A Gardener's Notebook with Douglas E. Welch

Green beans from the garden picked today

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:17:45 PDT

Green beans from the garden picked today
Originally uploaded by dewelch

I got a hand full of of green beans out of our driveway bed yesterday. This will be our biggest success this year as the lettuce and spinach bolted on us after a hot spell a few weeks ago. Of course, now temperatures are nearly perfect for growing then, but now it is too late. I have to plant some this Fall and then get a quicker start next Spring.

Review: TB57 Lithium Ion Battery Cordless String Trimmer / Weed Trimmer

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Sat, 23 May 2009 23:43:07 PDT

A few weeks ago, Troy-Bilt was nice enough to send me their new TB57 Lithium Ion Battery Cordless String Trimmer / Weed Trimmer. Like most other products I review, I was unsure exactly how useful this would be in my urban garden, but after a trial run it seems that this will find a solid place among all my other tools.

I have never really considered buying a line trimmer before, as I have no lawn on my property. Typically trimmers are used to trim around obstacles in the line and edge the grass where it abuts sidewalks, walls and fences. That said, I have found a great use for this trimmer.

In my front garden, I have a large arrangement of geometrically shaped azalea beds planted by the previous owners. (You may have seen and heard me talk about trimming those in previous installments of A Gardener�s Notebook) In-between these beds are pea gravel paths. During our Winter rains, these paths quickly fill with grass and other weeds. The drier months cause these to die back, but every Spring the front garden looks a bit messier than I would like. Additionally, the mature elm tree that dominates the front yard also drops tens of thousands of seeds. These quickly sprout up in the paths and in the middle of the other plantings.

Enter this new line trimmer. Today, I was able to go out and spend about an hour clearing the paths and other open parts of the beds of all types of grasses (both tall and short), elm seedlings and anything else that decided to pop up in the paths. In the past I had thought about using Round-Up or other herbicide to clear the paths, but years ago I decided against using such products in my garden. Everything here must survive under the rule of benign neglect and organic gardening, even if I don�t go about it with any grand plan in mind.

This benign neglect �philosophy�, if you can call it that, really makes the TB57 a great choice for my garden. It allows me to physically control weeds that would take hours to remove by hand (ask my wife). It is electric and cordless, so I am not using the heavily polluting 2-cycle gasoline motors used by many devices. The battery life is certainly sufficient for my limited needs. It seems it should give at least 1-2 hours of typical trimming work on one charge. The specifications at Troy-Bilt.com also show that it is only supposed to take 4 hours to recharge the Lithium-Ion battery. This means with an extra battery you would be able to work most of a day.

My only issue with the TB57 trimmer is its hand grip. In my testing I was unable to find a way of holding the unit that was totally comfortable. I think that adding a bit of a curve to the straight handle might help to move the battery out of the way a bit and allow for a more natural grip. I am also playing with the placement of the U-shaped handle to see if moving that up or down might make it a bit more comfortable for me. My 11-year-old son was able to easily operate the unit and didn�t seem to have the same issue with the grip, so maybe those who are a bit smaller than I am will find this less of an issue. My usage of the trimmer is typically in the 30-45 minute range, not the hours that some might be spending with it, so it didn�t significantly impact my ability to use the trimmer.

If you are looking for a powerful, yet cordless, trimmer for your garden, the Troy-Bilt TB57 makes a good choice. It is easy to use, feels lighter weight than typical gas-powered units, pollutes less and is useful in a variety of roles � whether performing your typical lawn trimming needs or my more esoteric path clearing.

iPod Ready Video

Malibu Garden Club - May Meeting

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:29:11 PDT

Image by Tie Guy II via Flickr

You may have heard about the Malibu Garden Club recently in this LA Times story, Malibu Garden Club trowels for new members.

Link: Malibu Garden Club Web Site

When I read this story, I immediately thought that there might be some ways to use New Media to gain visibility (and hopefully, new members) for the group. I even wrote a blog post about it. (Can New Media Save a Gardening Club?)

I am planning to be at this next meeting both to meet the members and learn more about the group and also because I think I will really enjoy the speaker.

Why don't you join me?

Malibu Garden Club - May Meeting

OUR WILD BEES: Ode to Flight Season

Back by VERY POPULAR DEMAND! If you missed Frances Night last year, you won�t want to miss her talk this year. Frances is a bee expert who will speak about Bees & their relationship with plants, nature and our Gardens, and how to plant a Bee friendly garden.

California is home to a great diversity of native bee species, whose role in pollinating plants is �foundational� to the life of our ecosystem. Sudden declines in honeybee and wild bee populations around the world have set off alarms about the sustainability of wild lands, the reliability of our food crops, and the quality of life. There is new urgency for habitat preservation and more responsible use of pesticides. Learn how we can identify these fascinating and gentle insects, and how we can provide nectar and pollen plants, and nesting materials for them in our home gardens.

PRESENTED BY:
Frances Night
-WEDNESDAY-
May 6, 2009

The Club House
Pt.Dume Club
29500 W Heathercliff Rd.
Malibu at 7:30 PM

Guests always welcome. Refreshments served.

Seedlings are up!

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:09:44 PDT

Yesterday we saw the first signs of seedlings in our little garden bed. Our fingers are crossed that the squirrels and bugs allow them to continue. They will require some thinning once we can identify the strongest candidates.

Planting and hoping

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:56:20 PDT

Joe and I planted a bunch of vegetables in this small garden plot today. We are a bit behind schedule for Los Angeles, but we will take what we can get and enjoy it.

Garden Classes at Green Arrow Nursery

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:48:57 PDT

Garden Classes at Green Arrow Nursery
Originally uploaded by dewelch

Joe and I headed out the Green Arrow Nusery to pick up some transplants and seeds for our little kitchen vegetable garden. I haven't been here in a while and was surprised when I saw this sign.

It is good to see them reaching out to the public a bit more. of course, my New Media self wishes they were also recording and podcasting the classes. Then they could reach even more people.

Elsewhere Online: Making a compost box

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:09:41 PDT

An interesting instructable on building your own wooden compost bin. I like my plastic ones, but these certainly look nice.

Making a compost box - More DIY How To Projects

Can New Media Save A Gardening Club?

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:34:39 PDT

Image by imagebysp via Flickr

Reading today's LA Times, I came across this article, "Malibu Garden Club Trowels for New Members." This is a story being repeated all over the world, for all sorts of clubs. This is yet another example of multiple aspects of my life coming together. In this case, gardening and New Media.

Reading about their difficulties in attracting new members, I immediately saw where New Media could assist them greatly in improving the visibility of the group and reaching out to new, younger, more digital members. Under the auspices of my group, New Media Interchange, I sent them a note offering to help them expand their New Media reach and pointed out a few ways to get started. I think this will be a great case study to cover for New Media Interchange that can show the methods and benefits New Media can offer any group.

I am waiting for a reply from the club, but I hope they are interested in working with me to expand the reach of their group and help it survive for many more decades.

Compost harvest and vegetable bed prep

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:50:01 PDT

My gardening task for the day was to empty out Composter #2 for the first time and then use that compost to prep the small bed outside the kitchen. Most of the finished compost from Composter #1 went into this bed last season, but I wanted to add some more before turning the ground and trying some shade tolerant vegetables in this spot. We tried tomatoes here last season, but there just isn't enough sun for something like that. I mentioned some shade tolerant veggies in a previous post here.

Composter #2 has more compost than I thought. I had opened the bottom door to check in it a few weeks ago, but it looked like it was still cooking. I needed to make some space in it for more kitchen scraps, though, so I started digging some from the thin layer at the bottom. I quickly found that the compost in the middle was completely ready and was hidden by a small covering of uncomposted leaves and such. I ended up with about 4 -5 cubic feet for the new bed. Cool!

I sifted this compost and then spread it on the new bed and used our new electric cultivator to give it all a good turn. The bed looks good and ready for us to do some shopping for seeds and transplants.

Time to find some shade vegetables

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:46:08 PDT

Image via Wikipedia

Although I didn't really believe it at first, there are some vegetables that will grow in part sun. I am going to head the the nursery this weekend and find some that will not only grow in the little bed outside the kitchen window, but also be something that we will actually eat.

I am a fussy eater, so that could be a challenge, but after doing a bit of research on the Net I find that kale, oregano (I know, a spice, not a vegetable), broccoli, cauliflower and a few others might do OK here. I plan on pulling out the little electric cultivator and perhaps working in some more of our homemade compost.

I also plan on putting in some salad mixes. According to some sites, growing this in partial shade, especially here in the hot San Fernando Valley might help to keep the lettuce from bolting as the days start to heat up.

This little project will help me complete a long list of to-do items so I am looking forward to it. Too often, I can come to dread various gardening projects, but this one holds a lot of interest for me.

Here is my list of things to accomplish fairly soon, if not this weekend:

Visit nursery for transplants and seeds
Empty mature compost from both compost bins
Work compost into the bed using electric cultivator
Plants seeds and transplants
Adjust/fix soaker irrigation system to minimize leaks

From my neighborhood walk today...Figs!

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:09:48 PDT

I took my usual walk around the neighborhood today and was listening to the new podcast, The Typical Shutterbug Podcast, with my good friend, Victor Cajiao. Having iPhone in hand, it turned into a mini-photowalk.

Victor is collecting some great interviews, tips, hints and advice from professional like Michael Freeman, author of The Photographer's Eye and amateurs like himself and his fellow listeners.

It is great to have a new source of inspiration to go out an shoot, even if it is only with the iPhone or point-and-shoot cameras. You don't need an expensive camera to think about composition, framing, exposure and more. These can be practiced with any equipment, even your own eye.

Figs in the Sun

Figs in the Sun 2

Upcoming events from the Theodore Payne Native Plant Foundation

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:24:19 PDT

45 home gardens reveal the beauty of California native plants -and how to save water

Discover the beauty of California native plants and learn how to save water at the Theodore Payne Native Garden Tour on Saturday and Sunday, April 4 and 5, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $20. To buy tickets or for information: visit www.theodorepayne.org/Tour/ or call (818) 768-1802.

Forty five home gardens throughout the Los Angeles Basin are featured, including Sherman Oaks, Encino, Sun Valley, Tujunga, North Hollywood Granada Hills, Woodland Hills, Culver City, Torrance, Hawthorne, Redondo Beach, Long Beach, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Topanga, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Altadena, Monrovia, Glendale, Echo Park, Eagle Rock, Highland Park and Atwater Village.

FREE LECTURE: Indulging Our Senses in the Native Garden
Saturday, April 4, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90027

Join Carol Bornstein, director of nursery operations and horticultural outreach at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden for an inspiring evening about gardening with natives. Discover the visual delights of gardening with natives, as well as the tactile, audio, olfactory and even gustatory pleasures! Ms. Bornstein is also the co-author of California Native Plants for the Garden! A book-signing follows the talk. The lecture, sponsored by the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants, is held in conjunction with the organization?s annual native plant garden tour.

California Wildflower Hotline will bloom March to May 2008

Twenty-four hours a day, March 6 through May, anyone can call the hotline at Theodore Payne Wildflower Hotline at (818) 768-3533 or visit www.theodorepayne.org to find the best places to view wildflowers in Southern and Central California. The hotline message is narrated by Emmy Award-winning actor Joe Spano (Hill Street Blues, Apollo 13, NYPD Blue) and is updated every Thursday evening with new information on wildflower sites throughout Central and Southern California. The web site www.theodorepayne.org/hotline.html also features weekly reports covering the same areas. The site also provides web links to more than 50 flower-watching destinations and lists both the common and botanical name of each flower mentioned, and where and when it is blooming.

Event: Count Butterflies at Debs Park! - March 28

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:38:24 PST

Learn all about Butterflies at the Audubon Center at Debs Park!

Tim Bonebrake started volunteering with the Audubon Center at Debs Park about nine years ago when he was in high school. The Tujunga native helped monitor birds, reptiles and amphibians in Debs Park. Since then, he has studied parrots in Venezuela, and has received a degree in Environmental Sciences at UC Berkeley. More recently, Tim has been working towards his Ph.D. in Biology at Stanford University, studying butterflies in places like Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.

On March 6th at 7:00 pm, Tim will return to the Audubon Center to give a talk and slideshow about the unique diversity of butterfly life in the Mesoamerican tropics. He will also discuss some of the links and comparisons to our own butterfly communities here in the Los Angeles area. Both English and Spanish speakers are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Then, on March 21st, the Audubon Center will conduct its first Annual Butterfly Census in Debs Park. Volunteers are invited to drop by the Audubon Center, anytime between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, to search the park to count the 13 known butterfly species that have been spotted within the park�s borders. No experience is needed. The Center will also host arts and crafts activities and Butterfly Story Time, which will be held at 10 am, 12 noon and 2 pm.

The Audubon Center at Debs Park is located at
4700 N. Griffin Avenue
Los Angeles, 90031.

Admission to the park is free.

Please visit the Audubon Center�s website http://ca.audubon.org/debs_park.php for more information.

The Audubon Center at Debs Park is celebrating its 5th Anniversary this year!

Elsewhere Online: 10 Perennials Easily Grown from Seed

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:24:36 PST

Image via Wikipedia

I am looking carefully at this article from Fine Gardening magazine. I have some difficult spots in my garden and lots of shade due to all the mature trees. I also prefer perennials over annuals, as I am not an every day gardener like some.

Do you have plant tips for dry shade? I am still looking for something to fill in my back woodland garden area. Even a ground cover would be nice. Leave your suggestions in the comments.

10 Perennials Easily Grown from Seed
Because this bunch is simple to start, you'll save money and get more plants
by Panayoti Kelaidis
Home gardeners often assume that starting perennials from seed is more difficult than sowing annual flowers or vegetables, when, in fact, it is as easy to start a primrose as it was to germinate that bean in a cup back in grade school. Considering the many benefits of starting perennials from seed, it seems foolish not to do it. Seed is economical, and in short order, you can produce flats of plants that would cost hundreds of dollars to purchase retail, which is great if you have a large or new garden or are on a tight budget. Many plants must be grown from seed because they are otherwise unobtainable or difficult to propagate any other way, and seedlings often establish better than large plants. I am more willing to experiment and less apt to rue plant losses when I know I have an inexpensive, ready source available. Abundant supply also means there are plants to spare and to share.
Read the entire article

California poppies in a vacant lot

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:26:59 PST

California poppies in a vacant lot
Originally uploaded by dewelch

I am guessing a little guerrilla gardening took place on this lot. Among all the grass sprouted these California Poppies, but I also spotted a few lupine mixed in. I am guessing a handful of native wildflower seed was tossed over the fence in the past.

This lot has remained empty for years, despite its location on a busy corner in Sherman Oaks. What a change it would be to have a park grow here instead of another gas station or mini-mart.

I can dream, if nothing else.

Elsewhere Online: Indoor Gardening Projects for Kids

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:36:36 PST

Image by cafemama via Flickr

I am always looking for garden projects for kids, so when I saw this one come through my RSS feeds, I knew I wanted to share it with everyone here. There are 3 projects which can help to keep your kids (and you, too) entertained on those cold, damp and possibly snowy days.You can read about a germination experiment I did with my son a few years ago. We had a good time and it includes pictures and everything.

Read: The Seeds of Time

Indoor Gardening Projects for Kids
from Urban Garden Casual by urbangardencasual.com By Vanessa Richins

When I was a tiny child, I remember proudly bringing home a paper cup full of dirt and bean seeds.

I would watch anxiously for the first peep of the stem pushing through the soil.

Years later, I still enjoy watching new plants grow.
Gardening can teach children so many skills. They learn about science, patience, math and more. You don�t have to wait until summer, either. There are many gardening projects that can be started indoors year-round - especially inviting in the bleak winter months.

Read the entire article

Event:Tomatomania comes (again) to LA - Mar 27-29

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:43:38 PST

The annual Tomatomania will arrive in Los Angeles on March 27-29. You can find more information, including all the locations for Tomatomania around the country on the web site at Tomatomania.com.

Here is a video I shot at last year's event.

iPod Ready Video

Elsewhere Online: Step by Step How to build a Cold Frame

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:43:50 PST

OMG! Check out this ridiculously detailed story, complete with photos, on building your own cold frame. Excellent!

Step by Step How to build a Cold Frame
from Garden Desk by Marc and Renee

Last year I posted about the new Cold Frame that I built and I was asked to write a more detailed how-to post. I bought the materials to build another one, but never found time to build it... until now.

Read the entire article

What's happening in my garden?

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:30:28 PST

Image via Wikipedia

It has been a rainy week here in Los Angeles. Thank goodness, as even with substantial rain in the last 2 days, we are still running behind our yearly average. This is always a big deal here in LA as it effects everything from our gardens to overall water rationing.

Checking out the garden during a break in the rain, I notice that there is a lot going on. Some of the azaleas in the front garden are blooming and this is beginning of an overall bloom throughout that area. All the azaleas and 2 planting of raheolepsis are all pink and bring a cheerful note to the garden.

The paperwhites are almost finished at this point, with the snowbells blooming in different areas. The showiest display right now are the large daffodils I planted a few years ago. It is always great to see them return year after year. A few pop up among the purple lantana and lavender plants giving a boost to the local UCLA fans. The purple and gold theme is one of the few planned effects I created. Nearly everything else is haphazard or the produce the previous owner's hard work.

The wisteria went from buds to leaves in about one day, as the rains arrived. I would have liked to neaten it up a bit before it left dormancy, but I guess I will have to make do with with a mid-season pruning after it blooms.

The mature elm tree in the front garden is also showing signs of life again. While it does enter a dormant period, it doesn't seem to last that long. The ash trees go dormant for an even shorter period, though. They often don't lose every last leaf before budding and sprouting new foliage.

Every rain may be our last for the season and it is always surprising when we look back and remember that the last rain occurred 6, 7, 8 months ago. Growing up in Ohio, rain was a year-round occurence, so even after 23 years, I am still amazed at the near-desert conditions in my adopted home.

Elsewhere Online: How to use plant stakes correctly

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:13:40 PST

Image by Tie Guy II via Flickr

If you are planning on doing some planting of larger trees or shrubs in your garden, this article is a must-read before you start. I have several trees in my garden that will have to be removed very, very carefully, as they have rebar stakes deeply embedded in their trunks. This will prevent me from grinding out these stumps, should I ever need to remove these trees. Not fun. Starting your new plantings correctly is very important.

How to use Plant Stakes correctly
from Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas by scrobins@westnet.com.au (Stuart)
In most garden activities there is rarely a "RIGHT" or "WRONG" way to perform it. Yet, when it comes to applying plant stakes it pays to do it correctly. At best, a poorly applied plant stake may fail to do it's job, while at it's worst your maligned stake could injure, maim or even fatally wound the plant it was trying to help.

Read the entire article

Valentine's Day at Madeleine Bistro

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:38:41 PST

This is a bit more expensive than most things I post to this list, but Chef David Anderson creates some of the most amazing vegan food I have ever seen. Even as a confirmed carnivore, I love nearly everything he serves. If you are looking for special event for Valentine's Day, Madeleine Bistro would be a wonderful choice. -- Douglas

Greetings!

It's not too late to celebrate Valentine's Day at Madeleine Bistro. Please call us today to reserve a table for our very special six-course Chef's tasting menu. And please note that we will not be open for lunch for the week of February 9th through 13th, as we will be preparing for this special event.

Hope to see you soon!

Valentine's Day Chef�s Tasting Menu

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Asparagus: Two soups sharing one bowl�

�Butter�-poached white asparagus, lemon-cardamom bubbles

Truffled shiitake mushroom tartare

Watercress, purple potato, radish, champagne vinaigrette

Pan-seared tofu medallions

Purple sticky rice cake, green papaya salad, Thai green curry sauce

Panko-crusted seitan schnitzel

Herbed spaetzle, smoked celery root puree, parsley coulis

Traditional carrot cake, non-traditional garnishes

Cr�me cheese frosting powder, grilled pear steak, golden raisin gel

Chocolate with orange variations

Chocolate twist, blood orange sorbet, gran marnier French toast, Earl Grey panna cotta

$125 per person

Price does not include tax or gratuity.

Reservations required.

Madeleine Bistro - Organic Vegan Cuisine
18621 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana, California 91356
818-758-6971 -- dine@madeleinebistro.com
http://madeleinebistro.com

In the garden - January 2009

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:52:17 PST

In the garden - January 2009
Originally uploaded by dewelch

My gardening life has been a bit slow of late, but I took a few minutes to wander around and see what was happening.

This first picture shows some of the azaleas in the front garden beginning to bloom. Over the next month or so waves of pink will move through the geometrically planted beds. Once the bloom is complete, it will be time to trim everything back.

The roses are also starting to show some new growth. I have decided not to do a hard pruning of the roses this year as they had a pretty tough year in 2008. I will try and focus on watering a feeding a bit more this year, as it looks as if we will have a La Nina Winter this year. This means significantly less moisture this year and perhaps even a full-blown drought, complete with watering restrictions.

Bulbs have been coming up for the last month, with paperwhites already blooming, snowbells are probably next and I see that the daffodils are sprouting now, too.

We had some rain recently, thank goodness, but once that dries out it will be time to hit up some larger projects. We have to cypress trees in the back garden that need to be removed. One is small enough for me to do alone, but the other will probably require our tree trimming workers, just to be safe.

Event: Create a Beautiful Garden Using Kitchen Scraps!

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:06:39 PST

Create a Beautiful Garden Using Kitchen Scraps!

Date: February 7, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Franklin Canyon Park
Address: 2600 Franklin Canyon Drive , Beverly Hills , 90210
Driving Directions: Get Driving Directions
Region: Westside/Beverly Hills Area
Phone: (310) 858-7272
Admission: Free
Website: lamountains.com
Description: Explore one way you can help reduce global warming in this informative presentation on starting your own vermiculture. Norma the naturalist will show you how to use worms and food scraps to enrich the soil in your garden. 2 hrs Join us at the Sooky Goldman Nature Center in Franklin Canyon Park at 10am on February 7th, program will last 2 hrs. Franklin Canyon Park is located at 2600 Franklin Canyon Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210 For more information please visit www.lamountains.com or call 310-858-7272 ext 131 Program sponsored by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and presented by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
Submitted By: Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon

Elsewhere Online: Bentwood Birdhouse

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:45:31 PST

Bentwood Birdhouse - More DIY How To Projects

A late Fall in Los Angeles

agn@welchwrite.com (Douglas E. Welch) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:35:34 PST

Leaves
Originally uploaded by dewelch

After warmer than normal Fall, we have finally had several weeks of cooler temperatures, including some down near freezing here in the San Fernando Valley. This, along with some rain earlier and a lot of wind today has seemed to kick all the deciduous trees into leaf drop. We had a good 3 inches of leaves on the driveway this morning with more still falling. Probably by next week we will be ready to rake, blow and mulch as much as we can to dress the rose beds and others. What is left will be used to top off the composts bins and maybe we will just start a plain old leaf mold pile in one corner of the back garden.

We have made some very nice compost in our new bins, so I am greatly inclined to keep up the practice. All of our non-meat kitchen waste goes in for the "green" component with leaves making up the bulk of the brown. It isn't a perfect ratio, but it seems to break down over time.

I am hoping er see a bit more rain soon. January and February are typically our wettest months, but we haven't had much precipitation so far. Wish us luck. These long periods of drought are tough on the garden.

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Apartment Therapy The Kitchn | Recipe: Quick and Easy Black Bean Soup

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Howstuffworks "How to Draw Buildings"

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The Objection To Being Stepped On by Robert Frost at Old Poetry

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Foldable Greenhouse by Daniel Schipper

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Word Clouds.
Tag clouds for text, RSS, web

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IT Conversations | Jon Udell's Interviews with Innovators | Janis Dickinson
Janis Dickinson Janis Dickinson directs the citizen science program at Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology. On this edition of Interviews with Innovators with Jon Udell she discusses the lab's various projects. One of them, eBird, is an online system