txrose's Blog
txrose's Blog
Last Post 14 days, 1 hour Ago
Aug 7, 2008 | 9:28 PM PST
What kind of bee this was I don't remember who's blog or pics it was in and I did search the site for words about bumble bee because that is what I thought it was too.
Only now after seeing it in research sites I remember my Mom and Dad saying it is a Carpenter Bee.
Here are some pics maybe the one who asked will see this.
Aug 7, 2008 | 7:28 PM PST
Tag:
If you live in Arkansaw or Texas you will understand the humor.
I lived in Illinois for twelve years we really loved the fact that you could go to the state parks or your own backyard and throw a blanket on the ground and just look at the clouds and rest for a bit. The seasonal change in the trees and landscape was breathtaking.
After a while we decided we missed Texas and came back home. Its around twelve hours of driving to get back here from there so I got tired about the time we reached Clintons hometown in Arkansaw I pulled over somewhere and took a catnap. When I was rested enough to continue I got out to check the oil I raised the hood and took out the dipstick wiped it off and started to insert it back in...when all of a sudden I looked like a bad orchestra conductor waving that dipstick in the air and trying to get whatever was attacking me off my leg!!! After all of that I got back in the car looked toward my son and remembered why I didn't like Texas!!! (Tx pride aside if you've ever been bit its easy to forget that pride thing)
Today I have been looking at benificial garden insects online. I figure I should get aquainted with them since while gardening we deal with bugs one on one. While surfing the net for information I came across a site from Galveston County master gardeners. Here are some things they said about fireants:
The Good: Fire ants voraciously consume populations of fleas, ticks, termites, cockroaches, chinch bugs, mosquito eggs and larva, scorpions, etc.—after learning this, I realize that it really has been years since I last set off a flea bomb. A non-overstated culinary creed for fire ants could be the following: If it will stay still for a bit . . . then it's dinner!
The Bad: A Texas A&M study reports that fire ants currently cost Texas over one billion dollars a year. Fire ants are found in more than two-thirds of the counties in Texas.
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The sting of a fire ant is painful and can cause an allergic reaction in some people. (NOTE: We typically refer to these negative encounters with fire ants as "being bitten." In actuality, the fire ant bite with their powerful jaws this is geared toward providing an anchor for itself while it plunges its stinger into the flesh—it's the latter action that leaves painful memories and even red welts, about twice the size of a normal freckle. A white blister typically forms within 24 hours.
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Fire ants cause severe damage to cattle and wildlife. Wildlife such as quail and other ground-nesting birds, reptiles and deer are especially affected by ants shortly after birth or hatching. (NOTE: In Texas, no endangered species has been reported to have become extinct.)
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Auburn University/Alabama Agricultural Experimental Station and Texas A&M/Texas Agricultural Experimental Station studies have demonstrated that large fire ant mounds can severely damage farm equipment during soybean and hay harvest and can sting farm workers handling harvested cotton and other crops.
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Fire ants interrupt our God given right to walk barefoot in our grass
comments from some former master gardeners in regard to what they liked about fireants were:
"They provide an additional form of aerobic exercise. More motivating than any fitness trainer, they inspire me to leap to my feet and dance around my front yard, while ripping my shoes and socks off. Sometimes I even feel like running."
"I like the nicely tilled soil hills they leave behind when they have vacated. I treat the piles with a mixture of orange oil, agricultural molasses and dawn dishwashing liquid. They run away and leave me a nice pile of soil that I move about as needed in the garden"
" Hmmmm . . . I think I love my fire ants because: 1.) Now I really watch where I put my feet when I'm outside—think of all the stubbed toes and sprained ankles that are prevented; 2.) Those little stinkers do an excellent job of picking up seeds, etc. like their other ant brethren; and 3.) They have forcibly made me notice and appreciate how neatly creatures evolve to fit their ecological niche. Now that I'm thinking about it, nah, I don't really love them"
Enjoy ! :)
benificial insects; http://aggie-horticulture.t
amu.edu/galveston/beneficials/
index.htm
Jul 27, 2008 | 10:35 AM PST
Last year there was a larger one that came out of a large planter on my kitchen sill it went down the sink...this one I found while putting a new trash liner in the kitchen trashcan..don't know if it was in the liner box or in the trash....if I knew the name I could put it where its more wanted....like the garden???? I put him out on the front porch by other plants. This one was like 11/2" long.
May 25, 2008 | 5:01 PM PST
Most people who see my backyard tell me that it looks like a park. It sorta does, because the only thing that is really back there are trees and a wooden fort built by the last owner.
I walked around out there today and enjoyed it a lot! There were mushrooms growing I don't know what kind..but there were a lot of them. My herb plant, that I can't recall the name of, is growing and I keep an eye on it to see if it blooms then I could see what it actually is.
Picked up a lot of twigs blown down by the high winds we've had. Then I checked my compost pile and turned it. It is looking a lot like compost now I am happy about that!
I sat on the back stoop to look over my so called "park" very relaxing. Then I noticed two woodpeckers on the fort eatting bugs. I quickly got the camera to show you all.
I know I should be worried about woodpeckers in my yard as I have wood siding on my home...but I can't worry there are enough trees and bugs out in the park aka my backyard to keep them busy. And they are so pretty.
Its the first time that I have ever seen the male and female together. Hope that you enjoy the pic as much as I have. There was of course no way to get closer to them. I like the way they are just sitting there like me looking at the yard.
May 5, 2008 | 2:47 PM PST
Putting a photo on my blog using instructions from the Ky Hillbilly Bill :)
AWESOME I finally did it!!!!!!!! Thanks Bill!!!!
This is a plant given to me as a house warming gift from my oldest son he made the planter. Talented huh:)
Apr 21, 2008 | 8:47 PM PST
I thought I'd share this its a interesting take on our summer routines. Ya'll have a great week!
"Winterize your lawn," the big sign outside the garden store commanded. I've fed it, watered it, mowed it, raked it and watched a lot of it die anyway. Now I'm supposed to winterize it? I hope it's too late. Grass lawns have to be the stupidest thing we've come up with outside of thong swimsuits! We constantly battle dandelions, Queen Anne's lace, thistle, violets, chicory and clover that thrive naturally, so we can grow grass that must be nursed through an annual four step chemical dependency.
Imagine the conversation The Creator might have with St. Francis about this:
"Frank you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracted butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles."
"It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great extent to kill them and replace them with grass."
"Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?"
"Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn."
"The spring rains and cool weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy."
"Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it _ sometimes twice a week."
"They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?"
"Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags."
"They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?"
"No, sir. Just the opposite. They pay to throw it away."
"Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?"
"Yes, sir."
"These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work."
"You aren't going believe this Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it."
"What nonsense! At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life."
"You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and have them hauled away."
"No! What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and keep the soil moist and loose?"
"After throwing away your leaves, they go out and buy something they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves."
"And where do they get this mulch?"
"They cut down trees and grind them up."
"Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. Saint Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?"
"Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It's a real stupid movie about..."
"Never mind I think I just heard the whole story."
Apr 14, 2008 | 6:55 PM PST
Today got off to a rather slow start as I had to check in to GG and play a few games guess a few plants (though I'm usually not correct its fun and enlighting to seek information). I was able to get going once it warmed up to around 60 degrees outside. I purchased gas for the mower and that was the hard part...then I set out to rake the pecan shells and sweetgum balls up from the backyard. I ended up leaving the shells and bending to pick up the sweetgum balls! My back is sure to be feeling good tomorrow. I finished that and thought about saving the sweetgum balls for some bright idea, if ever there is one, other than a christmas craft idea! Then I dumped them in the burn pile its easier and its allowed here even though I hate it as its not GREEN. Yeah, neither is the gas mower.
Ok, so then I retrieve the mower and mow good and steady at least an hour and cover 1/4 the of the backyard. Then all of a sudden the lever that makes it propel itself is loosened...okay I know that feeling, I shut off the mower and check it out. I couldn't fix it but thought maybe it will work anyway..so I pulled the start string and "POP" well...now I remember..the same thing happened last year the belt is off so I had to stop mowing until the morning when I will have help to fix it. I had to stop. (happy little smile)
So I went out to continue painting my future salon the fashionable dark purple (really its awesome). When I entered the shop I felt like something was looking at me I kept walking and then there it was!! A sparrow was in there how it got in I'll never know I checked everywhere. Do ya'll think that is a good sign? At least I know God does watch over the sparrows he looked healthy so I opened the door and let him out.
That was all I had in me I didn't want to paint. So I got back on GG of course and played some more. Then I got the bright idea to grab the camera and take some photos of the trees in the yard and catalog them.
The neighbor told me while I was picking up sweetgum balls that "You have Mr. Doyle (original owner 1948) to thank for that" "Mrs.Doyle said no,no I don't want that tree planted out there" but Mr. Doyle did it anyway....Thanks a heap Mr Doyle.
Mar 17, 2008 | 4:19 PM PST
Did everyone wear green? I saw a guy with a shamrock painted between his eyes and a short lady with a tall furry green hat on today...that's all guess there aren't too many people round these parts run with it. I sure don't understand that because there is a lot of Irish in this neck of the woods.
It reached a high of 84 degrees today.
I went and purchased a wheelbarrel found out its called a wheelbarrow...dang Texas slang. So now I had to look it up to see the spelling of it . Also got a caddy for the 100ft waterhose I've been lugging from one point to the next. If you wonder how I made it this far without a wheelbarrow I used a old shower curtain to rake up leaves on and lug to the leaf pile. That is how it is when you have a small car and a even smaller money vault. I did however learn you should not no matter how in need you are haul a wheelbarrow in the back seat of your small car. I figured ...well, it hauled an 8ft fence post and a huge tv and some other things like the wheelbarrow "huge" things! but you shouldn't over do it cause it ripped my door a little bit. And as with the fencepost I had to have a window down so as not to break the window and still get the monster home.
Then when I got the "wheelbarrel" home I set about to use it until the rain came. I read on freeplants. com that you could use newspaper as a weed barrior. I did it different than he suggests but I had tested it before and it worked so I did it my way. I laid down 6 sheets of newspaper securing it with garden staples and then took some good loam from the backyard and after wetting the paper I put the good loam over that and it looks really good and since I have done a practice run of it last year I know it will work. Oh, I removed the staples after the soil was in place.
When I am out in my front yard I always feel like I am on stage, I have to try real hard not to look around I just know the neighbors are all wondering what I am up to. Their yards are nicely kept up. This one has not been for several years now.
When I finish it will look wonderful and then I'll look up so funny I know but I am so new to gardening and I am sure I look quite silly sometimes. Like that short little lady with the green furry hat on!
Hope you all enjoyed your day today and I am hoping that grannylee is feeling much better now.
