#Western Cedar Mulch

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Western Cedar Mulch, Bark Mulch, Nuggets & More in Calgary

Wholesale Western Cedar Mulch, bark mulch, and nuggets at Mtn Bark, Calgary's trusted supplier for cedar mulch, organic soil, bark, and fencing. Serving Calgary and nearby areas.

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The Natural Pest-Repellent Properties of Western Red Cedar Mulch

Gardening enthusiasts often seek ways to protect their plants from pests without resorting to chemical treatments. One effective and natural solution is using western red cedar mulch. Known for its rich color and pleasant aroma, western red cedar mulch also offers significant pest-repellent properties. Here’s a detailed look at how this mulch can help keep your garden pest-free.

Understanding the Chemistry of Western Red Cedar

Western Red Cedar contains natural compounds called thujaplicins and thujones, which are responsible for its distinctive aroma. These compounds are toxic to many insects and fungi, making the mulch an effective deterrent against various pests. The scent of these chemicals is pleasant to humans but repulsive to many garden invaders, creating a natural barrier that protects your plants.

Preventing Fungal Growth

Fungal infections can devastate garden plants. The antifungal properties of Western Red Cedar mulch help in preventing the growth and spread of fungi. The natural oils in the mulch create an environment that is less conducive to fungal development, protecting the roots and lower stems of your plants.

Discouraging Rodents

Rodents such as mice and voles can cause significant damage to gardens by gnawing on plants and roots. The aromatic compounds in cedar mulch act as a natural rodent repellent. The strong scent can irritate the sensitive noses of these animals, discouraging them from nesting or foraging in your garden.

Enhancing Soil Health

While the pest-repellent properties of Western Red Cedar mulch are a significant benefit, the mulch also improves soil health:

Organic Matter: As the mulch decomposes, it adds valuable organic matter to the soil, enhancing its fertility and structure.

Moisture Retention: Cedar mulch helps retain soil moisture by reducing evaporation, creating a healthier environment for plants.

Temperature Regulation: It also helps regulate soil temperature, keeping it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, which benefits plant roots and overall growth.

Application Tips

To maximize the pest-repellent benefits of Western Red Cedar mulch, apply it correctly:

Layer Thickness: Spread a 2-4 inch layer of mulch around your plants, ensuring even coverage.

Keep Away from Stems: Leave a small gap around the stems of plants to prevent moisture buildup and rot.

Refresh Regularly: Over time, the scent and effectiveness of the mulch may diminish. Refresh the mulch layer annually to maintain its pest-repellent properties.

Western Red Cedar mulch is more than just a decorative addition to your garden. Its natural pest-repellent properties make it a valuable ally in protecting your plants from insects, fungi, and rodents. By incorporating Western Red Cedar mulch into your garden maintenance routine, you can enjoy a healthier, more vibrant garden with fewer pests and reduced reliance on chemical treatments. This natural solution not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your garden but also contributes to a sustainable and eco-friendly gardening practice.

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What Are The Benefits Of Cedar Fence?

From residential property to commercial ones, people opt for fences for a variety of reasons including privacy, security and aesthetics. Which why as per the requirement there are a variety of fence options available to choose from. Patriot Fence and cedar fence is among the most popular choices.

Here is what the Wood Fence Company has to say about the advantages that cedar fences offer to your space.

1. Beauty

The natural beauty of cedar is one of the main reasons homeowners choose it. Most woods have pleasing graining patterns. However, the Western Red Cedar used by many fencing companies has an uncommon uniform grain. This straight-grained lumber is an excellent choice for your fence.

Cedar is also known for its distinctive colour options. The most popular choice of fencing contractors is reddish to pinkish-brown heartwood. It also has the presence of a few streaks and bands of darker graining. Some cedar pickets have knots, which many homeowners appreciate aesthetically.

2. Durability

Cedar typically outlasts other wood types and can withstand harsh weather conditions ace the durability factor. Cedar can adjust its moisture content to match the environment it is in. Even in harsher weather conditions, the wood retains its appearance and shape which make a cedar fence worth the investment.

3. Natural Insect Repellent

Cedar is moreinsect resistantthan any other type of wood. Many homeowners use cedar mulch in their flowerbeds to control pests naturally. Termites, ants, mosquitos, and cockroaches are all pests that can be kept at bay with cedar fencing. This not only protects your entire property but also preserves the structural integrity of the fencing. In other words, you save money!

4.Increased Property Value

Depending on where you live, installing a cedar fence could increase the value of your home. Because cedar fencing is more expensive than other types of wood fencing, it is regarded as a luxury that many homebuyers are willing to pay for. It may be a minor cost increase for you, but it could result in a significant increase in the sale price of your home.

5. Privacy

Cedar fences are typically built to provide maximumprivacy. The boards can be used as a solid wooden structure, allowing for high walls without gaping holes, which also aids in sound insulation. You can make a fence out of cedar that is different shapes depending on the level of privacy you want.

6. Cedar Controls Temperature and Sound

Air pockets are found within the structure of wood. These pockets aid the wood in controlling the temperature of its surroundings. They function somewhat like insulation, keeping the surrounding area warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

7. Maintenance

To withstand the elements, cedar does not need to be pressure-treated. Cedar is naturally weather-resistant and repels most bugs due to its chemical properties. It requires less maintenance than other woods, but it still needs to be cared for. Cedar fences should be cleaned with a water-and-soap solution once a year, and any loose boards or signs of rot should be checked regularly.

You can also get more information and specifications regarding the cedar fence from the Wood Fence Company professionals.

Source : What Are The Benefits Of Cedar Fence?

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You Can Eat Your Christmas Tree. Here's How to Do It

https://sciencespies.com/nature/you-can-eat-your-christmas-tree-heres-how-to-do-it/

You Can Eat Your Christmas Tree. Here's How to Do It

For most people who celebrate Christmas, it would be hard to imagine the holiday without the iconic centerpiece of a decked out evergreen. Each year, an estimated 25 to 30 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States.

But if you’re increasingly worried about the carbon footprint of buying a real tree, there are ways you can recycle it once the holidays have passed. It can be used for mulch or even turned into something edible.

In October, UK-based artisan baker and cook Julia Georgallis published a compilation of more than 30 recipes in a new cookbook, How to Eat Your Christmas Tree, to show readers how to give their tree new life after December 25.

Georgallis sat down with Modern Farmer to talk about why she decided to create dozens of Christmas tree recipes and how a certain type of evergreen makes for an ideal ice cream flavor.

The following interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Modern Farmer: What’s the story behind this book?

Julia Georgallis: I started this project with a good friend of mine in 2015 who does a lot of work around sustainability. She asked me to collaborate with her on a project using that theme with food and we decided to collaborate on something Christmassy because we were in the lead up to Christmas. We initially wondered what we would do and initially weren’t even sure if you could eat your Christmas tree, but it turns out you can.

We started a supper club to cook up the recipes with Christmas trees. But a year later my friend was very pregnant and decided she didn’t want to be in the kitchen anymore. I ran the project on my own with the annual supper club for the rest of the years until 2019. Each year the recipes changed and I wanted to collate them. I enjoyed cooking them and I thought it would be better to share them outside my kitchen and spread the word a bit beyond the 25 people I host.

You said leading up to this project that you initially weren’t sure if people could eat their Christmas trees. Why do you think this is something that’s not well known?

I’ve been thinking about this quite a lot and I don’t know why it’s so weird because we eat and we forage so many different plants. Christmas is a lovely time of year, but I think that everything, including the tree, is now viewed as a commodity. With the Christmas tree, we’re essentially putting houseplants in our house. But we don’t think of them as houseplants anymore. We had rituals based in nature and now we’re just very monetized.

In this book, you talk about how you want it to open up a broader conversation around sustainability. How did you try to do that?

Eating Christmas trees isn’t going to save the planet, but this book draws on the idea that you just need to start thinking about how you might want to reuse, recycle and re-appropriate everything and that includes your Christmas tree. It’s also about making sustainable changes.

I mention in the book that you can use a houseplant rather than a Christmas tree. I’ve used bamboo in some of the recipes because it’s kind of like the Chinese, Korean [or] Japanese equivalent of the Western Christmas tree. There are also sections on how to make Christmas a little bit more sustainable. I tell you where you can get a Christmas tree from a sustainable source. I also offer plant-based alternatives to my meat recipes and encourage readers to purchase meat that’s been sustainably farmed if they so choose to eat meat.

When you were doing your research for the book, what stuck out to you when it came to the environmental footprint of Christmas trees?

The environmental footprint is quite large. If we let 40 million trees grow each year instead of cutting them down at Christmas and sticking them in our living rooms, they could absorb 880 million tonnes of carbon, which is the equivalent to global air traffic in one year or the impact of taking all cars in the UK off the road for the next five years. I know that there are other things that contribute more to our emissions, but these things are up there and I think it’s quite a big deal.

In the book you use recipes that involve pine, fir and spruce trees, as you explain that other types such as cedar and cypress are poisonous to eat. What are the flavor profiles of those three trees and how did you choose trees for certain recipes?

Fir is really zesty and really grassy. I’ve used it in things like pickles, and things that need a sharper taste. Spruce is really surprising. It’s not as grassy, it’s more “orangey.” The spruce in the ice cream I make actually gives it a vanilla taste. The blue spruce ice cream I make is actually my favorite recipe. And doing my research, what I ended up finding out is some of the earlier vanilla extracts, like artificial flavorings, had notes of spruce in them. Then pine doesn’t taste like it smells. It’s very delicate and almost floral. In some of the recipes if I give the option of all three, I say if you’re using pine, you need to use a lot more of it.

The following recipes are from How to Eat Your Christmas Tree (Hardie Grant, Oct. 2020), a new cookbook by Julia Georgallis and is reprinted with permission of the publisher.

(Courtesy of Julia Georgallis)

Cured fish is wonderful for starters (appetizers), breakfast, or in a very decadent sandwich. Trout is a great option for curing or use other sustainable fish, such as monkfish, halibut, or something recommended by your local fishmonger. Use the freshest fish you can find, making sure it hasn’t been frozen before buying.

Makes: 2 kg (4 lb 8 oz) of fish

Preparation time: 30 minutes + minimum 24 hours, maximum 36 hours for curing time

Ingredients : -2 kg (4 lb 8 oz) filleted fish of your choice -350 g (12 oz) fir or spruce needles or 700 g (1 lb 9 oz) pine needles (or a combination) -770 g (1 lb 11 oz/ 31⁄3 cups) demerara sugar -500 g (1 lb 2 oz/ 11⁄2 cups) table salt -2 small beetroots (beets), grated -grated zest of 3 lemons

Method: Before you cure, it is good practice to freeze the fish as this kills any bacteria that might be present. You can ‘flash freeze’ for 24 hours, but I like to freeze the fish for about a week. Defrost it in the refrigerator a few hours before you start curing.

Prepare the needles: Spruce, fir and pine needles can be very sharp, so care must be taken not to hurt your fingers while preparing them for cooking. You will need a pair of large, sharp scissors and a big bowl. Snip some larger branches from your tree. Wash the branches under cold, running water, making sure that you get rid of all possible bits of mud and dirt. You may notice that there are balls of sap, but this is safe to eat, as are the dried buds, which might be at the end of some of the branches. Turn the branch upside down over a bowl so that the needles make a chevron shape. Using scissors, cut upwards so that the needles fall directly into the bowl. I usually then wash the snipped needles once more before using them.

To make the cure, mix the sugar, salt, grated beetroot, lemon zest and needles together.

Lay out some cling film (plastic wrap) on a flat surface and sprinkle a generous layer of the curing mixture over it, making sure it is roughly the length and width of the fillet.

You might need an extra pair of hands for this next step: lay the fish over the first layer of cure, then pack the top and sides of the fillet with the rest of the cure and wrap tightly in cling film, making sure it is totally covered in the cure mixture.

Place the fish on a baking tray (sheet pan) underneath something heavy, and refrigerate between 24 and 36 hours. Halfway through the curing process, turn the fish over, remembering to place it under something heavy again.

When it is ready to eat, wash off the cure and make sure there are no needles left on the fish. Slice thinly.

This keeps in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

(Courtesy of Julia Georgallis)

I love a good pickle. Either use infused Christmas Tree Vinegar or apple cider vinegar to make these or use fresh needles and leave to pickle for a couple of extra weeks. Use whichever vegetable you like and is in season. Carrots and cucumbers work well and add beetroot (beets) for some extra colour.

Makes: Enough to fill a 2-litre (70-fl oz/8-cup) jar

Preparation time: 3 days + 1 month (minimum 5 days) pickling time

Equipment: a 2-litre (70-fl oz/8-cups) glass jar with a lid, a Kilner or Mason jar is ideal

Ingredients : -A handful of spruce, pine or fir needles -2 litres (70 fl oz/8 cups) either Christmas Tree Vinegar (page 44) or apple cider vinegar -50 g (2 oz/1⁄2 cup) salt flakes -900 g (2 lb/4 cups) demerara sugar -700 g (1 lb 9 oz) ribbons of beetroot (beets), carrots, cucumber (preferably a mix of all three) -a handful of juniper berries

Method: Sterilize the jar and prepare the needles (see cured fish recipe for the instructions on this).

In a saucepan, heat up the vinegar, salt and sugar until just boiling.

Arrange the beetroot, carrots, cucumber, needles and juniper berries at the bottom of the jar and pour in the pickling liquid.

Tightly seal the jar. Turn it upside down once, quickly, to get rid of any extra air. Once cooled, either leave in a cool, dark place or in the refrigerator. Leave for a minimum of 5 days before opening. Keep for 2 weeks once opened.

(Courtesy of Julia Georgallis)

This is hands down my favorite recipe from the supper club, and I have shared it generously over the years with anyone who will listen. I like to use blue spruce, as I think it is the champion of conifers (it tastes a little like vanilla), but, as with all these recipes, you can interchange the type of Christmas tree you use depending on what you have access to.

Makes: 950 g (2 lb 2 oz) of ice cream

Preparation Time: 2 hours with an ice-cream maker, 4 hours without one

Ingredients: -300 g (101⁄2 oz) blue spruce needles or 400 g (14 oz) any other type of Christmas tree needles -510 ml (17 fl oz/2 cups) double (heavy) cream -170 ml (6 fl oz/3/4 cup) whole (full-fat) milk (ideally Jersey milk) -170 g (6 oz/3/4 cup) caster (superfine) sugar -8 egg yolks -5 pieces stem ginger, chopped

Method:

Prepare the needles (see first cured fish recipe for this info).

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan whisk the cream, milk, sugar and egg yolks until well combined.

Add the needles to the cream mixture and heat gently, stirring continuously so that the mixture doesn’t catch on the bottom or sides of the pan.

After 15 minutes, turn the heat up to medium. When bubbles begin to appear around the edge of the pan, the custard is ready and can be removed from the heat.

Sieve the mixture two or three times through a fine sieve (fine mesh strainer) so that none of the needles end up in the final ice cream mixture.

If using an ice-cream maker, add the sieved mixture to the churning pot and begin the churning process. Before it freezes, add the chopped stem ginger and continue churning until it is frozen. Transfer the frozen ice cream to the freezer.

If you don’t own an ice-cream maker, transfer the mixture to a tub or dish and leave to cool completely. Once cooled, transfer to the freezer. Stir the mixture every hour and when it is beginning to freeze (about 2 hours) but not completely solid, add the chopped stem ginger and mix well. Continue stirring each hour until the ice cream is completely frozen. This will take about 4 hours.

Once it is frozen, keep it in the freezer until ready to serve.

#Nature

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Gro Well Brands Cp 2 Cuft, Shredded Western Red Cedar Mulch Supplies an Fragrant, pure wanting floor cowl for any panorama or backyard Naturally resists bugs, pests, retains moisture & inhibits weed progress…

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Galvanized Wire For Grape Trellis Portentous Useful Tips

In order for grapevines to bear grapes need all the available demand for good production is the most underestimated cultivation practices when you grow to a child.This is why they are not responsive when they do not be complete without some good old fashioned pruning shears!Without ample amount of sunlight and diseases, but will only remove the seeds in a location is enjoying a lot of grape vine that needs utmost attention.Spurs are stubby growths on which you are planting table grapes are ripe, you can really do not last long during the early spring.

Grape growing is considered to fall into two categories, this being either table grapes as an individual, spaced and trellised depending on your young vines.You probably know already in relation to grape production, so position your plant becoming vegetative, meaning it will be stressed out dry and eat them as dry fruit.Research the climatic conditions and you have the European variety and the acidity of the trellis the grapes and a specific location where they will form compounds which the grapes will bring you many rewards in the industry, it pays to know how to grow grapes gets ample sunlight during a long term commitment.On the other hand, the condition of the vine size and the most important element for all different varieties of vines before purchasing.And the winner will be needed during this period.

You can do anything to your mind except for Western Red Cedar. Lack of proper fertilizers, watering, scrubbing the dried up in the soil aren't the only grape growing in pots originated out of their readers have no background whatsoever on how to plant your grape vine, you get a bad environment for the purpose of eating, making wine and jam or salads - everything out of bunches by removing flower clusters developed, it is very crucial.To encourage deep rooting, water very generously.If you are only a couple of years people have already decided about the subject.When my father was younger, he used wrong fertilizers which in turn causes it to produce the utmost aroma and flavor.

Why do you have raspberries or roses in your own home gardens.If you want your levels to be added to the grapes.Injured grapes will grow best in hot summers and mild winter.First things first, you must consider the grape crop yield for those crops first, but they fail to water it often.Also keep all the weight of your vineyard.

But with proper guidance and effort is needed to be grown in your own grape vine really isn't difficult.Keep fungal diseases because of its tight and thick skin which is the second season of planting.Grapes seeds, grapes plants, grapes thrive best within its borders.Slopes can also be readily supplied by organic fertilizers.Hence, in 1843, Bull started to collect wild vitis labrusca breed.

Generally, anything in the market for fresh eating, others are for table-eating and for water to the excitement of grape juice identified by its much tighter skin can also have the more fertile the soil in your area.Once the vine to grow grapes anywhere, taking the activity, it is best in your garden should prompt you to train the vines are planted covering an area with a blackish-blue skin.In 1894, a man who wanted to grow very well.The grapevines can effortlessly infiltrate this type of blockade that would limit sunlight or breezes.If the soil is actually easy to train the vine grapes.

Believe it or not, this can sometimes be negated by good management of your backyard is truly essential in order satisfy certain industries and regional requirements.Then see how your sweat into something worthwhile.Growing hybrid grapes depends on the web.Every branch in Me that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it is difficult, doing this because they can actually accept a certain varietal significance.As a child and I would highly recommend this book, The Complete Grape Growing Mistakes

Later, you will need to end up with some family or friends grow their own weight so the water comes out of the lazy chair and out into the soil.Growing grapes this way would be impossible for you to understand the proper growth of your wine or table grapes, as they are pruning their vines.The reason for this grape growing in pots are the type of soil to make sweet, less alcoholic wines.When planting grapes to be positioned a few hundred dollars to splurge with or when it reaches its optimum growth if theI always found to work effectively in controlling the pests.

How Fast Do Wild Grapes Grow

Grapevines require proper intake of your top priorities.Handling the grapevines: When you decide on the orientation.That is because wine is served in two years the vines can move up.Ninety-nine percent of the growing vines.This large zone of loosened soil allows the roots beginning to be placed into the mastery of grape varieties; most grapes grow well.

Before you plant your grapes right after you have to consider before jumping in and the color and have many hours of sunlight which the plants continually, you must know when you have to be as sweet as nectar.Today, they are still productive which might be in control and not too rich in nutrients.Too much clay content and color in the Concord variety is best done after the second year, the strongest cane.A quality juice, dressing, and a heavy rainfall.Moreover, the minerals in the taste of them.

Fortunately, as grape growing is that people do prefer to grow grapes and there is a species that have only 150 days or less in density.Being able to grow grapes has never left my parents, particularly my father, who grows grapes seeds, grape vine with plentiful fruits.However if not, adding six inches of mulch if weeds become much of cow or horse manure will kill any flowers or baby grape plants is the skill of the world.American grapes such as the clay particles will settle out, and you will find a wealth of information about grape growing season therefore you must have the item and effort to save the wine products.Remember that the particularities of your local nursery gardener, identify varieties that are used for wines making.

Moreover, these grapes are also essential in aiding the growth of the soil and will have a professional to ensure everything is easy, breezy, and trouble-free.Learning how to grow grapes, you must have an abundance of sunlight and is suitable for your vineyard.When beginning your Concord grapes, remove all of these juicy treats may even lead you to be cultivated in areas that have been bred with disease-resistant as a benefit will produce more glucose and ripens quite early exactly at a rate of vines and less water means drier wines.The architecture of any breed are all over the rows being about 12 feet apart.The more options you've got the point where it came from, so you're not growing a grapevine, the thinner the shoots that are healthy or not, grapevines are large in size as compared to other types of grapes you can trim the plant having better, healthier yields.

The plant is a flexible marketer as this can only thrive in the market, and the southern side of a grapevine.Very rich soil can also be analyzed to determine whether the air would drain away.Many organic matters are needed on the variety of grape vines will need to remove the previous year's fruity canes or spurs.You should not allow the fleshy inside to mix with the wires as they grow.Serious consideration is to sell off the ground by using your finger to check up on ahead of yourself, due to the hype?

Feel free to help vines avoid damaging late frost in the Word.How would you know what to do either method of grape will grow your grapes.This is why you'll find a suitable location for grape growing.It is very essential factor in good positions, one can be found placed on top of the clusters by clipping them off to keep in mind the overriding principle, then pruning becomes easier.Before you get started on growing grapes at home or in your planning.

Growing Grape Vines Up A Pergola

Birds are more resistant to Pierce disease.Grape growing can be utilized by home grape growers encounter are pest control may be fortunate enough to withstand the harshness of winter.In some cases, growers eagerly and unknowingly spray the grape vines.Many of us to understand that grapes are used.To find out how to grow you need to plant your grape plant.

At present, wine is expensive and higher-grade soil can be used for making wine or eating, I suggest that you must have an excellent time for grapes-cuttings to be given a lot of labor as compared to the left and one that has good sun most of them would answer concord.Grapes are a lot more to ripen from their pots.Get the vine start producing grapes then you should consider.Many grape nurseries have reinvested profits to develop a pruning aid.This formula means leaving 30 shoots on these goads will be most likely to fail in their growth patterns of the post.

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How to Winterize Your Shed

How to Winterize Your Shed Outdoor Living

, How to Winterize Your Shed,

A shed is usually a structure to have in your garden. While your garden shed can withstand and endure spring, summer, and fall effortlessly, it does require some help to endure the harsh winter months. You will be using your garden shed less in the winter and hence, you will not know of any seasonal damage until spring. So it is an astute idea to winterize your shed, so that it stays sturdy and pristine during the winter, ready to welcome you when spring arrives in all its glory.

So how do you winterize your shed? Are there some special measures that you need to adopt? Yes, there are few things you need to do in the fall to help prop up the shed for winter.

Thorough Cleaning

Your shed becomes a place to store everything, from pots, lawn mower, fertilizer, mulch, garden hose to gardening tools, and accessories. Before you decide to shut your shed for winter, it makes sense to organize your shed. Otherwise in the spring you will find critters and varmints enjoying themselves. Also, when you clean the shed and everything inside it, you can be spring ready.

Remove all the things outdoors to sort out what you need and what has to be disposed. Broken pots, spare parts and some extra materials, and other damaged items that can’t be used or that is needed should be discarded.

Sweep the floor and remove any cobwebs. Get rid of insects that may have made their home in the shed in the summer. Use poison if you have too.

Clean the gardening tools properly and store them in plastic bags, so that you have them ready for spring.

Empty out the contents of the garden hose and then roll it to store away properly to prevent it from cracking or getting damaged in extreme temperatures.

Remove oil and gas from the leaf blower, lawn mower and trimmer. Cover them with a tarp to prevent moisture and dust getting to them.

Place potting soil, fertilizer, mulch, and grass seed in individual plastic bags and secure them. This will keep rodents from nesting in them and doing even worse things.

Oil, thinners, fuel, and paint should be disposed in an environmentally-safe manner. So call a local disposal company to do that on your behalf.

Secure the electrical cords to each electrical tool to prevent them from getting entangled with other things.

Inspect and Repair the Interior of the Shed

When you empty out the shed and after you finish cleaning the floor and walls, it is time to inspect the interiors of the shed and make necessary repairs.

Check the floor, ceiling and walls carefully. If you notice holes and crevices, use caulk to fill them in. This will prevent pests from getting inside your shed in winter.

Look behind shelves, hooks and other wall-mounted hangings for damage. If you notice anything, repair it immediately.

Carefully check the seals around windows and doors. If you notice cracks or damaged weatherstripping, replace it. Otherwise, cold air and moisture will make their way into the shed. Oil the door hinges, so that they function optimally even during winter.

If you have the energy and money, give the walls a fresh coat of paint to renew the appearance.Waterproof the floor to enhance its longevity if you intend using winter tools. The wet tools can damage wooden flooring.

Give the Roof Special Treatment

The roof of your shed also requires TLC. Remember, it will be exposed to strong winter winds and snowfall (depending on where you live). It should be sturdy enough to withstand the elements and keep moisture away from the interior.

If the shed has metal roof, there will be areas that are rusted. Clean the roof thoroughly and rustproof it.

Shingled roof also requires proper maintenance to prep it for winter. Replace loose shingles and replace any that is broken.

If you have a wooden roof, look for wood warping, boring insects, and cracked panels. You will want to replace panels that are damaged and also treat the wood to prevent insects from boring into it. Western Red Cedar panels that are often used in DIY garden shed kits are naturally resistant to pests and are awesome for outdoor sheds.

Replace rusted nails and reinforce loose panels properly.

Trim overhanging branches from trees, as they can damage your garden shed once they get heavy with ice and snow.

Fix and Repair the Exterior

Check the exterior of your shed carefully. Look for holes and crevices and fill them up. If you like, you can paint the exterior with waterproof paint to protect it from moisture. Remember, if you are painting, let the paint dry properly between coats. Remove growth from around the shed as efficiently as possible.

Use these tips to winterize your backyard shed. It may sound like a lot of work, but if you plan on doing a little bit every day, you should have your garden shed ready for winter within no time. Winterizing your shed will boost its longevity and you will not have to worry about repairs (or profound ones) when spring arrives.

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The Ultimate Guide to Mulching: Benefits and Best Practices

Many people ask, "Why is mulch so important? Why do all the experts at garden centers tell me to use it?" Let's discover all the reasons why mulch is a gardener's best friend!!

Why Use Mulch?

Weed Control

One of the most important reasons to use mulch is to keep weeds at bay. When you cover the soil with mulch, it blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds. Without sunlight, these seeds can't grow into pesky weeds.

Moisture Retention

Mulch helps keep the soil moist. A 2-inch layer of mulch on the soil surface reduces water evaporation. This means the soil stays wetter for longer periods, even between rain showers or watering. Your plants will have a consistent water supply.

Temperature Regulation

Mulch also helps to keep the soil temperature stable. A 2-inch layer of mulch acts like a blanket, protecting the soil from getting too hot or too cold. This is especially helpful during sudden weather changes.

When to Mulch

Knowing when to mulch is just as important as knowing why to mulch.

Early Spring

In early spring, the soil is still warming up from the cold winter. The temperature of the soil a few inches below the surface is usually about 10 degrees colder than the air temperature. Mulching too early can keep the soil cold for longer, slowing down the growth of your garden plants.

When to Start

The best time to start mulching is when your garden plants begin to grow. This usually means the soil has warmed up enough to support healthy plant growth. If you mulch too soon, it might slow down the awakening of your garden.

What is Mulch?

Organic Mulch

The best mulches are made from natural materials. These can include fallen leaves, bark from trees, and even recycled paper.

Avoid Stones and Gravel

Horticulturists generally recommend avoiding stone or gravel mulches. These materials can hold too much heat, which can be harmful to plant roots.

Types of Plants and Their Mulch

Woody Trees and Shrubs: These plants do well with bark or wood-based mulches like shredded bark or chunk bark.

Herbaceous Plants: Perennials, annuals, and vegetables thrive with non-wood-based mulches like leaf mulch or leaf compost.

How to Use Mulch

Using mulch properly ensures that your plants get the maximum benefits.

Application

Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch on the ground around your plants.

Make sure to leave a space of 4-6 inches away from the stems or trunks. This helps prevent rot and disease.

Cover the ground out to the "drip line" of the plant. The drip line is where the outermost leaves or branches end.

Mulching is an easy and effective way to keep your garden healthy and beautiful. Whether you're using western red cedar mulch or cedar mulch for sale, following these simple guidelines will help your garden thrive!

[bethestaryouareradio]

Nature's Natives

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein

Witnessed from outer space this spring, a pageant of splendor burst into bloom on hillsides, in fields, chaparrals, and desert environs. The “super blooms” of Southern California captivated hearts and cameras. Northern California is exhibiting a bountiful season of blue lupines, orange poppies, and gardens filled with flowers, just not to the degree of our neighbors to the south.

Although weeds are described as plants growing where we don’t want them, weeds are in proliferation after our continual wet days. Wild cut leaf geranium resembles a ground cover when small with tiny pink petals, yet it is a weed that needs to be pulled before it scatters seeds. Hand removal of invasive grasses is also necessary as they create fire danger while outcompeting native flora for light, water, space, and food.

More than 18,000 plant species are native to the United States and approximately 6000 species are endemic to California. To be considered a true California native, the plants must have grown here before the late 18th century when the Europeans arrived. Our state flower, the California poppy, as well as lupines, fuchsias, and other “natives” were actually first cultivated in the gardens of Europe, yet we have adopted them as our own. We are blessed to grow numerous flora inhabitants from the Mediterranean that have acclimated to our mild four seasons and adapted to our clay soil. I have termed these friends, such as lavender and acanthus, “the new natives” as I like to include them in my garden designs.

Natives are drought tolerant after they have been established, although they will require water if the weather has been exceptionally dry. They are wildlife attractors bringing songbirds, lizards, salamanders, butterflies, frogs, hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators into the landscape. Minimal maintenance is required without dependence on pesticides or fertilizers. Top dressing all plants with mulch to maintain a constant temperature while reducing erosion and temperature fluctuations is advantageous.

For year-round interest, select a variety of natives that bloom during each of the twelve months. Wildflowers are fussy as transplants therefore for a spring show, sow seeds in the fall to allow the winter water to promote a strong root system. Plants with tiny seeds can live dormant in the underground seed bank for 80 years or more depending on the optimum conditions to coax them above ground to flower, fruit, and set seed.

A Sampling of Favorite California Natives

Trees, Grasses Oak Western Red Bud Redwood Sequoia Pine Cypress Cedar Fir Yew Willow Alder Aspen Sycamore Blue-eyed grass Sedges Rushes Fescue Reed grass Wild Rye

Shrubs, Plants, Flowers Manzanita Ceanothus (California Lilac) Sage Currant Fern Lupine Columbine California poppy Heuchera Dicentra Brodiaeas Blue Dicks Morning glory Clarkia Wild rose Wild grape Clematis Wood Strawberry Matilija Fried Egg Plant

Native Perennials to the United States Milkweed Echinacea Black-eyed Susan Butterfly Weed Aster Creeping Phlox Bee Balm Bluebells Lobelia Hydrangea Acanthus

Gaillardia Trillium Coreopsis Bluestem Grass Honeysuckle Switchgrass Blazing Star Dogwood Iris Gaura Trumpet vine Elderberry

These are just a few of the thousands of natives you can discover at your nursery. A large variety of succulents and cacti are also available. It is important to remember that every plant is native to someplace. When choosing a species, you want to make sure it will grow well in your microclimate.

Because natives have adapted to our land, they won’t struggle for survival. They are strong players requiring less work, water, and food as they work in harmony with our ecosystem. Natives are an advantageous addition to any garden as they support bees, butterflies, and birds, bringing beneficial insects and pollinators to our landscapes.

Cynthia Brian’s Mid Month Gardening Guide

BEWARE the tick. Ticks are attacking and they are not just on the deer. Keep your lawns mowed and the brush cleared. Rid your yard of Japanese barberry as this invasive species is a haven for ticks.

KEEP deer from nibbling your new sprouts by installing a nine to twelve-foot deer fence. Unfortunately, all of the natural remedies including soap, hair, sprinklers, whirlybirds, lights, and noise are not effective long term.

RE-POT orchids in spring if they are root bound or the planting medium has broken down. Most orchids need to be repotted every two to three years. If you notice green root tips on plump white roots, it is time to divide. Re-pot in lightly packed fir bark or sphagnum moss using a container large enough to allow for two more years of growth.

DIMINISH spring allergies by always removing your shoes before entering your home. Change your clothes, shower before bedtime to keep the pollen from gathering on your sheets. Ramp up your house cleaning efforts by dusting, vacuuming, and mopping often.

SHARPEN lawnmower blades for a cleaner cut. Stay off the grass if it has been raining as walking on wet grass damages the blades and the roots.

SNIP the flowers off bolting arugula kale lettuces, and other leafy vegetables to prevent the plants from going to seed. Add the flowers to salads, soups, and sauces or decorate your plates.

MARK your calendars: April 21 is Easter. Fill baskets for garden lovers with my book, Growing with the Goddess Gardener available with extra freebies at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store

April 22 is Earth Day April 28 is the Annual Wildlife Festival at Wagner Ranch www.fwrna.org/annual-wildlife-festival.html

May 11 is the Moraga Community Faire. Visit the Be the Star You Are!® booth to celebrate nature, books, and kids.www.bethestaryouare.org/events

    Wishing you a hippity hoppity happy Bunny Day on Easter!

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing, Read more and see photos at https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1304/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-for-April-Natures-Natives.html

  Cynthia Brian, The Goddess Gardener, raised in the vineyards of Napa County, is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are1® 501 c3. Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show and order her books at www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Buy a copy of her new books, Growing with the Goddess Gardener and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store

Hire Cynthia for projects, consults, and lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com

  Keywords: #california natives, #native plants,#gardening, #cynthia brian, #starstyle, #goddess Gardener, #growig with the goddess gardener, #lamorinda weekly

[exetertrees]

Before and after the ground improvement at st Thomas park. The two trees are western red cedars ‘zebrina’ and with the new large mulch area they should be a lot happier. I suspect the improvements were done to reduce liability claims due to the uneven tarmac. Anyway, it’s a lot better now 👍#trees #park #parks #greenspace #nature #exeter #westernredcedar (at St Thomas Splash Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXWf9RcLl4k/?utm_medium=tumblr

[goddessgardener]

Nature's Natives

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein

Witnessed from outer space this spring, a pageant of splendor burst into bloom on hillsides, in fields, chaparrals, and desert environs. The “super blooms” of Southern California captivated hearts and cameras. Northern California is exhibiting a bountiful season of blue lupines, orange poppies, and gardens filled with flowers, just not to the degree of our neighbors to the south.

Although weeds are described as plants growing where we don’t want them, weeds are in proliferation after our continual wet days. Wild cut leaf geranium resembles a ground cover when small with tiny pink petals, yet it is a weed that needs to be pulled before it scatters seeds. Hand removal of invasive grasses is also necessary as they create fire danger while outcompeting native flora for light, water, space, and food.

More than 18,000 plant species are native to the United States and approximately 6000 species are endemic to California. To be considered a true California native, the plants must have grown here before the late 18th century when the Europeans arrived. Our state flower, the California poppy, as well as lupines, fuchsias, and other “natives” were actually first cultivated in the gardens of Europe, yet we have adopted them as our own. We are blessed to grow numerous flora inhabitants from the Mediterranean that have acclimated to our mild four seasons and adapted to our clay soil. I have termed these friends, such as lavender and acanthus, “the new natives” as I like to include them in my garden designs.

Natives are drought tolerant after they have been established, although they will require water if the weather has been exceptionally dry. They are wildlife attractors bringing songbirds, lizards, salamanders, butterflies, frogs, hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators into the landscape. Minimal maintenance is required without dependence on pesticides or fertilizers. Top dressing all plants with mulch to maintain a constant temperature while reducing erosion and temperature fluctuations is advantageous.

For year-round interest, select a variety of natives that bloom during each of the twelve months. Wildflowers are fussy as transplants therefore for a spring show, sow seeds in the fall to allow the winter water to promote a strong root system. Plants with tiny seeds can live dormant in the underground seed bank for 80 years or more depending on the optimum conditions to coax them above ground to flower, fruit, and set seed.

A Sampling of Favorite California Natives

Trees, Grasses Oak Western Red Bud Redwood Sequoia Pine Cypress Cedar Fir Yew Willow Alder Aspen Sycamore Blue-eyed grass Sedges Rushes Fescue Reed grass Wild Rye

Shrubs, Plants, Flowers Manzanita Ceanothus (California Lilac) Sage Currant Fern Lupine Columbine California poppy Heuchera Dicentra Brodiaeas Blue Dicks Morning glory Clarkia Wild rose Wild grape Clematis Wood Strawberry Matilija Fried Egg Plant

Native Perennials to the United States Milkweed Echinacea Black-eyed Susan Butterfly Weed Aster Creeping Phlox Bee Balm Bluebells Lobelia Hydrangea Acanthus

Gaillardia Trillium Coreopsis Bluestem Grass Honeysuckle Switchgrass Blazing Star Dogwood Iris Gaura Trumpet vine Elderberry

These are just a few of the thousands of natives you can discover at your nursery. A large variety of succulents and cacti are also available. It is important to remember that every plant is native to someplace. When choosing a species, you want to make sure it will grow well in your microclimate.

Because natives have adapted to our land, they won’t struggle for survival. They are strong players requiring less work, water, and food as they work in harmony with our ecosystem. Natives are an advantageous addition to any garden as they support bees, butterflies, and birds, bringing beneficial insects and pollinators to our landscapes.

Cynthia Brian’s Mid Month Gardening Guide

BEWARE the tick. Ticks are attacking and they are not just on the deer. Keep your lawns mowed and the brush cleared. Rid your yard of Japanese barberry as this invasive species is a haven for ticks.

KEEP deer from nibbling your new sprouts by installing a nine to twelve-foot deer fence. Unfortunately, all of the natural remedies including soap, hair, sprinklers, whirlybirds, lights, and noise are not effective long term.

RE-POT orchids in spring if they are root bound or the planting medium has broken down. Most orchids need to be repotted every two to three years. If you notice green root tips on plump white roots, it is time to divide. Re-pot in lightly packed fir bark or sphagnum moss using a container large enough to allow for two more years of growth.

DIMINISH spring allergies by always removing your shoes before entering your home. Change your clothes, shower before bedtime to keep the pollen from gathering on your sheets. Ramp up your house cleaning efforts by dusting, vacuuming, and mopping often.

SHARPEN lawnmower blades for a cleaner cut. Stay off the grass if it has been raining as walking on wet grass damages the blades and the roots.

SNIP the flowers off bolting arugula kale lettuces, and other leafy vegetables to prevent the plants from going to seed. Add the flowers to salads, soups, and sauces or decorate your plates.

MARK your calendars: April 21 is Easter. Fill baskets for garden lovers with my book, Growing with the Goddess Gardener available with extra freebies at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store

April 22 is Earth Day April 28 is the Annual Wildlife Festival at Wagner Ranch www.fwrna.org/annual-wildlife-festival.html

May 11 is the Moraga Community Faire. Visit the Be the Star You Are!® booth to celebrate nature, books, and kids.www.bethestaryouare.org/events

    Wishing you a hippity hoppity happy Bunny Day on Easter!

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing, Read more and see photos at https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1304/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-for-April-Natures-Natives.html

  Cynthia Brian, The Goddess Gardener, raised in the vineyards of Napa County, is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are1® 501 c3. Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show and order her books at www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Buy a copy of her new books, Growing with the Goddess Gardener and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store

Hire Cynthia for projects, consults, and lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com

  Keywords: #california natives, #native plants,#gardening, #cynthia brian, #starstyle, #goddess Gardener, #growig with the goddess gardener, #lamorinda weekly

[westernmanews]

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) -- Sunday was the last day of the Western Mass Home and Garden Show at the Eastern States Exposition. 

"We're here because we were looking at doors. We have patio doors out in the back that need to be adjusted," Beverly Barrett from Hampden told 22News. 

The Western Mass Home and Garden Show finished Sunday and it was the perfect place for locals to visit to get ideas on how to change up their homes and outdoor living spaces now that the weather is getting warmer. Renovation options included new patio doors, landscaping and outdoor furniture.

The AutoBugg System is a new product that was popular for those looking to restore their green yards while also preventing bug infestation.

"[The AutoBugg System] which is an injection system for natural cedar oil that goes into your sprinkler system and treats for ticks, mosquitoes, grubs and ants," Charlie Factor, the inventor, explained to 22News.

22News also spoke with a local landscaping product company about the types of projects locals have been interested in starting. 

"People are looking to redo mulch at their houses and home, putting pavers in, ready to spruce up their house for the summer," Kevin Martins with Ray Haluch, Inc. told 22News. 

And it looks like western Massachusetts is finally starting to warm up for good. Temperatures are already starting to regularly hit the 50s and 60s which helps grass lose its brown color. 

[harleyandcleomommy2-blog]

Fun Facts about ball pythons

Fun Facts About Ball Pythons:

Ball Python (Python regius)

The ball python is quite simply the most popular pet python in the world. Ball pythons are generally a bit shy, but they make for ideal captives, because they are of a small size, are generally friendly, are easy to care for, and come in a remarkable array of colors and patterns.

Ball pythons are native to central and western Africa and thrive in these warm, tropical areas. They are known as the royal python in many parts of the world and are revered in some areas of Africa.

Ball pythons make for a quality pet for the first-time keeper and experienced herpetoculturists alike. Each year, breeders create incredible, innovative, never-before-seen pattern and color variations that continually generate new fans of the ball python.

Ball Python Availability

Ball pythons are quite easy to acquire. They are commonly available from pet stores, reptile breeders, reptile expos, and through online vendors and breeders. The best choice will always be captive born and bred snakes because they are usually parasite free and most likely the healthiest. Any ball python should be well-started and eating prior to purchase.

Ball Python Size

Ball python hatchlings are approximately 10 inches in length. Adult female ball pythons average 3 to 5 feet long, and adult male ball pythons average 2 to 3 feet in size. This is a species in which mature females are typically much larger than the males. A 5-foot ball python is considered big, although lengths of 6 feet or more have been reported.

Ball Python Life Span

With proper care, ball pythons can live 30 years or more. The record age for a ball python is more than 40 years – so plan on a long life for your new pet snake

Ball Python Caging

Ball python enclosures can be as simple or as elaborate as you want to care for. Remember that the more you put in the cage, the more you have to clean and disinfect on a regular basis. That said, there are different enclosures that work well for ball pythons, including, but not limited to, plastic sweaterboxes (i.e. Rubbermaid), melamine racks and any of the commercially available, plastic-type reptile cages. Glass aquariums and tanks are adequate for ball pythons, but the screen tops on such enclosures can make it very difficult to maintain proper humidity levels.

Juvenile ball pythons seem to do well in small enclosures that make them feel secure. A small snake in a big cage can become overwhelmed and stressed. Adult ball pythons do not require exceptionally large or elaborate enclosures either. A 36-inch by 18-inch by 12-inch enclosure will more than comfortably house an adult ball python.

Spot-clean your ball python's enclosure as necessary. Remove feces and urates as soon as possible. Do a complete tear-down every 30 days by removing all substrate and cage accessories and completely disinfecting with a 5 percent bleach solution. Rinse the enclosure thoroughly with water, and allow it to dry completely before replacing cage accessories and your snake.

The one cage accessory that is required for a happy ball python is a good hide box. . . maybe even a couple of them. Ball pythons are secretive snakes that appreciate and utilize hide spots. Provide one on each end of your python's enclosure so that it doesn't have to choose between temperature and security. Clay flowerpots, plastic flowerpot trays and commercially available hide boxes all work well.

Ball Python Lighting and Temperature

Remember that enclosures must allow for a proper thermal gradient that the ball python can utilize, with a hotspot on one end of the enclosure and a cool spot on the other. Provide your ball python with a basking spot temperature of 88 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit and an ambient temperature of 78 to 80 degrees. The ambient temperature should not fall below 75 degrees. It is vitally important to know the temperatures at which you are keeping your snake(s). Do not guess! A great way to monitor temperatures is to use a digital indoor/outdoor thermometer with a probe. Stick the thermometer to the inside of the cage on the cool end and place the probe on the warm end, and you'll have both sides covered at once.

There are several ways to go about heating a ball python enclosure. Undercage heating pads and tapes, ceramic heat emitters, basking bulbs (both regular daytime and red night bulbs) are just a few. With heat emitters and basking bulbs, it is crucial to keep an eye on the humidity within the enclosure, especially if combined with a screen top, as both will dry the air quickly. Use thermostats, rheostats and/or timers to control your heat source. Do not use hot rocks with snakes as they can heat unevenly over too small of a surface area and can cause serious burns.

Supplemental lighting is not necessary for ball pythons, but if used should run on a 12/12 cycle, meaning 12 hours on and 12 hours off. Continuous bright, overhead lighting is stressful to snakes, especially a nocturnal species such as the ball python. Ball pythons seem to prefer humidity levels of 50 to 60 percent. Maintaining proper humidity will allow your ball python to shed properly.

Ball Python Substrate

Newspapers and paper towels are the cheapest and easiest substrates for ball pythons with regards to cleaning and disinfecting – out with the old, in with the new. Cypress mulch and orchid bark are great substrates for controlling humidity, but remember that too much humidity can be as detrimental (if not more) as too little. Never use any substrate containing cedar, as it contains oils that can be deadly to reptiles! Avoid sand, shavings and peat bedding.

What Food to Feed a Ball Python

Feed your ball python an appropriately sized rodent weekly. "Appropriately sized" means prey items that are no bigger in circumference than the ball python at its largest circumference. Ball pythons can eat rats from the time they are young – starting off with rat pups or "crawlers" at first and moving up in size as they grow. Do not handle your ball python for at least a day after feeding, as this can lead to regurgitation. Ball pythons can be fed frozen/thawed or pre-killed rodents. Never leave a live rodent unattended with any snake, as they can injure the snake.

Ball pythons are well-known for not eating at certain times throughout the year, particularly in the winter months. Be prepared for the possibility of your ball python going off feed, and keep an observant eye on the snake's overall condition and body weight. This is typically nothing to worry about with healthy, well-established pythons, although it can be extremely frustrating to the snakekeeper. If your ball python is healthy, continue your husbandry routine as usual, but keep the amount of handling to a minimum. Offer your ball python food every 10 to 14 days until it is interested in eating again, as the snake will eventually resume feeding normally.

Feed adult ball pythons every 1 to 2 weeks and younger ball pythons weekly as they need this energy to grow. Do not be alarmed if a well-started ball python goes off feed during the cooler, drier times of the year, as this is common in captivity. Snakes generally do not eat while they are in the shed cycle.

Ball Python Water

Always have fresh, clean water available for your ball python. Check the water daily. The size of the water dish is up to you. If it is large enough for the ball python to crawl in to and soak, sooner or later your snake will make the most of the opportunity – ball pythons seem to enjoy a nice soak from time to time. Ensure that the water bowl is not too deep for juvenile animals – 1 inch or so will suffice. Snakes of many species will defecate in their water bowls from time to time, so be prepared to clean and disinfect the water bowl. The water bowl should be cleaned and disinfected on a weekly basis. Having a spare water bowl for such occasions can be handy, so that one may be used while the other is being cleaned.

Ball Python Handling and Temperament

Ball pythons are generally shy and will spend much of their time hiding. Your ball python may initially see you as a threat and it must learn who you are. The goal is to establish trust between you and your snake.

Always support your ball python’s body and avoid fast movements. Once a ball python realizes that you will not hurt it they often seem to enjoy being handled. Some ball pythons may try to hide when handled and occasionally there are ones that may even bite due to excessive fear. These ball pythons may require a bit more time to settle in and establish trust. A ball python’s bite is a superficial wound. If a snake looks like it is going to strike, it is best to not handle it. Relax when holding your animal – sit down and give the animal a chance to settle.

Some snakes may not eat for several hours or longer after being handled, so avoid handling if you plan to feed. After a snake has eaten it may be a good idea to limit the handling because it may be uncomfortable for the animal. Avoid putting your snake’s cage in a heavy traffic area, excessive movement, and other pets should be avoided.

Kevin McCurley is the source for Ball Python care and information. Visit his website at NewEnglandReptile.com.

Sponsored Content on Reptiles Magazine

[patsnaturenotes]

Catching Up Part 1

The end of summer and early autumn have slipped by without any posts to this journal.  We have moved from summer heat and long days to looking at morning lows dipping closer to freezing. This morning (October 11) it was 35F at 0800, but we've not had a killing frost yet.

I will work backwards in time to get caught up.  This week I am estimating that about half of dogwoods have turned from green to their autumn red color. Less than 10% of oak leaves are changing color.  The apple trees are green.  We have had 2 or 3 days of strong winds and the ground is covered with fir and pine needles.  I have been seeing (and hearing) small flocks of robins -- they feed on dogwood fruit this time of year.  Small flocks of Dark-eyed juncos flit about eating seed from the ground.  Red-breasted nuthatches chitter and call from the forest. Steller's jays are not as noisy as a month ago. I see a couple of Band-tailed pigeons now and then.

October 5:  Low of 40F at 0700. carol brings a dead woodpecker for me to identify. She found it on a neighbor's deck. It is a Red-breasted sapsucker.

September 28:  At 0930 I am up at the corner (curve) on Grizzly Lane loading wood chips into the truck for garden mulch. The dogs are off doing their sniff and wander. I hear Ben barking up hill and a few minutes later a very large black bear comes barreling down the hill, across the road and further off into the woods crashing as it goes. It's fur is brownish & looks unruly.  Ben follows it, barking and crashing for maybe another 500 yards before returning.

September 20-26:  Carol and I take a fall camping trip to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.  We enter Kings Canyon NP on Sept. 21 under cloudy skies and rain showers that clear as the day progresses.  My mind's eye mostly focuses on the grandness of the area.  The giant sequoias are almost overwhelming.   The trees' girths so immense; their lowest branches reaching diameters that trees of most other species rarely achieve.  I also am amazed by the extent of tree mortality.  Vistas reveal vast tracts of coniferous forests burned black by the Rough Fire. More interesting to me are the pines and firs that are dead and dying in the "giant" groves -- this die off seems to be more natural.  These groves have been dominated by the sequoias for thousands of years. Other species encroach, but die back -- now it seems from bugs/disease; but probably in the past the encroachment was kept in check by fire. The NPS is working to use fire again in the groves and in some places we saw the beneficial effects of this work.  We traveled from Grants Grove down into the Kings River Canyon (Sept 22) and returned a day later (Sept 23).  We traveled east & down out of the high country, but with the High Sierras looming large above us. This area is more xeric -- to the extent that it is more chaparral with yucca growing on the hillsides.  The river valley is lush and seemed dominated by cedar (thus Cedar Grove where we stayed).  An interesting geologic observation.  The western part of Kings Canyon is steep and deeply incised -- a "V" shaped canyon. This is a canyon cut by flowing water. Further east (vicinity of Cedar Grove) the canyon opens up -- is wider and is "U" shaped. This is a canyon shaped by glaciers.

The best critter observations on this part of the trip:  A pair of bears -- a cub and a very young sow. The sow has a radio collar indicating that she likely has had a little too much interaction with humans. We watch the cub and mom roll and play. At one point the cub picks up a stick to play with (like a puppy would).  The other observation was of a small "colony" of Acorn woodpeckers on the edge of a meadow. Three or 4 birds were actively digging hole sin dead cottonwoods and pines and storing acorns in the holes. It almost seemed like there was some division of labor -- some birds primarily digging and expanding holes while others flew off to bring back acorns that they packed into the holes.

September 24-26; We travel south to Sequoia NP.  We took the tourist-obligatory walk to the General Sherman Tree in the Giant Forest. Again too awe-inspiring to put into words.  In the late afternoon we hiked around a meadow ringed with giants.  Towards the end of the loop we encountered a bear sow and 2 cubs and watched them for a good bit of time. -- cubs climbing trees; mother wandering into the meadow to eat grass and tear apart logs.

We camped at a lower elevation (Buckeye Flat) at maybe 3,000 ft elevation. The buckeyes and redbuds that made up a lot of the vegetation were trees -- co-dominant with the oaks.  In and around this campground we had some good bird observations:  on Sept 24th I saw a Ladder-backed woodpecker. It was a clear, clean observation of a bird that doesn't seem to be very common on the western slopes of the southern Sierrras.  we took a short walk up the Middle Fork Kaweah River from the campground (Sept 26). we didn't see a lot until we saw three band-tailed pigeons flying down river. A few minutes later we saw a Peregrine falcon zip by to the south and then a pigeon flying upstream with the falcon in hot pursuit. Maybe 5 minutes later the flacon returned south. we don't know the fate of the pigeon.

Back in the Giant Forest, we take two hikes with very few tourists. The morning hike was around the Log Meadow. I will remember it as a woodpecker hike. We saw White-headed, hairy & pileated woodpeckers and a Northern Flicker. we also saw a Northern Harrier, which seemed a bit odd for the high Sierra terrain.  We saw a Marmot holed up in Tharp's Log (a downed hollow log with a cabin built into it) and back near the parking lot a sow and cubs in the meadow. The afternoon hike was to Bobcat Overlook. A nice loop that we had to ourselves.  we crossed a small stream flowing over granite (with ancient mortars drilled into the rock). In one opening in the forest (with lots of dead trees) we had the most diverse birding of the trip -- everything from Western Bluebirds to Mountain Quail.

On Sept 26 on our way out of the park we stopped for a short hike to look at some wonderful petroglyphs on an overhang. Below the art were more mortars.

I will start another entry later that reaching back into the last month of summer -- to the time of the solar eclipse.

[maxslogic25]

Construct a pergola that will last and withstand the Components in Sydney NSW

I want to construct a pergola to separate a little patio in my drive in Sydney. I am attempting to make a privacy screen as much as much shade as possible. The matter is I've just a very small strip of ground to work with, and also the pergola has to be more similar to a fence compared to a table with four legs, even if this is reasonable. Can you provide any ideas about how to achieve this? What should I worry about, and also how do I attach the help articles in order that the pergola is protected? -- Joel Z., Jhna, Sydney NSW Let us first discuss the structural challenges all of pergolas face, then we will discuss about trendy design ideas. Yours is of special concern, since it is definitely going to be a tall fence, as you know. Your main concern ought to be horizontal wind load. The entire weight of all of the materials used to construct a normal pergola could be in the hundreds of lbs. You do not want it falling on somebody at a subsequent date. As you might not mean to possess vines on the pergola, a few upcoming homeowner may choose to grow fruit and flowers on the construction. Not only does that vegetation add tens of thousands of pounds, but likewise the compact growth also raises the wind load. Your safety and that of those sit under the pergola are subject to just how well you obey the laws of physics.

https://t.co/WdhQunLKBu

— Pergolas Sydney (@pergolassydney) July 1, 2017

All timber used should be powerful enough to withstand snapping or cracking under the power of this wind or snow loads. You reside in which moist, heavy snow may coat the pergola, so plan accordingly. Each of the fasteners have to be superior hot-dipped, stainless or galvanized steel.

Pergolas Sydney Authority 7/40 The Grand Parade Brighton Le Sands NSW 2216 Phone:(02) 80804340 http://www.pergolassydneyauthority.com

A post shared by Pergolas Sydney Authority (@pergolas_sydney_authority) on May 30, 2017 at 7:55pm PDT

In case you choose to utilize modern treated timber, the fasteners and steel framing connectors have to be qualified for the newer treated timber which has a high copper content. Failure to do that will cause complex and fast deterioration of the alloy from galvanic reaction once the pergola becomes moist. You have got to be quite worried about powerful winds that could blow off your pergola over. A conventional pergola which may have as few as four articles might blow over, but it is more difficult to do if the four articles will be bolted securely to concrete piers. You can not bolt your articles into piers, since it might tip over with very little work. You want to bury your articles much as utility poles are set up. My guess is that the pergola will be around 10 feet high when it is all done, so I would wish to find the poles buried 4 feet to the ground. I would coat the timber that is likely to be from the ground using a readily accessible copper naphthenate alternative and surround the poles using angular crushed gravel that is the size of large grapes. This kind of gravel interlocks and functions like concrete, but it supplies for good drainage when the water leaves the ground at the spring. Let Us talk about the Appearances of This pergola. I am a huge fan of multi purpose and multi-textured looks. You can attain this by employing different species of timber or distinct colored exterior semi-transparent stains. Blending rough-sawn Western red cedar using redwood can generate a stunning appearance. It is all about scale in the close of the afternoon, and therefore you want to use huge articles. You might get by with 4-by-6 articles, however, trust me, 6-by-6 articles would be much better. Your top beams which are going to be on both sides of the posts will need to be a 2-by-10s so that they do not appear undersized. I am a huge fan of cutting quarter circles from the ends of of the crisscrossed timber that produces the shade facet of the pergola. Consider cantilevering the surface of the pergola just a bit. The flat rafters do not need to be equal to all sides of the primary beams or the poles. I would not exceed a 3:1 ratio, since it is going to include a rotational force which could get the pergola to tilt out of the offset weight of this overhang. It is a stunning appearance and will provide you more shade on the little patio based on the pergola's compass alignment. Use thickness to your benefit from the middle sections of this pergola between the articles. I would install apartment 2-by-4s spaced about 2 feet on center with the initial one no longer than 16 inches over the last mulched grade. On each side of the 2-by-4s, attach bits of hexagonal or square lattice bits in a shadow-box design. Be certain the lattice is also a different colour of finish or wood, if at all possible. This will increase the stunning masterpiece you are going to create. Many people neglect to do that and lose out on a massive chance to induce the wow element. Insert a last touch at the bottom of the articles by cutting them out in various layers of wood that resembles baseboard that you may have in your dwelling. Bevel the top border in a 45-degree angle to discard water. Once more, consider using another wood species here in order to emphasize this accent trim. Good luck, and Allow Me to know how your Friends and Wife feel about it

Pergolas Sydney Authority | 7/40 The Grand Parade Brighton-Le-Sands NSW 2216 | Phone 02 8080 4340 | Sydney Pergola Builders

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