lilalee

Day lilies here are all over. I bought my first to try last year, and doing well. My neighbors have lots, and we have a screen front porch, so sitting out there last week, it was all I could smell. My husband thought me silly, as all that came from my mouth was, mmmmmm!!

Baldur

Here it is, this thread just hit 1000 posts!

lilalee have you tried bleeding hearts? azaleas?
Walnut trees don't interect well with lots of things, Tomatoes especially.
But it's too shady there for tomatoes anyway.

Baldur

Well Baldur is headed back out to the garden, have a great day.
"All Baldur, All the Time"

matthew

1000 POST... THIS IS SO MY FAVORITE STATION...

IamAnonymous

Iam is showing Baldur that it is possible to wear Pringle hat and socks, plus stuff inbetween.
http://www.kitmeout.com/fashion/pringle.php

autumn

ok Baldur my kids would tell me to hush so you can if you want, (teehee I will already have it said, haha)
have you googled spider bites? from what you say it sure sounds like the recluse spider got you and I am not sure but I don't think you self medicate.. all of the sites I looked at said to get med attention.
if it is not treated right it will just keep digging a hole in you...
and that would just not be attractive in your knickers. I'm done now

Dragon

I'm actually not that surprised about your cactus Baldur. My grandma brought a cactus back from Arizona in her suitcase (quite illegal - my grandma is a customs thrill seeker!) and proceeded to plant it in her garden in Darlingford Manitoba. It thrived despite the 5 feet of snow piled on it pretty much every winter. Wonders never cease!

Baldur

Baldur still lives! The wound is still quite gross, but rather less gross than yesterday.
I'm quite careful about cleaning and disinfecting it a couple times a day.
Also about removing the bandages and giving it time in the open air.

Baldur

This morning after emptying the bed of my pick-up truck of it's load of horse manure Baldur went to work on a project in his garage.

I'm trying to devise a new hanging planter for my staghorn fern.
These ferns do not grow in soil but rather in crevaces in trees under the jungle canopy;, In fact if planted in soil they are unable to cope and slowly die.

My first attempt at a planter was of generous proportions and as such held too much of the moss which is a replacement for the jungle detritus (+10 points) that the fern burrows it roots through for support and sustenance (no points).
because of the amount of moss and bark chips that Baldur used the roots were never really drying out enough between waterings. The plant was failing.

Baldur

I bought a small wooden plaque at the craft store and stained it a dark brown color,
In the woods i found a large piece of curved oak bark that had fallen off a dead tree. The oak fragment was quite sturdy, in fact it proved a chore to saw it down to a smaller size. I did manage to reduce it to the point that when up against the plaque it makes a nice little pocket.
It is similar in form to a kangaroo's pouch if the Joey had gnawed drainage holes in the bottom.
Next I had to make sure there were no critters or mold spores in this charming bit of rustica. So Baldur placed the bark in the microwave oven and nuked it for 5 minutes.
I will never do that again and I recommend that my loyal audience refrain from trying it themselves.
Certainly the stench will abate in time, at least that's what I've been telling Robert.

Baldur

Now when the bark stops sizzling and the clouds of stench recede Baldur will use his hot-melt glue gun and attach it to the plaque
I have drilled 2 holes about an inch apart in the center of the wood, when ready Baldur will thread a strand of nylon monofilament in through one and out the other making a loop.
I will then take a fistful of damp Spanish moss (which is currently soaking in a bowl) and stuff it into the pocket. Next the monofilament loop will be pulled up enough to put the roots of the fern through. Baldur will tighten it a bit and knot it in back. Then a bit more of the moss will be placed around the root ball.
It will be ready to hang on the wall.
Baldur will water it in the same manner as he did the older planter. In warm weather it will go outside for a summer shower, in cold weather I'll place it in my shower stall for a few moments.

Baldur

Well the planter is now assembled and hanging above the stairwell in the foyer at Chez Baldur. It still needs some tinkering though.
I attached the hanging chain too high above the plaque's center of gravity.
This is causing the top to cant slightly away from the wall; the whole planter is tilted forward.
Oh bother.
Baldur had already put away his tools in their proper locations, and swept up the bits of sawdust and damp Spanish moss.
Tomorrow I will take it down and alter the postion of the chains.
overall it's still quite attractive

Dragon

I'm intrigued by this planter. What do you have to catch the water that drains off so it doesn't drench your foyer floor?

Baldur

Dragon, I never water it in the foyer. The fern gets taken outside or put into the shower where it remains until the dripping stops. Baldur only waters it once a week so this is not a huge issue.
If it were to drip it would drip onto the stairs descending to the family room. That certainly is not a good option.
I do mist the plant more frequently, but that doesn't result in run-off.

Dragon

Aaah, I see. That makes sense, and save you from having to add an unsightly water catching device to such a natural seeming planter. I really must see Chez Baldur sometime. Sounds like a facinating place to visit!

Baldur

lol I wonder Dragon, what people actually think about the place sometimes.
Some people's eyes light up likes it's Christmas, other start looking at everything suspiciously.

I remember having a couple over to dinner and they thought we went overboard using cloth napkins just for them. I insisted we use cloth napkins every single day. In fact while working I carry one in my reusable lunch bag.
Finally Dan asked why I didn't just use paper napkins.
Baldur replied 'I don't know how to dine using paper napkins.'

I was being facetious of course, it was paper all the way growing up. But that's a decision I made here at Chez Baldur that we are pretty good about following. We try to use as little paper toweling as possible also, but indeed at times it's rather hard to avoid.

Baldur

At times the living room is ablaze with candles.
People question why there is no television in there; We keep one in the master bedroom and another in the basement family room.
The living room however is about entertaining guests. Baldur never quite figured out how that could involve a television.
Waiting room yes, living room no.

Baldur

Other than in the blistering heat of summer Baldur endeavors to have at least a small blaze going in the fireplace when guests are expected.
I also prefer to have something homemade to offer them be it lemonade, cookies or whatever.

One afternoon Jimsey and the other Frank dropped in. They thought they had gotten Baldur by surprise. Much to their amazement I had just set the table with the Spode and sterling for tea. Somehow it seemed someone would arrive.
They usually do.
It was the plate of sliced homemade fruitcake that made the whole thing surreal.

lilalee

I had a uncle who married a woman from Ireland, and visits to their house was always my favorite! They had eleven children, and lived in a Irish neighborhood called the "Bloody Fifth".
In their house was a parlor, which no children were allowed, only adults. Also the adults, were only there by invitation from my Aunt Eleanor!! So for years, I stood and looked at all her pretties in this room.
My husband and I stopped by their home, one holiday, and Aunt Eleanor made tea, and I was invited into her parlor!! I was so excited, and told her how special I felt to be invited into that parlor! She just giggled, poured my tea and offered a homemade treat. For about two hours, we talked, and she showed me all her pretties!!

lilalee

My house does not have a parlor, though I have two special areas to sit. I hate going to some ones house and there it is in the living room, the TV, and worse, it's on!! Years ago, if you visited some one, they would gladly turn it off, when you arrived!! Homes need a special place for our visitors, and a parlor, seems so right!!