- Thread starter
- #501
Thanks. We put the frilly and fancy ones out by the fairy
I started some seeds in indoor 10-gal SWICK pots. I'm tired of outdoor seed germination rates during this drought.
Radogast's Non-420 Garden Creation Thread
- Thread starter Radogast
- Start date
Thanks. We put the frilly and fancy ones out by the fairy
I started some seeds in indoor 10-gal SWICK pots. I'm tired of outdoor seed germination rates during this drought.
Nice two-lips are a bloomin, nettles are right around the corner. You should be able to see the nettles shoots starting. Scout them out and wait until they are about 12" tall and harvest with a pair of scissors, the ones you harvest will look like a canna plant that has been topped and it will grow 2 shoots and you can get a 2nd harvest (if you need to) about 10 days later. Don't wait till there's flowers on the nettles (they just started flowering here yesterday) as the flowering plants my wife turns her nose up when she sees the flowers for some reason. We use them mainly for tea for our consumption and I steal some for mulch and teas for the ladies.
Rock dust - 5lbs of basalt should do ya for this season. If you look at how it should be used - very very liberally it wont last long. I hear ya about "it's everywhere" - we live in top of an extinct volcano that is mainly basalt. Our soil actually sparkles from the silica thats from the basaltic rock we live on. Oh yeah one of the side dishes of living on granite like that is concentrations of Uranium. You should get your basement tested for radon gas if you haven't already. We have a radon evacuation system in our basement!! It's no joke - neighbors that lived here for many years (2 generations) all died of lung cancer but they NEVER opened a window in the 15 years we've been here.
No buzz kill no buzz kill... I digress sorry, just looking out for my friends, cant help it.
Being in NE you should have a very good source for basalt dust. No need to muck about in the mud by the riva unless your fishin! You can chip up your rocks in your yard and use that for aeration material. I usually add in some of my silica rich soil in my worm bin aka compost bin, the rock dust helps the worms digest everything.
OK so the tulips are blooming - my wife says; "Time to pick the nettles." When the tulips are done the nettles will have flowers and they will not be best for human consumption but still good for the ladies. Don't forget dandelions, they are also excellent for eating in your salads and top dressing your ladies... Nettles are good for your garden outside too... way good, specially flowers or plants about to flower for fruiting.
Here's one of our latest nettle stash. It got real humid here the last 5 days - hints of whats about to come here on the right coast and hanging nettles in high humidity is a waste. These did not dry very well so I think they are laying around for ME to use, which I've been doing in teas and leaf mulch in my indoor gardens.
Rock dust - 5lbs of basalt should do ya for this season. If you look at how it should be used - very very liberally it wont last long. I hear ya about "it's everywhere" - we live in top of an extinct volcano that is mainly basalt. Our soil actually sparkles from the silica thats from the basaltic rock we live on. Oh yeah one of the side dishes of living on granite like that is concentrations of Uranium. You should get your basement tested for radon gas if you haven't already. We have a radon evacuation system in our basement!! It's no joke - neighbors that lived here for many years (2 generations) all died of lung cancer but they NEVER opened a window in the 15 years we've been here.
No buzz kill no buzz kill... I digress sorry, just looking out for my friends, cant help it.
Being in NE you should have a very good source for basalt dust. No need to muck about in the mud by the riva unless your fishin! You can chip up your rocks in your yard and use that for aeration material. I usually add in some of my silica rich soil in my worm bin aka compost bin, the rock dust helps the worms digest everything.
OK so the tulips are blooming - my wife says; "Time to pick the nettles." When the tulips are done the nettles will have flowers and they will not be best for human consumption but still good for the ladies. Don't forget dandelions, they are also excellent for eating in your salads and top dressing your ladies... Nettles are good for your garden outside too... way good, specially flowers or plants about to flower for fruiting.
Here's one of our latest nettle stash. It got real humid here the last 5 days - hints of whats about to come here on the right coast and hanging nettles in high humidity is a waste. These did not dry very well so I think they are laying around for ME to use, which I've been doing in teas and leaf mulch in my indoor gardens.
- Thread starter
- #503
Thanks for the good words Bobrown...
I walked the paths today. I saw a few things I don't recognize, but none of them were nettles.
I tried to eat some dandelion leaves and dandelion shoots last week. They tasted nothing like food. Today a pulled puffballs.
Iplan to go back to my edible weeds book and read up, but my initial gustatory investigation was a success - I'm saying NO to dandelions this spring!
I walked the paths today. I saw a few things I don't recognize, but none of them were nettles.
I tried to eat some dandelion leaves and dandelion shoots last week. They tasted nothing like food. Today a pulled puffballs.
Iplan to go back to my edible weeds book and read up, but my initial gustatory investigation was a success - I'm saying NO to dandelions this spring!
- Thread starter
- #504
New plant of the day -- Knotweed (Huzhang in chinese medicine)
I was going to rip of this invasive species in front of the house, but I decided to ID the plant and look up the medicinal qualities first.
Hu zhang is mandarin for "Tiger Cane." This Tiger balances out the dragon mountain on the other side of the house. It stays for now.
Another tulip photo - while they last
I was going to rip of this invasive species in front of the house, but I decided to ID the plant and look up the medicinal qualities first.
Hu zhang is mandarin for "Tiger Cane." This Tiger balances out the dragon mountain on the other side of the house. It stays for now.
Another tulip photo - while they last
Wise move with the Tiger Cane. How nice that you care enough to pay attention to the unseen details. There's so much we don't understand about energy fields.
It's so relaxing here Rad. That's how you help me deal with it Rad. By allowing me to be here.
It's so relaxing here Rad. That's how you help me deal with it Rad. By allowing me to be here.
- Thread starter
- #506
Dappled Willow 'Hakuro-nishiki' (Salix Integra)
It survived !!
Clones from a branch in late fall 2013.
Slow to root.
Planted outdoors by the new pond, late summer 2014.
Survived the long, harsh winter. Yay!!
It has already grown more this spring than all last year.
Dappled Willow 'Hakuro-nishiki'
The pond from the far end (near the inlet from the spring.)
Dappled Willow is on the far slope (brown spot) in center of picture. The soil is not deep, but it is fertile.
It survived !!
Clones from a branch in late fall 2013.
Slow to root.
Planted outdoors by the new pond, late summer 2014.
Survived the long, harsh winter. Yay!!
It has already grown more this spring than all last year.
Dappled Willow 'Hakuro-nishiki'
The pond from the far end (near the inlet from the spring.)
Dappled Willow is on the far slope (brown spot) in center of picture. The soil is not deep, but it is fertile.
- Thread starter
- #507
Fabulous Rad! How exciting. How long before you place them?
".....an excuse to carve rock"
Why does this not surprise me?
Today, after planting a rose bush, cleaning the barbecue, plucking dandelion heads before they go puffball, walking the trails, and many inside jobs - after all that, I sat on a bench, smoked an herbal blend and gazed at the rock. I suddenly saw where to influence the waterfall path, diagonally down the rockface. I did a little rock carving with a heavy concrete point and a 3 lb sledge hammer. I removing sheets of rock up to 8 inches deep to release a pathway about 8 feet long.
I'll test this path with water later this weekend. I had been thinking of pumping water up from the brook and letting it flow. Now I'm not sure I have enough pieces of conduit to reach from the brook. We'll see! I was too cannabis distractable and efficiently muli-tasking to play with water today anyway
I'm looking forward to seeing the fruits of your chiseling adventure Rad. This waterfall is going to be such a sweet addition to that area. Congrats on the willow setting it's roots. Bit by bit, the plan comes to life. 
- Thread starter
- #509
Building a Waterfall
I took a hammer and point to the rock this weekend. One major channel and a couple of minor channels. Took about 90 minutes.
I then ran 70 ft of conduit over the ground from a submersible fountain pump set in the brook. The rise it's around 20 ft. It has been running for about 36 hours now. That took about 45 minutes.
After about an hour, my pond area at the foot of the waterfall filled up and I started planning the streamlet path back across the yard. That took about 2 hours.
The boy came out and dug a channel to a second little pond he had excavated. He neglected an outlet and it flooded part of the meadow.
The streamlet is in flood. I played with digging it out and gravity flow for hours today. The results were mixed, but the process was magnificent!
View from the bench ( ignore temporary plumbing )
The line between the two points of the water droplets is where I carved a channel into the rock face.
From above, one can see hidden pools.
Overview of the waterfall so far. I'll make a video in a few weeks so you can hear the water sounds
I took a hammer and point to the rock this weekend. One major channel and a couple of minor channels. Took about 90 minutes.
I then ran 70 ft of conduit over the ground from a submersible fountain pump set in the brook. The rise it's around 20 ft. It has been running for about 36 hours now. That took about 45 minutes.
After about an hour, my pond area at the foot of the waterfall filled up and I started planning the streamlet path back across the yard. That took about 2 hours.
The boy came out and dug a channel to a second little pond he had excavated. He neglected an outlet and it flooded part of the meadow.
The streamlet is in flood. I played with digging it out and gravity flow for hours today. The results were mixed, but the process was magnificent!
View from the bench ( ignore temporary plumbing
)
The line between the two points of the water droplets is where I carved a channel into the rock face.
From above, one can see hidden pools.
Overview of the waterfall so far. I'll make a video in a few weeks so you can hear the water sounds
That worked out beautifully! I could see some of the little hidden pools from below too (great pictures Rad), but that shot from above is sweet. I'll be watching for the video. It has to sound wonderful with all those little pools. Nice the way it meanders down to the base. With a well-placed seat to watch the show too.
Well done. The boy has to be proud of his input.
Well done. The boy has to be proud of his input.
Dutty Panty
New Member
That's bad ass rad. As soon as goats eat blackberries down to a manageable heighth I'll have access to the slough would love to through a jet pump in there and build a small pond for our ducks that's fucking awesome rad. Rep points awarded. And I'm jealous
SmokesDaKush
New Member
I just love everything your doing Radogast!
I did a bunch of garden work this weekend inside and out, I dug out a bunch of aloe pups and checked over my cape ferox seeds and got to wondering how yours are doing?
I did a bunch of garden work this weekend inside and out, I dug out a bunch of aloe pups and checked over my cape ferox seeds and got to wondering how yours are doing?
- Thread starter
- #513
I remember BlackBerry vines near Salem, Oregon by the train tracks. As tall as a house and a wonderful place for hidden forts. .. but goats, yep that should do it
- Thread starter
- #514
I just love everything your doing Radogast!
I did a bunch of garden work this weekend inside and out, I dug out a bunch of aloe pups and checked over my cape ferox seeds and got to wondering how yours are doing?
I have a couple of aloe pups that popped out of an older plant ready for transplant. .
My aloe seedlings are a single blade about an inch tall. Two I think. I'm am sporadically attentive to house plants.
Do you have photos of your Cape Ferox seeds?
Heck Dutty, do you have photos of your goats. I enjoyed hearing them on your Not So Secret thread
Hey Rado,
Your planting plan has wisely relied on Natives, much to your credit. I'd keep an sharp eye on those exotix, many of them are runners. Can't tell you how many otherwise beautiful gardens I've seen spoiled by the inclusion of 1 plant somebody "had to have." The pseudo-Asian, "Zen Garden" avec the obligatory bamboo, and cheesy Minimalist statue of dubious origin, is the archetypal gardening disaster waiting to happen. Stay alert.
Love and respect
Your planting plan has wisely relied on Natives, much to your credit. I'd keep an sharp eye on those exotix, many of them are runners. Can't tell you how many otherwise beautiful gardens I've seen spoiled by the inclusion of 1 plant somebody "had to have." The pseudo-Asian, "Zen Garden" avec the obligatory bamboo, and cheesy Minimalist statue of dubious origin, is the archetypal gardening disaster waiting to happen. Stay alert.
Love and respect
- Thread starter
- #516
Planting plan. Ha!
I'm just trying to get an herb garden growing. My wife is going for flowers. We get along fine
SmokesDaKush
New Member
I have a couple of aloe pups that popped out of an older plant ready for transplant. .
My aloe seedlings are a single blade about an inch tall. Two I think. I'm am sporadically attentive to house plants.
Do you have photos of your Cape Ferox seeds?
Heck Dutty, do you have photos of your goats. I enjoyed hearing them on your Not So Secret thread
I don't but I could take pictures if that's what your getting at.
I believe some have two leaves but the second is small. Lol at your edit...
Good point about that one plant I had to have.. I grew some ornamental gourds last year,, hoping for a birdhouse and it was an aggressive grower... killed my acorn squash crop... good point bro
- Thread starter
- #519
I did more digging and planning and digging on the waterfall project today.
I dug the stream progressively deeper to speed the flow of water across the meadow. This reduces the amount of water that soaks into the ground and avoids the Massachusetts default for low land - muddy swamp.
As the water flows off the meadow plateau, I forced a hard left turn for the water to follow a contour line with very little slope(a small swale,) and widened the cut from bulb shovel width to garden shovel width. This slows the water down, encouraging water to soak in and travel downslope underground.
I may make the channel double the width and slow the water even more. I may make a u-turn at the end of the swale and run another swale the other direction. Or both. Right now, the swale ends abruptly, letting the water find it's way down the hillside to the brook where it came from.
This area of hillside gets better sun than most of the yard, so I tried planting veggies last year. They did not thrive. The hill had been formerly covered by ferns. Today I noted the sandy, silty soil is devoid of plant matter, worms, and the appearance of life below the 3" thick root mass of the ferns. This explains why my vegetables all failed: The soil is devoid of life and a soill food web to transport nutrients. The small soil amendments I did when planting were not enough to sustain vigorous plant life.
In swales watered by rainfall, intermittent water is captured and soaks in. Leaves fall in the dry channel and feed worms. The downslope berm and channel make a good habitat for planted trees and volunteer vegetation while building the soil quality. A continuously watered swale, should be more like a watery ditch alongside a road.
This requires more thinking
My small 40' swale.
I am considering a patch of cat tails for the small pond area on the right and planting a Lotus in the larger pond.
I dug the stream progressively deeper to speed the flow of water across the meadow. This reduces the amount of water that soaks into the ground and avoids the Massachusetts default for low land - muddy swamp.
As the water flows off the meadow plateau, I forced a hard left turn for the water to follow a contour line with very little slope(a small swale,) and widened the cut from bulb shovel width to garden shovel width. This slows the water down, encouraging water to soak in and travel downslope underground.
I may make the channel double the width and slow the water even more. I may make a u-turn at the end of the swale and run another swale the other direction. Or both. Right now, the swale ends abruptly, letting the water find it's way down the hillside to the brook where it came from.
This area of hillside gets better sun than most of the yard, so I tried planting veggies last year. They did not thrive. The hill had been formerly covered by ferns. Today I noted the sandy, silty soil is devoid of plant matter, worms, and the appearance of life below the 3" thick root mass of the ferns. This explains why my vegetables all failed: The soil is devoid of life and a soill food web to transport nutrients. The small soil amendments I did when planting were not enough to sustain vigorous plant life.
In swales watered by rainfall, intermittent water is captured and soaks in. Leaves fall in the dry channel and feed worms. The downslope berm and channel make a good habitat for planted trees and volunteer vegetation while building the soil quality. A continuously watered swale, should be more like a watery ditch alongside a road.
This requires more thinking
My small 40' swale.
I am considering a patch of cat tails for the small pond area on the right and planting a Lotus in the larger pond.
Cat tails! Yes! A lotus would be so perfect.
Good job on the water control. That had to be fun to do. Reminded me of how we played in the creek across the street from my childhood home, redirecting water into new channels and eddies. Looks like it was a nice day for outdoor work.
Good job on the water control. That had to be fun to do. Reminded me of how we played in the creek across the street from my childhood home, redirecting water into new channels and eddies. Looks like it was a nice day for outdoor work.