Let's all sleep by the water can.
hexamander
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As promised: #ducks in the duck run!
They've figured out that I usually have something good for ducks, even if it's a few dandelion leaves.
Yesterday I let them explore the garden, and they helped me clean up between the raised beds.
The new garden assistants, pictured at their current owner's place.
I've been going over there, collecting eggs, and making friends by handing out dinner and treats.
The supplies to build their run should arrive within the next 10 days!
Finally got my new pavers laid! It's very satisfying to have the last one drop in like a puzzle piece.
I got to use landscape adhesive and a reciprocating saw, and I'm now more confident that I can repair my rain-barrel bases as I continue to improve the garden.
Barn cat Saba helped me test it out. She's a lenient supervisor and accepted it despite some visible unevenness.
Since I mentioned my raised-bed low tunnel setup, here's what they look like.
The frame is assembled out of wire hoops with a crossbar down each side for stability. It's held together with small steel binder clips. Sounds janky, but they've survived storm winds that can push a sturdy adult off balance.
The cover is frost blanket from the hardware store. I cut the fabric with generous (12in/30cm) margins on all four sides, clip it to the wires, and use fist-sized rocks to hold down the loose ends.
Fast and easy to build, and they work a treat for small-to-medium plants.
Today is #ReduceYourLawn Day! I'll be out digging after work.
Nothing like spending my day hacking on computers and my evenings hacking at grass roots.
First of the new perennials in! I got a quarter of them planted yesterday.
It feels really weird not to amend the soil, but these are xeric native plants. They don't want a lot of concentrated nutrients or water-holding capacity to begin with.
A nice surprise from yesterday: some of my chard plants over-wintered and reemerged when the daytime temperature started to get above freezing. I found them while cleaning out a bed and left them in place to see what they'd do. I've never seen them survive the winter before!
Hopefully they will start producing leaves large enough to eat in a few weeks.
This picture was taken before the morning thaw, so they look extra glossy and a little translucent.