Welcome to Andre's previous jungle

[Borek]

Put a hot wire in the water.

 

[Andre]

Thanks for the input, all. I'll process the ideas, work out models to test feasibility and I'll write a full report on it.

 

[Dembadon]

Impressive work, Andre! It looks fantastic.

 

[Evo]

Beautiful job andre! Love the waterfall.

 

[drizzle]

Looks great Andre!

 

[Andre]

Thanks everybody.

Anyway, the feasibility report.

the water ornament should indeed be fixated somehow, to guard it against an occasional bypasser who might enjoy to own it. The bistro set has been fixed with steel wire as can be seen on the pic. Sure you can cut that, but it requires dedication and will leave traces of the criminal act, for the police and ensurance. Random bypassers, like pub customers, late at night, will likely not carry the equipment for that. But they are welcome to take a seat.

The water ornament however, cannot be fixed so easily. It's polyester and the lower part is the reservoir. Cementing it onto something adds the complication that it can't be removed easily during winter time, as per recommendation of the producer.

But the back yard has high fences around it and it's the idea to make a little pond there in autumn, when I can move the roses, and maybe it's an idea to make the ornament part of it somehow.

Anyway, the next project is a little home for Gizmo as it keeps raining all the time and he wants to be outside, no matter what.

 

[Andre]

It's now gated. Boy that took a long time to arrive.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22026080/IMG_0583-1.jpg

 

[turbo]

The gate is a pretty addition.

 

[Borek]

Gates year, first Jimmy Snyder, now Andre.

Not to mention fact we have replaced gate to our garage to a new brand, after the old one broke and I got irritated by the producer support.

 

[Astronuc]

Very nice, Andre!

What size are the rectangular bricks comprising the trough - 15 x 30 or 20 x 40 cm? Are the fired clay or cut stone?

 

[Andy Resnick]

Excellent job!

 

[Andre]

Thanks, all

The bricks, Astro, are indeed fired clay of 15 x 15 x 60 cm weighting 28.5 kg each. That was a lot of exercise.

 

[Andre]

I can just see you out there taking close up photographs of insects and birds.

Yes, actually I found her there, a couple of days ago. Likely an Emerald Damselfly.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22026080/IMG_0553.jpg

Notice that this genus keep the wings spread and slightly backwards when resting. Other damselflies fold the wings back, while dragonflies keep them spread completely.

 

[drizzle]

Neat touch, Andre!

 

[Evo]

Love the gate Andre. Neat damsel fly.

 

[dlgoff]

Yes, actually I found her there, a couple of days ago. Likely an Emerald Damselfly.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22026080/IMG_0553.jpg

Notice that this genus keep the wings spread and slightly backwards when resting. Other damselflies fold the wings back, while dragonflies keep them spread completely.

I found this to be interesting about the Odonata order.

Damselfly nymphs breathe through external gills on the abdomen, while dragonfly nymphs respire through an organ in their rectum.

 

[Andre]

Thanks all, it's also a socializer that garden. Not a neighbor is passing without commenting on the metamorphosis.

Interestingly there are several of these damsel flies around but only females. Their season is over and all there is left to do for them, is having a good old day.

 

[Andre]

This could go in the growing garden, but it's actually still the same project. So next spring it should look like a mini Keukenhof.

So after some shopping (It's a beginning, there will be more. The count is 437 bulbs currently. ):

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22026080/keukenhof-1.jpg

We start with a rough color plan to avoid a Ratatouille color chaos. The bags are peat to optimize the dirt structure.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22026080/keukenhof-2.jpg

Put the bulbs roughly in place to get an idea of the area required.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22026080/keukenhof-3.jpg

Main digging is done manually avoiding to kill earthworms with cutting. You should see my fingernails now. Anyway the bulbs are placed on a little bed of peat

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22026080/keukenhof-4.jpg

Some 250 more to go tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.

 

[Astronuc]

That's going to look spectacular in the spring!

 

[Andre]

Gates year, first Jimmy Snyder, now Andre.

Not to mention fact we have replaced gate to our garage to a new brand, after the old one broke and I got irritated by the producer support.

Actually when I read that, I went to the landmark game to point out that there were even many more gates in https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=4048817#post4048817 and then it struck me. So instead of replying I started googling Bill Gates house/residence/villa etc and every time that picture with the lion and swimming pool passed and I never spotted it .