Gardening Thread - Show me your gardens!

Ready to be sold, and away it went.

 

Nice garden. She should be proud.

 

How do those work? What attracts bees to occupy those hives? I’m interested.

 

Short story is they only live a couple of months. In that time they pollinate about 100x more flowers than a honey bee but don't make honey or sting. They only live long enough to mate and look for a hole the size of the ones in the nest box. They pack in layers of pollen, eggs and clay. The eggs make a cocoon and turn into adults but by then winter hits and they hibernate. You store the cocoons in the fridge until spring and let them thaw out in or near the nest box. They can naturally find the box but if you buy cocoons and have them hatch there they are more likely to move in. There are only males and females unlike honey bees.

 

What year is the VW?

 

67, sold it as is, completely stripped for $1500.00 bucks. The old man who bought it, couldn't believe how clean it was. Never been wrecked, I was 2nd owner. This little bug is currently going through a full restoration. Here is what I do to them.

 

Here is a ten minute video that shows pretty much what I posted above about the mason bees with a little more info.

 

Question for all the people who start seeds, when and if should I re-pot some of my seeds? We are currently using a Burpee self watering seed starting system, and the "pots" are only 1-1/2" square x 2" tall.

 

If you think they are getting root bound, and it’s going to be a while before they get planted in the garden, go ahead and re-pot them. Anymore I just use pots from the get go that are big enough to carry them over. Less work that way.

 

Anybody have any luck with grow bags? I picked up two 15 gallon bags and now I’m wondering whether or not they are worth it. The concept is idea for me in regards to tomatoes and drainage. Thoughts?

 

Hi everyone, been too long since I been back to this page, and even though I "watch", not getting notifications. Just went through this page, and boy it's sure different from Maine to Florida to California! So here is Texas, and what used to be a week swap during March spring break time took a month, due to weather, two late freezes, and the Gas company digging up the other half of the front yard. (At least I got the other 48" stump ground while gas was off - now I have Franken-yard!).
Last winter, I put up a second greenhouse cover, because I have too damn many potted Hibiscus and other stuff. Not the best idea, but I needed to get a spare cover for the real one anyway, and it was just as cheap on a new Amazon find to just buy the whole darn thing. So, I will have a spare shell. But, I also have TWO metal frames that I need to get rid of. Might just make the second one into a garden shed in the back corner...…
Anyway, try not to use too many pix, but off I go!

Greenhouse on the left is the add, the one on the right is the original. Only original purpose was to overwinter pool plant pots.

Too many plants, and the last freeze and not enough water - some didn't like.
Left, then Right

One of the reasons that the last freeze didn't go over well. Glad the back stream GFCI worked.

OK, emptied out

Tear down time

Now that I have the original back - unfortunately I have to muck it out - two years and the bark mulch turns to muck. Turns out I got lucky, surface roots from the neighbors trees turned it into a carpet tear out. And this year, decomposed granite! The wife didn't like walking on yuck mulch. Four wheel barrows and a Lowes trip later, 12 bags of granite have gone in.

OK, proof I had to give some serious haircuts, and that some plants are well, including the pineapple mom, and even the top cut! (oh, there are more....)

Summer conversion means moving the shelves up, putting the lower shelves back in. I used hose clamps and L brackets (with felt) to attach to the frame, and crude PVC pipe on U Bolts to allow height adjustments. I trimmed, flushed, and cleaned all the drip hoses and tips for this years planned plant. (Black tips 1 gph, blue 1/2 gph)

First step this year is the new "roof" - a solar blanket Christmas present from Son #1 -supposed to cut heat and UV by "some significant" percentage. What the heck - never been the same two years in a row. It was too big, but I didn't want to cut it up this year. At the end, I just bungied up the ends until I got the screens up. Maybe next year. I have an idea what I am dealing with now.

Normally, I would install the screen sides first, but I had to replace the screening, and started the CUT BACK number of plants first while I waited for delivery. So, I got some plants started! (Some flower surprises for the wife!)

Left to right - two Little Napoli Romas, Celebrity Hybrid, Sweet Million Cherry, and Red Robin Cherry. 4 herbs were added this week on that shelf between them

Pepper shelf, Left to right - in back Hot Banana, Gypsy Bell, Purple Bell, Mammoth Jalapeno, Big Bertha Green Bell, Yellow Bell, Orange Bell, on the Herb front LR, Sweet Basil, 2x Greek Oregano, Cilantro, Rosemary, English Thyme.

Bottom shelves are all Hibiscus cuttings, or rescue plants.. The Hibiscus are there so I can figure out what I cut - since I didn't mark them, and a lot more cuttings to put up this weekend..


OK, FINALLY, I am going to get the screen replaced, and the panels back up, and figure out what to do with the solar roof overhang. West side, I just tied it down. East side, got a "tuck job" today, and that will do until next year. Fix the door spline, rescreen, take it out back, and get it back up! Just supposed to be a critter deterrent.

That took waaaaaay too long this year. As a bonus for you, the cat sharing "his" fish food with the fish

 

I've never used them, personally, but the concept is probably the same as a raised bed in terms of watering, fertilizers, etc.

 

Tomatoes and peppers were planted today and the spinach and chard are coming along. This year I'm going to try not spraying any Roundup on my tomato's and see if that works out better. I'm soaking some green beans today to plant tomorrow. Squash in a couple more weeks I think.



I have always loved dogwoods and the two I planted a few years ago are doing really well.



I thought the azaleas I planted might not overwinter but they came back nicely.



My new addition this spring is a Goshiki false holly. Related to the olive, I was told. I really like the variegation.



Whew

 

Here’s part of what I grow. Gotta wait for the mongos and avocados to pop for pics of them.

 

Nice. Tell Mongo we said hi!
But don't shoot him; you'll just make him mad...

 

BTW, how do I get the bee keepers to send me honey as a fee for feeding their bees with all my Foster Holly's?

 

I’m considering going to Denny’s and asking if they can fill a 5 gallon bucket with eggshells.
What’s the best way to use these in my box gardens?

 

I know what those are! Such fun!

 

Looking great my Indian Nation friend! We are awaiting putting down mulch on the wife's gardens; seems like the plant know to wait until Easter, regardless! Still haven't even seen a Hummer. Nature is smarter than us, most times.