The Gardening & Puttering Thread

Good afternoon and welcome to this potpourri of items. The lovely, talented and gracious KT is still recovering. Hopefully, she will be back next week to fulfill your need of a real gardening and puttering thread.

So you are probably asking the following question: "Mis. Hum. why is there an image of a porcupine above the fold?"

Living in the quiet forested Frozen Tundra we have a variety of critters running around. Some of these include Whitetail Deer, Cottontail Rabbits, Snowshoe Hares, Gray Squirrels, Red Squirrels and Porcupines.

When purchasing plants or trees, one must do some serious homework on what plants are critter resistant. Trees require fencing until they no longer can be browsed to death.

But instead of finding trees eaten to a nub, plants munched away to oblivion, this has been happening at Casa Misanthrope.

&&&&&

I've shot one this past week, but there are others who have decided to exact revenge.
At night I've been covering the steps with a tarp weighed down with rocks and spare boat anchors.

But there is some happy news here today. Mr. Buck Throckmorton has a green thumb and an aversion to EVs. My kind of guy.

Here's a note from Buck:

I have a ittle 20 sq foot patch of Earliglow strawberries. I ripped out my old strawberries last year, because they were tired and played out, and I replanted with new roots. We are up to our eyeballs in strawberries right now. This bowl-full is just what my wife picked today, and we're picking on average about 30 berries a day right now. Suffice it to say, dessert every night is strawberries. Of course, these are "Junebearing" so they'll play out pretty soon.

So if you enjoy gardening and/or lawn work, one needs an outbuilding to house all of those tools, amirite guys?

So lets talk sheds.

An air-nailer would be cool. However, I'm boycotting the local hospital commonly known as "Last View".

Have a wonderful week. Your thoughts and prayers for KT would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian (ONT Cob Emeritus) at 11:55 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 We have a colony of beavers in one of our small ponds which of course will eventually be destroyed and they will move on to our larger ponds and lakes. Right now we have a trapping plan that the HOA is implementing.

Posted by: polynikes at May 17, 2025 11:58 AM (VofaG)

2 Yay MisHum and spring stuff

Posted by: Zeera at May 17, 2025 11:59 AM (CYIHg)

3 >> At night I've been covering the steps with a tarp weighed down with rocks and spare boat anchors.

Brother, can you spare a boat anchor?

Posted by: Down-on-his-luck sailor at May 17, 2025 11:59 AM (l3YAf)

4 Continuing prayers for KT’s recovery.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at May 17, 2025 12:00 PM (l3YAf)

5 There are stories of porcupines eating axe handles because of the salt.
Last time I saw a porcupine was when I spent part of the Summer in the Siskiyous, so I have little experience with them, but I wonder if you had salted the stairs to get rid of the ice during the winter?

Posted by: Kindltot at May 17, 2025 12:02 PM (D7oie)

6 The porcupine-skin hat as a fashion accessory never did catch on, unfortunately.

Posted by: Daisy Crockett at May 17, 2025 12:05 PM (CVhPQ)

7 I'm glad there continues to be people who build their own stuff but it took him almost a year and I bet it cost twice as much as a pre-made shed of the same size that could have been put on a foundation in a couple of days.

Posted by: polynikes at May 17, 2025 12:06 PM (VofaG)

8 The porcupine-skin hat as a fashion accessory never did catch on, unfortunately.

Festive little hats though.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at May 17, 2025 12:06 PM (txoHD)

9 There are stories of porcupines eating axe handles because of the salt.
Last time I saw a porcupine was when I spent part of the Summer in the Siskiyous, so I have little experience with them, but I wonder if you had salted the stairs to get rid of the ice during the winter?
Posted by: Kindltot at May 17, 2025 12:02 PM (D7oie)

A salt lick in a remote corner of the yard might be worth a shot. Deer like them, too.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 17, 2025 12:07 PM (CVhPQ)

10 Speaking of gardening, I have two new giant oak trees in my backyard courtesy of a storm that rolled through yesterday evening.

Posted by: Weasel at May 17, 2025 12:08 PM (F3KN2)

11 I never saw any porcupines growing up in the sticks, nor skunks, but I sure heard the yelp when our dog found them.

And he never seemed to learn from year to year. Hey, that smells like that angry pincushion from last year -- let's run up and see!

Aren't German Shepherds supposed to be smart?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 17, 2025 12:08 PM (kpS4V)

12 I have been at wild game feasts where porcupine, possum, and groundhog were served up. All very tasty due to individual cooks' "secret ingredient", usually a bunch of ketchup and salt. Groundhog is usually the best, being like a rib roast pork.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at May 17, 2025 12:09 PM (gm9Sb)

13 Sorry to chime in late: Wanted to mention to Robert that my father had a similar mental decline, gradual then sudden, but fortunately had just been assigned to a smart new doctor who realized he would benefit from some supplemental oxygen. I'll say he did! I still remember how thrilled my father was at the improvement. We were both angry that the previous so-called elder specialist had never thought of doing this, and I try to mention it to people caring for elder relatives and friends. You may not get a miracle, but you will almost surely get an improvement. After my dad started the new at-home treatment, my biggest problem was keeping him from overusing it. Much preferable to the previous problems of him putting the ice cream in the breadbox and things like that!

Posted by: Clio Weeps at May 17, 2025 12:09 PM (kSAM8)

14 10 Speaking of gardening, I have two new giant oak trees in my backyard courtesy of a storm that rolled through yesterday evening.
Posted by: Weasel at May 17, 2025 12:08 PM (F3KN2)
----

Yikes!

Maybe you're supposed to make an ark.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 17, 2025 12:10 PM (kpS4V)

15
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 17, 2025 12:10 PM (kpS4V)
----
I'll need the cubit stick!

Posted by: Weasel at May 17, 2025 12:12 PM (lwy00)

16 A salt lick in a remote corner of the yard might be worth a shot.

That worked for a girl I used to date.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at May 17, 2025 12:15 PM (txoHD)

17 I have only three failures on grafting apple seedlings this year. I have a couple that I did for my niece, and a couple of "fenceline" trees that I liked the taste for cider, and one that is a late fall ripening tree.
I think I have identified one of my earlier "finds" as a winesap off an old farmstead.
I have another volunteer I planted that put out its first flowers this spring and looks to have a couple of apples. I am waiting to find out what sort of apple tree it is. It doesn't have the flowers like a crab apple, but it doesn't act like a standard tree.

I have cherry tree seedlings and a couple of peach seedlings. I decided to grow my own when cherries and peaches started getting so expensive. The bad news is that I am running out of yard to convert to orchard.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 17, 2025 12:21 PM (D7oie)

18 Shed seems way overbuilt. And without standing headoom. Stooping down to enter it to fetch something gets old real fast.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 17, 2025 12:22 PM (CVhPQ)

19 All my tomatoes and peppers are in my garden plot and appear to be thriving, even though the weather has been very random of late -- 80's some days, 50's others. The other night we had high winds and heavy rains (tornado watch at midnight, which was thrilling) but the scrappy little jaspers came through just fine.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 17, 2025 12:22 PM (kpS4V)

20 Shed seems way overbuilt. And without standing headoom. Stooping down to enter it to fetch something gets old real fast.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 17, 2025 12:22 PM (CVhPQ)

I’m guessing HOA rules prevent it from being higher than the fence? Hence the “secret” part.

Definitely overbuilt.

Posted by: UCLA Obesity Clinic at May 17, 2025 12:24 PM (l3YAf)

21 Nearby IGA has some 4" 'mater plants for $3.49. I may snag a few, and set them out next weekend. Traditionally, all danger of frost is past after 24 May. Heh!

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 17, 2025 12:24 PM (CVhPQ)

22
well, time for me to get on with my day.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 17, 2025 12:29 PM (CVhPQ)

23 My corn has been a pain to get started this year, I am on the second try for half the plot, and the weather got rainy again. My carrot seed was too old, and the batch of Perilla seed was too.
Perilla is a mint family plant that is often called "sesame" that my wife loves pickled.

So I get to plant different stuff now. I need to go get cabbage starts today, and I will see what else there is.

I also am done getting the tomatoes into the ground, and is my practice, I transplanted three volunteers that came up this spring. They never make good tomatoes, but they make tomatoes when nothing else does.
I am trying a different type of trellis this year, so we will see if it works. If it doesn't I will go back to cages.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 17, 2025 12:30 PM (D7oie)

24 Here in our part of the frozen north, we do have porcupines.
After having my porch chewed on, I mixed up new deck stain and spiced it up with hot hot hot sauce.
Hasn’t been chewed in 20 years.

Posted by: RI Red at May 17, 2025 12:30 PM (CiL2i)

25 Beaver gnawing the stairway to your wet bar!

Posted by: Eromero at May 17, 2025 12:31 PM (eD0I4)

26 They never make good tomatoes, but they make tomatoes when nothing else does.
-----

You have to admire their spunk.

I try to use volunteers to reward them just for showing up. They're almost always cherry tomatoes, which are like weeds.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 17, 2025 12:34 PM (kpS4V)

27 Living in a rural area,. I often commute to the city on 55mph roads. It has been sad to see the carnage of opossums struck by cars. I hear they freeze up instead of trying to move.

They look ferocious with their sharp teeth, but they are not. They are wonderful, beneficial creatures consuming many pests.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at May 17, 2025 12:34 PM (X50dQ)

28 Regarding the secret shed - I thought it would have an underground component.

Scenario: neighbor sells house and the new owner contests the property line. Haha. Although I assume this is an HOA and all such things are already set in stone, as it were.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 17, 2025 12:34 PM (w6EFb)

29 I’m guessing HOA rules prevent it from being higher than the fence? Hence the “secret” part.

Definitely overbuilt.
Posted by: UCLA Obesity Clinic at May 17, 2025 12:24 PM (l3YAfc

Could have built it as a mini semi underground garage with as much work as he did .

Posted by: polynikes at May 17, 2025 12:35 PM (VofaG)

30 salt lick in a remote corner of the yard might be worth a shot.

That worked for a girl I used to date.
Posted by: Commissar of plenty
======
This is screaming for a wise ass comment and I'm just to slow to come up with one.
It happens.

Posted by: From about That Time at May 17, 2025 12:36 PM (n4GiU)

31 The ultimate nose-thumbing would be to build your secret shed right under the HOA president's property, a la The Great Escape.

And then turn THEM in if it's discovered.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 17, 2025 12:37 PM (kpS4V)

32 salt lick in a remote corner of the yard might be worth a shot.

That worked for a girl I used to date.
Posted by: Commissar of plenty
======
This is screaming for a wise ass comment and I'm just to slow to come up with one.
It happens.
Posted by: From about That Time at May 17, 2025 12:36 PM (n4GiU)

I thought he was talking about x rated way to do tequila shots.

Posted by: polynikes at May 17, 2025 12:38 PM (VofaG)

33 I've been busy watching my seedlings I started.

Thyme, creeping Thyme, purple and regular basil, tarragon, marjoram and chives. I never seem to be able to get the thyme to grow from seeds. Fingers crossed this year will be the year.

I also planted snapdragon, sweet alyssum and ranuculus in a few pots and they were doing great but I overwatered one of them and the ranuculus look yellow and it's all I can do to not go give them more water.
I have 2 early girl tomatoes planted inside of a hoop house and they're huge already.
I also planted eggplant, watermelon, red and yellow bell peppers, horseradish, squash, artichokes.
It's a battle keeping everything alive, from chickens, ants, snails, earwigs-everything is trying to kill my garden.

Posted by: CaliGirl at May 17, 2025 12:41 PM (mxvzO)

34 I try to use volunteers to reward them just for showing up. They're almost always cherry tomatoes, which are like weeds.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 17, 2025 12:34 PM (kpS4V)

They don't suffer from blossom end rot, they have lots of flavor, they grow like a blackberry thicket, everyone used to love to take a handful and go eat them at their desks when I would bring a bucket of them to work. . . They are just a pain to pick for canning.
When I couldn't get tomato starts in 2020 I grew volunteers.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 17, 2025 12:42 PM (D7oie)

35 Went hiking up in the Bugaboos.

All the cars at the trail head had been wrapped with chicken wire. I had never encountered such a weird thing.

Apparently, if you left your car for a while, the porcupines would eat your tires and all the rubber hose in the motor.

That'd be a bad way to end a week of glorious hiking.

Posted by: Derak at May 17, 2025 12:42 PM (v9cru)

36 We finally got most of our vegetable seeds in this past week, followed by 3 days of rain. The okra and peas are up, a few beans, no corn yet. I decided to mix my okra this year, because we've reined in the row feet a lot this year. Red, green and white.

I still have flower seeds to plant, and odd herbs and whatnot.

My brother has added four 12' x 18" raised beds and another 12' x 4' and is expanding the whole garden/water collection setup. It will all be fenced in. This will give us an alternative when we're too old/worn out to do the field thing.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 17, 2025 12:43 PM (w6EFb)

37 I have a plant bed the builder put in that runs the length of the back my very small back yard. They planted monkey grass, azaleas bushes , an elm tree on one end and another tree I have no idea what it is on the other end. Thinking of planting flowers randomly throughout the bed. I'm really not a gardener and a lazy one at that. What are a nice heat resistant flower that needs no attention except for me to turn on the sprinklers every once in a while?

Posted by: polynikes at May 17, 2025 12:52 PM (VofaG)

38 They look ferocious with their sharp teeth, but they are not. They are wonderful, beneficial creatures consuming many pests.
Posted by: JM in Illinois

I found out they were the #1 tick eater in the woods, so I quit killing them when trapped.

Posted by: MkY at May 17, 2025 12:52 PM (cPGH3)

39 I found out they were the #1 tick eater in the woods, so I quit killing them when trapped.
Posted by: MkY

Oh, they also take care of coon carcasses when the buzzards aren't here.

Posted by: MkY at May 17, 2025 12:53 PM (cPGH3)

40 Polynikes, you want zinnias because they're easy to grow, they sow themselves year after year, and they have a huge variety of colors and types.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 17, 2025 12:54 PM (w6EFb)

41 Wild leeks are in season. Very tasty.

Posted by: davidt at May 17, 2025 12:54 PM (i0F8b)

42 p.s. you want to cut lots of flowers so the plants will branch off and make more flowers.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 17, 2025 12:55 PM (w6EFb)

43 Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 17, 2025 12:54 PM (w6EFb)

Thanks Miley. Sounds exactly what I'm looking for as long as they can take the heat and direct sunlight. The bed gets the entire sun cycle .

Posted by: polynikes at May 17, 2025 12:56 PM (VofaG)

44 Hmm, X seems to be down.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 17, 2025 12:58 PM (w6EFb)

45 Raining and 52 here on the beach. Still lounging in bed with coffee and a sweet fur ball named Lucy.

I love the rain. It is so comforting. And it’s pretty foggy out too this morning. The ferries are all toot toot tooting at each other on the Sound.

I love where I live.

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 17, 2025 01:00 PM (kzCYo)

46 Polynikes, then they sound perfect for you. They need regular watering at the beginning, of course, but last year we planted a few rows of them between the vegetable rows and they did beautifully on their own. If they fall over, they send new branches straight up. A very grateful flower, as they say in Sweden.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 17, 2025 01:02 PM (w6EFb)

47 Beaver pelts used to be valuable. A nice long beaver coat with a silk lining would be just the thing to wear to a GB Packers game in January.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at May 17, 2025 01:03 PM (ZmEVT)

48 A Pokey-pine!

Posted by: muldoon at May 17, 2025 01:05 PM (HOX+I)

49 Zinnias are lovely.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at May 17, 2025 01:05 PM (l3YAf)

50 I am no gardener, so I usually have little to say here, but the aside about the girl and the salt lick was the wise ass comment.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at May 17, 2025 01:08 PM (ZVgZ4)

51 My tomato seedlings are big now, and need to be planted out. They have flower buds!

Their new location is *still* not ready, due to distractions of the in-law variety this week.

Plus rain all day yesterday after BIL left.

Oh, and the City trimmed shrubs at Dad's place-- I received no advance notice! Can hardly wait to see how much they'll charge for THAT. Grrr...

Posted by: JQ at May 17, 2025 01:09 PM (rdVOm)

52 Zinnias are a great idea. Hardy, and you can collect the seeds for next year's garden. My current crop of flowers is all from saved seeds.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 17, 2025 01:09 PM (kpS4V)

53 A very grateful flower, as they say in Sweden.
Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 17, 2025 01:02 PM (w6EFb)

Hah. I didn't inherit his skill but my great grandfather ( mother's grandfather) immigrated to the States from Sweden and became the head Gardner / caretaker of various large estates on Long Island.

Posted by: polynikes at May 17, 2025 01:10 PM (VofaG)

54 Dead possums in the road always remind me of a terrible date fail where I was driving a hot Italian chick to my place one night and there was a half run over possum in the road, standing on it's forepaws with its rear completely crushed.

I stopped and backed up the car and finished him off as a mercy kill.

Needless to say, that was a the end of that romance.

Posted by: pawn at May 17, 2025 01:15 PM (QB+5g)

55 Semi gardening related.

Thursday night I returned from work to discover I had left a soaker hose on all day. With little regard for life and limb I went running for the hose bib only to, a little too late, find that the winds had rearranged the lawn furnature. As I'm realizing this I am mid way into a full frontal faceplant. But my face was saved as the upside down chair I tripped over had the legs in just the right position to stop me by my right nipple. I did a unbroken fall into the leg that had me convinced for a few I was stabbed in the chest. I have a nifty 4 inch gash from my, thank God, not severed nipple into my armpit and probably a cracked rib.
I'm very sore.

Posted by: Reforger at May 17, 2025 01:16 PM (xcIvR)

56
There once was a porcupine named Phil
If you met him you'd surely get a thrill
A creature of fashion
He groomed with a passion
I tell you, he was always dressed to quill

Posted by: muldoon at May 17, 2025 01:18 PM (HOX+I)

57 Needless to say, that was a the end of that romance.
Posted by: pawn at May 17, 2025 01:15 PM (QB+5g)

You’re better off without her. A lady who can’t appreciate a coup de grâce is no kind of lady at all.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at May 17, 2025 01:20 PM (l3YAf)

58 When I was a young driver, I once swerved to avoid hitting a possum. Hit the curb, bent a rim, got flat tire.

Just when I thought I'd have a few dollars extra after payday! Oh no, can't have that...

I may brake, but I do not swerve for possums now.

Posted by: JQ at May 17, 2025 01:21 PM (rdVOm)

59 Of course, these are "Junebearing" so they'll play out pretty soon.

slice up the ones you don't eat for dessert, freeze 'em and in a few months you'll be yearning for that fresh strawberry flavor via smoothie!

the taste of fresh picked strawberries is divine

I have a minuscule patch that has barely survived the rabbits and overambitious lawn guy.

I don't even know if I'll get one fruit this year. I may have to dig them up and plant anew as Buck did.

Posted by: kallisto at May 17, 2025 01:22 PM (dCxaZ)

60 Reforger,

OUCH! Running, tripping and falling is scary business after age 29.

If anyone ever sees me running, push me down and get the hell out of there pronto. The bear will eat me first and you’ll be able to get away.

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 17, 2025 01:24 PM (zs+Xt)

61 There was a porcupine named Phil,
Whose quills gave his foes quite a thrill.
He’d prickle and poke,
Make predators choke,
And then waddle away with great skill!

Posted by: Grok at May 17, 2025 01:25 PM (QB+5g)

62 When I was a young driver, I once swerved to avoid hitting a possum. Hit the curb, bent a rim, got flat tire.

Just when I thought I'd have a few dollars extra after payday! Oh no, can't have that...

I may brake, but I do not swerve for possums now.
Posted by: JQ at May 17, 2025 01:21 PM (rdVOm)

A girl I knew in high school swerved to miss a dog and hit a tree and died. All of the driving teachers emphasized it’s better to hit the animal than swerve. That was a lesson that stuck with me. I’ll always brake or gently swerve if the coast is clear, but if there’s any chance of an accident I don’t.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at May 17, 2025 01:27 PM (l3YAf)

63 I think this “Beetles” musical group might be on the reefer.. 🤨

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at May 17, 2025 01:29 PM (l3YAf)

64 She was super hot.

One of those really super good looking women that are great in the sack.

I tried to make it up to her.

She was mad that her brothers gave her shit about her being mad about me caring more about some dumb ol' porcupine than her.

I should have invited her to the zoo or something....Ha!

Posted by: pawn at May 17, 2025 01:31 PM (QB+5g)

65 Good afternoon Greenthumbs
So far just Anaheim peppers and cucumbers planted, chives and oregano from previous years is thriving

Posted by: Skip at May 17, 2025 01:33 PM (ypFCm)

66 >> She was mad that her brothers gave her shit about her being mad about me caring more about some dumb ol' porcupine than her.

Did she envy the porcupine for briefly getting your attention? Wtf? I thought she was grossed out or something.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at May 17, 2025 01:35 PM (l3YAf)

67 Thursday night I returned from work to discover I had left a soaker hose on all day. With little regard for life and limb I went running for the hose bib only to, a little too late, find that the winds had rearranged the lawn furnature. As I'm realizing this I am mid way into a full frontal faceplant. But my face was saved as the upside down chair I tripped over had the legs in just the right position to stop me by my right nipple. I did a unbroken fall into the leg that had me convinced for a few I was stabbed in the chest. I have a nifty 4 inch gash from my, thank God, not severed nipple into my armpit and probably a cracked rib.
I'm very sore.
Posted by: Reforger

A crime there is not video of this.

I've done some Bugs Bunny shit similar to this.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at May 17, 2025 01:36 PM (by0v9)

68 And as for porcupines, they should be here but my neighborhood just isn't their territory.
Be glad Mis Hum it's not a beaver, your steps would have been taken away for a construction project.

Posted by: Skip at May 17, 2025 01:37 PM (ypFCm)

69 Sounds like a Chevy Chase audition.

Posted by: pawn at May 17, 2025 01:38 PM (QB+5g)

70 Rose bush is doing well. I have never grown one here even though the balcony is perfect for it (gets direct sun almost the entire day.) More blooms at the same time on a single bush than I have ever managed in a rose in a pot.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at May 17, 2025 01:39 PM (ksHMv)

71 Sounds like a Chevy Chase audition.
Posted by: pawn at May 17, 2025 01:38 PM (QB+5g)

Sounds like something I would like to see Chevy Chase experience for real.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at May 17, 2025 01:40 PM (ksHMv)

72 We have a colony of beavers in one of our small ponds which of course will eventually be destroyed and they will move on to our larger ponds and lakes. Right now we have a trapping plan that the HOA is implementing.
Posted by: polynikes
----------
NC Wildlife regulations do not allow us to relocate trapped beavers, because of concern about disease being spread. Thus, where beavers are concerned, 'relocated' has become a euphemism for a more permanent end.

About MisHum's stairs. I wonder if spraying with peppermint oil might repel the buggers. Works for mice.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 17, 2025 01:40 PM (XeU6L)

73 >>> 14 10 Speaking of gardening, I have two new giant oak trees in my backyard courtesy of a storm that rolled through yesterday evening.
Posted by: Weasel at May 17, 2025 12:08 PM (F3KN2)
----

Yikes!

Maybe you're supposed to make an ark.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 17, 2025 12:10 PM (kpS4V)

Do you have a wood-burning fireplace? Claim the firewood, tell the neighbor(s) to get the rest of the trees plus fix the @#%*&#* fence.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at May 17, 2025 01:41 PM (Vqx30)

74 About MisHum's stairs. I wonder if spraying with peppermint oil might repel the buggers. Works for mice.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 17, 2025 01:40 PM (XeU6L)

But then he would have Yukon Cornelius lurking about the place.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at May 17, 2025 01:42 PM (ksHMv)

75
Maybe you're supposed to make an ark.
Posted by: All Hail Eris
--

Only if Gopher wood trees.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 17, 2025 01:47 PM (XeU6L)

76 I grew up in a park, a big one, Mill Creek Park in Youngstown, Ohio.

You would remember it if you have ever been there.

Anyway when I was about 8 or 9, I lived in a house on the edge of the park that had been donated to the park as a Memorial Rose Garden.

There were dump tuck loads of manure spread out in the fields for prepping the flowerbeds.

The weekend that came after the manure was dumped all us kids went nuts in the manure pile. I don't remember it smelling that bad at the time.

Anyway, I got home at dinner time and my Mom made me strip on the porch yelling at me that she told me to stay out of the manure.

I asked her what manure was. I really didn't know.

My Mom, who I had never heard a foul word out of before that screamed "You are covered in SHIT!"

I will never for get that.

Posted by: pawn at May 17, 2025 01:48 PM (QB+5g)

77 Do you have a wood-burning fireplace? Claim the firewood, tell the neighbor(s) to get the rest of the trees plus fix the @#%*&#* fence.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at May 17, 2025 01:41 PM (Vqx30)
----
It's been nearly 24 hours and they still haven't started cleaning up the mess, including a car that was squished under the trees on the road (driver walked away). This doesn't bode well for Gun Thread content tomorrow nite, as right now was when I was planning to write for tomorrow and next Sunday, too.

Posted by: Weasel at May 17, 2025 01:51 PM (7Us0n)

78 Speaking of beavers, if you're in the mood for a wacky movie about Man vs Nature, check out "Hundreds of Beavers".

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 17, 2025 01:52 PM (kpS4V)

79 If anyone ever sees me running, push me down and get the hell out of there pronto. The bear will eat me first and you’ll be able to get away.
Posted by: nurse ratched at May 17, 2025 01:24 PM (zs+Xt)

I'd fight the bear for you to get away.
It's weird. In my head the whole thing played out in slow motion.
"You idiot. You know better. Why do you never listen to yourself? Are you stupid? Stick you arms out. This is all your fault. Dummy. Did I turn off my computer at work? What's that? Oh it's the ground but there, right there is the bringer of my death. That, that..." OWWW!!!!! "Shit. You better hope you didn't wake up the misses. Which way is up? Am I dead? No. Am I bleeding?. . . Probably. Is it as bad as it feels?... Probably worse. Hey, there's a beer in the fridge. You should go drink that."

It's duck tape and superglue worthy but.. chest hair so I'm just leaving it open and keeping dirt rubbed on it with the hot iron at the ready. Gonna make a wicked scar.

Posted by: Reforger at May 17, 2025 01:52 PM (xcIvR)

80 Healthy, clean-cut young boy band goes to India to seek spiritual enlightenment and freedom from the wheel of samsara. Gets handed a marijuana cigarette by one of the locals.

Next thing you know they're making music videos where a guy jumps from the ground up into a tree. Dressed like Long John Silver's gay lover, they paint a piano in negative and smugly call it art.

Many such cases!

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at May 17, 2025 01:53 PM (l3YAf)

81 Weasel, you can just put up a picture of a ray gun and tell your readers "Have at it!"

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 17, 2025 01:53 PM (kpS4V)

82
81 Weasel, you can just put up a picture of a ray gun and tell your readers "Have at it!"
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 17, 2025 01:53 PM (kpS4V)
----
That's going to be pretty much it I'm afraid!

Posted by: Weasel at May 17, 2025 01:54 PM (7Us0n)

83 Posted by: Reforger

Oh, wow....... YEEOWWWCH!

Hope you heal quickly and without complications.

Posted by: JQ at May 17, 2025 01:54 PM (rdVOm)

84 In the aftermath of The Storm here, I learned a lot about the reponsibilties for fallen trees.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 17, 2025 01:55 PM (XeU6L)

85 Listening to the giant oak tree in my neighbor's year groan during a windstorm was always a bit of a mindbender.

Posted by: pawn at May 17, 2025 01:57 PM (QB+5g)

86 Reforger,

Omg. Lol. Ouch, my ribs are still super sore and laughing is second only to sneezing on the pain inducing activities.

Seriously, that was hysterical. Funny how these things go in super slow motion. You’re going to be more sore on day 2-3. Make sure you take several deep breaths, slowly, frequently through the day. If you’re not utd on your tetanus shot, you should prolly consider. A cxr may be a good idea too.

Or a couple snorts of bourbon. That’s good medicine right there.

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 17, 2025 02:02 PM (ESXYY)

87 Bet Weasel's tree farm has porcupines

Posted by: Skip at May 17, 2025 02:04 PM (ypFCm)

88 When I was a kid we spent summer vacations at Grampa's, at the place we called The Farm. He'd bought a hardscrabble Adirondack property, log house from 1867, cluster of barns, meadows for grazing sheep, horses, pigs, all the stuff for self-sustenance. He didn't want a farm. He bought it in the hopes his young wife could beat TB, to go to pure mountain air up from Bergen county NJ. She lasted only a year, leaving him behind with three kids aged 12, 10, and 9.

It had an outhouse, a three holer, and a grainery barn, huge attactions for porcupines. The barn had had salt stored inside at some point, and the outhouse seats, well, you know. Indoor plumbing gotten added to the house in the early 30s, so the outhouse was just a relic.

In the wee hours of the many a night, dad would kill a porcupine munching on either the grainery floor or the outhouse seats, the porkers sometimes peeking up through the hole. You could hear the chewing, then, BANG. Mornings, I'd drag them to a spot on the sandbank we called porcupine hill and bury them.

Posted by: Mr Gaga at May 17, 2025 02:07 PM (KiBMU)

89 A crime there is not video of this.

I've done some Bugs Bunny shit similar to this.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at May 17, 2025 01:36 PM (by0v9)

There is. The camera off the corner of my shop caught it. Doesn't look as epic as it felt.

Posted by: Reforger at May 17, 2025 02:08 PM (xcIvR)

90 So when I got old enough I got my own .22 and would roam the Adirondack upland valley with my cousins, through the mountainside woods, all of us armed, and porcupines were plentiful. Mostly we'd shoot them in trees, and there was one time we found two up in a big white pine, positioned so we could shoot through one and hit the second. I lined up on the first's head hoping the round would exit and hit #2. It did but #2 was only wounded. My cousin gave the coup de grace with a lever action 1886 Winchester .33.

Posted by: Mr Gaga at May 17, 2025 02:17 PM (KiBMU)

91 a three holer

Was she hot?

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at May 17, 2025 02:19 PM (HTa/G)

92 I've always lived in semi-arid to arid plains, no live experience with porcupines and I've never seen a possum either. The maps show possums living everywhere so maybe they are around but I just never see them here. We get burrowing gophers and prairie dogs for pests.

Posted by: PaleRider at May 17, 2025 02:21 PM (CKOCg)

93 We have a gray water drain that goes out to a horse paddock and my mom had a plumber set it up so that the water could be directed to the back yard in the summer, it didn't have enough grade to drain and not freeze in winter. Last summer the valve to shut the water to the paddock would not close up and I just went oh well, better it sticks this way than I cant open it when we get freezing weather. I'm not much of a waterer. I had 3 volunteer Elms trees in the back yard seemed ok through the fall but this year they were all dead, no buds or leaves. No sense buying saplings to replace them unless I pay to get some automatic watering installed too, so if the house stays standing the next owner can deal with it.

Posted by: PaleRider at May 17, 2025 02:27 PM (CKOCg)

94 Cute shed but too small to be of much use.

Posted by: leber at May 17, 2025 02:32 PM (rovGg)

95 I met a few of those in the wild. They make tiny squeeky noises. Kindy of a soft chirping but not like a bird. I don't think he or she was alarmed, I just think that's their normal, oh hi I'm a porcupine sound.

Posted by: banana Dream at May 17, 2025 02:34 PM (cduTK)

96 Daughter ordered several fruit trees, to arrive next week.

This might be helpful:
How I Grew 150+ Fruit Trees in CLAY Soil (Yes, It Works!)
Self Sufficient Me
https://youtu.be/Mh6mWsSMyjI

Posted by: mindful webworker - claymational at May 17, 2025 02:35 PM (byv8W)

97 70 Rose bush is doing well. I have never grown one here even though the balcony is perfect for it (gets direct sun almost the entire day.) More blooms at the same time on a single bush than I have ever managed in a rose in a pot.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at May 17, 2025 01:39 PM (ksHMv)

We put a knockout rose out front last year and it's really thriving. I'd always heard about roses being high-maintenance but many of them aren't.

I like the wild roses that grow in the field along the road that our house is on.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 17, 2025 02:36 PM (w6EFb)

98 porcupines will also eat away at anything you leave out with sweat on it. A pair of boots you hiked around in and got sweaty? nibbled to the rubber soles.

Posted by: banana Dream at May 17, 2025 02:36 PM (cduTK)

99 I love the old roses. Hippolyte has deep magenta flowers and an intoxicating scent. I knew a guy in Maryland who had a rose farm with all kinds of old-fashioned roses. Need to scout around the Mitten.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 17, 2025 02:41 PM (kpS4V)

100 Should get gas for string trimmer, yet it's like summer today in mid 80s

Posted by: Skip at May 17, 2025 02:43 PM (ypFCm)

101 It’s rhododendron blooming time here in Seattle. I have several large specimens in my courtyard, ranging from pale pink to dark pink, white and peach. They are really pretty but only bloom for a few weeks. The flowers are huge.

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 17, 2025 02:46 PM (mT+6a)

102 The Reforger adventure sounds ridiculous and horrible, a freak thing that lurks out there for the unwary. I do hope you recover quickly!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 17, 2025 02:54 PM (w6EFb)

103 Went out and got a little mowing done, maybe an hour's worth. Quit because I was getting chilled and damp from the Scotch mist.

Went in the shop, and attempted to put a new end on a heavy-duty extension cord. My 100/140 watt Weller soldering gun won't solder shit! Is that a FWP?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 17, 2025 03:01 PM (SQFqQ)

104 PET NOOD IS UP

Posted by: Skip at May 17, 2025 03:01 PM (ypFCm)

105 And doing something more mundane, fixing a garden hose

Posted by: Skip at May 17, 2025 03:02 PM (ypFCm)

106 NC Wildlife regulations do not allow us to relocate trapped beavers, because of concern about disease being spread. Thus, where beavers are concerned, 'relocated' has become a euphemism for a more permanent end.

About MisHum's stairs. I wonder if spraying with peppermint oil might repel the buggers. Works for mice.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 17, 2025 01:40 PM (XeU6L)

I'll just pretend they are all going to live on a nice farm.

Posted by: polynikes at May 17, 2025 03:02 PM (VofaG)

107 101 I'm thinking about getting a rhododendron for the east side of the house. I'll get a small one and stick it in to see if it will do well. Maybe an azalea and a forsythia, too.

Does anyone here have any thoughts on weeping willows? I'd like to get one and I know the root systems are extensive, so we'd put it in the middle of the open space next to the house.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 17, 2025 03:08 PM (w6EFb)

108 Squirrels have similarly been lunching on our cedar front porch up here in the Mitten's fingertips. We like growing hot peppers, including ghosts. I sacrificed one of those to the gods of chewed wood... those squirrels are rather put out with me right now!

Posted by: ObeliskToucher at May 17, 2025 04:09 PM (m/YrU)

109 I love weeping willow, but you want to keep them away from the sewage line and the septic system since they will block them up.
Some varieties will heave up the soil with surface roots and make it hard to mow.
However, Maples do the same thing

Posted by: Kindltot at May 17, 2025 04:13 PM (D7oie)

Processing 0.01, elapsed 0.0222 seconds.
14 queries taking 0.0072 seconds, 117 records returned.
Page size 77 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.