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littlebug · 14-02-2011 12:18pm

Everything that I had growing along my back garden wall bar an elderberry and a pyracantha has died... it's all being chainsawed out as I type:( I'd put a hell of a lot of work into that back wall. Back to the drawing board.

Feargal as Luimneach · 14-02-2011 4:34pm

littlebug wrote: »

Everything that I had growing along my back garden wall bar an elderberry and a pyracantha has died... it's all being chainsawed out as I type:( I'd put a hell of a lot of work into that back wall. Back to the drawing board.

Put in native plants. The cold won't kill them:)

littlebug · 14-02-2011 5:50pm

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

Put in native plants. The cold won't kill them:)

Well there will probably be ivy and honeysuckle for a start. I need to bear in mind that it's a small garden so I need to maintain play space!
We also have a side bit that we don't really use much.... I've been looking at your wildlife garden thread for inspiration :cool:

stupidusername · 14-02-2011 9:30pm

littlebug wrote: »

I had a wolfhound when I was growing up. He was the biggest softest sap of a dog ever When he died my father got his friend with a digger to dig his grave in the field. Neighbours came to his funeral. Sigh

We also had a turkey that thought he was a dog.

I love wolfhounds! how long did he live?

I haven't got any dogs or pets. still think of my little rescue dog as mine though... little reggie. miss him

Ditch · 14-02-2011 10:47pm

" Dingo "

So called simply because he looks like one. And no body's really certain what he is.

Believe it or not though, there's every reason to believe he's half Bull Mastiff. Never think it, to look at him. But, the dick who bred him ~ then wanted to kill him ~ said so. And kept BM's. I've also seen extremely similar looking Dogs elsewhere. BM crosses.

Best thing about " le Ding " here is just that no body knows quite what the hell he is. What we don't know, we can't get an easy handle on.

Result? He scares the living daylights out of just about Everyone who comes to my gate. Charging and bouncing on his chain. What if he got off??? They don't know. Because they don't know what he is!

I've had 'certain types' turn up here aplenty. I meet them at the gate and question them as to their business. They give me their flannel, eyes never once leaving Dingo Dog. And, to a man, they Always have to ask me; " What is That?! "

'Funny' Dog too, le Ding. My mate was round here one time. le Ding was free in the room. Mate went to pat him on the head, as Ding sat there ..... Yunk!!!

Now he knows to beware of the Yellow Peril

littlebug · 14-02-2011 10:55pm

stupidusername wrote: »

I love wolfhounds! how long did he live?

There's a question... at a guess 7 or 8 years. It's a while ago

That doesn't seem old but I think is normal enough for a wolfhound.

stupidusername · 14-02-2011 10:57pm

littlebug wrote: »

There's a question... at a guess 7 or 8 years. It's a while ago That doesn't seem old but I think is normal enough for a wolfhound.

yeah I suppose they probably wouldn't live to much longer on average. I love wolfhounds! would love to have one.

whyulittle · 15-02-2011 8:54pm

Just found a tiny little brown ladybird on my leg. Can only assume it got on me when putting up the nest boxes, even though I've changed since.

Almost had a bad ending (for both of us).

Think small brown ladybird, bad eyesight, dinner time, lasagne, brown mince......

whyulittle · 16-02-2011 10:16am

3B3B9EB0BDB44DDFB86854A5E7AD817E-0000315944-0002167014-00800L-73B45127529A44889FDABCB0A57CFFF8.jpg

On a 10 cent coin.

I hope it's just a normal harmless one, because it got away from me!

Mothman · 16-02-2011 10:27am

whyulittle wrote: »

On a 10 cent coin.

I hope it's just a normal harmless one, because it got away from me!

That's a 10-spot ladybird I believe the pattern at the head is diagnostic.

If it was about same size or a little larger than the 7 spot ladybird that most of us know then Harlequin Ladybird would need to be considered. In this case size rules out Harlequin.

Bagmagnet · 16-02-2011 7:13pm

Just after learning of Fine Gael's promise to reverse the ban on stag hunting. Not a chance they're getting a vote from me now.

Ditch · 17-02-2011 2:31am

Then, let's discover how best to encourage ivy ~ aside from having an Ash tree!

(Mod note- relevant text copied over from the Nestbox thread)

littlebug · 19-02-2011 1:11pm

Out walking this morning me and my monster met small dogs...

87B00E215232454EA6759A7FB774A45A-0000331913-0002174688-00500L-1AEDA8CF4E754E57BF9ABD327620F22E.jpg

...and big dogs..

EA2D9ACC8BC94C7E85F98DB2AE89C67F-0000331913-0002174689-00500L-302F1DE9346C4E98B6AB613C97CF5C81.jpg

and all sorts in between and she didn't try to kill any of them

We really have come a long way

Mothman · 19-02-2011 2:09pm

Wow LB, but be careful of labels, your little terrier might start to believe it is a monster and start to act it again.

Spring in the air today. 100s of frogs, Bumble Bees in flight....

artieanna · 20-02-2011 3:10am

Ditch re the ivy....v easy to grow... take cuttings around 5/10ins long make a nice angle cut / put them in a pot or direct in the ground where you want it to grow (pull any grass weeds from around it) and let it off..

Soot is great fertilizer for any green foliage plant full of nitrogen, spread a fistful of it around the base of plants.

I always add a few more cuttings than I need, Just in case of any failures..

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 20-02-2011 10:03am

Just on the use of soot:Fresh soot is caustic and can be used as
a soil fumigant to destroy insects and slugs (not that any of us nature lovers would want to). For use as a fertilizer
it is best stored in the dry for three or four months first.

Ditch · 20-02-2011 4:30pm

Cheers, peeps. Now, this talk of 'soot' got me thinking. In fact, it just got me thinking again about something that quite often passes through my mind.

See, I'm no Gardener. But, I've known people who were. And I'm pretty sure I remember one guy (OK, we're talking fifty years ago here! The memory fades!

) who certainly put tea leaves on his flower beds. Only, I can't be 100% Certain he really put coal ash, from his fire place on them too.

And that leads me to further questions; Like, can burned coal ashes be considered / treated as soot?

How about turf ash? Wood ash? Union Nugget ash? Is there any great difference in all these by products of the stove? What can ~ or shouldn't ~ we do with them?

Personally, I've spent the past few years throwing my turf ash onto my horses manure heap. It makes up a minuscule percentage of what goes on there. I'm taking it that's OK. I'd wonder about coal ash though

Delighted to hear ye views and ideas. It'd put my mind at rest, 'Knowing' what I can put on the dung heap.

Wonder if any of this could be put on the pastures, come to that? Any of it good for grass ~ without bothering my horses?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 20-02-2011 11:01pm

Depending on the type of wood, the ash may contain five to eight percent potash, one percent phosphate and trace amounts of micro-nutrients such as iron, manganese, boron, copper and zinc.

On the other hand, wood ash may be detrimental to some soils because of its effect on the soil chemistry. When applied to the soil, it acts much like limestone by raising the pH or alkalinity of the soil. Unlike limestone, however, wood ash has high water solubility and works more quickly to change the soil pH. This may cause a problem in many gardens that tend to have a naturally high soil pH. Wood ashes should not be applied around acid-loving plants. They should also be used at a rate of no more than 20lb to 1000sq ft.

Coal ash is to be avoided as it may contain dangerous trace elements that may get into food you are growing.

Turf ash, I believe is similar to Wood ash but lower in nutrients.

Ditch · 20-02-2011 11:22pm

Hmm. Coal then is, as I suspected, out the window. (Visions of the Welsh 'Slag Heaps'. Nasty)

Wood / Turf ash though? Sounds to me like a bit more alkalinity may not be a bad thing. Could that not potentially help retard Juncus Rush?

Heh! Can anything retard that stuff? I read a study; They reckoned a herd of goats, penned in on juncus could destroy the stuff.

This ~ they said ~ was because of the different 'eating' action of goats. Cows, horses, sheep did what ever they do. But, goats " wrenched ", thus damaging the stem and blah, blah.

Know what I did? I spent an entire summer, crawling around on my hands and knees. Physically wrenching the juncus off an entire acre of land. Ripped it all away. By hand. Made out I was a herd of hungry goats.

Year or two later and ye'd never know I did it :mad: Complete waste of effort.

My neighbour? He " Licks " his. Rolls it with a carpet covered roller. dripping with some chemical. Frankly, I see no difference. Maybe it'd be hellish worse if he didn't? Dunno.

Can one get rid of juncus? A few fields I know, not a million miles away, have been " ReSeeded " and are now lush, green grass. I've done my best here. But, five years down the line and there's still more than enough rush on my would be pasture.

Mothman · 20-02-2011 11:32pm

Didn't know there was any such thing as penning in goats. Its why I have cows, the goats are not pennable

As for rushes...wet = rushes.
Get rid of the wet and then you may succeed in getting rid of the rushes..hardly practical though....

Ditch · 21-02-2011 12:14am

MM; Goats can be penned / fenced in. The Kiwi's sussed it out to perfection. But, yes, granted; For us mortals? are 'practically' impossible to contain.

I've watched one of mine walking under the mains Cow Fence. Sparks flying. Hair and flesh sizzling. He didn't have a care in the world!

Getting rid of the wet? Be real! We're in Eire! It's wet, full stop!

Seriously though; My pasture's on an incline. But, the field below it is a nightmare. As was my one, when I took it over. Donkey took it from knee deep, Japanese soldiers could be in there, no space between the stuff 98% Juncus.

Some goats did what ever they did ~ and plenty more carnage to balance any possible good. Never again :rolleyes:

Now it's just my " Horses ". Donks, the original donkey. And my Rosie; Gypsy Cob. Rosie's too crafty to feast on much juncus and I suspect she's teaching Donks that 'the idiot will come through' for them.

Meanwhile, the idiot harbours (pipe?) dreams of getting the damn place Mole Ploughed and / or laying in some of the yellow pipe.

Just not sure how much good either would do. Lot of money and hard work involved. I've burned myself once already. See above

Meanwhile; Eat ye hearts out! Look at this scrap of newspaper I found under some old lino here. It dates, as I recall, just from the seventies! Get the prices!!!

If Only!!!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 21-02-2011 11:37am

From Ecology and management of Juncus effusus (soft rush)BOGFOR Research Programme M. J. McCorry and Florence Renou :-

J. effusus is relatively easy to control using a variety of mowing and herbicide applications, along with land improvement (drainage).

A bit of alkaline ash won't do the job. If the drainage is bad then the Ph, while a contributing factor, is only one of the secondary factors supporting Juncuc effusus.

Goats will do the mowing but not improve the drainage.

magicbastarder · 26-02-2011 8:37pm

artieanna wrote: »

Soot is great fertilizer for any green foliage plant full of nitrogen, spread a fistful of it around the base of plants.

does coal soot have any of the drawbacks associated with coal ash?

trebor28 · 27-02-2011 12:19am

anyone know if you can upload an mp3 to boards??

or would you have to upload to youtube and then post in a link?

littlebug · 27-02-2011 12:39am

trebor28 wrote: »

anyone know if you can upload an mp3 to boards??

or would you have to upload to youtube and then post in a link?

I think you can try uploading it as a zip file.

It didn't work for me one time I tried but that could've been just my inept-ness.

trebor28 · 27-02-2011 1:00am

here goes nothing.

attached is a zipped file of what i think is two birds flying over head one night around midnight. was recorded on my mobile so quality isnt that good.

thanks littlebug.

LostCovey · 27-02-2011 2:53am

trebor28 wrote: »

here goes nothing.

attached is a zipped file of what i think is two birds flying over head one night around midnight. was recorded on my mobile so quality isnt that good.

thanks littlebug.

I think those are Oystercatcher contact calls

LostCovey

johngalway · 27-02-2011 3:32am

Rushes are a war of attrition. Agree with drainage. I'd mow them, then depending on sensibilities spray or lick/wipe (from at least two directions) with suitable herbicide.

This'll be popular comment here but to be rid of rushes, as well as destroying the weed itself, you need to destroy it's habitat, and that is wet.

You already know how many seeds they produce, and how long those seeds live in the soil.

I've opened many drains on my farm and have the plans of a DIY rickshaw weedlicker floating about in my head, terrain not really vehicle friendly... If I had vehicles for it to be friendly with.

trebor28 · 27-02-2011 11:47am

LostCovey wrote: »

I think those are Oystercatcher contact calls

LostCovey

may well be LC, but what would be doing this far inland? im counties away from the coast!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 27-02-2011 8:25pm

Osytercatchers often flock and indeed nest inland.

Mothman · 01-03-2011 9:01pm

Despite the frost, the last 2 days of sunshine is good for the soul and Spring is upon us.

whyulittle · 01-03-2011 9:16pm

Have seen a good few bees about, and a butterfly yesterday.

Did I ever mention I really dislike butterflies? And moths of course! :eek:

Mothman · 01-03-2011 9:24pm

whyulittle wrote: »

Have seen a good few bees about, and a butterfly yesterday.

Did I ever mention I really dislike butterflies? And moths of course! :eek:

No :eek:
How could you?

I've come across dislike of moths...creatures flying in the night etc but I don't recall anyone with a dislike for butterflies...

Saw Small Tortoisehell yesterday.

whyulittle · 01-03-2011 9:33pm

Yeah 'fraid so. They're just big colourful moths to me!

littlebug · 02-03-2011 12:05am

saw my first (HUGE) bumblebee in the garden today.
It's lovely to see activity starting again.

whyulittle · 02-03-2011 1:24am

I was down by the River Shannon yesterday, beside some reeds. There was something in them, making a sound that can only be described like a hammer, hitting down on metal. A real kind of high pitched, dink, dink.

Any ideas?!

johngalway · 02-03-2011 10:52am

whyulittle wrote: »

I was down by the River Shannon yesterday, beside some reeds. There was something in them, making a sound that can only be described like a hammer, hitting down on metal. A real kind of high pitched, dink, dink.

Any ideas?!

Eh, there is a type of pump that can work underwater. No motors or anything, just needs water to fall into it, then it pumps something like 10% of the water that falls into it, uses the waters weight to work. Maybe that, but I don't know why it'd be put in reeds. Can't for the life of me think of it's name.

Mothman · 02-03-2011 11:01am

Ram pump,

shouldn't be making that kind of noise though, no metal on metal parts.

johngalway · 02-03-2011 11:07am

Mothman wrote: »

Ram pump,

shouldn't be making that kind of noise though, no metal on metal parts.

Videos of them on YouTube for the OP to compare.

ppink · 04-03-2011 10:56am

did anyone see Dermot O Neills show on RTE last night?

thought it was very good, walled garden was fab!

littlebug · 08-03-2011 10:28am

I'm loving that we're starting to talk about bees and swallows and all things spring again. Now if we could just get this promised cold snap out of the way and let it start properly :cool:

stupidusername · 08-03-2011 8:00pm

yeah it's great to see the chases on between the birds

all of them flying about with sticks in their mouths!

Mothman · 10-03-2011 2:38pm

Hold onto your hat/wig/insert what's appropriate day today!

littlebug · 10-03-2011 3:22pm

Never mind my wig :pac: I just had trouble keeping my car on the right ( I mean left) side of the road :eek:

johngalway · 10-03-2011 4:15pm

Wish it'd warm up a little, there was ice/sleet in the showers here today. People keep talking of a white Paddys day.

No. Thank. You.

littlebug · 10-03-2011 5:43pm

I got sunburnt on Paddy's day 2003!

johngalway · 10-03-2011 6:12pm

littlebug wrote: »

I got sunburnt on Paddy's day 2003!

:pac: Herself got sunburnt a few days ago. She's notorious for it!

2003... was that the year it got to 19 degrees in Feb? Think it was Feb, I remember doing draining on the farm and it was hot for the time of year.

Mothman · 10-03-2011 6:51pm

I'd say you're thinking March 05. 19C was widespread and above 20C in places.

16C is about as high as it gets in Feb, though the overall record is 18.1C

stupidusername · 11-03-2011 2:25pm

I wonder if the supposed upcoming cold snap is going to affect the birds at all.

I like going to and coming back from work, i work in a residential area and it's full of wildlife. collared doves sitting on wires at the entrance, blackbirds hopping about just outside. and of course my little wood pigeon whose calls i can hear down the chimney of the building, sounds like he's in the room with me

mymo · 11-03-2011 7:38pm

Went walking the dogs at the river today and not 6 feet away was a Kingfisher:)
I only ever see them from a distance, a little flash of blue, it was so beautiful and sat still for about 5 seconds (flew off as I got the phone out from under the many layers for a pic).
Even though I got soaked and cold, I was very happy after that.:D

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