Sub-Net Masking the Water System - Hosery

The Jackson Aerial Aqueduct is not as splendid as this Roman one,
but I can water the entire back yard with soaker hose by turning on one faucet.
Maynard G. Krebs would be so proud, and the birds love me.

We pay tribute to Ancient Rome when we talk about plumbing and plumbers. The name comes from the Latin word for lead, which was used for lining pipes, and the Romans knew about the dangers, even then.

I pay tribute to Cisco, for teaching me sub-net masking in their CCNA course in network engineering. I passed, barely. One network engineer called his work "plumbing with electrons." Reversing that, I sub-net mask with water.

There is one faucet in the front yard, one in the backyard. How can I water everything and still have a hose for the personal touch, such as splashing roses? I was splashing roses this morning and filling various lids at the Jackson Bird Spa.

Most people use a divider on the faucet, to get two different streams of water, each with a shut-off valve. Necessary, but not sufficient, as Notre Dame taught me to say. I add another doubler to one and get three different streams, two for soaker hoses, one for the non-leaking personal hose.

Grackles love water, even more than most birds,
and they destroy insect pests.

Water the Seedlings, Splash the Roses
One reader asked about the new plants. My first mistake in gardening, years ago, was neglecting the seedlings. We are fortunate that we have abundant fresh water to get seeds established.

Earlier we had rain and more rain, so the mulch held the rain and protected the seeds from the early cold. I could probably rely on mulch moisture now, but the beans and carrots are just starting, so I water extra.

My above ground cisterns for rain water are two giant Rubbermaid barrels. The lids are birdbaths, very popular ones at that, because they are so shallow.

The more I appreciate a plant or need a good start (roses, new transplants) the more I hand-water with rain or stored water. I used up almost all the rainwater, which has dissolved nitrogen compounds in it.
Second best is stored water with the chlorine evaporated out.

New roses are not only watered at the base, but also splashed on the canes. In fact, I give roses a shower all the time, no matter how mature they are. The canes respond at once. They seem far more reliant on water on their stems than other plants.

Roses need mulch, watering, and pruning. Neglect any one of the three basic needs and the roses will disappoint. Pruning is nothing more than removing dead wood, crossed canes, and beautiful flowers. The more the flowers are removed, the more the bush produces. I would like an annuity like that.

Tropicana can last two weeks in a vase.

Gardening Makes People Eager To Get Up

Let's roll!
Winter continues in other parts of the country.
We have a severe thunderstorm watch.

Gardening changes our morning outlook.

The first thing I want to see every morning is the Jackson Bird Spa, soon to be expanded to the Jackson Animal Resort and Spa. Two neighbors have concrete blocks, the mother's milk of all construction. Then I can mulch the rest of the area near our bedroom window and bring the food and fun closer all day.

I can see birds on the Jackson EZ Bird Swing before I get out of bed, and they drop over to the feeder just below the swing. Sometimes they eat on the swing afterwards.

Activity on the suet slowed down when I began using large wire baskets to hold chunks from the meat market. The birds are suspicious of something new, so they will be cautious for weeks. Fabric bags get rather messy so they will be retired.

Since I usually wake before birds, I hear the growing chorus as they greet the dawn. A crow caws loudly each day, breaking off when he knows I am around. The largest bird is the most cautious, while the hummingbird will buzz friendly gardeners with a water hose (free bath). Chickadees are likewise just as friend and daring.

When fed and watered, animals have more time for games.

The woodpecker I fed all winter is ratta-tat-tatting on the trees each day. The grackles have established a home in my yard, and the starlings visit with them. Mourning doves and a charm of finches arrive daily.

I look over the needs of various plants and opportunities to transplant. I realized the wild strawberries are natural for easy growing, shade tolerance, and critter feeding. They also make an attractive ground cover around trees. The dead tree had ragweed ground cover last summer. We covered that with Jackson Mulch in the fall. Now we have honeysuckle vine and wild strawberries growing the in the wood mulch, a more attractive alternative.

Gardeners have more birds because the best growing habits foster bird feeding and bathing. A bush dripping water is also a safe shower stall for small birds. The aerial aqueduct is handy for larger birds above and below the soaker hose on the fence. I have eight or more dishes of various depths for their drinking and bathing. They get clean refills almost daily.

Robins look at me while I water roses the way Sassy looks at me while grilling. They expect to be fed soon, and they often feed a few feet away, grabbing a fat worm while I watch. Should I be taking notes? More worms? More water?

Trumpet vine - nectar and insects.

Mrs. Ichabod began laughing when I said I was moving the mulch closer to the bedroom window. She pictured a rug pulled by the corners. I said, "No," glaring for even more amusement, "I will put down a bigger layer over all the grass in the area. The birds will feed and bathe closer." She was still laughing so I added, "They do most of the insect work in the garden."

She objected, "But they poop all over."

I rebutted the objection - "At least they give the food back."

This morning we had two baby squirrels on the ledge feeding. They do not mind us watching from a few inches away. When they left, the finches arrived since that feeder caters to them with thistle (niger) and hulled sunflower seeds. Suet hangs from the feeder, so starlings are bound to come by at various times.