May 6, 201412 yr Author This is The Sarges' somewhat unique Japanese Maple out in the front yard. 12-ish years ago, a root sucker came up that we didn't see to trim off (it used to be surrounded by bushes so couldn't see down low.) When we removed the bushes, it looked healthy so The Sarge left it. The tree is a red-leaf variety grafted onto a green-leaf rootstock. The root sucker shot up with green leaves. The grafted trunk with the red leaves lived. The two grew close enough together that they eventually fused into a single trunk. Now we have a Japanese Maple Conjoined Twin pair in a single tree. Did the Japanese Maple turn into a Siamese Maple? Easy Peasy
May 8, 201412 yr Author The Great Celery Experiment of 2014 (Photo album here ...) Found the idea here a couple of weeks back and decided to try. Guess what? It's working: Easy Peasy
May 8, 201412 yr This is The Sarges' somewhat unique Japanese Maple out in the front yard. 12-ish years ago, a root sucker came up that we didn't see to trim off (it used to be surrounded by bushes so couldn't see down low.) When we removed the bushes, it looked healthy so The Sarge left it. The tree is a red-leaf variety grafted onto a green-leaf rootstock. The root sucker shot up with green leaves. The grafted trunk with the red leaves lived. The two grew close enough together that they eventually fused into a single trunk. Now we have a Japanese Maple Conjoined Twin pair in a single tree. Did the Japanese Maple turn into a Siamese Maple? Easy Peasy Damn nice front yard with some nice landscaping! Looks like a nice place to drink some lemon breezy or or enjoy some chewy stewy.
May 8, 201412 yr Author Damn nice front yard with some nice landscaping! Looks like a nice place to drink some lemon breezy or or enjoy some chewy stewy. Thanks. There's not much to do out in cornfield and soybean country, so Sarge piddles around the yard a lot. He laughs at those suburbanites and their 1/4 acre plots who Complain Loudly about the 23 minutes it takes them to mow every week - and oh the trajedy (Trajedy, I tell ya) of the extra 7 minutes with the WeedEater and HedgeTrimmers! There's 9 acres, 2 ponds, an orchard, a vinyard, and the biggest back-yard garden you've ever seen (about 3 acres). He laughs at the inconvenience of having to drag out a lawn mower for 23 minutes a week. Weeding the driveway (it's 1/3 of a mile long) is a job in itself. Yard maintenance is a full-time job 'round The Sarges' Homestead. [1] Thanks for noticing. Easy Peasy FOOTNOTE: [1] If this semi-retirement thing doesn't work out, Sarge could always get a job as a GroundsKeeper/Lawnboy somewhere...
May 8, 201412 yr Oh my god what a stunning "garden" you are soo lucky, I would give anything to have even 1/8th of it, just gorgeous.
May 25, 201412 yr Author So the Asparagus Patch is about played out for the season. Time to let 'em grow for next year's harvest ... but look what showed up today. Expecting about 50 to 60 pounds worth in the next 2 weeks Eas Peasy
May 26, 201412 yr Author So Mrs. Sarge turned last night's strawberry haul into this morning's strawberry muffins (2.3 pounds of yum harvested yesterday) ( ... turned into one dozen portions of yum-yum this morning. ) And slightly modified the muffin recipe into Strawberry Bread that's in the oven at this very moment. No pics until it comes out and cools ... Easy Peasy Strawberry Squeezy
May 26, 201412 yr I've had good luck using Ball's no sugar pectin (with 2 cups of sugar) if you don't already use it for strawberry jam.
June 18, 201412 yr Author Guess what season it is now @ The Sarge Homestead and Produce Department ? I found my thrill ... On Blueberry Hill ... Be sure to check the whole album (link above) - It's been a good season so far. The Strawberry total was 95.2 pounds. Was only expecting 50 to 60. Easy Peasy
June 26, 201412 yr I want your garden. All my extra bucks from not smoking seem to go towards buying produce.
June 26, 201412 yr Author I want your garden. All my extra bucks from not smoking seem to go towards buying produce. It takes a good 5 years to get going like we do, but you can start small. Sarge started his garden in 2002 with just 3 tomato plants, a cucumber vine, and some sweet potatoes. Easy Peasy
June 26, 201412 yr It seems like anytime we try and grow something, the squirrels, rabbits, or voles devour
July 3, 201412 yr Author Taste The Rainbow! RedCurrants, Yellow Raspberries, BlackCurrants, Gooseberries, Blueberries ... [1] Easy Peasy FOOTNOTE: [1] ... and purple hearts, green clovers and blue diamonds - they're magically delicious!
July 3, 201412 yr Taste The Rainbow! RedCurrants, Yellow Raspberries, BlackCurrants, Gooseberries, Blueberries ... [1] Easy Peasy FOOTNOTE: [1] ... and purple hearts, green clovers and blue diamonds - they're magically delicious! Yummy!!
July 4, 201412 yr Author It appears The Sarge got dead seeds. ZERO percent germination so far ... but in nature they usually germinate in July - it's a soil temperature thing. Sarge is gonna wait for the end of the month before giving up and trying again next year. Never give up, never surrender. Easy Peasy
August 7, 201412 yr Author First sunflower I've ever grown, about 10 foot tall. Don't forget to protect that from the birds if you want the seeds for chewing on. We use those mesh bags onions/potatoes/apples etc. come in from the store. Just save 'em all year and near as we can tell, they'll last a lifetime. The plastic doesn't appear to break down in UV too quickly. Ours are just now flowering - first one was day before yesterday [2014.08/05]. Easy Peasy
August 7, 201412 yr Author This morning's haul from The Veggie Garden: First day of Cayenne Peppers!! All three of 'em ;) Easy Peasy
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