We had a nice long winter, down here in Texas, that had enough chill hours for my fruit trees. Unfortunately, our bee population in the spring is pretty sparse. I had some hardships that made it impossible to get out and pollinate my pear tree. After I watched all of the small fruit abort I…
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Be The Bee! How And When Hand Pollinating Makes Sense.
We had a nice long winter, down here in Texas, that had enough chill hours for my fruit trees. Unfortunately, our bee population this early in the spring is pretty sparse. I had some hardships that made it impossible to get out and pollinate my pear tree. After I watched all of the small fruit…
Last Minute Kid Friendly Halloween Decorations
We love Halloween at our house and so do most of our neighbors! We see all kinds of great decorations, but most of them are purchased. I’m from a generation that made their costumes every year because there weren’t other options. I like to decorate for Halloween but I am not interested in spending a…
Beginning Gardener: Class 4-Walking You Through What You Need To Know
This is the fourth and final installment of my beginner gardening tutorial. For this class I decided to list some of my favorite books and growing aides. The book list is by no means exhaustive but I have some that have truly helped me form the backbone of my gardening approach. I am not affiliated…
Beginning Gardener: Class 2-Walking You Through What You Need To Know
Learning to garden takes time. It’s also helpful to have a seasoned gardener show you how to garden in your area. If you don’t have someone on hand: you now have me! I may not live where you do (and it makes a huge difference if you are growing in a different area) but I…
Will They Ripen?
We live a little east of San Antonio. When hurricane Harvey’s winds were just a few hours out, I had a choice: bring in severely under ripe, astringent, Asian persimmons (and super green tomatoes) or risk breaking the brittle branches that were loaded with fruit and have the fruit split from the deluge. (Mine happen…
Come On, You Know You Want To! Recycled Glass Flowers In The Garden
It’s hot out right now. Like: “melt into a puddle with whatever remaining liquid is left in your poor dehydrated body” hot out. San Antonio has a long growing season: 280 days. Our summers are included in the 280 days but I’m not sure that’s very fair. I can get peppers, okra and eggplants through…
Efficient Summer Watering In A Raised Bed
One of the draws of raised beds (especially if you have heavy native clay soil) is the the great drainage it provides. However, the drainage in a raised bed can also become an issue in high summer heat. This is a great example of how some things are extremely helpful in one season (like drainage…
A How To: On Animals and Life
How to: Enjoy an indoor rabbit… Hahaha. No. He stinks, will live up to 18 years, digs up the carpet in the corners and kicks out rabbit poo all over the floor from his cage. Unfortunately, (for me anyway) it gets way too hot to cage a rabbit outdoors down here. (There are ways to…
Short Cut Through The Hardening-Off Process
Oh, I love my milk jugs! I start my seeds in them. I root cuttings in them. I short cut the hardening-off process with them. Yes! That’s right you can now be lazy like me and get past the long and annoying process of getting plants into your garden. Hardening off plants is necessary but…
