What have you done today in the Garden?

A time for the gardens is usually during the growing season and the pasture maintenance is during the winter. I have a lot more trees to trim back that are a problem so when good winter weather happenstance’s I try to take advantage of it. Otherwise the pastures would be full of long thick overhanging tree branches, tree seedlings and wild blackberries, and all those critters that come with it. It’s a full time hobby.

Of course Daniel always has something to show and teach us. I always lean a lot from his garden pics and knowledge shared.

 

It was in the low 20s today, and supposed to be 8F tonight. It was too cold to work outdoors today. I did pet chores and indoor stuff.

None of my packages have arrived yet (other than the zippers I ordered), so I want to check the tracking.

Keep warm everyone.

 

AAnightowl. Yikes 20F is another type of cold. Burr.. haven’t experiences that in a few years.

Was another nice sunny afternoon. Today did the usual pasture run . Then cut down more small 20’ trees and limbed up some other trees . Then worked on making a deer fence from the forest next to us to block the deer and elk. I feel like a pin cushion messing with the wild blackberries clipping the huge canes down and clearing them from the nearby trees. Bandaids to the rescue. Maybe I’ll look into some chain mail gloves …up to my elbows , this project is long term. Ah well… tomorrow’s another day….

 

Pac, maybe it's time for some goats to clear them? They do that around here. Pretty effective. Of course, you probably have things you don't want them to eat.

 

It's still freezing, so the snow hasn't melted.

There was just one job to do....

 

Now there’s an idea… hire a few goats to trim the trees and eat those spikey wild blackberries.
Have you tried them? Kind of any thing goes unless they are on a leash. I’d be as nervous as a snowman in July.

 

Nothing today it's too cold.

 

I have not rented any. When I lived in Vancouver, I had a neighbor whose blackberry - filled lot was totally impenetrable. He hired goats, they cleared it.

Too far from you, but this link has before/after photo.

https://evergreengoatrentalsbrushclearing.com/

Here's one in Portland area

https://www.wsgoatgirl.com/

 

No outdoor work for me today. I went to Portland for an appointment. All is fine, but it wore me out.

 

Daniel thank you for the links. Goats to the rescue. I’ve seen them around vacant lots and on the news. I adore goats. Special needs for they are natures little mowers.

OOOOO…. Wait 4-6 goats for two days is approximately $2500 and a lot of extra care.

Eventially I will get the big tractor out and dig the blackberries out with the front loader.The pastures are to soggy now.
Need to repair a flat tire. Of course the rider garden tractor has a tire issue too. I fill it with air every day. I need to get both of them off to the dealer for maintenance soon. I can change the oil and filters but other things can’t do.

I’m not in the best mood, the washer flooded the laundry room, hallway and another bathroom. So all my garden energy has been spent for the day.. So time to recharge my batteries …. yeap …Tomorrows another day.

 

Just fed the birds

 

Popped out to the lottie today to check the traps and check up on things.

I had caught a mole. I fished more reed roots out of the canal.

There were several folks about ding this and that. I heard the pump struggling to pump and saw that the lower canal was so good as dry.

I was going to make a call, but a chap appeared in a foul humour saying that folks had been working on water things today and forgot to turn the pump off before leaving. great Scott !

I saw a couple of gardeners who garden closer to me today. That was great. One of them was recovering from had surgery. She and her man garden together and it is them that will allow us to plant some test toms there, so we talked about that.

Of course I had to observe the birdies with a cuppa warming my icicle fingers. I called home to check in and say that I was on the way…get the cocoa ready.

I should have gone right away. I hesitated. Finished the tea. Then … the snow dumped. I could creep home on those slick roads with all the traffic coming home from work.

Pac— ahhh. Sorry you are a bit moody, miss. Even moody, I find you a charming gardener.
I hope you could get someone out to sort that washing machine. That really is bad.
Are you all recharged now? How are your plus and minus poles now?

 

Hope you feel better soon.

Today I moved one of the extra large planters (that previously held a rose bush). Now it's in a sunny location in the fenced vegetable garden. I re-filled it with container plant soil. It will either contain greens or annual flowers or both, and will be on the automatic drip irrigation line, so not adding to my watering labor. There's also another container to move after I empty it.

I continued spreading arborist chips for paths and weed prevention. I stopped after five wagon loads of wood chips. Enough for the day.

 

@Pacnorwest

Hope that you have sorted your washing machine out now and that you feel better.

 

It's -6c, sunny, with a clear blue sky.






I've put some boiling water in the big plastic saucer in the birdbath in the foreground, which was solid with ice.
No snow since Wednesday night.
I fed the birds and squirrels and taken the bags of peanuts, suet pellets and bird food that I bought yesterday, down to the shed. I went into the garden via the French windows, which let a lot of cold air into the lounge, as the padlock on the door of the side fence is frozen.

I'm glad I turned off the water supply to the "freezer room" basin and tap, the water heater and the tap on the side of the shed before the freeze. There will be water in the water heater, but it has a frost stat, so what's in there won't freeze.