cross-posted from: https://pixelfed.crimedad.work/p/crimedad/710904650365796010

Hey, little buddy!

I heard this little guy chirping in a bush while I was cleaning up some dog poop. He didn't flinch when I reached in with my camera to get this shot, so I reached in again and petted him gently with my finger. Hopefully, mom or dad will come back with some food soon.

#sparrow #fledgling #bird #birb

@crosspost@lemmy.crimedad.work

Hey !greenspace -

Tomorrow (Monday) evening I'll be giving a talk at my local library about biochar; last month I gave one about composting. I record these and post them on my yt channel, in part so the library's website can link to the science talks they've hosted. Are events like these something the community would be interested in?

Please let me know how you all feel about this - I know I sometimes post about aspects of my nursery business but do my best to not self-promote in this space.

More broadly, what are folks' expectations for those posting videos of their gardens or other original works? Are there some guidelines we can agree on as a community so folks feel more encouraged and confident in posting about what's growing on with them outside of the weekly post? Personally, I love watching garden tours of other people's spaces during my lunch breaks and would love to feel that connection with those of you who would like to share in that way.

Thank you for your feedback, whatever it may be, and for letting me post pictures of my plants for you all.

[Image description: a hand drawn flower with text that reads "Me meeting someone new. Them: I hear you're into native plants. Me: I don't think you're fully prepared for this conversation"]

[Image description: several delicate pink flowers announce that the rest of this common milkweed will bloom soon]

[Image description: water droplets of varying sizes rest on the waxy leaves of a Sedum]

To be specific, it was reclassified to Hylotelephium telephium after genetic sequencing.

I've really been enjoying our haskaps (Lonicera caerulea) this week while waiting for the strawberries to ripen. The blackberries and raspberries have just been pollinated so there's still some time before those come into season, and the recent warm-but-not-too-warm weather has kicked our beans and tomatoes into gear.

Also, peonies!

What's growing on with you all?

Blackberries cleared, teepee trellis is up, and beans are in. I dug up as many blackberry roots as I could find before putting down several layers of cardboard and then the sand. I assume I’ll be spending the rest of the growing season playing whack-a-mole with the blackberries.

Edit: formatting image link

They found a plant thought to be extinct in the area. The article and people involved are extremely excited about their work. Well worth the read!

[Image description: a sphinx moth rests on the underside of a comfrey leaf]

I think they're a Small-eyed Sphinx, Paonias myops, but am open to being corrected.

cross-posted from: https://pixelfed.crimedad.work/p/crimedad/705606624585230357

Wild strawberries?

Spotted them while mowing my lawn this afternoon.

#macro #strawberry

@crosspost@lemmy.crimedad.work

[Image description: the bed of my pickup truck is loaded with a bunch of plants]

We're bringing:

• Common Ninebark
• Black Chokeberry
• Lemon Balm
• Hoary Mountain Mint
• Dappled Willow
• Carolina Allspice
• Variegated grasses
• Spearmint
• Goji Berry

To a market we haven't been to as vendors before. A friend who is a baker recommended that we attend since it gets more foot traffic than the other markets she and I had been in last year. Wish me luck!

ordered some tablets to make a few of these after i saw the concept recommended on a local forum. can't wait to murder millions of (mosquito) children. 🦟

It's June and we have some fruits developing on our haskaps and strawberries; I think something has gotten to our serviceberries and plums though (curculio maybe). And so many more flowers!

Geraniums, Spurge, Lily of the Valley, and tricolor Willow:

Blackberries and Irises:

Rhododendron with a solitary bee:

Some of the weeds have been going haam too; I think I removed about 2 miles of Asiatic Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) yesterday just from one garden area.

What's growing on with you all?

cross-posted from: https://pixelfed.crimedad.work/p/crimedad/702253073847662361

I think this was the little reprobate that woke me up at 1am screaming for its mama.

#deer #fawn #nature #lawn #green #wildlife

@crosspost@lemmy.crimedad.work

Here are some guidelines and techniques for training and pruning trees from Oregon State University's extension office.

How do you all manage your trees? Do you follow one of the methods listed here, or do you have another technique you'd like to share so others can try it out?

I was under some physical restrictions and bed rest orders last week, so this week has been a flurry of planting and weeding to get some more summer veg gardens up and running.

Our squashes and pumpkins are pretty much ready to be planted

And my front gardens are absolutely popping off now

What's growing on with you all?

Here is a quick article on high impact plants for supporting pollinators from Eric Toensmeier, author of Edible Forest Gardens and other books. The list is focused on Eastern and Central North America temperate areas.

Don't feel like reading it? Here is a snapshot of the plants listed and their flowering periods:

Curious about the full list of plants from Edible Forest Gardens mentioned in the article? Check out this link here

Hey all, I've created a catio (cat patio) for my two cats in a window well next to my desk. They absolutely love it, but I would like to make it even better for them by using real grass. Currently, I have a pretty good artificial grass in there that they love to lay in and stays green year 'round, which is fine enough. But I would really love to give them some real grass (or moss) to lay on and maybe even munch on.

So, with that backstory, I would love to find a grass that has the following traits.

1. Comfortable and safe for cats (both internally and externally)
2. Stays relatively short since I can't exactly get a lawn mower
3. Doesn't require a lot of sun

It would also be a bonus if it were okay with more arid climates, because I would prefer to minimize watering as much as possible.

My mind goes to something like Spanish Moss since it stays relatively short and is pretty comfy, but I'm not sure if that's the best option, so I wanted to ask people more experience than me.

Picture of the window well in its current state and one of its occupants for reference below.

And for anyone concerned, the well is closed in with a grate and some chicken wire so they can't slip out. They are not outdoor cats, but we do take them out on harnesses for walks. They are treated for pests like tics and mites as a precaution.

Thanks anyone who answers!

Things are greening up nicely following a few warm rains, and some of our earliest fruits are beginning to set. A little busy this week but I'll be sure to add some shots in a comment a little later.

As an aside, I really appreciate you all sharing what you're up to and enjoy getting to chat with you. I'd like to encourage you to check back in when you've seen some more comments since your last and see if you can provide additional advice or encouragement to others!

I've mentioned it in the weekly thread but these are sitting an inch deep in nutrients and water. They drink it down, and I refill it when they need it. Its a hydroponic method called kratky. I don't have a hose or a lot of room so this might be a good solution for me. Excited to see how it goes!

[Image description: clusters of violets bloom in a section of our front yard]