Water usage, updated.

My buddy Emily makes a great point about water barrels that can hold water for summer use. They are actually part of our Phase 1 plans, and Chris and I have also considered a large water cistern under the newly pushed out fence and dirt if we can afford it. Winter water for summer use in Sacramento. It's a beautiful thing.

Case in point.

I come home for lunch every day.

I make a sandwich, open a Diet Coke and make my daily trek to the back patio to eat. We have those plastic Adirondack chairs, and every day I flip them over to make sure there aren't any spiders, because there are constantly webs all over the bottom of them.

Sure enough, what did a I find under my chair today? A male black widow spider, big one too. Insert goosebumps here. I will continue to use my environmentally unsafe spray until it is gone and I have better artillery.

Damn you black widows. The war has yet to begin.

Organic Black Widow Control. PLEASE!

I got married so someone would get things from high shelves and kill spiders for me.

No kidding.

But really - my fabulous husband does double duty as resident spider killer in our house. I can't stand most spiders, black widows in particular. Just the thought of them sends my body into goosebumps immediately. I actually (no lie) have them right now. Chris thinks it's pretty funny that I have a bad case of arachnophobia. I'm not laughing. You can bet on there being NO picture in this post.

At our old house we had a pest service come and spray our house every 2 months. I cringe now when I think to all the chemicals that we introduced into our local groundwater and lives! Yuck. So we decided against the service at our new house, and although I don't regret it for the pollution reason, I can't stand black widows, and boy do we have them. Everywhere.

Our stucco-framed house has a small opening at the ground all around the house, perfect spider territory. All around our home one can see the shiny taut webs coming down from this opening, taunting me as I garden and walk by.

I have looked forever for a natural solution to these pests. Yes, I let spiders live usually. I'm ok with beneficial spiders and actually think the jumpy ones are kinda cute, but black widows serve no useful purpose. Fight with me all you want about this staunch opinion, but come on! Yuck.

I came across an all natural solution from Victor Poison Free Ant/Roach/Wasp/Hornet killers. They are really 2 different kinds of sprays only because of the sprayer action: one is a typical sprayer and the other is a wasp stream sprayer. I read online somewhere that this solution also works on black widows. At this point, I'm willing to spend $33 ($10 was shipping... dammit) for 4 bottles and hope for the best.

Results to follow sometime in the future.

Katie

Good news or not?

So the good news is that broken sprinkler valve wasn't so ... uh ... broken after all. We screwed it back on and it didn't leak. We ran the sprinklers -- it didn't leak. We ran them for a week -- it doesn't leak.

So the good news is our grass won't be totally dead, but the bad news is we're wasting water watering grass we HATE.

Great. Only 1.5 seasons until we can do something about it. I can't wait for phase 1.

DNS Servers, and other jibber jabber

Ok, so the last few days my blog as been having issues because I couldn't figure out how to set up my DNS servers or whatever to point to my new URL

www.gardenpunks.com

So now it works, and all is well. Note new address, read, and enjoy.

-Katie

Ok. That was weird.

So Chris came home from being out of town and was shocked how bad the grass on the side looked. He advised me that we either a) cover it with mulch or something or b) water it. He reminded me that if we're going to refinance our mortgage and will need to have our house appraised. Yikes!

So today we set out to OSH to find the part to our sprinkler valve that is broken, so we can fix it, and once again green grass can reign.

As we pull up to OSH, I recognize a high school classmate of mine standing near a professional video camera and tripod in the shade. I waved, she recognized me, and we went on our merry way.

Coming out of OSH, she asked us if we lived up here (Folsom), and then the conversation went like this:

Me: So what's up with the camera
Her: Oh, we're shooting a landscape show up here and OSH is a partner
Me: What, like Ambush Landscaping or something?
Her: Yeah, actually they are looking for someone in the store who needs their landscape redone.
Me: What channel is the show on?
Her: DIY
Me: Wow. Too bad we don't get DIY.
Her: Yeah, I had to get some special package. I hope they let me write it off at the end of the year as a work expense.
Me: BTW, this is my husband Chris. Chris -- this is Tiffany. We went to HS together. So we should go back inside and follow them around? How much do you get and what is the deal?
Her: ... You guys should! That would be funny.
Me: Damn. I picked a crappy day to dress badly and look like crap. Really, really bad.
Her: Laughing.
Us: //more small talk//
Me: Aight. Nice to see you, good luck with the taping and show!
Her: You too!

Weird! First, I usually run from people I went to HS with, or ignore them. She was too cool for me to do that to though. I'm glad we chatted, it was fun! But how strange that Chris and I want to redo our landscape and they were doing a show about it. But Chris and I were thinking out loud on the way home and here's why we're glad they didn't approach us and general rationalzing:

1) DIY usually has crappy shows, from what I've seen. Fabric and crap like that, you know?
2) It's probably one of those shows where the homeowner foots most of the bill.
3) It would look cheap.
4) We would likely have to take a couple days off work this week or something.
5) We wouldn't get what we really want -- the full front yard redone.

Hmm. Guess we'll never know.

And we ended up buying the wrong sprinkler part, going back to OSH to return it and get the right one, forgot the return item, OSH didn't end up have what we needed, and neither did Home depot. Glad we wasted most of today trying to locate a sprinkler part that is 10 years old and that they don't make anymore....

Update on Current Raised Bed Project

So I promised pictures. Here is.

051407

051707

Shame on me. I'm a bad suburbanite.

Readers of my blog know all about the side grass project we have going on. (I mean readers in the future tense).

In the past couple weeks, it's hit 90 degrees here in Folsom, California. Already. It's only May. So you can imagine what a wonderful summer we're in for this year. Getting back to my point --

Parts of our back lawn decided to die. Go straight-up crispy on us. Sounds like you're walking on snail shells almost. So I've been trying to water diligently and thoughtfully a couple times a week. Hell, we're the only ones who can see our back lawn anyway.

Imagine my horror when I went to mow the front today and 2/3 of the side yard was crispy dead-like, and at least 1/2 of the front swath is on it's way there. Now I know why neighbors have been not waving to us. We're officially "Those Neighbors" now. Great.

What they don't know is our big plans for the front and side yards. Big plans.

I almost want to write a letter that reads something like this and mail it to all the folks in the court behind us that have to see the nasty dead lawn everyday on the way to and from work (or for those who are independently wealthy and get to stay home and enjoy their money, when they go to the opera or whatever it is that rich folks do). Oh yes, the letter:

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Dear Neighbors,

First, let us introduce ourselves. We're Chris and Katie and we live on the corner of your court.

Second, let us apologize. Between a broken sprinkler valve and the rash of 90 degree days we've had recently, much of the turf grass on the south side of our house has died. Straight up gone crispy-like.

We want to assure you that although it may be too late to save the patches of lawn that are dead, we will do our best to keep the other third alive. Like a patchwork of green and yellow.

This coming winter, we had planned on redoing the whole side and front yards of our house with water wise , yet oh-so lush native California plants and rocks and stuff. On the side, we were going to put in a retaining wall and push out our fence some to give us more space in our backyard where we seem to spend much of our time. But we assure you that you will not just be looking at an ugly fence in place of previously 2/3 dead crispy lawn. With our landscape designer, we plan on making the side more enjoyable and interesting that it ever was, even when all the little blades of grass were green.

So, bear with us this summer and we promise you will be rewarded aesthetically.

Also, we don't bite. Come over and say hello sometime.

Chris & Katie
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Too much, right?

Katie

Zillow.com & Landscape Design Phase 1, 2, 2.1

I've decided to combine two blog entries since they go hand in hand. Sortof.

First, We visited Zillow.com recently to see what the same house around the corner sold for, and made a suprising discovery once there. When we wanted to view the satellite picture, Chris called me over to show me how clear and upgraded the pictures are now. I was stunned. They show everything! I think the picture of our house was taken in Winter 2006, as we don't have children's playtoys in our backyard, nor is there a tree in my neighbors yard anymore!

Anyhoo, here is the satellite picture of our humble abode.

The real reason this is so cool for me is that I get to peek into other folks' yards! It's amazing to see how many pools there are in this 10 year old neighborhood. HELOCs at work, I'm sure.

Now you can get an idea of how much stupid grass we really have. WAYYY TOO MUCH!

So Chris and I were doing something mundane the other day (can't remember what, but I'm sure it was rather domestic) when he mentioned that it would be cool to push out the South fence to make more room in our side yard for raised beds. We had once briefly chatted about it, but the idea was quickly lost upon us.

Now that the side yard is more usable, we find that we use our backyard every opportunity we get. I think I live in the backyard as much as I'm in the house when I'm awake. It would make sense to me to increase the space we have available for such outdoor pursuits.

We've always wondered why all of the other houses that have fences without a neighbor and face a street are 3'-5' setback, while ours is 10-12' setback off the court to our South. We've concluded that a retaining wall would have cost the original owners more to put in and make the yard larger, which at the time they likely couldn't afford. Now I won't hate on 'em for that reason, but it sure would have made the house sell faster, I'm sure!

Anyhoo, on to our projects.

Phase 1: Move 1/2 of California Sycamore trees to the front, if possible and feasible. I have a hard time giving up on a 10 year old fast-growing tree and starting anew. Build retaining wall with those suburban stacked stones you see everywhere (hey, they're the cheapest!). Fill in with dirt, and push fence out to within 3-5' of sidewalk. Phase 1 complete.

Phase 2: Rip out all front yard grass and irrigation system. Redo irrigation including mains, valves, pipes, and layout to accomodate lush, water-wise, native California garden in front. Throw in a few boulders and stone stairs for luck. Install computerized irrigation system that gets weather feeds and that I can also control from my home computer (<--- This is what I am looking forward to the most. Such a nerd I am.)

Phase 2.1: Redo back irrigation and some landscaping (change grass type). This is still in infacy stages of thought, really.

So there it is, our 2 year garden plan. I can't wait! (And neither can my neighbors who are watching the grass on the south side of the house die! Bwwaaahaaahaaahaa! Eat dirt!)

Turn Your Old Satellite Dish into a Birdbath

If you’re like me, you have an old satellite dish laying around. Bigger and better dishes are available (3-channel ones), so the dinky ones from yesteryear are being discarded at an alarming rate, especially since one large dish can now replace 3 smaller dishes.

This was our dilemma when we got DirecTV. The previous owners of our house (purchased last August) had DirecTV, and when we decided to plug back into the world of paid tv, we chose DirecTV. Which meant getting a new dish.

My husband wanted to chuck it, but it was such a cool shape, I knew I could do something interesting with it. It sat in the garage for a few months before I decided, “I can make a pretty interesting birdbath out of this.” No, it’s not as ghetto as it seems. Really, just ask the birds.

Step by Step Instructions

1. Disassemble the dish components, making absolute sure that you are keeping the bolts in a special space that you won’t forget. Removing them may require WD40 or some other lubricant depending on how long your dish withstood the elements. I had to use a lubricant on the last bolt.

2. Forget that special place you put the bolts and go buy new ones that fit. They NEED NOT be perfectly flush to the dish. Hexagonal bolts will suffice.

3. Clean the dish thoroughly and let dry.

From 051407

4. Replace the bolts in the dish before painting. By painting the bolts with they are attached to the dish, you will ensure a water-tight seal for your birdbath.

5. Spraypaint the dish with an outdoor-safe paint. I choose hammered metal spraypaint which left a nice, even, consistent finish that was the same color as the dish. It took two coats, 4 hours apart. You can paint the back and the front, but only the front is visible in my application, so I chose to save the paint. I let it cure overnight.

6. You can either mount the dish to a 4x4 post using an outdoor-safe adhesive you have laying around, or set it flat and level on ground near a shrub so birds can make a quick exit if necessary.

7. It may take the birds a little while to understand what it is, but once they do, make sure you keep it stocked with fresh, clean water and ensure it stays clean!

8. For more fun, throw some blackoil sunflower seeds on the ground or in a birdfeeder near it to attract more interest!

From 051407

Time keeps on slippin'

I have been very absent lately -- but all for good reason.

1) I stare at a computer all day (literally with my new job), so I can hardly justify doing the same thing when I get home.
2) The weather has been nice and my plants are beginning to bloom.
3) Along with spring comes springtime chores and yardwork.
4) uh...

So for tonight and the rest of this week Chris is out of town, and I will write what stories and interesting tidbits I have shuffled away in my head as "possible blog entries."

Katie

Disappointment leads to opportunity.

So in a fit to figure out why my soybeans haven't come up yet, I turned to internet searches for the answer.

While browsing the website of where I purchased the soybean seeds "beans" from, I realized that there were user reviews! I read other reviews and was shocked to learn that apparently, others had the same 0% germination rate.

I won't badmouth where I purchased them, because it could have been a fluke this year (not likely according to other users). Although more studious internet searching found that the soybeans you find in the stores and the ones farmers plant are sterile, meaning they cannot reproduce -- so you couldn't plant ones that you buy at the store. I have a feeling that somehow these were the same kind of beans that were sent out to unassuming consumers such as myself.

Well, the only way I can vote on issues like this is with my wallet. So next year, I will purchase seeds from another company Henry Fields Seeds & Nursery. I just wish I would have received their catalog sooner this year!

The opportunity part? Now there is a TON of extra room in the raised beds! So much that we are wondering what to plant there. Our thought is watermelon since it is a staple of Chris' diet in the summertime (I am not, have never been, and never will be a fan of watermelon.)

In a previous post about companion plantings, I recently spent my $50 OSH giftcard on seeds and other things to plant as companions to those already in my garden. I planted a flat of marigolds to attract beneficial insects, radishes, cilantro (which I can swear UP AND DOWN I bought with the seeds I originally ordered), catmint, catnip, chamomile, nasturtiums, garlic bulbs, and eggplant.

Chris and I have seen the biggest grasshoppers EVER in our backyard on the side with all these vegetables, and their presence makes me really nervous. These things look like they could take on a small child, they are so large (5" long -- no joke!). I don't want to come out to a dessimated garden one morning because they have destroyed everything. They ate all the leaves off of my Japanese Maple last year before I knew what was going on! (The one I bought when it was 6" tall and is now a regal 3' two years later...ahem...I'm great). Next internet search -- how to get rid of insanely large grasshoppers in an environmentally friendly way...

I will post an updated picture soon of all the things in my garden! Woo hoo!