Wednesday, 15 June 2022

[Don]

Good morning all. We got a bit of rain yesterday afternoon. I was able to get in about 100 miles on my motorcycle before that but the ride was a bit warm. No special plans for today though, other than to tidy up a bit and try to put away some of my "stuff" that I took on my trip to Texas.

Here are a few more images from that trip, most taken on a hike into a wilderness area about an hours drive from the festival. A few may have been in the campground though.  I might post some "human interest" shots later of some scenes from the festival. It could get wild...

[Dave]

Hi Don - thanks for starting the Daily.

Great photos! I've not seen a lizard like that before. Do you know what it is?

We got a little precipitation yesterday (mostly drizzle) starting overnight and continuing until around 9:00 am. With our years-long drought we really need it. The city has limited automated watering to just 3 days a week.

From what I can see, a large chunk of the country is in for some extreme heat; Michigan is looking especially bad - I hope Lorell gets through it OK.

I just ordered a small chainsaw and some miscellaneous gardening stuff. Need the chainsaw to get control of the trumpet vine that has taken over the back yard.

No new photos from me; I'll see if I can find something from recent months that's worth sharing.

[Don]

Good morning Dave. I think that might be a brown anole, but not sure.

We got a little over 1/2 inch of rain yesterday. Sunny right now but might get showers later - typical of summer here.

I have an electric chain saw that I use sometime. I need to buy a new chain for it though, it is getting dull. I know I could have the current one sharpened but it seems easier just to buy a new one. There are some things out back I need to cut down. I have a gas powered chain saw but it needs to be worked on. Fuel system is clogged because I let it sit too long with gas in it.

Not much activity today in here.

[Rich]

Don, wonderful nature photos! You missed your calling! All worthy of poster size enlargement!

I used to play with chain saws in another life and time! I pretty much  took my saw to a chain sharpening  service.

Greetings Dave!

The City put up banners along Main street of former Palace buildings from the late 1800 to the present. Some of my photos were used. No money or recognition but fun to see. Photos are a close up of the banner and it's location.

Take a close look at the balcony in the first photo. This is the reason for yearly decorations. It is not called " The Worlds Biggest Birdfeeder" for nothing!

[Dave]

Hi Rich. Very nice photos capturing how appealing and meticulously clean your city is.

A not-yet-ripe Black Krim tomato. Looking good so far, but it still has to survive the insects and birds that will surely be interested as it ripens...

   

[Man From Ironbark]

Is that raindrops or did you water it with a sprinkler?

[Dave]

Is that raindrops or did you water it with a sprinkler?

On this day we hadn't had rain in 3 or more weeks; I had just finished hand-watering the 8-10 potted veggies and the raised bed.

[Man From Ironbark]

I see. My point was that tomatoes don't actually enjoy having their leaves wet. If you want them to stay disease free, it is wise not to water the leaves.

[Quint]

Hi All,
Just got in from mowing and hedge trimming. It started to sprinkle so I made haste but gladly the rain held off. It's just over 60 degrees F and pretty calm. Quite good growing weather as the lawn is a weekly job. 
Don, nice sharp images. Hard to decide which I like better.
Rich, nice banner especially with your photo.
Dave, beauty of a young tomato. I haven't grown the Black Krim yet but my Black sea Man has little fruits showing. Here's a shot of the plant:
Hi, MFIB.

[Dreamin]

Don, very pleasant nature studies....I thoroughly enjoyed them. Don,  I know what you mean about gas powered equipment...I always had trouble starting chain saw or weed eater. Now I have a battery powered weed eater. I love it. It only runs about half an hour, but then I'm ready for a break anyway.....the chain saw, I get my son to come over and cut stuff I need. I'm getting too old to be doing that anymore.....
Well, Rich, you deserve to be proud they used your images....although would be nice to be recognized!!  It would be awesome to see a huge murmuration of starlings attack and eat all the corn in a day!!  Actually that would be awful, but around here, that's what would happen, but then we are so humid, the corn would mold. So, I guess I'll just admire your corn palace from afar!!! Nice photos of it!!
Dave, I have small tomatoes on my plants....but I also am starting to see so many stink bugs! It's going to be a bad year for them. They have ruined my peas......and I have even seen them on the blueberries.  I don't like to use pesticides, because we like to go into the garden and munch on stuff....but I am at a loss what to do. I imagine the squash borers will be bad, too. You just can't grow pesticide free stuff here in Maryland with much success.....
Steve, nice looking tomato plants....been  doing some mowing myself. I have about 4-5 acres to cut, but been leaving the white clover area for the bees....the weather has been funny this year, and the grass isn't growing as fast or as dense as in past years. Good thing, too. My 19 year old mower broke and my nephew had to put a new engine in it. I was down for about 2 weeks, mostly waiting for the engine ....got her going now!!


My bees must have gotten too hot.....sitting on the front porch of their hive........when they climb over each other like at the bottom, it's called bearding......I need to get them a shade umbrella.....