Zen Garden 2025

[Zen_seeker]

You can attach the hose to a ladder if you have one. We sat around watching the show, some hang on and fight to get into their nest others just swoop into the vacuum then my bud would chuckle spraying in raid with an evil smile

I was thinking of stacking milk crates. We have on/off rain until Monday or Tuesday so that would have to wait.

I’d like to cut the supporting branches and drop it in a bucket of soapy water. The shop vac might help with that.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Sounds like a flamethrower waiting to happen

Getting a nest off moms porch as a kid involved a can of Lysol and a lighter. That was fun on a brick house, not so helpful with a bush.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20260725: GDP Autos Day 52

It looks like I’ve got two Charlie Brown Christmas trees. They do seem to be bulking up. Much less light gaps beside the main stem. The smaller seems to be doing the best but time will tell.


Color looks good for the most part. A few leaves chewed here and there. So far no more aphids or other permanent residents but something chewed one more than I like. A quick check showed nothing but I’ll go over it with my glasses tomorrow.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Mixed up 12 gallons of Sunshine Mix #4 with all the goodies I’ve been picking up for the next indoor grow this fall.

Per gallon of soil I’ve added the following;

• 1/2 Cup Worm Castings
• 1/2 Cup 3-1 Compost
• 1/2 TBSP MYKOS
• 1/2 TBSP AZOS
• 1/2 TBSP Azomite
• 2 TBSP 4:4:4
• 1 TBSP 2:8:4

This was mixed well as each gallon was added. To slightly dampen I sprayed the top with lacto. Still not a fan of the cheese smell.

This will be moved into a tent with a little ventilation. The handles have a bunch of holes to let a little air in for circulation but I plant to leave the lid on loosely.

This is most of the mix when I was half way through.

Now that it’s full it will sit until September or later. I’ll check it once in a while. See what’s developing.

 

[Chemistry]

We need a video of the nest removal.

 

[Zen_seeker]

We need a video of the nest removal.

Why do I get the feeling this request is in anticipation of things going terribly, terribly, wrong?

I promise nothing. I’ll be the one dealing with the nest. Not sure my wife or son will will be brave enough to stand outside while I deal with things.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Went out into the woods early this morning. Looking to make my own mykos with older forest earth. My best spot was way to busy so I hit a dried up wet area.







Last pic gives me hope I have a good spot. Filled a bag with about two or three gallons. Now I need to read up on Stonemasons formula.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20250728: GDP Autos Day 55


Plants are looking good. Both are bulking up and stink like a skunk. One’s been nibbled on by an inchworm but my son saw it and dealt with it. I do wish they had gotten twice the size but otherwise things are fine.






With only two plants left I’ve got high hopes for these two.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Flowers and vegetables are doing better. The two potted Teddy Bear sunflowers are doing great. The rest are just starting to take off. The later I put them outside the better they did. The three I put out first and caged in May are just now showing better growth.






Peppers are finally taking off. Sweet Bell, Cayenne and Thai.

Watermelon are softball and hardball size.

Cucumbers are being harvested every couple days.

Beans are just starting to get big enough to harvest.

Tomatoes are all popping out but still green and gaining size/weight.

I took off the green house now that the peppers are ready. Then I moved them to the outside spots. Made the central area just pits of dirt for the melons to grow on.



Spearmint and the rest.



Finally got enough rain to add to the rain barrel. I still had to water the plants later yesterday. It was so humid at 8AM the basement windows had condensation on the outside!


There, that should be enough to bore the average cannabis grower.

 

[Pipecarver]

Hey, looking good, you've far more stuff growing out doors than we do. We didn't have a spring to get things going, my wife has a few containers with beans, pea's a cucumber or 2, carrots and a Watermelon about 1" around....

I called the Dr for an appointment about my head bang..Aug 9 earliest I can get in. Emergency is just a holding cell. They look at you slap a bandaid on and recommend a specialist. I've been waiting 5 years for an ass scoping and 3 years for a groin injury specialist, if I get on a list for a head Dr it'll be 5-6-7 years wtf is the point?

 

[Zen_seeker]

Hey, looking good, you've far more stuff growing out doors than we do. We didn't have a spring to get things going, my wife has a few containers with beans, pea's a cucumber or 2, carrots and a Watermelon about 1" around....

I grow inside until after May 24th long weekend. Any time I’ve tried earlier I’ve had to deal with frost warnings.

This year spring was just crap. It was even to cold to pop seeds in the basement.

Anything I planted in May sat until July before starting to grow again. But things I brought out in late June shot past them in size.

I called the Dr for an appointment about my head bang..Aug 9 earliest I can get in. Emergency is just a holding cell. They look at you slap a bandaid on and recommend a specialist. I've been waiting 5 years for an ass scoping and 3 years for a groin injury specialist, if I get on a list for a head Dr it'll be 5-6-7 years wtf is the point?

That’s ridiculous. Emergency rooms here can take all day if busy but you get good service most of the time. A week or two for a family doctor isn’t too bad. About the same here. I haven’t been to a walk-in clinic in decades. They used to be first come first served. Service was okay, mostly.

Just look after yourself. We don’t heal like we used too. The misses needs you around a lot longer yet. And I’m not done stealing your good ideas.

 

[Zen_seeker]

I’ve been looking at different ways to use the KNF recipes I’ve learned.

I also know milk is helpful with fighting off diseases and insects along with mold.

So to that end I looked into combining things to make a better foliar spray for both the garden and the Auto plants.



I wanted to apply it this morning but forgot. Needs to be done when it’s less than 30* for a few hours. That’s not happening until tonight or tomorrow morning.

 

[Pipecarver]

I grow inside until after May 24th long weekend. Any time I’ve tried earlier I’ve had to deal with frost warnings.

This year spring was just crap. It was even to cold to pop seeds in the basement.

Anything I planted in May sat until July before starting to grow again. But things I brought out in late June shot past them in size.


That’s ridiculous. Emergency rooms here can take all day if busy but you get good service most of the time. A week or two for a family doctor isn’t too bad. About the same here. I haven’t been to a walk-in clinic in decades. They used to be first come first served. Service was okay, mostly.

Just look after yourself. We don’t heal like we used too. The misses needs you around a lot longer yet. And I’m not done stealing your good ideas.

I have a real bad attitude towards our health care, 2+ years 3 different Dr. appointments to have a wart removed. 11 years wait for my first hip transplant, 3 years in agony for my second, 5 years now still no Ass specialist, 3+ years now for a ball specialist, all xrays and ultra sound work completed 2 years ago for ball issues. Think avocado's not eggs. We have what I would call 2nd world health care.

My bitch continues, Nova Scotia has shit weather a poor economy, few good restaurants and few places for the upper class of Dr.s to spend there wealth. I'm sure there are a few local Dr. folks raised here with family that accept N.S gloomy weather but the smart Dr.s head to where they can make the most money with a better life style & weather, what we are left with is your 65% ers. and the further from Halifax the more 65% ers there are running hospitals and emergency wards.

Don't get me wrong I'm a 65% er myself but you don't want me poking around in your brain. I had my wife check my pupils and she felt for soft spots on my head...lol...alls good....or so she says...lol

 

[Zen_seeker]

I’ve been looking at different ways to use the KNF recipes I’ve learned.

I also know milk is helpful with fighting off diseases and insects along with mold.

So to that end I looked into combining things to make a better foliar spray for both the garden and the Auto plants.

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I wanted to apply it this morning but forgot. Needs to be done when it’s less than 30* for a few hours. That’s not happening until tonight or tomorrow morning.

I was able to get out spray the lacto, milk and water mix by 6am. I’m not worried about any adverse effects as I’ve tried this before with all the ingredients, just not together.

After 11am we get to 30% chance of rain and thunderstorms for the rest of the day. That gives them about 5 hours or more to soak up the foliar spray before rain can wash any away.
They seemed to like it and perk up but it could be in anticipation of the coming sun.

Yes, using a 1/3 milk and 2/3 water foliar spray or a mixture of KNF LAB and milk is generally safe for flowering plants and cannabis, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind:

• Timing: Apply in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid leaf burn.
• Frequency: Use this mixture every 1-2 weeks during the growing season for optimal results.
• Shake Well: Always shake the mixture well before application to ensure even distribution of ingredients.

So we’ll see how it turns out. FAFO

 

[Zen_seeker]

Sun set yesterday. Bulking up.


A few hours after spraying the lacto, milk and water foliar. All dry and waiting for the sun. It’s partially cloudy with 30% chance of rain anytime after 11am.





The leaves get a shine to them. Look good.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Why do I get the feeling this request is in anticipation of things going terribly, terribly, wrong?

I promise nothing. I’ll be the one dealing with the nest. Not sure my wife or son will will be brave enough to stand outside while I deal with things.

We got rain overnight instead of all day long. Not a lot, plants still needed watering.

I’ve loaded two super soaker magazines and a squirt bottle as backup.

I have the long pole tree trimmer as a possible solution if I can ID the branch it’s attached too.

I may not be able to wait for a good downpour. Nest has gotten bigger faster than expected. Now where is that old badminton racket?

 

[steamroller]

I stumbled onto a ground bee nest yesterday watering the garden.
No wonder this poor butterfly bush is dying it has 2,000 bees living where there should be roots.
One got me and then the game began.
I figured out where the hole was and as soon as all calmed down, I gave them their first dose of ground bee powder right in the hole.
I'll go offer more when it stops raining here.
92 yesterday for third day in a row and 60 today with showers~!

 

[Zen_seeker]

I stumbled onto a ground bee nest yesterday watering the garden.
No wonder this poor butterfly bush is dying it has 2,000 bees living where there should be roots.
One got me and then the game began.
I figured out where the hole was and as soon as all calmed down, I gave them their first dose of ground bee powder right in the hole.
I'll go offer more when it stops raining here.
92 yesterday for third day in a row and 60 today with showers~!

Only seen two bee ground nests. First one was on a hill I slid down. I was a kid at camp. Got me once or twice. Second was in a park forest at another drop off. Too steep to slide down. Was more of a slit in a cliff, reminded me of a hanger the way they came and went. They didn’t bother us as no one slid over it like I did the first one.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20250802: GDP Autos Day 60








Have to admit I do like the night pics.

Edit: only day 60, not 70.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Three types of tomatoes growing. Cherry, Roma and either beefsteak or starburst(?). Rather than taller with many I went bushy and bigger fruit.


Peppers took off last week. Bell, banana are obvious but not sure which is Thai or Cayenne atm. Cucumbers are steady and beans are being harvested in bunches. Watermelon have slowed down but will probably pickup again now that it’s a bit cooler and less evaporation.





Mint and TB sunflowers are doing great. Want to plant the mint in the ground, as soon as it rains enough I can dig a hole. Rain barrels are almost empty.

 

[Stoneyluv]

lookin good Zen!!!! i prolly would have stole that one cucumber already!!! hehehe
i need to try my hand at some sunflowers one year... i bet my chickens would love them!!!

a few years back i went nuts with mints and planted it all over the property.. my plan was to let it grow all across the front of my garage instead of grass so every time we pulled in it would smell like mint.. still got a long way to go!!! haha



but we have a few different kinds that come up each year.. and we got some late season apricots growing right now!!!

 

[Zen_seeker]

lookin good Zen!!!! i prolly would have stole that one cucumber already!!! hehehe
i need to try my hand at some sunflowers one year... i bet my chickens would love them!!!

Three were ready, we took two that night. One left and three little ones started.

I’ll send you some Teddy Bear and Mammoth when I harvest this year. Pretty sure I still have your info. The TB seem to match the pot size. The one inside is about to flower in a 6” pot and it’s not even a foot tall.

a few years back i went nuts with mints and planted it all over the property.. my plan was to let it grow all across the front of my garage instead of grass so every time we pulled in it would smell like mint.. still got a long way to go!!! haha

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That’s cool. We have a lot of moss and clover mixed into the grass and weeds. The last five years have been hotter and dryer. We’ve been letting patches grow taller and more wild with flowers here and there. Helping out the birds and bees.

I found a spot to put the mint, just waiting for enough rain to dig. Soil has a lot of clay and it’s like concrete atm. I read that the mint will take over areas by send shoot out underground. Didn’t know that but I’m okay with it. It will be trapped to one area beside the front landing.

but we have a few different kinds that come up each year.. and we got some late season apricots growing right now!!!

View attachment 110145

We used to get apricots, pears, peaches and apples from family and friends but that died off over the years. We had to cut down our macintosh tree. Got a bad fungus infection from the previous owners renters. They tied their BBQ to the trunk and scorched it badly.

I’ll PM you later will a list of stuff. Stonemason and I have been sharing using a DVD case.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Went out into the woods early this morning. Looking to make my own mykos with older forest earth. My best spot was way to busy so I hit a dried up wet area.

View attachment 109138

View attachment 109139

View attachment 109140

Last pic gives me hope I have a good spot. Filled a bag with about two or three gallons. Now I need to read up on Stonemasons formula.

This is still happening. I found a tote and started getting things ready.


I wasn’t sure it was dark/rich enough soil but Stonemason said to give it a shot so we will. JMS videos today.

 

[Zen_seeker]

We like the smoke bush/tree so I decided to try rooting balls on them. Never used them before. That’s a bit of rooting powder in the middle I sprayed with water to keep it all together.

If I’m lucky they will be ready in three months. So November.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Used the LUX meter to check the 3:30pm sun the other day.
That’s 34,400 LUX. I’ll check today at 9am and later around noon and update.

 

[Zen_seeker]

That’s three weeks no rain and the rain barrels are empty. Maybe one more watering left. Started using the house water this morning.

Based on the past predictions this year I’m betting we won’t get the rain on Monday either.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Chunks of pine sap. I want to make some yellow sticky traps even though we’ve been fortunate and not gad any nats this year. We know they will be returning eventually. I’ll update when I find Ninjadips vid on what to mix again.

 

[Zen_seeker]

So still no rain and Mondays is pushed back to Tuesday. Had to add about 15 gallons or more to the rain barrel this morning to water just the veggies and porch plants.

I want to start the JMS but tap water might kill the bio I’m trying to harvest. I got the painters net so I’ll try today anyway. Tap water is better than nothing or waiting an extra week hoping for rain.


Plants are doing fine. Bulking up still. I can truthfully say they are bigger than sunflowers.

 

[Zen_seeker]

This is what happens when your wife’s vacation plans turn into a staycation.

It started off with needing a lightbulb for a vanity fixture. No stock. So let’s just buy a new normal fixture and use regular light bulbs. (My wife’s a natural beauty and rarely uses makeup.)

I remove the old fixture only to find it was installed by an idiot. Tape, plaster, dap all applied over the electrical box. Walls not even flush to the box.





Walls scraped. Plaster applied. Waiting for it to dry before adding more and sanding. Primer and matching paint will be next.

Another 15 minute job turned into a half day project.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Starting the JMS today. Got the net, bucket, taters, sea salt and old first earth.

Boiling the two or three small potatoes for 20 minutes, then let sit for 20 minutes before adding to a blender with one TBSP of non iodized sea salt.

That will be blended smooth like a smoothy before being added to a 5 gallon bucket with a paint strainer. (Looks like a shower cap made out of screen.)

Add two big handfuls or the earth to the strainer and place onto the bucket, then pour the potatoes into it.



Now agitate the mixture in the water for a few minutes to mix and activate the solution. Then fasten the closed mesh to the side.




Let it sit with the top covered but not closed air tight. It needs to stop bugs and wind while it sits.

After 12 hours it should be bubbling away and half way ready. After 24hrs it should be maxed and ready to use.

Hotter gets done quicker than cold days. It should be applied like a foliar spray at this point for plants and/or soil to help protect and rejuvenate them.

Update:
All mixed and sitting in the sun. Should be ready by noon tomorrow. I’ll most likely use it at 3-6pm tomorrow afternoon. I don’t believe this keeps after it’s ready.

 

[steamroller]

What's the difference between 'worker' microbes and 'fertilizer' microbes?