Richard Rollinson

retired photo lab supervisor, forester, gardener, amateur botanist. I give away vegetables. (except sweetcorn, I never share sweetcorn)
FeederWatch participant
using iNaturalist as richroll
located in Connecticut, NE US
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone borderline 6b - 7a
All photos are my own unless otherwise stated.
Richard Rollinson (npub1fqf…ajkk)">https://justmytoots.com/Richard Rollinson (npub1fqf…ajkk)

#gardening: [#zone6b](https://toot.wales/tags/zone6b )
#nature:
#horticulture:
#botany:

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Last Notes

2026-05-17 15:22:27 GMT

Took the day off yesterday to observe our 41st anniversary. (Sue, you're still the one!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdfW_2frXnE )
Today I finished moving last year's compost up to be mulch between the two rows of tomato plants. Now the rest will get mulched if and when material becomes available over the next few weeks. While I did that, BeetBear tended to his beloved beet root crop, which looks pretty good so far!
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#BeetBear
#Compost
#Tomatoes
#Zone6b
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/590/508/520/009/477/original/a3579f60d2c1622d.jpg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/590/511/742/001/799/original/535723519c371211.jpg

2026-03-22 20:38:30 GMT

Some views of other stuff in the grow room waiting to be brought up to the greenhouse at the right time. There are also peppers, jalapeños, parsley, more lettuce, verbena, snapdragons, etc....
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Zone6b
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/274/727/801/821/789/original/eccd23a1db8843d4.jpg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/274/727/807/798/301/original/e521e04789e07ae7.jpg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/274/727/815/836/559/original/c035810a548097de.jpg

2026-02-22 02:09:49 GMT

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Here's me at forestry school in Feb. 1969 out and about on my new snowshoes. I still have those snowshoes and may have to get them out on Monday!!!
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/111/824/522/174/344/original/0d11da0b0598dc1f.jpg

2026-02-21 20:51:34 GMT

And just when we were doing so well with the thawing and melting... time to hunker down again!
#gardening
#allotment
#NewEngland
#Winter
#Zone6b
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/110/583/119/233/509/original/42c69bba4fbd1460.png

2026-02-08 02:43:15 GMT

This is getting serious. Blowing snow drifting all over and wind chills below -18F (-28C) Spring is going to be late this year...
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Winter
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/032/686/165/398/339/original/4dfe864f012f18d3.png

2026-01-21 21:22:57 GMT

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Here's some info from The Old Farmer's Almanac. FWIW
https://www.almanac.com/black-walnut-trees

2026-01-21 12:35:17 GMT

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Good to see you again. Hope you are keeping well.

2026-01-21 12:30:29 GMT

Help! All the degrees seem to be leaking out of my thermometer! I've only got 4.3 left. (that's -15.4°C) If anyone can spare some warmer temps, please share. Quick view of my slumbering garden plot just before sunrise this morning. This is cold, even for my part of New England.
#gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Winter
#Zone6b
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/933/022/531/962/261/original/91d27fb5b65f7018.jpg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/933/060/359/901/083/original/d559a1a9dcec30f8.png

2026-01-20 15:40:46 GMT

Data for my Project Feeder Watch site, week number 12 for this season. We had 19 species and 118 individuals this week. Weather continues very cold with lots of snow cover. A Cooper's Hawk predated a Junco this week. One of the Carolina Wrens looks like they had a misadventure as it's tail feathers are missing. Still seems to be getting around ok. Having to melt the ice in the bird water dishes twice a day right now.
#ProjectFeederWatch
#Birds
#NewEngland
#Gardening
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/928/154/427/683/539/original/6a7bd547e8ca3ff3.png

2026-01-14 11:15:33 GMT

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OOH! My neighbor has a catalpa. I might try that!

2026-01-14 11:00:06 GMT

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Looks good! I've tried doing similar with the longer prunings from the apple trees, but it never works out.

2026-01-13 12:52:18 GMT

Trying something new to me this year. Along with the traditional cabbage, we are trying some of these mini-head types called Caraflex (see link). My daughter's FSA had them last summer and she loved them so we're giving it a try. It would work well for us not to have ½ heads of cabbage turning brown in the fridge. https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/cabbage/fresh-market-cabbage/caraflex-organic-f1-cabbage-seed-109G.11.html?trk_msg=BHHSRQRJ5QQKL8DGP35KBC8DN8&trk_contact=CP34IJVGAKOHNOD28EFGOUOKPK&trk_module=tra&trk_sid=VKUJS7DK90SSRRK8MVLGDK33I8&trk_link=S5TQ6AFSOG2K3EO2GB57HHE1HK

2026-01-13 11:50:59 GMT

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Happy Birthday fellow Capricorn! Looks to be a pleasant day (weather-wise, anyway)

2026-01-12 23:02:12 GMT

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Take a look at Johnny's seeds and Harris seeds. been using them both for years.

2026-01-12 14:58:50 GMT

Count info for my Project Feeder Watch site has now been entered for week number 11 of this season's count. We again had 19 species seen, totaling 127 individuals this week. Not much new to report. The Juncos & Starlings make up about 30% of the observations. No hawk depredations noted this week, but the Cooper's Hawk is back. We're just down to 1 Squirrel raiding the feeders. It's been warmer lately so the snow cover is gone for now.
#ProjectFeederWatch
#NewEngland
#Birds
#Gardening
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/882/678/804/636/744/original/e1e37a6c0514e1b4.png

2026-01-08 21:51:21 GMT

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Here Here! Well said.

2026-01-08 20:31:35 GMT

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An old, established supplier, been in business for over 140 years, located in Northeast US (fairly close to me) good variety, dependable and MOST IMPORTANTLY they carry the variety of Sweetcorn I prefer. Not the cheapest, though.

2026-01-08 18:32:22 GMT

Here we go! BeetBear has made his selections and had me place the orders and now we wait for the 2026 seeds to arrive. Harris and Johnny's got all our money this year. (Yes, I know there are horrible things going on in the world, but BeetBear and I want to focus on what positive things we can accomplish here in our own neighborhood, so it's gardening for us!)
#BeetBear
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Zone6b
#Seeds
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/860/873/885/773/332/original/140118707d61f48a.jpg

2026-01-08 16:14:51 GMT

Life keeps getting in the way, but here is my Project Feeder Watch data for count week number 10. We had 19 species and 108 individuals recorded this week. One female cardinal was predated by the Red Shouldered Hawk this week. One lonely Mockingbird still around. Of course the Juncos abound. Still snow cover but weather a little warmer. Sill one squirrel and a rabbit showing up.
#ProjectFeederWatch
#Birds
#NewEngland
#Gardening
#Allotment
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/860/321/417/309/706/original/7b015ccf32927d87.png

2026-01-06 01:29:16 GMT

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Have had good luck with Fedco.
https://fedcoseeds.com/fruits

2026-01-05 13:01:50 GMT

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I know there are many traditions associated with Wassailing. Here it has been our custom to Wassail our small orchard on 12th Night. We do this by giving each tree a bit of toasted bread that has been dipped in apple cider. Thereby "toasting" each tree. We then do a chorus of "Here we Come a-Wassailing" and recite some poetry. It is our way to give thanks for all the wonderful apples these trees provide us!
#Wassailing
#Orchard
#gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#BeetBear

2026-01-05 13:00:56 GMT

Here we come a wassailing
Among the leaves so green,
Here we come a wandering
So fair to be seen. “Health to thee, good apple-tree,Well to bear, pocket-fulls, hat-fulls,
Peck-fulls, bushel-bag-fulls.”
“Here’s to thee, old apple-tree,
Whence thou may’st bud, and whence thou may’st blow,
And whence thou may’st bear apples enow
Hats full! caps full!
Bushel-bushel-sacks full,
And my pockets full, too, huzza!”
#Wassailing
#Apples
#Orchard
#gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#BeetBear
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/842/583/245/485/049/original/c7fcf331eceff7ca.jpg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/842/583/270/193/808/original/96d8975f87649a97.jpeg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/842/583/274/979/004/original/ac25df2412213b96.jpg

2026-01-04 21:05:03 GMT

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Old grafting scar is below the snow line in this photo.

2026-01-04 20:59:26 GMT

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Tree grew from a Baldwin apple scion grafted on to unknown root stock over 50 years ago,

2026-01-04 20:23:01 GMT

#SilentSunday
#Winter
#NewEngland
#Orchard
#Apples
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/838/673/880/453/898/original/e729a470398324bf.jpg

2026-01-02 16:03:07 GMT

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We call it "Poor Man's Fertilizer!"

2026-01-02 16:00:09 GMT

Well, another trip around the sun brings another birthday for me. Another chance to have some coffee and cake and sit around doing nothing while looking out at all the snow. Happy New Year! Calendar says I'm 76 but my head says I'm still 25...
#Gardening
#NewEngland
#birthday
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/826/314/550/964/049/original/e929b246e3846143.jpg

2026-01-01 15:50:52 GMT

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Johnny's and Harris are my go-to catalogs. I get them in the mail regularly, but I do my ordering via website.

2026-01-01 01:29:04 GMT

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May the next turn around the sun be a good one for all of us!

2025-12-30 18:33:21 GMT

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I find the constant wind to be wearing and stressful in a vague sort of way. Makes me tired, anyway.

2025-12-30 18:00:13 GMT

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Yes, it's the trees that are a worry. Still windy, but not as bad as earlier.

2025-12-30 13:22:15 GMT

Very disturbed night with the temperatures plummeting and the wind gusting to 50 mph / 76 km/h. Really rattled the house all night. Wind chills in the 15°F range (-10°C). Could we please stop with all these wind events please? Screen shots from my weather station this morning. The remaining wet snow is now 4 inches of solid ice.
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Weather
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/808/669/465/447/502/original/bc88253e974d7bf5.png
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/808/669/466/155/489/original/e4f8f553373c37ce.png

2025-12-29 16:12:05 GMT

Here's my Project Feeder Watch data for count week number 9. We had 20 species and 116 individuals visit this week. Things of note: did not see any raptors this week and the heavy snow brought us a Northern Mockingbird, first one I've seen in months. Only one squirrel this week. It's been a tough week for the birds with the heavy snow, high winds and now freezing rain. And yet they still show up. CU all next year!
#ProjectFeederWatch
#Birds
#NewEngland
#Gardening
#Allotment
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/803/700/407/588/138/original/5a37f92b74c2f9b0.png

2025-12-28 01:42:54 GMT

Winter has returned. Six inches (15cm) of the fluffy white stuff overnight. It's a poor photo, but I was busy with a snow shovel.
#gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Winter
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/794/627/019/939/984/original/0b0c5e152e1dfe3d.jpg

2025-12-24 13:24:47 GMT

When your daughter is a botany professor and she brings beverages to the Yule festivities, you get some interesting (and quite delicious) choices. I offer here a selection of Apple and Gooseberry Birch Sap seltzer, Black Currant and Thoroughwort Birch Sap seltzer, and Mulberry and Nettle Birch Sap seltzer. all quite refreshing.
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Yule
#Solstice
#Botany
#Feast
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/774/691/926/952/252/original/97719afa6fb4c261.jpg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/774/691/932/707/284/original/c46311bb20ab86b9.jpg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/774/691/933/581/706/original/835dc41165328ccf.jpg

2025-12-23 15:30:47 GMT

Here is the ProjectFeederWatch data for my site for week number 8. We saw 18 species totaling 123 individuals this week. No exciting newcomers, just the reliable regulars. Lots of cold weather meant lots of toting warm water to unfreeze the water rays this week.
#ProjectFeederWatch
#Birds
#NewEngland
#Gardening
#Allotment
#Winter
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/769/562/674/333/593/original/8b3564bb345bdc02.png

2025-12-22 15:45:50 GMT

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Best wishes to you and yours...

2025-12-21 13:45:47 GMT

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It's an old concrete block waste incinerator that was repurposed to a bird feeding table about 20 years ago.

2025-12-21 13:23:45 GMT

BeetBear and I wish everyone a Happy Solstice. At least now we can start getting some of our daylight back, but remember: "When the days begin to lengthen, the cold begins to strengthen." Time to go in and order seeds...
#BeetBear
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Zone6b
#Winter
#WinterSolstice
#Solstice
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/757/741/078/718/532/original/d90c678c7f9a104c.jpeg

2025-12-20 02:22:55 GMT

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Sorry to hear that. Hope it's not that long. We were luckier down here. Good luck...

2025-12-19 20:19:41 GMT

Just had a powerful storm blow through overnight and this morning. It brought in much warmer air, too. Last week's snow is history. Wind gusts this morning hit 50 mph / 80km/h and temps got up to 56.7°F / 13.7°C. Rainfall was .67 inches / 18mm. We've got power outages all around us but here we're ok. At least there was a reward in the sky as the storm passed.
#gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Winter
#Rainbow
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/748/049/569/348/995/original/1ac85b52b2cc77d5.jpg

2025-12-15 15:52:00 GMT

Here is this week's Project Feeder Watch data. It's now week Seven of the count. We had 19 species and 127 individuals this week. The Red Shouldered Hawk is still around but everyone seems to be avoiding it pretty well, so far. Chipmunks have finally all gone to ground, but squirrels still coming. Also one lonely grackle still around. Otherwise it's just the regulars. First count of the season with snow cover, also.
#ProjectFeederWatch
#Birds
#Newengland
#Gardening
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/724/354/831/503/996/original/7d3ddac583c8b97d.png

2025-12-15 15:23:48 GMT

Well, the "Light dusting" snow squall event predicted for yesterday turned in to about 4 inches (10cm) of light snow. Garden now has it's ground cover of "Poor Man's Fertilizer". Temp got down to 13°F /-10°C overnight and now has managed to climb to 22°F/-5°C, so this isn't going away for a while. Gotta go feed and water the birds...
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Zone6b
#Birds
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/724/228/090/787/273/original/d7eabcbc99fed082.jpg

2025-12-11 22:17:58 GMT

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Amen to that!

2025-12-11 21:37:52 GMT

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Thanks for posting about your allotment in winter. It always brightens my day. Everything here is frozen solid and will probably stay that way until March. Hope Ernie had a great birthday.

2025-12-09 13:25:38 GMT

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Happy Birthday, Ernie! Enjoy your day.

2025-12-08 20:11:03 GMT

Just finished entering totals for Project Feeder Watch week number 6. We had 18 species this week and 132 individuals. Winter is closing in fast and it's a chore to keep the water trays unfrozen. My favorite visitor is always the Carolina Wren. It's amazing how something so small can have such a big attitude. Attached is a screen shot of the count totals for the week.
#ProjectFeederWatch
#Birds
#NewEngland
#Gardening
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/685/735/274/380/911/original/cc9d84abdcd06dfe.jpg

2025-12-05 20:53:23 GMT

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Right now he is fast asleep in his rocker next to the fireplace. He'll wake up in time for the Wassailing in January.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/668/929/997/664/128/original/53f2b2eac7785268.jpg

2025-12-05 20:08:30 GMT

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Got down to 11°F / -12°C overnight and only made it up to 27°F / -3°C this afternoon. The 10-day forecast has us below freezing for the next 10 days, except for a period of freezing rain on Wednesday. No snow cover yet, so the frost will go deep.

2025-12-04 20:30:07 GMT

With temps dropping to 14°F /-10°C overnight and staying well below freezing for at least the next 5 days, it was time to drain all the rain barrels before they freeze solid and burst. The few things left in the greenhouse will get tap water for a while.
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Zone6b
#Winter

2025-12-02 21:33:09 GMT

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They never do!

2025-12-02 20:18:47 GMT

I'm not good at video, but here's my family of birds coming in for the afternoon feed on a cold, wet day. Temp is ONLY JUST above freezing and it's raining at this point. Most of the birds seen here are house sparrows and house finches, but a few other regulars are also coming in.
#Birds
#ProjectFeederWatch
#NewEngland
#Gardening
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/651/797/215/400/360/original/c897efac258f8fb7.mp4

2025-12-02 20:05:34 GMT

A bit tardy, but life gets in the way sometimes. Here is the Project Feeder Watch data for week number 5 at my site.
Data may be viewed here: https://data.feederwatch.org/pfw/count/summary?id=S287081172
We had 19 species and 127 individuals this week. Nothing very unusual, just the regulars this week. There is STILL one very determined chipmunk gathering seed every time I look.
#Birds
#ProjectFeederWatch
#NewEngland
#Gardening

2025-11-30 21:14:23 GMT

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Looking good! Do you have to worry about the water barrels freezing, or is that not a problem. I'll have to be draining mine soon or they'll freeze solid and burst.

2025-11-27 20:49:04 GMT

Had a nice, traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings. Including main dishes, side dishes, veg, desserts, spices and beverages, our PlantsGiving total of botanical species included came to 44 this year. I've included the list, made in no particular order. Did anyone else try a listing?
#Thanksgiving
#PlantsGiving
#PlantAwareness
#Botany
#NewEngland
#Gardening
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/623/605/314/028/691/original/bacc423d74c10084.jpg

2025-11-27 15:05:45 GMT

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The spice must flow...

2025-11-27 11:51:16 GMT

Giving thanks for another good year in the garden and for family and friends. BeetBear and his friend Moley are making the list for our PlantsGiving plant tally. The blueberry pie alone has 9 AND the blueberries are home-grown. Pot-o-Carrots still producing too. Lots of food to eat later. Count up those botanicals, people!
#PlantsGiving
#Thanksgiving
#PlantAwareness
#Botany
#BeetBear
#Gardening
#NewEngland
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/621/393/754/295/829/original/7736e9efa17326bc.jpg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/621/396/083/544/103/original/46cfd6407184b96f.jpg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/621/398/415/678/545/original/93ce72413bde2177.jpg

2025-11-27 00:37:40 GMT

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I use one here too!
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/618/841/958/386/247/original/943ff79167570fd3.jpg

2025-11-24 21:36:26 GMT

Just finished entering the data for week # four of this season's Project Feeder Watch.
The data may be viewed here:
https://data.feederwatch.org/pfw/count/summary?id=S285996850
We had 19 species and 124 individuals this week, including a rare sighting of a Northern Flicker. The Red-Winged Blackbirds have gone, but the Grackles are back in lower numbers. The Red Shouldered Hawk is still hanging around making everyone nervous. Still one chipmunk stocking up on seed.
#Birds
#ProjectFeederWatch
#NewEngland
#Gardening
#Allotment

2025-11-24 15:47:16 GMT

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Something there is that doesn't love a wall...

2025-11-24 02:22:35 GMT

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You might enjoy this link. A good listen!
https://www.awphooey.com/wkrp

2025-11-23 12:26:19 GMT

Got down to 25°F / -4°C overnight. I'll be chipping ice off the trays of water for the birds. At least the sun is shining now, so I expect thawing by noon... off now to do bird counts.
#ProjectfeederWatch
#Birds
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland

2025-11-22 12:25:31 GMT

The seed catalogs have started to arrive (seems early to me) and at least one of the companies might have a wrong idea about just how big my garden might be. Either that, or I am under estimating costs this year...
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Zone6b
#Seeds
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/593/303/905/766/181/original/3e0e10ae9215024a.jpg

2025-11-20 21:06:08 GMT

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I've got white ones, too!
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/584/055/722/789/974/original/459d3f97ddb31351.jpg

2025-11-20 20:55:05 GMT

I don't need a calendar to tell #Thanksgiving is almost here. The Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumgera truncata) is putting on a show again. Not technically part of Thanksgiving dinner, but part of the decor so I'm including the #Plantsgiving tag as well.
#BloomScrolling
#NewEngland
#Gardening
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/583/976/342/931/297/original/4ecf27841fa12d83.jpg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/583/976/392/093/923/original/2ecf0c7f2a224961.jpg

2025-11-20 13:41:17 GMT

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❤️

2025-11-20 12:32:33 GMT

For #Plantsgiving, #BeetBear suggests one of his favorite tipples, which in itself contributes 22 separate botanicals to the list.
#gardening
#NewEngland
#Thanksgiving
#Botany
#PlantAwareness
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/582/012/639/697/483/original/b8386775e8d6d2cc.jpeg

2025-11-19 14:35:02 GMT

With US Thanksgiving just about a week away, I'm once again participating in #Plantsgiving .This is an idea I first discovered a few years back proposed by Prof. Chris Martine at Bucknell U. Link to old page here:
https://forthemedia.blogs.bucknell.edu/martine-invites-everyone-to-celebrate-plantsgiving/
The idea is simple: Just record all the botanical ingredients in your thanksgiving meal & share them here with the plantsgiving hashtag. My list last year was 44 species. Helps raise #PlantAwareness among students, family and friends.
#gardening
#Botany

2025-11-17 20:37:18 GMT

Here is my ProjectFeederWatch data for week number 3.
https://data.feederwatch.org/pfw/count/summary?id=S284966362
We saw 22 species and 141 individuals this week. Had a nice visit from a flock of 19 Red-Winged Blackbirds. Junco numbers are climbing, too. The Red Shouldered Hawk that haunts the feeders doesn't seem to bother the song birds too much. They have plenty of cover to dive into when he comes by. Still a couple of chipmunks gathering seed, too.
#ProjectFeederWatch
#Birds
#NewEngland
#autumn
#Gardening
#Allotment

2025-11-15 20:46:35 GMT

Update: All the prunings have now been shredded and have been placed as mulch around the row of blueberry bushes. One more job ticked off the to-do list. Note the way the mulch reddens as it ages. The redder stuff in the back is about a week older than the lighter stuff added today.
#gardening
#allotment
#NewEngland
#zone6b
#Blueberries
#apples
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2025-11-15 16:28:41 GMT

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Thanks! My father planted it about 50 years ago and we've been getting lots of good pie apples from it for decades, except this year when the June heat wave made all the fruit drop. Hoping for better next year...

2025-11-15 16:12:38 GMT

Finally finished pruning the "grand-daddy" Baldwin apple tree. For better or worse, that's as good as it's going to get this year. Not perfect, but it will do. Closeup shows how much the sapsuckers and woodpeckers love this old tree. While I was at it, I cut back the raspberries for the season. They were still bearing fruit, but last night's hard freeze turned the remaining ones to mush. Now to run it all through the shredder for mulch.
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Apples
#Zone6b
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2025-11-13 18:56:53 GMT

The apple tree pruning still continues... All of the "small" trees (Granny Smith, 2 Red Delicious, Blenheim Orange) are done & all the chippings have gone to mulch the blueberries. The "big" Baldwin is now about half done although not as elegantly as I could have hoped & the work continues as the weather allows. Freezing cold & snow flurries aren't friendly to these old hands, but we keep picking away. Hoping for better crop next season.
#gardening
#NewEngland
#zone6b
#Apples
#Orchard
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2025-11-11 22:51:01 GMT

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Something very Robert Frost about it...
"Whose woods these are..."

2025-11-11 22:45:37 GMT

Dod yn ôl at fy nghoed.
"To return to my trees"
I know this is Wales, but the picture speaks to my roots, which are deep in the New England woodlands. Very comforting thought these days.
Photo credit to Coed Cadw Woodland Trust.
#Wales
#NewEngland
#gardening
#autumn
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2025-11-10 20:42:35 GMT

Just finished entering the data for week 2 of ProjectFeederWatch.
Data may be seen here:
https://data.feederwatch.org/pfw/count/summary?id=S283917107
We had 20 species & 106 individuals this week. Chipmunks & squirrels active all over the place. A Red Shouldered Hawk had everyone nervous for a while, but it left empty-handed after a while.
The apple tree pruning is well along now but the biggest of the trees is still yet to do. Big job.
#ProjectFeederWatch
#birds
#gardening
#NewEngland

2025-11-07 17:50:59 GMT

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It's on the south side of the house, full sun all day, sliding door on the left side in the photo.

2025-11-06 17:31:11 GMT

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It is a 6 foot by 8 foot greenhouse with aluminum frame bought by my father in about 1975 from Burpee. The tempered glass vertical walls have long-since been replaced by polycarbonate sheets due to some breakage issues on the roof caused by falling ice, etc. Remaining glass is on roof because I don't think the plastic sheets could stand a snow load.
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2025-11-06 12:22:32 GMT

Here is an old photo of me from the summer of 1956, hugging my best friend. We are under the bright sun of a Vermont summer and the little boy in me wishes it was possible to go back there again...
#ThrowbackThursday
#gardening
#NewEngland
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2025-11-03 23:59:18 GMT

With the gardening season done and all the tools cleaned and tucked away, BeetBear is leaving me on my own to get all the apple trees pruned over the winter. He's napping by the fire with instructions to wake him up for the Wassailing later on.
#BeetBear
#gardening
#Allotment
#Apples
#Orchard
#NewEngland
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2025-11-03 23:46:50 GMT

Have just completed entering my ProjectFeederWatch data for week #1. This is my 7th season reporting and keeps me busy during the gardening off-season. This week we saw 105 individuals across 21 species. The data may be viewed here:
https://data.feederwatch.org/pfw/count/summary?id=S282762776
Nothing much unusual to report, just the common birds we see frequently, although the Juncos have returned just in time for the first count this year.
#ProjectFeederWatch
#birds
#NewEngland
#gardening
#autumn

2025-11-03 02:31:30 GMT

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1) grew up in a family that grew veg.
2) plants are EVERYWHERE and feed me.
3)informal, less pressure to perform
4) raising plant awareness in others
5)without
6)4 -5

2025-11-02 21:11:22 GMT

For pity's sake, NOW the local TV station is offering "Leaf Blowing" forecasts. Can we just say NO please? Not a moment's peace outside anymore.
#gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#autumn
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2025-11-01 11:48:52 GMT

It's time to change hats from gardening to birding. Its ProjectFeederWatch season once again. If you aren't familiar with it, check out their web site. https://feederwatch.org/
It's a worthwhile project. BeetBear has our supplies ready and I've got the clipboard. We'll report our sightings each week. BTW, the Juncos are already back. Haven't seen them since April. 😀
#ProjectFeederWatch
#gardening
#Allotment
#BeetBear
#birds
#NewEngland
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2025-10-30 19:14:04 GMT

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I just use tongs and a giant spatula and cross my fingers...

2025-10-30 18:44:28 GMT

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Cut side down to start and then cut side up for the last 30 min.

2025-10-30 01:32:03 GMT

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I'm in NewEngland and mostly grow a traditional vegetable garden and usually get seed from Johnny's or sometimes Harris.

2025-10-29 01:39:41 GMT

I wonder if he was speeding or went through a stop sign? 😀
#NewEngland #LocalNews
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2025-10-28 00:58:51 GMT

Spent the afternoon pruning my ~60yr-old blueberry bushes. Cut out the old/dead wood to make room for the newer growth. Pruning the 40 ft (10meter) row of bushes turned into a large pile of brush, turned into ½ cart of chips, turned into some mulch around some of the apple trees. Very satisfying. 😀
#gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#zone6b
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2025-10-27 21:43:14 GMT

I'm still here, just not much to report these days. The temperature went down to 32°F (0°C) this morning & stayed there for 3 hours. The few flowers I have left seemed to survive ok so they get to go on as long as they want. ALSO, the raspberries incredibly are still fruiting & flowering & the bees are still visiting. Pictures show milkweed, Calibrachoa, Cleome, and raspberries, all still chugging along. Got to go prune the blueberries.
#gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#BloomScrolling
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2025-10-23 01:10:55 GMT

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😬

2025-10-23 01:09:25 GMT

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2025-10-17 20:16:51 GMT

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Good one! I always call my wife "The Entropy Arrestor" 😀

2025-10-16 22:44:48 GMT

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It's nice to see that there a still a few around who keep the old skills alive. Never had a hedge laying tradition around here. It's all stone walls.

2025-10-15 23:35:01 GMT

Came home with 200 pounds (91kg) of pelletized lime and spent the morning applying it on the 4800ft² (446 meter²) garden bed. This comes out to be roughly 40 pounds per 1000ft² or about 20 kilos per 100 meter². (don't judge me if the math is off). Photos show the labeling on the bags and % contents. Also a shot of what a handful of the stuff looks like. I know it says "Lawn Lime" but I wouldn't waste it on grass.😀
@npub1nw7…g0ek
@npub1yra…ayat #gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#zone6b
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2025-10-15 23:12:55 GMT

Did some pH checking around the garden this morning as I am preparing to apply some lime before winter sets in. Most of the growing areas currently reading about pH 6.0. Even the soil in the carrot pot was the same. The water in the rain barrel read pH 5.5. I'm off to get some pelletized lime. 😀
@npub1nw7…g0ek
@npub1yra…ayat
#gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#zone6b
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2025-10-13 19:44:47 GMT

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I like the idea of the standpipes for air movement. I'm going to have to scrounge around for some to use here. 😀

2025-10-12 20:01:18 GMT

Update on my "Pot-O-Carrots" Variety is "MoonRaker", planted in April. Pretty much left alone except for watering all season. Not prize winning specimens, but are MUCH better that what I get from my garden soil. Average about 4" in length & we harvest what we need, meal by meal. Should end up with well over 150 carrots by the end, but I've not counted them this year. Pot was in full sun all summer and is now in the greenhouse.😀
#gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#zone6b
@npub1nw7…g0ek
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2025-10-11 21:36:58 GMT

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Thank you! It keeps me out of trouble...

2025-10-11 20:57:46 GMT

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It's a honda engine. The rest of the machine is made by DR.