Wildlife, Seedlings & Garden Marker Test

February is a slow month for gardening.  The ground is frozen and covered with snow.  The skies have been a hazy grey for weeks.  Cabin fever is setting in.  Despite the oppressive weather, I have managed to keep busy doing a bit of this and that.  I have recorded these bits here...

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

PART 1: Tracking the Wildlife in My Yard

 
Mindful of the fact that gardens are important for the support of wildlife, I decided to track how many species of animal I can observe in my small yard this year.  (Our yard is approximately 40ft x 160ft (12.2m x 48.8m).)  I am not trying to track the total number of animals, but only the number of species.  This is because it is hard to tell if I am seeing the same animal over and over, or several of them coming and going (especially with regard to birds). So far, I have noted 10 different species since January 1, 2017.  I think this is a fair number of creatures considering the harsh winter weather and small size of the land being observed.  The species I spotted are as follows:

1. Humans (Homo sapien) - (My husband and I)
2. Dog (Canis domesticus) - (Snickers)
3. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolopholus bicolor)
4. Chickadee (Poecile atracapillus)
5. House Sparrows (Passer domesticus)
6. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

Nuthatch (Sitta caroliensis)

7. Nuthatch (Sitta caroliensis)
8. Black squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
9. House Finch (Haemorhous meixcanus)
10. European Starling (Sternus vulgaris)




I spotted most of these at the bird feeder.  It is fun to watch the birds flit around.  I have also been recording my sightings on the "eBird Cornell Ornithology" website at http://www.ebird.com.  I hope to take part in The 2017 Great Backyard Bird Count from 2/17/17 to 2/20/17, and to record more sightings throughout the year. However, I look forward to finding more than birds once the weather warms up. I am hoping to see a great variety of insects, arachnids and mammals. 

House Finch (Haemorhous meixcanus)

PART 2: Starting Seedlings
    

Every year, I start my first set of seedlings in February.   With regard to vegetables, I start peppers, rhubarb and eggplant first.  The reason for this is that each of these plants benefits and produces more with a longer growing season.   By starting them early, I am giving them a jump start on the season, and have a better chance at greater production throughout the season.  The peppers that I started this year are: California wonder (bell pepper), Anaheim pepper, Hungarian sweet pepper, Scotch bonnet, ancho, jalapeno and cayenne.  I am growing the eggplant 'Black Beauty' and rhubarb 'Victoria.'

In addition to vegetables, I am starting some annuals and perennials this year.  I plan to work on the shaded garden in my front yard this summer and wanted to supply some plants for that area.  For that reason, I started: red valerian (Centranthus ruber) , common valerian (Valeriana officinalis), wood betony (Stachys officionalis), coleus (Plectranthus) , and stocks (Matthiola incana & Matthiola longipetola).  I am starting some plants to put in pots around the deck as well. These include: Scented geraniums (Pelargoniums), blue pimpernel (Anagallis monellii), cosmos and toothache plant (Spilanthes oleracea).  

Of these plants, I am most excited to grow the common valerian and the toothache plant.  Both of these are considered herbs and are useful in different ways.  The valerian not only grows well in shade, but the roots have traditionally been used as a sedative or sleep aid.  While I don't plan to use them this way, it is nice to know that I have such a useful plant on hand.  On the other hand, I do plan to use the toothache plant.  This is an edible plant that causes temporary tingling in the mouth when chewed.  This should make for an interesting culinary experience. I look forward to trying them.

Part 3: Garden Marker Test

 I decided to do a not-so-scientific comparison of various permanent markers to see which type works best for marking plant tags in the garden.  I chose to test 3 markers with marketing claims that they stand up to weather and UV light.  For comparison, I am testing their ink along side ink from a regular sharpie and lines drawn by a standard #2 pencil.  The brands I am testing are: 1. Sharpie Pro,  2. Artline Garden Marker, and 3. Inkzall Industrial Marker. 

I thought it would be good to start with a price comparison of the markers.  All prices listed below are based on what Amazon.com is charging for each item in February 2017:

                                                                                                                                                   

Price:

• Artline Garden Marker costs $4.50 per marker.
• Inkzall Industrial Marker costs $3.95 per marker.
• Sharpie Pro Marker costs $2.49 per marker.
• A standard Sharpie costs $2.79 for a pack of 2, working out to $1.39 each.
•  A standard #2 pencil costs about $4 for about 30 pencils working out to about $0.13 each.

First impressions: 

Each of the markers seems to write well and clearly when first purchased.  

The Artline Garden Marker is the easiest to hold, and is about the same width as a standard pen. It also has a finder tip than the other two markers, although not as fine as a pencil or pen. 

The Inkzall is nice because it has a chiseled tip.  This allows the choice between making a thick line or a thin one.  However, it would be easy for someone who was not paying close attention to accidentally draw a wide line when they want a thin one or visa versa. 

The sharpie pro is a bit awkward to write with because it has a larger diameter than the other markers.  The tip is also wider than the other markers, making it more difficulty to draw a thin line than with the other two types.  

Testing:

To see which marker holds up to the weather best, I drew lines from each on wooden shims, plastic plant markers and a metal plant marker.  I drew either 3 lines or 3 x's on each of the types of plant labels.  I then put them in a pot and placed them on sunny south-east facing part of my garden next to the drive way.  I think this location will provide the most exposure to sunlight and other types of weather in my yard, while keeping it out of the way of human/pet traffic.  

I plan to check the markings and photograph them in 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months time to see which types of ink hold up the best.  I also plan to use the markers throughout the year in my garden.  I will post again to let you all know the results of my little "experiment" and will also let you know how the markers themselves hold up to regular use in the garden.

By the end, I hope to have chosen a favorite marker for myself, and to be able to make recommendations to you all about which one is the "best buy." 

Pot of labels sitting in the snow on the SE corner of the garden bed.

And Etc.

I also made some chicken wire covers for my 3ft x 4ft raised strawberry beds this weekend.  I created these while staying warm and snug in my basement.  Unfortunately, the building process did not photograph well, and showing the covers out of context doesn't make much sense. So, I plan to post about these later and to show you all photographs of what these look like when placed over the beds. Hopefully, they will help to keep the squirrels, birds and chipmunks from chowing down on my berries before I can.  Did you know, I have been growing the berries for 2 years now and have only been able to eat a grand total of 5 berries!?!  It's not because they aren't growing well... it's because those little rodent thieves are snarfing them while I'm at work!  The finks!  

Anyway... I hope you all stay warm this February.  The days are getting longer, so hang in there... spring is on its way!

Vegetable Garden 2016 - Layout & Varieties Used

It's June in Michigan.  Things are finally starting to really grow. Including my vegetable garden, which is now completely planted.

Vegetable garden early June 2016 - view from the East looking towards the West

I have a relatively small garden in a relatively small (typical) lake lot (long and narrow).  My vegetable garden is approximately 18' x 20' in size and is located in the sunniest portion of my back yard (the North side of the house, facing the lake.)   Because the plot is small, I do not plant in traditional rows.  Instead I divided the area into 4 sections that I can access by narrow paths. I planted each of these areas with a variety of vegetables.  Some are grown in blocks like a patchwork.  Others, like the tomatoes and peppers, are interspersed as single plants here and there.  I have planted this way to make the most of my space.  I have also planted a few things, such as squash, in the bed near the lake where there is more room for them, and in containers on my driveway where there is more sun and warmth.

 Here is the basic layout of my garden (not to scale):

 If you want to see what each row looks like individually in a photograph, please scroll to the bottom of this blog entry.

I have grown a variety of vegetables in the garden.  Everything was grown from seed except for the parsley.  I started many of the vegetables indoors (in the windows with supplemental light from grow lights)  between February and March.  Other plants were seeded directly into the garden between mid-March and June.  Those planted in March were protected by cloches. The garlic was planted in late October 2015.

Here is a list of what I planted in the main vegetable bed & when:

Garlic Scapes

• Dwarf Mulberry - planted fall 2014
• Paw Paw sapling - planted spring 2015 
• Garlic: 'Elephant', 'Music', 'German Mountain', 'Northern Jewel' and 'Purple Italian' - planted outside October 2015
• Scallions - planted outside October 2015
• Chives - planted outside early September 2015
• Wild Leeks - planted outside September 2015 (still have not germinated, but the packet instructions said to wait 2 seasons before giving up on them.)
• Leeks: 'American Flag' - started indoors January 2016, planted out late March 2016 (under cover)
• Onions: 'Golden Grande', 'Sweet Spanish', 'Red Burgundy' - started indoors January 2016, planted out early April  2016 (under cover)
• Peppers: Anaheim, Scotch, Cayenne, Jalapeno, 'California Bell' - started indoors February

  

  Chives

  2016, planted out late May 2016
• Tomatoes: 'Great White', 'Beefsteak,' 'Boxcar Willie', 'Ace 55', 'Yellow Plum', and 'Roma' - started indoors February 2016 (a bit too early- should have started early-mid March), planted out late May 2016.
• Basil: cinnamon, sweet, lemon - started indoors March 2016, planted out late May 2016
• Victoria rhubarb - started from seed indoors February 2016, planted out early May 2016
• Eggplant: 'Black Beauty,' 'Pumpkin-on-a-Stick', and a variety pack by Burpee - started indoors March 2016, planted out late May 2016
• Chinese & Leaf Celery - started indoors February 2016, planted out April 2016
•  Celeric: 'Giant Prague' - started indoors February 2016, planted out March 2016 (under cover)
• Broccoli: 'Waltham 29' - started indoors March 2016, planted out April 2016
• Cauliflower: 'Early Snowball' - started indoors March 2016, planted out April 2016 
• Cabbage: 'Crisp Cool Hybrid', 'Taipai Red', 'Red Acre' - started indoors March 2016, planted out April 2016

  

  Radish Flowers

• Carrots: 'Kaleidoscope Mix,' and 'Danvers 126' - planted outside late March 2016 (under cover)
• Rutabaga - planted outside late March 2016 (under cover)
• Radish 'Early Scarlet Globe'- planted outside late March 2016 (under cover)
• Turnip Rooted Parsley - planted outside late March 2016 (under cover)
• Calendula - planted outside late March 2016 (under cover)
• Swiss Chard 'Bright Lights' - planted outside late March 2016 (under cover)
• Peas - planted outside late March 2016 
• Nasturtiums - planted outside early April 2016
• Crimson Clover - planted outside early April 2016
• Cucumber: 'Lemon' - started indoors late April 2016, planted out late May 2016
• Watermelon: 'Crimson Sweet' and 'Sugar Baby' - started indoors late April 2016, planted out late May 2016.  I am keeping this in the vented cold frame all summer. 
• Beans: 'Blue Lake' - planted outside early May 2016
• Potato: 'Russet' - planted outside early May 2016
•  Okra 'Burgundy'- started indoors May 2016, planted out late May 2016
• Dill - planted outside mid-May 2016
• Florence Fennel - planted outside mid-May 2016
• Lettuce: 'Great Lakes' and 'Giant Cesar' - planted outside late May 2016
• Luffa - planted outside late May 2016 
• Zucchini 'Black Beauty' - planted outside early June 2016

I have another bed where I had planted strawberries, rhubarb, asparagus and lavender in spring 2015. There was some extra space in that bed so in early June, I direct sowed one mound each of:

• Winter Squash: Butternut & Spaghetti
• Summer Squash: 'Elite Hybrid' Zucchini, 'Black Beauty' Zucchini, Cocozelle, and Yellow squash

I also planted in pots in my driveway because it is a sunny and warm area that gives me a bit of extra growing space.  Here is what I planted in pots:

• Potatoes: 'Red Northland,' 'Purple Majesty', 'Yukon Gold' and 'Russet' - started early May in half-whiskey barrels & protected by covering with an old window until late May
• Jersusalem Artichokes - started early May in a half-whiskey barrel and protected by covering with an old window until late May
• Nasturtiums - 'Empress of India' - started in early May in the same barrel as the Jerusalem Artichokes.
• Tomato: 'Small Red Cherry', & 'Ace 55' (See main bed list above for seed starting & plant out dates)
• Peppers: Anaheim, Scotch & Jalapeno (See main bed list above for seed starting & plant out dates)
• Eggplant: 'Black Beauty', 'Pumpkin-on-a-Stick', and Burpee Variety Pack (See main bed listabove for seed starting & plant out dates)
• Lettuce: 'Giant Caesar' & 'Buttercrunch' - started outside early June
• Herbs: Fenugreek & Parsley - started outside early June; Lemon Basil & Sweet Basil (See main bed list above for seed starting & plant out dates)

Other garden edibles:
I started an herb garden last spring.  For more about that, click this link: Herb Garden.
I planted 2 'urban' columnar apples last summer, 2 pears in fall 2014, 1 gooseberry in fall 2014, 4 dwarf blueberry bushes last fall 2015,  2 paw paws spring 2015, 1 Saskatoon this spring and 3 elderberries this spring.  These are scattered throughout the garden.  I use them as landscape plants.  I hope to get fruit from them soon.  They are still fairly young.  So far, only the gooseberries have produced. However, it does look like I have fruit set on the apples, at least one of the pears, and on the blueberry bushes.  I just hope that I can get to the fruit before the squirrels, chipmunks and birds! (I may need to net the bushes.)

Hopefully, the vegetables will all grow in well.  I will post pictures of the garden's progress on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook throughout the season.

Find me on Facebook by liking: MI Lake Home Garden
On Twitter: @AlhramAndrea
On Instagram: MiLakeHomeGarden 

I will blog about my harvest sometime in the fall, I think. :)

Happy Gardening, dear reader!  Have a great summer!

Pictures of the Vegetable garden rows 1-4 as corresponding with the drawing at the start of this post:

Row 1 - View looking from the South looking North

Row 2 - View from the East looking West

Row 3: View from the East looking West

Row 4: View from the East looking West