Yardening Spring 2013

Here's a couple of shots of the new strawberry bed and the overflowing GH. The last pic is of the reworked shade bed out front in the pines.

Good gosh Ric, you have been busy. Also, that avatar is so you LOL. That new bed looks like it is going to yield you lots and lots of strawberries - yum...

Ric--
I have some Strawberries I started last spring in a small bed on the E. side of my shed.
I did have straw under them--which is now mostly gone. Some of it is on top of them too--
but very thin. How thick a layer of straw should I put underneath them?

What should I be doing right now to help them grow and fruit? Should I fertilize them? With what?

They are green-and starting to grow. Should I re-locate some of the runners or let them be?
I know they fruit on the new runners--right? What about the 1year old plants?

I want some berries this year.................Wahhh....Wahhh...... Gita

Here is the Strawberry patch....The beams are part of what the shed is built upon.
It is an "A"-shaped, Challet type of a shed. I am sure you have seen pictures of it?

Ric and Aspen so far your avatars are my favorites.

Gita, The mature crowns should produce the most fruit. The runners can be established as new plants and are true to the parent. As to the mulch and fertilizer; what ever you want for mulch, composted leaves, straw, to make weeding easier and conserve moisture. Fertilize with what ever you prefer 10-10-10, Miracle-Gro, Peters, or an organic thru Aug. to Sept. to ensure a good bud set for the next year. Mulch well after the ground has frozen. Strawberries are shallow rooted so regular feeding is advised and mulching keeps them stable.
Glad everyone likes the gardening hippie.

''the gardening hippie.'' YUP!!! Luv it!
Gita needs a lady gnome- i should make her one out of that gnome book- or she can.

Love Aspen, he is so sweet.

Something "just right" will hit me....still not sure I like Avatars---we will see....
Hey Sal--I have all those books, remember. Not sure I want to identify with a lady Gnome...
Maybe when I am the only one left without one--I will consider it....

There is so much else......G.

Nice Ric!

I know one can get all wound up in deciding on just the right avatar...I could never pick 'one favorite flower"

Ric's is really cute you should see it full sized. He's wearing flipflops just like Ric. LOL

yeah, I kinda want to enlarge some of those to get a good look
((squint))

Ha Sally, already tried that with Rics (checking for burn holes from welding sparks) but seems avatars don't enlarge! Squint double squint!

And Holly you get the whole hologram 24/7.

Gita with your considerable talents you could create personalized avatars for people like Sally on her BDay card!

LOL, Oh yea 24/7 LOL

Did you all notice that DG was "down" for a while tonight??? Maybe around 6Pm or so...

I was at my daughter's helping her dig up 3 big clumps of Daisies. Came home--settled down to check on DG--
and the site was down--for about half an hour. I almost freaked out.......withdrawal, you know....

It will be a lot later that i will know what all else I have to share. Sorry about that.
I want to be sure I have them first.
I think I need to see what i can plant in my beds--and then--whatever i cannot--i can share.
I do not do a huge amount of seeds of anything...just for me--and a few extras.

I do have a lot of Coleus available--but i already posted that in my "haves'...
And, of course--all those Hostas....So far--only 4 (out of the 17) have been spoken for...

There are all kinds of seedlings coming up in my front bed--and I believe they are of the Dwarf, Red Coreopsis--
It just about colonized this small bed last year--and I thought they all were Angelonias I planted... HA!

I do have quite a few Angelonias up from seed. Not "advertising" them yet. I may plant them all.
I love them a lot....

OK--lots of "teasers". Keep checking my "haves"--I will add things as i can. Nothing new as of tonight.

Time for bed.....Gita

Thinking DG was down because of what happened in Boston????

They have had some problems with their site for almost a week now. It seems to be a database issue, I get a notice about SQL error. It was terrible this evening, really annoyed me since it was the first time in a while I had accessed it from a laptop and not my mobile phone.

I got this guy from a free site. I don't know why he's so fuzzy, probably only have 10x12 pixels.

This message was edited Apr 16, 2013 6:29 AM

G@RRRRR TICKS

O M Gollymiss molly We've had SEVERAL on us already!!!! One lone star, couple regular old 'dog' or whatever kind that I used to get as a kid. Just from being in my own yard, one night just from going and picking spinach ...they'r HORRIBLE

And our lawnmower is having problems, right now the backyard has a reverse mohawk cut . We seem unable to keep any mower going for more than a few years. Is that normal? A half acre lot, not like its the back forty or anything. How long should a typical mower last?

We mow our lawn mostly with a tractor, but the periphery (which is 150 x 200 x 150 x 200 allmost square) gets mowed with a push mower because of the slope. We've had this one for 8 years now. My DH does blade changing and other maintenance on it and it's fine so far.

Sally--

I have had mine for several years now. Love it! A lot easier than a push mower...comes with "yank"
start or electric start. We no longer carry the electric start in the stores--but it is available on-line.
I have the "yank"....

It is the Torro "Personal Pace"--it is self-propelled..Goes as fast or as slow as you walk. Easy "up" in inclines..
HD has it---

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=Personal+pace%20mower&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=Search+All

If the mower isn't 'winterized' by either emtying the fuel or treating the fuel with something like Stabil, the fuel and additives will break down into a mixture that will kill an engine. Gas can't be stored like in the old days and used the next season. Gas is only 'good' for about 3 months.

Not saying this is your problem, but it is a big reason for engine failure after sitting around or when using old gas. Happens to cars too. Ask me how I know...but it is a sad tale I shall tell.

You know what, I believe we had a Toro personal pace at one time. We should go back to it.
nd yes our neighbor has told us about that gas issue. I don't know for sure if my mechanic "ahem" takes care of that.

Sorry about your sad gas engine killing tale, Judy, I am betting it was costly to learn that lesson.

Judy--

You may be correct in theory--but, i can tell you, that in the past years--
I pull the mower out from the shed---Add some "additive" to any gas I still have, fill the tank--
Prime it (a few times more after the winter's rest)" and yank the cord--and off we go.
If I remember--I may change the oil. Air filter?? I think I cnaahged it 3 years ago....
Hmmmm---should do it again....I actually remember just cleaning it and then putting it back in,,,

More than a few years ago--my mower must be 7+ years old--I just pulled it out of the shed, poured gas in it
and yanked the cord. With a big puff of white smoke--she was up and running...

May need to sharpen the blade too--it's been a couple of years.....

Sometimes--ignorance is bliss......

The effects of alcohol on the fuel system can be nasty. Echo's warranty may be negated for using alcohol fuel in some of their 2 cycles. There are treatments to prevent damage, which I use with a bit of Stable avoiding costly repairs. Most manufactures are compensating and using parts not effected by the new fuels, alas only after a $70 bill to rebuild my fuel system on my Sthil Farm Boss chainsaw.

This message was edited Apr 28, 2013 1:06 PM

Hey guys, how y'all doing?

Sorry to break in here with a change of topic, but I have a question for y'all. Has anyone been having a "problem" (ok, it's not really a problem.. more of a 'situation') finding dead moles/voles in their yards/gardens? This is so weird, but this past... Friday, I think it was, I was at work and stepped out the back door of the greenhouse for a quick smoke-break. Right on the bottom step, JUST outside its hole, there was a DEAD baby mole... or was it a vole? I'm not sure. Which ones look just like a mouse only with no tail and a severely pointed face.. and sort of webbed-looking claws? Anyway, it was one of those, and it was right ON the bottom step, I nearly stepped on it!! Eeewww!! So, the next morning I was heading out the front door on the way to work, and saw this weird grey "lump" in my big bed next to the porch.. which turned out to be a bigger version of exactly the same critter; dark grey, severely pointed snout, no tail, and hard webbed-looking claws. It was RIGHT next to its hole, but not only was there a hole, the area around the hole was all dug up with the soil tossed about. I will provide a pic of the offending critter. I'm thinking it's a vole 'cause my new-ish cuttings of a Golden Queen Euonymus were found near the crime scene, rootless. < =/
So, TWO of these critters found dead just outside their holes in TWO days.. very odd. And I didn't do it, I swear!!! Has anyone else experienced such a strange thing lately?

I/ve never herd of such a thing!
That is a mole for sure.
You so rarely see them out and about. Something must have dug it out, but what?
Moles eat bugs, but VOLES travel thru the handy tunnels and eat the roots.

Voles look just like mice but with a short tail. Voles have mice feet, not those bionic wicked claw-shovels of moles.

I would be thrilled to find those guys. We have moles everywhere. I guess it is the price you pay for living in the woods. They are terrible. And thankfully we haven't had their vegetarian friend visit. I believe that they use the tunnels of the moles.

It's really strange, huh? Neither one of them (the baby at work, or the bigger one at my house) looked chewed-on or anything, (like, maybe a cat had gotten it), ... if a cat did it, I don't think it would leave the critter right outside its front door..?? We have a few 'roaming cats' in my neighborhood, and one that lives at work, so that's a common denominator, but they way/where they were found is just so odd, and they both were deader'n a door-nail. Oh well, I was just wondering if there was something going on around here that I should be on the look-out for, chemical-wise or.. who knows what! Thank you Sally, for clarifying for me what the heck that thing was! =)

Meanwhile, since it is Spring and all, I got to play outside in the dirt all day yesterday until the rain chased me back into the house again. Got about a hundred little bedding plants installed, and ooooodles of Irises. On Friday, this lovely couple came in to the nursery for trees... as it turns out, the trees were intended to replace a BUNCH of Irises, which they intended to just yank out and toss into the woods. YIKES! Before my brain could engage, I'd blurted out, "Oh, I'll take 'em, give 'em to me!!". What in the WORLD was I thinking!?!? Sure enough, the next morning that Darling Husband showed up at work with about a zillion Iris plants, filled about half the bed of my truck. Well, now they fill quite a bit of space along the back of both of my beds, on either side of the porch. Wheeeeee!!!!!! Was that a SUPER NICE thing that they did or what?!!? Now, I'm new to Iris growing, so I've posted about them in the "Iris" forum (in case anyone has any helpful hints or tips for me). =) All I know about these ones is that the blooms are yellow, I have no idea what variety they are. I've got 'em in a mostly-sunny spot, under an over-hang. Roots are covered, rhizomes are mostly NOT covered. No mulch. I've been told by one of our loving members that they would probably benefit from a hair-cut, so I'll get out there and do that when it's not raining buckets. (I've already watched several youtube videos on how to do it). ;)

So, I moved a couple Mums to a new spot yesterday, installed all the Begonias and Tulips, filled that water pump planter with Petunias and Verbena, installed all the Irises, and now I can't wait to see how everything fills out! =)

Meanwhile, all the stuff in the containers out back are flourishing like crazy, and one Hosta is really going to need to be divided into 2 containers, it's HUGE... for its pot. The Columbines have pretty little faces, and the Clematis(es?) are crawling all over their little trellises.

I've heard that about voles too, they are "opportunistic" creatures and don't really like to dig tunnels for themselves. I just have no idea what brought it outside it's tunnel to die. Both of 'em!

While out playing yesterday, I couldn't help but notice a few "volunteers" around the yard. One of 'em I'm pretty sure is some variety of "wild violet" (weed), but I don't know what the other one is. It's growing just barely into the edge of the tree-line, and these flowers were just too pretty for me to pass up, HAD to get a couple pictures! =)

And last but not least.. this one made me laugh out loud when I found it.. it's an Alaska Shasta Daisy plant right on top of my "Yuck Dirt" pile! =) This is NOT where I grow things on purpose, it's the spot where, when I'm working on a bed and come across a lot of clay/rocks, I dump it by the bucketful onto this pile. I guess those Daisies will grow anywhere!

I've heard that some people's PET cats will bring home goodies and leave them on the door. It's a 'gift. '
8 ^]
but would not think a roaming cat would do it for your house.

The violet leaf looks an unusual shape, greenthumb may know if its common or less common.
THe pink one is a deciduous azalea-- WOOT WOOT! I forget the name but have found the local azalea Oh
PINXTER FLOWER try that.

I'd be happy to see them dead....maybe they were poisoned by something?

speedie---HI!

It could be possible that someone, nearby put some poison bait in some of the Mole tunnels.
They ate it--and are dying--looking for fresh air---so are out of their tunnels. Just guessing...

Paul--
HD sells CO2 bombs---I think a pack of 4(?)--Look in the Aisle (#1?) where all the critter ridding stuff is.
They work like road hazard flares.
You find the tunnels--close off all but one entrance/exit---light the flares, toss them into the tunnel
and close off the hole. There will be "smoke" seeping out here andd there...carbon Monoxide...
which will travel throughout the tunnel system and suffocate the Moles.

I bet you are not mean enough to do this..............;o
Gita

Jen--we cross-posted......G.

Oh my goodness, Speedy, your second picture I could swear is our native wild azalea!!!!

Luck you! They are dissiduous not evergreen and are blooming now. They also have some fragrance.
Saw the blooms on display at my local Farmers Market on Sat. The Amer Rhod Society had about 50+ blooms on display. I was really attracted to the wild ones. Below are pics of my take home bouquet of blooms with a wild white to the left and a wild pink (just like yours) to the left. Link is to native azalea bloom times: http://azaleas.org/index.pl/aznatives.html

I hope the cats around will start dragging this in instead of moles, voles, cicadas, birds, etc which they leave on my back steps for me as a reminder to feed them I suppose. Had one cat that would eat the mouse head and leave the body in my shoes! Gotta love all God's critters.

those bombs remind of Caddyshack

Speedie, confirming what Sally and Coleup said - the second photo is a native azalea. I have them everywhere in my woods and they are blooming now.

Guess I lost the bet........

Here is what I found at Aldis yesterday! Nice, sturdy, wire, trellis with 2 birdies on it--$9.99

And--here is how big my Brazilian Plume Flower is by now....

And--My Bleeding Heart----looking nice--together with all the Forget-me-nots and Candytuft.

My Euphorbia in full "bloom'

Look how big my Brazilian Plume has grown! can't wait to see all the blooms. need to feed it something...

Yukky day today--cool and rainy...tomorrow the same----how is one supposed to get her yardening done???

G.

Paul--Here are some sites on getting rid of Moles; I just Googled it....I am sure there are more ideas...

http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/giant-destroyer-smoke-bombs-gas?gclid=CN3Sjuay8LYCFYyi4AodSRwAjg

http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/no-more-gophers-or-moles/index.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Moles-in-Your-Lawn