June 7, 2025
by dhoytt
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Gardens 2025 Progression

Summer is progressing and posting some pics of the flower and vegetable gardens .

Note that the experiment of the 3 sisters planting of corn, beans and squash is thriving.

My annual calla lilies are popping big in the front flower gardens. My dahlia replanted bulbs I separated from being clustered some are popping up at varied rates. I had counted 40 bulbs I separated initially. The large cluster of dahlia bulbs were also on the general area of the calla lilies so moving that cluster helped the lilies and the dahlias it appears.

The new comers of alyssum, lavender, lobelia and mini red rose flowers are coming along. The same for the new backyard flower beds.

Tomatoes doing good along with the various herbs like basil sweet ,Thai and purple. Greek oregano, chamomile, dill, tarragon and the surprising nice and flavorful pineapple sage are doing great. Parsley, lemon grass, chives, lavender I planted with the vegetables are thriving as well, along with the huge rosemary bushes I need to trim back. The cilantro isn’t thriving.

As I mentioned the corn is thriving in the 3 sisters configuration. The “peaches and cream “ corn variety are much further along than the jubilee variety showing full husks with silk out the top. The pole beans are long and growing while the squash blooms look good.

Broccoli and cabbage don’t look well and only one sunflower plant came up from some old seeds I had. I may grow some in pots and replant. I see no okra from seeds.

Tomatoes are looking good red husky cherry, yellow pear I have been using are going well. The beef steak, celebrity, parks wonder are producing fruit. Granny Cantrell heirloom tomatoes looks good.

Swiss chard always grows well, the tomatillos are really taking off!

Eggplants are in that state they get when they will soon start producing, the cucumbers, peas are doing well and starting growing spurts. Trying my hand with watermelons again but that doesn’t normally work well for me.

Replanted asparagus for the first time since I inadvertently dug them up years ago. They are growing though I planted later than I wanted so we will see.

The peppers have started producing with the Santa Fe, Fresno, poblano, mammoth jalapeños, Thai dragon leading the way. The bell peppers Anaheim look steady. The reapers from last year don’t show signs of growth.

I don’t see any signs my carrots coming up from old seeds.

Raspberry and grape vines are growin like mad with lots of grape clusters showing already.

All in all another good year of gardening! Also my grass strips look so good! Glad I never went with artificial turf like I started to do!

Cherry tomatoes, basil and Swiss chard I made into taco toppings.
Front flower beds.
Front flower bed showing calla lilies.
New this year backyard flower gardens.
Backyard flower garden near west vegetable garden.
Grass strip and another new this year flower bed in backyard.
Cluster grapes on grape vine.
West vegetable garden.
East vegetable garden.
Three sisters part of garden of pole beans, jubilee corn, peaches and cream corn and squash with peas mixed in.

May 17, 2025
by dhoytt
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Updated the Web Server OS Patches WordPress SSL Certificate

I updated the Rocky Linux 9.x OS of the web server with the latest patches as well as the CMS WordPress and plugins to the latest versions.

Also updated the relay servers that serve up the ShoutCast and IceCast streams you listen to that run on Fedora Linux. Updated the W2019 server OS as well that hosts the music.

Then realized I also need to update my SSL website and streaming certificates. After reboot of which stops and restarts the services it came up with the certificate errors. Just pulled down the updates certificates from GoDaddy and put them in place and pointed to them properly by editing the ssl web file and restarting the services and voila.

A lot to do when I just planned on some quick OS updates while I picked some music to play on Snakeice’s House of Beats. Glad I did as I hadn’t gotten or missed the reminder to update my site SSL certificates.

May 4, 2025
by dhoytt
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Use of Garden Vegetables in Breakfast

The garden produces and inspires different uses in dishes and exploration.

I always have Swiss chard as it grows yearly for me in Northern California. Took that and some early growth peas, cherry tomatoes with chives, cilantro, basil and peppermint sage sautéed put over a potato patty. Avocado not from the garden teamed with my homemade bacon and eggs.

This will now be a staple of mine for breakfast!

May 1, 2025
by dhoytt
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Gardens Coming Alive 2025

Flower and vegetable gardens growing well so far!

East part of vegetable lawn plus part of new flower garden bed.
West lawn part of vegetable garden.
Walkway and front lawn flower gardens.
Morning dew on rose.

Morning dew on roses and leaves.

April 17, 2025
by dhoytt
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Chamomile Tea From Garden

Made some early season chamomile tea after accidentally pulling off a small portion while weeding my vegetable garden this evening.

Normally I mix different herbs but it’s early to pull most herbs in my garden. This mistake was soothing and had a distinct flavor I like. I did sweeten it with a touch of Blue Agave but wish I didn’t.

Chamomile tea, what a nice evening sip!

April 13, 2025
by dhoytt
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New Fertilizer Delivery System Vegetable Garden

Trying the Chapin 16 oz Hydro Feed fertilizer injector in my vegetable gardens. Trying to use more organic fertilizer plus have other options if needed. The Miracle Grow system was nice but only can use their fertilizer and one version of their liquid fertilizer.

Thinking this will help my soils PH levels as well plus can use different fertilizer sources at different times of the growing season.

Trying different ways things but will also use other measures to bring my soil PH level up and make sure other nutrients are available for the plants.

The Miracle Grow fertilizer injectors after more than a decade of usage was also leaking.

For now I will keep a couple of Miracle Grow liquid delivery systems I had in packages unused on my new flower beds and monitor all systems.

Old Miracle Grow system.
New Chapin fertilizer injector west side vegetable garden.
Chapin fertilizer injector east side of garden.

March 30, 2025
by dhoytt
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New Flower Garden Plots

Finally finished the new gardens/plots for the backyard. I get to use my final sprinkler zone again finally I put in anticipation of something like this 18 years ago. Always plan ahead!

Besides added scenery the flowers will complement my vegetables. That’s specifically why I picked the marigolds and alyssum. I just love roses so they will bring aesthetics and bees as well. I have lavender already but may add more of that or another variety later.

I started this a few other times over the years but the logistics of the small areas in my yard and other projects stopped me.

Flower pots didn’t work because they also brought things hanging off of them and additional maintenance. Plus more shade.

I placed a single rose midway on each fence line surrounded by marigolds and alyssum. I did the same next to the vegetable gardens removing portions of grass being careful not to hit the grass sprinklers.

I put a new 3 x 6 foot raised garden next to the patio on the east side. I placed four rose plants in that garden plus more marigolds and alyssum.

For the smaller flower placements I went down an additional 6 inches but not in the 3 x 6 space. The ground soil is so compressed that I filled my organic waste to the top and it had to weigh a couple hundred pounds. I recalled removing soil to put in my grass years ago and getting rid of that compressed soil took several truck loads.

Construction companies compress soils for foundation stabilization. They also I believe take the good top soil for growing plants unfortunately.

Tested the new watering zone and drip system in that zone and everything is working great!

I have two rose plants in the 3 x 6 area that have very dry roots and I left them in bad shape over this last year thinking I would get to this project last year. I have done this before and the roses came up and became my favorite and best producing roses in the front yard to this day. I hope the same happens this time.

Now time to make some changes to the front rose gardens and clear the backyard for the year of unwanted items!

Flowers midway down fence line on west side.
Flowers next to vegetable garden on west fence line.
Flowers next to vegetable garden on eastern fence line.
Flowers midway down the fence line on the eastern side.
3 x 6 raised garden next to the patio on the eastern side of the fence line.

March 22, 2025
by dhoytt
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Ducks on the Pool

These ducks have shown up a few times this time of the season the past several years. Have no idea how this got on their migration radar. Other pool owners in the area have similar occurrences.

Comes the same day I will be doing more chlorine to account for my garden dirt though.

March 16, 2025
by dhoytt
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Smoked Leg of Lamb

Smoked a leg of lamb Sunday and it was better than expected! Brined for about a week unexpectedly due to a busy schedule then slow smoked at 225 degrees Fahrenheit.

Covered with garlic and rosemary in ghee butter took it to 138 degrees. Was so tender and not gamey at all. Was like a prime rib roast of a veal .

I will be cooking a leg of lamb like this again for sure!