All About Pocket Knives

It’s beautiful. And no doubt a lot of work keeping it that way.

Makes me jealous but I’m also glad I live out in the country - to look good my yard just has to look better than the pasture next to it.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 5:07 am It’s beautiful. And no doubt a lot of work keeping it that way.

Makes me jealous but I’m also glad I live out in the country - to look good my yard just has to look better than the pasture next to it.

Ken

What Ken said, I love pretty flowers and the boss and I use to enjoy working with them but age is catching up with us and it seems alot of gardening is done down on you knees or bending over neither of which I'm good at anymore.

some nice photos. I used to collect Hostas, even went to Hosta co;;ege once. Also was heavy into German bearded Iris as well as the Japs and Siberians. Had a small nursery business to help fund my habit. had a couple acres of truck garden and sold at the veggie auction and did 3 farm markets. Now we are on only 2 acres, half of that being a pond so we just have a couple dozen hosta and a few odd trees and shrubs. I do still grow about 1200 garlics a year which nets enuff to buy 8-10 knives every july. Any type gardening is good for what ails ya, unless its your back!

robpa wrote: ↑Fri Mar 10, 2023 5:35 pm Any type gardening is good for what ails ya, unless it’s your back!

Eventually your knees will start complaining also. I even have knee pads (every married man should already have a pair) but mine still complain on the way to standing up after crawling around a while. Doesn’t stop me though!

Ken

I noticed these orange fungus-like blobs hanging from Evergreen trees on our coffee walk today, never seen anything like this before. It almost looks like orange Christmas tree bulbs. As you can see, there were a lot of them on every Evergreen tree of this type. The trees appear to be some Juniper variety.

Anyone have a clue what they are?

Never seen anything like that before John.

Had a stupid idea this morning.

How about canned plants?

My daughter Jazlin brought home a can of Root Beer from Würzburg a few weeks ago. I like Root Beer and anything with a U.S. Flag on it so I held onto the can just because I liked it.

This morning I came up with the bright idea of planting something in it.

1) Used an old style can opener to remove the top.

2) Drilled a 3mm hole at the highest point in the base of the can. This will allow for drainage & at the same time there will be a small reservoir around the edges.

3) Added a hand full of gravel for weight & drainage.

4) Added a couple hands full of soil.

5) Ready to plant. Just need a plant for it so I'll probably pick up some sort of succulent to put in it. If you can think of other plants that can be "canned" feel free to mention them. I suppose the can colors will probably fade pretty fast in the sun but I will enjoy it while it lasts.

Looks nice Oscar.

I was enjoying a leisurely drive on the backroads, and admiring the Spring sunshine, as well as the dark blue clouds of an approaching storm. I decided to snap a few pics, and when I stopped to get some bird pics, a Rat snake was there to greet me.

Waukonda wrote: ↑Mon May 08, 2023 9:11 pm I was enjoying a leisurely drive on the backroads, and admiring the Spring sunshine, as well as the dark blue clouds of an approaching storm. I decided to snap a few pics, and when I stopped to get some bird pics, a Rat snake was there to greet me.

Absolutely beautiful pictures. I’m no expert on reptiles but given that snake has a triangular shape head, I’d bet that he’s venomous.

Thank you, Oscar. That snake head looks a little bigger on the pic than in real life. I don't know snakes all that well myself, I just call any that obviously aren't something else, a Rat snake. Poisonous snakes in our area are a couple breeds of Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, and Cottonmouth. Fairly positive it was none of those three. Hope not anyway, my nose was about a foot and a half from his when I took the picture

OSCAR wrote: ↑Sun Apr 30, 2023 10:27 am A somewhat obscure but beautiful tree. Not easy to find as few places carry them. I got mine at a local nursery that has a tremendous selection. You should be able to find one online. They grow pretty quickly, about 2 feet a year. They should be pruned every winter as they flower off new growth only.
I keep this one trimmed back as a shrub. Another I have, I am letting grow full size (about 20 feet). Needs warmer climate as they grow in southern United States.
Called Vitex (common name is Chaste tree) and it’s a native tree.

Native to the Mediterranean and Asia but not native to America. However it has “naturalized” to the point that many believe it is a native. Around here they come up as weeds and can be found growing along railroad tracks and other places that aren’t kept mowed. They’re readily available in the retail nurseries and planted in landscapes for their beauty.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 3:39 am

OSCAR wrote: ↑Sun Apr 30, 2023 10:27 am A somewhat obscure but beautiful tree. Not easy to find as few places carry them. I got mine at a local nursery that has a tremendous selection. You should be able to find one online. They grow pretty quickly, about 2 feet a year. They should be pruned every winter as they flower off new growth only.
I keep this one trimmed back as a shrub. Another I have, I am letting grow full size (about 20 feet). Needs warmer climate as they grow in southern United States.
Called Vitex (common name is Chaste tree) and it’s a native tree.

Native to the Mediterranean and Asia but not native to America. However it has “naturalized” to the point that many believe it is a native. Around here they come up as weeds and can be found growing along railroad tracks and other places that aren’t kept mowed. They’re readily available in the retail nurseries and planted in landscapes for their beauty.

Ken

Thanks Ken. I was unaware that it’s not a native plant ! If is a beautiful tree though. Being that you said that they come up like weeds, I’m hoping that they aren’t invasive.
I’ve had mine about 5 years and so far I’ve had no “volunteers” to come up.

Waukonda wrote: ↑Mon May 08, 2023 9:11 pm I was enjoying a leisurely drive on the backroads, and admiring the Spring sunshine, as well as the dark blue clouds of an approaching storm. I decided to snap a few pics, and when I stopped to get some bird pics, a Rat snake was there to greet me.

You did good Ike.

I agree Ike.
I've been clearing the land over the hill, it was overgrown with an invasive bush of some sort and used to dump several trees my wife had removed.

Several large black locust I had felled, expecting someone would take them for fencing, but times have changed, so I'm burning it all, none of this description is easy for a 70 year trying to get back into working shape.

I found some foliage and made Jan a wild bouquet from sprouts of the invasive bush, Tulip poplar blossoms, and an Arum lily flower ( Cuckoo pint, lords and ladies , death lily , and other names).

wlf wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 12:03 pm I agree Ike.
I've been clearing the land over the hill, it was overgrown with an invasive bush of some sort and used to dump several trees my wife had removed.

Several large black locust I had felled, expecting someone would take them for fencing, but times have changed, so I'm burning it all, none of this description is easy for a 70 year trying to get back into working shape.

I found some foliage and made Jan a wild bouquet from sprouts of the invasive bush, Tulip poplar blossoms, and an Arum lily flower ( Cuckoo pint, lords and ladies , death lily , and other names).

Lumber jack who likes Farmers Jacks who is a florist on the side. I bet Jan appreciated the bouquet.

Question: I know that it’s virtually impossible to get rid of Kudzu. I use 2,4-D to keep it at bay from getting onto my property and it does the job. Does anyone have a less toxic solution for preventing it from spreading on your property ?
Thanks. I don’t like using toxic chemicals if I have an alternative.

Waukonda wrote: ↑Mon May 08, 2023 9:11 pm I was enjoying a leisurely drive on the backroads, and admiring the Spring sunshine, as well as the dark blue clouds of an approaching storm. I decided to snap a few pics, and when I stopped to get some bird pics, a Rat snake was there to greet me.

Great pictures Ike! That snake is actually very pretty if you look at the colors of it's skin.

wlf wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 12:03 pm I agree Ike.
I've been clearing the land over the hill, it was overgrown with an invasive bush of some sort and used to dump several trees my wife had removed.

Several large black locust I had felled, expecting someone would take them for fencing, but times have changed, so I'm burning it all, none of this description is easy for a 70 year trying to get back into working shape.

I found some foliage and made Jan a wild bouquet from sprouts of the invasive bush, Tulip poplar blossoms, and an Arum lily flower ( Cuckoo pint, lords and ladies , death lily , and other names).

Sounds like hard work Lyle. I did some fence painting today. That was enough for me and I'm only 50.

Your bouquet turned out great! Very creative!

Nice pictures Tom! Looks like Spring has sprung in Bavaria!

Spring is in full glory here, despite the unseasonably cool weather we’ve had. Here’s a few recent pictures.

Ken

Beautiful Ken! I Love seeing those chickens!

Thanks Tom. It’s fun to watch the hen teach her chicks how to eat, drink, and forage for bugs. She’s also very protective - chased off one of the barn cats which innocently got closer than she thought was appropriate. The cat ran from her outraged display! She’ll even get between me and her chicks if I get too close!

They’re 5 weeks old in a couple of days so I’m expecting her to abandon them to their own ways soon. When she thinks it’s time she will run them off, attack them, and return to her sisters in the flock. The poor chicks will be confused and bewildered for a day or two but they’ll soon figure it out, and have to find their places in the flock’s “pecking order”. Of the seven chicks it appears 4 or 5 are cockerels, so when they’re a few weeks older they’ll end up in the skillet.

Ken

The skillet!

I had chickens here for a few years but I was not allowed to put any of them in the skillet. In the end I had about 50 chickens. The larger part of which were drawing Social Security. It was very fun, especially when they had chicks, but also costly while most of them were older and did not lay as many eggs as wanted. In the end, I gave them all away to a young farmer.

I was at my wife's cousin's house a few days ago & she had some chicks of different ages. Some were just 1 day old. She threatened to give me a couple of them on father's day which is this thursday in Germany. I don't really want any but I would keep them if she really did bring me some. I think she was just bluffing though.

I got 's they just don't eat much nor lay eggs either. Things are being to get lush around here, warm nights and long periods of sunshine plus a little rain makes it so.