Meanwhile, we are waiting for the rains to return.
Oranges are ripening nicely - I got fewer this year b/c the gardener trimmed back the tree too much. Sweetest oranges ever and I don't have enough this year to send to family on the East Coast:
One of my Christmas amaryllises is finally blooming. Better late than never!:
Planting more dianthus this year than ever:
And stock:
He finally crashed after tearing up the house and yard:
Good morning...I’m here most Saturdays albeit invisible. ..today I just need to see the sun! (Or dream of it in a garden) We have not seen it for over a week! So, THIS is my sunshine for today.
https://biology.ucdavis.edu/research/model-organisms/hydra
“As far as we can tell, it doesn’t age or die,” says
Assistant Professor Celina Juliano, Department of
Molecular and Cellular Biology. “You can cut little pieces
out of the animal and it will regrow and maybe the most
amazing thing is that you can dissociate the animal
into single cells, mix them all up, put them back
in a ball and a new Hydra will just grow out of it.”
This year I am.ordering seeds for Greek mountain tea and Hyssop. And planting on the valerian from.the nursery bed.
Of course the plants I want to grow most are wildly unsuited for my zone 6 hot summer climate and heavy soil. Rhodiola wants arctic or alpine conditions so I am not even trying. Greek mountain tea is tender and grows on scree so I’ll try it in pots.
So what does grow well here, meaning with no help at all? Echinacea purpurea which I have never yet dug up and prepared the roots. Comfrey which is a thug and may never be allowed in. Fennel. Dandelions. Hellebore, a medicine of the ancients, which is toxic.
Immune booster, skin care, nursing mother’s tea, diuretic.
Nor’easter time here in southern New Hampshire.
A couple of weeks ago we had a heavy wet snow/rain that folded our hoop house. I have it sort-of pushed back up and supported, but will have to build a sturdy interior frame for it this spring.
Live and learn.
Household Six is ordering four chicks for our pen. That time of the year.
I have to finish up the plumbing project iin the basement. I am going to put in a sill cock at the southwest corner of the house, and while I am doing that, I will tee-off that line to run cold water to the main planting table and the counter.
The stars finally aligned to fetch the new/used chicken coop that Mrs. Augie scored on the fakebook marketplace. It needs a little TLC, but I couldn't build it for the price she paid. This one has an automagical powered door hinge gizmo that will open and close the chicken door by timer setting or photoperiod - a very nice feature for forgetful geriatric chicken herders.
While I had Nanner out I spent about 45 minutes clearing underbrush in a little patch of woods along the back horse pasture, and started placing what I hope will be the last 27 tons of 4"x6" crushed limestone on the pond dam. I'm a bit squishy from sitting on my duff for the last 45 days so I only put out one loader bucket full of stone. Stopping at that was a good move - I'm only a little bit sore in the hands and back. If I'd done another load I'd be hating life this morning.
Please add me to this wonderful ping list!
This has been a great thread so far. I am learning a lot and have made some gardening plans. So many food natural remedies, especially for the immune system. Fits in so well with maintaining our health and healthy living through our own gardens.