Log

This file is the diary for the backyard edible landscape project — photo reviews and observations, newest first. The task list has moved to the TODO page. Book notes from The No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm (Daniel Mays) are on the Books page.

Diary

2026-08-20

Back from two weeks in Florida: deer got the peaches, grapes ready, a volunteer squash and okra turned up (Claude)

First walkthrough after two weeks away. The fine mesh netting over the peach trees along the back fence had come down while no one was around to notice — one of the support stakes snapped (IMG_1816, IMG_1817) and a long stretch of netting collapsed onto the ground, pressed up against the fence with leaf debris blown into the folds (IMG_1819, IMG_1821). With the net down for who knows how long, the deer had a clear shot: the peach tree in that corner (IMG_1811) is bare of fruit now, foliage intact but nothing left ripening on the branches — the picking pass flagged as worth doing before leaving in the 8/5 entry never happened. Netting needs to go back up and be re-staked before it's worth planting peaches again next year.

Right where the netting came down, a volunteer squash plant has taken over — broad lobed leaves and a yellow blossom already open (IMG_1815), clearly self-seeded from something composted nearby rather than anything deliberately planted there. Also spotted okra growing on its own somewhere in the yard, though it isn't clearly captured in this photo batch — worth a closer look and a photo next time round. Neither was planted on purpose; both look like volunteers from compost or dropped seed while the bed sat untouched for two weeks. Worth deciding whether to let them run or transplant them somewhere more intentional.

Better news on the grapes: picked a full bunch, dark purple-red and ready (IMG_1825, IMG_1828). The tomato plants, on the other hand, are showing it — two weeks with no one watering them and they're visibly dry. They need a deep watering as soon as possible and then a regular schedule going forward, not just whatever rain fell while we were away.

2026-08-05

Photo Review (Claude) — pre-vacation garden walkthrough

35 photos (IMG_1184–1219, plus a 1.4s video clip), a walk around the whole property from 6:40–6:53am — taken to document where everything stands before a two-week trip to Florida.

Patio-side foundation bed: the existing foundation shrub by the flagstone patio is fully leafed out and healthy (IMG_1184), and a wire cage (bent galvanized mesh, weighted with a rock) still protects a young shrub/sapling planted right at the patio edge (IMG_1185) — a pre-existing cage, not the new rose-wall structure from the 8/4 entry, which is sited at the gable-end wall out front, not back here.

Blueberries: the netted potted bushes are still fruiting, dark ripe berries mixed with reddish unripe ones on the same clusters (IMG_1191, 1192) — consistent with the existing TODO to pick every 3–4 days, which won't be possible while away.

Staged pots by the house: the usual cluster of terracotta and black nursery pots along the foundation near the AC unit is still there — ornamental grasses, a chartreuse-leaved plant with pale flower spikes, and assorted perennials (IMG_1193, 1195) — all container-bound and dependent on manual watering.

Peach tree, loaded: the netted potted peach tree has a heavy set of fruit, many already pink-to-red and looking close to ripe or ready (IMG_1198, 1203–1207, 1209) — worth a picking pass before leaving rather than coming back to drops or squirrel losses.

Birdhouse painting project: several small wooden birdhouses, mid-paint, are laid out to dry on flattened cardboard/a plastic bin lid on the lawn near the golden-leaved shrub and a blooming pink hydrangea (IMG_1197, 1199, 1200) — new since the last entry, presumably a kids' project.

Peony and sprinkler: the peony clump has good green foliage with a few spent brown blooms (IMG_1208), and a hose-end sprinkler was running over the lawn/bed area during the walk (IMG_1210) — unclear if that's on a timer or was just left on manually.

Unidentified potted plant: a feathery, finely-divided-leaf plant in a black pot on the deck (IMG_1213) — foliage reads carrot-family (could be dill, fennel, or a volunteer wild carrot/Queen Anne's lace); not enough here to confirm without a closer look at flowers or scent.

Paw paw + blackberry, now potted together: the paw paw sapling and blackberry cane from the 8/3 water-container-seller visit — previously "just sitting on the lawn in nursery pots" per that entry — are now planted together in one large black tote container by the wood fence near the AC unit (IMG_1212, 1215, and the video clip IMG_1211). Reads as an interim move rather than their permanent site: the TODO to decide real planting locations (paw paw wants part shade while young, full sun once established, plus a second tree eventually for pollination; blackberry wants full sun and room to sprawl) is still open, and a shared tote is a tight fit for both long-term.

Butterfly bush in full bloom: a large butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) near the same fence/AC corner is covered in purple flower spikes (IMG_1217, 1219) — good pollinator forage while the garden goes unattended for two weeks.

2026-08-04

Planning a rose wall on the gable end (Claude)

Idea for the season: train the existing rose bushes into a "wall of roses" in front of the house, using a trellis so the canes grow flat and cover the wall. IMG_1181 is the target wall — the gable end with two windows over stone veneer, existing foundation shrubs (azaleas, one caged sapling) planted close to the base. IMG_1179 and IMG_1176 are the candidate rose bushes: currently potted/staged near the hose reel and existing nursery pots, canes long, thin, and whippy rather than compact and bushy — a growth habit that points to a climber or rambler rather than a landscape/shrub rose, though the exact variety is unconfirmed (no tags or purchase record).

Plan settled on: a freestanding trellis rather than one mounted to the wall — avoids anchoring into the stone veneer, keeps foliage off the vinyl siding (less trapped moisture/disease pressure), and gives access to both sides for training and pruning. Roughly 2.5 ft out from the wall, clear of the existing foundation shrubs, with room to walk behind it. Posts should eventually sit in concrete footings below the frost line, since a mature rose-covered panel catches real wind.

Starting small: only using one rose bush for now — the long spindly one — not all three. For a starter structure sized to a young plant, temporary metal T-posts driven 12–18" into the ground with galvanized chicken wire is fine; plain steel wire would rust within a season or two. Plan to upgrade to the sturdier concrete-footed post-and-panel setup before the canes thicken and the plant gets heavy — chicken wire's fine hex mesh isn't built for tying in woody canes long-term. Training: fan canes out horizontally/diagonally rather than straight up, since horizontal training produces more flowering laterals.

Weighing a soil move and a bed swap: strawberry/garlic vs. blackberries (Claude)

Discussed reworking the two side-yard raised beds: one is heavily overgrown with weeds, the other (built 8/1) has hardware cloth and cardboard sheet-mulched over it, originally earmarked for strawberries and garlic per The No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm's Method B. The idea floated: move soil from the weedy bed into the cardboard-mulched one, and plant the two blackberry plants already on hand there instead.

Weed risk: soil moved directly from the weedy bed will carry weed seeds and likely some perennial weed roots along with it — that undercuts the point of the cardboard layer, which was there specifically to smother existing growth. Worth sifting out roots/rhizomes during the move, or accepting a round of weeding once the blackberries are established.

Not locked in either way: since nothing is planted in the cardboard-mulched bed yet, swapping its purpose from strawberries/garlic to blackberries costs nothing today — those can go in any open bed whenever they're actually acquired. The one real commitment is the blackberries themselves: once planted, they send out root suckers and get established within a season, so undoing that later means digging out a spreading root system, not just lifting a plant.

Sun tipped it: blackberries need 6+ hours of direct sun to fruit well, and this bed already has confirmed full sun — usually the harder requirement to satisfy compared to soil or space. That's leaning the decision toward blackberries here. Using two blackberry plants already on hand also resolves the still-open 8/3 TODO item about where to plant the blackberry cane from the container seller.

2026-08-03

Skipped a non-food-grade water container, came home with blackberries and a paw paw tree from the seller instead

Went to pick up a used water container to repurpose as a rain barrel, but the drum turned out to be a former chemical tote, not food grade: the label (IMG_1147) reads DELPAC® 2000, an aluminum chloride hydroxide sulfate water-treatment coagulant, marked UN1760 Corrosive liquids, n.o.s. with a corrosive hazard diamond and a skin/eye-irritation warning. Even though it's NSF-certified for use dosing potable water treatment plants (max use 250mg/L), that's a different thing from the empty drum itself being safe as a standalone rainwater storage container — residue in the seams and fittings isn't something to gamble on for water that'll end up on food crops. Passed on it.

The container's seller more than made up for it, though — his front yard had blackberries growing everywhere, and he sent us home with a blackberry cane and a paw paw (Asimina triloba) sapling, both still in their nursery pots. He also recommended checking out John's Farms (IMG_1148) for another visit. The paw paw is a small whip with a handful of glossy leaves, in a purple-rimmed nursery pot (IMG_1152); the blackberry is a leafier, reddish-stemmed cane in a black pot (IMG_1153). Both are currently just sitting out on the lawn near the existing netted potted trees and terracotta hydrangea/tomato pots (IMG_1150, 1151, 1154–1157) — not planted yet.

Placement to plan: paw paws need part shade while young and full sun once established, and are usually planted in pairs for pollination since a single tree self-pollinates poorly. Blackberries want full sun and room to sprawl or a trellis. Neither is sited yet — add to the TODO list.

2026-08-01

New strawberry/garlic bed — sheet mulch over vole-exclusion mesh (Claude)

Started a new bed in the lawn for strawberries and garlic, using the sheet-mulch ("lasagna") method: a layer of galvanized hardware cloth (small, ≤1/2″ grid) laid directly on the grass first, staked down at the edges with bricks, followed by a full run of flattened cardboard (mostly Costco produce boxes) over the mesh, also weighted with bricks. This bed sits directly on grade rather than in a framed box, so the mesh and cardboard go straight down onto the lawn rather than into a bottom panel.

The mesh is there for vole exclusion, prompted by a past problem: the Liberty apple tree's early root damage ("some mole or underground creature ate the soil underneath it," noted at planting) and the dead apple tree removed 2026-05-27 both look like vole activity in hindsight — voles eat roots, while moles are beneficial insect/grub eaters and only disturb roots incidentally while tunneling. The cardboard layer's job is simply to block light and smother the grass underneath over the next 2–3 months; no extra step needed there beyond keeping it light-tight.

How this checks out: sheet mulching is a real, established no-dig technique, and it fits the garden's own never-till/top-dress-only rule better than digging up sod would. It's also literally The No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm's Method B, Sheet Mulch — the book's own "Applied Here" notes already prescribe this exact method for the side yard expansion area. The wire mesh is the one nonstandard addition; most sheet-mulch guides skip it, but adding it here is a targeted response to an already-observed vole problem, not overkill.

Remaining steps, per the book's Method B recipe (mow → cardboard → leaves → compost → wood chips in paths → plant) and added to the TODO list:

• Spread 2–4″ of partially rotted leaves over the cardboard — feeds the decomposition working on the cardboard/sod below. Not yet done.
• Finish with compost, not plain soil, where the strawberries/garlic will actually establish. 6–8″ total depth once settled.
• Check the cardboard batch for wax/plastic-laminated produce boxes (some Costco boxes are shipping-moisture-resistant and won't break down — feels waxy/slick rather than matte); pull any tape, staples, or plastic labels first.
• Edges are the weak point, not the middle — keep seams overlapped 4–6″ and the brick weights in place until the grass is fully smothered.

Separately, from The Permaculture Handbook's tree-planting protocol (Chapter 16): a cardboard or mulch collar should never touch a tree trunk directly — contact mulch at the base creates mouse/vole habitat right where you don't want it. Doesn't apply to this bed, but matters for the still-open apple tree root-collar todo.

2026-07-31

Storm-damaged branch — tree ID (Claude), unconfirmed

A large branch came down in the backyard during a storm. 4 photos (IMG_1088–1091), 11:00am: two wide shots of the fallen branch still tangled in the canopy above the patio/fence line, and two close-ups of foliage and fruit. An earlier ChatGPT conversation about the same branch first suspected black cherry, then revised to Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) at 90–95% confidence based on leaf and fruit photos.

Looking at these four photos, the leaf and fruit shape both read more like black cherry (Prunus serotina) than Callery pear: the leaves are lance-shaped with a pointed tip and fine, sharp serrations (Callery pear leaves are broader/oval with a scalloped edge), and the fruit are small, perfectly round drupes scattered along the stem, ripening red → black (Callery pear fruit stay more oval/pear-shaped and typically ripen tan/brown, not glossy black). The brown leaf spotting is consistent with either, but cherry leaf spot is especially common on black cherry.

Not yet confirmed. The clincher test both AI assessments agree on: cut a fruit in half. A single hard central pit means cherry; a small cluster of seeds in a papery core means pear. A bark/twig close-up would help too. Revisit this entry once that's checked.

2026-07-27

Plant ID: Cleavers (Claude)

Volunteer seedling in a pot, identified as cleavers (Galium aparine), also known as sticky willy, goosegrass, or catchweed bedstraw. Clues: thin stems with whorls of narrow leaves (6–8+ radiating from each node like a star), tiny white flower buds forming at the leaf joints, and a sprawling, scrambling growth habit. Running fingers along the stems and leaves should feel rough or sticky, from tiny hooked hairs that let the plant cling to clothing and other plants.

Worth keeping? Depends on interest — it's an edible wild green when young (best cooked or used sparingly raw), used by some in herbal teas (though evidence for health benefits is limited), and its tiny flowers attract small pollinators. It's an annual, so letting it go to seed means more of it next year.

If not wanted: pull it before the seeds mature. The mature seeds have tiny hooks too, and stick to pets, clothing, and fur, which is how the plant spreads. Since this came up as a volunteer in a pot by itself, it most likely self-seeded from elsewhere in the yard or arrived in potting soil or via birds.

Photo Review (Claude) — picking blueberries

16 photos (IMG_1028–1043), a 22-second burst at 12:09–12:10pm. Blueberries being hand-picked from the bush planted in the corner of a raised bed — ripe dark-blue berries mixed with still-reddish unripe ones — and dropped into a small clear plastic container. The sequence moves from the raised beds (a neighboring bed under hooped insect netting in the background) around to the side of the house, ending with the container held up, holding a good couple handfuls of picked berries.

2026-07-24

Photo Review (Claude)

17 photos (IMG_0901, 0912–0927), 7:48–8:06am (0901 carries no EXIF timestamp but sits in the same folder as the rest). Logged as "found an eggplant growing" plus a peonies note — the black cover came off out of fear the deer would eat it, now replaced by fear of suffocating the plant instead. The batch backs up both halves. A small, near-black eggplant fruit hangs low in the fuzzy, dusty-green foliage of a potted eggplant plant, a terracotta pot visible behind it (0922–0923) — the "eggplant growing" find, confirmed. The peony bed shows a long strip of black woven weed-block fabric folded back over itself, corners weighted down with loose bricks, with peony stems and leaves sprawling out from under it and draped across its surface (0924–0927); a hose is running over the plant in two of the four frames, so this reads more like the fabric being watered down or checked on than being freshly hauled off — it's still largely in place, not fully removed. Elsewhere the batch continues the same kind of staged-pot watering seen in recent entries: potted pink zinnias next to a bushy green plant (0915), a mophead hydrangea with dried clematis seed heads hanging above it (0916), a white-flowering herb — oregano or marjoram — spilling out of terracotta pots (0917), a second hydrangea pot with deep pink blooms (0918), potted yellow-and-maroon coreopsis (0919), small green unripe cherry tomatoes through the foliage (0920), and the netted peach tree with several ripening, pink-blushed fruit (0921). A patch of purslane spreads low across a mulched bed corner (0901). Three frames (0912–0914) show something the stated summary didn't mention: a tuft of white, fibrous material sitting on the ground next to toothed-leaf weed foliage, with a grayish shape half-buried underneath it — texture and shape aren't clear enough in any of the three shots to tell what it actually is.

Purslane in the mulch (0901): A spreading mat of succulent purslane, red-stemmed with paddle-shaped leaves, growing low across a dark mulched bed corner beside a lighter wood-chip patch.

Unidentified white fibrous material (0912–0914): Three close, slightly different exposures of a tuft of white, cottony material on the ground next to a serrated-leaf weed, with a grayish, textured shape half-buried beneath it. Not clear what it is from the photos alone.

Staged pots: zinnia and bushy green plant (0915): A terracotta pot with a pink zinnia bloom beside a taller pot of glossy, bright green foliage (gypsophila or similar), part of the same nursery-pot cluster documented in recent entries.

Hydrangea with dried clematis seed heads (0916): A pink mophead hydrangea in a terracotta pot, spent silvery clematis seed heads dangling from a vine overhead, a stone birdbath basin and green tarp corner at the edge of frame.

Flowering herb in terracotta pots (0917): A bushy plant with small white flower clusters — likely oregano or marjoram — overflowing several terracotta pots set among the grass.

Second hydrangea pot (0918): Another pot of deep pink hydrangea blooms and yellow-green foliage, a strip of white netting visible at the frame's edge, a black nursery pot alongside.

Potted coreopsis (0919): Yellow, red-centered coreopsis blooming in a black pot, tucked among tomato foliage and terracotta pot rims.

Cherry tomatoes on the vine (0920): Small, still-green cherry tomatoes clustered on the stem, shot through a screen of tomato leaves.

Netted peach tree, ripening fruit (0921): The potted peach tree under its fine-mesh netting, several fruit showing a pink-orange blush.

Eggplant fruit (0922–0923): A small, near-black eggplant hanging from a woody stem, framed by the plant's characteristic fuzzy, dusty-green leaves, with a terracotta pot in the background — the "eggplant growing" from the day's notes.

Peony bed, black fabric folded back (0924–0927): A wide strip of black woven weed-block fabric lying folded across the bed, its edges pinned down with loose red bricks, with peony foliage and stems sprawling out from beneath it and across its surface; a hose sprays over the plant in two of the frames. The fabric is still mostly in place rather than hauled away, more consistent with the "am I suffocating it" worry than a clean removal.

2026-07-23

Photo Review (Claude)

3 photos (IMG_0898–0900), 7:10–7:12am. A close-up of fine white netting draped over shrub foliage (0898); a straight-down shot of a cluster of staged terracotta and black pots being hosed down, including a pink zinnia, a leafy herb-like plant, and a climbing rose or bramble stem (0899); and a straight-down shot of a pink mophead hydrangea bloom growing beside an overturned pot, a weathered stone birdbath basin, and the corner of a green tarp (0900).

2026-07-20

Photo Review (Claude)

73 photos (IMG_0776–0848), all today 8:17–8:51am. Logged as "moved the tomato plant from the left side of the house to the right side for more sun, mowed the lawn, weeded the right side, put a black cover on the compost to heat it up, and threw out some weed-only pots into the compost" — the batch backs up several of those but not all of it directly. A staked tomato loaded with small green fruit does turn up in the right-side yard (0841, 0847). The lawn around the two empty raised beds there reads freshly, evenly mown throughout the back half of the batch. A wire cage with a black tarp and some bricks weighing down material inside (0837–0838) is the likely "black cover on the compost," though it's a different container than the black plastic totes elsewhere in the batch. Nothing in the batch clearly shows discarded pots or weeding in progress — the black totes (0796–0800) hold dark soil with a few volunteer sprouts, consistent with dumped pot soil but not proof of it. The largest share of the batch (roughly the first half) is fine-mesh insect netting being re-applied and re-tied over backyard shrubs, vines, and the potted peach tree, plus a long staged survey of nursery pots — none of which the stated summary mentioned.

Fence-line hydrangea and shrub netting (0776–0789): A blue mophead hydrangea against the weathered picket fence, then a sequence of close shots of fine white tulle netting being pulled and tied over neighboring shrubs along the same fence — a small green pop-up mesh cage propped at one shrub's base (0777), hands and boots visible pulling netting taut (0778), a hose watering the netted plants afterward (0789).

More netted shrubs down the fence line, wide shots (0790–0792): A garden hose spraying a row of netted shapes along the fence, one close-up showing an orange squash or pumpkin blossom poking out from under the mesh in a bed of tall grass.

Dead-looking shrub and butterfly bush near a utility box (0793–0795): A bare, mostly-brown shrub or small tree next to a mailbox-style post and a white utility box, a purple-flowering butterfly bush blooming beside it, road and a neighboring house visible behind the fence.

Black plastic totes with soil and volunteer sprouts (0796–0800): Two black nursery totes holding loose dark soil, a few thin green sprouts, and in one tote a thick woody root or stem — could plausibly be where dumped pot soil is now sprouting weeds, but nothing in the shot confirms it.

Grape cluster netting close-up (0801–0802): A cluster of small green grapes on the vine, wrapped tightly in fine mesh tied with blue twist-ties against a wooden stake.

Potted peach tree, netted and watered (0803–0810): A peach tree in a large black nursery pot, ripening orange-blushed peaches visible through the mesh netting draped over it, watered with a hose; the house's white siding is visible behind it in several frames, and a wide shot (0810) shows two more netted shapes on the lawn with the house in the background.

Staged potted-plant cluster near the raised beds (0811–0822): A long run of terracotta and plastic pots — roses, phlox, dianthus, hostas, groundcover — set out on mown grass beside the netted peach tree, continuing the same kind of nursery-pot staging seen in the 7/19 entry.

Same staging continues, house wall and raised beds visible (0823–0836): More potted plants along the foundation near a window, including a hard-pruned, mostly bare-branched shrub in a black pot (0825) reminiscent of — though not confirmed as — the one marked composted after the 7/19 scratch test. The two empty wooden raised beds and the lawn around them appear repeatedly in the background, consistently short and evenly cut.

Wire cage with black tarp and bricks (0837–0838): A cylindrical wire mesh cage in the grass holding a black tarp or cover weighted down with what look like bricks or pavers over a mix of yard debris — the best match in the batch for "put a black cover on the compost."

More peach-tree netting, house and street visible (0839–0840, 0844–0845): Further shots of the netted peach tree from different angles, one with a driveway and street visible behind the fence, another with the full house facade in the background.

Tomato plant, staked with fruit (0841, 0846–0847): A tomato plant staked with a green plant stake, small green tomatoes visible, first in a large black netted pot near the driveway, then in a terracotta pot on freshly mown grass beside blooming annuals and the trash bins — the strongest match for "moved the tomato plant to the right side for more sun."

Closing shot, bare-branched shrub (0848): Another hard-pruned shrub, mostly bare branches with sparse new growth, in a black pot on the mown lawn.

2026-07-19

Photo Review (Claude)

26 photos (IMG_0741–0742, 0751–0774). The first two (0741–0742) were actually taken the previous morning (7/18, 7:24am); the rest 12:19–12:33pm today. Logged as "cleaned up the shrubs in the front yard," but only IMG_0751 and the hard-pruned pot (0764–0765) actually document that — the rest of the batch turned out to be blue hydrangea blooms, backyard fruit-netting, and a staged cluster of potted nursery plants.

Blue hydrangea against the fence, from the day before (0741–0742): The same blue mophead hydrangea seen elsewhere on the site, several full blooms along the picket fence; some leaf-spot blemishes visible on the foliage but nothing that looks urgent.

Front foundation hedge, before cleanup (0751): A long, dense evergreen hedge (looks like yew) along the front of the house next to the driveway — still overgrown, floppy uneven top, browning/bare patches underneath, dead leaves and twig debris at the base. No matching after-shot of this hedge appears in the batch.

Rounded fence-line shrub, backyard (0752–0753): A dense, neatly rounded shrub (boxwood or holly) against the picket fence, already tidy, flanked by a blooming blue hydrangea and a red zero-turn mower parked alongside.

Side-yard shrub near patio (0754): A rounded, leafy shrub (possibly viburnum), already tidy, next to the A/C unit, a black compost tumbler, and patio furniture; orchard trees and mesh netting bags visible behind it.

Grape cluster netting, close-up (0755–0758): Sheer organza mesh bags tied with blue twist-ties over developing grape clusters on the vine — green berries visible through the mesh. Fruit protection, not shrub work.

Netted shrub/small tree in raised bed (0759): A shrub or small tree fully wrapped in white tulle netting, in a wooden raised bed amid tall unmown grass, shed and a second netted mass in the background.

Peach tree netting (0760, 0762): The peach tree wrapped in fine white mesh, orange-blushed peaches ripening on the branches.

Compost pile, side of the house (0761): A cylindrical wire mesh cage packed with dried cuttings and yard debris, sited along the side of the house near the fence — likely where the dead bare-branched shrub from the scratch test ended up.

Netted shrub near blooming hydrangea (0763): Another netted shrub by the fence, beside a magenta-flowering shrub (hydrangea or camellia) in bloom.

Hard-pruned potted shrub, the actual "after" shot (0764–0765): A deciduous shrub in a large black pot near the house siding, cut back hard to mostly bare branches with sparse new leaves and a few small red buds (possibly flowering quince), surrounded by other potted plants and patio furniture.

Potted nursery plants staged on the lawn (0766–0771): A cluster of terracotta and black pots holding assorted perennials/shrubs — pink and red blooms (impatiens or hibiscus), ornamental grass, groundcover — set out on mowed grass, plus one bare leafless twiggy shrub in a pot among the leafier ones. Looks like a plant-staging/holding area rather than shrub cleanup.

Backyard wide shots, staked and netted young trees (0772–0773): Views across the patio and backyard showing young trees/shrubs staked and netted for protection, with the hard-pruned potted shrub from 0764–0765 in the foreground.

Full, unpruned leafy shrub with buds (0774): A dense, leafy green shrub with small red/pink buds, still full and untrimmed, netting visible in the background.

2026-07-17

Photo Review (Claude)

44 photos (IMG_0690–0733), all from a single early-morning watering/walkthrough pass (6:23–6:39am).

Netted rose bush at the house foundation (0690–0698): Black insect/deer netting over a young rose planted tight against the siding — thorny reddish canes, one red bloom visible through the mesh, red brick edging underneath, a small volunteer oak seedling with browning leaves nearby, and a paper plant tag on the ground. Being hand-watered.

Sparse, mostly bare shrub in pots (0699–0700): A different specimen in large nursery pots near the rose — almost entirely bare, thin reddish-brown whip stems with only scattered leaves and pink-red bud tips. Worth a closer look — could be transplant shock or dieback rather than normal dormancy this late in the season.

Netted peach tree, fruit ripening (0701–0704): A small staked peach tree fully enclosed in fine white mesh, loaded with peaches at the pale-yellow-with-pink-blush near-ripe stage, sited near an empty wooden raised-bed frame.

Potted nursery/holding area, watering pass (0705–0722): A staging cluster of potted plants by the house being hand-watered — a pink mophead hydrangea in a terracotta pot, a chartreuse-leaved shrub (possibly golden ninebark or spirea), a fine threadleaf plant (possibly Amsonia or threadleaf coreopsis), a grassy clump in an urn pot (daylily or liriope), a fuzzy gray-green herb (likely sage), some spent seed-pod stems past bloom, and more pots of the same bare/leafless stock seen in 0699–0700 — suggesting that's a recurring batch, not a one-off. Several frames include hands/boots/hose rather than being pure plant shots.

Second netted berry shrub near the raised beds (0723–0724): Small round pink/red berries visible through mesh netting — possibly currant, gooseberry, or young blueberry; too obscured for a confident ID.

Wide shots, not garden (0725–0726): Mature oak canopy over the shed and deck, a ladder against the shed, and a car parked on the grass — property/structure context rather than plants.

Lawn close-up (0727): Mower-striped turf being watered, mixed with clover and weeds.

Netted trellis vine by the fence (0728): A green-netted climbing vine with broad leaves (likely squash, melon, or grape) on a stake trellis at a mulched bed edge.

Blue hydrangea at the fence (0729): A full, healthy blue mophead hydrangea against the wooden picket fence — the blue color points to acidic soil there, in contrast to the pink hydrangea in the staging pots earlier in this batch.

Bamboo-and-mesh tent over a young berry plant (0730–0733): A small netting tent staked with bamboo poles over a young plant with a few small red berries, species unclear through the sheer fabric — sited in mulch along the fence, with the same trellis vine from 0728 visible at the edge of frame.

2026-07-16

Photo Review (Claude)

46 photos (IMG_0622–0667) from a visit to Father Nature's Garden Center, browsing for flower and plant ideas for the garden. Also asked about asparagus crowns while there — sold out; the nursery said asparagus is only stocked in spring (around May), so it's too late in the season to plant this year and it'll have to wait until next spring.

Storefront (0622): Father Nature's Garden Center entrance sign, in the same shopping plaza as a Stop & Shop and Starbucks.

Hardy hibiscus (0623–0624): Shrub-form hibiscus with huge red and pink dinner-plate blooms, tagged "Luna Red Hardy Hibiscus" — a bold flowering-shrub idea for the yard.

Variegated Japanese iris (0625–0626): Sword-like variegated foliage perennial, tag reads "Variegated Japanese Iris," $24.99.

Lamb's ear (0627–0628): Fuzzy silver-grey foliage, tagged "Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears'" — full-sun, deer-tolerant.

Reblooming daylilies (0629–0630): Mauve/rose and yellow blooms, tagged "Rosy Returns" and "Happy Returns" Reblooming Daylily.

Swamp milkweed & catmint (0631): Pink-clustered swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) on a "NATIVE PLANTS" tag, next to a lavender/purple catmint.

Peppers & tomatoes rack (0632): Ornamental/hot chili peppers and young tomato starts on a wire vegetable-start display.

Eggplant 'Rosa Bianca' (0633): Pink-and-white striped eggplant variety, full-sun tag, several pots in a row.

Honeysuckle vine (0634): Small trellised "Goldflame Honeysuckle Vine."

Tomato seedling rack (0635–0636): Sign: "VEGETABLES STARTED EARLIER TO PRODUCE EARLIER, $6.99 EACH" — tomato starts tagged "Emerald's Veggies."

Parsley & celeriac (0637, 0645): Curly and flat-leaf Italian parsley in cell packs, plus a related celery-leaved herb likely tagged as celeriac.

Arugula & greens (0638): Arugula in bloom next to a red-stemmed green (beet or chard) and basil.

Thyme table (0639): Sign "ORGANIC VEGETABLES & HERBS CELL PACKS $4.99" over trailing English thyme.

Leeks, chives & mint (0640, 0644): Grassy leek foliage with chives and a reddish-stemmed mint nearby.

Herb table wide shot (0641): Lavender ("Grosso"), sage, and arugula together on the herb bench.

Lemon balm & santolina (0642): Tagged "Herb Lemon Balm," plus grey lavender-cotton (santolina) foliage.

Rosemary (0643): "Rosemary Tuscan Blue" in terra cotta pots.

Cleome & red tubular bloomer (0646): White spider flower (Cleome hassleriana) beside a plant with clustered scarlet tubular flowers (likely Cuphea or Salvia).

Red salvia flats (0647): Scarlet bedding salvia in cell packs plus a thin-leaved pink cosmos.

Nursery yard, trees (0648): Weeping tree, variegated shrub, and evergreen junipers along a brick paver path.

Purple-leaved shrubs (0649): Deep burgundy cut-leaf foliage shrub (likely purple-leaf elderberry or ninebark) mixed with green variegated types.

Japanese maple (0650): Small tree with deep red-purple lacy (dissectum-type) foliage.

Boxwood 'Sprinter' (0651): Dense green boxwood, pot marked "Deer Proof."

Bare tree, structural stake (0652): Leafless branching young ornamental tree staged among nursery stock.

Panicle hydrangea & salvia spikes (0653): White cone-shaped hydrangea blooms with purple flower spikes behind.

Daylily 'May Night Sage' (0654): Grassy daylily foliage, $39.99 price sign.

Raspberry (0655): "Northern Grown — Heritage Red Raspberry" bramble canes, a fall-bearing variety worth considering alongside the existing black raspberry patch.

Blueberry (0656): Two shrubs simply tagged "Blueberry."

Mixed hydrangeas & daylily display (0657): White panicle hydrangea, blue/pink mophead "Endless Summer" hydrangea, marigolds, and a coral daylily together.

Zinnias & annuals sign (0658): Double orange/red zinnias, sign "ASSORTED ANNUALS $9.99 OR 3 FOR $20," impatiens and coleus in the background.

Dianthus/pinks (0659): Grey-green foliage with frilled pink/red carnation blooms.

Variegated houseplant (0660): Yellow-and-green variegated pothos/philodendron-type foliage in a greenhouse tray.

Mojito mint (0661): Mint plants labeled "Mojito" and "Mojito Mint."

Potting bench, not a plant (0662): Watering can, bags of Black Gold potting mix, and empty pots in a general work area.

Elephant ear (0663): Colocasia with a large heart-shaped leaf and thick corm in a blue pot.

Colorful foliage & fig (0664): Caladium/syngonium-type foliage in yellow, orange, and green next to a dark-leaved fig tree.

Indoor/patio display (0665): Milkweed with white flower clusters, a monstera, and a candelabra-type Euphorbia cactus staged among wicker baskets.

Price tag close-up, not a plant (0666): Bottom of a plastic pot showing a $2.99 price sticker and barcode.

Store interior, not a plant (0667): Stacked terra cotta pots on a pegboard shelf next to shrink-wrapped July 4th flag bunting.

2026-07-15

Photo Review (Claude)

5 photos (IMG_0591–0592, 0599, 0611–0612), spanning three separate visits (7/13, 7/14, 7/15) — a netted berry bramble check plus two outdoor fry-up sessions.

Netted bramble, berries ripening (0591–0592): Blue insect netting over a black raspberry/wineberry bramble along the deck edge; scattered clusters of berries at every stage from green-yellow through orange to fully ripe red, with a few spent star-shaped calyxes. A frog-shaped sundial ornament sits half-hidden in the foliage nearby.

Outdoor fry-up, not garden (0599): A wok of oil frying a piece of battered fish over a propane burner on the patio table, with a second raw floured piece and an already-fried piece staged on a wire rack alongside a mesh skimmer and tongs.

Outdoor fry-up, not garden (0611–0612): A second fry session — the wok over an open flame on the same propane burner, a rack loaded with browned, breaded chicken drumsticks next to paler flour-dusted ones, propane tank and open lawn in the background.

2026-07-10

Photo Review (Claude)

21 photos (IMG_0470–0472, 0478–0495), taken over an early-morning watering pass plus a couple of unrelated shots (an outdoor fry-up, a car in the driveway) that landed in the same batch.

Outdoor fry-up, not garden (0470–0471): A wok of oil frying breaded chicken pieces over a propane burner on the patio table, with more pieces staged on a rack — kitchen activity, not a plant observation, but part of today's batch.

Driveway, not garden (0472): A car parked on the street out front — unrelated stray shot in the same batch.

Netted mulberry/berry sapling, fruit ripening (0478–0480): Fine white insect mesh tied with blue zip ties over a young berry sapling; a single dark, ripening berry visible through the netting. Ties and mesh look intact.

Nursery/staging area, potted flowers (0481–0482): Celosia (cockscomb) blooming pink/magenta in a terracotta pot next to a black nursery pot; blanket flower/coreopsis blooming yellow-orange in a black pot with a thyme pot and garden hose alongside.

Bare-branched shrub, still no scratch test (0483–0484): Same shrub flagged on the TODO list as needing a scratch-bark check — still mostly bare branches with only sparse new growth, so the alive/dead call still isn't resolved from a photo; scratch test still needed.

Wire mesh cage over ground planting (0485): A cylindrical wire cage/tunnel near the deck, with a vine trailing over the top — protecting a low planting from browsing.

Oregano/marjoram in bloom (0486): A terracotta pot of oregano or marjoram covered in small white flower clusters, sprawling well past the pot's rim.

Roses blooming, staging pots (0487): Two pink rose blooms on a rose bush growing among the staged terracotta pots — consistent with the rose cuttings/starts noted in prior walkthroughs.

Watering pass near the deck, netting and hydrangea (0488–0489): Green netting draped over a bed by the deck being watered through the mesh, with a pink flower poking through; a hydrangea nearby showing a single pale blue bloom against the fence.

Butterfly bush blooming, wide patio view (0490–0492): Butterfly bush in bloom with purple flower spikes near the deck; a wider shot shows the back of the house, deck furniture, red umbrella, and grill with the butterfly bush in the foreground.

Caged tomato, fruit sizing up (0493): The staked/caged tomato plant on the deck, now bushy, with at least one small green tomato visible — the same plant flagged on the TODO list as a candidate for eave training next season.

Bolting herb in nursery pot (0494–0495): A feathery, umbellifer-type herb (dill or similar) gone to seed in a black nursery pot, alongside a coir-wrapped stake and mixed seedlings in mulch/compost.

2026-07-09

Photo Review (Claude)

42 photos (IMG_0428–0469), taken while watering in the morning.

Berry/hydrangea fence line, watering pass (0428–0435): Hydrangea blooming white against the back fence, blackberry/raspberry canes and green exclusion netting all getting watered in turn — netting and stakes look intact.

Netted peach/nectarine, fruit sizing up (0436–0438): Potted peach trees under white mesh being watered directly through the netting; fruit continues to size up and blush, consistent with the 7/8 check-in.

Nursery/staging area, full watering pass (0439–0464): Wide sweep across the potted staging area — thyme, blanket flower/coreopsis blooming yellow-orange, several roses in bloom (coral/orange and pink, 0451–0453), rose cuttings, an orange daylily in full bloom with a pink/magenta companion bloom (0448), boxwood-type shrub, and general pot-by-pot condition checks. All consistent with prior walkthroughs.

Bare-branched shrub in black pot (0457): Same shrub flagged on the TODO list as needing a scratch-bark check — still mostly bare branches with only sparse new growth visible in the photo, so the alive/dead call still isn't clear from a photo alone; scratch test still needed.

Netted shrub near the street (0441–0442): A separate netted potted shrub photographed with the street and a neighboring house in the background — different spot from the back-fence staging area, being watered on the same pass.

Black netting over potted plants, pink roses visible (0465–0469): A cluster of pots under black shade/exclusion netting, with pink rose blooms poking through and what looks like a strawberry planting among them, all getting watered through the mesh.

2026-07-08

Photo Review (Claude)

34 photos (IMG_0387–0420).

Blueberries ready to start picking (0402–0405, 0412): The potted blueberry bushes under mesh netting near the fence show the classic uneven-ripening spread — green, pink-blushed, and a solid number of fully dusty-blue ripe berries all on the same clusters (clearest in 0402 and 0403). Blueberries don't ripen all at once; pick the dark blue ones now and check back every 3–4 days for the next flush.

Grapes not ready (0387–0391): Clusters under the teal netting are still small, hard, and uniformly green with no veraison (color/softening change) yet. Long Island grapes typically don't start coloring until August; recheck in 3–4 weeks for softening and translucency starting at the base of each cluster.

Netted peach/nectarine tree, fruit advancing (0417–0418): Fruit on the tagged peach trees (Indian Free Peach / Tri Lite Peach-Plum, see 7/7 diary) is visibly larger and blushing more orange/pink than the 7/7 check-in, still fully protected under mesh.

Berry/orchard patch overview (0396): Wide shot of the tented mesh structures along the back fence line covering the blueberries and grape vine together — all netting intact, poles upright, neighboring house and fence visible for reference.

Roses blooming, two locations (0410, 0419–0420): An unnetted coral/orange rose flowering freely in the potted staging cluster (0410), and a separate netted rose with vivid magenta blooms growing low among rocks near the ground (0419–0420) — both look protected and healthy.

Butterfly bush blooming (0397): A tall butterfly bush (Buddleja) in a metal tub by the back fence is sending up purple flower spikes, growing next to the utility/AC boxes; a dead, browned vine is tangled in the tree canopy directly above it and may be worth cutting out.

Tomato fruiting (0399–0401): The caged tomato plant has a small green fruit forming and continues to bush out, staked and healthy.

Dill/fennel gone to seed, repurposed grill planter (0398): Same container noted on 7/7 — dill/fennel seed heads drying with self-sown seedlings coming up underneath.

Hydrangeas starting to bloom (0407, 0416): Two separate potted hydrangeas showing their first flowers of the season — a terracotta pot with pink blooms just opening (0407), and a second plant under mesh netting with small purple/pink clusters also just starting (0416).

Potted nursery/staging area check (0406, 0408–0409, 0411–0413, 0415): General condition pass — ornamental grass-type plant in a decorative pot, mint, thyme, blanket flower/coreopsis blooming yellow-orange (0415), sage, a small potted rose cutting, and a low sprawling groundcover with tiny white flowers. All consistent with prior walkthroughs, no new species spotted.

Mesh/netting spot checks (0392–0395): Netting over mulched beds and tied around tree trunks and a metal hardware bracket, all still secured with ties — no gaps or damage found.

2026-07-07

Photo Review (Claude)

64 photos (IMG_0306–0369).

Rescued curbside azalea (0306–0309): A leggy, sparsely-leaved azalea shrub spotted set out for the trash on a walk — photographed through the car window before pickup. Bare, arching branches with only small clusters of new leaf growth; no root ball or pot visible in these shots. Worth a monitored spot in a nursery pot to see if it leafs out further; azalea can often resprout from old wood if the roots are intact.

Fruit trees identified by nursery tag (0341–0347): Two of the netted fruit trees in the side yard still carry their original Raintree Nursery tags, finally giving names to trees previously logged only as "peach/nectarine": Indian Free Peach (tag C5224, red-fleshed heirloom peach) and Tri Lite Peach/Plum (tag C351, semi-dwarf). A third tree from the same order, per the nursery's plant-care emails, is a Kokuso Korean Mulberry — likely the same mulberry the deer were noted eating earlier this season (6/19 diary). Fruit on the tagged peach trees is now sizing up and blushing pink under the exclusion netting (0345, 0347). Added to the Flower Inventory fruit table with these specific names.

Roses blooming in the back field (0317): A netted rose with vivid magenta blooms growing low among grass and rocks — flowering well and looks protected and healthy under the mesh.

Staging-area check, potted plants (0311–0316, 0318–0340, 0348–0353): General condition check of the side-yard nursery/staging area — thyme, basil, oregano cuttings, blanket flower/coreopsis still blooming yellow-and-maroon in a black pot (0331, 0344), hydrangea (mophead and lacecap) both still flowering, a rose cutting under netting, hosta-type broadleaf seedlings, and a large black tote with dill/fennel gone to seed alongside self-sown seedlings (0362). All consistent with the 7/2–7/4 walkthroughs, no new species spotted here.

Wire/mesh cages and netting (0310, 0349, 0354–0369): Spot check of the exclusion structures — a rolled green-and-white wire cage over a berry patch, and the white mesh netting over the peach trees and a nearby blueberry bush (0364, showing ripe dark berries mixed with green ones through the mesh) — all intact and well-secured with zip ties and bricks.

2026-07-04

Photo Review (Claude)

68 photos (IMG_0123–0190).

Netted peach/nectarine trees (0123, 0130, 0155): Fruit continuing to ripen well under the mesh, foliage full and healthy, netting still well-secured.

Netted blueberry/serviceberry-type shrub near the foundation (0124, 0172–0175): Berries visible through the mesh ranging from green to pink-blushed to a few fully dark ripe ones — a wide spread of ripening stages on the same shrub.

Netted grape vine (0180–0182): Clusters of small green grapes sizing up nicely under both white mesh and the teal netting, consistent with earlier check-ins.

Netted roses, blooming (0129, 0176–0178): Pink blooms visible through the mesh at more than one location around the yard; one netting bundle was seen resting against the deck railing near a rose cane, not yet fully redeployed.

Netted peony-like shrub with browning blooms (0158–0159, 0168–0169): Flowers past peak and fading to brown, still fully enclosed in netting.

Boxwood shrub (0128): Full and healthy, with an old knot/cavity visible in the woody growth — worth keeping an eye on but not obviously a problem.

Potted seedlings and starts (0125, 0139, 0176, 0187, 0189–0190): A pepper seedling and tomato plants continuing to establish in terracotta pots; one large terracotta pot held a thriving carrot/parsley-like plant gone to seed alongside self-sown seedlings in a black tote; a caged tomato in a terracotta pot is now vigorous and bushy with its first small green fruit forming.

Herb and flower pots — thyme, coreopsis/blanket flower, daylily (0131–0134, 0137–0138): Thyme overflowing its terracotta pot; blanket flower/coreopsis blooming in yellow-and-maroon bicolor from two angles; daylily-like strappy foliage and a wide shot of the clustered pots including a white hydrangea bloom.

Mesh netting close-up (0135): A macro shot of the insect netting weave itself — texture reference, no plant visible.

Watering in progress (0136, 0147–0148, 0166, 0179): Several shots catch the hose spraying potted peppers, a hydrangea, and the rose/netting area near the deck — confirms another watering pass through the staging area.

Hydrangea with dried clematis-type seed pods (0140–0146): A gray-potted hydrangea being actively watered, plus close-ups of dried seed pods and leaves nearby; a pink rose bud also visible among the cluster.

Water-propagation cuttings in terracotta saucers (0149–0150): Garlic/onion-like stems continuing to root in standing water, same setup as prior batches.

Basil in black pots (0151–0152): Thriving and bushy, propagation saucer visible nearby.

Empty gray pots with weeds and dormant rose canes (0153–0154): Not yet replanted for the season.

Vine cuttings near foundation stones (0145–0146): Small cuttings started in a gray bucket, wide view of the bucket cluster.

Netting secured with bricks and blue zip ties (0157, 0170): Ground-level netting anchored with bricks; a separate large netting sheet over a shrub cinched down with blue zip ties, mulched raised bed in the foreground.

Netting with dew droplets (0160–0161): Two close angles showing morning dew beaded on the mesh.

Wide yard/house establishing views (0162–0165, 0167): Several broader shots of the white-sided house, deck, red umbrella, raised garden beds, and multiple large netting-covered shrub/tree structures scattered across the yard — a good overview of how much of the property is now under bird/deer protection.

Netting draped over rose canes near wooden raised beds (0176–0178): Rolled/loose netting resting against the deck alongside blooming roses, not yet re-secured over the canes.

Terracotta saucer with pepper seedling and clover (0176): A small pepper seedling sharing a saucer with volunteer clover ground cover.

Wide shot with willow-like plant, galvanized tub, and chicken wire (0183): A tall, willowy plant staked up in a galvanized tub near the deck, with chicken wire and PVC visible in the background — likely related to the raspberry netting structure from the prior batch.

Compost/planter tub with self-sown seedlings (0184): A black tub of dark mulch/compost with scattered small seedlings coming up, plus an emptied nursery pot with dried-out roots.

Butterfly Bush Blooming (spot check)

The young potted butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) staked near the house — likely the same willowy plant in the galvanized tub seen at 0183 above — has opened its first purple flower spike. Added to the Flower Inventory and Bloom Calendar as a new species.

2026-07-03

Watered the plants in the morning and took photos along the way.

Photo Review (Claude)

80 photos (IMG_0023–0102) — first batch on a new camera-roll numbering sequence.

Peach/nectarine trees, netted (0023–0030, 0063): The star finding of this batch — at least one netted fruit tree now has fruit clearly blushing pink/orange against green, a real step forward in ripening. Foliage is full and healthy, netting intact and well-secured with cable ties.

Blueberry bush, netted (0031–0038): Berries visible through the mesh are still mostly green but a good number are turning that early pink/blush color — not ripe yet, but on track. Netting holding up well against birds/deer.

Grape vine, netted: Clusters of small green grapes continuing to size up under the netting, consistent with the 6/30 check-in.

Tomato in terracotta pot: Bright, vigorous green growth — doing noticeably well compared to some of the other potted plants.

Willow-like plant in large silver/galvanized pot; black tote as herb/seedling planter: Both continuing to establish. The black tote is clearly being used as an improvised large planter for basil and seedlings.

Propagation pots (0065–0069, 0087–0089): Several small buckets and terracotta pots hold cuttings and starts — oregano, thyme, and what looks like rooting sage — mixed in with a couple of pots of bare potting mix ready for the next round. Classic "bulk up what worked" propagation, in line with the Chapter 5 book note about trialing perennials close to the house before spreading them.

Daylily in large stone urn (0070–0073): One orange bloom open, more buds coming, healthy strappy foliage.

Blanket flower / coreopsis, yellow-and-maroon bicolor (0077–0078): Blooming well in a black nursery pot, several open flowers and buds.

Hydrangea, lacecap type, in terracotta pot (0079–0080): Blooming nicely with pastel pink/blue/purple florets — a highlight among the potted plants.

Watering in progress (0080–0086, 0090–0092): Several shots catch the hose spray mid-stream over the pot staging area — confirms this batch was taken during the morning watering pass as described.

Large pot-staging area, overall: The collection has grown further — sage, mint (flowering white), basil, sedum-type cuttings, a rosemary, an azalea/shrub with new red growth, and a dormant/dead-looking shrub in a broken gray pot that's still worth a bark-scratch check. Spent bulb foliage (garlic or allium, flopped over) is drying down in a couple of pots — normal end-of-season die-back, not a problem.

Second netted rose bush, blooming (0095–0100): A rose in black bird netting is now flowering — bright magenta/pink blooms plus a few deep red ones, several buds still to open. Netting and cable ties intact.

Teal bird-netted rose at ground level (0101): A separate low rose/bramble planting wrapped in the same teal netting used elsewhere on the property, with a healthy dark-pink bloom visible through the mesh.

Boxwood shrub (0100): A full, healthy green boxwood — good dense growth, no dieback visible.

Ground cover close-up (0102): Clover and small white fleabane daisies blooming in the lawn/bed edge, alongside young Virginia creeper and wood-strawberry-type ground cover — a reminder of how much volunteer ground cover has filled in this season.

Later in the morning: added new netting over the raspberry canes to keep birds off them, and weeded the grass out of the cilantro bed.

Photo Review (Claude) — midday update

9 photos (IMG_0106–0114).

New raspberry netting (0106, 0110–0111): Two clear plastic netting tents now cover the raspberry canes along the back fence, each staked up with bamboo poles and a white PVC pole for structure. A rose cutting is tied to one of the stakes with a small marker ribbon. Wood chip mulch surrounds the base — good, tidy protection against birds going after the berries.

Bird in the shade tree (0107–0109): A gray-brown bird with a long tail (likely a gray catbird or brown thrasher, both known raspberry raiders) perched watching from the big tree overhead — good timing to have just netted the raspberries.

Cilantro bed, weeded (0112–0114): Close-ups of the freshly weeded bed — dark compost-rich soil now clear of grass, with the feathery cilantro seedlings left standing. A black nursery pot with more cilantro sits nearby by the AC unit/deck. Bed looks much cleaner and the cilantro has room to grow without grass competing for water and nutrients.

2026-06-30

Checked on the grape vine.

Photo Review (Claude)

1 photo (IMG_9899).

Grape clusters under netting (9899): A close-up through the teal bird netting draped over the grape vine. A cluster of small, firm green grapes is clearly visible — pea-sized, tightly packed, classic mid-summer fruit set. The vine has healthy large leaves. Netting is in good shape. Grapes are on track — expect color change and ripening in late July to August depending on variety.

2026-06-22

Covered the grape plant with white plastic mesh netting (same approach as the fruit trees on 6/21 — deer protection). Removed the fencing on the left side of the house.

Photo Review (Claude)

12 photos (IMG_9668–9679).

Grape plant covered (9668–9670): The grape vine in the northwest backyard corner is now fully draped in white plastic mesh netting — a large dome of foliage underneath. Same netting used on the fruit trees. Looks well-secured. The wood chip area around it is intact.

Backyard overview (9671): Wide view shows the covered grape at left, bamboo-staked young trees in the middle zone, and the rhododendron/oak canopy at the back. No fencing visible on the left side — that section is now open.

NW corner (9672): The back-left corner of the yard — a couple of chairs and pots tucked under the trees, a pile of material (compost?). Relaxed, informal area.

Side yard raised beds (9673–9674): The two raised beds in the side yard now each have individual plants covered with white netting. Good to see — consistent deer protection across all vulnerable plants. Trash bins visible between beds.

Pot collection — now much larger (9675–9679): The staging area has grown significantly — now 15+ pots spread across the backyard and along the back of the house. Notable additions: - A rose bush with red blooms in a black pot — looks healthy and flowering - Several more herb pots (oregano, mint, basil type plants) added to the lineup - The three large netted fruit trees in black pots are still mid-backyard (9677–9678)

Left side of house (9679): The fencing is gone — that area is now open along the back/left side of the house. Pots are lined up along the house wall. More space and less clutter without the fence sections.

2026-06-27

Planned the outdoor kitchen. The NW corner cooking spot under the big trees is getting formalized: clear the overgrowth, build a cedar counter/shelf/tool-rack unit lag-bolted between the two large trunks, organize the existing Webers and wok burner around it.

Photo Review (Claude)

13 photos (IMG_9785–9801).

Nina's art (9785): "Mustasche Village" — a hand-drawn map with 3D paper buildings by Nina. Not garden-related but a nice artifact.

Cooking setup close-up (9790, 9801): The high-BTU propane wok burner in action on the round wooden table — a cast iron wok with meat/fish cooking at high heat. A wire rack, tongs, and strainer laid out alongside. Clearly serious cooking happens out here.

The cooking corner (9791–9800): Multiple angles of the NW corner under the mature tree canopy. Two Weber kettle grills, the round table, and two wooden benches all sit under the trees. The area is overgrown with sumac seedlings, wisteria, and Virginia creeper. A ladder and wire animal cage are visible in the back. The ground is bare dirt and leaf mulch under the tree canopy.

Outdoor Kitchen Design (approved)

Spec at docs/superpowers/specs/2026-06-27-outdoor-kitchen-design.md. Implementation plan at superpowers/plans/2026-06-27-outdoor-kitchen.md.

The plan: - Clear the ~15×15 ft zone (cut sumac, wisteria, Virginia creeper ground cover; remove round table; rake) - Build a cedar counter/shelf/tool-rack unit lag-bolted between the two large trunk anchors: - Bottom platform (~4"): propane tank + charcoal storage - Mid shelf (~18"): torch, lighter, tongs, small tools - Counter (~34"): primary prep surface - Overhead bar (~6.5 ft): S-hooks for wok, tongs, strainer, grill baskets - Flank the unit with both Weber kettle grills - Position wok burner in front, propane hose running to tank in the unit - Add wood chips to ground once landscaper chips are available (already on to-do list)

Site map updated: Outdoor kitchen zone added to resources/site_map_full.svg — orange-shaded NW corner zone with two anchor trees, built-in unit rectangle, two Weber grill circles, and wok burner circle. PNG regenerated.

2026-06-25

Moved the grilling station to the woods edge where there's a lot of shade. It's farther to carry food back and forth, but grilling at the back of the house was just too hot with no shade — not sustainable in summer. The new spot should make it much more comfortable to actually use.

Also watering the plants. Photo from the Wyze camera (bought a while back) — setting it up to catch deer eating the plants. It has motion detection, so it should alert when something moves in the garden at night.

2026-06-21

Added clear plastic netting over the fruit trees and blueberries (deer protection, following the 6/17 deer damage).

Photo Review (Claude)

6 photos (IMG_9652–9657) taken ~4:11 PM.

Netted trees in black pots (9652–9655, 9657): 3 large black nursery pots, each with a tree or blueberry shrub now wrapped in clear plastic mesh netting, secured at the base. The plants inside look leafy and healthy — good foliage visible through the netting. One of the netted pots has been moved into or right next to a raised bed (9657). Good response to the deer damage from 6/17.

Raised beds (9657): Both beds visible, soil looks bare and freshly worked. A wheelbarrow is parked nearby. Looks like prep is underway.

Smaller pots — still out front (9655–9656): The lineup of smaller herbs/seedlings continues along the front of the property — galvanized bucket, several terracotta pots with green herbs, all looking okay.

Bare-branched shrub (9656): Still completely bare — no leaf-out at all in late June. Almost certainly dead. The galvanized metal pot it's in also has some grass-like growth (garlic? iris?) that looks fine. The shrub itself should probably be pulled and the pot reused.

2026-06-19

Photo Review (Claude)

13 photos (IMG_9575–9587) taken ~7:22 AM.

Front/side yard — bird netting (9575–9579): A large piece of bird netting is draped and partly collapsed over the front-left area near the driveway, covering 3 terracotta pots underneath. Looks like it was protecting something and has sagged. Needs to be re-secured or put away.

Backyard — pot staging area (9580–9586): A row of ~8–9 pots has been lined up in the grass midyard. The lineup includes: - Large black nursery pot with a bare, woody multi-stemmed shrub — still no leaves; this is the one from the TODO (scratch bark to check if alive) - Decorative ceramic pot with grass-like foliage (garlic? iris? ornamental grass) - Galvanized metal bucket with small seedlings - Several terracotta pots with herbs — fine-leafed (thyme?), small bushy growth - Large black nursery pot on the end with lush green leafy herbs (parsley or cilantro, doing well)

The raised beds are visible in the background. The lawn looks dry and patchy. White markers and string lines are laid out across the back lawn — possibly planning/staking future bed locations.

Zinnia in bloom (9587): Red-and-yellow bicolor zinnia, just opening with more buds coming. Very healthy. In a pot with wire mesh surround.

What this shows: - Active reorganization of pots — still staging, not planted in ground yet - The bare-branched shrub has been out here through the heat with no sign of leaf-out — bark-scratch check is overdue - String/marker layout in the back lawn looks like real planning is happening for new beds

2026-06-17

• the deer ate some of my plants and trees.. very disheartening. i thought they wouldn't since it's at the side of the house but i guess they like the mulberry tree. i'll take pictures later.

2026-06-16

• Moved herbs from left side of house (shaded, front fence bed) to right side of house where it gets more sun — herbs now lined up along string line
• Added cardboard to compost to correct C:N ratio (was too heavy on grass clippings)
• Added string line along the right side of the house to mark the exact wall location for bed planning
• Still need to move indoor plants back inside

Photo Review (Claude)

63 photos taken 06:42–06:44am across three zones.

Herb move: Original left-side spot (front fence, large boxwood) is clearly shadier — good call. New right-side location shows ~6–7 pots lined up along the string, including small bushy herbs and one larger bare-branched shrub in a black pot. The red 55-gallon barrel is already on site near the downspout with a corrugated flex tube — looks like it's already positioned for rainwater collection.

Backyard: Wire mesh enclosure near the patio with young fruit trees and herb pots inside (mulched floor) — good nursery setup for deer/rabbit protection. Northwest corner is lush and informal — future orchard zone.

Side yard: Wide open grass area between the string line and the street — this is the prime expansion zone with direct morning sun. 2–3 additional pots near the front corner with young seedlings including what looks like lettuce. Existing raised beds visible at the far east end.

What to do next: 1. Cover the old herb spot (front fence bed) with cardboard + compost — bare soil, weeds will move in fast 2. Lay cardboard from string line to house wall now — smothers the grass; ready to plant by fall 3. Check the bare-branched shrub: scratch the bark to see if it's still alive 4. When indoor plants come back in, keep those pots outside for fall transplanting

2026-06-14

From Notes

Therese is cleaning up the garden beds.

2026-06-08

From Notes

let’s create an outdoor garden From the photo, it looks most like a mite rather than an insect. The bright orange color, tiny size, and body shape make me think of either: Clover Mite Velvet Mite (especially if it appeared slightly fuzzy under magnification) It does not look like a tick to me. Ticks are usually darker, more oval-shaped, and their legs are clustered near the front of the body. Since you’re on Long Island and have been asking about gardening, a common scenario is that it came from: Grass or lawn areas Mulch Strawberry beds or other garden plants Shrubs and flowers A few questions that would help: Was it crawling quickly or moving slowly? Did you find it after working in the yard? About how big was it—pinhead-sized (1 mm) or larger? If you can get an even closer photo (using your iPhone’s macro mode or by putting the bug on a white sheet of paper), I can give a more confident identification. Based on this image alone, my best guess is some type of orange mite, likely a clover mite or related species, which is generally harmless to people.

2026-06-02

From Notes

flowers are blooming peonies, roses, and dogwood looks pretty

2026-06-01

From Notes

my peonies are in bloom

2026-06-01

From Notes

planted the seeds this afternoon.. i planted all of them in one box, let's see if they will grow.

2026-05-27

From Notes

backyard garden 2026-05-27 i removed the dead apple tree i planted the dark red columbine flower into a pot These look like a dark red variety of Columbine, probably a cultivar related to “Black Barlow” or another deep burgundy hybrid. A few clues from your photos: The nodding, bell-like flowers with long curved spurs are classic columbine traits. The delicate stems and divided leaves also match columbine. They’re perennial flowers that often self-seed in gardens. Your plant looks a little heat-stressed or past peak bloom: The curled petals and drooping blooms suggest the flowers are aging. Columbines often fade quickly once weather gets hot. Care tips: Partial sun is usually better than full harsh afternoon sun. Keep soil moderately moist. Deadhead old flowers if you want a tidier look or more blooms. If you let seed pods mature, they’ll often reseed naturally. One thing to watch: the plant nearby with thorny canes and serrated leaves looks like a wild bramble/blackberry type and may start crowding the columbine.

2026-05-27

From Notes

indoor plant status i moved the monstero into a big pot.. the exiting plant in the big pot died

2026-05-26

From Notes

i found out that the deer was killing my rose bush.. i see branches of the rose bush cut off.. i'm so mad.. i put a net around it to protect the rose bush.. let's see what happens.

2026-05-21

From Notes

backyard grden pictures 2025-05-21

2026-05-16

From Notes

made a fence so that the deer don't eat my plants .. hopefully it works.

2026-05-11

From Notes

i cut the tree down For a typical Long Island backyard like yours, I would probably remove it unless you specifically want a fast-growing shade tree or wildlife tree. Reasons to remove it: It’s very close to your seating area and fence. Locusts grow aggressively and can become hard to manage. They commonly send up suckers everywhere from the roots. The wood becomes brittle with storms as they age. If it’s a Honey Locust, thorns can become a real problem. It’s currently skinny and leaning, which usually means it won’t develop into a particularly attractive specimen without major pruning/training. Reasons you might keep it: You want fast shade quickly. You like a naturalized / woodland backyard look. Black Locust flowers are great for pollinators. The wood is extremely rot-resistant if you ever use it for stakes or outdoor projects. If it were my yard: I’d remove this one while it’s still easy. Then plant something more intentional in the spot. For Long Island, good replacements: Serviceberry Pawpaw Persimmon Asian pear Disease-resistant apple Eastern redbud (ornamental) Given your interest in gardening and building a nice backyard setup, a smaller multi-purpose tree would probably make the space feel more designed and less overgrown over time.

2026-05-11

From Notes

i beautify the front yard by planting the basil plant into a bigger pot.. let's see if it keeps growing.

2026-05-11

From Notes

I watered the plants. Time to do some gardening

2026-05-04

From Notes

sunshade for backyrd

2026-04-21

From Notes

need to create a project page for my garderning needs

• [ ] buy bare root asparagus crowns (2026/03/20)
• [ ] plant strawberries (2026/03/20)
• [ ] fix up the hydroponics planet and see if it works for you (2026/03/21)

2025-08-16

From Notes

2025-07-07

From Notes

2025-07-06

From Notes

the hydraenge are starting to bloom now.

2025-06-25

From Notes

i bought a rosemary plant at walmart since my other died. i planted it with the tree to save space.

2025-06-11

From Notes

2025-05-28

From Notes

2025-05-25

From Notes

• starting to flower

# yellow knock out roses

• starting to flower

# Kokuso Korean Mulberry

• after deers ate the leaves of my mulberry plant, i set up a fence so the deer doesn't do it again
• the leaves are starting to sprout

# sage bush

• i potted a sage bush because I want it to be portable
• it's looking alive and well, hopefully it continues to grow

# japanese maple

• i potted the japanese maple tree and moved it to a place which gets more sun
• hopefully it will do a lot better ther
• i also trimmed some of the dead branches off.

# william's pride apple tree

• i think my apple trees are finally fruiting
• hopefully, it's been a few years

# liberty apple tree

• this apple tree i had to replant to a pot
• it started falling down and the roots where not established
• i think some mole or undedrground creature ate the soil undeerneath it.
• i thought it was dead but it's starting to bud again.

# blueberry bush

• the blueberry bush is starting to fruit
• should i put a net around it so it doesn't get eaten by birds?

# dogwood tree on side of the house

• not flowering yet
• in fact the other dogwood tree is also not flowering

# Tri Lite Peach/Plum

• lots of leaves growing
• looks very healthy and alive

# Indian Free Peach

• continues to stay dormant
• no budding

2025-05-16

From Notes

2025-05-10

From Notes

• bought if for mother's day

2025-05-08

From Notes

Ppppp

2025-04-30

From Notes

2025-04-26

From Notes

• https://nativegardendesigns.wildones.org/create-your-garden-plan/
• i need to study my site and figure out what plants are growing in my front yard and backyard
• moles are pretty good
• maybe don't kill it
• https://www.humanegardener.com/moles-underground-wonders/

2025-04-17

From Notes

indian free peach/dwarf tri lite peach/small dwarf kokuso korean mulberry

2024-11-12

From Notes

2024-10-23

From Notes

• the neighbor took out some trees in the side of the house
• hopefully he will add fences to it.
• https://imgur.com/a/rvTGbzU

2024-08-03

From Notes

• need to wait until i reach 30$ so that shipping is free at walmart

2024-06-18

From Notes

2024-05-22

From Notes

2024-05-20

From Notes

2024-05-17

From Notes

2024-05-16

From Notes

• i noticed the dogwood tree stopped blooming

2024-05-09

From Notes

2024-05-03

From Notes

• plant blooming
• need to figure out what tree this is

2024-04-21

From Notes

imgur.com/eEj78ZF.jpeg)

2024-04-21

From Notes

2024-04-14

From Notes

• planted grapes in backyard
• portable pots for now
• the one closest to the front street is the red grape seedless canadice
• the one farther away is the green grape seedless himrod

2024-04-07

From Notes

2024-02-11

From Notes

2024-01-16

From Notes

#backyard #garden #status #november #y2024

2023-12-19

From Notes

#backyard #garden #status #december #y2023

2023-12-13

From Notes

#backyard #garden #status #december #y2023

2023-12-06

From Notes

#backyard #garden #status #december #y2024

2023-11-27

From Notes

#backyard #garden #status #november #y2023 https://imgur.com/YEjXAjx https://imgur.com/Dt1qPRF

2023-11-20

From Notes

#backyard #garden #status #november #y2024

2023-11-13

From Notes

#backyard #garden #status #november #y2024

2023-11-05

From Notes

%garden %photo-album %backyard @2023 @2023-11-05 #backyard #garden #status tasks:

• [x] need to trim the hedges
• [x] use the string trimmer to cut off the weeds
• [x] move the containers from the side of the house to the side of the fence

2023-10-14

From Notes

I set up a wire mesh fence around the fruit trees to prevent the deer from eating it. My first attempt using fishing lines around both apple trees did not work. My current attempt is to put a wire mesh 4ft high around each tree. Hopefully this works.

2023-10-14

From Notes

My first attempt to protect my apple trees was to put a wire mesh mix with fishing lines. This did not work as the deer was able to get into the fish line part of the fence. Early in the morning, a family of deer go to my property. I would need to create a big fence around my whole property which is really expensive to do right now. I now bought extra wire mesh. Each apple tree is completely surrounded. Hopefully, the deer won't be able to nibble on the leaves of the apple tree. I know it's a bit ugly having these wire mesh in the back yard but I need these for now until the apple trees are a bit bigger.

2023-06-26

From Notes

I put some t-post and fishing wire to fence my garden bed and fruit trees. Hopefully it keeps the deer away, if not, I'll try other solutions.

2023-04-14

From Notes

# liberty apple ![Uploading file...ffw7u]() ![Uploading file...3xfhd]() ![Uploading file...7siym]() ![Uploading file...d89iv]() ![Uploading file...518cm]() ![Uploading file...6izmn]() ![Uploading file...46ofc]()

2022-09-08

From Notes

• 2022-07-09 - just finished setting the first load of wood chips on the side of the backyard.
• 2022-09-08 - just got a second load of wood chips; covering the border of the property with them.

2022-04-17

From Notes