Water restrictions often occur over most of Australia during the summer months and it sometimes becomes compulsory to turn off the automatic watering system and water our gardens by hand. It is a time to think about how we use this precious resource and adopt ways of watering that can substantially reduce the amount of water we waste.
Hand watering on a beautiful early morning or evening is a pleasurable experience that gives us the time to look more closely at our garden, the plants and the soil. We have more control over how the watering is done and can cater to the individual needs of different plants more successfully. Sometimes it is the only way to water plants deeply. Watering at these times helps to increase water penetration and minimise evaporation.
Potted plants under a verandah, eaves or awning must be regularly watered by hand and it is important to water the soil thoroughly all the way through. Check by feeling below the surface to make sure it has penetrated deeply. Soil can become hydrophobic if it is allowed to dry out too much and it is then difficult to wet again. Water will bead and flow over the surface of the soil and drain away without being of use at all to the plant. Wetting agents will have to be added to restore its water holding capacity. These can be bought in liquid or powder form and are applied to the surface of the soil.
Planters with a built-in reservoir at the bottom can save you time and water. Overflow can be prevented by checking the water level as the water drains into the base of the pot, and watering will be a lot less frequent.
Whether you are watering pots or plants in the ground it is important to water only the base of the plants. Keeping water off the foliage will reduce the chance of plants developing fungal diseases like black spot and powdery mildew. Pathogenic fungal spores will travel rapidly in water splash or soil run-off and infect otherwise healthy plants. Infrequent, deep watering will encourage root systems to penetrate the deeper soil layers and have access to more permanent water, as well as nutrients. A deeper root system stabilises plants, especially trees and large shrubs, making them less susceptible to wind, drought and insect stresses.
Plants require more water when in active growth and this may not necessarily be in the summer months. Observation of your own garden situation is critical in using water efficiently. The condition of the plants and the soil varies with the season; natural rainfall, temperature, wind and growth activity and these are conditions that cannot be taken into consideration with an automated watering system. Hand watering gives you the time to observe the changing relationship of all the elements that influence your garden and at the same time gives you the time to enjoy the plants and their smells.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Maternity clothes stores
I have the weekend all to myself; the missus is going shopping with her sister at some maternity clothes stores. Her sister is having a baby, not her so I get to do what ever I want this weekend. This is rare opportunity so I have to make the best of it. What should I do? Go to the game with the boys? Poker games with the boys? Get piss drunk with the boys? Sounds good but are they going to be free though? Looks like just me in front of the idiot box all weekend.
Pond Maintenance
Ponds require a little bit of work to keep them looking good. The ecosystem of a pond involves the interaction of many factors including water, gases, minerals, sunshine, plants and animals. If this delicate balance is disrupted, algae will spread and the water quality will deteriorate rapidly. The health of a pond is affected by its size and shape, acidity or alkalinity of the water, amount of surface exposed to the air and sun, the type of plants used and the presence of pond life. Algae can build up quickly in warm weather and look very unsightly. Healthy ponds need oxygen, which is provided by oxygenating aquatic plants that also absorb carbon dioxide. Some good pond plants include Bacopa caroliniana, which produces foliage that floats on the water surface where it captures light for photosynthesis. It will also produce delicate mauve flowers. Not all plants float such as the submerged hornwort, Ceratophyllum demersum which is useful for oxygenation and providing a place for fish to hide. The Eel Grass, Valisneria gigantia is another lovely pond plant with its strappy leaves.
Water hygiene is an important part of pond maintenance. The appropriate way to improve water quality is through plant selection and appropriate maintenance techniques. Nursery manager, Tony Debincat uses a safe way of removing bacteria and excess algae. He adds a very small amount of Condy’s crystals to the water, which changes the colour to a reddish tint that lasts for around 2 days before clearing. This treatment doesn’t harm fish or plants if used in an extremely low concentration similar to very weak tea. In spring it may be necessary to clean out the pond and carry out any repair work. In summer, check water level and quality, check for algal growth, clean out the pump and filter and check for dead, diseased or damaged plants. In autumn remove any leaf letter and cut back any excessive plant growth.
Waterlilies play multiple roles in a water garden. Their large leaves create shade, produce oxygen, provide a hiding place for fish and produce large beautiful flowers. The tropical waterlilies can be distinguished from the hardier types that grow almost everywhere from the flower stalks, which are above the water. The flower buds and stalks are edible and can be used in salads, just peel off the ‘skin’ from the stalk before eating. The margins of ponds are usually planted with bog plants that are very important because they filter out any unwanted materials. Some good marginal plants include the flowering Woolly Frogsmouth, Philydrum lanuginosum and canna species like Canna indica. There are also some beautiful foliage plants such as Lepironia articulata. If you want advice or help choosing the right plants go to a specialist nursery and remember not to let your pond go, they do need some maintenance.
Water hygiene is an important part of pond maintenance. The appropriate way to improve water quality is through plant selection and appropriate maintenance techniques. Nursery manager, Tony Debincat uses a safe way of removing bacteria and excess algae. He adds a very small amount of Condy’s crystals to the water, which changes the colour to a reddish tint that lasts for around 2 days before clearing. This treatment doesn’t harm fish or plants if used in an extremely low concentration similar to very weak tea. In spring it may be necessary to clean out the pond and carry out any repair work. In summer, check water level and quality, check for algal growth, clean out the pump and filter and check for dead, diseased or damaged plants. In autumn remove any leaf letter and cut back any excessive plant growth.
Waterlilies play multiple roles in a water garden. Their large leaves create shade, produce oxygen, provide a hiding place for fish and produce large beautiful flowers. The tropical waterlilies can be distinguished from the hardier types that grow almost everywhere from the flower stalks, which are above the water. The flower buds and stalks are edible and can be used in salads, just peel off the ‘skin’ from the stalk before eating. The margins of ponds are usually planted with bog plants that are very important because they filter out any unwanted materials. Some good marginal plants include the flowering Woolly Frogsmouth, Philydrum lanuginosum and canna species like Canna indica. There are also some beautiful foliage plants such as Lepironia articulata. If you want advice or help choosing the right plants go to a specialist nursery and remember not to let your pond go, they do need some maintenance.
Olympus digital cameras
I bought my first digital camera many years ago and I think I should get a new one now. I feel embarrassed every time I take my big chunky camera while everyone else is using new slimmer models. Plus the new ones have so much better features than my dinosaur camera. There are so many brands to choose from nowadays but I’m eyeing some pretty good looking olympus digital cameras I’ve seen. Gotta keep up with the time I’ll say.
Organic Principles
Organic fruit and vegetable gardens contain no disruptive chemicals or artificial fertilisers. The purely organic soil supports a host of important micro and macro-organisms such as worms that are all doing their bit to aerate, condition and fertilise. Good soil is balanced and seething with life, but how do you fertilise organic plants? The answer is don’t feed the plants, feed the soil so the plants can take up nutrients as they require them. Home-made compost is the gentlest and best of all the fertilisers. Other types such as mushroom compost are also excellent for enriching and conditioning the soil. You can also use any type of well-rotted animal manure. Manure is composed primarily of organic matter but also has some vital nutrients. Blood and bone is fantastic because it is slow release and full of valuable minerals. First add manure to the soil surface, spread it out and cover it with compost. The more variety you add the better, so sprinkle some blood and bone on top, lightly mix it in to the other materials and cover it all with straw to speed up decomposition. This treatment acts like a mini-compost heap releasing nutrients slowly into the soil and keeping in moisture at the same time. Nothing goes to waste in an organic garden because all the debris is recycled back into the soil via compost.
Organic gardens control pests and diseases in a number of ways. A good method is to employ crop rotation, which means cycling plants to a new bed every year, such that they are never in the same bed for 2 years running. Companion planting is another good method because these plants grow well together and protect one another. A good example is planting carrots, black salsify and members of the onion family alongside one another. Their different smells, colours and shapes confuse and deter insects. The same is true for sweetcorn, pumpkins, cucumbers and squash. Organic gardens are not free of pests, in fact they are full of them, but because no chemicals have been used, they are also full of predators which control pest numbers. Organic gardeners avoid using sprays by removing pest-infected fruit or shoots. For example, by removing young apples that were infected with coddling moth, the number of moths was lower the next year and fruit yield much greater.
There are many different types of organic gardens, not just fruit and vegetable but ornamentals as well. The plants in organic ornamental gardens have been nourished with rich organic matter and are therefore vigorous and healthy because they are strong enough to cope with and deter pests. Remember that organic gardening is not always easy or pretty, pests often nibble things but you will be better off for it in the long run. For example, Pete shows us a cabbage whose outer leaves have been chewed, but inside is a perfect cabbage that is very healthy because it has never been sprayed.
Organic gardens control pests and diseases in a number of ways. A good method is to employ crop rotation, which means cycling plants to a new bed every year, such that they are never in the same bed for 2 years running. Companion planting is another good method because these plants grow well together and protect one another. A good example is planting carrots, black salsify and members of the onion family alongside one another. Their different smells, colours and shapes confuse and deter insects. The same is true for sweetcorn, pumpkins, cucumbers and squash. Organic gardens are not free of pests, in fact they are full of them, but because no chemicals have been used, they are also full of predators which control pest numbers. Organic gardeners avoid using sprays by removing pest-infected fruit or shoots. For example, by removing young apples that were infected with coddling moth, the number of moths was lower the next year and fruit yield much greater.
There are many different types of organic gardens, not just fruit and vegetable but ornamentals as well. The plants in organic ornamental gardens have been nourished with rich organic matter and are therefore vigorous and healthy because they are strong enough to cope with and deter pests. Remember that organic gardening is not always easy or pretty, pests often nibble things but you will be better off for it in the long run. For example, Pete shows us a cabbage whose outer leaves have been chewed, but inside is a perfect cabbage that is very healthy because it has never been sprayed.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Funny tee shirts
The weather is starting to warm up so the late night markets will be on more frequently now that people are out and about enjoying the warm nights. For a numbers of years now I have been setting up stalls at these markets selling novelty stuffs like funny tee shirts and posters. This year I will be opening up another stall at another market so I’ll need some more help. It’s hard to find good help these days but a good start would be some students looking for some part time jobs.
Seaweed
Fertile soil is the most important and significant substance on earth. It is the source of our health and when it is kept fertile it is the source of our wealth. How is it possible to keep our soil continually enriched without having to spend money on expensive fertilisers? The answer is to go to the source of life itself.
The sea is more than salty water. The sea is a vast nutriment. It contains a large spectrum of trace elements in suspension, and some of the debris that is washed up on the beach like seaweed and shells also contains a quite a lot of these trace elements. Seaweed is one of the best soil conditioners of them all. Seaweed itself contains very little salt. It is the sea sand that is enmeshed in it that is quite alkaline and needs to be removed. It can be used around almost any plant except acid loving plants like rhododendrons and azaleas or strawberries. It can be placed around but not near the actual plant, covered by peastraw or mulch, and will gradually convert to a jelly-like substance. Seaweed is not a fertiliser but a soil conditioner that has an amazing beneficial effect on plants. It can make them frost resistant and more resistant to diseases. The trace elements in the seaweed eventually are transferred to the soil and into the plant and its fruit.
The sea is more than salty water. The sea is a vast nutriment. It contains a large spectrum of trace elements in suspension, and some of the debris that is washed up on the beach like seaweed and shells also contains a quite a lot of these trace elements. Seaweed is one of the best soil conditioners of them all. Seaweed itself contains very little salt. It is the sea sand that is enmeshed in it that is quite alkaline and needs to be removed. It can be used around almost any plant except acid loving plants like rhododendrons and azaleas or strawberries. It can be placed around but not near the actual plant, covered by peastraw or mulch, and will gradually convert to a jelly-like substance. Seaweed is not a fertiliser but a soil conditioner that has an amazing beneficial effect on plants. It can make them frost resistant and more resistant to diseases. The trace elements in the seaweed eventually are transferred to the soil and into the plant and its fruit.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Curt trailer hitch
I was pulling along my old trailer on the weekend when the whole thing snaps and crashed into the ditch! If only I’d gotten a curt trailer hitch then I wouldn’t have the problem. Lucky no one was hurt but I had to bring in a tow truck to haul the damn thing out of the ditch. Cost me more than I needed to spend, never again.
Rhododendron
Rhododendrons are amongst the most beautiful of all flowering plants. There are more than 800 species and thousands of cultivated varieties. The range of flower colours and shapes is truly astonishing. They are nothing more than spectacular trusses of bells, some of them almost waxy, and they are remarkably easy to grow under the right conditions.
Planting a new rhododendron like Rhododendron ‘Bruce Brechtbill’ is extremely easy. Rhododendrons have a very fine fibrous root system that is quite compact and does not need disturbing before planting. Tease the base gently if necessary. No fertiliser should be used in the planting hole and the root ball should be placed in the hole so that the surrounding soil is level with the soil at the base of the stem. If the stem is buried beneath the soil it can go mouldy and rot. Once planted the soil should be covered with mulch, once again keeping it away from the stem. Spread a handful of blood and bone around the plant, covering it with a layer of coir to seal it and water in well. Seeing how luxuriantly these plants are growing, it is surprising to learn how low their nutritional needs are.
Planting a new rhododendron like Rhododendron ‘Bruce Brechtbill’ is extremely easy. Rhododendrons have a very fine fibrous root system that is quite compact and does not need disturbing before planting. Tease the base gently if necessary. No fertiliser should be used in the planting hole and the root ball should be placed in the hole so that the surrounding soil is level with the soil at the base of the stem. If the stem is buried beneath the soil it can go mouldy and rot. Once planted the soil should be covered with mulch, once again keeping it away from the stem. Spread a handful of blood and bone around the plant, covering it with a layer of coir to seal it and water in well. Seeing how luxuriantly these plants are growing, it is surprising to learn how low their nutritional needs are.
Scorpion helmets
Bike helmets have come a long way since I first put one on so many years ago. The new ones you get nowadays look so much better than the old ones I knew from back then, not to mention safer too I think. One of my nephews is a motorbike enthusiast and for his birthday coming up I think I’ll let him choose one of the many scorpion helmets he keeps telling us.
Mulches
Water absorbing mulches such as paper, straw or uncomposted lawn clippings can be a problem in a hot dry climate. A mulch of Pinus radiata chips, stained to resemble red gum, has the advantage of not absorbing water. Mulching also allows a change of watering pattern that can greatly benefit some plants. An example we see is a box hedge, previously dying from the use of bore water. Now mulched, it is recovering well.
Mulch material that has not been composted can cause short term nitrogen loss from the soil beneath. As bacterial microbes use available nitrogen to aid in decomposition of the mulch above, nitrogen in the soil is depleted. Composted pinebark mulch does not have this problem. The yellowed leaves of herbaceous plants, caused by nitrogen or a nitrogen deficiency, can be relieved by the use of liquid feed containing nitrogen.
Another good composted mulch is made from wood-fibre waste from the paper-making industry. It can also be made from such things as wood crates or council collected green organic materials. It compacts well, doesn't blow away although it can have an organic odour for a few weeks. When using mulches, or composts, make sure it is kept away from the stems of plants as this can lead to fungal decay.
Mulch material that has not been composted can cause short term nitrogen loss from the soil beneath. As bacterial microbes use available nitrogen to aid in decomposition of the mulch above, nitrogen in the soil is depleted. Composted pinebark mulch does not have this problem. The yellowed leaves of herbaceous plants, caused by nitrogen or a nitrogen deficiency, can be relieved by the use of liquid feed containing nitrogen.
Another good composted mulch is made from wood-fibre waste from the paper-making industry. It can also be made from such things as wood crates or council collected green organic materials. It compacts well, doesn't blow away although it can have an organic odour for a few weeks. When using mulches, or composts, make sure it is kept away from the stems of plants as this can lead to fungal decay.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Vga to hdmi cables
I got a call from a friend who’s just bought a flat screen lcd tv and he wanted me to help him set up his pc to play movies to the tv. I tried to help him out over the phone but I think I might have to go over there to help him because judging by what we talked about I don’t him he has any clue. Plus I think he may have to get a special cable for the task so I will have to go with him to the shop to get one. We just need to go where they sell vga to hdmi cables and I’ll be sure he’ll get what he needs.
Begonias
Begonias can be grown in a sheltered shadehouse, on a veranda, in a sun room, or on a window ledge. They are not glasshouse plants (although they are grown this way at Ballarat) as glasshouses become too hot in summer. In Ballarat summer cooling is needed in the begonia glasshouses.
Tuberous begonias grow best in partial shade or filtered sunlight. Exposure to excessive sunlight can result in burnt flowers and leaves. Too much shade results in foliage that is very lush with few flowers.
Growers recommend shade when the sun exceeds 50,000 lux. As full summer sun in Australia is 110,000 lux this means 50% shadecloth would be required in most areas. Normal interior light levels measure around 500 lux.
Tuberous begonias grow best in partial shade or filtered sunlight. Exposure to excessive sunlight can result in burnt flowers and leaves. Too much shade results in foliage that is very lush with few flowers.
Growers recommend shade when the sun exceeds 50,000 lux. As full summer sun in Australia is 110,000 lux this means 50% shadecloth would be required in most areas. Normal interior light levels measure around 500 lux.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Lapel pins
I’ve been thinking of getting some promotional products for the upcoming fair that will help promote the business. Things that come to mind are customized lapel pins and pens to give away to the people at the fair. At the same time we’ll have some people help talk to the people about the business and how we can help them as well as the community.
Carrot growing tips
Carrots are one of the best vegies you can get kids started with in the garden. They don't take up much space, either, so even if you have only a small patch of sunny ground available, you can get a small crop of carrots growing.
Seed or seedling? Carrots (Daucus carota ssp. sativus) grow better if planted as seed where you want them to grow, but you can grow them from seedlings, too.
Sowing times: in temperate climates, you can sow carrot seed from August to March, and in cool climates from August until January. In tropical climates you can sow carrot seed from February through to November.
Preparing soil: preparing the soil before planting is important, as carrots need deep, well-drained soil that is free of rocks, stones, old roots or anything else that could get in their way. Dig the patch over really well down to the depth of a spade (about 30cm), until the soil is fine and crumbly. Add some compost and well-rotted manure, and mix that in well with the soil.
Sowing seed: to sow seed, mark little rows in the soil 6mm deep (about a quarter of an inch) scatter in the fine seed, then cover with soil or seed-raising mix. Water with a gentle spray. Tip: carrot seed is very fine, so if you mix up the seed with some dry sand and sprinkle that into the soil furrow, you'll get a better idea of where the seed is going. It will take about two to three weeks for the baby plants to emerge. As carrot seed is fine, you'll probably sow too many, so you'll need to thin out the excess seedlings. Wait until the plants are about 5cm (two inches) high, then thin them out to 2-3cm apart. Later on, when they're about 15cm high, thin them out to 5cm apart (these second thinnings are usually big enough to eat, so you end up with better value for money, and more delicious carrots!)
Sowing seedlings: tip the seedlings out of the punnet and separate them into individual plants, then plant them into well prepared soil, spacing them 5cm apart. Water in well with a gentle spray, and keep seedlings well watered until they're growing well.
General care: carrots are easy to look after and just need a steady supply of water to keep them growing rapidly.
Harvesting: carrots will be ready for harvesting about 3-4 months after sowing. If you're not sure if they are ready, just pull one out of the ground and see how it's going. Don't feel obliged to pull them all out, either. You can just harvest as many as you need that night, and leave the rest in the ground until you need them.
Problems: if your carrots come up with weird shapes, there are two common causes. One is when carrot roots strike rocks, stones, old plant roots - the carrots will bend around the obstruction and grow into strange shapes. Another cause of odd carrots is clumps of fertiliser or manure - these will cause 'forking', where the carrot splits into a clump of several roots. The other common problem with carrots is due to too much nitrogen-rich fertiliser: you end up with lots of leaves above ground, but poor roots below ground. So, a good rule with carrots is to go easy on the fertiliser.
Best varieties: seeds provide the best choice of varieties, as your choice in carrot seedlings is quite limited. Look for good performers such as 'Topweight', 'Western Red' and 'All Seasons'. For shallow soils or pots, try 'Early Chantenay' or 'Baby'. 'Manchester Table' has cylindrical roots.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Document management system
With the business growing faster than expected I’m finding it hard to keep my documents in order. What the business needs right now is a good document management system to keep me organized. I would rather spend my time making money than organizing my paperwork so it is time to bring in some professional help to run my business. And I may have to hire a couple of helping hands too.
Currawong
The pied currawong is a large black bird, 41-51cm (16-20") with white markings on the wing, rump, undertail and tip of tail. They are found from Cape York to south-western Victoria ranging about 400km inland.
Today currawongs are common in urban areas although their native habitats are forests and woodlands.
Recent research shows that while currawongs have a specialised wild diet of bull ants and stink bugs and native berries, our introduced (not native) garden plants have provided a range of winter fruiting plants to eat during the colder months. Less than 30 per cent of Australian native plants fruit in winter, and so normally a lack of food culled younger and less vigorous birds.
Exotic plants including pyracantha, cotoneasters, privet and hawthorn - planted in the suburbs, as hedges - have tipped the natural balance in favour of the currawong by providing berries whose seeds are then excreted into native bushland.
http://wholesaleinsurance.net
I’ve always stressed that it is so very important that we have proper insurances taken up for our loved ones. Life is unpredictable and you never know when your life might take a 180 degree turn for the worst. Therefore it is good to know when things go south that the family is taken care of so go to http://wholesaleinsurance.net and get yourself insured for peace of mind.
Controlling Bitou Bush
Bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. rotundata) is a sprawling, woody shrub from South Africa. It was deliberately planted in New South Wales from 1946 to 1968 to stabilise mobile sand dunes in sand mining areas.
Unfortunately, bitou bush has proved to be a highly invasive weed, which takes over coastal ecosystems and outcompetes native plants. It is now regarded as the worst weed in the Australian coastal environment, and has recently been listed as one of Australia's Twenty Weeds of National Significance. It occurs along 660km of the NSW coast, with almost pure stands along 220km. There are concerns that bitou bush will become the dominant species within its current range, and also that it could spread into Victoria and Queensland.
Control methods
A number of control methods have been used, including hand weeding and the use of herbicides and fire. These techniques have to be repeated over several years in order to be successful in the long term, as bitou bush has a large and persistent seed bank in the soil. In conservation areas these methods are not always appropriate, and having to repeat treatments is time consuming and expensive.
Biological control
Scientists think that an integrated management approach, including the use of biological control, is the best and most cost effective way to tackle the bitou bush problem. A research program to find suitable biological control agents has been underway since 1987. Several natural enemies of bitou bush have already been released, including the bitou tip moth and the bitou seed fly, and these insects are impacting on seed production and reducing plant vigour. It's hoped that the release of a new biological control agent, the bitou leaf roller moth, will help to reduce bitou bush to a level where it is no longer a problem, or can be effectively controlled by other techniques.
Bitou leaf roller moth (Tortrix sp.)
The bitou leaf roller moth was identified in South Africa as being the most damaging insect to bitou bush. The larvae feed on the shoot tips, then move to older leaves as they mature. At high densities, they are capable of decimating plants. After extensive testing both in South Africa and Australia, the bitou leaf roller moth has been shown to be host-specific, that is it only survives on bitou bush and its close relative, boneseed, which is found in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Bitou leaf roller moth was first released on boneseed in Victoria in April 2002. The first release in NSW was made at the Broadwater National Park, with others to follow along the NSW coastline.Natalie Portman's engagement ring
Did you hear? One of my favourite movie stars is engaged and it’s none other than Natalie Portman. And did you see her engagement ring? It’s so beautiful and I want to get one too! Well maybe not the same one because I wouldn’t be able to afford it but a replica maybe. So if you’re like me and love to own your own natalie portman's engagement ring then..guess what? I’m not telling so I can be the only other gal that has it!
Cane toads
Cane toads (Bufo marinus) are natives of South and Central America. They were introduced into Australia in 1935 to help control the beetles which were decimating our sugarcane crops. Cane toads were useless in controlling the cane beetles but they have become a serious threat to native wildlife, invading wetland habitats and competing with native frogs. They are voracious eaters and will eat anything they can fit in their mouths, including frogs, lizards, snakes and small marsupials. The toxic toads are also a threat to any animals that try to eat them, including domestic pets. A dog can die in just 15 minutes after eating a cane toad.
Cane toads have adapted particularly well to the Australian environment. They are spreading west towards Kakadu National Park and south into New South Wales at the rate of 30km a year. According to the CSIRO, cane toads occur at a density in Australia 10 times higher than the density in their native Venezuela. In the past two months, toads have been discovered in suburbs across Sydney where they have never been found before, and there is concern that permanent colonies will soon become established. It is thought that the toads are inadvertently being transported south in consignments of building materials and landscaping supplies.
Metal detectors
I’ve always wanted to get a metal detector so I can go fossicking for gold in the outback somewhere. Then I found out that metal detectors come in all size and price range and I’m already confused as to which one I should be getting. I think a rule of thumb is that the dearer the price the better the detector. But then the expensive ones can be as much as a few thousands dollars which I can never afford. I could go for the cheaper ones but then are they any good?
Bats in Your Backyard
Grey Headed Flying Fox
The bat is a fascinating creature that has appeared in the belief systems, art, literature, film and even recipes of people for centuries. You might not realise it, but bats will probably have visited your backyard at some stage this year. There are 966 species of bat in the world, and 90 of those are found in Australia. They come in all sizes, from a tiny Malaysian bat the size of a bumble-bee, to a huge bat from New Guinea with a wing span of almost 2 metres (6'). The fossil record shows that bats evolved as flying animals at least 60 million years ago. They are the only mammals that can fly, and the bone structure of their wings resembles that of an elongated human arm and hand. Bats are divided into two major groups, the megabats and the microbats.
Megabats
Members of the megabat group eat mostly fruit. There are 12 species in Australia including the Flying-fox, which can be seen by day hanging from branches in camps or communal roosts. At night some species fly up to 30 kilometres to their feeding areas, and some migrate as far as 1000 kilometres each year as they follow the flowering of eucalypts. There are also smaller fruit bats, for example tube-nosed bats and blossom bats. Fruit bats have sharp eyesight, and their sense of smell is so acute they can detect a tiny piece of banana from 100 metres (330') away.
Microbats
These bats eat mostly insects, they have small eyes and they rely mainly on sound (echolocation) for navigation. They are small in size and weigh from about 3-100 grams.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Repair shop mishap
Funny thing happened to me today; I noticed that my car’s hood wasn’t closed properly. One side is shut but the other side looked like it was not closed. At first I thought someone’s hit that side of my car but I couldn’t find any dent on the panels. So I popped the hood and lord behold I found a few screws which were wedged underneath the hood when it was shut! That’s why the hood looked like it wasn’t shut properly.
I wondered how those screws got there and then I remembered taking my car to my local repair shop for the busted radiator a few months back. The mechanics must have left those old screws in there like those horror medical surgery stories you hear of surgical instruments left inside a patient’s body!
Well I like the car services I’ve gotten from this repair shop but the screws incident reflects poorly on their lack of attention and thoroughness just this one time. I think I will give them another chance and hope that is the last mistake they make with my car.
I wondered how those screws got there and then I remembered taking my car to my local repair shop for the busted radiator a few months back. The mechanics must have left those old screws in there like those horror medical surgery stories you hear of surgical instruments left inside a patient’s body!
Well I like the car services I’ve gotten from this repair shop but the screws incident reflects poorly on their lack of attention and thoroughness just this one time. I think I will give them another chance and hope that is the last mistake they make with my car.
Oleander
There are few plants which grow almost everywhere in Australia. The humble oleander (Nerium oleander), is such a plant and it is also one of the most useful of all garden plants.
If pruned correctly the oleander can be a magnificent plant, its dense foliage providing privacy where many other plants could not survive. Even on a very busy city road these plants can make a colourful screen against both noise and visual pollution. As it is dense but not woody it is also an effective road-side barrier as it should slow down a crashing car.
Oleanders are adaptable to a wide variety of growing conditions, from the salty winds of the seaside, to dry, sandy desert soils, and wetlands. They can be grown just about anywhere in Australia, preferring a well-drained, sunny position. They will manage to grow well in dry soil but cannot tolerate very wet conditions, although they like plenty of water during their main growing and flowering times.
They have a long flowering season, (summer to autumn) and a wide range of colourful varieties. The most common colour is pink, although there are also red, white and apricot flowers.
Acer laptops
I’ve been checking out new pc and laptops lately, the end of the financial year is here and if I want to get new technology for work it is now. This way I can claim it on this year’s tax instead of next year’s. So that’s why I’ve been trolling all over looking at some interesting acer laptops and tablets which caught my eyes.
Wisteria
Grown and admired in China and Japan for over a thousand years, wisteria is one of the great garden plants. These vigorous, long lived climbers like a sunny position with good drainage and reliable moisture during flowering and the initial growth period. In Australia they grow well in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Sydney and the mountains.
In China and Japan wisteria is often displayed on bamboo frames, but in Australian gardens this is not practicable. However, a pergola can easily be constructed from treated pine, which is readily available and affordable. The pergola needs to be high enough so that people can walk under it without brushing against the flowers, and wide enough so that two people can walk side by side. Wisterias can be trained to grow up a strong pole and then allowed to spread onto a few cross pieces. This creates a wonderful standard effect, which can be achieved with plants grown either in the ground or in pots. Probably one of the most famous displays of wisteria in the world is at Monet's garden at Giverny near Paris, where W. floribunda 'Shiro Noda' grows on the railings of the Japanese bridge.
Wisteria
Grown and admired in China and Japan for over a thousand years, wisteria is one of the great garden plants. These vigorous, long lived climbers like a sunny position with good drainage and reliable moisture during flowering and the initial growth period. In Australia they grow well in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Sydney and the mountains.
In China and Japan wisteria is often displayed on bamboo frames, but in Australian gardens this is not practicable. However, a pergola can easily be constructed from treated pine, which is readily available and affordable. The pergola needs to be high enough so that people can walk under it without brushing against the flowers, and wide enough so that two people can walk side by side. Wisterias can be trained to grow up a strong pole and then allowed to spread onto a few cross pieces. This creates a wonderful standard effect, which can be achieved with plants grown either in the ground or in pots. Probably one of the most famous displays of wisteria in the world is at Monet's garden at Giverny near Paris, where W. floribunda 'Shiro Noda' grows on the railings of the Japanese bridge.
In China and Japan wisteria is often displayed on bamboo frames, but in Australian gardens this is not practicable. However, a pergola can easily be constructed from treated pine, which is readily available and affordable. The pergola needs to be high enough so that people can walk under it without brushing against the flowers, and wide enough so that two people can walk side by side. Wisterias can be trained to grow up a strong pole and then allowed to spread onto a few cross pieces. This creates a wonderful standard effect, which can be achieved with plants grown either in the ground or in pots. Probably one of the most famous displays of wisteria in the world is at Monet's garden at Giverny near Paris, where W. floribunda 'Shiro Noda' grows on the railings of the Japanese bridge.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
9v batteries
My portable digital radio is the best thing since sliced bread I reckon. The sound quality is the best bar none. No more static noise and interference you get from an analogue radio, just pure sound and sweet music. The only drawback is that it goes through batteries very quickly so I have to continue swapping batteries every eight hours. Therefore I have to keep buying batteries every few days, I have a shop that I go to all the time for my batteries in my local neigborhood. They sell all sorts of batteries even the odd ones and the 9v batteries that some equipments need.
First Trip To Sydney.
Early this year in January, Terese & I took a trip to Sydney for a bit of R & R. This was my first trip there despite the fact that I've been living in Australia for 15 years! So the first thing we did when we got to Sydney was to check out the Opera House! Funny how I always though it to be white in color but not so, as you can see!
Sydney is a beautiful city & I was kicking myself wondering why I didn't bother to visit sooner.
Fast forward to the next day, we went sight-seeing in the city & decided to visit the chinese garden.
We saw this cute little stone child monk & I couldn't resist rubbing his head!
We also went up the Sydney Tower for a panoramid view of the city, in this photo you can see the tower's shadow against the park's trees.
What a breath taking view!
In the evening we went for a harbour cruise tour & the city's silhoutte with the sunset was magnificent!
I particularly like the bright lights from Luna Park!
On the third day, we went on a city explorer & bondi explorer buses to visit all the landmarks around town & Bondi where the sand on the beach was perfect.
We then took the ferry across to Manly & decided if we were to live in Sydney it would be here.
On the fourth day, we went on the harbour cruise again to see the city lines.
We got to Watson Bay & found this really cool cliff that faces out to the ocean.
On the way back we saw the start of the Tsunami Aid Concert outside the Opera House. The next day, unfornately we had to go back to Melbourne. We want to go again!
Sydney is a beautiful city & I was kicking myself wondering why I didn't bother to visit sooner.
Fast forward to the next day, we went sight-seeing in the city & decided to visit the chinese garden.
We saw this cute little stone child monk & I couldn't resist rubbing his head!
We also went up the Sydney Tower for a panoramid view of the city, in this photo you can see the tower's shadow against the park's trees.
What a breath taking view!
In the evening we went for a harbour cruise tour & the city's silhoutte with the sunset was magnificent!
I particularly like the bright lights from Luna Park!
On the third day, we went on a city explorer & bondi explorer buses to visit all the landmarks around town & Bondi where the sand on the beach was perfect.
We then took the ferry across to Manly & decided if we were to live in Sydney it would be here.
On the fourth day, we went on the harbour cruise again to see the city lines.
We got to Watson Bay & found this really cool cliff that faces out to the ocean.
On the way back we saw the start of the Tsunami Aid Concert outside the Opera House. The next day, unfornately we had to go back to Melbourne. We want to go again!
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Yoga mats
Ever since we bought the wii console we’ve been on it just about every day. My favourite would have to be the yoga exercises and I must say I’m getting good at it too. Now the exercises seem to be too elementary for me. I think it is time for me to do real yoga, I need to join a proper yoga class with real instructors and proper yoga mats! I’ll be the next yogi master soon.
Red eggplants
Most people would be familiar with the large, purple-black eggplant or aubergine (Solanum melongena) which is used to make delicious recipes like ratatouille and baba ganoush. If you shop around you'll also be able to find white skinned or striped varieties, lady's fingers and the tiny pea eggplant, which is used in Asian cooking. The good news is that there are new red varieties of eggplant available, which have a better flavour than the common purple ones because they are not as acidic. They can be cut in half and put on the barbecue, or sliced thinly, fried and added to platters of antipasto.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Invitations
I have a full schedule this month; I have so many invitations and I think I may have to decline some of them. Now I just have to decide which invitations to turn down, I hope they’ll understand. There are just not enough hours in a day for me and I’m just talking about my social life! Wait till I tell you about my work life which is even more hectic.
Cheap plants
The cheapest and best way to buy plants is to purchase them in small pots known as ‘tubes’. Tubes are long and thin, with ridges running down the sides to encourage the roots of the plant to grow downwards, rather than coiling around the sides. Although tubestock is small compared to plants sold in say, 200mm or 8” pots, the plants not only establish more quickly but they grow more vigorously for their entire lives.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
OxyElite Pro review
Yes I know you are quite sick of so call magic pills that promise to loose weighs but you should seriously have a read on the oxyelite pro review. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised, most of my friends have tried it and swear by it so it can’t be wrong. I know I’ll be getting some of it today, how about you?
Tips for growing vegetables
- Vegetables need full sun and shelter from winds - a north-facing situation is best with at least six hours direct sun, including morning sun.
- Vegetables should be grown rapidly for best flavour - this is achieved with regular, usually daily watering, and regular applications of liquid food (every fortnight).
- Vegetables need a well-drained soil, with a loose, crumbly structure - digging well-rotted manure in to a spade's depth before planting will improve the structure of any soil.
- Use additional fertiliser to encourage good growth - leaf vegetables need fertilisers that are high in nitrogen, while fruit and root vegetables need a good supply of phosphorus.
- Spread your harvest - make repeated plantings (or sowings if growing from seed) every few weeks, also eat some vegetables when they are small and succulent, but leave others in the ground to develop further.
- Protect your vegetables from snails and slugs by using snail baits - but take care as snail baits are toxic to pets, especially dogs and native animals (follow the directions on the packet). Other methods of snail control include collecting and squashing, and traps such as beer traps or barriers.
MD Clear review
I’m always on a look out for new acne treatments and one that caught my eyes recently is md clear. I reckon this product is worth having a try out because I’ve heard lots of great feedback on it. I’m reading up on another md clear review now and it looks like another winner. Okay, time to get my hands on some of these and try it for myself.
Fresh Vegies
Everyone knows that vegetables are good for you. To gain full nutritional benefits from vegetables it is important that they are eaten when they are as fresh as possible. Vitamin content is highest in raw vegetables or those that are cooked so as to preserve their vitamins.
The best way to have fresh vegetables is to grow your own to pick fresh each day. If you buy vegetables from a greengrocer or supermarket, it is important to know how to choose the freshest vegetables available and how to store them to keep them fresh. Here are Rosemary's tips for choosing the freshest vegetables: Buy from a greengrocer or supermarket with a good turn over. Select vegetables which look, feel and smell fresh. If you can bend a carrot it will have lost most of its goodness. Spinach or other greens which are wilted have lost most of their water soluble vitamins B and C. Buy small amounts often (so they keep fresh) and vary the way you serve them.
The best way to have fresh vegetables is to grow your own to pick fresh each day. If you buy vegetables from a greengrocer or supermarket, it is important to know how to choose the freshest vegetables available and how to store them to keep them fresh. Here are Rosemary's tips for choosing the freshest vegetables: Buy from a greengrocer or supermarket with a good turn over. Select vegetables which look, feel and smell fresh. If you can bend a carrot it will have lost most of its goodness. Spinach or other greens which are wilted have lost most of their water soluble vitamins B and C. Buy small amounts often (so they keep fresh) and vary the way you serve them.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Inpatient rehab treatment centers
I’m really worried for my friend; his drinking is getting worse and I worry he’ll hit rock bottom soon. There are more fighting between him and his partner and sooner rather than later she’s going to leave him. He needs help and fast. I’m looking at some inpatient rehab treatment centers so he can get help. I can’t stand by and watch him slip away like this.
Archerfish
The Australian native Archerfish (Toxotes jaculator) shoots strong jets of water to bring down insects and other small prey resting on overhanging vegetation. It does this by pushing its tongue against a groove on the roof of its mouth to form a tube. It then snaps its gill covers shut, forcing out a powerful spurt of water. The jets of water reach up to 3m (10'), but the Archerfish is only accurate to about 1.5m (5'). This fish has good binocular vision with large eyes located close to its mouth, allowing it to judge distances and focus well. It learns to correct for refraction between the water and the air, usually shooting from directly below the target where there is the least amount of distortion. When the insect falls into the water the Archerfish is waiting to gobble it up.
Motorhome repair
Last year we bought a used motorhome for our holidays. We drove down the west coast and had a wonderful time until the motorhome broke down. Now we know why we bought it at such a low price. Turns out it needed so many repairs and we were out in the middle of nowhere when it broke down and there was not a single motorhome repair shop around. We learned our lesson.
Siamese Fighting Fish
The Siamese Fighting Fish is native to the South-East Asian region of Thailand (formerly Siam), Cambodia and Vietnam. It survives in the wild anywhere where still water lies, such as rice paddies, stagnant ponds and road-side drains.
The species attracted its name because of the aggressive nature of the males towards each other. Because the fish are common to very small bodies of water, even water-filled buffalo hoofprints, males must fiercely protect their territory, or lose their breeding ground to a stronger male.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Treasure metal detectors
I heard about people going out to the old gold fields in the hope of striking it rich with their metal detectors. That’s why I also wanted to join in the treasure hunt but first I’ll have to get myself a good metal detector. I did some research on these equipments and it seems like the treasure metal detectors are the most popular choice in the market. Well if most people are happy with them I think I won’t go wrong with them.
Orchids
When people talk about orchids they usually mean the common cymbidium orchid, which is often used in corsages and flower arrangements. However, there are over 20,000 species of orchids, and they make up the largest of all the plant families. Many are epiphytes (ie they live on other plants but do not parasitise those plants), others live on rocks, on the ground or even underground. Epiphytes usually grow from a creeping root stock, and produce thickened stems called pseudobulbs to store their moisture and food. When it comes to growing requirements, orchids vary tremendously.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Back acne treatment
It is bad enough to get acne on your face but worse if you get them on your back! With face acne I can keep my face clean to prevent acne from getting worse but what do I do with my back acne? Is there some sort of back acne treatment that I can use? And even if there is, how do I reach my back? I’m going to need someone to help me every time I treat my back acne!
Autumn jobs
Autumn is a great time to do garden improvement and maintenance, for example constructing a pathway or a pergola, sharpening your tools, improving your soil or mulching the garden beds. A little time spent on jobs now will help your garden power away in the spring.
Strawberries planted now will produce fruit in October and November. Put some mulch around the base of a citrus tree, making sure not to allow any of the mulch to touch the trunk. Some citrus trees, such as Emperor mandarins, bear so heavily that the branches bend over with the weight of the crop. When this happens it is necessary to do some emergency thinning to prevent the branches snapping under the strain. Ideally, the best time to prune citrus is after the crop is harvested.
Strawberries planted now will produce fruit in October and November. Put some mulch around the base of a citrus tree, making sure not to allow any of the mulch to touch the trunk. Some citrus trees, such as Emperor mandarins, bear so heavily that the branches bend over with the weight of the crop. When this happens it is necessary to do some emergency thinning to prevent the branches snapping under the strain. Ideally, the best time to prune citrus is after the crop is harvested.
Two step stool
It is convenient to have a small step ladder inside the house for occasional uses when you need to get to something placed up high. I have a decent size ladder in the garage but that wouldn’t be good for inside the house. What we need is a two step stool that can be used as a stool when not being used as a small step.
Adding Organic Matter to Soil
The worst problem facing gardeners in Australia today is that when soils dry out, they can become water repellent, or hydrophobic. When this happens, water just runs off instead of soaking into the soil.
Hydrophobia usually occurs in sandy soils and often it is caused by mulches. When uncomposted mulch sits on the surface of the ground, waxy, oily material leaves that mulch as it breaks down and coats each individual grain in the soil. When the soil dries out and you try to rewet it, the waxy, oily coating on the grains won't let the water back in and the soil stays dry.
If you took that same mulch and put it into a compost heap, micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi would break down the waxy and oily material along with the organic matter. As well, the remnants of organic matter that you get at the end of composting actually aid the soil to form tiny little cracks that allow water to penetrate - drying out is never really an issue and the soil always rewets. So organic material used as a mulch causes the problem, but solves the problem when used as a compost.
Hydrophobia usually occurs in sandy soils and often it is caused by mulches. When uncomposted mulch sits on the surface of the ground, waxy, oily material leaves that mulch as it breaks down and coats each individual grain in the soil. When the soil dries out and you try to rewet it, the waxy, oily coating on the grains won't let the water back in and the soil stays dry.
If you took that same mulch and put it into a compost heap, micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi would break down the waxy and oily material along with the organic matter. As well, the remnants of organic matter that you get at the end of composting actually aid the soil to form tiny little cracks that allow water to penetrate - drying out is never really an issue and the soil always rewets. So organic material used as a mulch causes the problem, but solves the problem when used as a compost.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Cigars
I’m not one to smoke cigars but once in a while I might have a go with friends just for celebrations like someone’s having a baby or getting married. Mind you I don’t inhale, just puffing away blowing smoke. Some people don’t like the smell but I like the aroma of a good cigar however my wife will refuse to kiss me afterwards!
Growing Better Pot Plants
Growing a beautiful plant in a pot is a satisfying experience, and plants continue giving joy year after year, especially as they can be moved indoors for brief periods when flowering. However, many pot plants tend to become drab and do not add anything to their environment. There are however a few tricks to growing really good plants in pots.
Watering pot plants can be difficult, as the water often is not absorbed below the surface. A wetting agent acts to open up the potting mix and allows water to be fully absorbed. An experiment conducted with three pot plants with standard potting mix which had typically dried out, indicates the importance of a good wetting agent.
Watering pot plants can be difficult, as the water often is not absorbed below the surface. A wetting agent acts to open up the potting mix and allows water to be fully absorbed. An experiment conducted with three pot plants with standard potting mix which had typically dried out, indicates the importance of a good wetting agent.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Men's gifts under $20
So what do you give a man who’s got everything? Small things count so get him small but make it personal and I’m sure you can get all kinds of men's gift ideas under $20 or around there. It is not the price of the gifts that matters, it’s the thought and how personal you make the gifts to be. So don’t tell me you don’t have any idea what to get, there’s always something you can think of that will be appropriate.
Carnivorous plants
The world is full of weird and bizarre plants, but the most strange and bizarre would have to be the carnivorous plants. It's amazing to think of plants trapping living creatures, and slowly digesting them. If you saw the movie "The Day of the Triffids" you probably thought the idea of plants eating all the humans and taking over the world was a bit far fetched. Well, think again - maybe it wasn't all that far from reality.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Age spots
My face is starting to show my age; I’m seeing age spots all over my face where a few years ago I could find none. How disappointing but such is life, we can’t stay young forever and sooner or later old age will catch up with you. But there are ways to slow down the ageing process and that’s with good nutrition, healthy living and a little makeup never hurt anybody!
Cyclamen
Most gardeners think of cyclamen as delicate indoor plants. However they can be grown outside, and in fact occur naturally in harsh, rocky areas in the Mediterranean and Europe. The miniature wild Italian cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium), will thrive and multiply in a shady position in the garden. It is a very long-flowering, hardy species, which grows in both frosty and hot areas. The flowers are usually pink or white, and the leaves are patterned and marbled in white and silver.
Conference calls
Even though I don’t run a multi-million business I sure do a lot of conference calls all across the globe. But most of these are personal calls to friends and family scattered all over the world. Therefore I am always constantly looking for free or cheap calls overseas. Apart from audio calls I also do a lot of video calls as well. Nothing beats seeing the other person.
Crepe myrtles
Crepe myrtles are among the world's best flowering trees. They are native to eastern Asia and are hardy in most parts of Australia. They are also resistant to powdery mildew, a fungal disease that is difficult to control with fungicides.
A deciduous, vase-shaped tree about 6-8m (18-25') tall. It is often severely pruned and grown as a shrub 3-4m (10-12') tall. Trusses of white, pink, mauve or purple blooms appear in late summer. The petals are ruffled, with a crepe-like texture. In autumn the mid-green leaves turn yellow, orange or red (depending on the variety) before falling. Unpruned crepe myrtles develop beautifully coloured, smooth, mottled trunks. There is an Australian native crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia archeriana), which grows to around 7m (20') tall and has pinkish mauve flowers.
A deciduous, vase-shaped tree about 6-8m (18-25') tall. It is often severely pruned and grown as a shrub 3-4m (10-12') tall. Trusses of white, pink, mauve or purple blooms appear in late summer. The petals are ruffled, with a crepe-like texture. In autumn the mid-green leaves turn yellow, orange or red (depending on the variety) before falling. Unpruned crepe myrtles develop beautifully coloured, smooth, mottled trunks. There is an Australian native crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia archeriana), which grows to around 7m (20') tall and has pinkish mauve flowers.
Trampolines connecticut
There’s nothing better than having a trampoline in your backyard for the kids to play in. I think I still love jumping around in the trampoline even at my age! It’s better than getting a pool that you only get to use in the warmer months but for the rest of the year sitting there gathering dirt. Not to mention dangerous for toddlers too. Therefore we’ve decided to get our trampoline from trampolines connecticut so the whole family can have fun all year round.
Clivias
Clivias are wonderful, almost unkillable plants, which brighten the garden during late winter and early spring with clusters of vibrant yellow throated, orange or salmon trumpet flowers. The flowers are held on stalks above the clump of dark green strap-like leaves.
Native to Natal, South Africa, clivias were named after Lady Charlotte Florentina Clive, Duchess of Northumberland, who was the granddaughter of Robert Clive, better known as Clive of India. The name Clivia can be pronounced as the name Clive to rhyme with 'hive' (Clive+ia) or with a hard sound as in 'liver' (Cliv+ia). Many of the clivia enthusiasts pronounce it the latter way.
Disability insurance
Life is unpredictable; you never know what’s around the corner. One day you’re on top of the world and the next you may loose them all due to accidents. That is why disability insurance is so important to us especially the sole breadwinner of the household. This way you can rest assured your family is going to be looked after should anything bad happened to you and you can’t work anymore.
Citrus Tips
Citrus trees do best in a full sun position. Before planting, dig plenty of chook, cow or horse manure into the ground. Ideally, citrus should be fertilised in August and February. It is good to alternate fertilisers - say Dynamic Lifter in August/September and Complete Citrus Food in February. For potted citrus use a slow release fertiliser, such as Osmocote Plus. Keep citrus trees well watered when fruit is developing (water restrictions permitting). This is particularly important during a drought. If the tree does not receive enough water the quality of the fruit will suffer, or if it rains and the plant is very dry the fruit will split. Grass and citrus don't mix. Keep the area beneath your citrus free of grass and weeds, which compete with the tree for nutrients. Cover with a mulch such as lucerne, composted leaf litter or compost, but keep the mulch away from the tree trunk to avoid collar rot.
Monday, March 07, 2011
Office supplies
I usually get my office supplies from my local stationery store. Even though it is close by I usually have to spend at least an hour if my busy time going there and coming back. I think I should start using online shopping and have them delivered to me instead saving me time. I just need to order in advance so I don’t run out of stationeries before they arrive.
Bamboos
Bamboos are wonderful plants and there are over a thousand different species and dozens of garden varieties. In eastern Asia they are used for almost everything from building homes, to making furniture and their shoots are even used in cooking. There are two distinct types of bamboo - clumping and running. If growing bamboo in your garden, it is important to understand the differences which were noted more than 700 years ago in drawings.
Running bamboos can cause awful trouble in the garden where they can grow from one property to another. These bamboos are classified as noxious weeds in some areas of Sydney. So if you're growing running bamboo such as the Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea), Green Onion bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica 'Tsutsuminia') or Black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) confine them in pots or in garden beds lined with concrete, special rubber or other impervious barriers. The depth of the barrier needed varies among species but to be safe it should be at least 1m (3') deep.
Running bamboos can cause awful trouble in the garden where they can grow from one property to another. These bamboos are classified as noxious weeds in some areas of Sydney. So if you're growing running bamboo such as the Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea), Green Onion bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica 'Tsutsuminia') or Black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) confine them in pots or in garden beds lined with concrete, special rubber or other impervious barriers. The depth of the barrier needed varies among species but to be safe it should be at least 1m (3') deep.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Banking jobs
Back home people used to look highly at public service and banking jobs. If you are fortunate enough to get into either one of those two professions then your job security is pretty much set for life. That’s why a lot of parents were always pushing their kids to get into these two industries. Can’t really blame them, which were how the older generations used to think back then but now we all know better.
Yuccas
Members of the Agave family, yuccas are native to southern USA and Mexico. There are around thirty species, and most have stout woody trunks, rosettes of spiky leaves and big clusters of creamy white flowers. In the wild these fascinating plants have a mutually exclusive relationship with a moth (Tegeticula spp.). They provide food for the yucca moth, and it pollinates their flowers. Most yuccas have leaves tipped with sharp spines, hence common names like Spanish bayonet, Spanish dagger and Adam's needle. Yucca elephantipes, the plant we featured on Burke's Backyard, does not have sharp leaves. This beautiful species comes from the high country of Mexico and Central America, where it has long been valued for its medicinal and culinary uses.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Chicago auto repair
Moving to Chicago is a big step but it is also a good change for the better. I am so looking forward to my new job in a new city. I decided to drive all the way there in my trusty Toyota Camry but along the way I struck a pot hole and I hope nothing’s broken in the under carriage. Because I’m new to the city it is hard for me to find a Chicago auto repair shop near where I live or near my work place.
Lucky for me a work colleague helped out referring me to his uncle’s garage which is near by. While at the auto repair shop they did a marvellous job checking my Camry thoroughly, even check engine light and the oil filters too. I think I’m going to love this city.
Lucky for me a work colleague helped out referring me to his uncle’s garage which is near by. While at the auto repair shop they did a marvellous job checking my Camry thoroughly, even check engine light and the oil filters too. I think I’m going to love this city.
Red eggplants
Most people would be familiar with the large, purple-black eggplant or aubergine (Solanum melongena) which is used to make delicious recipes like ratatouille and baba ganoush. If you shop around you'll also be able to find white skinned or striped varieties, lady's fingers and the tiny pea eggplant, which is used in Asian cooking. The good news is that there are new red varieties of eggplant available, which have a better flavour than the common purple ones because they are not as acidic. They can be cut in half and put on the barbecue, or sliced thinly, fried and added to platters of antipasto.
Eggplants require a position in full sun and a long, warm growing season. In warm, frost-free zones (for example the tropical and subtropical parts of the Northern Territory and coastal areas of north Queensland) they can be grown all year round. In temperate climates (coastal and near coastal districts of southern Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia) seed can be planted from August to December. In cool to cold climates (southern Australia, mountain and frost-prone inland districts), delay planting until September and make last plantings by the end of November.
Eggplants require a position in full sun and a long, warm growing season. In warm, frost-free zones (for example the tropical and subtropical parts of the Northern Territory and coastal areas of north Queensland) they can be grown all year round. In temperate climates (coastal and near coastal districts of southern Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia) seed can be planted from August to December. In cool to cold climates (southern Australia, mountain and frost-prone inland districts), delay planting until September and make last plantings by the end of November.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Appetite suppressant
The problem with obesity is that it’s hard to stop eating when we’re full. We tend to continue eating even though the body had enough. What we need is a good appetite suppressant so we don’t have that hunger to continue eating way over what the body needs. So I let my friend be the guinea pig and let him try out these suppressants before I do. And you know what? It really works!
Cannas
Cannas are perennials which grow from thick underground roots (or rhizomes). The flowers grow up through tightly furled leaf bases or 'false stems'. Modern canna hybrids come in four different sizes: pixie (45cm-60cm), dwarf (60cm-100cm), medium (1m-1.5m) and tall (1.5m-2m). They come in all colours except blue, green and black. The foliage may be green, blue-green, purple, burgundy, bronze or striped.
Most cannas like a sunny position, but off-white flowering varieties prefer dappled shade. They grow well in moist soil enriched with organic matter such as compost. Fertilise in late winter with a mixture of four parts blood and bone and one part sulfate of potash. Water well before and after fertilising. Cannas also respond well to applications of well-rotted cow manure.Keep plants mulched and water well, particularly during dry spells. Remove spent flower heads to maintain an attractive display. Do not cut off more than about 15cm (6"), as new flowers will be forming lower down the stem. At the end of the flowering season, cut old stems down to within 2cm (1") of the ground. Leave new young shoots - these will flower early next season. Lift and divide the clumps every three years.
Most cannas like a sunny position, but off-white flowering varieties prefer dappled shade. They grow well in moist soil enriched with organic matter such as compost. Fertilise in late winter with a mixture of four parts blood and bone and one part sulfate of potash. Water well before and after fertilising. Cannas also respond well to applications of well-rotted cow manure.Keep plants mulched and water well, particularly during dry spells. Remove spent flower heads to maintain an attractive display. Do not cut off more than about 15cm (6"), as new flowers will be forming lower down the stem. At the end of the flowering season, cut old stems down to within 2cm (1") of the ground. Leave new young shoots - these will flower early next season. Lift and divide the clumps every three years.
Do diet pills work
I’ve tried dieting and I’ve tried exercising but I’m still struggling to shed my excess weight off my overweight body. My next step is taking diet pills and I often wonder; do diet pills work on a lazy couch potato like me? I’m not very motivated to push myself harder than what I’ve done and a magic diet pill is just what I need.
Bromeliads
These fascinating tropical American natives come in a wonderful variety of sizes, shapes and foliage colours. They seem very strange and exotic, but one of our most common fruits, the pineapple, is actually a bromeliad. Many bromeliads are epiphytes (ie they live on other plants but do not parasitise those plants), living up in the forks of tree branches and surviving mainly on the moisture and nutrients they obtain from the air. However there are bromeliads for every situation - some make very good indoor plants, while others can be quite spectacular grown in the garden.
How to get rid of dark circles
I am not a morning person; some days I wake up with dark circles around my eyes. Especially after a big night out and I found out the best way on how to get rid of dark circles around your eyes is Prototype #37-C which has a high concentration of powerful peptides. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself, I was sceptical at first but now I’m a convert.
Bottlebrushes
Bottlebrushes (Callistemon spp.) are among the hardiest of Australian native plants. They are long lived, require minimal maintenance and are almost impossible to kill. The flowers attract native birds, especially honey eaters, and reward the gardener with extraordinary amounts of colour. The original bottlebrushes available to gardeners were all bold red but flower colours now range from red to pink, mauve, cream and green.
Colon cleanser
I’m not feeling the best these few days, must be the over indulgence during the festive season. Time to detoxify I think, I need a colon cleanser to flush out all the nasties that’s built up over the last few months. I do this every few months or after I’ve been bad, you should give it a go. You’ll feel so much better afterward.
Clerodendrums
There are over 400 species of clerodendrums, including climbers, shrubs, herbaceous plants and trees, and they are mostly from warm climates. Many, like the Bleeding Heart Vine, have very showy flowers.
Clerodendrums grown in the garden like a well-drained soil, rich in organic material. They will tolerate full sun with adequate moisture but prefer partial shade. They need protection from strong winds, hot sun and frost. Indoor plants need a warm, bright spot with plenty of water in the growing season. To maintain humidity around the plant, stand the pot on a tray of moist pebbles and mist frequently. If a more compact plant is wanted, pinch out the growing tips in winter. If the plant has repeated pest problems such as scale, mealy bug or two-spotted mite, it is probably not getting enough light or is moisture stressed.
Clerodendrums grown in the garden like a well-drained soil, rich in organic material. They will tolerate full sun with adequate moisture but prefer partial shade. They need protection from strong winds, hot sun and frost. Indoor plants need a warm, bright spot with plenty of water in the growing season. To maintain humidity around the plant, stand the pot on a tray of moist pebbles and mist frequently. If a more compact plant is wanted, pinch out the growing tips in winter. If the plant has repeated pest problems such as scale, mealy bug or two-spotted mite, it is probably not getting enough light or is moisture stressed.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Audio video cables
Sometimes it is hard to find the right audio video cables for my home entertainment system. Like the other day I wanted to get a HDMI cable but it seems like the price of these cables can ranch from very cheap to very expensive. What is the difference between the cheap and the expensive? No one can tell me the difference because it is just down right rip off on the part of the retailers.
Coriander
Coriander grows better during the cooler months of the year. During summer, coriander plants change rapidly from leafy to seedy (this is called ‘bolting to seed’) and it’s almost impossible to have a crop on hand for use in the kitchen in the hot months. During autumn, winter and spring, however, coriander stays nicely leafy for a number of months.
Coriander likes a sunny spot, well-drained soil and a steady supply of both water and fertiliser. It grows equally well in pots or in garden beds. If using pots, use top quality potting mix and sit the pots up on pot feet, so water drains away after each watering.
Coriander likes a sunny spot, well-drained soil and a steady supply of both water and fertiliser. It grows equally well in pots or in garden beds. If using pots, use top quality potting mix and sit the pots up on pot feet, so water drains away after each watering.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Agaves
Agaves are easy to grow. They like a full sun position and a well-drained, sandy soil. In gardens they are often grown as accent, border or rockery plants. (Tip: keep species with sharp spines away from paths.) Many of the smaller agaves make excellent pot plants. If growing in a pot, use a free-draining soil mix suitable for succulents. Water established plants in summer when they are actively growing.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Order chocolate covered strawberries
I have a sweet tooth; I need something sweet almost everyday and I just cannot resist chocolate or anything chocolaty. That’s why I want to order chocolate covered strawberries when I found this website that makes me drool. They have all sorts of chocolaty sweets and indulgence. It’s heavenly! I get out of control picking the orders and I think I overspent my budget!
Flowering and Ornamental Trees
Trees can be flowering trees, fruit trees, shade trees, ornamentals etc. Some attractiveTecoma argentea dwarf/medium height flowering trees or ornamental trees would be ideal for a home garden. Like, Cornus Florida (Flowering Dogwood), Magnolia, Hydrangea Paniculata, Cassia fistula, Jacaranda, Tecoma argentea, Cassia javanica etc. Tree saplings can be planted in trenches filled with a mixture of garden earth and manure in the ratio of 2:1. Support the saplings with stakes. Trees take a number of years to mature. In the first year, remove weak or unruly shoots. In the second or third year remove poorly spaced branches, leaving alone the central trunk. Once they settle, trees need to be watered only once in a while. But the watering should be deep and applied directly to the soil. Shade trees and ornamentals grow on a framework of older branches and need only infrequent maintenance pruning. Prune only dead, diseased or damaged wood or to correct a poor shape. Flowering trees can be pruned after flowering or fruition.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Best diet pills for women that work
She’s tried so many things but always ended up in disappointment. Is there anyone out there that can help? What are the best diet pills for women that work in reducing weight gradually and keep it off as well? After all the disappointments I think she’s given up hope on finding the right ones. Fortunately a friend got her in touch with someone who’s had success with some better ones and she might give them a go.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Aphids
Aphids are tiny sap sucking insects usually about one to two millimetres long that appear when the weather warms. Colonies can build up very quickly. They eat developing shoots and flower buds by piercing the plant's surface and sucking out the plant's juices, which can result in deformed buds, flower loss and even defoliation of the plant. They do not just affect roses. Peach trees and hibiscus are tasty treats for aphids too.
There are chemical-free ways of dealing with aphids. The first strategy of aphid control is the most environmentally friendly, and that's to let nature do the work for you. Shortly after the aphids appear, watch for the appearance of the aphid’s natural predators. The best-known of these is the ladybird. And the ladybird larvae, which look a bit like a crocodile and eat more aphids than the ladybirds themselves.
There are chemical-free ways of dealing with aphids. The first strategy of aphid control is the most environmentally friendly, and that's to let nature do the work for you. Shortly after the aphids appear, watch for the appearance of the aphid’s natural predators. The best-known of these is the ladybird. And the ladybird larvae, which look a bit like a crocodile and eat more aphids than the ladybirds themselves.
Aphids
Aphids are tiny sap sucking insects usually about one to two millimetres long that appear when the weather warms. Colonies can build up very quickly. They eat developing shoots and flower buds by piercing the plant's surface and sucking out the plant's juices, which can result in deformed buds, flower loss and even defoliation of the plant. They do not just affect roses. Peach trees and hibiscus are tasty treats for aphids too.
There are chemical-free ways of dealing with aphids. The first strategy of aphid control is the most environmentally friendly, and that's to let nature do the work for you. Shortly after the aphids appear, watch for the appearance of the aphid’s natural predators. The best-known of these is the ladybird. And the ladybird larvae, which look a bit like a crocodile and eat more aphids than the ladybirds themselves.
There are chemical-free ways of dealing with aphids. The first strategy of aphid control is the most environmentally friendly, and that's to let nature do the work for you. Shortly after the aphids appear, watch for the appearance of the aphid’s natural predators. The best-known of these is the ladybird. And the ladybird larvae, which look a bit like a crocodile and eat more aphids than the ladybirds themselves.
Weight loss diets
Growing up I was a big boy eating whatever I wanted and anything I wanted. At one stage I was so big that I just couldn’t keep up with my friends in school with their physical activities. That’s when my parents decided to put me on weight loss diets hoping to get my weight down to a healthier level. We tried a few diets but didn’t work but finally found one that was more suitable for me. Then the transformation began with a few pounds a week dropping off until I was normal again.
Sooty mold
Sooty mold is a charcoal black fungus that appears as a black coating on the surface of leaves, fruits, twigs and branches of many deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees. This fungus is not pathogenic to plants but obtains its nourishment from insect honeydew.
Honeydew is a sweet, clear, sticky substance secreted by insects such as aphids, mealybugs, scale, and whiteflies. The honeydew drops from the insects to the leaves and twigs. Wind-blown sooty mold spores that stick to the honeydew then have a suitable medium for growth. When spores germinate, they send out black fungal strands (mycelial threads) that cover the plant tissue and cause the discoloration. A heavy coat of black mold may build up on needles and twigs over more than one growing season.On leaves, this coat of mold screens out light and reduces the plant's capacity to produce food. On some trees no obvious damage can be noticed. Shrubs under trees that are heavily infested with honeydew producing insects may be seriously damaged or killed because the leaf chlorophyll cannot function properly under the thick layer of sooty mold that develops. Azalea, Rhododendron, Pieris, Cotoneaster, holly and other low-growing shrubs, growing under shady conditions are susceptible to serious damage.
Sooty mold may be washed off plants, but unless the causal insects are controlled, it may reappear. To prevent sooty mold, you need to manage the insects. The insects involved are small and may be present in large numbers before the black strands of sooty mold appear. Trees and shrubs should be observed frequently during the growing season for honeydew and insects. Remember -- look for insects not only on the affected plants--but on overstory plants as well for evidence of an infestation when sooty mold appears.
Honeydew is a sweet, clear, sticky substance secreted by insects such as aphids, mealybugs, scale, and whiteflies. The honeydew drops from the insects to the leaves and twigs. Wind-blown sooty mold spores that stick to the honeydew then have a suitable medium for growth. When spores germinate, they send out black fungal strands (mycelial threads) that cover the plant tissue and cause the discoloration. A heavy coat of black mold may build up on needles and twigs over more than one growing season.On leaves, this coat of mold screens out light and reduces the plant's capacity to produce food. On some trees no obvious damage can be noticed. Shrubs under trees that are heavily infested with honeydew producing insects may be seriously damaged or killed because the leaf chlorophyll cannot function properly under the thick layer of sooty mold that develops. Azalea, Rhododendron, Pieris, Cotoneaster, holly and other low-growing shrubs, growing under shady conditions are susceptible to serious damage.
Sooty mold may be washed off plants, but unless the causal insects are controlled, it may reappear. To prevent sooty mold, you need to manage the insects. The insects involved are small and may be present in large numbers before the black strands of sooty mold appear. Trees and shrubs should be observed frequently during the growing season for honeydew and insects. Remember -- look for insects not only on the affected plants--but on overstory plants as well for evidence of an infestation when sooty mold appears.
Top diet supplements
Back when I was little we were all told to eat reasonable proportions of fish, meat and vegetables alongside diary products and fruits. But even if we do we still need other diet supplements like vitamins and other minerals which are usually taken in pill forms. One of the top diet supplements is fish oil which contains high levels of omega 3 that is supposed to be very beneficial to us.
Ash whitefly
Ash whitefly is a small white sap sucking insect which occurs in both temperate and Mediterranean climates. The first record of this pest for Australia was in Adelaide in autumn of 1998. A subsequent survey in June 1998 of greater metropolitan Adelaide and important fruit growing country regions found this new pest widely distributed in Adelaide from Hallet Cove in the south to the Barossa Valley in the north. There was only one record from the Adelaide Hills and none from the country regions surveyed. Interstate surveys in late June 1998 also found the whitefly in Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Griffith, Gundagai in NSW and Canberra.
There are a number of natural enemies of ash whitefly that are important in its ecology. These include parasitoids, predators and diseases. The most successful of these is a small parasitic wasp, Encarcia inaron. In the USA and NZ, very good biological control has been achieved by this wasp. Initial surveys of the Adelaide area have not found E. inaron but as it is the best candidate, it is the highest priority task to introduce this parasitoid into Australia, after AQIS approval, if it has not already accompanied its host into the country
There are a number of natural enemies of ash whitefly that are important in its ecology. These include parasitoids, predators and diseases. The most successful of these is a small parasitic wasp, Encarcia inaron. In the USA and NZ, very good biological control has been achieved by this wasp. Initial surveys of the Adelaide area have not found E. inaron but as it is the best candidate, it is the highest priority task to introduce this parasitoid into Australia, after AQIS approval, if it has not already accompanied its host into the country
Refurbished laptops
My friend said he wants to get a laptop for his son for school but didn’t want to spend too much money on it since technology moves fast and soon his son would want a better one. So I suggested checking out some refurbished laptops; they’re pre-used but cost far less than new and most of them still have manufacturers’ warranties. It would be ideal for kids to use for a couple of years before upgrading.
Thrips
There are 7,400 species of thrips in the world and quite a few are serious pests of plants. Some of the more commonly known thrips are Greenhouse thrip (Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis_), Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis_) and Plague thrips (Thrips imaginis).
Thrips are 0.5mm – 15 mm long and range in colour from white to yellow to black. Thrips generally have wings that are fringed but this can only be seen with magnification. Thrips attack the flowers, fruit and foliage of a variety of plants. Roses, fruit trees, azaleas, gladioli and a variety of vegetables such as tomatoes, onions and beans all suffer from thrip attacks. Thrips lay eggs inside plant tissue and the pupae feed on plant juices. Thrips also lay eggs in unopened buds making it difficult to control the insect. Thrips also spread plant viruses; for example tomato thrips and western flower thrips spread the tomato spotted wilt virus.
Thrips scrape the surface of the leaves and petals, and suck the sap, leaving a white mottled appearance on leaves. Other symptoms are browning on petals and fruit, and flower drop. If left unchecked the leaves, new shoots and flowers will become deformed and stunted. Wilting and browning can also occur.
Thrips are 0.5mm – 15 mm long and range in colour from white to yellow to black. Thrips generally have wings that are fringed but this can only be seen with magnification. Thrips attack the flowers, fruit and foliage of a variety of plants. Roses, fruit trees, azaleas, gladioli and a variety of vegetables such as tomatoes, onions and beans all suffer from thrip attacks. Thrips lay eggs inside plant tissue and the pupae feed on plant juices. Thrips also lay eggs in unopened buds making it difficult to control the insect. Thrips also spread plant viruses; for example tomato thrips and western flower thrips spread the tomato spotted wilt virus.
Thrips scrape the surface of the leaves and petals, and suck the sap, leaving a white mottled appearance on leaves. Other symptoms are browning on petals and fruit, and flower drop. If left unchecked the leaves, new shoots and flowers will become deformed and stunted. Wilting and browning can also occur.
Restaurant delivery
Usually on a Friday night after a long week, I just couldn’t be bothered with cooking. That’s when I would be looking for restaurant delivery in my local area. I usually ended up ordering pizzas, although Chinese and Japanese follow closely behind. Last Friday we had Indian which gave us some upset tummies so I wouldn’t be going back to them again. I think we’ll have Greek this week.
Rose canker
Rose canker is usually the result of careless pruning or breaking of stems. Dark reddish lesions and cracking bark of rose canes are symptoms of rose canker. They are caused by a fungus that enters through pruning cuts or wounds to the shrub. Cankers can encircle stems and cut off the flow of nutrients and water to growth further up.
Prune off and burn diseased canes. Canker can be spread from plant to plant by infected secateurs. Make a neat slanting cut to just above a good outward-facing bud and disinfect secateurs often.
Prune off and burn diseased canes. Canker can be spread from plant to plant by infected secateurs. Make a neat slanting cut to just above a good outward-facing bud and disinfect secateurs often.
Girls shorts
Funny how this year we haven’t seen much in term of girls shorts in fashion than previous years. I remember one year when girls shorts were very popular and I think it was due to that Duke of Hazard movie coming out where a very famous actress was wearing a very tiny shorts. Nowadays the style has died down again and less and less people are wanting to go for that style, instead going for something calls Batwing dresses!
Black spot
Roses are the world's favourite flower, and black spot is the scourge of rose growers. Black spot is a fungal disease and it thrives in warm humid climates. It starts off as a black spot in the leaf and then it turns yellow and eventually the leaf falls off, and if it's really bad, the plant can die.
When the black spot spore lands on the leaf, it germinates and sends its little root system through the cell wall into the sap stream below and it proliferates. If you thicken that cell wall, the spore lands on the top, the root system germinates and it goes halfway through and then fizzles out, and so you get less black spot. But how do you thicken that cell wall? It's easy - just use sulphate of potash and give them about 100 to 150 grams per bush about four times a year – this should guarantee a lot less black spot.
Nutrition and spraying will control most black spot but from time to time some bushes will be chronically affected. The only thing to do is to rip these out so they don’t infect any of the others.
When the black spot spore lands on the leaf, it germinates and sends its little root system through the cell wall into the sap stream below and it proliferates. If you thicken that cell wall, the spore lands on the top, the root system germinates and it goes halfway through and then fizzles out, and so you get less black spot. But how do you thicken that cell wall? It's easy - just use sulphate of potash and give them about 100 to 150 grams per bush about four times a year – this should guarantee a lot less black spot.
Nutrition and spraying will control most black spot but from time to time some bushes will be chronically affected. The only thing to do is to rip these out so they don’t infect any of the others.
Cutting tools
If sone one asks me what I want for my birthday this year I would say cutting tools. Yes I’ve wanted some of these for all the DIY projects I have started but yet to finish simply because I need some cutting tools to do what I need to do with them. I’ve also been telling myself to go get some myself from the hardware store but everyone who knows me knows that I’m the greatest procrastinator. So if I was to finish my projects I’m going to need some one to get me the cutting tools I need this year. That is so bad of me.
Rust disease
Rusts are diseases caused by fungal pathogens of the order Pucciniales. About 7800 species are known. The taxonomy of Pucciniales is complex and the darker coloured smut is often mistaken for rust. Rusts are so named after the reddish rusty looking sori and the disease is usually noticed after the first rains. The group is considered as one of the most dangerous pathogens to agriculture and horticulture. All rusts are obligate parasites, meaning that they require a living host to complete their life cycle. They generally do not kill the host plant but can severely reduce growth and yield. Cereal crops can be devastated in one season and trees that get infected in the main stem within the first five years, invariably die.
Rust fungi can be categorized by their life cycle. Heteroecious rust fungi require two unrelated hosts to complete their life cycle, with the primary host being infected by aeciospores and the alternate host being infected with basidiospores. This can be contrasted with an autoecious fungus which can complete its life cylce on a single host species.
Rust fungi can be further categorized by how many spores are produced during the life cycle. Fungi that produce all five spores (sometimes excluding pycniospores) are termed macrocyclic. Fungi that lack pycniospores, aeciospores, and urediniospores in their life cycle are termed microcyclic and always have an autoecious life cycle. Demicyclic fungi delete the uredial (repeating) stage from the life cycle. Understanding the life cycles of rust fungi allows for proper disease management.
Rust fungi can be categorized by their life cycle. Heteroecious rust fungi require two unrelated hosts to complete their life cycle, with the primary host being infected by aeciospores and the alternate host being infected with basidiospores. This can be contrasted with an autoecious fungus which can complete its life cylce on a single host species.
Rust fungi can be further categorized by how many spores are produced during the life cycle. Fungi that produce all five spores (sometimes excluding pycniospores) are termed macrocyclic. Fungi that lack pycniospores, aeciospores, and urediniospores in their life cycle are termed microcyclic and always have an autoecious life cycle. Demicyclic fungi delete the uredial (repeating) stage from the life cycle. Understanding the life cycles of rust fungi allows for proper disease management.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Food storage
We’re heading into a bumper year in my veggie garden and there will be a lot of excess; we’ll eat some, give some away but will have to store some for future use. There are many food storage ideas like drying them or pickle them in brine. We can even sell some of them right outside our porch! Home gardens are great ways of saving on food and eating healthy.
Cabbage moth
The cabbage moth is greyish and small and is around 10mm across. The moths and butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of leaves. The larvae of caterpillars hatch from the eggs and then feed on the leaves or fruit, so it’s the caterpillar of the cabbage white butterfly or cabbage moth which does the damage. The blue-green smooth textured caterpillar is that of the cabbage white butterfly, while the caterpillar which is green-brown is that of the cabbage moth. They both start eating the outer leaves before moving to the inner heart of the cabbage. It is a good idea to try and either pick off the caterpillars or spray them when they are still on the outside of the leaf, before they tunnel into the heart. Plants favoured by cabbage moth and cabbage white butterfly include cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Chinese cabbage, celery, beetroot, rocket and watercress.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Colon cleanse
Okay, so I’ve heard of it many times but I’ve yet to do it myself. I’m talking about colon cleanse which some claim to be very good for your health. A few of my friends have done it and now they’re doing it regularly. I’m still not too sure if I want to do it just yet. I mean like if I don’t do it I won’t feel bad health wise so why the rush to do it? Maybe I need more convincing so reading up on the benefit of it would be a good start.
Garden snails
Although we know all too well the diet of the Garden Snail, Australia has many native snails, which in the case of many other native animals much prefer to stay in their natural habitats. Our biggest species occur in Queensland, some with shells up to 70mm across. In Victoria there are two species of carnivorous snails that chase down worms, slugs and other snails in a slow motion battle to the death.
Snails are hermaphrodites; they are equipped as both a male and female. It still takes two to tango, but the odds are a lot better of finding a mate! After mating small clear or white eggs are laid in a moist position. Baby snails have very delicate shells, often a different shape than the parents; however this changes as they grow.
Snails are hermaphrodites; they are equipped as both a male and female. It still takes two to tango, but the odds are a lot better of finding a mate! After mating small clear or white eggs are laid in a moist position. Baby snails have very delicate shells, often a different shape than the parents; however this changes as they grow.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Flash drive
I can still remember the first flash drive I bought; it was years ago, 512 mb and cost a bomb! Nowadays you can get one ten times bigger than that and costs far less. Such is technology; they will always come down in price if you’re willing to wait. The flash drive is the best thing to happen to computers since floppy drives, for quite some times computers were stuck with floppy drives until the flash drives came along and did away with the old technology for good. Who knows what’s in store for us in the future.
Sawtooth coriander
Sawtooth Coriander (Eryngium foetidum) also called Thai Coriander, or Pointed Cilantro, Cilentro, Culantro, Thorny Coriander, Ngo Gai, Mexican Coriander, Phak Chee Farang, Daunketumbar Jawa, Chinese Coriander, and Long Leafed Coriander. It belongs to the Apiaceae, like the species listed above; is a biennial to 30-50cm, propagated by seed, sprinkled on top of the soil. Large oblong leaves form as a rosette.
The edge of the leaves are prominently serrated, hence its name, sawtooth coriander. Spiky erect green flower heads form from the centre of the plant, and little raised oval seed heads form in the centre, turning from yellow to brown when mature. If you like the flavour of coriander but have trouble growing the annual species, then sawtooth coriander will give you pleasure to grow and use. The smell and taste is very similar. Sawtooth coriander leaves have good potential for drying as it does retain flavour whereas the annual coriander does not keep its flavour when dried.
The edge of the leaves are prominently serrated, hence its name, sawtooth coriander. Spiky erect green flower heads form from the centre of the plant, and little raised oval seed heads form in the centre, turning from yellow to brown when mature. If you like the flavour of coriander but have trouble growing the annual species, then sawtooth coriander will give you pleasure to grow and use. The smell and taste is very similar. Sawtooth coriander leaves have good potential for drying as it does retain flavour whereas the annual coriander does not keep its flavour when dried.
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