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Post by Jack on Feb 24, 2009 16:07:36 GMT -5
If you've ever had a critter (bird, snake, mammal, whatever) in your yard that you couldn't identify or a plant species you weren't sure of you can get some help from the San Diego Natural History Museum. www.sdnhm.org/index.phpI didn't know what kind of snake I had in my yard when I snapped the picture of the Calf. Kingsnake. so I emailed the picture to the staff at the SDNHM and got a quick response along with links to sites explaining all the different color patterns for this snake. Same thing with the Coopers Hawk. I emailed the picture to one of the "birds and mammals" curators and he confirmed that it was a juvenile Coopers Hawk. They were also helpful in explaining about the likely characteristics of a migrating bee swarm that spent the night in one of my backyard trees. I highly recommend this local resource and a trip to the museum in Balboa Park is always interesting. I think the museums alternate monthly with free admission for local residents on certain Tuesdays each month.
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CM
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Post by CM on Feb 24, 2009 16:39:16 GMT -5
We have a pair of Swainson's Hawks that have returned to the same nest 3 years running, but i have not seen them yet this year.
Ten years ago we had a pair of Great Horned Owls but have not seen them since.
There is a 1 acre pond on our property loaded with fish and nearly everyday an Osprey stops by for dinner. It is an awesome site to watch them dive in the water.
Good link, I never considered SD Natural History Museum as a resource. Thanks.
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Post by Jack on Mar 24, 2009 12:24:26 GMT -5
I guess this one goes in the Gardening thread: Chia Obama on display at International Home & Housewares Show at McCormick Placewww.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-talk-obama-chiamar24,0,6150429.story Excerpt: "In a world occupied by President Barack Obama commemorative plates and coins, perhaps the Chia Obama was inevitable. San Francisco-based Joseph Enterprises, the company behind the Chia Pet and The Clapper, is rolling out its own brand of patriotism with a clay statuette of the commander in chief. Just add water and Obama's hair grows faster than the national deficit." The Chia Obama is shown at the International Home & Housewares Show on Monday at McCormick Place. The plants have been test-marketed in Chicago and Tampa, with an official product launch set for April 2. (Tribune photo by Bradley Piper / March 23, 2009)
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Post by CM on Mar 24, 2009 18:13:31 GMT -5
Chia Obama, hope they are around for Christmas.
This week started off about as disappointing as it gets. Over the last few weeks I had planted corn and tomatoes, a little early but it just felt like spring was near. Well almost, Sunday night caught me by surprise, we had a sudden drop of temperature down 25 degrees, I lost everything. I’m bummed out. Today replanted tomatoes and Thursday I will replant corn.
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Post by jdredd on May 1, 2009 21:56:27 GMT -5
As a certified (certifiable?) tree hugger I will talk about trees way over here where no one will notice. I also am a California native, which may be why I prefer California native trees to all those imported ones. Not that I'm a nazi about it (well at least not anymore), we have planted a number of non-native fruit trees in our yard. We have one mature Jacaranda, a messy non-native which I would never plant but deserves to kept because of it's age. Other than that we have two sycamores, two kinds of oaks, three redwoods, and a torrey pine. I worry about the trees and let my wife worry about the lesser plants. Oh, and we have a stand of bamboo which is not native but we like it anyway. Trying to get a garden going but I've never been much of a gardener. One year I managed to grow giant pumpkins but I haven't been able to repeat the success. I do get a small amount of tomatos usually. Most of the time it's a fight with bermuda grass and foxtails. We are growing quite a few roses though.
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Post by Jack on May 2, 2009 16:35:59 GMT -5
Maybe GI Joe and his buddies can help me with my squirrel problem.
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Post by Jack on May 6, 2009 19:34:53 GMT -5
Well, the squirrels all seem to have given birth at the same time this year. My backyard has become a playground for about 8-10 baby squirrels with their proud parents looking on. Chasing them or squirting them with the hose only lasts for as long as it takes to turn my back. I can't wait until they grow up. Squirrels don't really like each other and usually by about June or July only two dominant ones are left in my yard. It does no good to trap and relocate them because another pair will just show up in their place. And then, this afternoon, the bee hive in my neighbors yard decided it was time to split off and swarm. It happens every year about this time and it's not too bad if the swarm leaves the area, but other swarms send out scout bees looking for a new location and they become the problem. I made the mistake of leaving the back door to my garage open today and a couple dozen bees tried to move in. I sprayed with raid, opened the front garage door and ran back in the house. The all clear was sounded about 30 minutes later.
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Post by CM on May 7, 2009 13:05:28 GMT -5
Black seeded Simpson and Ferrari. 9 gauge wire cut in 88” lengths make the tunnel, draped with row cover, old 1 ½ “galvanized holds the cover in place and rolls off easily for harvest. Swiss Chard
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Post by CM on May 7, 2009 13:06:16 GMT -5
Looks like we’ll do 1,100 – 1,200 pound of Vidalia’s about 80% will be 1st the balance we consume and give to the food bank.
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Post by CM on May 7, 2009 13:06:45 GMT -5
Potatoes are looking good. German Butterballs are huge sellers.
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Post by johng on May 25, 2009 18:49:09 GMT -5
CM,
Your garden is a farm. I would love to come visit if such a thing is allowed. I am a realy enthusiast but live in a TownHome in Scripps Ranch so I frequent the farmers market in La Jolla to get stuff..
I dabble with a tomatoe or egg plant in containers but I just bought one of those "Topsy Turvy" gagets to see how it works hanging on the West Facing deck?
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Post by johng on May 25, 2009 18:51:59 GMT -5
Maybe GI Joe and his buddies can help me with my squirrel problem. What an imagination! Good Job! All those babies are on the golf course now also and they are learning to climb into the golf cart and nab the hot dogs or chips...
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Post by Jack on May 25, 2009 19:37:11 GMT -5
Maybe GI Joe and his buddies can help me with my squirrel problem. What an imagination! Good Job! All those babies are on the golf course now also and they are learning to climb into the golf cart and nab the hot dogs or chips... Tell me about it. My backyard slopes down to a golf course and some mornings there are 5-10 baby squirrels running around marauding my plants with their proud parents looking on. The little b@st@rds try to eat everything they can reach. The last straw was when they learned how to get into the hanging pots with the strawberries - that's when my wife finally got pissed.
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Post by CM on May 25, 2009 19:54:14 GMT -5
CM, Your garden is a farm. I would love to come visit if such a thing is allowed. I am a realy enthusiast but live in a TownHome in Scripps Ranch so I frequent the farmers market in La Jolla to get stuff.. I dabble with a tomatoe or egg plant in containers but I just bought one of those "Topsy Turvy" gagets to see how it works hanging on the West Facing deck? When I retired I was not smart enough to buy the motor home and tour the country. So I went from working my ass off making huge bucks to working my ass off for zero bucks. From May thru November we are able to support 30+ families with produce. The bottom line, I’m happy and I have not a worry. I will PM you - if you are serious regarding a visit I’d be proud, from Carlsbad travel time about 1.5 hours. Over 400 people visit our farm per year and we support many school functions and activities at the farm. There have been over a 100 kids that caught their first fish in our pond, the smiles and giggles have been priceless, it makes an old guy happy.
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Post by johng on May 26, 2009 20:12:17 GMT -5
CM you made the wise choice my friend. The RV is an endless maintenance Nightmare.
I would love to come visit and see the farm and if there is anyway we can support you in the effort we are certainly open to that!
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