Living Green in the Inner Ring

Between Snow Storms

gordonjames — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:32:23 +0000

According to the Weather Channel:

COLD AIR WILL MOVE SOUTH INTO NORTH TEXAS SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. AS AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM APPROACHES FROM THE WEST MONDAY NIGHT… AREAS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. THERE WILL BE A POTENTIAL FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW AND TRAVEL IMPACTS ACROSS ALL OF NORTH TEXAS MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO END TUESDAY…

The Tulips and Glad are in the ground, Glads closer to the bird bath, tulips farther away, hopefully hidden by the Glads as their foliage 'ripens'

This greets me after I set out my tulips very very very late… and my gladioli very early. I am NOT digging anything up!

On a brighter note, the weather today was super for planting–slightly overcast, about 65 degrees–and I got the planting done in short order. I even got a few tulips left over for the back, to see out the family room doors.

Palmie takes a sunshine break on the front porch... between snow storms!

Oh, and taking every advantage, got the palm tree out for some sheltered sun. On a break between snow storms? I guess ten years is not long enough to get used to North Texas weather!

Worms for Composting

gordonjames — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:44:08 +0000

Ordered worms from Down to Earth Farm to begin to process the kitchen ‘mulch’ that has accumulated in large buckets in the garage. Not so pretty? The lids are on, it has been cool or cold, so no odor. And no rats feeding on it. Worms are good, remember?

The worms WILL feed on this and turn it quickly into worm castings, for the vegetable garden. They have their work cut out for them, IMHO.

And when the weather gets warmer, to the point odor begins coming from the uneaten “food” in the bins, I will fire up a good hot short timer compost heap and dispose of it that way.

For now, I wait for the worms and study pages like this:

Helpful Information About Worms

There still is work to do!

gordonjames — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:55:35 +0000

January is more than dream time. What? There are still garden chores in North Texas in January!? It’s the coldest month of the year! While you have been dreaming over the flower and vegetable garden catalogues, I hope you have been planning what to plant in the garden next month. If so, good, as far as that goes, but there is more to get done than that!

Read the rest at:

January Garden Chores in North Texas

Why do I need three computers?

gordonjames — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:45:20 +0000

So, in the midst of “January cleaning”, I re-found two desktop computers that don’t boot.

Didn’t boot.

Now they both do, but I have spent at least 24 solid hours making it happen.

So, now I have my 3 yr old laptop with its fragile power plug at the keyboard end (the cord is fine!), and now two desktops. Hmmmm. Too early for a yard sale. But there is cash in Craig’s List!

OK, well, one belongs to my son, so maybe I should call him first, ask if its O.K. The other I think I will keep – give the laptop a rest.

So… wait. Why do I need TWO computers?

January in A North Texas Gardener

gordonjames — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:08:54 +0000

It may be January, but it’s not time to just sleep! There is garden work to do for the guy or gal working towards Green Living in Farmers Branch! (or in ANY inner ring suburb).

We live in the USDA Zone 7, just outside Dallas TX. To the outside world this is generally North Texas. Not a lot of winter snow and cold, but it is winter!

In fact, today we are getting ready for some below-freezing weather. Look out palm trees! Cover your ‘winter’ flowers! And if you are fortunate enough to have one, sit by the fire tonight and read up on what to do next!!

See you soon!

t’s Not Vacation Time Yet!

What garden chores in North Texas in January? It’s the coldest month of the year. While you have been dreaming over the flower and vegetable garden catalogues, I hope you have been planning what to plant in the garden next month. If so, good, as far as that goes, but there is more to get

January Garden Chores in North Texas

Neighborhood: Farmers Branch
Dallas, TX 75234
United States of America

done than that!

Living Green – Not That Hard

gordonjames — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:38:45 +0000

The hardest part of Living Green in the Inner Ring Suburbs of Dallas TX is just plain getting started.

Why? Because you begin ‘underwater’. That is, the house is old (ours is 50+), the soil is no where near good tilth or fertility, and the neighborhood and local government just don’t “get it” when you do something green that LOOKS different than what they expect.

Uphill? Yes. “All the good stuff is uphill from here.”

Impossible? Yes…UNLESS you are willing to fight. And some of the fight just might be against city hall or your very next door neighbor. In other words, wimps need not apply.

Still interested in seeing how well my money follows my mouth?

Keep watching.