Weekly Garden Thread - July 25-31, 2020

July 25, 2020 | Diana in Wisconsin/Greeneyes

[MomwithHope]

we have had groundhogs off and on for 30+ years. A .22 is the only thing that works. they eat during the day so if you keep guard you have a good chance.

[Covenantor]

...if you have a problem with woodpeckers on your house, it is usually an indicator of an insect problem around there.

There's ALWAYS an insect problem at the house if a woodpecker is hammering away at the wood siding or trim. They punch holes in the wood to get at beetles, borers, and larva, such as laid by carpenter bees. If one appears check or have a insect pest inspect for infestation.

[Qiviut]

They were going after the spiders/bugs that were in the cracks between the wood molding & the house - definitely bugs! Once we got everything covered with aluminum (no painting - yay!!), the problem mostly stopped. The woodpeckers will also “drum” when it’s breeding season so we occasionally get some of that, but no more wood chips flying!

Here’s a link that talks mentions “drumming” ....

Why do woodpeckers like to hammer on houses? And what can I do about it?
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/why-do-woodpeckers-like-to-hammer-on-houses-and-what-can-i-do-about-it/

Woodpeckers usually hammer on houses for one of four reasons:

1. Because it makes a satisfyingly loud noise that proclaims the bird’s territory and attracts a mate. If the birds are drumming for these reasons, they will most likely stop once breeding has begun in the spring (they don’t drum when looking for food).

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

When I was a kid our house had an antenna on a pole mounted on the roof. We had a woodpecker that would land on the antenna and go to work. He came every day about the same time. It was amusing as hell after we figured out what was going on.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Question is, when are they ready to pick? Having never grown them I’m clueless.

It depends on if you want to save seeds for next year. If you do, wait until the turn red. If you don't, pick them when they are green and don't appear to be getting any larger. A good compromise is a mix, pick them as needed for whatever you want to make and save a couple for seeds.

Personally, Jalapenos are so common I don't bother to grow them unless they are a special variety like Farmers Market Jalapenos or the colored ones from New Mexico State University.

[Califreak]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=56P9dcbpGGU

Old Alabama Gardener 2020 Garden Tour-about 15 minutes

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Garden Tour, July 25, 2020. I'm not showing you my ratty-looking tomatoes! They have Early Blight because it's been so rainy and humid, but they'll still produce plenty of tomatoes to eat.

Broccoli, Orange Cosmos, Spider Flower and purple Brussels Sprouts.

Zahara Zinnia in front, various bush beans and then the pole beans, which are really lagging this season.

Long view of the garden facing East. Still waiting for paint on that side of the house. 'Lakota' Coneflower is the bright red one and some yellow Stella D'Oro Daylilies. Only THREE zucchini fill the next bed. They're MONSTERS this season, and are supposed to be a relatively compact plant, 'EZ Pick Green and Gold.'

'Giant Lime' and 'Oriole' Zinnia. Amazingly mildew-free, which is good, but odd for all the rain we've had. I'll take what I can get this season!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I went to work at 8 a.m. yesterday. I got home at 2:15 a.m. today.

At 4:30 pm yesterday we were battling the anarchists who burned down some buildings, tried and for a brief bit of time lit one of pur precincts on fire with many officers barricades inside.

We were pushing them back away from pur building and they were throwing huge commercial grade firework show mortor rounds at us.

One went off directly next to my leg, injuring my calf.

I jumped around a bit and loomed at the wound, which by the grace of God, was not too bad.

The overdressed burst the skin and caused some oozing of blood....not too mention signficant pain.

Having been sent through IED type courses in New Mexico, sponsored by the feds at New Mexico Tech and another out near Los Alamos....I was very mich aware of what explosives can do to the human body.

Being so grateful that I had picked my foot up off the pavement milliseconds prior to the explosion which is what I attribute me having no more serious injury.....I went “back to work” with my team.

I did make a point of grabbing each reporter and news crew I saw and making them point their cameras at my wound and saying “the mostly peaceful protesters tried to blow me up.”

Later, around 10 pm, I finally had enough and my leg was hurting too badly so I went to the hoaptial for treatment.

The doctor actually made comments alleging it was an old injury and could not have happened 5.5 hours earlier.

I was so stunned that I didn’t lose my mind on him and just answered his questions.

Despite him not having ever been blown up before I convinced him....yes....we are going to Xray this leg to check it for bits and pieces of shrapnel.

No damage or shrapnel was found....yay.

Went back to work again......aome protesters were spray painting graffiti on the Mayor’s fence so I had to go babysit her house.

Leg is too sore today and I can not go into work.

Maybe if I didn’t have to do it on only 3 hours sleep I could have rallied and made it in for today’s festivities.

Garden update. Looked out the back window and the garden is still there.

[tubebender]

Oh My Gosh... Everything is so healthy looking!!! We woke up to fog but it is starting to burn off showing blue skies. I haven’t looked to see if Mama Bear made a pass through the yard last night...

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You really need to post these to the forum at large. People NEED to know your first hand accounts of the insanity out there!

Copy & Paste to a few related subject matter threads, or give me permission to do so! ;)

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I cannot Diana.

I understand what you are saying and agree in theory.

The problem is as soon as it gets a wider audience it will end up on Facebook and other platforms and the antissa and and/or kiss and left us will try to docks me and then my life is going to get a lot worse.

I appreciate my fellow gardeners letting me do my journaling therapy ascension Li on the garden thread.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

OK. Got it. Just pinged you elsewhere. Ignore previous transmission. ;)

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

And pologize to myself and to everyone for those typographical errors which I should know better in should proofread before I hit post, I’m just too lazy.

For clarification. “overdressed” was auto-incorrected from “Overpressure”

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

The little birds, several types, are landing in the bushes next to me. They are close enough that I could reach put and touch them without moving my body at all.

[campaignPete R-CT]

You get all he pretty pics. What do I get? A forest with Knotweed fields, tree of heaven colony, bittersweet killervine, Norway maples. All evil plants of Mordor.

And 2 young dogwoods that are drought stricken. 250 feet from the faucet, so hose can’t help.

Too many trees, too much shade, too many flower beds .... no place for vegetables.

But I love my forest.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

All kinds of landscapes have their own special beauty. We live on the Best Planet Ever! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Proves that staying active and engaged with life sure helps out! 84 and 81. Impressive!

He’s got a great set-up, there. I’m only 60 and continually planning ahead so I can stay out here on the farm until they carry me out feet first.

[Califreak]

I just figured you were a mite rattled after the day you had.

[campaignPete R-CT]

those birds know that you are suffering for God’s country.