Verdigris Patina

Monday, March 26, 2007

Look Closely

Something like this would look so beautiful in a secluded wooded area of our yard. Maybe we can do something like this someday.

Posted by kev :: 11:12 AM ::

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Fuzzy Buggy

I guess this is what happens when you don't warsh your car for fifty years :P That is one fuzzy bug!

Posted by kev :: 9:31 PM ::

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

I Want! I Want!

Awwww, I want this little bus toaster, but, unfortunately, they are not for sale *pouts* Volkswagen Japan has made only 5000 pieces and they gave them away to customers taking their car in for an inspection/tune-up. The bus toaster even has a little "rag top" cover, how cute :P Why do the Japanese always get the cool stuffs?

... Watch out eBay, here I come!

Posted by kev :: 8:49 AM ::

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Bog and Water Gardens

Most people wonder what the big difference is between a pond and a bog garden. Essentially, a pond contains standing water while a bog garden is just water logged ground, so the conditions suit different plants. This means that if your garden is regularly waterlogged in winter or autumn, you might want to think about turning the lowest lying areas of your garden into a "proper" bog garden rather than just a swamp.
Bog gardens typically showcase carpets of velvety moss and lush vegetation. Bog gardens, large or small, can be a beautiful centerpiece to any yard and the perfect backdrop for attracting wildlife. For best effect, group plants in small, irregular clusters of up to five of the same plant types. Vary colors and heights, with large pitcher plants at the back of the bog garden. Pitcher plants such as Sarracenia purpurea, sundew and Venus flytraps are particularly suited to a marshy bog garden environment. Don't over-plant and always leave a space between plant clusters.

On the other hand, patio barrel gardens are the most versatile way for most people to have a water/bog garden.

Pond plants need a low-nutrient environment with as little organic matter as possible, whereas bog plants like quite the reverse, with lots of nutrients and all the organic matter they can get. In addition, bog plants do not like stagnant anaerobic conditions or drying out. This means you need to pick an area to make into the bog, dig down a little to allow water to gather, then lay a liner to hold the water. Unlike a pond, a bog needs to drain, just very slowly, so pierce the liner with a garden fork, every few feet and replace the soil you excavated making sure you remove any perennial weeds and any large or sharp stones. If your soil is rich it will do as it is, but if it is poor, you may want to incorporate well-rotted but aerated garden compost. Now lay some paving slabs or flat rocks so you can get around your bog garden easily, and you can move on to choosing your plants.

Some marsh plants and pitcher plants that thrive well in bog gardens include:
bog orchids
bog gentians
butterworts
ferns
gunnera
hostas
irises
japonica
nightshades
primulas
rheum
rodgersia
sweet flag
yellow skunk cabbage
zebra grass

Bog gardens are relatively low-maintenance, provided that moisture levels are regularly maintained. Use soaker hoses or drip systems, concealed below or around the surface of your bog garden, to ensure that the garden never dries out. Also, avoid using fertilizers for carnivorous bog garden plants.

Posted by kev :: 11:19 PM ::

Taking Care Of Tadpoles

Because frogs are amphibians, they need bodies of fresh water to reproduce. This activity is triggered by early weather conditions; the weather becomes warmer and the days get longer. This will bring them out of hibernation and begin the family cacophony of frog noises. This ‘song’ is designed to attract females and repel males.

As many as 6000 eggs can be laid in clumps which attach themselves to submerged plants or just on the side of a body of water. After the male fertilizes the egg each one is surrounded by a substance that quickly absorbs water and forms a thick jelly-like protective capsule. When this activity is over, mom and dad leave the pond and go about their merry way.

Within hours the egg begins to change… within 3 days the shape of the developing tadpole can be seen. As it grows, the tadpole is nourished by the yolk part of the egg. On the 8th or 9th day, the tadpole erupts from the capsule and clings to the jelly mass, or to water plants, by a pad of sticky sucker like ‘things’ below the mouth. By the 16th day, these little guys need to actively seek food. Tadpoles usually feed in humus and vegetable matter, such as algae, found in the pond. Therefore, careful consideration should be given if introducing them to a new pond, especially if there is nothing for them to eat.

As they get older tadpoles become carnivorous and will grow rapidly. If your pond is somewhat established their only problem may be the existing community; predators such as fish, garter snakes, dragonfly larvae, giant water beetles.

Tadpoles will stay in the pond close to the edge until July or August where they will live among the vegetation – feeding on tiny insects and other invertebrates. They may still fall prey to birds… especially our friend the blue heron, also snakes, turtles and of course koi and goldfish.

After the mature frog leaves the pond, it will continue to feed on a variety of invertebrates or in the case of your new bullfrog, smaller vertebrates. Most frogs will eat only live food. It is the movement of the ‘meal’, which actually provokes the feeding response.

Be careful not to handle your frogies too much. The salt content of your sweat can be dangerous to the little guys if holding them too long. Most frogs, not being used to being handled, will empty the contents of their bladder and bowels upon being handled! In other words, they will get skeered and peepee all over you :P

Let’s talk about the bullfrog tadpole, in particular. These guys take up to three years to mature. At the end of that time they may reach of 8 inches! They are usually a mottled greenish to brownish, and have powerful hind legs banded in dark or light brown. They have a very aquatic habit and prefer large, deep, but well vegetated ponds, lakes, rivers and marshes.

In the wild large specimens are known to eat small birds and snakes; though aquatic insects, crayfish and small fish seem to be it’s staple diet. Keep this information in mind when considering introducing them to your pond, especially if you have different sizes of fish. Your larger koi will more than likely eat the tadpole before it matures, so consider having an area where they will be safe. If a mature frog is introduced to your pond, instead, it will help ensure they will stay in close proximity especially after they mature.

Posted by kev :: 8:53 AM ::

Friday, March 02, 2007

Happy 23-Month Anniversary

You've made me a giant blob monster of Love! My heart is like an overplump watermelon, ready to burst with sugary sweetness. I Love You so much. And thank you for all the sweet Love you've given to me.

Labels: Anniversary, watermelons

Posted by Krystal :: 2:57 PM ::

Why I'm Afraid of Bees

I just read this book today. it's one of five Goosebumps books I bought this past Monday. Altogether we have 22 Goosebumps books, a couple of them being duplicates. So we almost have all of them. And their all First Editions! You can go here and see the rest of our collection.

The book was really cute and funny. My mother read it yesterday and recommended I read it this afternoon. The reason I gave it 3.5 stars is because, although it was a very cute book, it wasn't very surprising. The cover, the title, and the concise summary in the back of the book all gave away the plot. But it was still a cute and quick read.

Labels: bees and wasps, books, Goosebumps

Posted by Krystal :: 2:54 PM ::

Thursday, March 01, 2007

First Post of March 2007!

It's the first day of March! Here's some important stuff happening this month:

First of all this is Women's History Month!

March 2: Dr. Suess's 103rd Birthday; Also our relationship turns 23 months today!
March 3: Alexander Graham Bell's 160th Birthday
March 8: International Women's Day
March 13: No jokes, please! Uranus was discovered 226 years today.
March 14: Albert Einstein's 128th Birthday
March 17: St. Patrick's Day is today so remember to wear something green!
March 20: The first day of Spring!!
March 21: Deborah's Birthday! <3
March 24: Harry Houdini's Birthday

Posted by Krystal :: 6:53 PM ::