fuzzi's "Gardens and Chickens...and Goats? Oh My!" Journal and More Thread

[SageHill]

I love that plan. I've had mallow - very nice plant/bush.

 

[Baymule]

If you create another flower bed or small pond area, will it make more upkeep work for you? I like that you are making your yard an oasis, but are you overloading your self? I totally understand the need to stay busy and making a beautiful yard provides you with that peaceful place we all need. Do you need another area to weed and care for or could you plant more lawn grass and just mow it? Just throwing it out there for consideration.

 

[fuzzi]

If you create another flower bed or small pond area, will it make more upkeep work for you? I like that you are making your yard an oasis, but are you overloading your self? I totally understand the need to stay busy and making a beautiful yard provides you with that peaceful place we all need. Do you need another area to weed and care for or could you plant more lawn grass and just mow it? Just throwing it out there for consideration.

Thanks for the input. Once I get it established it should be less work than mowing. My perennial "birdfeeder" garden needs a little thinning once a year, but not much weeding. It's the annual flower beds, pots, and the vegetable gardens that need lots of attention.

I choose plants that are either native to NC or are suited for our growing conditions. I removed Calico asters from the plans as I discovered they prefer alkaline soil, and ours is acid here (tested, pH low 6 to 5).

And added American beautyberry.

 

[fuzzi]

After my annual physician appointment was done I continued eastwards, towards Bath, where there's a nice hardware & garden center. I picked up two plastic watering "cans" that were on sale as one of mine cracked after a year. And I got a well-needed dose of dog from the owner's setter/collie, who decided to come over and be friends.


Tractor Supply had discounted perennials. I found a Rose of Sharon that showed green when I scratched the main stalk, so I bought it, $1.74 is worth a gamble. I gave it some water when I got home.

Then I stopped at a statuary place that's out in the sticks, and they had four of my favorite stepping stones available. They'll be part of the northside garden area I'm planning.

I saw my chiropractor.


Made quick stops at Aldi's and Trader Joe's.

Finally, I picked up my new push trimmer, will do the minimal assembly required a little later. Right now I'm decompressing from the Friday traffic.

 

[fuzzi]

Draft:

Not to scale.

 

[fuzzi]

Looking through the kitchen window at the perennial garden:

The yard behind is overdue for mowing, but the perennials crowd out most weeds.

And the ponds:

The pathways need trimming...

 

[Mini Horses]

I have a LOT of beauty berry here. All around the farm. Pretty in late summer & fall with gorgeous berries. Berries are edible, people & birds. Made jelly once. Very mild flavor, almost mild maraschino cherry taste. The leaves have a chemical that's as strong as deet for bug salve! Or crunch some in your hand & rub your skin.

 

[fuzzi]

Trimmer was damaged, in a sealed box.


Guess I won't be trimming tomorrow as I'd planned. They're shipping another one to the store, it should be in by Wednesday.



Naomi tried to get her chicks on the roost this evening. I walked out to the coops to make sure they were secure before dark.

There were three who managed to get up on the roost, which is about 4' up.

Naomi finally flew down, followed by the chicks who'd managed the feat. They're all back in the brooder for the night.

I'm sure she'll try again tomorrow.

 

[Mini Horses]

Amazing!

 

[fuzzi]

Amazing!

Not even 3 weeks old.