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BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 12 Apr 08 - 09:33 PM Here in Texas it is a low (8-12") thatch of a ground cover. People can plant it in the shade or sun, and usually take the weedeater to the edge to keep it from creeping into the lawn. It's in the foreground and around the crape myrtle in this photo. It doesn't have any flowers that I know of. Well, you know how that goes--it probably does, but nothing that is ever conspicuous. How big do you want your ground cover? Rosemary is quite a hedge around here, and it does a fine job of covering the ground. Or something little, like oregano. That is a pretty ground cover here also. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 12 Apr 08 - 09:55 PM Wow.... Yeah, that would work reallty well if it is hardy.... It's like a blanket and that is what we need... How fast does it spread, SRS??? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 12 Apr 08 - 10:50 PM I'll have to find out how hardy it is as far as your zone. You can buy it in various sized containers, but for an area like that, get the little 1" plugs and space them in a grid something like 6" to 12" and they'll be a full bed like that in a couple of years. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Janie Date: 12 Apr 08 - 11:43 PM How much light does the berm get, Bobert, and in what direction does it face? With the pond behind it, does it stay pretty moist? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 13 Apr 08 - 11:59 AM It gets lots of light, Janie, because it is out ibn the open but it does face north... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Apr 08 - 09:18 PM I must confess. I slipped over to the dark side for a while this afternoon. The poison ivy is coming up and the leaves are tender right now, so I got the container of weed killer (left over from several years ago, but most likely as toxic as ever) and spritzed it. Poison ivy and I do not get along. It kills me to get even a small spot. This is the result of a really bad rash a few years ago, and now I'm very sensitive to it. My man Howard says you have to dig it up, and even toxic sprays may not help, but I'll (pardon the pun) give it a shot. The rest of the day was suitably organic. I dug and sifted my compost pile from last year and lugged a couple of wheelbarrows full to the new bed at the side of the house. Green sand, lava sand, and compost are in place and tomorrow I'll crank up the old tiller and work it in deep. Bobert, I took a look at the tag for the ground when I was at Home Depot. They call it something else, and it is grown in a nursery in California. I didn't write it down (I should have five-fingered the tag, but I was in a hurry and didn't think about it.) I'll report more later. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Apr 08 - 11:31 AM I've figured out where the agave is going to go. I have to transplant two rosemary bushes and the agave is going where one of them stood. I have a lot of transplanting to do, actually, and it needs to be finished this month. It should have been done in the fall, but I was fussing about the roof and the roofers were going to step on or lay plywood on top of anything I transplanted, so I didn't bother then. I'm still finding nails, chunks of shingle, and those little plastic disks from the felt nails around the yard. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Apr 08 - 10:10 PM We were at the high-dollar grocery store this evening and I spotted some really interesting heirloom tomatoes. Some from Mexico, some from Canada. So instead of picking the ones that might have a chance in this climate, I picked up one of the Canadian tomatoes. I'm going to save some seeds and try growing a few. Assuming I like the taste. It smells good. Any one else ever get their seeds that way? I have some Israel melon to plant this year I picked up last year in the spring and saved for now. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 15 Apr 08 - 10:18 PM Wow, SRS... We just grow the same ol' Celebrity 'cause they taste great, look great and can great... Okay, we grow them Italian tomatos, one cherry which come up from last years garden and a Mr. Stripie... Keep us posted... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Apr 08 - 09:51 PM Choices. With the world food crop on the precipice, I can't make a dent in the rice or wheat problem. I guess I'll aim at crops easy to preserve or can. I should grow the stuff that is expensive in the store and buy the stuff that is cheap in the store, right? So I'll grow some eggplant (I love it!) and maybe not grow too many squash. Tomatoes--well, they may not cost so much in the store but store-bought tomatoes in the summertime are an abomination. What are some of you growing this year, and how will you preserve the extra? (I'm shifting my attention back to the gardening thread, Bobert, to wipe the sh*t off of my shoes from that other thread. There are a lot of black pots being slung around over there, and a more than adequate demonstration of what happens when you carry a lighted match too close to a couple of sticks of dynamite.) SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 Apr 08 - 04:17 PM We're due for rain tonight, an 80% chance, then nice weather tomorrow. Looks like this weekend is going to be a good one for digging and tilling. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 17 Apr 08 - 05:06 PM Lets see??? Right now we have peas, beets, spinach and lettuce planted which will be our spring crops... We'll plant them again the last week of August and with any luck be eating 'um fresh up 'til the 1st of Novemebwr... We've also got two rows of tators and we've harvested a little asparagus... Yummy... Next to go in will be all the hot summer plants: yellow squash, zuchinni, half a dozen different peppers, tomatoes, yummy lima bean and roma beans... Oh yeah, those little cuckes that are ready when they get about 5 inches long... We can tomatoes and beets... We freeze peppers and beans in vacuum packs whih, BTW, are reusable... 'Bout it for now... No rain so I've got the oscillator on the spring stuff... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 18 Apr 08 - 12:23 AM Last year there were flowers to the left in this bed and tomatoes to the right. The Swiss Chard has grown here for a couple of years. It was pretty scrawny last year but this spring it came back like gangbusters. I had some for dinner tonight and have some in the fridge to add to some soup tomorrow. I cut a few leaves at a time and let the root stock keep producing. I get the impression people sometimes pull up the real tender plants, like spinach, but that seems a waste of time. These plants are so hardy, I've had chard produce for several years and when we've had mild winters I've put it on the table year round. This is my front yard, by the way. The soil that is easiest to work is out there, probably because the builders put better top soil in the front yard and just plow the dirt flat (rebar and nails and all in it) in the back. Since the front yard is easier to work in and I'm an opportunist, I have a mix of flowers and veggies. I usually have some peppers and tomatoes mixed in the beds. I might poke something in the iris bed this year. The iris won't care if they're the understory for a while. It's amazing how many people walk past every day and never notice what is growing out there. I have a neighbor who grows her cantaloupe in her front yard. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: katlaughing Date: 18 Apr 08 - 01:38 AM WyoWoman is editor of the Herb Companion. Here is what I'd like my front yard to look like...it's in her magazine this month and the house itself is in Austin Texas: clickety. Sooooo pretty! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 18 Apr 08 - 11:16 AM Gorgeous! I'm a long way from the yard I visualise here, so its nice to see places like this that give goals to strive for. Have you heard more from your weed removal guy, Kat? We had really heavy rains here, in fact, my dog walk last evening was interrupted by the tornado sirens. We were about a block from the house, I could see heavy clouds to the northwest and knew I probably had time to finish a shortened route loop we do through the area fields, but decided to be prudent and turn around. The local weather folks had a lot of colorful weather maps on screen for much of the evening. This morning the dog dishes were full, and a bucket on the other side of the house has about an inch and a half. If I average between these two informal rain gauges, I'd guess we received upwards of 2.5" of mostly rain (and a little hail). SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Donuel Date: 18 Apr 08 - 11:32 AM With mostly clay soil here ... Is it good or bad to add gypsum ?????????????????????? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 18 Apr 08 - 12:17 PM There is a product called Permitil, Donuel, that works well with clay... The gypsum is fine if you want to till up a garden plot but put till some straw into it as well... But as for shrubs, Permitil, "Pine Fines" and clay will grow just about anything that grows well where you live... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Donuel Date: 18 Apr 08 - 02:23 PM Pine fines... sounds like pine needles. If so it makes good sense since it is thought tht the first soil on earth was made from the first trees which were a bit like pine trees today but more fern like in the branches. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 18 Apr 08 - 05:09 PM No, no, Donuel... It's not pine needles... Its finely (fines) ground up pine bark... It is a wonderful soil ammendment... Comes in bags like mulch... Here's the mix: 1/2 clay and whatever top soil comes outta the hole 3/8 Pione fines 1/8 Permatil BTW, here's somethin' you might not know... Clay has alot of nutients in it that just neeed to be unlocked... The Permitil does just that... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 18 Apr 08 - 09:27 PM I know people sometimes fuss about picking up unwanted pests via public compost and mulch, but I found a good hot stack of compost over at the recycle center this afternoon. It isn't finished if its still cooking, but I piled it on the garden and will let it cook some more and I'll till it in soon. I need some organic material in this soil, and although there has only been grass growing here for ages so it probably isn't depleted of anything, it was a building site at one time so it probably lost some of the original good top soil that was here. This is going in with the amendments. It will be a veggie garden this year, after all. It's small, and right outside the back door, so I'll put in the kinds of things that I have been known to step out to the garden to pick while I'm cooking. I called into a radio talk show at noon today, a program where anyone can call in with any question and other listeners call in with the answer. A guy called and wanted to know why his morning grapefruit didn't always have the same number of sections, and why sometimes it has odd numbers and sometimes even. I pulled out my taxonomy of flowering plants and called in and told him how many petals on the citrus flower, but that it doesn't indicate the number of segments in the fruit, that this has to do with the effectiveness of the pollinator. And that the flower stops letting pollinators in after it reaches a certain level of viable seeds that will grow in it. No one else called in to add to my answer, or argue against it, so I must have been pretty close with my guess. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 19 Apr 08 - 07:10 AM I'm impressed... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bee Date: 19 Apr 08 - 02:41 PM O frabjous day! last night the Spring Peepers sang for the first time. We've had two mild days in a row, and today, a lovely warm sun means I can at last join in the garden thread, yay! I've been cleaning up winter debris and weeding out the inevitable grass and wild asters and discovering what didn't make it through the winter. Last year a kind of wet rot destroyed my favourite irises, and this year I see other irises have been affected, but not outright killed yet. I've no idea what caused it - the roots just turn to mush, as if frozen and thawed, which is an unlikely cause, as they've survived a good ten years of the same climate and similar protection. Other than that, though, I have tulips, daylilies, phlox, creeping phlox, forget me not, columbine, delphinium, hostas, sweet william, Pulmonaria (blooming!), peony, rhubarb, evening Lychnis, foxglove, mallow, two kinds of perennial geranium, oregano, chives, johnny jumpups, lily of the valley, bleeding heart and poppies all sprouting up all fresh and green. I notice one old area of creeping phlox has become sprawling and sparse, and needs to be cut to the roots, and I've yet to see any rudbeckia seedlings popping up, so there may be a few spots in the soil to fill up with new plants. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 19 Apr 08 - 08:24 PM Tough to kill iris... Maybe too wet??? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 20 Apr 08 - 12:59 AM Iris is so tolerant of abuse it must have been an exceptional winter to kill them. Or some creature that really nails them. I dug a bed today for a new home for some cannas by my front porch. I'll do the transplanting tomorrow and they'll now live at the side of the house and will benefit from my foundation soaker hose. These always end up kind of tattered looking with worms that wrap up the leaves and other things that eat holes across the veins. I haven't cared enough for them to try to do anything about them, but with this trouble of transplanting, I'll give them a little more TLC. Any suggestions to keep leaf rollers and other diners out of the cannas? Is this the place to try the self-rising flour (or diatomaceous earth)? SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 20 Apr 08 - 09:41 AM Reminds me of an iris bed that I dug out a few years ago back in Wes Ginny... I took the whole bunch of them and just threw 'um accross the road into the woods... No planting... They just lais there on op opf the leaves... Well, you know the restr of the story... Yup, they rooted themselves and if you were to go back there today there's about a 10 foot round patch of very healthy irisis... As for the worms in the cannas I'm not too sure what will kill them but it's the larve I suspect developes during your winters... We did ours up and store them in peat moss inside the barn where the larve doesn't have an environment to live... But I'll ask the P-Vine if she has anything that is organic that will kill the worms... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bee Date: 20 Apr 08 - 01:02 PM Bobert and SRS, the iris deaths is a mystery. They are in a well drained area, winter wasn't that bad this year or last. There doesn't seem to be any associated bugs or holes, and it doesn't even look like a fungus. The nice, fat roots just go to mush, like a bad sweet potato. Could a mole eat/tear away the little 'feeder' roots and kill them that way? We just started seeing (starnosed) mole holes a couple years ago, so I'm not familiar with any damage they might cause. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 20 Apr 08 - 01:17 PM I've seen a few iris roots like that, I don't remember what the circumstances were, though I'm guessing they were really crowded together when it happened. Have you thinned your irises every couple of years? I just now ran a scientific search via Google (typed in "iris root rot") and got a hit: anoxic soil could be a problem. Does this sound useful? The discussion seems to be one about gardening for hummingbirds in the Southeast. Another hit says manure on irises can lead to root rot, and here is an abstract from a paper that I would have to join the ScienceDirect folks to read, but maybe this is enough to make your eyes glaze over:
SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: pdq Date: 20 Apr 08 - 01:20 PM Your moles are eating small animals such as insects, earth worms and occasionally crustaceans. They have very small mouths that are evolved for they food the use and they have no interest in eating plant material. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 20 Apr 08 - 06:07 PM pdq, Ummmmmm, as a major gardener, you are techically correct... The moles have no use for the plant material... But here is the rub... Where you have moles, who do the tunneling, you will also have voles... The voles use the moles tunnels, breed in them and the voles do attack the root systems of plants... Their favorite food is hosta roots... One vole can kill a hosta in a matter of a couple days... They also attack yer potaotes and beets in yer veggie garden as well as the roots of many ornimental plants... We have taken to not only using Permitil but planting out hostas in planters with wire mesh in the bottom to cover the hole which the varments will tunnel thru and kill a hosta in a planter... I've never known any varment that has any interest in irisesm howeverm so I suspect that what SRS has come up with id most likely the cause of death... You have to abuse yer irises, Bee, if you want them to thrive... You know... Plant 'um in concrete... lol... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Janie Date: 20 Apr 08 - 11:22 PM Bee, Consider the possibility of Iris borers - a moth whose larva tunnel down iris leaves, feed on the roots (hollowing them out, mostly) and either spread or make iris roots vulnerable to bacterial rot. I don't know if they occur as far north as you are (Nova Scotia?) but they are wide spread and occur in New England. I have had problems with them in the past, and the problems are recurring this year because I neglected to clean up the iris leaves when they browned and fell over in the late fall, or at least by late winter. The moths lay eggs in garden debris, including brown and drooping iris leaves, in late summer and fall. If you scrupulously remove dead iris leaves in late fall or very early spring (I have to do it both late fall and early spring in my mild climate)and keep other fallen or dead plant debris away from the irises, you can control them pretty easily. They make their way to the growing plant from the still attached dead leaves, or from fallen tree leaves or other dead plant debris lying up against the irises. If you are finding not only mushy, rotted rhizomes, but are noting those not completely mush are hollowed out, the most likely culprit is iris borers. Cut away all hollowed or rotted rhizome, dust the roots with sulpher to treat the fungus spread by the borers, let them dry out just a bit in a shady place for a day or two and replant. Even a very small piece of rhizome with a little bit of root will regenerate, though it may take a couple of years before you have blooms again. You may or may not see the catarpillers, but if you see little chewed corners on green iris leaves, or little holes or brown spots on the green leaves, with dark green, sappy-looking streaks running down the leaves, it is probably borers. Once you have them, it is essential to clean up the iris beds very thoroughly every fall and/or early spring to avoid future problems. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: katlaughing Date: 21 Apr 08 - 12:57 AM Is this the wrong time of year to transplant iris? I have some that keep coming up on the edge of the dry, hard-packed dirt and some gravel driveway that I would really like to move. They are a pale, smaller iris than I have known before. There is another clump of them at the other end of the front year, under a large tree where they get more ambient water. I'd like to move the driveway ones just inside the fence in a dry patch near another tree. Keep in mind this is high desert. No chance of any kind of rot, dampness, etc. My sweetpea that I planted last year is coming back in full force, and I just noticed my clematis is sending up tendrils. I wasn't sure it would make it this year. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Janie Date: 21 Apr 08 - 06:56 AM Iris go through a period of dormancy in mid summer after they have bloomed and gone to seed, and that is supposedly the best time to transplant. For myself, I transplant whenever I need to and have the time, and they seem to do fine - but if you can wait until after bloom, that is probably a bit better. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: maeve Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:28 AM I'll be transplanting some Imortality iris this week, along with an un-named yellow dwarf bearded iris. We missed out on thinning last year, and so will take out half of what's crowded together now, potting the extras for sale later in the season, and will dig and re-space the rest of them after the first bloom. Bobert or anyone else, I want to stick some cuttings of a friend's vibernum and some Annabelle hydrangeas. Should I use a sand-based mix? Rooting hormone in powdered or liquid formula? Thanks for any helpful suggestions. maeve in Maine |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 21 Apr 08 - 08:38 AM Both will do fine, maeve, but wait until later in the season and take cuttings from "new growth" (semi hard wood) which is easier to root... "Root Tone" is a great product, comes in a powder form and so when you take your cuttings just dip the bottom in the root tone... I would use a medium that has some pearlite in it and a miz of potting soil and whatever soil they are growing in now... Put them in baggies with twist ties at the top with some but not soaking mointure... The baggies will act as a greenhouse and if you have a grow light or florescent bulb and an area that doesn't freeze that will do juts fine... If not, put them up next to your house on the north side of the house after the last frost... Once they have rooted then they can take more sun... As for irises, we move and divide then any time we feel like it... They are very tough to hurt or kill... Kinda like alot of day lillies... BTW, anyone using "hychonecloa" (high-conna-clo-ah) (sp?) grasses??? Great little grass for bordering beds that is out there... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Janie Date: 21 Apr 08 - 09:10 AM One problem with baggies is lack of ventilation. After reading about it in a book or magazine a few years ago, I started using plastic 1 liter bottles (saved from buying bottles of water or soda.) Cut the bottom out and the bottle fits quite nicely just inside the perimeter of a 6" pot. The open neck allows for sufficient ventilation while keeping the humidity high, and doesn't collapse against the stem or leaves, knocking the cutting over. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: maeve Date: 21 Apr 08 - 09:13 AM Thanks, Bobert. I'll try the cuttings I have, and then make some more cuts when the semi-hard growth is available. I do have the Rootone already, as well as Dip N Grow liquid concentrate. I want to try blueberry cuttings from our various high bush varieties and one of the native hardy azaleas (if I can get hold of some cuttings from friends in NH). Does anyone here have plantings of more than one cucumber magnolias? I'm in need of fertile seed. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: katlaughing Date: 21 Apr 08 - 10:31 AM Thanks, everyone. Now I just have to talk my brother or Rog into digging them up for me!:-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Apr 08 - 10:46 AM I have a box of iris that I dug up last fall, and I pulled out most of the big roots (rhizomes) and the box sat in a corner all winter. I look in it now and there are small roots putting out little green shoots after total neglect, freezing weather, and no soil. When they finally build that space station on the moon they're probably going to plant irises around the front door. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: pdq Date: 21 Apr 08 - 10:52 AM BACTERIAL SOFT ROT Unlike pink rot and leak, soft rot is caused be the bacteria Erwinia carotovora that also causes blackleg during the growing season. The soft rot bacteria can be carried on seed pieces, borne in soil, borne in water, carried on insect bodies and equipment. Weeds in the field especially those related to potatoes such as nightshades and buffalo bur can harbor the bacteria. Planting infected seed increases the potential of harvesting infected tubers. Soft rot usually enters through swollen, water-logged lenticels (pores) on tubers. Infected vines release bacteria to the soil and the bacteria can move to new tubers through soil water. Soft rot, however, can also enter tubers through the stem end and wounds. Control Practices: In storage, soft rot only spreads easily but must enter through wounds either caused mechanically or by fungi such as leak and pink rot. Wet tubers having free water on the surface are very prone to soft rot infection. Chlorinated water will help avoid the spread of soft rot but will not affect bacteria that have already entered tubers. There is little data to support the effectiveness of applying germicides through ventilation or humidifying systems. Infection is highest shortly after harvest and declines during storage. The bacteria can survive in debris in storage bins from season to season. Metalaxyl will not affect Erwinia carotovora. Tips to Prevent Soft Rot * Do not plant infected seed. * Control weeds esp. nightshades and buffalo bur. * Avoid harvesting under wet conditions. * Harvest mature tubers with set skin. * Harvest when air and soil temperature is below 70oF. * Harvest when pulp temperature is below 50oF. * Avoid bruising. * Dry tubers quickly. * Remove vines, clods and soil adhered to tubers before piling. * Avoid leak and pink rot. * Sanitize storage facility. * Eliminate condensation during storage. * Keep well ventilated in storage. * Cure tubers for 2-3 weeks at 50-55oF with good air flow. * Do not wash tubers before storing. * Dry tubers quickly. * Monitor storage piles for wet spots. * If using flume system, use chlorinated water replacing it often. * Do not let tubers submerge more than 1-2 inches in flumes. * Dry tubers thoroughly before packing. * Pack tubers in ventilated bags, having air holes. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bee Date: 21 Apr 08 - 12:49 PM Thanks for the tips, 'catters. I think Janie might have the answer. I'd assumed the few hollowed out roots were anomalies of dehydration, but I'll bet iris borers are the culprit. Pdq, thanks for defending the moles: I knew they were insectivores for the most part, but wondered if they might chew roots to get them out of their way when tunneling. I really try to strike a balance with the wildlife, including the insects. If a plant is getting eaten by insects, I usually don't replant that species for a couple years. If it's aphids, I wash 'em off. Grubs get thrown to the birds if I find them, and I'm happy when there's a skunk around to eat them - less happy when the occasional bear comes through and literally rolls up the lawn to get grubs. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 21 Apr 08 - 05:10 PM The grub is something that the mole loves... Corn gluten can be put down on lawns to control the grubs (kinda) to keep the moles from tearing up your lawns and allowing the voles assess to the beds around your house... Voles are the enemy... Grrrrrrrr... I hate 'um and always praise the kitties when they bring 'um home... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Apr 08 - 10:13 PM I have to be careful about putting anything down in the yard where the dogs are. Those dopes will taste anything and eat an awful lot of stuff that you don't want to even think about. Tonight I mowed the back yard and the pit bull started stalking the grackles that come feed a row or two over from the mower. She realized they were catching HER bugs. (Both dogs adore katydids, and the pit will watch the catahoula and if it looks like she caught one in a pounce will run and take it away from her.) SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bee Date: 22 Apr 08 - 12:26 AM My old dog used to get evening snack type cravings for June Bugs. She'd watch them through the screen door for a while as she lazed around on the rug, then suddenly get up and want out. Ten minutes of leaping and crunching later, she'd be satisfied and come in - then wonder why i didn't want to be licked....eee-eww! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Apr 08 - 12:47 AM Mine eat June bugs also. When I police the grounds out back I find the wings sticking out of the dried stool. Ewwww is right. I had to chase them away from a floundering baby bird yesterday. What could have been a fuzzy snack (a fledged but not flight-worthy sparrow practicing it's take-off) was launched into the next door neighbor's back yard where it could continue the strident peep for Mom to feed it, but without the danger of a curious frisky dog. One of the reasons I do the organic gardening is because I think I see a lot more wildlife with the healthy environment. I did see a lot more before I had dogs in the yard, I will admit. I mentioned this to a friend out at a local nature center, and he said that at least the damage is contained by my fences, it isn't like I'm spraying lawn and bug chemicals far and wide and wiping out a lot of stuff. Just a few birds and slow squirrels. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 22 Apr 08 - 08:46 AM Ths corn gluten won't hurt yer dog, SRS... And it is organic and environmental friendly... Grubs don't think so but it's either grubs, moles and voles or corn gluten a couple times a year... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Apr 08 - 11:48 AM No, it won't hurt the dogs, but I what I meant is, they'll go around trying to lick it all up. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Bobert Date: 23 Apr 08 - 06:41 PM Wait unti just before yer 'sposed to get a decent rain, SRS... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Apr 08 - 12:26 AM Oops, I missed my chance this evening, except that anything spread around this afternoon would be down the creek by now. These heavy storms are above and beyond what you probably consider a "decent rain." My informal rain gauge (dog food dishes on the back patio) show between 3 and 4 inches. This can be considered pretty reliable, because the dogs haven't had time to come out of their cosy dry den in the garage and lap up the evidence yet. . . SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Apr 08 - 03:37 PM Did any of you see the National Geographic's Strange Days on Planet Earth opening episodes last night on PBS? Does any of you want to ever take a drink of anything out of a plastic container again? Ever accept another plastic grocery bag? I've been taking my own bags to the stores off and on for years, and have recently gotten back into the habit because it is difficult to recycle that plastic, but to watch this program about everything from faded coral off of the Yucatan to the Pacific trash Gyre and other linkages around the planet was amazing. It comes down to plastic, on many levels. The thing about this program that I like is that they are tapping into popular culture much more than previous scientific-based programs. They're picking up the stylistic format of the popular detective programs all over television now, and they're giving a broad enough answer to make the answer applicable to any viewer. This is more of the charisma of the Jacques Cousteau programs of decades ago. This is what I've been waiting to see. I had completed all of the course work on a masters in Environmental Ethics except to write the thesis when a health problem caused me to stop my work for a while. I never went back. But I'd been asking myself for many months before the health problem "where is this going to lead?" I was mastering some important critical thinking skills, but I was doing it in an academic vacuum where academics talk to other academics, but rarely get outside that closed domain. A friend who is a scientist for the National Park Service burst that bubble for a lot of that year's students by addressing this very topic--what are you going to do to make a difference? Writing scholarly papers ISN'T the answer. So while I never went back, I have had my eye open for the kinds of programs and opportunities that make a difference. I tend to dismiss Earth Day is an annual event for people who aren't already doing these things every day. It does allow those who want people to change to try to get the word out, but for all of the hype, people do as they want, not as we say they should. What is it going to take to get them to plant their own gardens, to use the organic techniques we've been discussing here, to cut back on so many destructive little practices that lead up to big problems? How about a lot of information and a good old-fashioned horror story. Scare people away from the plastic, eyes wide open. That's what this program can do, whatever it's topic. I saw an interview online with Edward Norton. He was on the Today Show on Tuesday and an acquaintance (in Greece--long story!) who is a fan of his asked if I could tape it for her. I knew he had good environmental credentials in his own right, but I was quite impressed at his roots--it's a family thing, to be taken very seriously. He is a good choice for the host of this National Geographic program on many levels. He'll bring in his younger and not as young fans, and he'll convince the more serious science-oriented viewers. The best of both worlds. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Gardeners & Soil and Climate Science From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Apr 08 - 10:02 AM Tornadoes disarranged a few gardens here a couple of days ago, the weather service reports. How is your garden disarrangement coming along, Janie? SRS |
