Most of today was spent in the Eaton Rapids orchard belatedly dealing with weeds. I am between 1/4 and 1/3 done with getting it whipped back into shape.
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| One of the sub-tasks was to rip vines out of trees. |
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| I actually used a scythe to drop the weeds. I will let them dry for a few days and then I will shred them with the push mower. |
God willing, I will be picking apples tomorrow
The Liberty apples are dropping like crazy. Time to pick them and it isn't even September. 2600GDD b50 since January 1.
Turnips
I broadcast turnip seeds in Southern Belle's goat pen.
If you look closely, you can see the apples that fell off of the tree next to the pen. You know an apple has to be pretty bad before goats will turn up their noses at them.
Foundations for dove nests
One of my friends lives "out west" at Juniper-Pinyon elevation. We had a discussion about nitrogen fixing plants and there were not many options for his particular climate. Without supplemental irrigation, the native nitrogen fixing species fix minute amounts of nitrogen. "Minute" like on the order of one pound per acre per year.
After a bit of brainstorming, using flying animals to transport nitrogen in looked like a possibility. Since he is not close to non-seasonal open-water, bats were not a great possibility. But doves like Mourning Doves, White-winged Doves and Inca Doves and domestic Pigeons remain possibilities. While not considered "social" animals, they are particularly territorial. In the case of Mourning Doves and White-winged Doves, they would likely nest more closely together if they had suitable platforms or foundations.
So I have been messing around with making "wreaths" of 5" to 6" in diameter of local materials. It looks like Virginia Creeper (a.k.a. Woodbine a.k.a.
RE: shredding weeds with the mower - doesn't that distribute weed seeds over a larger area?
ReplyDeleteThe seeds aren't ripe (I hope).
DeleteMy bigger concern with the seeds is the mice population increasing and the resulting damage to the trees.
While it's nice to make nest rings for the doves, a Dovecote is far superior for creating a haven in your apple orchard.
ReplyDeleteIt protects their nests from nest stealers like Blue Jays, snakes from eating the eggs and young and other feral critters that LOVE pigeons.
Iran they were common FOR fertilizer creation as silo towers that still stand and are used today.
https://www.gardenista.com/posts/english-gardens-dovecotes-birdhouses-landscaping-ideas/
I suggested that to my friend in Juniper/Pinyon country and he said his neighbors would lynch him.
DeleteThere are many breeds of "Rock Pigeons": Carriers, Tumblers, Rollers and so on.
Lynch him? Why pray tell?
DeleteCurious.
Even field mice will eat dove eggs. That's why dovecotes are so rodent proofed. As a side note dovecotes gives you squabs for dinner.
ReplyDelete