Gardening Question of the Day for Monday, June 23, 2008
(Via Gardening Question of the Day (from The Old Farmer's Almanac))
I have problems with gophers and ground squirrels. The squirrels eat my strawberries and climb the avocado trees and eat the fruit. Your suggestions? (answer).![]()
I have problems with gophers and ground squirrels. The squirrels eat my strawberries and climb the avocado trees and eat the fruit. Your suggestions? (answer).
From The Old Farmer's Almanac.
Comment on Summer is here! by dragonden
(Via Comments for Anne's Garden)
Your photos are gorgeous!
Our weather hasn’t been so hot this month either. Big heat wave for the first week of June and then cool weather and lots of thunderstorms, hail and rain for most of the rest. It’s about time it warmed up isn’t it? the plants are loving the slightly cooler than normal temps though.
Good or Bad: An oil discovery in your backyard?
(Via Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas)
Here's a hypothetical scenario for you to ponder: Imagine that while digging in your backyard you discover an oil reservoir with enough pressure to possibly drill. Do you (a) bottle it up and not let anyone know about it, (b) file for a drilling licence, or (c) sell your home to a large oil company and retire to garden elsewhere for the rest of your life?
Here's a hypothetical scenario for you to ponder: Imagine that while digging in your backyard you discover an oil reservoir with enough pressure to possibly drill. Do you (a) bottle it up and not let anyone know about it, (b) file for a drilling licence, or (c) sell your home to a large oil company and retire to garden elsewhere for the rest of your life?
I guess the question really becomes, How attached to your garden are you? If in the case of the oil discovery would you be willing to keep it hush-hush so that you could continue growing your garden instead of taking the money? Or, would the money give you a few more options?
If you distilled it right down to the core, is it the GARDEN or the GARDENING?
In my case it's certainly the GARDENING. While I love my garden and have enjoyed creating it from scratch it's still a postage stamp compared to the dreams I have. A couple million dollars could definitely keep me entertained on a larger block with better views and no set budget for plant and landscaping purposes. I might even be able to employ a few gardeners to work alongside me, wouldn't that be neat?
But, I'm still fairly young (just turned 21 *ahem* last week - you can ask my 4 kids) and I've had this garden for less than 5 years. What about those who have gardened in the same spot all their lives? You would assume that their gardens are quite possibly a large part of who they are, almost another appendage perhaps. Would these gardeners be willing to sell out?
Perhaps another way to look at the hypothetical scenario is to consider whether your garden has a price tag. Let's ignore the messy oil discovery for a moment and concentrate purely on the dollars and cents issue. Could you walk away from your garden tomorrow for money and how much would it take?
It's an interesting dilemma, isn't it! If you consider the amount of back-breaking pain, blood, sweat and tears that you've poured into your flourishing habitat could there be a price-tag that matched all that effort? And, can dollars provide enough comfort for the memories you may be selling off?
Strange Bouquet
(Via An Iowa Garden)
It happens every year; Liz decides she wants a bouquet of cut flowers for some occasion, so she hands me a vase and asks me to go cut some flowers in the garden. A snap in a one acre garden, right?
Well, let's see... how would a three foot tall dragon arum that smells like rotten meat look in that vase. Well, then how about if I throw in a two inch tall Primula juliae with flowers the size of a piece of confetti, and maybe the plant pictured above; Paris polyphylla, with flowers that look like earrings for a Martian?
Maybe I need to plant some zinnias.
Well, let's see... how would a three foot tall dragon arum that smells like rotten meat look in that vase. Well, then how about if I throw in a two inch tall Primula juliae with flowers the size of a piece of confetti, and maybe the plant pictured above; Paris polyphylla, with flowers that look like earrings for a Martian?
Maybe I need to plant some zinnias.
Gardening Question of the Day for Sunday, June 22, 2008
(Via Gardening Question of the Day (from The Old Farmer's Almanac))
My strawberry patch is a mess of weeds. Every year, I think I have removed so many, and they just keep coming up between the berries. Dandelions by far are the worst, and you know that trying to get that whole taproot out at least once every week seems like it would destroy the berries. I do mulch with composted pine bark, but the weeds are worse among the strawberries than anywhere else in that garden. Can I ever hope to win this battle, or should I just give this up? (answer).![]()
My strawberry patch is a mess of weeds. Every year, I think I have removed so many, and they just keep coming up between the berries. Dandelions by far are the worst, and you know that trying to get that whole taproot out at least once every week seems like it would destroy the berries. I do mulch with composted pine bark, but the weeds are worse among the strawberries than anywhere else in that garden. Can I ever hope to win this battle, or should I just give this up? (answer).
From The Old Farmer's Almanac.
Comment on Mid-June by Laura
(Via Comments for Anne's Garden)
Oh Im so jealous of your fruit trees. Its something Ive always wanted, but I dont think Ill be able to plant them at this house. Ill have to settle for raiding my sisters backyard every once and a while 
