Sam Birner Agrees about the Toxicity of Martin Luther College WELS

http://lovetearsskirtsandfears.blogspot.com/2015/05/heres-things-ichabod-got-wrong-about.html

I do agree with one thing. Those pictures of people pretending to be gay and cross-dressing and all of that? I agree, that should’ve never been done. I saw it everywhere, even in talent shows and other school sanctioned shows. And it was an awful idea.

Not because it “promoted” any LGBT stuff, because it made us terrified. Because we were made to be jokes. We were made to be mocked, laughed at, ridiculed, and totally dismissed. We weren’t offered comfort, we were offered mocking. That’s where it was, behind the mocking. So I agree, where was the help? Cause I sure as hell didn’t see it.

Watering Rules -

Starlings are ferocious bug eaters.

Rainwater is best, so store it in barrels. I catch mine by placing large Rubbermaid barrels where the rain runs off the roof.

Stored water is second best, because the chlorine evaporates out. I fill a barrel when the rainwater runs out.

Both kinds of water should be used regularly for struggling roses and new plants. Soak newly arrived bare root roses in rainwater or stored water - several hours at least.

Lots of dishes of water will attract a wide variety of birds, and water is their favorite treat. I put some dishes under the soaker hose for automatic refills. Regular cleaning is essential.

Jackson Mulch stores water, reduces wind evaporation, and helps spread the water around when sprinkling. Moist mulch is bird and soil creature food.

Water longer and less often. When water penetrates the soil, the roots go deeper and the plant is healthier. Too much shallow watering is bad for most plants.

Soaker hose is ideal for many watering chores, but rose canes also like to be watered, especially when newly planted.

A great hose head is a good investment because it delivers water in various ways, and does not dribble on the legs and feet. Mine has wings that turn it into a perfect sprinkler.

Every plant likes a complete shower. Roses are especially receptive because their canes  are more water absorbent and more likely to lose water, hindering growth.

Doubling the water with a divider at the faucet head is very handy. Two doublers can make three streams available.

Do not be stingy with watering new seeds and plants. Germinating seeds are needy for water, even when they are seedlings. Those cute little potted plants should be soaked for an hour at least before planting, but also watered daily after planting. If the soil is dry around the wet plant, the dry soil will wick the water away.

Another Dire Warning from the Landscaper - An Earwig Invasion

"Come to kill us all!"

We have had earwigs in the house since we moved to Springdale. The back pincers are used by males to spar with each other. They might pinch someone, but that is rare. They head inside for the weather, as slugs and earthworms do. They like wet places.

I find their invasions to be short-term and minor. Their strange name comes from the fear that they will go after human ears in the dark. But they are scavengers who feed on insects and plant material.
Birds and spiders will eat them, so why kill the bird food outside?

The earwig mothers protect their eggs and newborn, so think of that on Mother's Day.

One solution to the problem is nurturing the predators who trap and eat earwigs. Spiders are the great destroyers of tiny insects, but people respond to them this way -

Birds are the close air support of the garden, so I fill their baths twice a day and feed them at least once. Suet is always in the baskets and bags and refilled by the pound.

One grumpy clerk at Walmart asked me, "Are you still feeding your birds? We quit. They were messing up my beans - those black birds." She meant starlings. I said, "You should feed them more."
Her mind was made up.

This morning I filled about 12 birdbaths with fresh water and put out the new seed, a delicious mixture of sunflowers, corn, and nuts. When I came inside and looked out the window, all the birds were zooming in.

They began bathing and feeding at once.

We had three neighborhood girls, sisters, come over for some Avon business their mother does. Mrs. Ichabod invited the girls to watch the feeder, which is a few inches from the bedroom window. Beautiful goldfinches landed and fed, as close as anyone could wish. The birds are all used to us being around, moving near the window, and watching.

They earn their keep in food and water. Insect pests, I see a tiny bit of damage here and there, nothing more.