the ground in a 25'x10' area. We removed about 4-6" deep of beautiful black dirt! It all went into the newest (least amended) large bed.
Look at that! fully aged and dark!
Here it is getting dug up.
Afterwards. Firm ground, but now we have to step up to go anywhere. We added 2 bags of pine shavings for the girls to kick around.
So, of course, we had to clean out the coop. All that went into the compost bins:
These bins are 4'x6'....thats a lot of poopy bedding.
In the other compost bin (older compost) we turned it over (from one bin to the other) and it was FULL of worms - it was a great sight!
The girls thoroughly enjoyed the new bedding and straw to scratch around.
My compost pile is producing giant mutant worms....
Some are so big, it looks like a snake slithering out of the dirt. I've never seen worms this big in my life. They are fatter than my fingers and easily 8 - 10" long. I made the mistake of picking one up and it began to spray me with a liquid from multiple places along it's body... And when I say "spraying" I mean a strong stream of liquid like you spray from a spray bottle or kitchen sprayer. I immediately dropped it, repulsed. I have so many worms in my garden that when you step on the soil, they rise out of the ground like zombies from the Night of the Living Dead.
It's actually quite creepy...
I have so many worms in my garden that when you step on the soil, they rise out of the ground like zombies from the Night of the Living Dead.
Now, that does sound creepy!
I would really like to see a picture of these “mutant” worms.
Based on your description, it reminds me of the sandworms from Dune.
If they had teeth like that, you wouldn't find me within a mile of that pile...
I'll be out of town tomorrow but I'll see if I can get a picture of one on Sunday after my daughter's graduation. My youngest is graduating high school this weekend... I'm about to be an empty nester!
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