cursed be the ground...

These weeds were so out of control! (That's thirty feet of thorn and thistle going back to that wooden fence.) It's too late in the season to start working on a proper garden. I'll probably prep the soil in the fall, provided I can borrow my friend's tiller. But we didn't want to leave it a mess until then.

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So we cleared it out to something more manageable and gave it a modest touch.

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Before starting, I looked around at the little flowers. This pretty little thing has a bug hiding in its shadow. I had not noticed it until now.

dandelawns

Several people have posted pictures of dandelions. This is how I like to see them. I'm having a problem with clovers, too. I wish so badly that I could just start all over, because that is the only way I can possibly win the battle this year!

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But do you know what? I haven't mowed my lawn yet. Shame on me! I raked, overseeded, pulled weeds, sharpened the mower blade, but no cut yet. I hope I can do it Friday night.

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Part of my excuse is soccer... which I L.O.V.E!! We have soccer practice two nights a week and games on Saturdays, and that little bit, combined with the one-car-family downgrade, and a new school schedule for one of the kids, etc., I barely have time to sneeze, let alone groom the front lawn! My only solace in this hectic rat-race is tearing these nasty, evil weeds out of the earth.

fine fescue

Hooray, it's raining!!!

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The 2008 lawn care season has officially begun. The hedges were trimmed, and the front lawn overseeded with Tall Fescue.

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Warning: If you do not care about lawns and grasses, today's post will be dangerously boring!

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The most common seed blends around here consist of Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass and Ryegrass. My favorite is Creeping Red, but most packages that have this seed are blended with one or more Ryegrasses. I do not like Ryegrasses. They grow in clumps; they're difficult to rake over, ...and personally, I think they're not too distant a cousin of Crabgrass, which is a weed.

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Bluegrass is very nice, but it has a wide blade. Fescue has very thin blades. Walking barefoot on well-groomed fine Fescue is an euphoric experience, which I highly recommend.

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My point is, the more of the good stuff you put in, the less room there is for other things to grow... like clovers, thistle and dandelions (grrrrr).

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But there are other benefits to good lawn care. It is good exercise, and a great way to chat with the neighbors. And since I intend to be a positive contribution to my community, the same rule applies. The more good stuff we sow, the better results we are likely to see on our streets. And less things like litter, rudeness, etc.

agua fresca

Dihydrogen Monoxide. When you look at all the problems (including fatalities) related to it, who would want to create such a potent chemical compound? Let's recap, shall we?

• You can find it in acid rain.
• Scientists use it in animal research.
• Athletes use it to enhance performance. And...
• Now I hear that big food companies are putting this stuff in baby food, too!!

This dangerous chemical compound is more commonly know as H₂0. That´s right... water. It´s all true. Think about it.

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The first time I came across this information, I was watching a bright, young, college "activist- type" gal with a clipboard collecting signatures to ban all use of dihydrogen monoxide. She got lots of signatures. Was it all a joke? I don´t think so.

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I think the people behind DHMO.org are trying to make a point. Just because something has a chemical name, doesn´t mean it is bad. Even if it has lethal potential, that does not necessarily make it bad.

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I got to thinking about this when we were talking about how much I hate dandelions. Herbicides (and especially pesticides) have important information on their warning labels, and these things should be taken into consideration BEFORE purchasing or using them. If I put this stuff on my lawn, what would happen if people walk on it? If it is dangerous to mammals, could it be contained or might it be spread by dogs, squirrels, or birds? If I have anything left over, how could I dispose of it? Do I need to wear gloves? Get the picture?

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I will not take a stand against the use of chemicals. But whether you´re trying to grow healthier flowers or get rid of ants, you gotta read the warning labels.

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Because anything ...EVEN WATER... can be dangerous when it is out of control or misused.

ruined

What a tragedy! The green grass got gobbled up by the greedy gargolyle of the ground. (No, that's not my yard.)