Posted on 04/10/2015 8:14:14 PM PDT 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.
No matter what, you won’t be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table(recipes)preserving, good living - there is no telling where it will go and... that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!
NOTE: This is a once a week ping list. We do post to the thread during the week. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest are welcomed, so feel free to post them at any time.
You’re welcome, SG!
LOL! Don’t know how! Actually the door prize were random drawings. Darling got a hanging pot holder for two pots, and I got a pair of garden gloves, a root cup, and 3 gardening magazines.
The piece of junk we were working with to come up with ideas was a rusty brown cage-like thing with a hinge.
Turns it was a calf muzzle. Darlin and I came up with about 6 ideas. The lady who brought the junk was doing backflips at the ideas cause she has FOUR of them!
The rocks I painted were markers for Okra and Sunflowers. We used acrylic paints, and if we liked the result, we can spray them with polyurethane to protect them. But the acrylic will last pretty well.
That is an excellent illustration!
Many plants that are medicines can be toxic unless they are given in a therapeutic dose. Knowing preparation and the doses is KEY in the administering of them.
That is why I wear nitrile gloves when dealing with Datura and seeding "Hot Peppers", and some other herbs.
and never touch your face or other mucous membranes without thurough hand washing after working with certain varieties.
Even after a rainfall , certain herbs are considered a tincture with herbal contct.
Remember : " Better Safe .. than sorry !
Three years ago I built three bird houses in an attempt to entice either chickadees or tree swallows to them with no success.
Two summers ago I finally saw a pair of chickadees nesting in one of the houses in the tree behind my neighbor’s house. That was short lived. On two separate occasions, I spotted a starling perched on the front of the house trying to get in the nest hole and that was the end. The chickadees left their almost completed nest and moved on………..
In my attempt to make the bird house easily accessible, I had put grooves in the front panel thinking that the chickadees could latch on to that then hop into the house.
Well, that theory proved wrong and it allowed the starlings to grab on and try to get into the nest. I have subsequently replaced the front of that and my other bird houses with a smooth front and a smaller entrance hole designed specifically for chickadees or similar small birds.
A second bird house I placed on the side of my house next to the garden window and it was forever being taken over by house sparrows until I finally figured out that the entrance hole was large enough to let them in. So, I replaced the front panel with a smaller hole and that has kept the sparrows out.
So here’s the good news: I just checked that house on the side of my house and it’s starting to be filled with moss which is the primary nesting material of chickadees………..YAY!
Hopefully they will continue their nest building and I will finally have a family of chickadees in one of my bird houses………….
With the silk moth coccoon in the butterfly cage, the black swallowtail coccon in another cage and the potential of a family of chickadees in one of my bird houses, it doesn't get any better than that!
Nature is filled with wonderful things but only visible to those with eyes open and who know what to look for............
Had not realized that about tincture effect following a rainfall. But it makes sense! Thanks!
I've heard it called "blue star", but the latin name would help a whole bunch!
I had it one year, and loved the way it set off my roses. Unfortunately, I didn't keep the little name tag, and not one of the garden centres around here has carried it for the last 5 or so years.
The painted rocks sound like fun—thanks. Calf muzzle, huh? I wonder why they use them....
LOL! The rock painting WAS fun! However, since we were being washed away this past weekend, we learned that indeed the polyurethane is necessary to fix the acrylic to the rock. Much of my painting washed away!
The calf muzzle, as I understand it, is to prevent a calf from nursing. It is a weaning tool. The device is placed over the calf’s face.
Good for you.
I need to get my lemon tree into the shower and wash off the leaves. Got some critters on it.
Thanks
Thanks for the info.
Thanks for all the pics. You have a great start.
Thanks for the pics. Nice tunnels.
Good news!
Thanks. Appreciate it.
Thanks for the link. My sister used to raise rabbits to help feed her 5 kids. It was quite tasty - kinda tasted like chicken
Congratulations!
We have some fruit trees blooming this past week too. Hoping we get some fruit this year.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.