Yardening (#4)- in 2014

Muddy1
I think most of us here garden for our delights first, then later on for others enjoyment.

Lawn? I kicked that curb appeal sameness poor copy of a the 'estate' fantasy to the curb long ago. The ma nature in me sees a lawn as curiously unplanted garden and unnatural in its monoculture an unclaimed garden. Gardeners of the world take back your lawns. Liberate yourselves from the Lawn King who has no clothes. Just one season of non attending the lawn will see it revert to natural before your eyes with no work or expense on your part to a multi-species rich ever changing micro environment.

Lol Are there any poems, great works of art, liturature, music based on the lawn? Off to look

One of my favourite gardening books (not old, but still good) is "The Curious Gardener's Almanac: Centuries of Practical Garden Wisdom", by Niall Edworthy . It's very tongue-in-cheek in its humour, but there are wonderfully "wise" tidbits in there as well. It was a gift from DH a handful of years ago. As an example of its wittiness; the Introduction:

*****************************

If this book were to lie down on a couch and open up to reveal everything that was going on deep inside, the psychiatrist would probably get up and walk out of the room, pulling at his hair and kicking over the wastepaper basket in exasperation as he left.

*****************************

Judy; sadly, were I to let my lawn go back to its natural state, one would never be able to walk through it again for all the prickly, poking, sticking under-shrubbery-type growth. And it's not lovely attractive stuff either, it's horrid and scrubby. Not to mention, DH would disown me entirely were I to do that and.. well, I rather like the guy, so I wanna keep him. =)
What I am doing, however, is slowly expanding my beds and other growing areas... very gradually so-as not to cause notice or attention. Ssshhhhhh!!! Don't tell him!! < =D

lol Speedie I wasn't advocating a total over throw in one season but just as you plan a gradual re-gardening, it might not be too soon to contemplate where you want your well trodden paths and bramble free zones. And if you consider what will naturally occur on your site by seeig the species nature readily plants and grows there you will have a treasure trove of not found in a book info of what will grow there for your conditions and edit, enhance, select, try, enjoy the unfolding panorama....And, there is always the 'goat' alternative!

Hey, gave me an idea for a short story or saga titled "The Lawn" a classic tale of the battle of the sexes as they fight over who will have final say over the last remaining patch of lawn in their (mysteriously disappearing) lawn, told by their newspaper carrier during what turns out to be the hottest driest season on record. yada,yada,yada

Totally agree on the lawn thing! Reclaimed some of it this past year!

Between coleup and GIta it sounds like
Change is Gonna Come !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-X9JkM9Bgo

I hunted down corn gluten last year (as I recall, in the form of Espoma Organic Weed Preventer, http://www.espoma.com/p_consumer/lawn_org_weed.html though I can't swear to it). What surprised me was that there were vast price differences around town. I think I ultimately found the cheapest at Lowe's (cheaper than HD, Southern States and Meadows Farms). My sense was that it reduced the weeds but I still had a ton of weeds. That being said, I'm going to use it again -- I try to avoid herbicides. It didn't work equally on all weeds, though.

Anyway, I'd love to hear what prices you see for it. A 25 lb. bag only covers 1,250 sq. ft.

while we're at the organic fertilizers there's one that works fantastic, is ridiculously easy to use, readily available everywhere and is 100% free!!!! There is such a body of knowledge and research on it that you could be reading about it for the next 10 years. OK here goes. Its human urine. Honest! I read about it and decided to try it and golly gee, oh my, oh my! Talk about activating a compost pile! Talk about bringing out the flowers! I never ever run out and it is so concentrated that one days donation can cover the whole yard once its diluted. The Ph of human urine is 6.5. Just right for most plants. If you have a plant that's looking a bit peked just mix up a quick batch and poor it on. It can be used as a drench or a spray. I have a friend that uses the organic disposables on her baby and she just buries them in her compost pile. You should see her hostas! I've never seen hostas like her's. Just remember, it has to be really diluted. One donation makes well over a five gallon bucket full! To boost bloom, pour it on just as buds are starting to form and whaam.

Yehudith

The price for corn gluten keeps me from buying it for the lawn . But I'd consider buying some and just using it on flower beds and edges to try and avoid some weeding.

yehudith…quite right about all that

I don't mean to be a snob but I would much rather purchase fertilizer than use my own urine. Interesting tip though..

It would seem to me that the 'human fertilizer' would have a multi-layer benefit package. Firstly, it's feeding the plants, which helps to build up cell walls, making them stronger, there-by making them more resistant to disease and insect attack. At the same time, the scent of human is probably also acting as a deterrent against critters who might otherwise want to dig at and/or eat them. Sounds like a very.. sound (heh heh) practice to me. It also makes me wonder if that was the "secret" that Dad would never tell us when talking about why his Marigolds were always so lush and gorgeous. =)

Work canceled for me again, and I am all cozy in my new jammies. We ended up at about 7-8 inches.

So, are they Scooby Doo jammies!?!? < =D Pink bunny rabbits hopping around?? Ooooh, I know... they've got bunches of carrots all over them!! < =D

Sally you stink! I wish work was cancelled for me :( I had to wake up early and clean up the snow...I'm dragging now though.

Wonder if Gita is having fun at HD at the moment. Now, maybe it's just me, but I think that's silly. "Important people" like government workers can take the day off, but non-essential things like retail sales have to work?? Just seems backward to me.

Healthcare.. now that's a different matter all together; we all know people like you, Sequoia, are as essential as they get. Please please be safe and careful out there... and THANK YOU!

Speedie, I agree 'Just seems backward to me.' its sort of like that too when holiday weekends roll around and everybody is having parties and cookouts, and the grocery stores are all open supplying them, and 'service job' places (restaurants..) are all open. kinda stinks.

yes BLESSINGS to all the health and emergency workers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ps speedie--pink and purple flowers and butterflies, of course

Thanks Speedie, as much as I'd like to take credit for being an 'essential worker', I'm about as non essential as they get, hence the reason I can post on here while at work. I'm a purchasing manager. Our company's snow policy is to come or go as one feels comfortable in the snowy weather. It's a blessing and a curse that I always feel quite comfortable driving in the snow...LOL

I do agree though, blessing to the health and emergency workers :)

I got my corn gluten at Agway, they still treat it as as feed, not a garden miracle. I think last time I paid $20 or so for 50#.

cool- is it called corn gluten as a feed, or something else?

I just ask if they had corn gluten, while standing in front of a pallet of Preen, :-} Seriously though, You may have to say "In bulk". Historically it was the by-product of making corn syrup and corn starch, it was used as a medium/filler for mixing higher protein feeds for livestock.

Sally and Ric,

Apparently, corn gluten meal is different form corn gluten feed.

The feed doesn't have any weed-killing properties.

http://www.hort.iastate.edu/research/gluten/realthing


edited for spelling

This message was edited Jan 22, 2014 12:56 PM

This one too!

Thanks ss g!

Sally, we're getting long here, and either Dave's is slow or my 'puter needs a spring cleaning. Would you like to bump us up?

Speaking of health care workers. I stopped at Trader Joes on the way home. I'm standing at the cash register and this woman walks by who can we say was very, very "large with child". I'm watching her walk out and start inventorying what's in my supplies in the back of my car and in my bag and reviewing my maternal child training. I mentioned it to the cashier, she took one look , looked at me and said " do you think she's going to make it out of the parking lot?". All the way to the car I just knew someone was going to come grab me. I just pray she made it home before things started hopping. Seriously, we will have a new member of society before the sun comes up. I wonder was she just trying to get essentials in or did she just think she was having Brachston Hicks. I wish our plants would start hopping cause I'm having gardener's Bachston Hicks.

Typ and Catmint, thank you very very much for being some of the ones who went to work no matter how much dooms-day hype was thrown out there!! I don't like the idea of your lives being in jeopardy (loads of non-drivers out there driving), but you guys are actually important...(much like Sequoia), retail sales is not... just my humble opinion.... I really don't need a light bulb or new wrench that badly.

Maybe she was pushing the envelope to pass the Bachston Hicks contractions and start true labor. Jamie was slow getting to this side of his mom, he took a 2-3 hour break after we got to the hospital. We were using the midwives and they said that if things didn't get started soon they were gong to induce labor and kick me out. I walked Holly up 4-5 flights of stairs and by the time we got her back in bed they were wheeling us into the birthing room. Her parents brought the rest of the brood over and everyone got to share their new brother. One of the best days of my life.

Aawwww Gosh, you made me all teary-eyed Ric!!! < ='D

I never had Brachston Hicks contractions myself.. went straight from "water break" to "Look out, here he comes!!". =D (glad I made it to the hospital on time)

That was Holly's usual MO. Jamie just had to be different.LOL

LOL.. "Wait for it..... wait for it..." < =D Hahahahaahaaa

I had the Brachston-Hicks with my first daughter...it is like being in labor,
which gets progressively worse, for 4 months.
By the end--it was impossible to tell whether I was in labor--or just having
more of those pains...I don't wish these on anyone....It's miserable!

Anyway--speedie--I had a 5 1/2hr. day today at work. Spent it doing packdown,
The mindless job of opening boxes and putting merchandise out on the shelves
where everything goes...straightening and 'fronting" in the process.
But--doing this, time passes without much frustration...

When i was ready to leave--they had bought us all many pizzas from Costco.
How nice...had 2 pieces.....lunch AND dinner for me.
G.

Two pieces of pizza worked as lunch AND dinner for you after a hard day of work? That must explain why I'm not thin - I would have assumed that was just an appetizer....

Happy--

If I have had breakfast--and go into work at 8AM--and then am scheduled for lunch
at 12noon--that is way too close to when I just ate. Not even hungry!
But--I do then bring a lunch.

I seldom even eat an actual lunch--only when I am working.
I also very seldom eat a dinner--as I "graze" throughout the day.
BUT--I DO eat a good breakfast every day.

It is the "grazing" that still ads 100's of calories to my day. I try to graze and eat
good things--roasted peas are my latest addiction. I like a bit of crackers and cheese too.
But--always a little piece of chocolate or other sweets whenever I pass the bowl.

I never eat fast- food. Never canned, processed, prepared foods or such.
Cook 90% of my food myself.
I very, very seldom eat breads or rolls or noodles or rice, etc...Just don't want it.
If we have a cookout at work--I will eat the burger or sausage minus the rolls...
They are such junk! fall apart in your hands....Yech!

My biggest downfall are sweets......and I like wine, even though I drink it over
a full glass of ice cubes. ...still adds up....

AND--I weigh plenty! Probably 20-30lbs more than you. As much as some men.....:o(
G.

This message was edited Jan 22, 2014 5:27 PM

Speedy, I know what you mean. I come from one of thooooose families. Out of all the cousins, nephews, brothers and sisters I'm the only one to have been born in the delivery room. Most never even made it to the hospital which is really shaming when you stop to think I come from a family of surgeons and various other MDs. My mother delivered my first (I didn't even know I was in labor) with my dog sitting on the bed with me. She had just come in from the horses and came upstairs to check on me cause I wasn't feeling well, took one look, picked up the phone and called my aunt to come help. Less than an hour later I was cleaned up and downstairs on the couch with a snack. Funny thing, the doctor who delivered me really messed up the delivery and my mother told him with her next she'd go to a vet cause she'd be safer (mummy was a vet-surgeon). Well at least her grandchild was delivered by a vet. She also delivered my cousin on our kitchen floor. I know cause I was there. Aunt Vicky came over that night, had a couple contractions Mummy said lets go she had another one and Mummy said forget that thought and Aunt Vicky hit the floor, two pushes and out popped cousin Thea. It really did go that fast! Thea has had two and her oldest who had shoulder distorsia was delivered in two hours start to finish. Yep, this family don't play!

Gittal,

Forget wine Sake!!!! Now that's worth the calories!

Yehudith

But...but....i like SWEET wines....

Gita: You look great to me!

Yehudith: We love wine. We did buy a bottle of sake recently, and I thought I'd love it, but I don't. It tasted a bit, dare I say, aggressive. (And I like retsina and martinis, so you know I'm not fussy!) I expected the sake would be a little sweet or at least soothing (don't know why I thought so, but....). I also thought sake was supposed to be served warm, but our bottle says to serve it chilled. So it sits, unloved, in our fridge.

will do new thread soon………………"bear" with me….proceed to
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1348312/

as this one got long! thanks for the nudge!

This message was edited Jan 22, 2014 5:34 PM

Gitagal

There are all types of sake for all different tastes. I tend to like the rot gut. My husband says it tastes like gasoline. Then there's the nice smooth sipping stuff. Only certain types of sake are heated. When you have a bad cold the hot sake fumes really clean you out.