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- #781
The frost has finished off our birdseed sunflower patch
Radogast's Non-420 Garden Creation Thread
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- #782
I've been neglecting the garden due to inside work.
Saturday afternoon I decided to clean up an old printer's tray.
Chiseling the edges
Scraping the main area
It put me in mind of a favorite painting by Caillebotte (patron and painting buddy of the better known impressionists.)
Saturday afternoon I decided to clean up an old printer's tray.
Chiseling the edges
Scraping the main area
It put me in mind of a favorite painting by Caillebotte (patron and painting buddy of the better known impressionists.)
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- #783
Yesterday and today I removed a bat from the future exercise room in the basement. I was emptying the room and cleaning up before I started installing a 1/4" OSB ceiling, light fixtures, switch and outlets. I swept about 2 gallons of mortar and brick dust off the walls and top of the stone foundation. In the process, I discovered a sleeping bat. I relocated it outside onto the back yard fence. I wonder if I could find a heated bat house so it can enjoy the outside 
Basement Bat
Basement Bat Butt
Basement Bat
Basement Bat Butt
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- #784
Herbs in the basement
Lemon Balm from a cutting (in August?) I plan to trim this one low after I raise the light a little.
Seeds planted a few weeks ago
Russian Sage (from a cutting) planted this morning
Lemon Balm from a cutting (in August?) I plan to trim this one low after I raise the light a little.
Seeds planted a few weeks ago
Russian Sage (from a cutting) planted this morning
Surprised the bat let you pick it up w/o it freaking out. Shows you how little I know about bats.
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- #786
Surprised me too
It may have been trying to hibernate indoors. The first afternoon, I thought it might be dead and rolled it gently into a ziploc sandwich bag. When it opened it's mouth in a soundless scream (soundless to my ears) I decided it was alive and did not seal the baggie.
Today, I assumed the bat would be very groggy and picked it up with a paper towel and work gloves. It dug it's wing hooks in a little bit, but I believe I transported it without damage (except for the risks of hypothermia and animal attack.)
I didn't take a picture today. The bat was sleeping about 8 feet from the previous location and looked identical to me.
Cute little one. They freak me right out, but they 'look' cute enough when handled by others. How do you think he found his way in?
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- #788
The house is 120 years old with plaster and lath with 2 inch air channels in the middle of every wall - so I imagine a bat could get in any number of ways. The simplest way would be through the cracks around the frames of the bulkhead interior and exterior doors. They like to sleep in cracks about 1/2 wide so any old crack will do.
I'll be digging up various animal skeletons in the yard next year, so I'll know more about how small a bat can squeeze after that
I have similar 'barrier' issues. My shotgun double is similarly aged and designed in an age before AC. I think the major saving grace we get is that the houses are elevated a few feet off the ground limiting both insect and rodent intrusion.
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- #790
Semi obligatory First Snowfall pictures
Back yard
Front porch south
Front porch north. Maybe now the maple will decide to drop leaves
Back yard
Front porch south
Front porch north. Maybe now the maple will decide to drop leaves
Very pretty. 
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- #792
Black squirrels are hard to photograph; it's like photographing a fuzzy shadow.
A touch of brownish winter coat reveals an eye.
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- #793
-11 at 8:30 AM this morning. Pretty Frost on the upper windows.
Just came in from shoveling the walkways. (It warmed to -2.)
Jack Frost paintings
Just came in from shoveling the walkways. (It warmed to -2.)
Jack Frost paintings
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- #794
Winter Solstice Pinata
Last night the family decided to do a winter solstice celebration - out with the old year. Goodbye and good riddance to the sources of bullshit in the past year.
We started out with a Bull pinata from the Mexican grocery filled with candies from the Asian grocery across the street.
Here the bull is introduced to a hawthorn cane which was eventually broken over the bull.
The angry, drunken mob lined up with weapons such as a vintage police night stick and the arm of a mannequin.
A metal ruler on the knuckles, a skull shaped spatula on the butt, a guantlet glove across the nose, a broom handle all over
One of the most satisfying weapons of destruction was the wooden bung hammer. Shouts like "Woohoo!" drowned out the Mariachi music.
After gleeful torture, the mob called upon Thor to guide the hammer of destruction.
After a quick coup de grace by sword, the candy was gathered.
The hope for a new year was followed by each of us planting a solstice seed in prepared soil.
Details here ==> Radogast's Hi-Brix Basement Grow - New Location - New Soil - New Experiences
Last night the family decided to do a winter solstice celebration - out with the old year. Goodbye and good riddance to the sources of bullshit in the past year.
We started out with a Bull pinata from the Mexican grocery filled with candies from the Asian grocery across the street.
Here the bull is introduced to a hawthorn cane which was eventually broken over the bull.
The angry, drunken mob lined up with weapons such as a vintage police night stick and the arm of a mannequin.
A metal ruler on the knuckles, a skull shaped spatula on the butt, a guantlet glove across the nose, a broom handle all over
One of the most satisfying weapons of destruction was the wooden bung hammer. Shouts like "Woohoo!" drowned out the Mariachi music.
After gleeful torture, the mob called upon Thor to guide the hammer of destruction.
After a quick coup de grace by sword, the candy was gathered.
The hope for a new year was followed by each of us planting a solstice seed in prepared soil.
Details here ==> Radogast's Hi-Brix Basement Grow - New Location - New Soil - New Experiences
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- #795
Plants are sprouting
Comfrey,
Sage,
bulbs, and
Lunaria.
Comfrey,
Sage,
bulbs, and
Lunaria.
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- #796
Added a fountain in the front yard
Today I was outside admiring the crocus. My wife spotted a small dragonfly near the crocus. (not pictured, I didn't even see it ! )
I noticed the crocus were planted in a ring. (I did that last fall, but who remembers such things.)
As my dwarf buddy Kili said "If there is a key, there must be a door!" I say, if there is a circle there must be something to put in it
This winter, we picked up a little fountain at auction for $5. I ran a wire through all the tubing to clean out the debris and picked out the large leaves. This late model fountain came with a ring of 8 gold colored LEDs around the bubbling 'flame'. At least 3 of them work sometimes. The pump was good
The label on the transformer said the transformer should be shielded from direct outdoor exposure, and the primary power cord showed some cracking, so I stuffed the cord and transformer into a lantern house decorated with dragonflies. I'll install permanent outdoor electricals once we have a more total concept of the front yard.
The fountain is a few steps away from our main walkway, the driveway, a walk connecting the main walk and driveway, and at shoulder level to those using the sidewalk to pass in front of the house.
The view from the junction of sidewalk and driveway. With the little planters and dragonfly lantern house($10 at auction,) we now have depth and items of interest. It's early to put in plants, but not too early to plant decorations
Combined with a walk though the neighborhood with my wife admiring the houses, and planting two seeds, this was a great way to celebrate the first day of spring.
Today I was outside admiring the crocus. My wife spotted a small dragonfly near the crocus. (not pictured, I didn't even see it ! )
I noticed the crocus were planted in a ring. (I did that last fall, but who remembers such things.)
As my dwarf buddy Kili said "If there is a key, there must be a door!" I say, if there is a circle there must be something to put in it
This winter, we picked up a little fountain at auction for $5. I ran a wire through all the tubing to clean out the debris and picked out the large leaves. This late model fountain came with a ring of 8 gold colored LEDs around the bubbling 'flame'. At least 3 of them work sometimes. The pump was good
The label on the transformer said the transformer should be shielded from direct outdoor exposure, and the primary power cord showed some cracking, so I stuffed the cord and transformer into a lantern house decorated with dragonflies. I'll install permanent outdoor electricals once we have a more total concept of the front yard.
The fountain is a few steps away from our main walkway, the driveway, a walk connecting the main walk and driveway, and at shoulder level to those using the sidewalk to pass in front of the house.
The view from the junction of sidewalk and driveway. With the little planters and dragonfly lantern house($10 at auction,) we now have depth and items of interest. It's early to put in plants, but not too early to plant decorations
Combined with a walk though the neighborhood with my wife admiring the houses, and planting two seeds, this was a great way to celebrate the first day of spring.
- Thread starter
- #797
I am a combination of chafing at the bit and totally unprepared for spring flowers and veggies.
I have a plan for planting perennial vines, patially planted back yard garden beds, paths, half a plan for a pergola, and some earth sculpting planned alongside the north lot line for drainage and water retention.
It's just approaching time to start vegetables indoors - still 50 days until Mother's Day / last frost day.
However...
My winter indoor starts yielded 3x4" puffballs of chamomile, a 6" fancy mint, a 2" German Winter Thyme, an unidentified vine cutting, and an Aloe Vera rescue. They need to stay indoors for another month. That list and nine 420 plants pretty much fills my veg table - so I may forgo indoor vegetable starts and only clone a few perennials as the growing season goes along.
It is looking like I may just do vegetables and annual flowers as direct outdoor seeds and garden center transplants. For all my dreams, I know pretty much nothing about practical gardening in a place with 4 seasons!
Assembling the garden is it's own reward. Being successful at it can wait
I have a plan for planting perennial vines, patially planted back yard garden beds, paths, half a plan for a pergola, and some earth sculpting planned alongside the north lot line for drainage and water retention.
It's just approaching time to start vegetables indoors - still 50 days until Mother's Day / last frost day.
However...
My winter indoor starts yielded 3x4" puffballs of chamomile, a 6" fancy mint, a 2" German Winter Thyme, an unidentified vine cutting, and an Aloe Vera rescue. They need to stay indoors for another month. That list and nine 420 plants pretty much fills my veg table - so I may forgo indoor vegetable starts and only clone a few perennials as the growing season goes along.
It is looking like I may just do vegetables and annual flowers as direct outdoor seeds and garden center transplants. For all my dreams, I know pretty much nothing about practical gardening in a place with 4 seasons!
Assembling the garden is it's own reward. Being successful at it can wait
- Thread starter
- #798
The bees were in the crocus this morning
Our first daffodil bloomed today while we were away at the garden show.
Afterwards, I put up a low sectional fence in the front yard (the south west corner around the fountain.) Used up all 13 sections
A city worker at the garden show said he would be glad to visit the house and discuss my plans for a rain garden. If approved, they will pay me to landscape my own yard.
Our first daffodil bloomed today while we were away at the garden show.
Afterwards, I put up a low sectional fence in the front yard (the south west corner around the fountain.) Used up all 13 sections
A city worker at the garden show said he would be glad to visit the house and discuss my plans for a rain garden. If approved, they will pay me to landscape my own yard.
It's almost impossible, Rad. Fours years now here on the mountain, and this last winter was deep, long and terrible. Plants such as Moses in the Cradle and a host of herbaceous shrubs, which survived 5-6 feet of snow in previous years, were destroyed by the unusually sustained below freezing temperatures this year.
Just have to look on it as a planting opportunity.
Ah well, back to work. Much love to you and yours, old friend.
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- #800
Nice of you to post Teddy's papa.
I looked up last January in Greece and Central/Eastern europe. I had no idea temps were 20F below normal for so long. Here, we were cruising along with a snow free january 20F above normal and feeling good. By early February it was feeling like March.
Yesterday, I set up the back yard fountain. No use waiting for a sunny day, it's been 5 days of gray and they are predicting 5 more.
While I was out there, I noticed buds forming on the 3 hazelnuts I planted last fall
Today, 2 of 3 hazelnuts are still tight buds. One of them is opening up !
In the front yard, the first daffodil fell over. I brought it inside and more daffodil opened up nearby.
The crocus are questioning, but their blooms are still hanging in there.
I looked up last January in Greece and Central/Eastern europe. I had no idea temps were 20F below normal for so long. Here, we were cruising along with a snow free january 20F above normal and feeling good. By early February it was feeling like March.
Yesterday, I set up the back yard fountain. No use waiting for a sunny day, it's been 5 days of gray and they are predicting 5 more.
While I was out there, I noticed buds forming on the 3 hazelnuts I planted last fall
Today, 2 of 3 hazelnuts are still tight buds. One of them is opening up !
In the front yard, the first daffodil fell over. I brought it inside and more daffodil opened up nearby.
The crocus are questioning, but their blooms are still hanging in there.
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