- #1,926
Borek
Mentor
- 28,934
- 4,219
Blah, I thought you are talking physics here.
There's probably a best selling novel in that.Evo said:A squirrel was eating and digging around for food. He pulled something out of the grass that looked like a large brown nut. But the the nut screamed and the squirrel let go and the nut started jumping away. I got closer because the nut was also hissing. Turns out the squirrel accidently grabbed a mole. The mole took off hissing. I hope it wasn't hurt too bad.
Lucky for the mole! Our red squirrels are vicious, and until I cleaned them out, they were scarring and seriously injuring my "pet" chipmunks. I used to be able to tell them apart by their scars. After I removed the squirrels, the 'munks healed up and I could only tell them apart by their behaviors until they got close enough to inspect them in detail and see the old scars. After the squirrels were gone, the vole population improved, which is a good thing because I garden organically, and voles eat lots of insects and their grubs.Evo said:A squirrel was eating and digging around for food. He pulled something out of the grass that looked like a large brown nut. But the the nut screamed and the squirrel let go and the nut started jumping away. I got closer because the nut was also hissing. Turns out the squirrel accidently grabbed a mole. The mole took off hissing. I hope it wasn't hurt too bad.
turbo-1 said:Lucky for the mole! Our red squirrels are vicious, and until I cleaned them out, they were scarring and seriously injuring my "pet" chipmunks. I used to be able to tell them apart by their scars. After I removed the squirrels, the 'munks healed up and I could only tell them apart by their behaviors until they got close enough to inspect them in detail and see the old scars. After the squirrels were gone, the vole population improved, which is a good thing because I garden organically, and voles eat lots of insects and their grubs.
They are a plague here, Kurdt. No shortage at all! And yes, the "cute" little red squirrels would attack and drive off the gray squirrels at our old house. There are no gray squirrels up here in the woods, but the red squirrels attack chipmunks, voles and other critters.Kurdt said:Red squirrels vicious?
They should be looked after, they're a species that isn't doing too well.
turbo-1 said:...voles eat lots of insects and their grubs.
Voles cause damage by feeding on a wide range of garden plants including artichoke, beet, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, turnip, sweet potato, spinach, and tomato. Turf and other landscape plantings such as lilies and dichondra may be damaged. Voles will gnaw the bark of fruit trees including almond, apple, avocado, cherry, citrus, and olive. Vole damage to tree trunks normally occurs from a few inches aboveground to a few inches below ground. If the damage is below ground, you will need to remove soil from the base of the tree to see it. Although voles are poor climbers, if they can climb on to low-hanging branches they may cause damage higher up on trees as well.
Gnaw marks about 1/8 inch wide and 3/8 inch long found in irregular patches and at various angles, taken in conjunction with other signs (droppings, runways, and burrows), indicate vole damage. If voles gnaw completely around the trunk or roots, the tree's flow of nutrients and water will be disrupted; this is called girdling. Girdling damage on trunks and roots can kill trees. Signs of partial trunk or root girdling may include a prolonged time before young trees bear fruit, reduced fruit yield, abnormal yellowish leaf color, and overall poor vigor. Where snow cover is present, damage to trees may extend a foot or more up the trunk. Damage that occurs under snow cover often escapes notice until it is too late.
I don't bother voles, nor indeed any other critter that is not causing significant damage. We need a balance of critters, and I am not going to upset the ecological balance of my property because we need everything to work, if organic gardening methods are going to work well. I'll shoot a groundhog on sight because they will take a bite out of one squash, then move onto another, and wreck a lot of produce in the process. Voles, mice, moles, etc have their positive sides, and I let them be because the damage they cause is negligible. We have weasels, martins, skunks, etc, too, and I will never discourage their presence. Little predators keep little pests in check.Equate said:You might be wrong here. I remember my grandmother hated them and hunted them relentlessly because they damaged her garden.
Awww, thank you ViewsofMars, always so nice to hear from you. I love your posts.ViewsofMars said:Precious. Evo, that's a sweet picture. I love my squirrels that steal the sunflowers from the birdfeeder in my garden. The birds perch along side them. It's a big bird feeder on top of a six foot post.
p.s. I hope your Kurdt gets better soon.
ViewsofMars said:p.s. I hope your Kurdt gets better soon.
Evo said:Awww, thank you ViewsofMars, always so nice to hear from you. I love your posts.
PERSPECTIVES
RETROSPECTIVE:
Ruth L. Kirschstein (1926–2009)
Howard K. Schachman1 and Marvin Cassman2
In a discussion about the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) several years ago, Ruth Kirschstein commented, "I love it." And it showed. She served with distinction in countless positions and her imprint is evident in virtually all NIH policies and practices. With her passing last month from cancer, the world has lost a creative and dedicated public servant.
1 Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, QB3, Stanley Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720–3220, USA.
2 Former director of NIGMS.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/sci;326/5955/947?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Love&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=90&resourcetype=HWCIT
Borek said:Its OUR Kurdt. Evo's ownership is only virtual
Another real toughie is Brussels sprouts. A few days ago when I dropped in, my neighbor had waded out into the snow-covered garden spot to harvest Brussels sprouts for the grand-daughters' supper. I got a stalk of them too, and they were still very tender and tasty.Astronuc said:It was 8°F (-13°C) this morning - so I figure the kale was gone.
I just went outside and pick some leaves off the kale, but they are not frozen, even with temperatures below freezing, and the leaves are edible. That's quite a remarkable plant.
I'm going to have to work on the Brussels sprouts. I tried them one year, and the sprout didn't sprout much. Perhaps it was too hot and/or dry.turbo-1 said:Another real toughie is Brussels sprouts. A few days ago when I dropped in, my neighbor had waded out into the snow-covered garden spot to harvest Brussels sprouts for the grand-daughters' supper. I got a stalk of them too, and they were still very tender and tasty.
My wife and I tried Brussels sprouts 2 years ago, with disappointing results. Very small sprouts. Perhaps we'll try them again this year, starting them in our mini-greenhouse early, and transplanting them before most vegetables can be planted from seed. We planted parsnips that year too, and couldn't find a way to prepare them that was satisfactory. They were too rich and sweet.Astronuc said:I'm going to have to work on the Brussels sprouts. I tried them one year, and the sprout didn't sprout much. Perhaps it was too hot and/or dry.
I love Brussels sprouts, so I'll try again. I also want to try rutabagas and other root plants.
turbo-1 said:We planted parsnips that year too, and couldn't find a way to prepare them that was satisfactory. They were too rich and sweet.
I cook parship with roast along side potatoes and carrots. The parsnip and carrots are sliced in half length-wise.Borek said:I don't remember hearing any recipes for parsnip alone, it is always mixed with other vegetables (like carrot, leek, celeriac - I list them as vegetables may mean different thing to different people). Doesn't mean it is not possible, I just can't think of anything.
We tried using them in soups and in New England boiled dinners with mixed success. Probably the best result came from combining a bit of parsnip and some minced kale (what a coincidence!) with hot Italian sausage. Cook the sausage first in a pan with peanut oil, add in finely-cubed parsnip, and lastly add the minced kale. The kale adds a "zing" that helped mitigate the richness of the parsnips.Borek said:I don't remember hearing any recipes for parsnip alone, it is always mixed with other vegetables (like carrot, leek, celeriac - I list them as vegetables may mean different thing to different people). Doesn't mean it is not possible, I just can't think of anything.
Borek said:I don't remember hearing any recipes for parsnip alone, it is always mixed with other vegetables (like carrot, leek, celeriac - I list them as vegetables may mean different thing to different people). Doesn't mean it is not possible, I just can't think of anything.
baywax said:The reason parsnip is only used sparingly is because it contains trace amounts of arsenic.
I have been unable to find any mention of that, Borek. However, if you Google Psoralens, you'll find that parsnips, celery, fennel, and other foods contain them.Borek said:Never heard about it.
turbo-1 said:I have been unable to find any mention of that, Borek. However, if you Google Psoralens, you'll find that parsnips, celery, fennel, and other foods contain them.
The Water Hemlock or Musquash Root also grows in wet places. Its
roots, which smell like parsnips, and its seeds, contain a deadly poison
and many cattle are killed by eating its young shoots in spring. The
poison Hemlock, closely related, is supposed to have furnished the "cup
of death" given to Socrates.
Parsnips can also be used to make wine or, as in Europe, delicious soup.
Evo said:I got a picture of the NotaGoshawk!
From a distance, from the back, with his head blocked by a branch...
turbo-1 said:Sure looks like a Goshawk. Harriers have long slim tails, too, barred with white tips. BUT, harriers have a prominent white patch at the base of the tail, which this critter doesn't seem to have.
Nope, looks nothing like my bird. Mine is solid charcoal gray on the back and solid white from above his eyes down to his toes in the front, with a grey mohawk. Looks nothing like a goshawk. There are zero stripes or markings on my bird. It's NotaGoshawk. Also, the northern Goshawk has an elongated beak, my bird has a beak almost flush with it's face.lisab said:Here's a Northern Goshawk:
That pic is from an http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/IFWIS/ibt/site.aspx?id=N16". It does look like a Goshawk.
The tail is long and grey with black or dark bands. The posterior view looks like it is a Goshawk.Evo said:I got a picture of the NotaGoshawk!
From a distance, from the back, with his head blocked by a branch...
The essential tools for successful gardening include a shovel, trowel, rake, pruning shears, and watering can. These tools will help you prepare the soil, plant and maintain your garden, and keep it watered and healthy.
The frequency of watering your garden depends on various factors such as the type of plants, weather conditions, and soil type. In general, most gardens require watering 1-2 times a week, but it's important to check the soil moisture and adjust accordingly.
Some common mistakes to avoid in gardening include over or under-watering, planting in the wrong season, not providing enough sunlight, and not properly preparing the soil. It's also important to regularly remove weeds and pests to keep your plants healthy.
To improve the soil quality in your garden, you can add organic matter such as compost, manure, or leaf mulch. This will provide essential nutrients and improve the soil's structure, allowing for better water and air circulation.
To maintain a healthy garden, it's important to regularly water and fertilize your plants, remove weeds and pests, and provide adequate sunlight. It's also helpful to rotate your crops each season and monitor for any signs of disease or nutrient deficiencies.