Green, Brown, shades of Orange with Photosynthesis

We have been gathering leaves from a neighbor that does not want them. The saying goes “ one persons trash is another ones treasure.”

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We also have a pile of green materials from the summers mowing and gardening. Mixing green and brown materials together is the basic rule to get the compost process going. Green materials, such as grass clippings or fresh green plant parts, supply nitrogen. Brown materials, such as dead leaves, are high in carbon. Mixing the two assures good conditions for microbes, which actually decompose the plant material.

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When the garden area has been tended to I will rake some of the leaves in the front yard into a flowerbed…before I do that I know I will run and jump into the mix before final distribution. It just smells so good this time of year. But first to separate the pine cones for another inside activity!

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Yup it is for the BIRDS! I first gather up the pinecones that have less of the pine resin on them. Then if I need more I make another pile of the newer cones that are still full of the STICKEY Stuff. An old cookie sheet and low oven temperature will soon make short work of that mess.

~~~~~~~~~~ Then: What you will need!

The birds are coming in droves to the now filled feeders. Yesterday I saw a covey of Morning Doves flitting in and out of the frost ridden Hosta plants. So far we have had light frosts. ~~~~~~~~~~ The Asian Beetles are already coming in the cracks and crevices seeking a winter home.

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The multicolored Asian lady beetle is native to Asia, where it is an important predator that feeds on aphids and other soft-bodied insects that dwell in trees. In their native habitat, large aggregations of these lady beetles often hibernate (overwinter) in cracks and crevices within cliff faces. Unfortunately, in the United States where cliffs are not prevalent, they seek overwintering sites in and around buildings.

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Stains and Odor. When lady beetles are disturbed, they defend themselves by exuding a yellow-orange body fluid, which is their blood. This defense mechanism is termed reflex bleeding. The blood has a foul odor and can permanently stain walls, drapes, carpeting, etc. Thus, do not crush or swat lady beetles so as to minimize their defensive behavior. They are just plain SMELLY BUGS.

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I have found like this site indicates: "Bag 'em!!!" Using a Vacuum Cleaner. An effective way to minimize problems with large numbers of multicolored Asian lady beetles is to use a vacuum cleaner or shop-vac to "bag" the beetles. The beetles can be captured inside a knee-high nylon stocking that has been inserted into the extension hose or wand and secured in place with a rubber band. As soon as the vacuum cleaner is turned off, be sure to remove the stocking so that the captured beetles cannot escape. As you remove it, the rubber band closes around the stocking, effectively "bagging" the lady beetles. You then can discard the contents of the stocking.

BAG those LADIES ~~ it does work!

HA I also you knee high stockings to trap the lint from the dryer vent…This time of year I use the smoke gray for silliness as it is a fall color. Ya might as well have fun with mundane tasks.

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The fertilizers is awaiting distribution for the yard area we call the “Football Field”… We need to wait for either a good drenching rain or the first snow because we do not what the geese and ducks to try to eat the fertilizer. If we judge WELL, we can broadcast the fertilizer just before a good rain or snow so the fertilizer sinks into the ground before the FOWL gets it.

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Autumn Leaves ~~~~~~~~~~ Falling Leaves (French lyrics by Jacques Prvert,English lyrics by Johnny Mercer,Music by Joseph Kosma)

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The falling leaves drift by the windowThe autumn leaves of red and goldI see your lips, the summer kissesThe sun-burned hands I used to hold

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Since you went away the days grow longAnd soon Ill hear old winters songBut I miss you most of all my darlingWhen autumn leaves start to fall

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Cest une chanson, qui nous ressembleToi tu maimais et je taimaisNous vivions tous, les deux ensembleToi que maimais moi qui taimaisMais la vie spare ceux qui saimentTout doucement sans faire de bruitEt la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants dsunis

Day three ~ Jungle to Pristine to Stunning

Hostas back in ground My poor Sweetie is home and very sick with a cold / flu / sinus something and he is totally miserable. While he is inside SUPPOSING to be resting I began my day @ 8 am re planting all the plants that Mark rescued for me. About 9 ish I came in for a short break and received a call from my Niece, Lisa. She and Jamie had been down looking at the work in progress and mentioned sharing with me some of the ornamental grasses that would be perfect in this newly developed area. Not only did Lisa come down but also she and young Fred helped me get all the plants firmly replanted and we still had time to get NEW plants in the ground. By the time we had totally finished Lisa and Fred went fishing and I sat and watched cause I was too pooped to pop. As I sat there watching them fish my mind was in a whirl as to the next stage of operation that I could get into before the POND GUY comes. My Sweetie and I discussed the plans for the weekend and my list went on and on and on as to what I hoped to accomplish. I received a lovely compliment, the second day my Sweetie said the area looked PRISTINE, tonight he said the area looked STUNNING! Awwwwwwww he is such a sweetie! As I arose, gingerly I might add, from the bed this morning, that list started to look improbable. Sitting in the Nook as I sip my coffee, it appears that rain is in the forecast, which is a good thing. The seeding of the grass, the re planting of the Hostas, and Daffodils as well as the three new Azaleas is most assuredly perfect timing. It also means that my tired aching body will be spared as I recuperate and tend to my ill Sweetie. Whom by the by is feeling a tad better. It also means that with the rain he, as well, will not be tempted to do outside work. So you see a Win ~ WIN situation all the way around. Note the picture of Young Fred with the fish he caught with just a hook and a twig. The Survivorman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

64 and already HUMID today

All of a sudden there seemed to be an explosion coming from within the Hostas. Slowly I see Castor then the tail of Muffasah then The Twizeller bounding up the Pin Oak with Pollex in hot pursuit. Slowly the Dudes begin the playful rituals of kitten hood; their forts are the plants, trees and bushes. In the not to far distance the turkeys are tuning up with their coral rendition of ’Fall is coming ‘ then overhead and a Thicket over the Canada Geese are as well beginning their coral warm up. Meanwhile back at the Hostas the playful energies being to subside and the Dudes take a break for breakfast. On the other side of the Shag Bark Hickory, Mom Ground hog shows her youngster the way to our apple orchard. They live in a hole under the Rhododendron bushes and just to the left of a scraggly Box Elder. It is still early as I ponder One week from today… I need to come up with a Birthday gift for my Sweetie. It is perplexing, sometimes as to what to get for family members for special holidays. Asking just does not seem to always make it any more. Why is that? LOUD SIGH as the Humming bird drain the last essences from the Wild Phlox.