Comment

Comment by Joan Denoo on February 17, 2013 at 3:38am

According to Wikipedea:
"Corylus maxima, the filbert, is a species of hazel native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, from the Balkans to Ordu in Turkey.[1]"

I didn't know that.

Filbert fruit, showing the elongated tubular involucre
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Betulaceae
Genus: Corylus
Species: C. maxima

Witch-hazel

Hamamelis virginiana

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Hamamelidaceae
Genus: Hamamelis

Comment by Chris Breman on February 17, 2013 at 12:45am

Beautiful picture, Sentient! Here the frost is disappearing but in my roof garden it's at least 4°C higher. Nothing blooms yet, but there are some buds in the rosemary.

Comment by Sentient Biped on February 16, 2013 at 7:02pm

What's Blooming?  Feb 2013.  In my maritime Pacific NW yard, there's not much.  Helleborus continues to bloom.  There's one cute little weed, name I don't know, blue flower, in bloom.  Some dandelions.  The brave pioneer, is the filbert (hazelnut).

 

I moved these trees last fall. Guess I didn't kill them. The long sscaley catkin is the pollen bearing male flower (stamens). The little red tuft is the female flower (pistils).

I'm guessing filberts are cousins of Witch Hazel, which also blooms now.

Comment by Sentient Biped on February 16, 2013 at 11:48am

Annie, this type of hive has bars along the top - not in this photo - that honey bees use to hang their combs from.  It's called a "top bar hive".  It does not have frames per se.  There is less re-use of honeycomb with this hive, which means it's more sanitary for the bees.  Since they make more new comb, which requires energy, there is less honey.  Proponents think it's healthier for the bees.

Today, planning on planting some potatoes, and getting started on setup of another raised bed for vegetables.  If it is all together this weekend, some more peas, onions, and cole crops as Spud is planning.  Better get busy.

Comment by Idaho Spud on February 16, 2013 at 10:20am

Sentient, I also love the natural cedar wood.  A few months ago, my neighbor put up a very beautiful short cedar fence, which made me say wow!  Most attractive fence I've ever seen!  Then, a week later, I looked out and found it painted it a very dark brown, and I said Oh No! Ugly!

Joan, you got me thinking.  Right away I think I'll start some peas, garlic, onion and several kinds of Cole crops.  It got to 50 degrees here last week and I see at least one of my cauliflower plants that never produced a curd last fall is still alive, so perhaps it will this year.

Comment by Annie Thomas on February 16, 2013 at 6:38am

Sentient- what a gorgeous beehive!  I have never seen that style either.  Does it have frames that go inside each of the compartments?  Or something else? 

Comment by Joan Denoo on February 16, 2013 at 12:32am

Sentient, that is a beautiful beehive; never seen one like that before. Is there some other wood preserver than white paint. I, like you, like the wood color. Is wood stain harmful to bees? 

Oh! there are many beehives with your shape. I have never seen them before. 

bee hives for sale

Your "Peach Cobbler" is so pretty. 

Comment by Sentient Biped on February 15, 2013 at 11:02pm

Joan, thanks for the link on the grafting.  I will take a grafting class in a couple of weeks, so maybe my skills will improve.

Meanwhile here's my latest project.  It's from a kit - I'm not that skilled.  This type of beehive is considered more "natural" than  the usual ones - more organic for the bees, so less use of chemicals.  

I think I'll paint it white to keep it cooler and help it last longer.  Kind of hate to - I love the appearance of the cedar wood.

Been planting dutch clover and crimson clover in all of the lawn bare spots to provide nectar for the honey bees.  Also planted some Buddleia, a new seedless hybrid.  The hope is to provide more nectar.  The seeded ones are banned in WA and OR because of invasiveness.  This one is called "Peach Cobbler", supposedly grows up to 6 ft tall.  The beneficial insects should like it.

Thanks for the comment on the covered bed.  Radishes starting sprouting as of Thurs - hoping to see pea sprouts soon too.  Almost instantly, I also took over a row in the covered bed to start rose cuttings and also some buddleia cuttings.

Hope your warmer weather continues too!

Comment by Joan Denoo on February 15, 2013 at 10:14pm

Sentient, I really like the looks of your conestoga wagon! Just perfect! I suppose you have lots of things peeking up now. Our deep cold broke this week and today was almost 50 degrees. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on February 15, 2013 at 10:12pm

Amer, isn't it fun to share ideas with others!? A very nice way to build friendships, even if it is half way round the world. 

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