Nest & Aggregate Box Plans

Nest & Aggregate Box Plans

Making Willow Water / Salicylic Acid and SAR

Making Willow Water / Salicylic Acid and SAR

Make your own willow water:
Easily root azaleas, lilacs, summersweets (Clethra spp.) and roses by gathering about two cups of pencil-thin willow branches cut to 1-3 inch lengths. Steep twigs in a half-gallon of boiling water overnight. Refrigerated liquid kept in a jar with a tight-fitting lid will remain effective up to two months. (Label jar so you won’t confuse it with your homemade moonshine.) Overnight, soak cuttings you wish to root. Or water soil into which you have planted your cuttings with the willow water. Two applications should be sufficient. Some cuttings root directly in a jar of willow water. Make a fresh batch for each use. You can also use lukewarm water and let twigs soak for 24-48 hours.

Pollinator Partnership

Pollinator Partnership

Search for you region, for lists of nectary plants, and pollinators.

Value-Added Riparian Zone Planting at CSC | Catawba Landcare

Value-Added Riparian Zone Planting at CSC | Catawba Landcare

• Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana): a small tree with a crown width around 35 feet and typical height of around 50 feet. The tree has handsome dark green foliage and dark blocky bark. It produces an orange colored fruit about the size of a cherry tomato that ripens in late autumn. The fruit can be used in breads, puddings, cakes, cookies, and butters. A rule of thumb is to wait until the first frost to harvest the fruit. If it is eaten before it is ripe the fruit tastes very bitter. When the fruit is ripe it is typically very soft and falls from the tree.

• American Plum (Prunus Americana): a small tree that often has multiple stems. It gets around 20 feet in height and 20 feet wide. The tree does well in poor soils. It produces a plum-like fruit that is about the same size as a persimmon and varies from shades of orange, red, and purple. The fruit is tart and fantastic for jams, jellies, syrups, and combined with sweet cherries or apples in pies.

• Hickory (Carya spp.): large trees getting around 75 feet tall and 40 feet wide. Pecans are a type of hickory, but are not native to this region. There are three different native species that produce quality nuts, shagbark (ovata), mockernut (tomentosa), and pignut (glabra). The nut is sweet tasting and can be used in any recipe for walnuts or pecans.

• Black Walnut (Juglans nigra): a large tree that typically grows 80 feet tall and around 50 feet wide. It has thick chocolate brown bark and leaves that give lovely shade. This species emits juglon through the decomposing leaves, fruits and nuts, which can stunt the growth of some surrounding plants. This is only an issue for species that are sensitive to this chemical; blueberry is one of these species. This tree produces a nut about the size of a tennis ball that starts out green and turns to brown after it falls. The inside part of the nut looks very similar to the English walnut, but tastes a bit stronger. The nut can be used in cookies, cakes, brownies, and ice cream.

• Serviceberry, Juneberry (Amelanchier canadensis): a small tree that gets around 35 feet tall and 35 feet wide. This species can be pruned to be more shrub-like if desired. It has smooth dark bark with delicate leaves. It has small white flowers in the spring and produces a fruit that looks very similar to a blueberry. The fruit can be used in pies, jams, and scones.

• Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis): A shrub that gets around 5-10 feet tall and 3-8 feet wide. It can tolerate wet soils and dry soils. It has large clumps of beautiful tiny flowers, which are edible and can be used to make wine. It also produces large clumps of bb-like dark round berries that can be used to make jellies, syrups, and wine. The fruit is said to have anti-viral qualities. Important note: all other parts of the plant are toxic (stem, leaves, bark).

• American Hazelnut (Corylus americana): A shrub that can handle dryness, but does not like wet feet. Gets 5-12 feet tall and 4-8 feet wide. It produces a small nut that is covered by a leafy-fringed sheath. The nut is very similar to the commercially sold filbert (hazelnut) and can be used in any general hazelnut recipe. They are especially good for baking and granola.

• Pawpaw (Asimina triloba): a small tree that gets around 20 feet tall and around 20 feet wide. It is sensitive and must be in moist rich soils. It has a beautiful dark burgundy flower and produces a 3-5 inch greenish yellow fruit that has the consistency of a banana. The fruit can be used in puddings, pies, and breads.

• Red Mulberry (Morus rubra): A medium tree that gets around 40 feet tall and 40 feet wide. It produces a fruit that looks similar to a blackberry. The fruits are good for jams, scones, breads, and pies.

• Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum): a shrub that gets 3-10 feet tall and 3-10 feet wide. It needs very acidic soils (ph 4.8-5.5). It produces a tasty dark berry.

• Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis): a bramble that gets 3-6 feet tall and 4-8 feet wide. The canes are purple colored. The fruit looks similar to a blackberry and can be used in pies, cobblers, breads, jams, and jellies.

• Allegany blackberry (Rubus alleganensis): a bramble that gets 3-6 feet tall and 4-8 feet wide. It prefers moist soils and produces a flavorful fruit that can be used in pies, jellies, jams, and cobblers.

Pollinator.org

Bumble Bees:

Abandoned mouse nests, other rodent burrows, upside down flower pots, under boards,

and other human-made cavities. Colonies are founded by a queen in the spring and

don’t die out in the fall. New queens mate then and overwinter in a sort of hibernation.

Bumble bees are usually active during the morning hours and forage at colder

temperatures than honey bees, even flying in light rain.

Large carpenter bees:

Soft dead wood, poplar, cottonwood or willow trunks and limbs, structural timbers

including redwood. Depending on the species, there may be one or two brood cycles per

year. These bees can be active all day even in the hottest weather.

Digger bees:

Sandy soil, compacted soils, bank sides. Anthophorid bees (now in the Apidae) are usually

active in the morning hours, but can be seen at other times.

Small carpenter bees:

Pithy stems including roses and blackberry canes. These bees are more active in the

morning but can be found at other times.

Squash and Gourd bees:

Sandy soil, may nest in gardens (where pumpkins, squash and gourds are grown) or

pathways. These bees are early risers and can be found in pumpkin patches before dawn.

Males often sleep in the wilted flowers.

Leafcutter bees:

Pre-existing circular tunnels of various diameters in dead but sound wood created by

emerging beetles, some nest in the ground. Leave dead limbs and trees to support not

just pollinators but other wildlife. Leafcutter bees can be seen foraging throughout the

day even in hot weather.

Mason bees:

Pre-existing tunnels, various diameters in dead wood made by emerging beetles, or

human-made nesting substrates, drilled wood boards, paper soda straws inserted into

cans attached to buildings. Mason bees are generally more active in the morning hours.

Sweat bees:

Bare ground, compacted soil, sunny areas not covered by vegetation. Like most bees,

sweat bees forage for pollen earlier in the morning and then for nectar later.

Plasterer or cellophane bees:

Bare ground, banks or cliffs. Colletid bees can be active in the morning or later in the day.

Yellow-faced bees:

In dead stems. These bees are more active during morning hours.

Andrenid bees:

Sunny, bare ground, sand soil, under leaf litter or in soil in banksides and cliffs. These

generally spring-active bees are most commonly seen on flowers during the morning

when pollen and nectar resources are abundant

SPIN-Farming - How to farm commercially on under an acre

SPIN-Farming - How to farm commercially on under an acre

Welcome to Village Homes

Welcome to Village Homes: "Village Homes is a seventy-acre subdivision located in the west part of Davis, California. It was designed to encourage both the development of a sense of community and the conservation of energy and natural resources. The principal designer was Mike Corbett. Construction on the neighborhood began in the fall of 1975, and construction continued from south to north through the 1980s, involving many different architects and contractors. The completed development includes 225 homes and 20 apartment units."

UC Davis Arboretum Collection Maps

UC Davis Arboretum Collection Maps GIS map

SpringerLink - Fire Technology, Volume 37, Number 2

SpringerLink - Fire Technology, Volume 37, Number 2: "The time-to-ignition of various dominant Mediterranean forest fuels was measured during laboratory tests, in order to develop a relative flammability classification and determine the moisture of extinction of these fuels."

Tankar från trädgårdsmästaren: Bränd furu - igen

Charred pine exterior

Early Emerging Spring Perennials

Early Emerging Spring Perennials

The American Chestnut Foundation - Meadowview Research Farms

The American Chestnut Foundation - Meadowview Research Farms Near Abingdon, VA off 81 34, 000 trees in various stages of breeding on 150 acres.
Top photo: Top of leaves; Bottom photo: Underside of leaves
Top row: Allegheny chinkapin leaf;
Bottom row (from left): American, Chinese, European, and Japanese chestnut leaves.

  

From Left: American,Chinese, European, and Japanese twigs
American twig: pointed bud at 45 degree angle from stem; smooth, reddish stem
Chinese twig: rounded, hairy buds, large stipules (leaf-like coverings over the buds), large lenticels (white "bumps" on stem)

European twig: thick stem, large buds
Japanese twig: pale, pinkish stem

Top and Side Views of Chestnuts
From Left: American, Chinese, Japanese, and European chestnuts.


Top: Chinkapin nuts: note the pointed end

These photos are from VTech  http://cnre.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=21

How to Grow Lentil :: Harvest to Table

How to Grow Lentil :: Harvest to Table: "How to Grow Lentil

Filed under: How to Grow, Tagged as: how to grow, lentil

Lentils are a cool-season legume. Sow lentils in spring as early as 2 weeks before the average last frost date. Lentils can be started indoors before transplanting to the garden; lentil seeds will germinate in 10 days at 68°F. Lentils require 80 to 110 days to come to harvest."

Good & bad companions for vegetables | Garden Guides

Good & bad companions for vegetables | Garden Guides

Plant	Good Companions	Bad Companions
Basil	Pepper, Tomato, Marigold
Bush Beans	Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Lettuce, Pea, Radish, Strawberry, Savory, Tansy, Marigold	Onion
Pole Beans	Carrots, Corn Cucumber, Eggplant, Lettuce, Pea, Radish, Savory, Tansy	Beets, Onion
Beets	Bush Beans, Cabbage, Onion, Sage
Cabbage Family	Bush Beans, Beets, Celery, Onions, Tomato, All Strong Herbs, Marigold, Nasturtium	Strawberry
Carrots	Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Peas, Radish, Tomato, Sage	Dill
Celery	Bush Beans, Cabbage, Onion, Spinach, Tomato
Corn	Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Cucumber, Melons, Peas, Squash	Tomato
Cucumbers	Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Corn, Lettuce, Onions, Peas, Radish, Marigold, Nasturtium, Savory	No Strong Herbs
Eggplant	Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Spinach
Lettuce	Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Carrots, Cucumbers, Onion, Radish, Strawberries
Melons	Corn, Nasturtium, Radish
Onion	Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Cucumber, Lettuce, Pepper, Squash, Strawberries, Tomato, Savory	Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Peas
Parsley	Tomato
Peas	Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Carrots, Corn Cucumber, Radish, Turnips	Onion
Pepper	Onion
Radish	Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Carrots, Cucumber, Lettuce, Melons, Peas, Squash	Hyssop
Spinach	Celery, Eggplant, Cauliflower
Squash	Corn, Onion, Radish
Strawberry	Bush Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Spinach	Cabbage
Tomato	Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Onion, Mint	Corn, Fennel

Read more: Good & bad companions for vegetables | Garden Guides http://www.gardenguides.com/410-good-amp-bad-companions-vegetables.html#ixzz1EYXmlBGp