Solar Power Part II

Ajax Approved

Bed #2 was prepared for solarization today.  A deep soaking and 2 sacks of chicken fertilizer mixed into the soil before being covered.  The manure is supposed to release volatile compounds in the soil that kill pests and help stimulate the growth of beneficial soil organisms.  Note:  I believe the volatile compounds are released as soon as the bag is opened.  Pee EWE!  The 4ml plastic sheeting will be removed around September 6.  Bed #1 will be planted in lettuce for the winter.  Bed #2 will be the cabbage patch with broccoli and cauliflower.

Flying Saucer Morning Glories have been planted at the head of Bed #2.  Thyme and oregano frame the rest of the bed.  The morning glories should grow up to 15' and flower through the fall.  Pollinators should enjoy these purple and white flowers.  The plants enjoy dry heat.  Congratulations.  This is the place.

Ajax - December 2010

Bed #2 was last a successful cabbage patch in 2010.  Fingers crossed.  Let's hope for a healthy bed to be planted at the end of summer.  The soil solarization study by the University of California at Davis is fairly interesting and helpful if your garden is haunted with root knot nematodes.

Grrrrrreat Grapefruit!

Rain! We received heavenly rain.  It even looks like we may receive more. Keep it coming. The weather is beautiful and cool. Most all of the spring blossoms have faded giving way to infant fruit that will surely drop as they develop. 

The Rio Red grapefruit tree is loaded with babies thanks to lots of busy bees.  In the photo above, the current crop being harvested can be seen below the new flush of growth.  I've had one grapefruit almost every morning since January. Wish I would have kept count.  Needless to say, there is no chance of a scurvy outbreak in this garden with grapefruit, orange, manderin, and lemon producing beautifully. The only imperfections would be the cosmetic damage from miners.  The next citrus tree I will bring to the garden is a Bearrs lime.  One of my favorite drinks is chunks of a variety of citrus all squished in a glass with ice and club soda.  So good.

Ajax doesn't care for citrus, but he's enjoying the cool beautiful weather.  High 5 paws for this great weather.  We need to duck inside.  It looks like the skies are threatening to open.

Thanks for the rain and snow!

Pruning Seminar

Today, Farmer MacGregor and I attended a pruning seminar at a local nursery.  My intent was to glean information to correct some improper pruning on a crepe myrtle.  I came away with pruning information for much more.

Blenheim Apricot just pruned damaged section.

I asked the advice of many experts and regular gardeners whether the damaged lateral limb on the apricot tree should be pruned out.  Dave Wilson, the grower of most all of my trees, instructed me to prune out the damaged portion and destroy.  The damaged section was removed.  Tar was applied to the cut end.  A young limb near the cut was chosen as a replacement lateral and tied down with tape to start the process.

Blenheim Apricot damaged lateral limb.

Even though no evidence of insects could be seen, I've convinced myself that this pruning was necessary to insure a better chance for this tree to remain healthy for a long time.

Ebb Tide tree rose before Ajax chewed it into the shape of a walking stick.

Pruning of all types of roses was addressed with great interest from most of the audience.  This inspired Farmer MacGregor to do some corrective pruning once we got home.  Nine bare root roses were planted on January 20.  Two Ebb Tide tree roses and seven Iceberg bush roses.  Even though the dog chewed one of the trees, all the roses look as though they are still healthy and will grow to produce some nice purple and white flowers.

Shade trees, vines, dormant spray, fertilization, soil, and irrigation were addressed as well.  The seminar might still be going on if the owner's wife hadn't interrupted reminding us that the seminar should have ended 1/2 hour earlier.

Tomorrow, Farmer MacGregor plans to tackle the crepe myrtle.  I'm glad the seminar sparked him.  I hope images of the crepe myrtles at The Dallas Arboretum inspire him.

How do YOU spell it?  Crepe myrtle or crape myrtle?

After thought:

Ajax the wonder pruner!

Ajax is now around 205 pounds at 2 years old.  Pruning has been part of his existence from the start.  Fig, wisteria, roses, and, yes, apricot have all been on his menu.  I wonder if Ajax could be the cause of the damage to the apricot rather than a suspected borer. That mug looks pretty guilty to me.

Happy New Year

Here's wishing that 2013 improves on 2012. From a disappointing election to back surgeries I say, "good riddance" to this stinking year.

Our neighborhood has been exploding with celebration hours/days before the new year arrived. M80s, shotguns, & firecrackers have been shooting off to celebrate the new year around the world. Ajax is not amused. He is sporting his Thunder Shirt in order to remain calm. So far, so good. He'll be happy when everyone runs out of moonshine & ammunition.

Using the Blogger app to send good wishes.

Guilty!

A crime has been committed. 

The identity of the suspect has been hidden to protect any innocence (There is none!).  This afternoon, I discovered that damaged had occurred to the nectarine and apricot trees.  Some beast had chewed on the dormant branches.  In the case of the nectarine, a large chunk of a branch had been broken clean off!

EXHIBIT A:The Fantasia Nectarine has been struggling but was looking promising.  A lower limb had been snapped off and munched.  Note:  Damage does not appear to be from a beaver as there is no body of water near.

EXHIBIT B:The Blenheim Apricot is a much more vigorous specimen.  An apricot limb adjacent to the snapped nectarine limb sustained damage from some sharp toothed demon.

Evidence was collected from the surrounding area for analysis.  Witnesses were interviewed with statements recorded.  A round up of the “usual suspect(s)” was performed.Justice was swift.  The perpetrator felt great remorse and was released on his own recognizance.  He’s on probation and is on his best behavior.

Note:  The dormant trees were dormant sprayed for the 2nd time this season after the damaged trees were lightly pruned.

Ajax the Garden Gnome

2 months old – December 6, 2010

It’s been a year since we picked up our latest garden gnome.  He was cold and wet and pooped in the car* 3 times on the way home.  Yes, I could have barfed up my In & Out dinner; but prevailed by not adding to the aroma.  This fella has grown into his paws but still acts like a puppy.  His favorite gardening chore is attacking and subduing any dangerous garden tools such as rakes, brooms, or hoes.  I feel safe.  He also has a knack for pruning.  Currently, he’s working on a lilac and a bay laurel tree.  He has completely pruned (killed) a Texas Ranger.  There is also a wisteria that I hope comes back in the spring.2 months old – December 7, 2010

One year old – November 4, 2011

Probably the most favorite thing that Ajax does in the garden is race around the Chinese Elm tree as if he was a race horse.  He also likes to jump – jump high!  Fortunately, his weight (185+ pounds) keeps him grounded most of the time.  Digging hasn’t been much of a problem.  The best thing to do is wear him out/down by playing Kong ball on the grass.

Right now, Ajax is sleeping at my feet after enjoying a neighborhood walk and his dinner.  Life is good.

 

*  A puppy litter box with cedar chips was made available to the pup to keep him comfortable and the Element clean.

Happy Birthday, America!

Ajax – 9 months old

What a coincidence.  Ajax is 9 months old on the 235th birthday of our country.  Let’s celebrate!

It’s hotter than a firecracker out in the garden.  Today will be a balmy 104°.  Yee Haw!  The extent of our celebrating will be finishing all outdoor work before 10am.  Check. 

Now we will be hibernating until the chill of the evening arrives when yours truly will crank up the bbq for some Hebrew Nationals.  Sure swamp pants will be involved.  But there will also be Ruffles and baked beans.  We’ve been snacking on homegrown plums and apricots; but dessert will be special for this birthday celebration.  Apricots from my baby espalier trees provide all the fruit.  Here’s what it looks like.

It was inspired by Miri Leigh but helped along with advise from Julia Child.  Thanks Julia.  If you’re allergic to dairy products find something else.  This baby is loaded with cow fat!

Happy Birthday, America.

Hot-Hot-Hot!

Oh yes.  The heat is here.  Thank you very much.  Most everything in the garden is responding to the heat positively with fruit ripening on the trees and vines, beans climbing the tall corn stalks, and tomatoes popping on every single plant.  There is one group that is not enjoying the heat – the garden crew.  Some of the staff has taken to the notion that it’s hibernating time.

Hiding behind the curtains is the best Ajax can do in trying to hide.  Our 8 month old prefers naps on the cool stone floor in front of a fan with the air conditioning doing what it’s supposed to do.

I’m with you, boy.

Graduation Day

Graduation day.  It’s such an exciting and proud day.  Hard to believe.  It seems like only yesterday I was bouncing him on my knee.  My my how he grew.

2 months

 

Almost 3 months

 

3 months

 

Almost 4 months

 

5 months

 

6 months

 

 Graduation April 20, 2011

Almost 7 months

Ajax continues to practice his skills by visiting the local Farmers’ Market and enjoying all the attention from the farmers, customers, and other pups.  He still needs help in refraining from digging in the garden. 

One day at a time.  One day at a time.

60 °F

Not to dwell on the weather, but it’s currently 60 °F.  After lunch, me and Ajax headed out to the garden.  I had some seed catalogs to review and he had some very important business to tend to.

The Nap Fairy has hit us both hard with a big bag of sand; so we’re headed in for a nap.

I think my thermometer goes bonkers when the sun hits it and reports 31 °F higher than the actual temperature.  This may need to be replaced since it only goes up to 120 °F.  That won’t work in a month or two.

Grey Garden

  Today was a cold, grey day where temperatures didn’t vary from dawn to dusk.  It was a good day to clean the hummingbird feeder…

…do some light pruning (Note the hummingbird enjoying the warm, sweet nectar?) …

…be thankful we can take our naps inside where it’s warm…

…and pose for another growth portrait.

 

It was a very grey day in the garden today.

 

      9 weeks old – December 7, 2010about 12 weeks old - December 27, 2010    

     3 months old – January 8, 2011

almost 4 months old – January 29, 2011

                                                                                  

Garden Lessons

Welcome to the garden.  Today we (Me and Ajax) will be learning some basic lessons.  These lessons are essential to insure a well behaved dog.  An added bonus is that your pet will be a great photo subject.

 

Let’s start with something easy and work to the more advanced of the basic skills. 

 

SIT

 

 

STAY

 

DOWN

 

COME

 

After a rigorous afternoon of serious training, refreshments are in order.  Homegrown and fresh is best.  Thyme was the favorite refresher this afternoon.

 

If you need a suggestion for a quick Christmas gift, try donating to your local animal shelter.  Kern County has a service in Lebec that helps with feral cats.  Irresponsible pet owners are making this a huge problem in Bakersfield.  Cause 4 Cats, Inc. will gladly and gratefully accept your donations large and small.  Additionally, the US Post Office has some items they sell to raise awareness of Animal Rescue:  Adopt a Shelter Pet.  Please consider making a difference with your gift giving.

Keep on the Grass

Sowing winter rye is a pretty nice idea.  Even if it takes a bit of preparation, it doesn’t take a lot of maintenance.  Remember how terrible the lawn was back in August?  Now, the lawn is lush and healthy.  The irrigation system can be shut down for the winter for the most part.  Farmer MacGregor fertilizes and mows so I don’t have to do a ding dong thing but to sit back and enjoy the emerald green carpet. 

 

I’m not alone in the enjoyment.