Interacting with nature

update

See pic above - when walking in the woods you need to watch where you walk - not only to avoid a copperhead but also to see what is going on down there - the different fungi and this small guy for whom my misstep would have been fatal. My last post was Aug 28 and since then I unfortunately had to focus on other matters. The garden has transitioned with the approach of Fall. What little time I had for growing I tried to spend wisely. I pulled the fading squash plants which had done Read more [...]

summer nears end

I had large yields of vegetables and fruit this year due primarily to plentiful rains and my slowly improving techniques. We had so many patty pan squash we gave a 5 gal bucket to the local high end restaurant. So the squash were great this year but a few days ago I noticed borer holes in some of the new squash, so I yanked out all the squash plants for the compost heap. They provided such good cover there were very few weeds and it was quick work to mulch the beds Read more [...]

what’s growing

After several days in the 90's this morning was overcast and I began working at 6.30am, so it was pleasant. With all the recent rains I have 8,000 gallons stored rainwater and can be liberal with its use. As I stepped outside I heard loud buzzing. M. had lamented we had not trimmed the Rose of Sharon hibiscus, which overtowers our deck, and it would have fewer flowers this year. But not this morning - there were flowers enough and many pollinators. The bumblebee and also Read more [...]

what’s growing

We have had lots of rain and in the woods interesting fungi appear such as above or this unusual specimen below. The puffballs attract little attention while growing. But when it matures a hole appears at the top. In addition to the regular looking fungi there are other varieties, here is another one. But enough with the fungi, what's edible that's growing? The blueberries and blackberries are done for the season. And the jujube, such a stellar producer in previous Read more [...]

what’s growing

My last growing update was June 2. Since then ripe tomatoes, blackberries and blueberries have come on stream. And wild plants such as the pokeweed above, compete for attention. Yesterday's basket provided a delicious salad - tasty tomatoes, cucumber, beans plus onions and garlic (not shown). All freshly picked. I inter-sprinkled some seeds for large sunflowers in the growing area and the sunflowers are now between 9ft and 10ft tall. I also added color to Read more [...]

3 visitors near carport

Previously I mentioned my new bee watering station. I am pleased to see more and more bees visiting. I discovered if I increase the frequency of the water drops such that the water surface has continuing ripples they discover it more easily. Otherwise they scout around the compost area and a couple today were investigating the liquid nitrogen drop off area and one had to be rescued (the container is now covered). On my return to the house as I passed the post balustrade I Read more [...]

milkweed in the woods & a new bee watering station

It was M. who noticed them while I, deep in thought, walked right past. From our book "Forest Plants of the Southeast and their Wildlife Uses" (Miller & Miller) she identified it as Asclepias variegata - white milkweed. See picture above showing its distinctive showy 5-lobed petal crown. Milkweed is a favorite of the Monarch butterfly. This is the only one we have seen in the woods and we resolved to collect its seeds and try extend its presence. Bees need water and I Read more [...]

back from week in San Francisco

Prior to my west coast trip I considered how best protect my plantings. In my April 12 post I described planting out 33 tomato plants and my concern for frost damage. There was no frost and my new concern was whether the plants would survive without irrigation for 8 days. I deposited wood chips round the base of each tomato and watered deeply. The 12 surplus tomato plants in the greenhouse I moved to the shade of the carport. And I planted out 8 sweet pepper plants. Read more [...]

beeswax

Last week we took about 2.5 gallons of honey from the hive - not a lot since we wish to leave the bees sufficient stores for winter. But enough for our needs for making bread, sweetening our uncooked oatmeal and tea, and a few jars for good friends. Inevitably scraps of wax are left over and what to do with them has been a learning process for me. The first year I placed them in a stainless steel pet bowl outside the hive. Bad idea - the sun heated the bowl, melted the wax and killed bees Read more [...]

unwelcome visitor & apples, squash and tomatoes +2-1

I affectionately refer to the large non venomous snakes around our place. But out here good goes with bad and the copperhead in the header photo, thick of body and (to me) ugly and close to the house, was an unwelcome sight. In north Georgia it is hot and dry. Blackberry and blueberry season is over and now it's time for fruit and crops such as squash, cucumbers and tomatoes. And this year my apples and squash are great yet many of my tomatoes have blossom rot. Usually my tomatoes Read more [...]