when did people stop learning manners?
6 years ago
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- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
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The Learning Process Never Stops
Comments (8)It's true. Gardens are not static. Like they say, if it's not one thing it's another. In the past my biggest problem (if I remember right) was lack of water for the roses. Then I discovered accidently that my roses do much better with daily water. So I installed a micro sprinkler system through all the beds. Wow! Did it work and work wonders!! I've been all happy and self-satisfied for over a year, but lately the worm has turned. My nemesis is squirrels. SQUIRRELS! I remember one of my rose-sisters in CA warned that squirrels were a big problem for her drip system (maybe Rosefolly?). Little did I know... These buggers have chewed through several plastic/pvc connectors, 1/4" tubing for the pots, shrubblers, drippers, brass knobs, resin chairs, stacked nursery pots, the corner of the shed... causing geysers and mini-firehoses that shoot water everywhere making my water bill spike off the chart and reducing pressure in the line so nothing gets water. Since it operates while I'm asleep, I don't know about it for a while - until plants start looking bad - or I get a utility bill in the mail. The only thing that stops them is hardware cloth so I'm looking at wrapping all the 1/4" tubing in hardware cloth. That should be fun. After they had breakfast on a new hydrangea plant (not in the ground yet) I declared war and decided I would put out D-Con, taped to the top of the shed (their super-highway through the trees) where kitties can't get to it. Early the next morning I awoke in a panic - what if the birds eat it? I got up and peeled it off. A friend told me it wouldn't work anyway because squirrels are smarter than rats. I was looking forward to picking up the bodies. Thrips ruined the end of the first flush, and Anna Olivier's second flush is a disaster. I may have to reconsider her future along with E Veyrat Hermanos who, despite a beautiful beginning, balled completely after a poorly timed rainstorm. The upside of that is looking for replacements. :)) Encroaching shade may be the end of Mrs B R Cant in which case I'll buy another hydrangea. They're deciduous (I hate bare bushes all winter), but they don't mind neutral soil. The armadillos dig up the beds every night, but so far haven't damaged any plants - just make the bed ugly and make the sidewalk & driveway messy. Apparently, for some of us gardening is the proverbial "two steps forward, one step back", and for others it's "one step forward and two steps back". And next year we'll all switch places. Sherry Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation......See MorePeople who want to learn more about trees
Comments (18)I apologize for the delay responding to your suggestions. Our son is in the Army and will be deployed to Iraq within in a few weeks. Last weekend, we had a big party for him, his wife, and their friends - that took all my time, energy and emotions. Spruce: I want to thank you for recommending "Knowing Your Trees." The book is helping me to learn, and it is unlike other books I've seen. I know it was written for a different audience in a different era. It goes without saying that knowledge has changed since it was published in 1947. I think the photos make it a classic. I'm sorry you caught flack about it. You have offered me so much encouragement (loblollies, groves) since I discovered this forum. I want thank you for that too. Sam, pinetree: I don't use "coffee table books." I have other books - Field Guide: Eastern Trees (Peterson), Field Guide to Trees: Eastern Region (National Audubon Society), Common Plants of the Mid-Atlantic Coast: A Field Guide (Silberhorn), and a Field Guide to the Chesapeake Bay that has a section on trees. IMO, each has strengths and weaknesses. If either of you or anyone else can recommend better references, I would be very grateful. I don't rely exclusively on websites I do find good information on the Internet. I read books. I plant. I observe. I pay attention. I live in a rural area. I have no teacher, no mentor, no formal training, so I ask questions. I have many more questions but don't because I know would wear out my welcome very quickly. I use the search engine to find answers - that is a boon. I don't know what good online courses are available through universities YET but I'll bet they are out there. I'll keep searching. I think a few good courses would help me learn the basics faster. No, this is not the same as taking courses taught by knowledgeable, inspiring teachers. Since this option is not available to me, I'll continue to do what I'm doing now - reading, doing, observing, and asking occasional questions here. Sam, you wrote, "If Pam wants to learn about Bald Cypress take a trip to Battle Creek Cypress Swamp nr Prince Frederick MD. You can learn more this way than from a computer screen." I guess you remembered my bald cypress crisis. I'm happy to report that all the bald cypresses are recovering. All have new growth. The largest tree has leafed out to the leader. When I saw this, I was ecstatic. I continue to water and added more mulch (no more than 4 inches, and a few inches from the trunk). The winds are still strong in afternoons and evenings, but no longer 20-25 mph, day after day for 2 weeks - accompanied by temps in the high 90s. Because conditions improved, and I continued to give the trees what they needed, they are recovering. I am thankful for the advice I received on this forum. Although some people were criticial, others were encouraging and I didn't give up. As to your comment about learning from trips, I agree. I wish I could take more trips but my work schedule is erratic with long hours so I cannot do this as often as I would like. When we are on the road, I try to stop at places that have been recommended. Thanks to all for your patience with my interminable questions. Pam...See MoreCan you really ever stop people......
Comments (111)This seems to be an old post resurrected, but a lot has changed with the economy too since this was posted. My neighbor whose build is a bit ahead of mine, has had issues with theft (Rural area, long blind drive). With the current state of our country theft has now become much more of an issue, so how does one distinguish from allowing neighbors or would be thieves scoping out the place? What if it is the neighbors stealing? I was working up at my lot one day and he asked if he could put no tresspassing signs on my lot too, to keep people away from our lots. Very nice of him to be looking out for me too. We also said that we would question people at either of our lots to make sure they belong, in lieu of the thefts. He ran into my brother in law one time, went over, talked to him to see who he was, there were no issues. Even though we are friendly, and look out for one another, I would never go into his house without his permission or him being there. The difference is like me, he is his own GC. If a builder invites you to look at a house or houses he is doing, it is different, because you have been invited, at least by the builder and that is that way builder are able to show off their work. If it was an issue with one of the soon to be owners of the home, most builders would not recommend that home to be viewed....See MoreWhen did you learn how to cook?
Comments (84)I keep trying to read this whole thread before responding but it keeps growing LOL. I didn't learn from my mom. My father would always shoo me into the kitchen to help her, which I detested because (2) I wasn't interested in learning. (1) Her style in the kitchen would make me CRAZY - 'mom, dad sent me in here to help. What do you want me to do?' she would then put her finger in her mouth, say 'hmmmm, let me think', then she would take a few minutes to THINK and come up with 'peel those carrots'. I would then have to bug her (or my dad would jump on me) to find another task. She wasn't organized or able to be a manager to delegate to me. OTOH she did LOVE international cuisine and exposed us to varieties of food far and wide, especially Chinese. I taught myself to cook my second year in the college apartments. I bought The Campus Survival Cookbook Parts 1 and 2 which helped me learn basics via appropriate college kid type menus, at my level. I also bought, on a lark, The Silver Palate and loved many of those recipes. I still have the Campus books and I think they are the best kind to give a college kid since they helped with shopping, stocking a small kitchen, and potlucks. My DH, who is a better 'technical' cook than I, also taught himself. He says his mother was a dreadful cook and his grandmother would say 'bring your girlfriend over and I'll teach her'. Didn't help that he didn't have a GF at the time....He taught himself via 9th grade 'Bachelor Cooking' in HS and the Joy of Cooking, which is his bible. He is now reading Bittman's How to Cook Everything, LOL. So we both pretty much taught ourselves. I wish I would have had more of a 'basics' foundation, about cuts of meats and baking science, but I can find that out on my own. I do love working with my DH in the kitchen!...See More- 6 years ago
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