What did you do in the garden today?

[Eagle343]

Southern IL relatives lost power in the storm. Were told 3 days to get it back.

folks just told me they got 4" of snow after 1-1/2" of ice, in Randolph IL, so things are dicey I would agree.

 

[Sally PB]

We have barely any snow on the ground. The storm totally missed us, and I am not complaining. We have been VERY lucky.

 

[jerryse]

folks just told me they got 4" of snow after 1-1/2" of ice, in Randolph IL, so things are dicey I would agree.

My daughter in St Louis Mo had to miss work. Can not get the car out. She got ice first then 8" of snow.

 

[TJAnonymous]

We are supposed to get between 2" - 4" of snow Thursday night into Friday morning. Everyone in my household is gleefully looking forward to a likely snow day.

I work from home. We don't get snow days...

 

[jerryse]

On a positive note, I have not seen any skeeters. Just think of all the shovels, snowblowers and generators sold due to the storm.

 

[Sally PB]

On a positive note, I have not seen any skeeters.

Or flies. Or yellow jackets.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Right before the snow started here, wild critters were also preparing. I have a fresh water bowl set out there daily. Birds visit it during the day, my rodent hunting fox, Little Girl visits & get a drink at night, & this dude, or dudette, visits around 6pmish lately.


It really is funny how they come in shifts, giving eachother peaceful time alone. Between "shifts" we clean the thick bowl & change out the water. Eventually, in the cold, it freezes over, but often I see peck holes in the top layer of ice. I once witnessed a large crow, using a stick as a tool to actually flip a large hunk of top layer ice completely out of the bowl! So smart! So cool to see!

Anyway, before the snow started, my honey & I had finished cleaning coops & spreading compost, I had collected the few winter eggs the hens laid & one was cracked. So I gave Ms. Possum the egg & she gently cracked it open more & gratefully licked the healthy contents for about 10 minutes, then cleaned her face, got a drink, cleaned her face again & looked at me as if to say thank you, then waddled slowly back to her winter home, under one of the storage sheds, to nestle in before the storm.

I like moments like those, witnessing nature just going about nature's business. Somehow, it nourishes my soul. Take time to smell the roses, admire that sunset & appreciate life & these creatures that share our lovely planet.

 

[TJAnonymous]

The Ratinator caught TEN rats last night, including young juveniles.

 

[cj2024]

In my attempt at cloning my determinate Tycoon tomato plant, I got 2 out of 4 to root with the main visible problem being mushroom mycelium or fungus. This always happen when I cover cuttings with a plastic bag.

I found that starting them in a lighted place uncovered in water for a few days before placing them in an inert potting mix (Pro Mix) is the best way for me to root them. This solves the fungus problem, and the stem doesn't curl like they do in water.

I keep 1/4 inch of water in the plant base until the plant roots itself. One benefit of watering from the bottom is the rooting hormone doesn't get washed off.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Or flies. Or yellow jackets.

or flowers. or green grass.