Stepping out
Aug. 1st, 2011 05:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spacealien_vampI've continued to work on landscaping my yard. The raised beds are finished, and I've started planting things in them, though mostly experimental items, since there isn't much summer left. I planted out what remained of my seed potatoes from the spring; I'll be lucky if they have enough oomph left in them for a fall crop. I harvested my spring crop of potatoes, and though it's not a fantastic yield, it's not bad considering the plants had to suffer growing in containers on a crowded balcony, not to mention a rough ride in a moving truck.
I was surprised one morning to wake up and find that my female kiwi plant had been dug completely out of the ground. I managed to re-plant it, and it doesn't seem to be any the worse for the experience, at least so far. It turns out that there are several families of skunks that roam the neighborhood. Two families live on properties adjoining mine, and they can get through holes in the fence. One skunk family lives in a hedge across the street, and![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
megory heard that the people there leave out food for the skunks as if they were pets. @_@
I've made a lot of progress clearing out the plants I don't want from the foundation beds in the front yard, though there is still more work to go. I got rid of so many snails, it's not even funny. (That picture is only a small fraction of the colony.) My dahlias are finally starting to peek out from the ground...at least a couple of them. I hope they do all right.
I'll be taking a break from the yardwork this month for a trip to Tokyo with friends. While I'm gone, my parents will be working on the interior of the house. Projects include adding insulation, re-wiring, smoothing out the textured walls, and painting.
I was surprised one morning to wake up and find that my female kiwi plant had been dug completely out of the ground. I managed to re-plant it, and it doesn't seem to be any the worse for the experience, at least so far. It turns out that there are several families of skunks that roam the neighborhood. Two families live on properties adjoining mine, and they can get through holes in the fence. One skunk family lives in a hedge across the street, and
megory heard that the people there leave out food for the skunks as if they were pets. @_@I've made a lot of progress clearing out the plants I don't want from the foundation beds in the front yard, though there is still more work to go. I got rid of so many snails, it's not even funny. (That picture is only a small fraction of the colony.) My dahlias are finally starting to peek out from the ground...at least a couple of them. I hope they do all right.
I'll be taking a break from the yardwork this month for a trip to Tokyo with friends. While I'm gone, my parents will be working on the interior of the house. Projects include adding insulation, re-wiring, smoothing out the textured walls, and painting.
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Date: 2011-08-01 02:00 pm (UTC)(Not jealous of the snails. :-) )
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Date: 2011-08-02 02:01 am (UTC)The yard was definitely the selling feature! Most of the other properties I looked at didn't come close to being as nice.
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Date: 2011-08-01 02:39 pm (UTC)These people are not right in the head. Keep an eye on those neighbors.
I love hearing about your gardening progress, and I'm so jealous.
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Date: 2011-08-02 02:03 am (UTC)No kidding!
I love hearing about your gardening progress, and I'm so jealous.
I love hearing all of your updates.
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Date: 2011-08-01 02:50 pm (UTC)Have these people ever SMELLED a skunk?
Honestly, that sounds like it could really be a problem, especially when you start having more food in your garden. :/
Projects include adding insulation, re-wiring, smoothing out the textured walls, and painting.
Your parents are amazing.
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Date: 2011-08-02 02:25 am (UTC)They really don't go after the plants themselves. They were just digging around the damp spots where I had watered the plants, hoping to find insects or something. (I'm sure the plants didn't appreciate something digging around their roots, but at least the plants weren't gobbled up.)
I do hope that the fence can be repaired eventually to keep things out.
Your parents are amazing.
They really are. I would be soooo far behind without their help.
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Date: 2011-08-01 04:46 pm (UTC)*sympathy* re: the skunks.
Sounds like your place is really shaping up nicely, tho! I'm so happy to hear you've got space for your plants and all. :-)
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Date: 2011-08-02 02:27 am (UTC)It's going to be even better once I can get the old maple tree taken out. Then I can start on the Japanese garden side of the yard...
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Date: 2011-08-01 09:36 pm (UTC)Argh! On the neighbors possibly feeding the skunks. I'm concerned you might need to put up chicken wire or something. Does the city offer any kind of vermin removal?
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Date: 2011-08-02 02:12 am (UTC)My dad put wire around the kiwi plants to protect them. He also blocked the holes in the fence with stones as a temporary measure.
Does the city offer any kind of vermin removal?
I really don't know. Let's see...nope:
"San Mateo County and the Peninsula Humane Society do not provide services to remove healthy living nuisance wildlife from private property.
Rather, we recommend removing what is attracting the wildlife to your property."