On the eve of a long trip, with lots of things to sort and organize at the farm after my move back from Wisconsin, and a job to keep working at remotely, my priorities were: plants! I still haven’t figured out how to upload photos with my new blog setup, or rather how to upload […]
New Garden Frontiers Read More »
In the process of tidying up the house for sale, we had part of the driveway replaced which was fairly well cracked. Alas, it was actually perhaps a mistake, as the new concrete stood out hideously from the old concrete which had been stained darkly by many years of acorns and oak leaves. The human
The Power of Acorns Read More »
Despite the removal of eight trees and arborvitae in the last two years, my childhood home’s yard is filled with shade. Thus, we have lots of hosta, which my mom had picked up quite a number of varieties of, and is now quite attached to. But, with my parents retiring and moving fully to the
The Great Hosta Evacuation Read More »
When I learned most of what I know about cuttings, it was in Hort 1001: Plant Propogation in a university greenhouse. In addition to being the nicest place on campus in the middle of winter, it was also a perfectly maintained facility. Alas, now I am on my own, and must make my own systems.
Cutting Bed Mist Irrigation System Read More »
With my plans to expand my propogation of plant cuttings for operations like building a hedge, I built a mist bed to start them in. Well, I haven’t installed the actual mist heads yet, just the sand bed. I’m a bit behind posting, more engaged with doing projects than sharing them. Construction was quite simple,
I somehow failed to take and upload any pictures of my cold frame in operation, so here have a stock photo of a similar one. Mine, however, was placed high up on our ‘fortress’ raised bed, exposed to winds. Cold frames have a long history as an agricultural tool to expand the growing season, in
Cold Frames Need Insulation/Wind Protection: Measuring the Benefits of a Cold Frame Read More »
Curious what a prairie looks like just over a month after planting? The soil quality variation across the site can be clearly seen here in the plant growth (best soil variable, generally to the right). The mammoth grey stripe sunflowers I planted are the only plants that were immediately identifiable. The rest is mostly… grass.
Prairie Update and Gossip Read More »
It was a busy weekend at the farm, with native prairie planting, this, starting vegetable seeds, and other farm chores (including messing around with a new wifi network via cell data network, so far unsuccessfully). One of the tasks was to start the apple rootstock and scionwood I had received (purchased back in November for
Grafting Apple Trees and Starting Grape Cuttings Read More »
