New Graduate!

Caera now has her Master's in Social Work, and I couldn't be more proud of her! Wow, this is a hard time to be finishing grad school (and a thesis) while a pandemic is going on. But we all survived, and we'll be celebrating online in June.

Mandala Progress

Kate and I have been hard at work on the rock wall. We have enough of an outer section finished to be ready to plant. The center has been seeded with sunflowers, chives, marigolds, zukes, and cukes. I had some succulents that needed a home since last year, so I tucked them in along the rocks. I also discovered I must have had some potato scraps in the compost I dumped into the center garden, so we might harvest some potatoes out of this. An allium of some sort is growing out the scraps, too. I love volunteers!

Sewing Masks for the Pandemic

Anyone need or want masks?

I'm sewing cloth masks based on this pattern. I like this one because it has a good fit, and it's customizable. It's 2 layers of cloth with a pocket for inserting an additional filter, whatever one prefers. There's a pocket for a nose wire, which can be taken out for washings, and/or replaced with something else or nothing at all. I've been using pipe cleaners for the nose wires, just because I have a lot on hand. I make the tie string with braided or crocheted cotton yarn, which has worked best for the folks in my household, but this can be replaced with whatever one wants, or threaded in a different way. I'm using materials I have at home, so I can't guarantee the most exciting fabric patterns or matching colored thread.

The way I figure, masks are going to be part of the new normal for quite a while, so it's good to have several on hand. I'm not the fastest seamstress, but I do have the time, so this is something I can offer. Let me know if you're interested, and we can work out the details. I don't want money for them; I'm giving as many away as I can make.

Seattle Times Article Brings Perspective about the Asian Giant Hornet

Panicked over ‘murder hornets,’ people are killing native bees we desperately need

Seattle Times

People, get a grip. Yes, the Asian giant hornet, now famously known as the “murder hornet,” is one huge scary wasp, capable of decimating an entire colony of honeybees and savagely stinging and possibly killing humans who get in their way. 

But since last week, when it was reported that two hornets were spotted for the first time in Washington state, the national panic has led to the needless slaughter of native wasps and bees, beneficial insects whose populations are already threatened, said Doug Yanega, senior museum scientist for the Department of Entomology at UC Riverside.

Walking Around The Neighborhood

Well, we're in a pandemic that I fear will be going on...indefinitely. Aside from the work in the garden, my daily walks around the neighborhood are pretty much my only exercise. And you know what? I'm grateful I can at least do that. I'm often joined by one or both of my partners, and there's always something interesting to look at. I'm getting very familiar with the minute details of the flora and fauna I encounter every day.

Home Garden Updates

 

We finished filling the interior bed with soil, and I also mixed in some perlite for drainage. I sowed seeds that I was able to obtain (I was late ordering, and they've been harder to acquire than usual during the pandemic), including some saved marigold (for pest control) seeds from last year. This year, I know my main focus is getting the garden constructed, but even still, I'd like to see what I can grow while we're still working on the build.

You may have noticed the shells bordering the keyhole garden. A friend suggested using pistachio shells as a method of slug control, and I've finally eaten enough pistachios to give it a try. For some reason I also decided to give the beer method another go, and the result was underwhelming this time (but reliably disgusting).

Kate gifted me with a couple birdhouses she built, and they make a lovely addition to the snags. Thank you!

I cleaned out an old rain barrel that Caera and I had used at Red Barn Community Farm and set it up near the mandala garden. This small barrel is obviously not the most efficient way to water plants, but I like having multiple sources of water (and in this case, a way to capture it).

Apple Blossoms

 Hi, my poor neglected apple tree. You've blossomed another year, and I just want you to know that I see you. I'm working on a spot for fruit trees, but I'm not there yet. Maybe not all of your blossoms will become deer food?