We began an old TV series because it might be about Lutheran leaders - "Criminal Minds." The doorbell rang and Sassy Sue went crazy barking.
She has various levels of response. She often gets a Milkbone from the UPS driver, so she is hopeful about all deliveries. This one had her especially anxious to bark me to the front door.
Our helper was ringing the bell - with his daughter in his arms. His wife was there to grin at Sassy and say, "Happy Bark. Where's that happy bark?" That set off some joyous barking and a welcome for each member of the family.
They wanted Epsom Salt, in case I had a supply. Their girl had irritated her feet by wearing plastic flip-flops. I had two different bags, so I gave them a pound or more in one bag. We use it every day for human feet and often for rose roots. Dr. Oz has a slide show on Epsom Salt uses. Other uses include treatment for asthma - listed in Wikipedia.
We participated in that large scale regional thunderstorm that brought 3-4 inches of rain to Springdale yesterday, with more on the way. During a lull I sprinkled more Epsom Salt on the roses, crepe myrtle, spinach, and butterfly bush.
Those who say "scratch it into the soil" have no clue about its properties. Epsom Salt is hydrophilic, which means it instantly blends with water. Scratching the soil surface needlessly breaks up the fungal paths that feed the plants. It also stirs the weed seeds into action. Not smart.
Our helper's children are excited about gardening. They loved pulling gourds and giant beans from the foliage on the chain-link fence. I promised them samples of the seeds I order for the spring garden - beans, sunflowers, gourds, pumpkins. Their south-facing home will be a great place for experiments in agriculture.
Stealth Suet
If I can get the newest shipment of mesh bags past Mrs. I, more suet will be hanging in the back yard. Dime's Meat Market cut me three more pounds, without questioning my need for it.
More than one place has gone into shock about the amounts I order. I recall the response of a Midland store when I ordered a pound of edible pod pea seeds. "A pound?" I said, "I already have two pounds planted."
"What are you going to do with all those peas?" We ate them raw until longing turned to loathing. Then we fed pea vines to the rabbits, who converted them to Rabbit-Gro for the earthworms below their cages, who converted the natural fertilizer into castings and earthworm babies.
Some might ask, "Why more bags of suet?" I first saw this done in Midland, where bird feeding is almost universal. In those days, suet was in grocery stores and mesh bags were easily obtained for free. I saw groups of birds feeding from bags hanging from large lilac bushes and small trees. Since fat-loving birds are insect eaters, nurturing them is good for the yard and garden.
An ugly old bag of suet can be buried with new roses - an old wives' tale - to help the plant. No, I do not know why, but who wants an old greasy sack of suet hanging around all summer?
Our back yard has four live trees and one dead tree, The dead one has been used for storing garden hose, but next year will support a trumpet vine (a hummingbird plant). Since starlings hog a feeder, extra bags will allow other species to eat at their leisure in various places.
The neighborhood has plenty of bushes and trees for birds, so an increase in water and food will attract more species to our yard. If the winter is as wet, snowy, and icy as some predict, the reliable food zones will be appreciated and used. Birds are never completely reliant on feeders, but those feeders are extremely helpful during the worst weather, when food is hard to find - to keep the birds warm.
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| The birdhouse gourd. |