Posted on 02/13/2015 1:01:56 PM PST by greeneyes
The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks.
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Oh those wonderful days of yesteryear. LOL
They sit in the tree in my yard and call out “Ki-Ki- Ki-RIST IT”S COLD!!”
I’m planting some potatoes, collards, mustard greens, red & green, broccoli, strawberries, 2 kinds, oh and cabbage. I’m ready to start some 7# tomato seeds. Then cut and flatten some boxes for those in the community garden who might need them. I’m going to pick up some straw bales on
Monday and try carrots and potatoes in one and I don’t know what in the other. We’re not always successful, but it fun trying. Corn goes in the ground on 5 March in central Texas, so the ground is ready. I’m sprinkling some Cheyenne pepper, & dry molasses to keep the bugs and fire ants away from the low raised gardens.
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY Everyone. Smooches from central Texas.
You are right...those dog days of August are something.
Where do you get your straw bales? I'm only able to find straw in small quantities.
And a nice surprise this morning when I noticed 5 asparagus spears up already. About 50 plants going on 4 years and am expecting an excellent harvest this year.
The best asparagus beds I've ever had. I have no clue as to why. Also surprised at the volunteers that I've harvested from around the place which, I reckon, have come from bird droppings.
They were in our attic and walls and chewed up all the flexible air ducts. $3,800 of damage.
Not a single one made it to see Christmas.
A few scouts have breached my perimeter this past month with the introduction of peanut butter suet to my bird feeders, but they know their interest may be deadly. So far they remain about 50' from the house on their recon missions.
Two comments:
1. Last night, someone stole our 24 ft. flagpole and the American flag on it which was in the front of the house not far from the front door. A neighbor across the street rang our doorbell this morning and told us his flag pole and flag were stolen and he knew we had the same and ours was gone, too. Sure enough, ours was gone.
That neighbor called the police and a policeman came to our house as well as his. The nice cop was going to check the entire length of the street which goes for miles in this subdivision, to see if other poles/flags were taken or still there. If some are still there, a number of officers will be patrolling the street during the night to try to catch the thieves.
The feeling you get when your property is stolen is overwhelming. I started to tell the cop that if I had the thieves, I would stomp them to death. I didn’t say that but told Bob that is what I wanted to say. He said he is glad I didn’t say that. He said he could tell I was furious over this theft.
2. My vet’s office sent a link by email about what regular foods should not be given to a dog and what regular food was good/okay to give a dog. I never gave Yorkie Prissy regular food, but Bob does it at every meal and Prissy loves that he does that. I didn’t know if some foods shouldn’t be fed to a dog. I knew chocolate was a no-no, but didn’t know about other foods.
I made a list of those bad foods (and why they are bad) and good foods and will post it. Seems to me, one needs to know what foods in your garden (or foods not in your garden) are okay or not to give your pet.
I’ll get that list posted today.
I’m assuming they wanted the flagpoles to sell for scrap metal..which would mean the flags got tossed or if in good condition are headed to a flea market.
At least you didn’t go out to see your flag gone, and an ISIS flag had replaced yours.
What a shame! What kind of idiot/ass steals a flag and flagpole. Too cheap to buy one so let’s break a law to get one?? Or is it flagpole redistribution? Entitlement to someone else’s? Our civil society is going all to crap.
Nothing like years of conditioning the neighborhood to understand that theiving will be met by violence.
/johnny
I totally agree. This is the Bakers Creek Seed Company that is headquartered in Missouri close to where I grew up. They are totally dedicated to preserving rare heirloom seeds, and their catalog has the most beautiful pictures.
The only problem is, I find so many that I want to grow, my list exceeds my space.LOL
We had a bunch get into our attic one winter. They chewed a hole in the ceiling right over the dining room table. Hubby finally got them dispatched, and found where they got in and blocked it up.
That would be helpful. We only give our dog the pedigree dog food that the shelter recommended. Lately, though she doesn’t seem to eat as much of it, and is constantly going through the house looking for any crumbs that may have dropped on the floor.
She also grabs treats like she is starving rather than kinda taking them daintily like she used to. I started to give her vitamins, but she is still acting hungry, and the dog food bowl always has some dry food in it.
I know she has lost some weight - she was too fat, but now she doesn’t need any more. I was thinking that maybe she needed some real food like chicken. Actually she is my grand daughter’s dog, but she could not take her with her when she got married.
Patience and restrain are sign of good gardening. LOL.
LOL. I struggle with both at times!
Yep, benefit of the people's republic of kalifornia anyway. Harvested some brussel sprouts today, more carrots, celery, spinach, white radishes and a couple of turnips. Most are destined for the dehydrator since we can 't eat in one setting.
Also got pole beans transplanted as well as spaghetti squash. This is normally my wive's task, but I'm having to rough it for a while.
FOODS DOGS MUST NOT EAT
Onions, garlic, leeks, chives
Onions, garlic, leeks and chives, which are all members of the Allium genus, can damage healthy red blood cells, leading to life-threatening anemia. Cooking these household staples won’t make them any less toxic, so leave them out of your pet’s diet no matter how they’re prepared.
Grapes or Raisins
Grapes and raisins may look harmless, but they can cause illness and kidney damage in dogs. Clinical signs can occur within 24 hours of eating and include, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.
Avocados
No matter how much he begs, don’t let your pet lick the remnants of a bowl of guacamole dip — the avocado is likely poisonous to dogs and cats and can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Macadamia Nuts
While they’re an excellent source of vitamin E for humans, macadamia nuts can prove fatal for dogs. As few as 10 macadamia nuts can cause frightening symptoms in dogs, such as weakness, vomiting, tremors, and joint pain.
Raw Potatoes
Feeding your pup a raw potato can be risky, especially if it has any green parts or sprouts. Potatoes contain solanin, a toxin that can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and severe stomach upset.
Wild Mushrooms
Wild mushrooms can be pretty, but they can also be deadly for dogs. Symptoms of mushroom poisoning can range from vomiting and hallucinating to liver failure and death. There are many different species of mushrooms and toxicity levels differ, so to be safe, keep your animal away from away from all wild mushrooms.
Apple Cores With Seeds and Stems
It’s fine for your dog to eat an apple slice or two, but don’t give him the core. The core can include apple seeds, stems and leaves, which contain cyanide, a toxin that can cause dilated pupils, panting, difficulty breathing and shock. You’ll also want to be cautious about other fruits with seeds, such as watermelon — offer only the fruit, not the seeds, stems or leaves.
Stone Fruits
Stone fruits like peaches, nectarines, plums and cherries are not safe for dogs — their pits can be choking hazards. And choking isn’t the only problem with these fruits: The stems, leaves and pits of apricots, plums, peaches and cherries also contain cyanide.
Rhubarb Leaves
If you’re making a rhubarb pie, make sure you carefully dispose of the leaves. The leaves of a rhubarb plant are toxic to pets and can cause kidney failure and tremors.
FOODS DOGS CAN SAFELY EAT
If your pooch already eats a quality commercial diet that’s been approved by your veterinarian, he doesn’t necessarily need fruits and vegetables to balance his nutrition — not like we humans do, anyway. Still, fruits and vegetables (offered in moderation, of course) can be tasty, low-calorie and inexpensive snacks for dogs. So toss those fattening cookies and hit the produce section. It’s time to get healthy!
Broccoli
Broccoli makes a great snack for pups. Just remember to serve human food sparingly — even the best fruits and vegetables, if eaten by your pet in huge amounts, can cause stomach problems.
Sweet Potatoes
Some canines love sweet potatoes. Be sure to serve them to your dog in small bites and make sure that they’re cooked, never raw.
Zucchini, Other Squash
Zucchini and other squash are healthy treats for your canine.
Peas
Giving your dog peas instead of cookies can make you feel better about his caloric intake. But keep in mind that treats, even healthy vegetables, should be less than 10 percent of your pet’s diet.
Bananas
If you want to give your canine a few banana slices but don’t want to deal with a squishy mess on your floor, here’s an easy solution: Freeze the banana slices before you offer them to your dog.
Green Beans
Good news for all you green bean fans out there: It’s safe to share them with your dog!
Carrots
Plenty of dogs enjoy carrots, but if yours is hesitant about eating raw vegetables for the first time, you can steam or boil the vegetables for an easier transition.
Apples
Many dogs love juicy apples. Just be sure your dog doesn’t get hold of seeds or the core, which can be harmful to him.
Cucumber slices
How about some fresh cucumber slices for your canine? Be sure to wash all fruits and vegetables and remove rinds, skin, seeds or pits before feeding them to your pet.
BTW, when making purchasing decisions on air guns, go with the CO2 cartridge type. The Rugger I have makes way too much noise. It sounds like a gun. I live urban and I prefer to be subtle if ya know.......
It doesn't take much.
Several years ago, we nicknamed one of our dogs the Amanita Eater, after she nearly died of amanita poisoning.
She did NOT eat an amanita, per se; instead, she merely licked her foot to get the gunk out from between her toes, after stepping on a rotting Panther Cap, Amanita pantherina.
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