What did you do in the garden today?

[Sueby]

Borage...I've never grown it but bought some to try. Is it as bad as mint? LOL. Would it do good in a border, one side against chicken fence & the other side lawn that will just get mowed over if it creeps? Or bad idea?

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Borage...I've never grown it but bought some to try. Is it as bad as mint? LOL. Would it do good in a border, one side against chicken fence & the other side lawn that will just get mowed over if it creeps? Or bad idea?

It's considered annual, but it does produce seeds, so the following year I see new borage growing, where I planted the original borage. Some seeds can blow in wind so I guess it can appear to creep, but mine hasn't crept beyond the wildflower area. (Yet, anyway.) I think it depends on where you plant it, if it's wide open space, wind can blow seeds.

I actually planted mint on purpose, around my chicken coop, hoping it spreads, and it is, but slower than I'd like. I don't want to have to mow close to the coops or pens, it smells amazing, grows about a foot high, maybe higher against the pens support, so the chickens get some illusion of privacy & the chickens only peck to eat a bit here & there. I love my mint! I'm going to plant more & surround the pigeon loft & other 2 coops now that I see how nice it grows.

I've planted borage in my wildflower area, that the bees & butterflies visit, but not the chickens. I've heard it draws the pollinators but you don't want the chickens, cats or dogs eating it, as it can give them upset stomach. My chickens have briefly visited my wildflower area but they don't stay there, I guess it isn't interesting to them, or maybe they know bees can sting. I've been blessed that my flock doesn't seem interested in plants that could harm them. I don't know if anyone else has experience with borage & chickens on here. I planted the mint against their pens, thinking I'd better plant something that is ok if they happen to eat it. The chickens go wherever they want at free range time, but they seem to know what not to eat. They've never pecked directly at the borage, azaleas, hydrangeas, tiger lilies, Lavender, crepe myrtle, peonies, sage, lamb's ear, black eyed susan, daffodils or marigolds here. They Do peck at blueberries, raspberries, black berries, chickweed, tomatoes that fall on the ground & a bit of mint leaves.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Other goat gave birth last night. 2 boys, one girl. The girl is weak, taking longer to perk up. But we have gotten her to nurse. Bc it’s so cold, and she’s weak, we are taking her inside to warm up, outside to nurse. We will call vet this morning to see what we have to do for her, or any of the kids.

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Is the little girl doing better? Looks to be very tiny as compared to the boys.

 

[DaisyBuff]

Weeded some. Still not ready to plant.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

We had a serious thunder, lightning & hail storm roll through last night, right after I finished picking up all yard debris from the other windy storm & got the grass cut. Actually got the mower hung up in some mud, DH helped pull it out with the work van, then the van got stuck. He was cussing. I could not help it, I was laughing...come on, tell me it's not like living a 3 Stooge episode . My 4x4 pulled the van out. Wow, it looks like I already tilled back there now!

I was cutting the neighbor's lot when big fat rain drops started. I got the mower put away then ducked into a chicken coop when a giant lightning bolt lit the sky & thunder cracked so loud, I thought it hit a nearby tree. I'm glad I was inside the coop when hail struck, a mix of pea & chestnut size.

Anyway...today it's pretty wet out there STILL. Come on sunshine, do your job today! Mama wants to till!!!

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Wow, did any of you feel this?

 

[Sueby]

Actually got the mower hung up in some mud, DH helped pull it out with the work van, then the van got stuck. He was cussing. I could not help it, I was laughing...come on, tell me it's not like living a 3 Stooge episode . My 4x4 pulled the van out. Wow, it looks like I already tilled back there now!

This is something we would do here so I was laughing just reading it. We once had the case tractor so stuck we had to wait a month till the mud dried to get it out! We had 3 anchor vehicles & 2 snatch blocks on the winch on it & it wouldn't budge.

Good info on the borage, thanks. The chickens wouldn't really be able to get to it, maybe tiny bites here or there, but I hadn't thought about that. I planted mint in a barrel near the garden & it has just spread everywhere, it drives me crazy. I like to let it flower for the bees but it's just out of control now, I find it everywhere.

I was in the car getting coco coir & chicken feed when the earthquake happened, but everyone here said they felt it, everything was rattling & shaking. No mistaking what it was. Kind of weird because we've had 2 quakes in CT in the last month or so. That's a lot for us. DH said the world is ending with the eclipse.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

This is something we would do here so I was laughing just reading it. We once had the case tractor so stuck we had to wait a month till the mud dried to get it out! We had 3 anchor vehicles & 2 snatch blocks on the winch on it & it wouldn't budge.

Good info on the borage, thanks. The chickens wouldn't really be able to get to it, maybe tiny bites here or there, but I hadn't thought about that. I planted mint in a barrel near the garden & it has just spread everywhere, it drives me crazy. I like to let it flower for the bees but it's just out of control now, I find it everywhere.

I was in the car getting coco coir & chicken feed when the earthquake happened, but everyone here said they felt it, everything was rattling & shaking. No mistaking what it was. Kind of weird because we've had 2 quakes in CT in the last month or so. That's a lot for us. DH said the world is ending with the eclipse.

We've had 5 super high tides, heavy rain flooding & an eclipse coming up, so yeah, I'm not surprised. Heavy bodies of water slosh around with tides, so we don't think about the weight & pressure, but add all of this rain & full moons, something is gonna shift!

 

[TJAnonymous]

How are mama & babies this morning??? I'm so excited for y'all, I can barely contain myself...I'd be hugging baby goats & praising mama all day if I was there!!!

Let's just say it was REALLY HARD to come in from the barn because I actually have to work today...

We decided to name them Martini and Margarita. They are so stinking cute.

Ironically she had one black/white (born first) and one brown (born 2nd) which are exactly the same colors and birthing order she had last year. Daddy is black and white.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Borage...I've never grown it but bought some to try. Is it as bad as mint? LOL. Would it do good in a border, one side against chicken fence & the other side lawn that will just get mowed over if it creeps? Or bad idea?

Mine always starts out well and then dies. I'm planting it in a different place this year.