Looking good annpat :) I just have two raised beds for veggies and have yet to add any compost mulch (but I will). The majority goes to my perennial gardens which consists of hostas and other shade tolerant plants.

My problem is, I only cold compost anymore and throw just about anything and everything in the pile which results in a lot of tree and weed seeds. Somebody called me a lazy gardener, well i guess it's true.

Yes, that's been a problem with that onion bed. Beech trees sprouting and disrupting everything. If I called you a lazy gardener, I apologize. I thought I called you a lazy composter, which I had to retract.

Looks delicious. And why aren't your peas ravaged by weevils and birds? That's just not fair.

annpat - No problem, the older i get the lazier I get, gardening and composting. Some days I just don't have the gumption to do what needs getting done. I have been screening some compost for mulch & soil addative.

Losing gumption. Who saw what coming? If I sit completely still, though, I feel perfectly normal. I haven't touched my actual gardens yet---only deck and dock planters and those two raised beds. I've lost so much gumption, the weeds can sense it, and they have taken advantage of it. I tried to turn the yard into anything that did not involve mowing thirty years ago, but I've always had to battle weeds on one front or another. I'm almost losing the battle I'm afraid. I have all the worst weeds, but I was always able to confine them to one bowl-like space. Somehow last year, they made it past the cardboard/wood chip paths. Everything I need to do seems very daunting---not impossible---but less easy.

flora, my birds are more interested in tossing my (compost) mulch high in the air, than they are eating my peas. My peas are looking pretty, I thought. I waay overplanted them, plus I threw in a handful of some "highly fragrant", blue, sweet pea seeds. I can't see any difference in the plants yet, which surprises me. When the peas get to the top of the cattle fencing, I'm going to weave upright birch whips into the grid to get some more height then I'm going to attach purple clover, buttercups and daisies to the tops of the whips---like it's Sweden or something.

I don't think I've ever had a problem with peas other than leaf miners, but unfair? ...sputter... Unfair is having to plant plants in window boxes today one-handed so the other hand could smack at the black flies and mosquitoes on my legs and neck.

Unfair? I live in the only state host to a caterpillar whose released body hairs waft through the air and cause susceptible people such as myself to get a horrible rash similar to poison ivy. My doctor asked if she could photograph my brown-tail moth rash last June. I saw my first two of them of the year today, and I was filled with fear. I went to the house to get a container with soapy water to drown them, and I saw something black on my ankle---a tick.

I get notification when words such as no account, lazy, gumption and low down are used on this forum. I apologize for slamming the door when I came in ,,,,,,,well I was upset but I'm ok now. (;

Now about those zoo-zoo flies,skeeters and ticks. I only use pesticides as last resort and in a way to least impact non-target creatures. For several years I've used a chemical equally effective and more convenient than Deet products.

Gordon's Permethrin 10 Livestock and Premise Insecticide Spray, 8 ozItem # 221287399

$12

I get it at TractorSupply Co. It is 10% Permethrin which I dilute 1 Part in 9 parts water. That's almost 3 quarts which lasts me two seasons. What I;m doing is off label use but you can look at Sawer Insect Repellent for directions and reviews of active ingredient.

Aside from spending $50 for same protection with Deet, I like the convenience. I treat leg and arm cuffs of my jumpsuit, dedicated hat and ball cap. In addition I keep a pair of socks for chiggers when I don't wear my onesies. Wash and line dried garments don't require retreatment before 10 washes (6 washes if tumble dried. )

I would have to reapply Deet 2 or 3 times on long days so this is much easier. After I'm cleaned up to go out in public,visiting or expecting guests, it's handy to slip on garment(s) for a quick outdoor chore instead of foregoing protection or spraying Deet. Lawn furniture, shade sails and such are naturals for treatment.

I'm so glad we don't have such voracious bugs in my area. I only use a repellant when I go abroad.

Should we put a care package together for floral ?

I can donate 2 colonies of Fire Ants and a thimble of chiggers (aprox 10k count). What say you old-dirt, think some biting insects might go a long way tamping down floral's gumption? (;

That's very thoughtful. But please don't put yourselves to any trouble.

Ok floral I'll set them aside for wus pups that complain about bunnies digging in their compost.

Yes klem14 - I can definitely donate a slew of ticks throw in some skeeters for good measure, if i can get the "gumption" to round them up.