Ducks ALIVE in 2025!

[ducks4you]

See..now you don't have to do any extra summer reading!

 

[ducks4you]

...more...

7 Plants Wasps Hate But Bees Adore – For A Pollinator Garden That's Buzzing, Not Bothered

Create a bee-friendly, wasp-free garden with these smart planting choices that keep pests at bay while nurturing precious pollinators.

www.gardeningknowhow.com

1) mint
2) lavender
3) rosemary
4) roman chamomile
5) marigolds
6) geraniums
7) Eucalyptus

 

[digitS']

The marigolds certainly receive lots of attention from the bees.

I will have take note if I see any wasps in there. Certainly, wasps enjoy some of the flowers.

Interesting that we have the thread "10 Beneficial Bugs You Should Welcome To Your Garden" which includes wasps. They are the parasitic type so maybe more acceptable? I'm not planning on trying to repel any wasp unless they are putting in a nest that will make them a threat to life & limb.

Steve

 

[AMKuska]

@ducks4you how are your knees doing now? About how long does it take you to recover from knee surgery? My husband needs his knees done and we can't get a straight answer on when he can expect to be up and around/back to work.

 

[ducks4you]

@AMKuska , Thanks SO MUCH for asking!!
Good progress!
I had (unfortunately) most of nerves on the top and around my left knee wake up about the same time----and the top of the knee became very sensitive to any rubbing.
I had the 8-inch wide ace bandage wrap from the hospital that the in home PT's had removed (and I saved) plus the one that I never used last Fall, and I started to wrap my left leg for most of the day, then loose at night, with a few hours break.
This way nothing has been rubbing/irritating the top of the left knee.
The unexpected result was that the swelling went almost all of the way down.
I still had most of the original swelling with my RIGHT KNEE several months later, so, an improvement.
Funny, the wrap confounded me at first bc it wasn't like the cotton horse wraps that I became very good at using when we trailered our ponies.
My personal best, wrap on top of quilts, was 4 horses, 16 legs, 20 minutes.
ANYWAY, I am still wearing this 8 inch wide wrap, and I wrap it Like a polo wrap, start in the middle, inside to outside, go up to past the surgical scar, then down past the middle, then up the start and stop.
There is a velcro strip at each end.
I had made all of the PT appts prior to the July 10 surgery, but I had to cancel 2 of them, same week, bc DH had court and I had no one to drive me there.
No problem!!
My PT made more appts for me!!
Hooray?!?
Just as well.
I haven't been pushing it But he reminded me that until 8 weeks of healing happen my left leg is still
BROKEN!
So...a reminder to still be very careful.
Still, as of Monday, I am in the 90th percentile of bend--108 degrees-- and almost 0 degrees straight.
I am not at all concerned that I won't have a 120 degree bend by September 4th.
My right leg is in great shape 10 months along, and I really had to work on stretching and exercises with that one.
Since I don't DARE go outside at home with nobody around to monitor me, I have opted to go the office with DH. Today's PT appt is at 4PM, Monday's appt is at 5PM.
LOTS of files to close and organize, LOTS of cleaning/tidying up to do that are possible with a walker.
And, of course, in the AC.
HAPPY DUCKUMS, INDEED!!

 

[ducks4you]

9 Disease-Resistant Vegetable Varieties You Should Be Growing

Learn about the disease-resistant vegetable varieties you can grow this summer and fall!

modernfarmer.com

1) Indigo Rose Tomato
2) Emerald Delight Zucchini
3) Mountain Merit Tomato
4) Spacemaster 80 Cucumber
5) Megatron Jalepano Pepper
6) Bolero Carrot
7) Sun Gold Tomato
8) Jade Bush Beans
9) Yellowfin Summer Squash
You Might want to read This article. It tells what diseases these particular vegetables are resistant to.

 

[ducks4you]

The Sweet Superfood You Should Be Growing

Learn about the sweet superfood you should be growing!

modernfarmer.com

Sweet potatoes originated in Venezuela, btw.

 

[ducks4you]

Protecting Crops from Heat Stress: 5 Pro Strategies

Discover how to protect crops from heat stress with these pro strategies!

modernfarmer.com

I was asking about this with my peppers in pots, although the ones in the 100 gallon leaky horse water trough are Not wilting since I keep watering, FYI. I have selectively copied parts of this article for you.
You're.Welcome!!

Protecting Crops from Heat Stress: 5 Pro Strategies
Heat is an inevitable and increasing concern for farms across the world. The best way to deal with the stresses of hot weather is to adapt and find solutions you can use, year after year. Use these 5 strategies to keep your yields high and stave off the heat.
by Sarah Jay· July 7, 2025
1) Mulch
2) Intensive Plantings
3) Adjust Irrigation Techniques
If you’ve been hand watering on the farm, it might be time to switch things up. While this is a completely viable and acceptable way to grow plants, trying new ways of watering in more experimental plots is a good idea. If you don’t have the space to experiment, try out these methods in temperate seasons when stressors aren’t present to see what works for you.
(a) Furrow Irrigation
(b) Drip Irrigation
This type of irrigation can save up to 80% of the water used in other irrigation systems. All that is required is the initial investment, the setup, and continued maintenance. Include a timer, and your farm is semi-automated, with just a check here and there needed to keep things in good shape.
4) Shade Canopy
5) Plant Heat Tolerant Varieties

 

[ducks4you]

This is an FYI article. Fireflies are becoming rarer, and some are on the verge of extinction, so...read on.

How to Create a Firefly Sanctuary - Modern Farmer

I can hear the patter of little footsteps as my child, who is supposed to be getting ready for a bath, comes hurrying down the stairs, shouting fireflies;

modernfarmer.com

 

[ducks4you]

As to the Rest of the 2025 gardening season...
Since I shouldn't push it outside until about Labor Day weekend, I have decided on no bean planting for 2025. They will have to wait until next year.
I should be able to continue to water what is next to the house, and water the tomatoes and even check on my sweet potatoes, which I hope haven't died in their pot, and water Them, too.
I should be able to harvest the rest of the regular potatoes, one or two at a time/9 left Unharvested in June.
I should also be able to hand pull weeds close to the house--the ones that slipped through the cracks in the tarps/old plastic tablecloths that I put down, And to hand weed the wildflower patch.
Otherwise I will have to suffice with inside sports, alTHOUGH I could start cucumbers in a water jug soon, since they only take 45 days.
I Still plan on planting my garlic in late September.
I Finally finished cleaning the racks and bottom parts of the 6 tray dehydrator this morning.
I Will be dehydrating garlic starting tomorrow and making some refrigerator pickled garlic from the German Red Garlic I have bagged up. I only need to calculate how many cloves I want to replant.
I have been asked my youngest DD for daily favors, like the two grain bags I filled with smaller bags of soiled cat litter--I went downstairs last weekend and cleaned all 4 litter boxes and replaced with 40 pounds of new litter--that I could not drag to the big can. She did it for me, and this morning we had trash pickup and they are gone.
I would like her today to bring in 1/2 of my harvest of Great Lakes Porcelain Garlic that I left in the barn, so I can start processing them.