What have you done today in the Garden?

Today I up the four cascara trees that fell down during the ice storm. The cut logs filled up half of one bay in the woodshed. There they will need to sit for a year or two before they are dry enough to use in the woodstove.

The timber pile still needs cleanup, but I feel good about getting outside and making so much progress.

I keep saying I want to stop using the woodstove. Then more trees fall down, and then there are more logs to cure and burn. I have a feeling this will go on for a long time.

 

@Pacnorwest, a home grown Cosmic Crisp is a truly wonderful, delicious apple. I have a minidwarf Cosmic Crisp. Not a lot of apples, but the ones I picked in 2022 were the best apples in my yard.

 

Nice growin cosmic crisp… where … what nursery…
I have apple trees the deer eat the road side and the horses eat the pasture side. They are good for makin applesauce.

do you have deer and squirrel issues ?I think Rufus is a big help there..

 

Used the big battery op blower and blew off the driveway , walks , porches. Very lucky no downed trees. I try and keep the trees trimmed ,take out crossing branches and thin out slightly to keep them sail-worthy, preparing for winter storms. Cleaned all the leaves from the ponds. AUGH Slimy, soggy , stinky…The storm left a mess. Tried to blow the roof needles off but still too icy.

It was nice to see that bright light in the sky today that Oregonian’s call a UFO which is actually the sun I ….think?

Chased off a couple deer with my pellet gun on the ATV. I don’t load the pellets just load the air cartridge the noise echos thru the trees twice as loud. Scares the pants off them. Put down some Plantskyyd.. really keeps deer out.

 

Finished putting the fence posts in

 

Zigs… recognize the post digger/pusher..my shoulders do too…nice job… will be a really nice fence.

 

I was glad when I'd finished with that buggger Ta Just got the netting to put on now.

 

Alrighty then….the netting is the easy part to protect your castle from invaders… deer?

 

Deer are why my vegetable and miniature fruit tree garden are surrounded by a 7 feet tall chain link fence. Most of my other fruit trees are above browsing height. It took a long time, a lot of effort, and a lot of frustration to get them there.

Rufus barks at air, but I dont think the local deer care. I have been within ten feet of them, shouting "go away" and the just look at me like, "no, you go away".

I think my Cosmic Crisp was from Raintree but maybe Burnt Ridge. They can only be sold to Washington State growers. The state developed the variety and is restricting it's use elsewhere.

I tried growing hazelnuts, but squirrels ate every nut. They did not leave me even one. They also get the chestnuts but not as badly. Chestnut hulls have vicious spikes, like cacti.

 

Daniel.. The deer all were the same with my dogs and me , until I got Plantskyyd and put down. That stuff really works and believe me I have tried it all…Last year was the first time I’ve seen my roses, hydrangeas and many other plants for a long time. This winter my back yard is fenced . They never hop that fence since this is a harsh snowy winter they have been in the back yard. I spread Plantskyyd and I don’t see any more deer in my backyard. I put down the granules. Twice a year. That’s it.

 

Well....you just sucked me into a mess of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. hahahahaha Bamboo looks great!

I could taunt you a second time, or slap you with a fish...but perhaps I will leave this with a Hi Rufus ( such a good boy hanging with the chicks) and watch out for the rabbits. ( Run Away, Run Away!)

 

Good job Zigs! We call that a post pounder. A huge workout. A local fella makes them here, they are about twice that size . A heavy pound. We do it together now, one on each side. Neighours used to share one, but I had one made for Hubby about 10 years ago. My other neighbour has one just for steel posts, which I'm hoping to borrow this summer. An invaluable tool.

Well done! I'm amazed how straight yours are. That is a constant struggle here. Most of my posts are not straight, between rocks and pounds, it is a maze. Yours looks great!

My cousin has a fencing business and has one on the back of his tractor with the PTO. Would I ever love to enlist that.

 

It is a good thing to use wood that has fallen or downed - less fire hazard. And less fossil fuels for heat. We have three bays. We go through about 14 cords a normal year. We have a bay of dry, then next driest, then next years. In that is a pile of green rounds, that get split the following year, for the next year bay. Cured is good. Good job harvesting Daniel.

 

Nothing at the moment it's raining again, was going to do some weeding around the polyanthus to see if the crocuses are coming up. I've got a lot of potted crocus to put in the vacant spaces.

 

Delivered meals today, then it rained. I stopped by the big home improvement store for some seed starting mix, a new chain and oil for chain saw (They said I wont get veterans' discount any more of I don't download their stupid app on my phone. I was nice and polite, and repeatedly said "no". And I didn't download their stupid invasive app. And the other store is just one more mile away).

The last of the leaves are hauled. Now to move forward with garden readiness.