The storm appears to have weighed down the daffodils
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Hummingbird Investigation
I had no idea that hummingbirds were so territorial! This weekend I was cleaning up my onion and garlic harvest whilst sitting outside, and had the opportunity to get a glimpse of hummingbird society.
There is one hummingbird who “owns” the backyard. At least, he does now that I am keeping the feeder full and have a new feeder with perches. A week after I put up the new one, I kept going outside to see what all the squeaking was about.
Mmmm, tasty.
The old hummingbird feeder was a gift I was very grateful for, but its plastic broke down in the sunlight and it was missing all its petals and perches. The new feeder (it's just from Target) is metal and glass, and has the added benefit of being easily cleaned because the whole bottom section comes apart.
He has HUGE EYES, wow.
Anyway, this hummingbird will sit in a favorite place where he can keep an eye on the feeder and the rest of the backyard, wobbling and licking and constantly scanning for intruders. That favorite place is on the top of a tomato cage near the back door, so I have a pretty good view. I was surprised to find that he spends more time chasing off competitors than he does eating! Literally every minute, he is chasing someone else off into the neighbor's yards, and then he swoops back, takes a "victory sip" of nectar, and resumes his position. Any time spent not chasing is spent sitting and looking very drunk and very cute, or energetically squeaking.
Sunday I had the opportunity (and patience) to hide underneath his spot to sneak a video. It was actually difficult to take any at all, because I had to reach my arm very close and he doesn't like a lot of movement from the humans.
Our hummingbird is the fattest one of all. :)
Anybody know why hummingbirds look like they're experiencing vertigo when they sit down? Until someone enlightens me, I am going to assume it's just because they're so high-energy they can't be still.
Here is the recipe I use for the feeder: ½C sugar, 2 cups water.
I refrigerate the leftovers in a mason jar for a week or two... the new feeder isn't drippy, so the nectar lasts a lot longer. I rinse the feeder with white vinegar between uses to get rid of any mold spores... the feeder isn't dishwasher-safe which would be nice, but I hear you're not supposed to use any soap in there anyway.
Do you have a hummingbird feeder in your backyard?
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Peeking Over
Haha! This weekend I went outside and saw this sunflower peeking over from my neighbor's yard. It is full size but is along the edge of their house across an otherwise empty yard twice as big as mine, which is why the perspective makes it look so tiny in the photo.
Ever get the feeling you're being watched?
Hmmm... now I want to grow sunflowers too! They're so cheery. But I have a feeling that Scrub Jay would peck the heck out of it before I could harvest anything (which is what is happening to a friend's sunflower this week)... he already shakes all the smaller seed out of his bird feeder to get to the sunflower seeds, and is pecking apples off the tree.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Pon Charrd
Ah, chard. A fail-safe, easy to grow, prolific, year-round producer. Or is it?
I planted the darn things way back on May 7th, so they've had 3.5 months to grow. Several varieties too... 2 square feet of vulcan (dark red), one of giant fordhook (white), one of bright lights (yellow, pink, white). Each square foot was planted with multiple seedlings, but I was going to thin it down to 5 each for a total of 20 plants. I was going to have salad greens (and stir-fry greens, and smoothie greens) aplenty, more than my husband and I could eat. Even after a few replantings, all I have left over is just one delicate little vulcan chard!
It is true that I started the plants too late... by the time the seedlings were surviving the digging cat's attacks, it was much warmer and chard is a cool-weather plant that prefers to be planted 2 weeks after the last frost. I really, really want it to work... so today I started a bunch of seeds for transplanting, and I will just try again. And again. And again. I must have chard. I WILL have chard! The season will end in violence if I can't grow a healthy patch of chard.
Despite my lack of success, this plant is still a beautiful little splash of color in my first real garden. It is not attracting any pests at all, and the contrast between veins and leaves has me a bit giddy. If only one chard could come up, I'd have it be the vulcan. :)
And yes, I am fully aware that "vulcan" in this case is more related to fire than Star Trek.
I planted the darn things way back on May 7th, so they've had 3.5 months to grow. Several varieties too... 2 square feet of vulcan (dark red), one of giant fordhook (white), one of bright lights (yellow, pink, white). Each square foot was planted with multiple seedlings, but I was going to thin it down to 5 each for a total of 20 plants. I was going to have salad greens (and stir-fry greens, and smoothie greens) aplenty, more than my husband and I could eat. Even after a few replantings, all I have left over is just one delicate little vulcan chard!
5 inches tall after over 3 months of effort.
It is true that I started the plants too late... by the time the seedlings were surviving the digging cat's attacks, it was much warmer and chard is a cool-weather plant that prefers to be planted 2 weeks after the last frost. I really, really want it to work... so today I started a bunch of seeds for transplanting, and I will just try again. And again. And again. I must have chard. I WILL have chard! The season will end in violence if I can't grow a healthy patch of chard.
Despite my lack of success, this plant is still a beautiful little splash of color in my first real garden. It is not attracting any pests at all, and the contrast between veins and leaves has me a bit giddy. If only one chard could come up, I'd have it be the vulcan. :)
Live long and prosper, little one!
And yes, I am fully aware that "vulcan" in this case is more related to fire than Star Trek.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Grumpy Cat Needs a New Name
On sunday, something amazing happened. Out of nowhere, Grumpy Cat walked over to me, vigorously head-bumped for several minutes to mark me as his own, asked for petting, and then in a flash flipped upside down in my lap and curled into a happy little ball, contented and dazed with the neck-scratching. He's solid black, except for one very cute tuft of white on his belly which I had never noticed before... reminds me of my first dog as a child, named Star because she was all black with one small white spot on her forehead.
Grumpy Cat frequently exposes his belly to me now... a sign of trust and submission in most mammals.
Why is this amazing? When we first moved in, 6 months and 8 days ago, Grumpy Cat would flee the backyard as quickly as possible any time we would so much as open the back door. There was no collar, and he obviously spent most of his time in the backyard (in particular under the Zen bench), but he looked pretty well-fed. Over a few months of pretending like he didn't matter or even exist (which, I've learned, is a good way to get the neighbors' cats to take a sudden and excruciatingly desperate interest in me), he began warily tolerating my presence. Eventually I began leaving bits of tuna out for him which made him not so wary, and eventually he began almost not flinching as I petted his head once or twice while he ate. He still wouldn't eat if my husband put one foot out the back door.
Earlier this week I had a friend over, and we went out into the backyard... Grumpy Cat turned into your stereotypical Halloween cat, arching his back, raising hair, hissing and showing fang very pointedly at the new intruder to the backyard. While I hadn't ever seen that reaction from him, it wasn't at all unexpected. Then yesterday was the next time I saw him, and he very suddenly decided that he likes me. A lot. Even without food. I had won the battle of wills! I came into the house laughing and elated and danced with my husband in the kitchen... whew, I need a cuddly pet more than I'll admit.
Grumpy Cat will have none of that camera nonsense.
I have some hesitations about the cat:
- I don't want to “steal” a stray cat if it's someone else's pet, or make it too dependent on me by feeding it too often which makes it less likely to visit its real home. To feed, or not to feed...
- It is not a good idea to fall so deeply in love with the cat so that it is too hard to leave him behind when we move (which may be in a year, maybe 5 years). It may be too late.
- Was the violent reaction to the visiting friend the catalyst for this loving change in behavior? And how? Is this an emotionally unpredictable kitty?
- I don't want to “steal” a stray cat if it's someone else's pet, or make it too dependent on me by feeding it too often which makes it less likely to visit its real home. To feed, or not to feed...
- It is not a good idea to fall so deeply in love with the cat so that it is too hard to leave him behind when we move (which may be in a year, maybe 5 years). It may be too late.
- Was the violent reaction to the visiting friend the catalyst for this loving change in behavior? And how? Is this an emotionally unpredictable kitty?
Grumpy Cat still looks evil... and less fluffy.
Ahem. I just looked up how to tell cat sexes apart, lifted a tail, and figured out that he is really a she! Got to love the internet.
I have never, ever met such a resistant feline. But now I'm awash in endorphins from bonding with her. It might be love. I'm in too deep. I'm thinking up actual pet names.
Do you have any cat advice to give me?
Thus far, my pet expertise is only in the area of reptiles, amphibians, fish, dogs, and rodents.
Other posts related to the tale of Grumpy Cat:
Feeding The Cat 7/19/10
Getting Medieval 7/5/10
There's A Creature Lurking In The Garden! 6/25/10
Do you have any cat advice to give me?
Thus far, my pet expertise is only in the area of reptiles, amphibians, fish, dogs, and rodents.
__________
Other posts related to the tale of Grumpy Cat:
Feeding The Cat 7/19/10
Getting Medieval 7/5/10
There's A Creature Lurking In The Garden! 6/25/10
Friday, August 20, 2010
Why Tomatoes, Why???
My tomatoes keep dropping flowers. According to my coworker, they do this when nighttime temperatures reach below 50 degrees fahrenheit, but it hasn't been that cold. Perhaps it is a lack of sunlight? This is what it looks like:
She also says that she has a ton of medium-sized green tomatoes on her plants... I have only 5 tiny ones. Some of my plants are HUGE though! Check out this current view of the raised beds.
Ironically, it is the smallest, weakest looking tomato plant that has the only fruit which is beginning to ripen. It may be because it's in the clay pot, which warms the roots more and dries out faster... perhaps the plant is in its death throes, trying to reproduce in its last moments?
As of tonight, I will start spraying the flowers with Blossom Set in hopes that they will stay... it's a hormone that should override the plants' desires to drop flowers in the cold and wait for warmer times. It's my first year living in this area, but I have a feeling that it won't get too much warmer than this (isn't it summer yet?). Help me Blossom Set, you're my only hope for ripe delicious summer tomatoes!
How are your tomatoes doing this year, and do you have any advice for me?
All crunchy and droppy
She also says that she has a ton of medium-sized green tomatoes on her plants... I have only 5 tiny ones. Some of my plants are HUGE though! Check out this current view of the raised beds.
"Mr. Stripey" in the back is definitely a monster.
Ironically, it is the smallest, weakest looking tomato plant that has the only fruit which is beginning to ripen. It may be because it's in the clay pot, which warms the roots more and dries out faster... perhaps the plant is in its death throes, trying to reproduce in its last moments?
A bit pathetic, yet edible.
As of tonight, I will start spraying the flowers with Blossom Set in hopes that they will stay... it's a hormone that should override the plants' desires to drop flowers in the cold and wait for warmer times. It's my first year living in this area, but I have a feeling that it won't get too much warmer than this (isn't it summer yet?). Help me Blossom Set, you're my only hope for ripe delicious summer tomatoes!
How are your tomatoes doing this year, and do you have any advice for me?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
A Look at the Lemon Cucumber
Hooray, they are alive!
And what's that peeking out from under a big floppy leaf?
Originally I grew some from seed and then transplanted them to the raised beds. This result was pretty sad, and they died. I replanted them with store-bought ones, and they languished for a long time, but lately they are suddenly hitting one growth spurt after another.
The way that these little vines shot out overnight reminded me of the beginning of "Toxic Love" in Ferngully where Hexxus comes out of his slime form and grabs two poles.
What?? They really did spring out like that.
And what's that peeking out from under a big floppy leaf?
Quick, turn into a cuke!
Originally I grew some from seed and then transplanted them to the raised beds. This result was pretty sad, and they died. I replanted them with store-bought ones, and they languished for a long time, but lately they are suddenly hitting one growth spurt after another.
Hit me once... hit me twice!
The way that these little vines shot out overnight reminded me of the beginning of "Toxic Love" in Ferngully where Hexxus comes out of his slime form and grabs two poles.
(see segment from 0:14 to 0:21)
What?? They really did spring out like that.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Purple Podded Pole Beans
Whoa, I didn't know I had vegetables ready for eating yet! I had been so focused on the sad, unproductive tomatoes/pumpkins/zucchini that I didn't notice these shadowy pods lurking beneath their foliage.
These things are delicious!! They're green inside and lose the purple if you cook them, so I just ate a few raw. I know I've mentioned the superior taste of home-grown peas before... just like the peas, these purple "green" beans are equally tastier and juicier than their supermarket green bean counterparts. I had grown some blue lake pole beans (a traditional green bean) in pots last year, and they don't compare in taste to these more vibrant heirlooms. I suppose it's a blessing that my blue lake beans didn't do well and that I had to replace them with something new from rareseeds.com. A review on that website says that they'll save the extra pods at the end of the season and let them dry, and the dried beans make for delicious soups all winter too. Yum! We'll probably eat all of them raw, but I will save a few seeds anyway... since it's an heirloom, I'll be able to start new plants next year for free.
Even if they don't produce a lot this summer (I did give them a pretty late start since the blue lake beans didn't work out), I will definitely have them in the garden next year too. They're climbing the trellis really well, and they've been easy, with a very high germination rate and producing very vigorous seedlings that needed no special attention. And let's face it, in such a small backyard, vertical is the way to go!
Can't wait until my husband gets home from his trip... it'll be hilarious to surprise him with the vibrant beans!
What're the most oddly-colored veggies in your garden?
Soooooo pretty....
These things are delicious!! They're green inside and lose the purple if you cook them, so I just ate a few raw. I know I've mentioned the superior taste of home-grown peas before... just like the peas, these purple "green" beans are equally tastier and juicier than their supermarket green bean counterparts. I had grown some blue lake pole beans (a traditional green bean) in pots last year, and they don't compare in taste to these more vibrant heirlooms. I suppose it's a blessing that my blue lake beans didn't do well and that I had to replace them with something new from rareseeds.com. A review on that website says that they'll save the extra pods at the end of the season and let them dry, and the dried beans make for delicious soups all winter too. Yum! We'll probably eat all of them raw, but I will save a few seeds anyway... since it's an heirloom, I'll be able to start new plants next year for free.
Can't wait until my husband gets home from his trip... it'll be hilarious to surprise him with the vibrant beans!
What're the most oddly-colored veggies in your garden?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
A Confession
When I brought the Purple Pupa inside, it was at the wiggly stage, so I thought I had a lot of time before it would hatch. After all, in the past I've hatched beetles out of my geckos' mealworms, and they first were in the wiggly soft stage, and then became very hard for weeks before beetlin' it up. I was very wrong though... I delayed putting it in a mason jar, and within a matter of hours there was nothing left but an empty pupa. Eep! The plan had been to just wait 'till I could see what it became, and then release it. I searched everywhere trying to find it to free it, to no avail.
I deep-cleaned my house this weekend, the sort of "spring cleaning" that I always do right before autumn. While I understand that spring cleaning was originally for removing soot and airing dust out the house after winter (since you couldn't leave your windows and doors open in the rain) back when people didn't have vacuums and perfect fireplaces, I always want to deep clean before the cold season so that I can more fully enjoy the house since winter is when I spend the most time inside. Anyway, I digress. I was moving our heaviest piece of furniture, and underneath was a very large (1.25 inches), very dead, very plain brown moth that vaguely resembled bark. Yeah, I've learned my lesson.
I deep-cleaned my house this weekend, the sort of "spring cleaning" that I always do right before autumn. While I understand that spring cleaning was originally for removing soot and airing dust out the house after winter (since you couldn't leave your windows and doors open in the rain) back when people didn't have vacuums and perfect fireplaces, I always want to deep clean before the cold season so that I can more fully enjoy the house since winter is when I spend the most time inside. Anyway, I digress. I was moving our heaviest piece of furniture, and underneath was a very large (1.25 inches), very dead, very plain brown moth that vaguely resembled bark. Yeah, I've learned my lesson.
Sorry, little guy.
Upon closer inspection, you can see that the moth is not actually plain brown, it is a wiggly rainbow of dark brown, light brown, black, green-grey, cream, pink, and even PURPLE scales (those are scales, not pixels). The purple scales are the same exact shade as his pupae, so I am pretty certain of his identity. Morbid, yes, but it also amazing how most things in nature become even more intricate and fascinating the closer you look. The scales showed up most beautifully and only shimmered with the camera's flash... I am finding that I love the macro setting on this camera, it allows me to see things I never would have noticed.
Reminds me of peacock feathers.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Pumpkin On A Stick
*SQUEE*
New plant!
I get to work in a greenhouse once or twice a week, and there is a retired gentleman named Professor Robby who also used to work in the greenhouse but likes to still come to care for his amazing collection of plants. Every time I check on my plants which are near his, I marvel at two in his collection... one is a vine with little crisp leaves and yellow flowers with brown centers, and the other is a small bush with miniature pumpkins yet the flowers don't look like gourd flowers (like trumpets). The pumpkin one is my favorite... I have seen it in bouquets before and I think also at my grandpa's house (he is my gardening idol), and have unsuccessfully tried to grow it from seed from that bouquet.
Walking through the greenhouse today, I saw the half-wilted mini pumpkin plant laying on a table without a pot, and Prof. Robby offered it to me out of the blue! How did he know that it was the one plant of his that I coveted the most? I accepted in a split second and thanked him profusely... in his humbleness, he said that his mom always had a superstition that if you thank someone for a plant it'll die. I thanked him anyway, and he said he didn't believe in superstition. Haha!
I looked it up online, and quickly discovered that it is Solanum aethiopicum, otherwise known as Ornamental Eggplant or Pumpkin On A Stick. I like the latter term, personally. I knew it was a Solanum, since it has the same type of flowers as potatoes and tomatoes. It is technically edible yet very bitter, usually just used as decoration but not poisonous in a stir-fry. I won't be tasting it though, since it may have been exposed to pesticides in the greenhouse. Here it is, happy in its new pot and no longer wilted.
Autumn is my favorite season, and this Pumpkin On A Stick is a little early bit o' that autumn magic.
New plant!
Bwahahahaha, it has fangs!
I get to work in a greenhouse once or twice a week, and there is a retired gentleman named Professor Robby who also used to work in the greenhouse but likes to still come to care for his amazing collection of plants. Every time I check on my plants which are near his, I marvel at two in his collection... one is a vine with little crisp leaves and yellow flowers with brown centers, and the other is a small bush with miniature pumpkins yet the flowers don't look like gourd flowers (like trumpets). The pumpkin one is my favorite... I have seen it in bouquets before and I think also at my grandpa's house (he is my gardening idol), and have unsuccessfully tried to grow it from seed from that bouquet.
Walking through the greenhouse today, I saw the half-wilted mini pumpkin plant laying on a table without a pot, and Prof. Robby offered it to me out of the blue! How did he know that it was the one plant of his that I coveted the most? I accepted in a split second and thanked him profusely... in his humbleness, he said that his mom always had a superstition that if you thank someone for a plant it'll die. I thanked him anyway, and he said he didn't believe in superstition. Haha!
Mini "pumpkins" from my new plant
(with jasmine nightshade, Solanum jasminoides flowers behind it)
I looked it up online, and quickly discovered that it is Solanum aethiopicum, otherwise known as Ornamental Eggplant or Pumpkin On A Stick. I like the latter term, personally. I knew it was a Solanum, since it has the same type of flowers as potatoes and tomatoes. It is technically edible yet very bitter, usually just used as decoration but not poisonous in a stir-fry. I won't be tasting it though, since it may have been exposed to pesticides in the greenhouse. Here it is, happy in its new pot and no longer wilted.
Leprechaun Frog is tipping his hat to the new addition to the garden.
Autumn is my favorite season, and this Pumpkin On A Stick is a little early bit o' that autumn magic.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
SLUG ATTACK!
First things first, a video:
This slug thought he could make improvements to our garden with his voracious appetite. I found him while I was moving the smallest maple pot, and boy was he a surprise! Most have been 1-1.5 inches long, and I have never seen a slug so big unless it was a banana slug in Santa Cruz... jeez, I couldn't help but think it was sentient. This slug was possibly the original inspiration for this YouTube video. I couldn't handle the thought of squishing the 4-inch beast, so I tossed him over the fence into more fertile grounds. So long, Monster Slug, I hope you find whatever you're looking for in someone else's garden.
I was trying to take a photo of him next to the measurements on the trowel for proof, but he was moving so fast that all the pictures were blurry... a video is more interesting anyway.
This slug thought he could make improvements to our garden with his voracious appetite. I found him while I was moving the smallest maple pot, and boy was he a surprise! Most have been 1-1.5 inches long, and I have never seen a slug so big unless it was a banana slug in Santa Cruz... jeez, I couldn't help but think it was sentient. This slug was possibly the original inspiration for this YouTube video. I couldn't handle the thought of squishing the 4-inch beast, so I tossed him over the fence into more fertile grounds. So long, Monster Slug, I hope you find whatever you're looking for in someone else's garden.
I was trying to take a photo of him next to the measurements on the trowel for proof, but he was moving so fast that all the pictures were blurry... a video is more interesting anyway.
Monster Slug is too cool for photography crispness!
It's a shame that I had to get rid of it... it's just the kind of crazy animal I would have kept as a pet if we weren't mortal enemies. Spots like that are too beautiful to ignore.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)