Gilli's Outbox

LOL Ponty.....I wouldn't have blamed them if they had....no, that was in Armstrong, BC in my former life as a broiler chicken farmer. We were on 106 acres so there weren't many close neighbours.

Thanks everyone.
I haven't seen this guy around for a while now. I don't know whether he has moved on or succumed to nature.
These birds are very noisy Flcrazy.....you would have to get some earplugs if he decides to visit. LOL

I always pop a banana skin into the hole when I plant a rose. I also bury bananas around the roots of established roses. Tea bags go in the compost but I tear them open first. Coffee grounds either go around my roses or into the compost.
Bananas are full of potassium and trace minerals. Tea and coffee are acidic and are great for helping acidify the soil. Coffee grounds are also very high in nitrogen apparently. They do get the compost heating up.
I didn't know about coffee grounds being poisonous to dogs. My dogs have never bothered with the grounds on the ground but I'll keep that in mind.
I also pour the leftover liquid coffee and tea into the compost.

I second all these comments. Where do those weeds come from anyway? I think they wait until the weeding is done and overnight say "come on fellas. Its time to repopulate" and they all pop up.
I know about the cold tea and tea with "additives". Wasps, flys, pine needles, leaves, caterpillers (once), manure (yuck), compost....all have found their way at one time or another into my tea. And that's not to mention the biscuit crumbs from 'dunking'. LOL

Weedy...I had wondered if you had similar terrain where you are. The access onto the reservations seems to vary from band to band. The Kamloops band is quite "reserved" about the reserve. LOL
When the sun shines in the fall it does seem really crisp and clear here and the sky soooooo blue.

DD....this particular rose never seems to get any kind of problems except for aphids.
Cat....no I didn't. Chevy would have promptly eaten them all.

Thanks Balcony.....I haven't seen him around recently though. Not sure if he has moved on or succumed to nature.
Cat....LOL....I'm not surprised the squirrel left. These guys are Soooooo noisy. He probably couldn't find his ear plugs so decided to leave. The chickadees are amazing aren't they?

LOL.....I like your dust theory too Derek. If it wasn't so cold I'd try it. Then again, Kamloops is so dusty that I'd probably end up with more dust than I started with.
Sid....It's under questions titled "You have all been so helpful on my question ref the 'tree'" by Debbie.
Dorjac....I keep adding regular worms to my compost but they never stay. I think they are "clay" worms and don't like the compost. I think I'll try getting some "red wigglers" and adding them.
Quinta1....I'm not sure which comment you are referring to. Welcome to GoY and could you please give me a bit more info then I can answer your question.
Ponty....I've never had my peels sprout...maybe our winters are too cold and kills them off. Egg shells are great. A lot go in mine. I've added dead mice on occasion. They seem to disappear quite nicely. Dead birds too. On the farm we used to bury the dead chickens in the chicken manure pile....It was amazing how fast they disappeared. Mostly within a week. Mind you, the manure pile was from 40,000 chickens.....you can imagine how big it was.

Thanks everyone.
Spritz...this 'Center Glow' is my favourite ninebark. It's not quite as dark as 'Diablo' during the summer. In the spring the new growth is pale green, gradually changing to coppery red and then darkening to deep red. Hence the name 'Center Glow' as it looks like the new growth is glowing in the center.
Thanks Toto and PP
Clarice...I was stunned when I saw the sun shining through the leaves. Just had to get a photo.
Cat....I love this shrub. Wonderful colours in 3 seasons and then interesting peeling bark during the winter.

Thank you all. My Mum is "tickled pink" in her words. All your wonderful words really have made her day.
Sid ~ I can draw and I like doing pencil drawings once in a while. I don't paint though. My Dad also used to do incredible pencil drawings. I'll have to see if I can find some of his too. He mostly did things like old barns and churches etc. I just never had the same interest in painting.....probably because I knew I couldn't keep up!! LOL
Cat ~ Yes, they are watercolour. Most of her paintings were watercolour although she did play around with oils and acrylics. I think she only ever sold one painting. It was a commision that someone asked her to do of a Bird of Paradise bloom. Other than that she didn't sell any that I know of although she used to paint for fund raising auctions at the church. She never thought her work was good enough to sell.

Thank you all again for your lovely comments. You made my Mum's day. :o)

Thanks everyone....from my Mum. She is very taken aback by all your lovely comments and very pleased you all like the paintings.

LOL....Thanks everyone.....I'm glad I looked up the technical explanation of Hoodoo....I learned something too.
Sue....I like the name "Fairy Chimney" too. Spurs the imagination.
I will try and get a close up photo of a Hoodoo one day when I go for a hike. They really are quite interesting.

Thanks everyone. So far the weather has been mostly very mild. It's something to do with the "pineapple express" air flow coming up from the South Pacific. They say that we are in for a warmer but wet winter.
Thanks Janey. Those hedges are wonderful privacy from the neighbours.
Cat ~ It's wonderful not having to go to the hospital all the time. And Murray is a sweetie. It will be a good winter (I hope). :o)

Brilliant blog and fantastic photos BB. Your photos took me back.... :o)

What a lovely looking plant Maureen. Very healthy. I love the bloom and so big too. Wow.
I haven't tried Brugs yet. They seem to suffer from spider mite badly here due to the lack of humidity so I'm hesitant to give it a go.

All wonderful Leigh. I think I'd have to say my favourite is the Tiger. You're right, it does have an almost 3-D effect. Like he is coming right out of the painting at you. Absolutely brilliant.

Lovely plants Donna.....Lovely bunny and kitty too. :o)

Fantastic TT. Lovely Conker in December my birthday month. :o)

Sounds like you had a lovely and productive weekend SBG. Well done. It all looks lovely and tidy. I wonder what has been snacking on your P. denticulata?? Snails? Slugs?

What beautiful pots Spritz. You certainly have a flair for colour and design. Well done indeed.

Great story DD. I'm sure it probably was your Dad having a last laugh. :o)

Ahhh....Iceberg is a beautiful rose and a great performer. :o)

Of course I was being sincere with my comment Truffle. How could you possibly think otherwise? ;o)

Maybe it just needs a repot and some fresh soil Cat. That might spur it along if it is old. I had a friend who used his Xmas cactus as a tree too. LOL

Actually they were in frames but they were cheap frames to begin with and when they finally gave up the ghost I had put the paintings in a box and forgotten all about them. When I have a bit of spare cash perhaps I will get them reframed.

No trouble Hywel....I wanted to look up the definition anyway. I know what they are but I couldn't explain it. I find the terrain here along the South Thompson river fascinating. The way the cliffs have eroded and created gullies and canyons as well as the hoodoos is amazing. When the light changes throughout the day, the look of the cliffs changes too.

I do love penstemons and this blue is fantastic.

It doesn't seem all that long ago does it? LOL
It is pretty in its own way. Especially with the sun shining and from behind a well insulated window in a nice warm and cozy house. :o)

I've been using an organic fertilizer called 'Raingrow'. Probably not available over there but it is a 4-3-2 rating. I think it was on Mr. Brownthumbs site that I read they like a higher nitrogen number and they like neutral or alkaline water.
I think Milky is using a cactus fert for her Adeniums and her seedlings grew enormously this year.