tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post6450139595579970561..comments2024-02-10T00:21:20.628-08:00Comments on Dandelion Vegan Blog: Birdhouse Mania and Into the GardenRosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02114977921830686539noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-49827821994977323262011-04-12T14:29:29.589-07:002011-04-12T14:29:29.589-07:00Glad to see you were still alive as of four days a...Glad to see you were still alive as of four days ago. Just checking in.Vegan In The VIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05987192418948736625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-31549086700219730272011-04-08T20:16:09.631-07:002011-04-08T20:16:09.631-07:00Yeah, they're cute (birdhouses) it sort of doe...Yeah, they're cute (birdhouses) it sort of doesn't matter if no one moves in. :)Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02114977921830686539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-65764132932023624682011-04-07T11:32:55.305-07:002011-04-07T11:32:55.305-07:00I enjoyed reading this post (I actually did read i...I enjoyed reading this post (I actually did read it a week or two ago, but I'm just getting back to commenting!) because this is the first year I'm planting a garden "of sorts." Your raddichio is beautiful. Well, I would put out birdhouses just for the fact I like the way they look, anyway, even if no birds showed up.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11320336368732794711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-61201512349185054852011-04-05T11:59:52.867-07:002011-04-05T11:59:52.867-07:00Haha, I know what you mean; the critters always ha...Haha, I know what you mean; the critters always have their own criteria! How cute they nested in a wind chime! Sounds like fun actually.<br /><br />Yeah, not sure about voles...what do they eat? I always thought they were good in the garden because they eat the poor little slugs and snails. But, I suppose the eat the earthworms too.<br /><br />As for grasshoppers....yikes, anyone who can eat a screen door would make short work of a garden, I'm sure. :) I like small grasshoppers, I think they're cute, but I've always had a phobia about the big ones.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02114977921830686539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-58145910071344546812011-04-04T16:11:49.395-07:002011-04-04T16:11:49.395-07:00Funny you should ask, because no - no birds live i...Funny you should ask, because no - no birds live in our birdhouses. They live in things that AREN'T birdhouses! Nearly every year a little wren builds a nest in our big old (non-functioning) C-Band satellite dish. We used to joke that she liked it there because she could get The Nature Channel and Animal Planet for free. ;-) And for a few years another wren built a nest in a set of windchimes I had hanging under our deck! It had a bamboo pagoda birdhouse decoration above the bamboo chimes, but it wasn't meant to be an actual birdhouse. You couldn't take it apart to clean it and one would think the sound of the clattering bamboo and the swinging motion of the whole thing (talk about unstable!) would deter any bird from wanting to build a nest in it. But she did, and raised several babies (one of which I filmed fledging - s/he landed first on my shirt and then on BW's head! I got some cute photos too - I wasn't blogging then, but I should do a post about them now that I am). One day in early fall after the wren family had left for the season, the wind came up and blew the chimes off their hook and they smashed to smithereens on the patio below. So that was the end of that fun annual tradition, sadly!<br /><br />The bluebird houses are built to the persnickety specifications of mountain bluebirds, hung at the height and facing the direction upon which they insist. Every summer two couples start their nests in them, only to be chased off by the barn swallows when they show up, despite the fact the barn swallows nest in our barn, never in the bluebird houses, and one of the houses is quite a distance from the barn. The swallows are just NFH (neighbors from hell). <br /><br />Anyway, you never know ~ some birds may like your houses just fine "as is/where is!" :-) You'll have to keep us posted!<br /><br />I doubt we'll put in a garden this summer, especially since we'll be gone for two weeks during the critical planting time. Our deer and bunnies have never been much of a problem - the bunnies nibble, but there seems to be plenty for all of us. I've got an agreement with the deer that I'll share the produce with them if they will refrain from helping themselves, and so far that's worked out well! I can't seem to reach any such compromise with the voles or the grasshoppers, however...Laloofahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07256023593175821427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-43263789387613954332011-04-04T14:50:14.794-07:002011-04-04T14:50:14.794-07:00Laurie,
Yeah, not so sure that the avian real est...Laurie,<br /><br />Yeah, not so sure that the avian real estate is so strong! I don't think I made them stable enough, but we'll see, maybe I'll rehang them, and or maybe next year there'll be some residents. Do birds live in yours? <br /><br />I haven't done my planting yet...probably in another two or three days. The straws work really well with the cats. As for deer and bunnies, I'm not sure, I guess you could put netting over it...that works for birds, but deer and especially bunnies could just gnaw through it probably. <br /><br />Row cover might work...out of sight out of mind or similar..:D I wonder if flashing lights would work...I read somewhere that flashing Christmas lights worked to keep raccoons away from tomatoes. <br /><br />Thanks for wishing me luck with the taters.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02114977921830686539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-46271267200182082272011-04-04T05:56:06.112-07:002011-04-04T05:56:06.112-07:00Hey, Rose!
Oh, I love birdhouses (we have a couple...Hey, Rose!<br />Oh, I love birdhouses (we have a couple of bluebird houses on the property and a birdhouse collection in our bay window), and think that was a very fun stash to find! I hope the avian real estate market is strong, and there are buyers for your "new construction." :-)<br /><br />I'm so late with my visit that you've probably done a lot of your spring planting by now. Congratulations on so much successful overwintering, that gives you a great head start! Never heard of the straws trick as a cat deterrent - we have deer, voles and bunnies to contend with, but no cats so I am not versed in how to keep them out of gardens. Do the straws seem to work? <br /><br />Potatoes are tricky. We tried growing them here one year but had a very small crop. Robyn has had no luck, and even my dad, who could grow practically anything in his 1/2 acre garden in Maine (famed for its potatoes), had difficulty. Robyn's dad, who lives on the other side of the mountain where it's much drier, always has bumper potato crops. I haven't puzzled out the trick myself, but wish you much luck with your spud harvest! :-)<br /><br />Your sandwiches sound fantastic!Laloofahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07256023593175821427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-83838124920194327722011-04-02T12:14:44.925-07:002011-04-02T12:14:44.925-07:00Zoa
I hope Spring gets there soon and that you fi...Zoa<br /><br />I hope Spring gets there soon and that you find more collards! :)Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02114977921830686539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-60693849532399033132011-04-01T19:17:41.561-07:002011-04-01T19:17:41.561-07:00Oh, goodness, look at all that green! You would c...Oh, goodness, look at all that green! You would cry if you could see my yard right now, packed with snow and ice and everything either white or brown brown brown. Edmonton is truly the place that Spring forgot this year. Garlic scapes sound fun though...I found collards in one of our markets recently and thought I had died and gone to heaven, ate them every day until I ran out and tomorrow I'm going back to see if they have more!Zoahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557356294473311104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-67891955864088084702011-04-01T19:15:06.770-07:002011-04-01T19:15:06.770-07:00Vegan Today:
Thanks for stopping by!! I'll be...Vegan Today:<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by!! I'll be visiting your blog soon! :)Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02114977921830686539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-77935855541433553752011-04-01T10:21:50.702-07:002011-04-01T10:21:50.702-07:00Wow! Your garden is really inspiring! I'm real...Wow! Your garden is really inspiring! I'm really excited to read about your garlic scapes!mikailahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13507026423272196326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-14133899532752590662011-03-30T13:22:31.826-07:002011-03-30T13:22:31.826-07:00Hey Penny, thanks for the advice! I planted 5 spud...Hey Penny, thanks for the advice! I planted 5 spuds in each...I should probably take a couple out. :)Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02114977921830686539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-46431423137856362962011-03-30T12:20:13.600-07:002011-03-30T12:20:13.600-07:00I am SO jealous of your lovely over-wintered veg (...I am SO jealous of your lovely over-wintered veg (unlike ours, which died a horrible death...)! And I, too, love birdhouses, but unfortunately our feline family (all four of them) are much too agile to risk hanging them up, so I use them as house decorations!<br /><br />We have an allotment and John (DH) has said that you should use plenty of water, but make sure the drainage is adequate. And keep earthing up. Those bags look as if there should be three tubers in each.Pennyhttp://svh2.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-50860793271384052182011-03-29T18:24:27.910-07:002011-03-29T18:24:27.910-07:00Thanks Alessandra! :)
Carissa: Oh, I hope it stop...Thanks Alessandra! :)<br /><br />Carissa: Oh, I hope it stops snowing soon. I bet you get nice hot summers there though, great for growing peppers and tomatoes, two things that are a bit of a challenge around here! :)Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02114977921830686539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-21621523571394460462011-03-28T20:11:36.251-07:002011-03-28T20:11:36.251-07:00I love the bird houses and I am so jealous of your...I love the bird houses and I am so jealous of your garden! I can't plant anything yet because it is still snowing :(Carissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05806025685840332120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-75680039247879346492011-03-28T02:44:10.400-07:002011-03-28T02:44:10.400-07:00The garden looks great and the bird houses are ado...The garden looks great and the bird houses are adorable :-)<br /><br />ciao<br />AlessandraAlessandrahttp://alessandra-veganblog.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-27235633197593199242011-03-26T19:43:11.329-07:002011-03-26T19:43:11.329-07:00Mille and VegSpinz: Thanks for stopping by!
Vest...Mille and VegSpinz: Thanks for stopping by! <br /><br />Vester: I checked out your birdhouses; they're lovely. But, don't take my word on the birdhouse placements...those are just my best guesses! :)Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02114977921830686539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-69000052150408100182011-03-26T07:53:14.973-07:002011-03-26T07:53:14.973-07:00I like you advice about where to place birdhouses...I like you advice about where to place birdhouses. Thanks, good ideas. I build birdhouses. You can see them on page four of my website:http://www.adirondack-furniture.usVester Slawsonhttp://www.adirondack-furniture.usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-47058259650036756622011-03-25T23:02:25.844-07:002011-03-25T23:02:25.844-07:00Awesome garden! Good luck with the birdies! :)Awesome garden! Good luck with the birdies! :)Sindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02388104911679468450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-76228768496458058422011-03-25T14:31:42.299-07:002011-03-25T14:31:42.299-07:00what a beautiful harvest...everything looks great....what a beautiful harvest...everything looks great.Milliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03791141541209894505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-19775688809828948242011-03-25T14:01:57.719-07:002011-03-25T14:01:57.719-07:00BlessedMama
The light weight row covers are meant...<b>BlessedMama</b><br /><br />The light weight row covers are meant to keep the insects off, and they work pretty well as long as you make sure there are none already on the plants/soil when you put the cover on. It's kind of a pain to use in the summer because I find that I'm always having to take it off for weeding, harvesting etc. and then putting back on. But it's worth it for deterring things like carrot rust fly and cabbage butterfly. <br /><br />I totally know what you mean about the cats. I've tried hot pepper around too, but that dissolves and disappears too quickly. The stick method is the best one I've found so far. <br /><br /><b>Debbie</b><br /><br />That's sweet of you say, but believe me, I have a lot to learn too. :)Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02114977921830686539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-9048647263813723712011-03-25T12:57:19.433-07:002011-03-25T12:57:19.433-07:00I am so impressed with your garden. I could defina...I am so impressed with your garden. I could definately learn a lot from you:)Debrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12872743346013954107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-5133735954991532152011-03-25T07:49:22.001-07:002011-03-25T07:49:22.001-07:00So you use row covers in the warm weather too? Is...So you use row covers in the warm weather too? Is that to keep the bugs off? I also like your straw idea to keep the cats out. We have a neighborhood cat that's just a bit too familiar with our garden soil, if you know what I mean.blessedmamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09281648597707759434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-22463037396422474372011-03-24T18:53:49.050-07:002011-03-24T18:53:49.050-07:00Susan
I was wondering whether there would be a di...<b>Susan</b><br /><br />I was wondering whether there would be a difference the results from seed potatoes and the ones from the shop. I've tried both and didn't get good results, so something else must be amiss too. Thanks for the info. : )Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02114977921830686539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183702312843067949.post-77795863585016740622011-03-24T17:01:57.967-07:002011-03-24T17:01:57.967-07:00I have the grow bags and they work really well. I...I have the grow bags and they work really well. I have been gardening for years and I don't know why but I always get much larger harvests when I buy seed potatoes rather than cutting up something from the store.susannoreply@blogger.com