tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51700251298763970162024-03-12T19:01:43.733-07:00one quarter acreKKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-26490519654437913472008-08-12T10:10:00.001-07:002008-08-12T10:44:13.297-07:00tomatoes in disguise<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SKHE37Y8nUI/AAAAAAAAAQc/6l_eKw10bac/s1600-h/IMG_2878.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SKHE37Y8nUI/AAAAAAAAAQc/6l_eKw10bac/s320/IMG_2878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233680707095403842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SKHE4PgHGoI/AAAAAAAAAQk/ZG9F9VqnC_M/s1600-h/IMG_2879.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SKHE4PgHGoI/AAAAAAAAAQk/ZG9F9VqnC_M/s320/IMG_2879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233680712494160514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In yet another backyard beautification disaster I've chosen function over form. This is my ongoing experiment in squirrel deterrence, which kind of seems to be working.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I covered a few plants in cheap, mesh laundry bags which gather at the bottom.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The ones that aren't covered have broken stems and only the tiniest of tomatoes before they disappear completely.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The covered ones do have a few larger tomatoes that get a chance at ripening on the vine.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I'm going to go with it and cover the rest.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I need to remember to pull the cord at the bottom, though. This morning I found a squirrel inside one of the mesh bags, going after the biggest fruit I presume.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">He found his way in but couldn't get out and freaked the closer I got.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I pulled up the mesh bag (from an arm's length plus some), and he shot out like a cartoon character, leaving a cloud of smoke and a tomato.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">He made it to the roof, turned and began a string of squirrel expletives at me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Adding to the wildness of my postage stamp was this scene from a few days ago:</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SKHIazeH-PI/AAAAAAAAAQs/MXC3dXz5Z8U/s1600-h/IMG_2882.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SKHIazeH-PI/AAAAAAAAAQs/MXC3dXz5Z8U/s320/IMG_2882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233684604799940850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SKHIqGbwWPI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/uJcHDVq25jk/s1600-h/closeup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SKHIqGbwWPI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/uJcHDVq25jk/s320/closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233684867588315378" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm pretty sure this is a peregrine falcon that landed in the back yard. It's flapping caused me to look up and notice it's very big self.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Google told me it is the fastest animal in the world and it sometimes nests in some very urban environments.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Did I mention I live in the city of Chicago?</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">He/She hung out for a while, long enough for a few fuzzy pictures, then hopped into the bushes.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SKHKvnsSdYI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/xlxZd01qys0/s1600-h/IMG_2883.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SKHKvnsSdYI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/xlxZd01qys0/s320/IMG_2883.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233687161438631298" border="0" /></a>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-37811991290048523842008-07-26T20:11:00.000-07:002008-07-26T21:25:41.224-07:00What I've learned<span style="font-family: verdana;">this summer about water barrels.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SIvqY-oDzMI/AAAAAAAAAQE/HfzHuVfVIEA/s1600-h/IMG_2875.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SIvqY-oDzMI/AAAAAAAAAQE/HfzHuVfVIEA/s320/IMG_2875.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227529507342372034" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. They don't have enough pressure to water with a hose, but are great with a watering can. I tried to attach a soaker hose but that didn't really soak.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SIvt-_tlaZI/AAAAAAAAAQM/Ufm6LI-ImwI/s1600-h/IMG_2877.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SIvt-_tlaZI/AAAAAAAAAQM/Ufm6LI-ImwI/s320/IMG_2877.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227533459003894162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">2. They fill up fast in heavy rain, and can overflow without an extra hose...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SIvxKLd0LLI/AAAAAAAAAQU/oaHUbxvMFmc/s1600-h/IMG_2876.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SIvxKLd0LLI/AAAAAAAAAQU/oaHUbxvMFmc/s320/IMG_2876.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227536949672422578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">3. Or even with two. This will need three hoses to really ensure no more overflows. It's amazing how quickly this fills up in a rainstorm.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This has nothing to do with barrels or rain, but I take the powers of nature wheres I can find them. I found this ant party on the front stoop:</span><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzEK8SuTuIrllq9oDJvnThuf9Id9_pssNwQpNcAszCNxoL7Uq8iKeJ03soYPPXELU4aZlMsViFbH11et1Wb9w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-14366985708823469882008-07-15T20:10:00.000-07:002008-07-15T20:46:03.533-07:00bloomsforblogsday<span style="font-family: verdana;">It's been awhile since I participated in the garden bloggers' blooms day, not for lack of blooms nor intention. Mostly for a lack of calendar-awareness.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I thought I would focus on blooms from seeds I started earlier this year</span>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1ozyLkRJI/AAAAAAAAAPE/BkGO4SSZ9Yw/s1600-h/IMG_2737.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1ozyLkRJI/AAAAAAAAAPE/BkGO4SSZ9Yw/s320/IMG_2737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223446381672547474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Pansy '</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Morpho Blue</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">'</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1p3NN8KaI/AAAAAAAAAPM/xH1DDZixsVc/s1600-h/IMG_2739.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1p3NN8KaI/AAAAAAAAAPM/xH1DDZixsVc/s320/IMG_2739.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223447539981494690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Amaranth '</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Oeschberg'</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> variety</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1qhRmV87I/AAAAAAAAAPU/xw2BHqZ5HtE/s1600-h/IMG_2742.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1qhRmV87I/AAAAAAAAAPU/xw2BHqZ5HtE/s320/IMG_2742.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223448262712095666" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Teeny, tiny multi-colored coleus</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1rSBLPR7I/AAAAAAAAAPc/RNjjb31jCGA/s1600-h/IMG_2746.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1rSBLPR7I/AAAAAAAAAPc/RNjjb31jCGA/s320/IMG_2746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223449100117034930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1rSsoGb-I/AAAAAAAAAPk/ATZEdYPUoP0/s1600-h/IMG_2745.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1rSsoGb-I/AAAAAAAAAPk/ATZEdYPUoP0/s320/IMG_2745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223449111780814818" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Castor bean plant and it's developing seed pod</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1svLieSNI/AAAAAAAAAP0/hR1yyJeNCjQ/s1600-h/IMG_2750.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1svLieSNI/AAAAAAAAAP0/hR1yyJeNCjQ/s320/IMG_2750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223450700626675922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nasturtium-'</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Black velvet</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">' , not quite black, but ...</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1svgArogI/AAAAAAAAAP8/LoO4J3mwLJM/s1600-h/IMG_2743.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SH1svgArogI/AAAAAAAAAP8/LoO4J3mwLJM/s320/IMG_2743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223450706122088962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">And finally, the first of the tomatoes-'</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Cherokee purple</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">' heirloom variety<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are also some black violas that need to re-bloom but that might have to wait 'til next time. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div></div>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-16205937112771377912008-07-01T19:48:00.001-07:002008-07-01T20:32:11.916-07:00A tale of two amaranths...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SGruIuuqOfI/AAAAAAAAANU/s3MzvLIZxbQ/s1600-h/IMG_2712.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SGruIuuqOfI/AAAAAAAAANU/s3MzvLIZxbQ/s320/IMG_2712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218244952012241394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SGruIxoOqHI/AAAAAAAAANc/kDikaavBb7g/s1600-h/IMG_2713.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SGruIxoOqHI/AAAAAAAAANc/kDikaavBb7g/s320/IMG_2713.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218244952790575218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">'Oeschberg' variety, started from seed at the same time, same seed pack, both transplanted to pots right next to each other.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've tried trimming back the lilly and liatris foliage for more light, and I feed both plantings with worm poop.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Still pretty sad.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Exhibit B in the Nature is A Wondrous and Mysterious Thing category:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SGrvqgaTTaI/AAAAAAAAANk/UpmMFF6oCJg/s1600-h/IMG_2722.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SGrvqgaTTaI/AAAAAAAAANk/UpmMFF6oCJg/s320/IMG_2722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218246631795936674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SGrvq0303gI/AAAAAAAAANs/AE1TeF_NZqc/s1600-h/IMG_2723.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SGrvq0303gI/AAAAAAAAANs/AE1TeF_NZqc/s320/IMG_2723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218246637288480258" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Aside from the usual 'squirrels ate everything but my baby' scenario, I'm not sure what happened to the bottom pot. Both were planted with nasturtium seeds, zinnia seedlings, and some garden center annual. Same amount of light, worm poop,etc.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm going to try transplanting a couple of those big amaranths.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">On a more even keel is the 'Cherokee Purple' heirloom variety tomato seedlings.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">They've done quite well, even in their fashionable 3 gallon buckets.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SGrzxYfBQ1I/AAAAAAAAAN0/Kpw-QyKoTYM/s1600-h/IMG_2715.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SGrzxYfBQ1I/AAAAAAAAAN0/Kpw-QyKoTYM/s320/IMG_2715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218251147973837650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">I remember being told by an old neighbor, a long time ago when I grew my first tomato plants and fretted everything, 'Honey, this is Illinois. You can't not grow tomatoes'.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I won't chalk this up to any sort of green thumb.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SGr1Dt4D2HI/AAAAAAAAAN8/HKZ7MNuspCM/s1600-h/IMG_2718.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SGr1Dt4D2HI/AAAAAAAAAN8/HKZ7MNuspCM/s320/IMG_2718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218252562465282162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">I really like these plants. Their first sets of leaves had a purple tint on the underside which has unfortunately dissipated. But now their fruits are making up for it with a sort of double blossom. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">What really matters with these, though, is how they taste.<br />I can't wait.<br /></span>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-57253057937755233952008-06-21T20:33:00.000-07:002008-06-21T21:19:27.826-07:00my own private...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SF3JRqA1kvI/AAAAAAAAAM8/029HSuHSrP8/s1600-h/IMG_0193.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SF3JRqA1kvI/AAAAAAAAAM8/029HSuHSrP8/s320/IMG_0193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214545248737661682" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ok, maybe not my own, nor private, but still Idaho. Really lovely country. And if I knew anything about goats or cheese I'd like to herd some then make some. Or go back to our nomadic roots and gather or hunt or just make some art in caves like somebody else did (hundreds? thousands?) of years ago:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SF3MH3oo-nI/AAAAAAAAANE/u-peYkvBSRc/s1600-h/IMG_0202.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SF3MH3oo-nI/AAAAAAAAANE/u-peYkvBSRc/s320/IMG_0202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214548379130460786" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">After indulging my romantic tendencies we headed a bit further west to Portland. I have no pictures but I really should have taken some to recall the gardens that just about everyone had. They were all so lush and diverse. What is it, temperate rain forest? Certain plants were strikingly different than here in Chicago. Lavender grew to my hip, and those 'marmalade' coral bells that never come back were twice as large as anything I've seen here.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">And the conifers...<br /><br />When we returned I was struck by how Southern Chicago looked. The yard needed a machete. I guess there were a few deluges, and ten days without care caused some kind of weed revolution.<br />At least the tomatoes are still feisty.<br /><br />I'm going to end with a dewy lupine. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SF3Sgphbl-I/AAAAAAAAANM/rqn6VfrE5mU/s1600-h/IMG_0167.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SF3Sgphbl-I/AAAAAAAAANM/rqn6VfrE5mU/s320/IMG_0167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214555401908623330" border="0" /></a>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-3252889959208473972008-05-29T17:18:00.000-07:002008-05-29T18:03:23.185-07:00irrigation, pre-columbian style<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Last November I attended a workshop on soil health organized by the Chicago Park District. I learned so many things I haven't tried yet let alone write about them, a sure way to forget them. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The presenter, Mike the worm guy, gave lots of composting tips I'll go into when I try them. (Hopefully soon) </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">He also mentioned</span><a href="http://www.ecocomposite.org/restoration/claypot.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> clay pot irrigation.</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">This is an irrigation method that's been around for millenia that involves burying clay pots filled with water next to your plants/crops and letting the porous nature of unglazed ceramics do the rest. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">It seeps. You refill.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">He suggested using terra cotta pots and plugging the hole with a wine cork or some other plug that won't leak. You bury them up to the rim and place them near your plants. They should be filled to the top with water and have a lid of sorts, maybe a tile or even the pots' dish to keep out mosquitoes and slow down evaporation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">This sounded genius to me, especially for containers and new plantings when we're out of town, which will be soon.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">This will be be a bit of an experiment but better than nothing.</span></div></div></div>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-62974688645037045692008-05-17T21:29:00.000-07:002008-05-17T22:20:33.978-07:00seedlings, continued<span style="font-family: verdana;">Although I'm still not convinced that seeds are the way to go completely, it is exciting to plant the little sprouts. They're a little spindly and probably should have been planted on a couple weeks ago, but a little neglect might get them used to this garden</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SC-ztIDKYoI/AAAAAAAAAMc/REE5Dd3iXzs/s1600-h/IMG_2689.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SC-ztIDKYoI/AAAAAAAAAMc/REE5Dd3iXzs/s320/IMG_2689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201573682472444546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The bottles contain blue violet, amaranth, nasturtium, zinnia, and some too spindly to count bells of ireland.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The peat pots are mostly tomatoes, with some very tiny coleus</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SC-zA4DKYmI/AAAAAAAAAMM/Pkz7E8a_1-A/s1600-h/IMG_2688.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SC-zA4DKYmI/AAAAAAAAAMM/Pkz7E8a_1-A/s320/IMG_2688.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201572922263233122" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">More amaranth, tomatoes (an heirloom variety), mini foxglove, black viola, and the three large seedlings are castor bean plants.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've planted some but hope to finish up all seedlings tomorrow</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SC-2z4DKYpI/AAAAAAAAAMk/cPQ4bwShm2s/s1600-h/IMG_2685.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SC-2z4DKYpI/AAAAAAAAAMk/cPQ4bwShm2s/s320/IMG_2685.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201577096971444882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had to include some pictures of the 'Grace' Smokebush I planted last fall to fill in the ugly chain link fence gap.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Even though it's leafing out in a really systematic manner, (top first, then bottom, maybe middle soon?) which gives it a bit of a strange look, the leaves are so delicately bronzed I'm really happy with it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The bit of green in front belongs to the 'endless summer' hydrangea. I like the color of the new leaves, but I'm never sure about whether to cut down last season's branches. I know it's supposed to have new growth on old wood as well as basal, but I haven't seen any this year or last. It looks pretty scraggly. And I only got one bloom last year. And I have two of them. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hmmm....</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SC-20IDKYqI/AAAAAAAAAMs/BjW43iNy57c/s1600-h/IMG_2684.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SC-20IDKYqI/AAAAAAAAAMs/BjW43iNy57c/s320/IMG_2684.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201577101266412194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">On top of its lovely bronzed leaves, the smokebush is also beginning to bud</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SC-7RYDKYrI/AAAAAAAAAM0/PL7kzrXDou8/s1600-h/IMG_2687.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SC-7RYDKYrI/AAAAAAAAAM0/PL7kzrXDou8/s320/IMG_2687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201582001824096946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's tough to see, but crammed in on either side of the smokebush is some transplanted joe pye weed that looks like it made it. This was much easier to transplant than the baptisia I wrestled with last weekend. Which is also, last I checked, still alive</span>.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-8754132734564930092008-05-06T19:19:00.000-07:002008-05-06T19:56:05.700-07:00my misery, my everything<span style="font-family: verdana;">Thought I would include some photos from last year's saga of Miep (the cat) vs. squirrel.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SCEU1a1wKpI/AAAAAAAAAL0/AlKDSz_VFgc/s1600-h/IMG_1303.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SCEU1a1wKpI/AAAAAAAAAL0/AlKDSz_VFgc/s320/IMG_1303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197458352932661906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SCEUP61wKoI/AAAAAAAAALs/UBLB44y_wNg/s1600-h/IMG_1306.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SCEUP61wKoI/AAAAAAAAALs/UBLB44y_wNg/s320/IMG_1306.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197457708687567490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">The forces of nature are upon her again and the squirrels are in their glory. They are fearless. They've begun their pot digging and we must shut all doors and windows in defense of the pantry and Miep's food.</span>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-10613012493033896422008-05-03T16:06:00.000-07:002008-05-03T16:18:18.536-07:00all in<span style="font-family: verdana;">Things are growing. This is good. <br />But some are things I haven't asked for, (hello mr. bindweed)<br />and some I can't find (chocolate joe pye weed?)<br />I attacked the front bed, my back can attest, and I'm about 1/4 of the way through it. How did people work the fields from dusk to dawn without the miracles of ibuprofen?<br />I had 3 batches of false indigo, two were great but one was pretty sad under the growing shade of the neighbor's Kentucky coffee tree.<br />So today, after an hour's digging, I moved it.<br />Afterwards I read about its strong tap root and resistance to mobility so I hope it recovers. I can live with no blooms this year, but its foliage would be missed.<br />Next up, 'Gateway' joe pye weed is taking a trip to a sunnier spot. I hope this move isn't as intense.<br /></span>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-61402213935632405272008-05-01T17:45:00.000-07:002008-05-01T18:00:16.071-07:00may day<span style="font-family: verdana;">It was the first trip to the garden center that did me in. The tiny seedlings I was so happy with two days ago look hopelessly small and unsatisfying compared with the greenhouse grown offerings.<br />I was pleased with the two leaves my bergenia seedlings were sporting, until I saw them fully grown and flowering for only $12.99.<br />I dismissed my dad's grumblings about the futility of seeds in a season as short as Chicago's as a lack of commitment. But I get it.<br />Next year, grow light. <br />Commit to the contraptions, and order by January. <br /></span>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-62503928351263799512008-04-29T17:46:00.000-07:002008-04-29T18:14:44.126-07:00oeschberg amaranthus, amaranthus oeschberg<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SBfCsq1wKmI/AAAAAAAAALc/9SJGMR4MK-4/s1600-h/IMG_2643.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SBfCsq1wKmI/AAAAAAAAALc/9SJGMR4MK-4/s400/IMG_2643.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194834767864932962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />This packet of amaranth came with 13,500 seeds. Really.<br /><br />Seeds are new this year to me, and it could still be a bit of a wash, but with 13,500 seeds I may as well take the Mrs. Amaranth-seed approach and scatter, scatter, scatter.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I potted them up in old soda bottles, a la mr. brown thumb's ghetto greenhouse, along with a few other seeds. <br />Roughly two weeks later and they look pretty good. The seedlings already have a deep red tinge to their leaves:<br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SBfCrq1wKlI/AAAAAAAAALU/bnAP61zLm2g/s1600-h/IMG_2681.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SBfCrq1wKlI/AAAAAAAAALU/bnAP61zLm2g/s400/IMG_2681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194834750685063762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SBfCs61wKnI/AAAAAAAAALk/gDahd6mKnSk/s1600-h/IMG_2682.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SBfCs61wKnI/AAAAAAAAALk/gDahd6mKnSk/s400/IMG_2682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194834772159900274" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now comes the hard part. The few times in the past I attempted growing from seed, I usually reached the germination and tiny little seedling stage. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then something happens.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once it was rot, a few times an inexplicable wilt. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Usually it could be connected to neglect on my part, but sometimes it was a mystery.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I'm trying again this year. Here's my recipe:</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">ghetto greenhouse</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">some peat pots</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">(both in a tray that can hold water)</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">mister</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">warm on kitchen radiator</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">damp damp damp</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">spritz spritz spritz</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">move to sunny back porch</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">take lids off</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">bless with more spritz spritz spritz<br /><br />If any actually bloom this year, I'll be happy. If not, I may have to stoop to artificial lights and the rest of the deal.<br /></span>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-26284166683938361022008-04-18T16:32:00.000-07:002008-04-18T16:38:16.047-07:00April 14th, Part 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SAkwCXq61lI/AAAAAAAAALM/6zZuupt4loI/s1600-h/IMG_2658.JPG"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/SAkwCXq61lI/AAAAAAAAALM/6zZuupt4loI/s320/IMG_2658.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190732862793111122" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Even though I feel this is really a partial picking, one blossom at a time, it still counts. Right?</span>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-91549769134352244412008-04-17T19:33:00.000-07:002008-04-17T19:50:48.300-07:00April 14th, 2008This is the day of the partial picking of the hyacinth. Photos to follow soon. KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-25572302293062667252008-04-03T13:55:00.001-07:002008-04-03T15:32:52.192-07:00People like trees<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R_VGfEObqzI/AAAAAAAAAKk/TfdGF8t-XEo/s1600-h/IMG_2564.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R_VGfEObqzI/AAAAAAAAAKk/TfdGF8t-XEo/s400/IMG_2564.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185128045511158578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R_VGfkObq0I/AAAAAAAAAKs/EmLemqlFf18/s1600-h/IMG_2572.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R_VGfkObq0I/AAAAAAAAAKs/EmLemqlFf18/s400/IMG_2572.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185128054101093186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R_VGf0Obq1I/AAAAAAAAAK0/OcRWrOxHx5U/s1600-h/IMG_2565.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R_VGf0Obq1I/AAAAAAAAAK0/OcRWrOxHx5U/s400/IMG_2565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185128058396060498" border="0" /></a>and <span style="font-family:verdana;">sumac even.<br /><br />It is spring break, a really welcome one. But there is something to be said for the lace work of bare branches. Granted, it's usually against a pervasive concrete sky, but still...<br />I was out on a ride to gather more of something for pre-planting prep work; (worm poop, pots, bulbs, pea gravel, it's endless really), and I couldn't help but feel I needed to document the bareness. It's stark and bleak and I'll be so happy to see some color soon, but the silhouettes were really getting to me.<br /><br />I did tromp around in the muck and found a few breaks in the beige (taupe?) of the back yard.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R_VNpEObq2I/AAAAAAAAAK8/TyMUXYsaQ8c/s1600-h/IMG_2562.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R_VNpEObq2I/AAAAAAAAAK8/TyMUXYsaQ8c/s400/IMG_2562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185135913891244898" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">If I knew how to add those cute arrows I'd have them pointing to the green pointy bits poking out of the leaf litter. Those are some purple hyacinths I found half-dead and on sale at the big box last June and threw them in. It really shouldn't surprise me that it's the throwaways that seem to make it more than the pricey, tastefully considered ones. But it does.<br /><br />I'm not all that crazy about hyacinths, but they've become a harbinger, or a bone of contention, depending on my mood.<br />Somebody planted a large white(?) hyacinth in the front of the house, right by the sidewalk. It's always the first thing up, and I know it's really spring when it disappears.<br />It always gets picked right before its color blooms. Every year. I should note the date and place bets, like people in Alaska watching the ice breaks.<br />So rather than bemoan the pitfalls of urban gardening, I will pick my own purple ones under lock and key, and savor the scent, and probably decide I'm not all that crazy about hyacinths.<br /><br />One more harbinger to be...<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R_VUDEObq3I/AAAAAAAAALE/XmexOrbR26o/s1600-h/IMG_2560.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R_VUDEObq3I/AAAAAAAAALE/XmexOrbR26o/s400/IMG_2560.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185142957637610354" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">My first water barrel is ice free. Not the prettiest, but think of the joy one can have manipulating the water cycle for fun and profit.<br /><br />I bought it through a city program ($40-ish) last fall and now that our porch is re-built, the best contractor in the world put the finishing touches on a once-straight gutter for me, and thar she blows!<br />I hooked up the soaker hose at the top because it was already full, but judging by the other spout and the spigot I'll have many watering options this summer. For free!<br />Here's the link: <a href="http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0530326553.1207261639@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadedkefkjgdcefecelldffhdfgk.0&contentOID=536925773&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&channelId=0&entityName=Environment&deptMainCategoryOID=-536887205&blockName=Environment%2FRecycling%2FI+Want+To">http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0530326553.1207261639@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadedkefkjgdcefecelldffhdfgk.0&contentOID=536925773&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&channelId=0&entityName=Environment&deptMainCategoryOID=-536887205&blockName=Environment%2FRecycling%2FI+Want+To</a><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-40798185014628138432008-03-22T20:39:00.000-07:002008-03-22T21:12:03.114-07:00Spring<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R-XSb0ObqvI/AAAAAAAAAKE/-glez2ZY6dA/s1600-h/cardinal.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R-XSb0ObqvI/AAAAAAAAAKE/-glez2ZY6dA/s320/cardinal.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180778321677101810" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">and all that entails. Yes, that red blur is a cardinal and yes, that white stuff is snow. Pretty sure it's officially spring, but the signs are few and far between.<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R-XScEObqwI/AAAAAAAAAKM/1B8GzY5BkiI/s1600-h/IMG_2677.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R-XScEObqwI/AAAAAAAAAKM/1B8GzY5BkiI/s320/IMG_2677.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180778325972069122" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Here's a close up of one sure bet, the Hamamelis. I honestly can't remember the variety, but this is its second spring and these blossoms started showing mid-February both years. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">I love the scent as well. It's a lot like Fruit Loops, without any dusty cardboard. It's not as fragrant as last year, which I'm chalking up to a frigid February. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R-XScEObqxI/AAAAAAAAAKU/HsG4AlmC7dk/s1600-h/IMG_2678.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R-XScEObqxI/AAAAAAAAAKU/HsG4AlmC7dk/s320/IMG_2678.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180778325972069138" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">No, there really isn't any sign of spring in this picture. It's just documenting the river birch we planted last fall and my hopes for it to bud, leaf out, and eventually screen most of the view into and out of the back yard. </span></div>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-47559180637329869902008-03-16T14:18:00.000-07:002008-03-16T15:20:16.391-07:00Of beans and Irish snakesThese things have something to do with each other according to an old Chicago adage I can't quite remember. I know it has something to do with St. Patrick's Day and when to plant your beans. This is what most of my gardening knowledge sounds like, muddled directives involving plants I don't use.<br />I am truly thankful for the internet.<br />And so I think it's getting to be that time. This year is the first in a while I am going to start seeds and lay off the garden center binges. It's never really worked out that well in the past, but I'm going to try again anyway.<br />Even though many people much more experienced than myself don't recommend it, I'm planning on starting seeds in some old pop bottles in the enclosed back porch. No lights, no heating pads. <br />There's a lot of east light though, and the windows are very new and very sound. Somewhere in the anthology of old gardening chestnuts there's got to be a hint that this is ok, and if it isn't then I'm only out a few seeds. Right?<br />I plan on starting most seeds this Friday, it being Good and a day off, but I'm still missing some seeds that I ordered online back in early February. I don't think I'll be ordering from them again, but I might just buy replacements (if I can find them) at the garden center.<br />I waver between worries of too late and too early, but I think mid-March will be fine. I should just take a page from my Dad's gardening book and throw a few seeds/ bulbs in sheltered pots in March, then come back from Florida in late May and see what made it. Most do, even the tomatoes.<br />Speaking of tomatoes, I ordered some heirlooms from the esteemed JL Hudson, (see earlier post). They're going to have to go in pots with barbed wire around them (urban squirrels are serious tomato connoisseurs), but I'll try anything to have my share.<br /><br />Another grand plan for this season is to really try to improve the soil quality. Back in November I went on another field trip to a soil workshop hosted by the Chicago Park District. It was presented by Mike Flynn from Green Quest, ("committed to sustainable cycles of transformation"), and he showed us some easy ways to compost/help the soil.<br />I'll post again later with all the details, but I'll end this with his email:<br />mikethewormguy@aol.com.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-26277257836849196182008-03-09T13:28:00.000-07:002008-03-09T21:08:41.203-07:00Hiatus or Hiati?<span style="font-family: verdana;">Whichever is the plural form of a blog free seasonal affective disorder. Last I knew it was November and I hurriedly did this...<br /><br /></span><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R9ROrg9ivYI/AAAAAAAAAJU/HAsJzSCB2qY/s1600-h/IMG_2383.JPG" style="text-decoration: none; font-family: georgia;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-decoration: underline; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R9ROrg9ivYI/AAAAAAAAAJU/HAsJzSCB2qY/s320/IMG_2383.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175848381244947842" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="font-family: verdana;">to some canna lilies and elephant ears. </div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then a little bit of this happened...</span><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R9Ss1g9ivcI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/JS0zRI1q14Q/s1600-h/IMG_0052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R9Ss1g9ivcI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/JS0zRI1q14Q/s200/IMG_0052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175951907136650690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">and a lot of this...</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R9SvZQ9ivdI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/1np0FHMB5XM/s1600-h/IMG_2603.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R9SvZQ9ivdI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/1np0FHMB5XM/s200/IMG_2603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175954720340229586" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R9SvZQ9ivdI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/1np0FHMB5XM/s1600-h/IMG_2603.JPG"> </a><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've got a few seeds outside stratifying, and the rest will be tended to indoors in a few weeks if everything goes as planned. Part of the plan includes a few seeds from J.L. Hudson, Seedsman whose site, </span></span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/">www.jlhudsonseeds.net/</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> really should be seen.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Manifestos aside, I'm looking forward to some prehistoric-like </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2136914510041285285rKqMpR">castor oil plant</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> seeds. Even though I know they won't be, I'm expecting something very sci-fi or at least comically large.</span><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-11051675835143742912007-11-18T19:42:00.000-08:002007-11-18T20:04:42.950-08:00field trip #2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R0EKz3PtKhI/AAAAAAAAAI0/3wy0aRMKwrA/s1600-h/IMG_2176_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R0EKz3PtKhI/AAAAAAAAAI0/3wy0aRMKwrA/s400/IMG_2176_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134396936298506770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">As promised, another post! Wow, two in one weekend.<br />I seem to have saved up all these posts in my head and now it's time to give the imaginary blog a rest.<br />A few weeks ago I played hooky and visited the Chicago Cultural Center. There's a great installation of crocheted corals arranged to resemble a brilliantly colored reef. Apart from just looking really cool, this project was begun to raise the ol' awareness level of the sad state of our coral reefs as well as physically representing a non-Euclidean approach to geometry called 'the hyperbolic plane'.<br />This was all explained to me during a hands-on workshop where some lovely people helped me crochet my own piece of acrylic coral.<br />It was so well explained it actually made sense for a few minutes.<br />It no longer does.<br />But, if interested, this link will explain all...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/Events/coralreef2/">www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/Events/coralreef2/</a><br /><br />Hopefully, these pictures help as well<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R0EKz3PtKgI/AAAAAAAAAIs/lkR8ZX0hkII/s1600-h/IMG_2173_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R0EKz3PtKgI/AAAAAAAAAIs/lkR8ZX0hkII/s400/IMG_2173_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134396936298506754" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R0EK0HPtKiI/AAAAAAAAAI8/begNzKVEyaU/s1600-h/IMG_2179_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R0EK0HPtKiI/AAAAAAAAAI8/begNzKVEyaU/s400/IMG_2179_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134396940593474082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R0EK0HPtKjI/AAAAAAAAAJE/mk3JCC6QXAY/s1600-h/IMG_2172_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R0EK0HPtKjI/AAAAAAAAAJE/mk3JCC6QXAY/s400/IMG_2172_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134396940593474098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R0EK0HPtKkI/AAAAAAAAAJM/YuPboOqvz4Y/s1600-h/IMG_2180_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/R0EK0HPtKkI/AAAAAAAAAJM/YuPboOqvz4Y/s400/IMG_2180_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134396940593474114" border="0" /></a>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-37469494420505360712007-11-17T19:27:00.000-08:002007-11-17T20:02:28.909-08:00two months?<span style="font-family:verdana;">Yes, two months. Nothing like a blog to let you know the last time you wrote. Here is a brief list of the things I've done:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> -went to a 25 year grade school reunion (?!)</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />-finally potted the few remaining cheap perennials I picked up at the big box</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> -checked on the wayward tomato plant growing in the alley next to our garage. It's a testament to the very warm fall we've had and it's still hanging in there with its little yellow blossoms. If I get tomatoes in December I'm voting for Al Gore.<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">-planned and planned and planned for next year...but didn't do a whole lot.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />One thing I did do was visit Waters Elementary School back in October. It's your classic CPS neighborhood school with a decidedly green mission. They have many programs to introduce kids and the community to an environmentally aware lifestyle, but I found their huge organic garden on site so impressive.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Here, look:<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rz-5EXPtKdI/AAAAAAAAAIU/K3_iV8HUct8/s1600-h/IMG_2148_4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rz-5EXPtKdI/AAAAAAAAAIU/K3_iV8HUct8/s400/IMG_2148_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134025584836159954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rz-5EnPtKfI/AAAAAAAAAIk/_iFnW4eZCAU/s1600-h/IMG_2151_4_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rz-5EnPtKfI/AAAAAAAAAIk/_iFnW4eZCAU/s400/IMG_2151_4_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134025589131127282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rz-5EXPtKeI/AAAAAAAAAIc/ApToP5dCwKc/s1600-h/IMG_2149_4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rz-5EXPtKeI/AAAAAAAAAIc/ApToP5dCwKc/s400/IMG_2149_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134025584836159970" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">See? And these don't really give you a good sense of the scale of this.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have a few other field trips to report on, including the inspiring soil workshop I went to today, but that will have to wait. Just hopefully not two months.</span>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-37464071121384455892007-09-16T20:07:00.000-07:002007-09-24T17:10:10.346-07:00a bit tired...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Ru3xprOdKrI/AAAAAAAAAHk/pHWY1z3p82k/s1600-h/IMG_2539.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Ru3xprOdKrI/AAAAAAAAAHk/pHWY1z3p82k/s200/IMG_2539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111006850415667890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Ru3wQbOdKpI/AAAAAAAAAHU/9PI29uHEVIs/s1600-h/test.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 298px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Ru3wQbOdKpI/AAAAAAAAAHU/9PI29uHEVIs/s200/test.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111005317112343186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Ru3xpLOdKqI/AAAAAAAAAHc/iYSm_kMLJmU/s1600-h/IMG_2531.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Ru3xpLOdKqI/AAAAAAAAAHc/iYSm_kMLJmU/s200/IMG_2531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111006841825733282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's amazing how quickly the garden gets tired, or I get tired of the garden. Either way, I'm not interested in what's happening much now. My plans are for the future.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Karl Foerster is nice, and the goldenrod just keeps going. I'm not enjoying them so much as plotting their future. The main plan is to get rid of most weedy participants. I love Joe Pye weed, but there are three large plots of them close to a fairly busy street and I'm not sure what is contributing to their legginess more, the exhaust or the exhaust. One needs to go.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I pulled out some asters and a few phlox last week and I'm still feeling guilty.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I must muster the courage for a big coneflower push, and drastically reduce their numbers. But when I see all those Golden Finches, (that never seem ready to be photographed when I am), visiting their blackened seedheads, my inner hippy rebels.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Decisions, decisions...</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the meantime, while delaying actual physical labor, a harbinger of fall..</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RvhRqFLGLqI/AAAAAAAAAH0/SKTBmtVA3EM/s1600-h/squirrel"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RvhRqFLGLqI/AAAAAAAAAH0/SKTBmtVA3EM/s200/squirrel" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113927160264273570" border="0" /></a>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-50080754691535903002007-09-09T15:33:00.001-07:002007-09-09T16:37:52.280-07:00some pig<a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RuR1dNcKc_I/AAAAAAAAAGU/yJyQoFeyNOo/s1600-h/IMG_2528.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RuR1dNcKc_I/AAAAAAAAAGU/yJyQoFeyNOo/s320/IMG_2528.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108337022029427698" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RuR189cKdAI/AAAAAAAAAGc/hZYNNdL9AV4/s1600-h/IMG_2523.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RuR189cKdAI/AAAAAAAAAGc/hZYNNdL9AV4/s320/IMG_2523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108337567490274306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">some pig indeed, Charlotte. I wish I could come up with some kind of viable excuse as to why I haven't touched the garden in two weeks, like maybe because I'm frightened of all the killer spiders lurking in the dead zones, but I can't. Suffice to say I'm back at work and slowly accepting that summer is on its way out.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In case I was really resisting, there are funnel webs (like the one above), and orb webs nearly everywhere. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This funnel web (or grass) spider is in a prime location. He/She has taken up residence in a corner near the composter and mosquito epicenter. There is no lack of protein here.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I really don't want to disturb this compound, but those coneflowers aren't going to relocate themselves, and fall is their slated moving/decomposition date.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fall has been slated for many a garden project, so many I am often overcome with a type of paralysis while pondering which to do first.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I will make a list. Not on post-its.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">First, plant all these discounted perennials while trying to remember what the grand scheme was.</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RuSC49cKdBI/AAAAAAAAAGk/dUBVHpTUIeU/s1600-h/IMG_2530.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RuSC49cKdBI/AAAAAAAAAGk/dUBVHpTUIeU/s320/IMG_2530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108351792421958674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Note the Hakone 'Aureola'. $3 at the big box! The tall, purplish one is a variety of Joe Pye weed and may have white blooms. Hmmm...</span>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-60641128655081134952007-08-24T12:51:00.000-07:002007-08-24T13:27:31.846-07:00the effluvial plain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rs85G9cKc8I/AAAAAAAAAF8/dpJQhAQlLZg/s1600-h/IMG_1377.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rs85G9cKc8I/AAAAAAAAAF8/dpJQhAQlLZg/s320/IMG_1377.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102359694568747970" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">of our basement created these pretty cool patterns of silt deposits. Watching the water bubble up out of the drains was hypnotic and in between the moments of panic, kind of beautiful. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">If it continued for millenia, and that really was silt, maybe we'd have a mountain rather than the stinky slick that's colonizing the basement right now.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Luckily, my husband thought of the camera and took these.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rs85HdcKc9I/AAAAAAAAAGE/W4sfXFE7d0Q/s1600-h/IMG_1384.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rs85HdcKc9I/AAAAAAAAAGE/W4sfXFE7d0Q/s320/IMG_1384.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102359703158682578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Very</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> luckily, we had no tree damage. Yet. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The only casualty I could find was this ridiculously tall dahlia that just bloomed last week. I brought it in for some freshly-cut flower scent, (on account of the aforementioned stinky slick), and found this tiny, tastefully colored ladybug-type.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rs85HtcKc-I/AAAAAAAAAGM/J1xu1qxx7pg/s1600-h/IMG_1400.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rs85HtcKc-I/AAAAAAAAAGM/J1xu1qxx7pg/s320/IMG_1400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102359707453649890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">It took a while to realize there were two</span>.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-54182264724052854162007-08-21T11:54:00.000-07:002007-08-21T13:16:09.608-07:00mycelium delirium<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rss3C9cKc5I/AAAAAAAAAFk/LLGWdO8DH4A/s1600-h/IMG_2518.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rss3C9cKc5I/AAAAAAAAAFk/LLGWdO8DH4A/s200/IMG_2518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101231526919173010" border="0" /></a>"<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mushrooms...are merely the surface features - the strange fruit - of much larger organisms known as mycelia. Their mazy tendrils creep beneath the forest floor, over rocks and roots, under bark and leaf litter, through rotting logs and decaying bones, digesting the dead and sustaining the living.</span>"<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mmmmm.<br /><br />There has been rain every day, nearly all day, for the last few days. Everything is damp and fetid, and these little mushroom forests are popping up overnight.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rss7j9cKc6I/AAAAAAAAAFs/rID-EhjBKLs/s1600-h/IMG_2521.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/Rss7j9cKc6I/AAAAAAAAAFs/rID-EhjBKLs/s200/IMG_2521.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101236491901367202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mushrooms can really fascinate and disgust me. This patch appeared on a very neglected square of parkway where a massive box elder grew for at least 80 years. It fell over two years ago, pretty spectacularly, and left a huge mound of mulch in the middle of which the city planted a tiny maple.<br /><br />It's growing quickly, and so are the weeds and these mushrooms.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RstAt9cKc7I/AAAAAAAAAF0/zAUF3Pdb940/s1600-h/IMG_2519.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RstAt9cKc7I/AAAAAAAAAF0/zAUF3Pdb940/s200/IMG_2519.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101242161258197938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I usually try to avoid the area.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br />Last night I read this article about mushroom hunters in the </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >New Yorker </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">with all sorts of crazy mushroom facts.<br />For instance:<br /></span><ol style="font-family: verdana;"><li>The world's largest organism is a mycelium in Oregon. It covers 2000 acres and is more than 8000 years old.</li><li>Apparently, mushrooms can grow in one's body.</li></ol><span style="font-family:verdana;">The world is a wondrous place, but maybe some things are better left alone. Like mushrooms.</span>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-9165399112758972472007-08-17T14:41:00.001-07:002007-08-17T15:43:11.675-07:00Bloom day, the day after the day after.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RsYW-tcKc1I/AAAAAAAAAFE/UVQLFgnSDkc/s1600-h/IMG_2506.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RsYW-tcKc1I/AAAAAAAAAFE/UVQLFgnSDkc/s200/IMG_2506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099788894649086802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Pee gee hydrangea, <span style="font-style: italic;">Hydrangea Paniculata, </span>I think<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RsYW_NcKc2I/AAAAAAAAAFM/4463dCyVYK4/s1600-h/IMG_2504.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RsYW_NcKc2I/AAAAAAAAAFM/4463dCyVYK4/s200/IMG_2504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099788903239021410" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RsYW_NcKc2I/AAAAAAAAAFM/4463dCyVYK4/s1600-h/IMG_2504.JPG"><br /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Closer,...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Yeah, I'm late. I'm always a dollar short as well. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">I do appreciate the blooms of the late summer plants. They're always a surprise when many others begin to look tired. These hydrangea bushes bloomed in early spring, and while not having much of a scent, they are really dependable and beautiful.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RsYed9cKc3I/AAAAAAAAAFU/jKq9o9OVmzI/s1600-h/IMG_2498.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RsYed9cKc3I/AAAAAAAAAFU/jKq9o9OVmzI/s200/IMG_2498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099797128101393266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">I am also a fan of most sedums. I'm going to assume most of these are 'Autumn Joy' because many of the perennials that were here when we moved in were planted by the previous owner, a landscaper. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">In the six years we've lived here I think I've managed to identify most of them. I realized over time that most shrubs and perennials here are very popular in the Chicago area, and pretty common.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">It's only fairly recently that I've gained enough confidence to change the plans a bit, and every year 'the grounds' get a little more personalized.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RsYhMNcKc4I/AAAAAAAAAFc/qNksiHBQlpU/s1600-h/IMG_2515.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RsYhMNcKc4I/AAAAAAAAAFc/qNksiHBQlpU/s200/IMG_2515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099800121693598594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ok, not exactly a bloom, but this here's my first compost! Chicago has a great subsidized composter program that offers homeowners a deal on the <a href="http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalDeptCategoryAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@1459044863.1187390256@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccaddlkgkgemmcefecelldffhdfhg.0&deptCategoryOID=-536887183&contentType=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&entityName=Environment&deptMainCategoryOID=-536887205">'Earth Machine'</a>. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I bought one last summer and have been diligently saving compostable food scraps since. I have also been negligent toward my bin.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't turn very often, and I don't keep it moist regularly. I don't even know if this is really compost. But it came from the bottom and I through it in with a transplanted lady's mantle. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">If it withers and dies, I'll have to rethink my scoop of 'black gold'.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I should probably attend some compost workshop.</span>KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170025129876397016.post-71230824312138052412007-08-09T08:34:00.001-07:002007-08-09T11:12:57.337-07:00I've always wanted to know what it would be like in the Amazon river basin.....and now I know. Chicago has been as humid of late, and while no howler monkeys scamper in the understory, if you close your eyes in the heavy damp of the evening the locust choir takes on a tropical tone, and one can imagine. Just like it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On to more pressing matters... <br /><div style="text-align: center;">July 15th<br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RrtRSkIbRjI/AAAAAAAAAEk/19-0ybgCrT8/s1600-h/IMG_2380.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RrtRSkIbRjI/AAAAAAAAAEk/19-0ybgCrT8/s200/IMG_2380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096756782678361650" border="0" /></a> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RrtRTEIbRkI/AAAAAAAAAEs/jU57LC1_CrI/s1600-h/IMG_2465.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RrtRTEIbRkI/AAAAAAAAAEs/jU57LC1_CrI/s200/IMG_2465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096756791268296258" border="0" /></a> August 9th<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Oops.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a sea holly I have in a sunny bed. I planted it last summer ('06), when just a babe.<br />Earlier this year (spring '07), I tried out an Echinops ritro bulb right next to it. They look a bit similar, and I figured may the better thistle win. I do this in the spring. Toss in bulbs and walk away.<br />One day, I will know what I've planted.<br />I thought this was the Echinops. But no. It is the sea holly, an Eryngium.<br />I think it's Eryngium alpinum, but it could be a different cultivar. Since this is the first year it's flowered, I'm not sure if the rains we've been having have done it in or if this is its natural state of decline after blooming. Aside from the swarms (see earlier post where I called it Echinops), I've been really pleased with its appearance. Except for now<span style="font-size:100%;">.</span><br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RrtYw0IbRlI/AAAAAAAAAE0/eSLyYYUiPW8/s1600-h/IMG_2471.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RrtYw0IbRlI/AAAAAAAAAE0/eSLyYYUiPW8/s200/IMG_2471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096764998950798930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RrtYxkIbRmI/AAAAAAAAAE8/bqnqNsudy4w/s1600-h/IMG_2469.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tb_cARfTXAM/RrtYxkIbRmI/AAAAAAAAAE8/bqnqNsudy4w/s200/IMG_2469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096765011835700834" border="0" /></a><br />Now this plant, Japanese anemone (Anemone hupehensis), is a pal. It is not fussy. It is hardy. It always blooms.<br />Its dark green foliage stays healthy and a little glossy the whole season, with or without care.<br />It passes the gauntlet of my neglect and still manages a slight exoticism.<br />The only toil it requires is some periodic containment. I can handle that.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760067853127470426noreply@blogger.com2