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anyone enjoy gardening or birding?

Posted: Apr 24, 2013

I love to hear about what others are doing in their gardens. I am in landscape zone 6a. Cherries are not yet blooming here, but daffodils abound. The magnolias are about to pop, and the maples are close. Meanwhile, ospreys and cormorants have returned. Red-winged blackbirds and common grackles have returned, as have the eastern blubirds. I saw tree swallows last weekend and barn swallows this weekend. Pretty much all of the diving ducks have gone north by now. ;

Newly into gardening - in zone 7A

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I am in the process of building waist high garden beds in my yard using cinderblock. I have the block I need for the first bed and am hoping to get it done while I can still get some growing done, but we'll see.

I have done some gardening in the distant past, but nothing recently and I'm very rusty. I have a huge yard and a lot of room for gardening and I really want to get to the point where I'm eating out of my yard more than the grocery store.

Next year my plan is to learn how to can and preserve what I grow.

me too - want to learn

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My mom had a huge garden, everything you can imagine in it and we canned and froze stuff all summer when I was a kid. Darned if I could remember any of it. I tried tomatoes, and they always turn brown at the bottom. My peppers did too. My beans tated funny.

I did amazing with my herbs last year. Rosemary, basil, oregano, parsley and Stevia!

Test your soil. - sm

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There are at-home kits to test your soil, or if you can, find a garden expert at a nursery to test and/or advise on how to amend your soil. The "blossom end rot" on your tomatoes could indicate a calcium deficiency. Since adding egg shells and some bone meal to my soil, I haven't had a problem with that. Lots of trial and error. Best of luck!

What are the zone things? - Never heard of them

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Can someone enlighten me? I have no cluse what zone 6a, 7a means.

Google climate zone maps - Frustrated

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A map of the US will come up, in colors, and there will be a key to tell you which zone you are in. I don't know if the climate zone maps are the same as the USDA hardiness zones, which come up first in my Google search. I can't believe there is so much info on gardening out there - it's sort of overwhelming!

Thanks! - nm

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xxxx

Gardening - MT

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I'm in zone 7a-7b, NC. I'm just going to do containers this year, as my back and neck just won't let me do what I want anymore. The beautiful little ruby-throated hummingbirds are zipping around and the other day I saw a huge black and white, red-headed woodpecker. Usually I'll see a couple of blue buntings which come from the Smoky Mountains, and they're absolutely beautiful! I long for the days when I could spend my days off outside all day in the garden. Also, since times are still a little tough financially, I've decided to take up my old hobby of flower pot painting. I took all of my paints out of the shed, and they all tested just fine. I was a little surprised since I've had them so long. I visited the local nursery today and bought some annuals but will probably only grow herbs and tomatoes on the deck. I have friends who grow everything else, and I'm sure they'll take pity on me and supply me with veggies. I'm so excited about painting again, don't know why I stopped for those few years, just had too much personal stuff going on and no time.

I'm ready to go now, though! :)

is this your woodpecker? - sm

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Gardening. - Therapeutic.

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7B UDSA zone here. I built six 4x8 boxes for our veggies--the usual tomatoes, cucumbers, various peppers, radish, lettuce, beets, oriental greens. Every year I try growing something new. This year it is broccoli. Raspberry canes look a little thin this year. No jam this year, I guess, unless the young blueberry bushes surprise me.

As for birds, have seen bald eagles flying around and lots of red-tail hawks, red-headed woodpeckers, and killdeer (think that's what they are called).

I'm 6B. Hoping to build an 8 x 5 raised - Frustrated

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garden bed. I'm more into herbs because they're easier and I use lots, but also do grape tomatoes and regular tomatoes. This year I want to try sugar snaps and okra. Hope it's not to late for the sugar snaps.

Lowes by me sells the the sections made out of PVC type - plastic to make raised gardens. nm

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x

There are lots of kits if you are doing a bed - only about a foot high

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There's a lot of info on raised beds that are only raised 10 to 12 inches or so.

I'm the poster up above who talked about building waist high raised beds. My knees and back yell quite loudly at the thought of even only a 12 inch raised bed. The waist high beds are a boat load more work and the initial building phase is not pleasant for my old, fat, out of shape back, but in the long run it'll be worth it for me.

I've got 2 levels done so far. The thing I didn't take into account was I'm using the 8 x 6 x 16 cinder blocks, so they don't line up perfectly when I'm making basically a square (or rectangle), like they would if I were using the 8 x 8 x 16 bloock, so I have some small gaps, even with my half blocks. I can make it work, though. I've got landscaping rock in my front yard that I don't want in my front yard any more and so I'm digging that up and putting it inside the holes in the cinder block and that will act as the anchor and make sure the blocks don't shift. I hope. ;)

I'm off now for the next two days and so I'm hoping to get the last 2 layers done and the rock loaded in so I can start getting the inside filled up with the old pine needles and stuff in the yard so I can get the dirt, so I can plant. Whew!

Thanks! I'm going to look into that! - Frustrated

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They have to be easier to haul home than a bunch of lumber. Probably cheaper, too, maybe?

When I want to do a raised bed, at that time Lowes had nuttin. - Ordered on internet, cost SM

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$200!!!. The ones at Lowes were MUCH cheaper, but I dont remember how much.

Wow! I was hoping to do something on - Frustrated

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the cheap. I'm still researching.

Check Lowes. THey were much cheaper. Dont remember - exactly but $30 maybe. Less than SM

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from the Internet to the extent that I was very sorry I didnt wait 2 years, lol.

Not a garden, but - I'm a mom again!

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I live in an apartment, and I have a second floor balcony. I have a piece of wicker furniture on the balcony that I was intending to put out for trash collection. Last spring I opened the door to the balcony to clean, and there on top of the piece of wicker (which I put in the corner by my dining room window) was a beautiful dove on her nest! I quickly shut the door, and from time to time would take a peek out my window to check on her. She got to recognize me, and she was not threatened or frightened at all. I am now the mom of six doves (two each time) over these months. My third set are flying and growing nicely, but still come back occasionally to hang out on the porch. They know they are safe there, and I will never discourage them from using my balcony. I get so excited when I know more are expected! Just had to share that. By the way, I have named them all!

What did you name them? - nm

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nm

Baby Doves' names - I'm a mom again!

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One bird is always larger than the other, so I always assume that it is a male. Here goes.

Duncan and Murphy

Tyler and Erin

Juan and Nancy

I named him after prosecutor Juan Martinez, and named my little girl after Nancy Grace! Lol!

They are all so precious, and the mom and dad are so elegant. I have lived here 10 years, and have used my back door a total of two times. It is a perfect place for them to raise their young. My landlord was over (lives next door) the other week and wanted to check an outside vent that was on the balcony. I told him at the time mom was on her nest and expecting little ones any time. I took him to the dining room window. He looked out and smiled, and told me he would check it some other time, and that he did not want to frighten her.

An Arias trial follower? - Me too, lol!

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I don't know what I'll do when this trial ends...my DVR will breathe a sigh of relief as I tape it whilst working and watch it with my husband over dinner at night. I've also been taping and watching Nancy Grace, Jane Velez-Mitchell and Dr. Drew since they've been exclusively covering the trial.

I haven't been this interested in a trial since the infamous OJ trial back in the 90s, lol!

ME, TOO! - I'm a mom again!

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I have watched the trial from day one. I, too watch Nancy Grace, Jane and some nights Dr. Drew. I have watched Nancy and Jane for years and love them both. I got my friend into watching the trial, and we can't wait for the closing arguments Thursday and Friday. I vote first degree premeditated murder!! How about that tape of Jodi and Travis they played several times in court . . . I just love Juan Martinez!

To I'm a mom again! - see message

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I've been following the case off and on since Jodi was first arrested back in July 2008 so it's been a long wait for the trial...and I never imagined it would last this long (although it's fascinating, isn't it? I'd *love* it if one of the camera people could get a shot of whatever Jodi is writing during testimony, lol!).

Don't forget tomorrow is the sur rebuttal (sp?) after some sort of hearing in the morning.

LOL at that tape...and *those* pics, too. Those are going to go down in infamy on the internet forever!

Nancy Grace - I'm a mom again!

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Did you see Nancy Grace some weeks ago when she compared Jodi to the Adams' family's Cousin Itt? They had Jodi's picture on 1/2 of the screen, and a big MOP with glasses on the other side. I laughed til I cred. I love when Nancy acts like she is crying (sarcastically, of course) and does the wha, wha thing while she rubs her eyes! I will be watching on the edge of my seat the rest of this week, and of course, for the verdict. I hope Kirk Nurmi doesn't put me to sleep during his closing statements! No chance of that with Juan!! Let me know your opinion after closing. We can discuss it under a new thread. Maybe others will join in. It is all so sad when you think of what happened to Travis. I will be checking the new posts to read your comments!

To I'm a mom again! - See message

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Awww, I had really been hoping that Nurmi wouldn't be doing the closing statement but, alas, today I learned he will indeed be doing that. I'm not sure I can take in enough caffeine to stay awake during his closing...That poor jury, lol!

I'll start a thread here on the Gab board for any Arias trial followers to chime in if they wish. Surely we can't be the only two following this circus, lol!

Forgot to mention mom and dad - I'm a mom again!

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Mom and dad are Mallory and Seth. Can't leave the proud parents out!!

what a great story - birds are great fun

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My mom's cousin who lived in Louisville had a big wreath on her front door and she had a bird nest in it for a couple of years running. The door was one of those big double doors, so the wreath was on the one that didn't get opened. It got to the point where the bird just looked at her as she came and went. I saw it for myself one time when I was visiting. At first I thought the bird was fake until I saw the eyes move and the head moved just a little bit to keep an eye on me as I went inside.

I put out birdseed all the time in my back yard (used to put it out in teh front yard too until the neighbor complained that they were crapping on his cars) but that's more to keep the cats entertained than anything else. I'm going to have to move the focus of the food when I get the garden beds don so I don't have bird poop over everything.

that's so lovely!! - zinnia...nm

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New into gardening, but lots of plans - sm

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Zone 7b here. I am trying to go more vegetarian meals. The trick for me is going to be timing so that everything does not come in at once. Just planted tomatoes, cukes, 3 types of lettuce, spinach. Green beans, yellow beans, peas, zuccini, yellow squash, peppers, onions, chard. Doing some in planting boxes, some in the ground, some in raised beds. Once I learn more I want to grow carrots, potatoes, and any other leafy green vegetable I can think of. Want to start making smoothies, steamed veggies, stir fry. Also growing basil, oregano, rosemary, mint, catnip and a couple other things. We have a large yard, so may dig up an area and plant pumpkins, watermelon and cantelope. We also have an apple tree and blueberry and blackberry bushes Also growing lots of flowers too. Will be my first flower garden ever. With the help of my DH things will grow like crazy (if there is a seed or twig and he plants it it will grow). We've got some birds, though don't know what kind. Nothing unique. Growing up we used to have red cardinels that were beautiful. But we have lots of squirrels.

birding - love it. - Blupencl

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I love birdwatching - but it is not as much fun as when I lived in the country.

Thanks for posting this, zinnia - I'm a mom again

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What a beautiful subject! I just love birds, and it is fascinating to watch them and to learn how they construct their nests, raise their young, etc., not to mention the gorgeous array of colors they display! There is nothing more peaceful to me. (Flowers, too!)

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