Gardening

It’s been wonderful weather for outdoor work: more mulching has been done and brush has been cut and removed. I also gave the rototiller a quick pre-season going over: motor and gear oil topped off and a flat tire taken care of.*




I’ve had a furry friend keeping me company out by the shed since February; a rabbit has taken up residence nearby :o)


Waiting patiently to see what might be available.


Soooon…

Edit - I just noticed that this bunny is probably a New England Cottontail: there is a dark patch on the forehead and not the white spot of the Eastern Cottontail! Click the pics to expand them.

* I probably mentioned this before in regards to the tiller… When I was about 16 I watched, in awe, mind you, a friend of my sister manually replace a tire on his 1970 Road Runner. He took the original tire off the rim, and replaced it with another, with tire irons. To seat the bead he looped and tied a rope around the center of the tire, tightening it by turning a lug wrench slipped beneath it while filling the tire with air. Heh, I use the rope trick on the tiller tires, when necessary, with baling twine, a crescent wrench, and a hand pump.

Before leaving for a scheduled surgery last Thursday, I gave the garden a good watering and made sure the fences were clear, secure, and operating. Hours after my procedure my wife told me that something had gotten into our plum tomatoes and at least five were chewed and/or pulled off the plants. This was the first time this season that our garden was ‘attacked.’

Upon my return we set up the trail cam between rows to try to see who was enjoying our veggies.

Chippee! (Yes, chipmunk ;o) Not seen are the mice that come by, too.

Obviously, the fencing can’t keep these out. I’ve tried Repel sprays and even dosed the plants lightly with fungicide to dissuade the rodents, but it has had minimal affect on them. Offering them water in little dishes helped a bit. *sigh* Even a pumpkin was fair game :o(

Partial solution: we are picking the tomatoes at first blush. From there we are ripening them in the house in paper bags (adding a banana helps the process). It works.

First batch of sauce!


About eight pounds of tomatoes yielded five pints. One jar did not seal and will be used in a day or two.

I did a quick checkup on my little 1986 Pony tiller today:

- inflated soft tires
- cleaned out residual mouse nest from blower housing
- oiled recoil ratchet
- cleaned/oiled foam air cleaner cover
- replaced the spark plug
- added Sea Foam to last Autumn’s gasoline
- topped off the oil
Started on the second pull!

From there I tilled under the living room window in anticipation of a batch of gladiolus bulbs coming next week. I then gave the garden a rough tilling.





I love this time of the year!

Spring is advancing, slowly, here. Nighttime temps are still in the 30°s F, but there is plenty of plant activity in the yard!

( Pics! All expand. )