Friday, October 14, 2011
Gaming computers
I used to enjoy going to computer swap meets on the weekends years ago. It was like a weekly ritual for me. You can find just about any kinds of computers and accessories you want and they are usually cheaper than in the stores. Well I haven’t been going for a while but I will need to pay them a visit this weekend. I’m looking at getting some gaming computers for the new lounge I’ve just open. That would bring in more younger customers I reckon.
Acid-loving Plants
There is a group of plants called the acid-lovers. The most beautiful of these are the azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias. These plants like soil that is acidic and do not like any kind of lime or alkaline soil.
Acid-loving plants do not tolerate clay soils as they easily become waterlogged. The result is leaf scorch, indicated by brown patches on the leaves and a wilted appearance.
Rhododendron ‘Pink pearl’ will grow both in full sun and in dappled shade. When planting out you do not need to tease the roots, which should be tight and compact. Ensure that the top of the root ball is just below the soil surface. These plants do not require a lot of fertiliser and excess can retard growth, so don’t put fertilisers into the planting hole.
How do you keep the soil acidic? Mulch around the plant with compost, old cow manure and blood and bone. You can also use half-decayed leaves or pine needles because they are highly acidic. Always keep the mulch free from the stem or it will go mouldy.
These plants are poor at obtaining iron and alkaline soil can induce iron deficiency which can be identified by a yellowing of the leaves. The reason why these plants love acid soils is because they can obtain more iron under these conditions. Iron can be supplemented in the form of cheated iron, bought as a yellow powder. Place a large spoonful into a watering can and water over the leaves and into the soil. This type of iron can bypass the alkalinity and be absorbed readily by the plant, however it is only a temporary solution and long-term remediation of the soil may be necessary.
Acid-loving plants do not tolerate clay soils as they easily become waterlogged. The result is leaf scorch, indicated by brown patches on the leaves and a wilted appearance.
Rhododendron ‘Pink pearl’ will grow both in full sun and in dappled shade. When planting out you do not need to tease the roots, which should be tight and compact. Ensure that the top of the root ball is just below the soil surface. These plants do not require a lot of fertiliser and excess can retard growth, so don’t put fertilisers into the planting hole.
How do you keep the soil acidic? Mulch around the plant with compost, old cow manure and blood and bone. You can also use half-decayed leaves or pine needles because they are highly acidic. Always keep the mulch free from the stem or it will go mouldy.
These plants are poor at obtaining iron and alkaline soil can induce iron deficiency which can be identified by a yellowing of the leaves. The reason why these plants love acid soils is because they can obtain more iron under these conditions. Iron can be supplemented in the form of cheated iron, bought as a yellow powder. Place a large spoonful into a watering can and water over the leaves and into the soil. This type of iron can bypass the alkalinity and be absorbed readily by the plant, however it is only a temporary solution and long-term remediation of the soil may be necessary.
ProFlowers Twitter feed
For most of you who knows me also know that I’m a keen gardener. I like growing all kinds of plants be them for food or just for their pretty flowers. However just because I have a garden doesn’t mean I can live without shopping for my daily greens or bouquets. I still buy my vegetables and flowers when I need them but ProFlowers Twitter feed helps me keep up with all the flowers I need.
Snail Control
Snails can be a real pest in the garden, especially if you have soft leaved plants or tender seedlings, which they love to eat.
There are lots of different ways of controlling snails. The most environmentally sound method is to put on some boots of a damp evening and go stomping as snails generally feed at night. Alternatively you can collect snails and slugs by hand and kill them by dropping them into soapy water. Many of us don’t have time for this so the next best thing to do is buy an environmentally friendly snail bait that won’t harm pets such as cats and dogs or the native wildlife.
Snails like to live on vertical surfaces in the heart of strappy leaved plants and in crevices. This makes targeting them easier. Simply put a few pellets into the heart of the plant out of the sight of other animals.
Another more organically sound method of snail control is to use organic sprays made from plants that will deter these pests. Quassia amara can be made into a spray that is applied to the soil to kill snails and slugs and can also be sprayed onto the leaves of trees affected by pear and cherry slugs. Sprays can also be made from wormwood, garlic and white cedar to make the leaves unpalatable to pests, but are not recommended on vegetables that are going to be eaten soon after.
A bowl of beer placed strategically in the garden can be effective against slugs and snails, which are attracted to it, crawl in and drown.
There are lots of different ways of controlling snails. The most environmentally sound method is to put on some boots of a damp evening and go stomping as snails generally feed at night. Alternatively you can collect snails and slugs by hand and kill them by dropping them into soapy water. Many of us don’t have time for this so the next best thing to do is buy an environmentally friendly snail bait that won’t harm pets such as cats and dogs or the native wildlife.
Snails like to live on vertical surfaces in the heart of strappy leaved plants and in crevices. This makes targeting them easier. Simply put a few pellets into the heart of the plant out of the sight of other animals.
Another more organically sound method of snail control is to use organic sprays made from plants that will deter these pests. Quassia amara can be made into a spray that is applied to the soil to kill snails and slugs and can also be sprayed onto the leaves of trees affected by pear and cherry slugs. Sprays can also be made from wormwood, garlic and white cedar to make the leaves unpalatable to pests, but are not recommended on vegetables that are going to be eaten soon after.
A bowl of beer placed strategically in the garden can be effective against slugs and snails, which are attracted to it, crawl in and drown.
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
CozyWinters.com electric mattress pad
Now that winter is just around the corner it is time to prepare our house for the chilly days and nights. I hate cold wintry nights so this year I’m going to get myself an electric-blanket, I found one that I like at CozyWinters.com electric mattress pad. I think this will keep me all warm and snugly so I won’t be needing my hubby anymore! LOL just kidding, he’s a keeper.
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, September 30, 2011
Network Architect Jobs
Graduating with a computer science degree I’m now looking for Network Architect Jobs preferably in my local areas. However I may go a bit further if the remuneration is good, even to the extent of moving to a new city but I draw the line on going overseas. There’s no place better than working in my own country since we’re still quite good job wise compared with other countries.
Handwatering
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.
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.
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.
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