What have you done today in the Garden?

Cutting up firewood with the solar powered chainsaw today, done 3 trailer loads. Just got to raise the roof on the lean to to fit it all in now

Took a pic of the Sheep Eating Pineapple having it's pudding

 

Anniekay your techniques to tackle garden projects is well organized, and I see you focus on all the little things too/

 

I have to be a bit organized, otherwise my hip starts hurting from too much walking. The more you can get done as you travel, the easier it is on the old, creeky body !!

 

Sorry to hear of your hip issues. Been there done that. It’s something that some of us cope with & it kind of sneaks up on us. My unaquiescent advice.. just get them fixed & get it over with. They don’t heal by themselves. It’s your choice for a better life. You’ll be glad you did. Will improve your standard of living and mobility.

 

Can't really "fix" mine. It's arthritis and sciatica from breaking my back in '92. It's only the left side that bothers me.

 

I did manage to trim up three weeping elm trees . The limbs were down to the ground floor. So trimming them all up 4’ allowed the plants under them sone sunshine. I just clipped all the way round with the 3’ edger, raked the long branches out over the lawns then rolled my rider mulcher mower over them and walla they disappeared . No adding to the burn pile. I do the same in fall when deciduous leaves cover the landscape across the entire garden. Did I mention I luv my mulcher mower!

The rider mower is heading to the repair shop next week. I have put 191 miles on it since last spring . It’s still under warranty so no charge to pick it up it’s usually $300. One tire has a tiny leak from blackberry canes. No surprise. Need the oil filter changed. I could not get it off because it’s machined on , but I have changed the oil twice, cleaned the carb filter, changed the gas filter and spark plugs. The shop will sharpen the blades and check the belts and change the tire and give it the first tune up. Good ole you tube has it all online. Great tutorials if your interested in doing oil changes or light tune ups.

 

How we cope and managed our limitations and still garden. Many members had a discussion about this last year.

Arthritis is what caused my back,knee, shoulder and hip issues. Origionally from injuries. It turned out osteoarthritis in hips had been the culprit. Got that issue fixed and treated for sciatica and scoliosis and treated for herniated discs . I must sound like a train wreck. Degenerative arthritis in my back - aging issue and I still work on a lot of strengthening therapy and swimming. I was in a vehicle accident caused a plethora of injuries. So far so good within the bounds of my personal ‘limitations’. I know that I’m not 49 any more and stop projects before I over do . I use leverage when moving objects to heavy for me or wait and call a friend. I learned to practice ‘Mindfulness’ , to be alert to think and plan ahead before tackling projects. I try to not get into trouble or over do. If I can’t do something it will wait til I can get help. We all have our own stories as life happens. Hope you get some rest, sciatica is a bummer. Sending healing blessings your way.

 

I can relate Annie & Pac. I have extensive perennial beds that I am gradually trying to convert into lower maintenance beds. I'm getting good at steeling my heart and throwing perennials into the compost bin!

 

On an audio equipment board someone posted this.
It's an idea if you're fed up with constantly sorting out lines.

 

I think I would wear those out quickly and having to stop and cut that off and apply new? Well, those zip ties cost money too.

 

Might last longer than the thin plastic strings. I don't know. Mine can be a challenge to load the string, too. Hmmm....

With the string-holding cover gone, I could see the insides getting gummed up with plant material, and impossible to clean out. Might be no turning back.

A couple of videos on that. In the first, the strings are attached so they don't have to be cut off. In the second, they don't seem to last very long.





or use knotted trimmer lines instead of zip ties?

 

As they come in different thickness, I buy the next size up for my strimmer, they last longer.

 

Row row row your boat through the pastures and limbed up a few 80-100’ trees . Limbs were hanging down in my face as I mowed near the property line again.
Managed to blow all the tree needles off the driveway again. It’s been windy and pine cones and pine seeds decorate everything that doesn’t move.
Tiny mushrooms popping up thru out the pastures and saw a couple grey squirrels hiding in areas, sneaky pests and Chop and Dale is up to no good digging in the pots on the porch again.
Took a few pics of some projects. Managed to get a few new challenges in the garden area done.
Pumped gas from the 55 gal barrel after switching barrels to a full one added gas stabilizer to 2 barrels.
Just ran out between the rain . Hoping for a few sun breaks before we get clobbered with wind and rain again,

 

Are you talking about banana slugs? I had a teacher once, an outdoor education class, and he said he licked a slug. He said his tongue got numb. I thought that was pretty disgusting! Have you tried beer? They love it then drown. I did it one time and it was sooo gross getting rid of the slimey mess I never did it again.

I haven't done much the last few days. Last week they had a mother's day thing at the senior center. And then another luncheon so last week was not a productive garden week.

Today, even though it's wet out (we've had lots of thunder storms.)I put together my little raised bed and put some herbs in it. I dug up the chives and hopefully they're resilient enough that they'll reroot.


I needed to get it done;the cilantro was getting brown.

 

Nothing's that desperate that needs to be done. Though, I may prune off several unwanted wisteria side shoots late today.
The blossom on most has now fallen. Just a lot of foliage, there's always a second bloom later in the year, but it's usually a bit sparse.


The white is still hanging on.


As is the pink


But now it's the turn of the roses.







The azalea in the pot by the front door has finished blooming, I've replaced it with this rose which will have small pink blooms. This had a bit of a struggle earlier with greenfly for some reason I had to strip it twice, but it's OK now.


Most of the azaleas are fading now, but I do like this white one.


Still some rhodos to come out.

One I dead-headed a few days ago has already produced a lot of new growth.


These four in the bed at the bottom of the garden are "romping away."



I've moved the dahlias out of the shed and put them in the two troughs in front of the tea-house. They look a bit "wimpy," but I guess they'll be OK.