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Jun. 2nd, 2024 01:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
littlewolfteeth posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
gardeningI have slowly fell into a steady rhythm of routine. I come home after work and as long as I'm not too spent, I go and work out in my yard for a couple of hours. Usually two hours but anywhere between an hour and three works. I'm patient. I'm not in a rush to start growing things right here in the now. Will the weeds still waiting on me keep getting taller or worse with me being only one person? Yes. Will it kill me? Nah. My two days off are now devoted to cleaning and then crashing at the end of the day to play video games or what have you. I just need to fit in my guitar practice every day and I'll be set! So I managed to get some small things done this week. :)
While digging the hole for my orange tree I found this little spadefoot toad. I was so happy to find him in my yard! I can find regular ole toads easily and I love seeing them too but spadefoot toads are harder for me to find and I usually find them on accident and it's always a delight when I do! I put him on the other side of my yard safely away from my working area and finished planting my orange tree. I have no pictures but it's out there, still thriving so far. I put some cardboard around it to try and keep the weed growth away but instead I had a monarch butterfly inspect the newly laid cardboard before fluttering away. Soon, my friend. Soon I'll have so many flowers out here for you.
Not sure if the cardboard is effective on weeds but it is effectively giving predator insects a home, which is fine by me. I saw a decent sized wolf spider scuttle under it today.
Here is my next project I'm currently working on. The before, of course. I sat down in this bed of weeds and started picking them. It was meditation, it was healing. This work is literally healing for me. Those neighbors don't and won't ever know it but they have helped me in ways I didn't know it could help me. I was going to eventually start my garden but they ended up kickstarting it anyways.
My back does not agree. In fact, it's starting to twinge on me. Unbelievable! I can go to the gym and lift all sorts of weights and things of that nature and not have any problems but sure. Gardening is going to trigger pain instead. u_u I'm guessing in all seriousness it's because of the repetitive motions because my left wrist sort of also started complaining on me last night. So I'm going to try and be aware going forward and start involving yoga like moves to break up the stress of repetition. I'm not on a clock here so I can afford to take as long as I need.
Here is the after! This was only about two hours of work. It wasn't that bad unless a root was being particularly stubborn. Also, I discovered some horrifying roots that have spikes like... uh... I don't know why they have spikes growing on something that's normally underground but that's... pretty violent little plant.
So once I clear my ditches I'm going to sort of rake the dirt a little bit, buy a packet of native flower seeds to my state that I found online recently, throw those suckers in the dirt and by that time I should have some worm castings to just dump over the seeds. Maybe sprinkle some garden dirt too. I'm not putting raised beds there because 1) it is a ditch and collects rainwater hence the native flowers only 2) native flowers should grow in our sand anyways. I don't want just dirt or weeds here. I honestly don't want grass anywhere anyways. I want plants that are going to feed our local ecosystem.
This was where I was debating putting my orange tree. Until I learned that when trees die it apparently takes even longer than they were alive to die. I thought I could just dig this poor thing up and be done with it but no. Nah. When is nature ever that easy? So I set it on fire tonight. I did not take pictures because I do not practice fire safety very well. I'm not going to encourage those sorts of setups. But it's smoldering now and come tomorrow I'm going to dig it out and all the ashes and dispose of them. Then once I get my avocado sapling going, it will be going into that hole!!!!
I didn't kill that tree and I didn't want it to die. I think it was a flowering dog-wood tree. Or something. It was very pretty but I noticed it had caught a disease of some sort and I was upset. The last - I think - hurricane about two years ago knocked it out. I was very upset. I loved that tree but I knew it was coming. It had caught something. I really need to start burning all the cut trees I have laying around before I encourage termites. :/
Oh, hello. Hey!!! LISTEN!!!!! I bought an orchid. I love flowers that remind me of faeries. Last time I had one I didn't do my research and I killed them. Not this time!!!!! I'm going to do my best to give it the best. It might die on me, I don't know. I think I sunburnt it a little bit when I stuck it in that kitchen window. So the blinds stay down now. Lol. But I hope this little bud stays alive.
What's this???? I finally have my worm compost bin set up!!!!!!! I Know, I know. I have dirt in my house. I vacuum and cleaned the floor though. It's not just left filthy, I promise. I can't keep them on my porch unfortunately. Our temps will literally cook them. I don't want that.
It is not tiered and I saw a comment on Reddit about how they just had a tote and a towel over it so uh... here we go!!!! My worms were barely moving when I dumped them in here. I don't know if that's normal. I have no idea what I'm doing but we're all trying our best right now. If I have to buy another container from the fishing tackle store (LOL) I will. For now, live little guys!!!!!!!!!! Don't die on me!!! D:
So I know it's preferred to start trees from a splice of the tree itself but I am going to eventually start my avocado pit since I've seen people start their own pit in a little cup of water before. I'll try it. I'm in no hurry.
I also just now remembered there is some sort of pest control that drives down the road during our wet season. I don't know if they are hired by county but I'm going to figure out if I can't get him to not come down my half of the road (it dead ends). I want bugs to live down here and honestly it's going to probably effect them even if he stops coming down my half. :/ Sigh. We have the nasty bugs back here because of the overgrowth and no balance. We would have more dragonflies and predators if we brought in a better balanced ecosystem. I'm going to try and find out who talk to about the spraying. If I want to start a bee colony I should have some say in them spraying insecticides in the air. I expect this in a city, not a rural county. :( Spraying willy-nilly like that honestly only encourages the biting bugs to stick around once the other little guys die.
While digging the hole for my orange tree I found this little spadefoot toad. I was so happy to find him in my yard! I can find regular ole toads easily and I love seeing them too but spadefoot toads are harder for me to find and I usually find them on accident and it's always a delight when I do! I put him on the other side of my yard safely away from my working area and finished planting my orange tree. I have no pictures but it's out there, still thriving so far. I put some cardboard around it to try and keep the weed growth away but instead I had a monarch butterfly inspect the newly laid cardboard before fluttering away. Soon, my friend. Soon I'll have so many flowers out here for you.
Not sure if the cardboard is effective on weeds but it is effectively giving predator insects a home, which is fine by me. I saw a decent sized wolf spider scuttle under it today.
Here is my next project I'm currently working on. The before, of course. I sat down in this bed of weeds and started picking them. It was meditation, it was healing. This work is literally healing for me. Those neighbors don't and won't ever know it but they have helped me in ways I didn't know it could help me. I was going to eventually start my garden but they ended up kickstarting it anyways.
My back does not agree. In fact, it's starting to twinge on me. Unbelievable! I can go to the gym and lift all sorts of weights and things of that nature and not have any problems but sure. Gardening is going to trigger pain instead. u_u I'm guessing in all seriousness it's because of the repetitive motions because my left wrist sort of also started complaining on me last night. So I'm going to try and be aware going forward and start involving yoga like moves to break up the stress of repetition. I'm not on a clock here so I can afford to take as long as I need.
Here is the after! This was only about two hours of work. It wasn't that bad unless a root was being particularly stubborn. Also, I discovered some horrifying roots that have spikes like... uh... I don't know why they have spikes growing on something that's normally underground but that's... pretty violent little plant.
So once I clear my ditches I'm going to sort of rake the dirt a little bit, buy a packet of native flower seeds to my state that I found online recently, throw those suckers in the dirt and by that time I should have some worm castings to just dump over the seeds. Maybe sprinkle some garden dirt too. I'm not putting raised beds there because 1) it is a ditch and collects rainwater hence the native flowers only 2) native flowers should grow in our sand anyways. I don't want just dirt or weeds here. I honestly don't want grass anywhere anyways. I want plants that are going to feed our local ecosystem.
This was where I was debating putting my orange tree. Until I learned that when trees die it apparently takes even longer than they were alive to die. I thought I could just dig this poor thing up and be done with it but no. Nah. When is nature ever that easy? So I set it on fire tonight. I did not take pictures because I do not practice fire safety very well. I'm not going to encourage those sorts of setups. But it's smoldering now and come tomorrow I'm going to dig it out and all the ashes and dispose of them. Then once I get my avocado sapling going, it will be going into that hole!!!!
I didn't kill that tree and I didn't want it to die. I think it was a flowering dog-wood tree. Or something. It was very pretty but I noticed it had caught a disease of some sort and I was upset. The last - I think - hurricane about two years ago knocked it out. I was very upset. I loved that tree but I knew it was coming. It had caught something. I really need to start burning all the cut trees I have laying around before I encourage termites. :/
Oh, hello. Hey!!! LISTEN!!!!! I bought an orchid. I love flowers that remind me of faeries. Last time I had one I didn't do my research and I killed them. Not this time!!!!! I'm going to do my best to give it the best. It might die on me, I don't know. I think I sunburnt it a little bit when I stuck it in that kitchen window. So the blinds stay down now. Lol. But I hope this little bud stays alive.
What's this???? I finally have my worm compost bin set up!!!!!!! I Know, I know. I have dirt in my house. I vacuum and cleaned the floor though. It's not just left filthy, I promise. I can't keep them on my porch unfortunately. Our temps will literally cook them. I don't want that.
It is not tiered and I saw a comment on Reddit about how they just had a tote and a towel over it so uh... here we go!!!! My worms were barely moving when I dumped them in here. I don't know if that's normal. I have no idea what I'm doing but we're all trying our best right now. If I have to buy another container from the fishing tackle store (LOL) I will. For now, live little guys!!!!!!!!!! Don't die on me!!! D:
So I know it's preferred to start trees from a splice of the tree itself but I am going to eventually start my avocado pit since I've seen people start their own pit in a little cup of water before. I'll try it. I'm in no hurry.
I also just now remembered there is some sort of pest control that drives down the road during our wet season. I don't know if they are hired by county but I'm going to figure out if I can't get him to not come down my half of the road (it dead ends). I want bugs to live down here and honestly it's going to probably effect them even if he stops coming down my half. :/ Sigh. We have the nasty bugs back here because of the overgrowth and no balance. We would have more dragonflies and predators if we brought in a better balanced ecosystem. I'm going to try and find out who talk to about the spraying. If I want to start a bee colony I should have some say in them spraying insecticides in the air. I expect this in a city, not a rural county. :( Spraying willy-nilly like that honestly only encourages the biting bugs to stick around once the other little guys die.
Thoughts
Date: 2024-06-02 07:03 am (UTC)That is a lot.
>> While digging the hole for my orange tree I found this little spadefoot toad. <<
So cute!
>>Not sure if the cardboard is effective on weeds but it is effectively giving predator insects a home, which is fine by me.<<
Cardboard works, but needs something to hold it down. Several inches of mulch is best. Bricks work sometimes. You have to block light and make sure weeds can't just push it aside, but not block water.
>>I'm guessing in all seriousness it's because of the repetitive motions because my left wrist sort of also started complaining on me last night. <<
Repetition can do it. So can using your body a different way than usual. It's a good idea to break up tasks -- work on one thing for 15 minutes or so, then switch to something that uses a different body part or position. So if you are bending over for one job, next do something where you reach overhead.
>> Also, I discovered some horrifying roots that have spikes like... uh... I don't know why they have spikes growing on something that's normally underground but that's... pretty violent little plant. <<
Usually to push through barriers, but occasionally to attack other roots. It's a feature of weedy species but some grasses also have fairly sharp runners.
>>I'm not putting raised beds there because 1) it is a ditch and collects rainwater hence the native flowers only 2) native flowers should grow in our sand anyways.<<
Native species are a good idea. You might look for rain garden species that are tolerant of wet-dry cycles.
>> It was very pretty but I noticed it had caught a disease of some sort and I was upset.<<
Then if you put another tree in the same spot or nearby, it may well catch the same disease.
>> What's this???? I finally have my worm compost bin set up!<<
Go you!
>>My worms were barely moving when I dumped them in here. I don't know if that's normal. I have no idea what I'm doing but we're all trying our best right now. If I have to buy another container from the fishing tackle store (LOL) I will.<<
If you buy them from a fishing store, they might be chilled (they're usually kept refrigerated) or might be close to dying. Make sure you have a species suitable for vermicomposting. Also make sure it's not invasive in your locale.
https://unclejimswormfarm.com/the-best-worm-species-for-vermicomposting
>>So I know it's preferred to start trees from a splice of the tree itself but I am going to eventually start my avocado pit since I've seen people start their own pit in a little cup of water before. I'll try it. I'm in no hurry.<<
I've grown avocado as a houseplant from a pit.
>> I'm going to try and find out who talk to about the spraying. If I want to start a bee colony I should have some say in them spraying insecticides in the air. <<
Good idea. I suggest that you search for your county's beekeeping club, nature society, etc. because they probably know about the spraying and may have efforts to stop it.
>>Spraying willy-nilly like that honestly only encourages the biting bugs to stick around once the other little guys die.<<
No shit. It also evolves insects resistant to pesticides.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-02 08:40 am (UTC)The toad is so cute!
(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-02 05:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-03 01:02 am (UTC)Re: Thoughts
Date: 2024-06-04 12:33 am (UTC)Ah, I didn't think about that. D: I'm not even sure what it got hit with. I know I have a lot of wood-eating insects in my yard that I used to find but since I've started burning up my scrap wood lying around I haven't been finding them as much anymore. I figured it was an insect but you are right, it could have been anything. I won't do that then and I'll just leave that spot alone.
Thank you for all of that information though! I appreciate it. There are things that I didn't know or think about.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2024-06-04 02:41 am (UTC)Things you could do:
* Look for a Master Gardener club in your area. They have tons of information and do a lot of outreach. Similarly, any other gardening club would have more experienced people to ask for advice.
* Check any large garden store. There is usually a help desk or a staffperson for answering questions. Describe your observations and ask whether the problem is likely to continue affecting your yard and things you plant there.
* Visit your library or bookstore. Look for a general gardening book as an introduction, and see what titles they have regarding diseases and/or pests. The latter is a more advanced topic but given your described challenges could save you some hassles going forward. Also worth considering at this stage is a gardening book specifically about your state or ecoregion, as some challenges are very much a matter of local conditions.
>>Thank you for all of that information though! I appreciate it. There are things that I didn't know or think about.<<
I'm happy I could help. Gardening is fun and useful, but learning it is a never-ending process. Sometimes there are contraindications -- there are lots of reasons to have a mulch pile or brush pile, but if you had a big problem with wood insects earlier then it's best to avoid those. That will impact other choices around your yard. Talking with a local expert and/or reading books will alert you to options.