green lawn

Papa’s World – Weed and Feed – then irrigation!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

While our roses are doing really well – the lawn needs some care –

So – I have been every two weeks – doing a little ‘WEED and FEED”!

The centipede grass is slowly coming out of its Winter brown state!

But this year we have a lot of new weeds that seem to have made their presence known!

Above are the Swedish Pink Roses on this side of the house!

After spreading the Weed and Feed – it was TIME to run the irrigation system –

Giving the lawn a good soaking!

We are at the side of the enclosed lanai and the palm tree!

We have had all the landscaping done in the past 2 1/2 years and are done!

This is the backyard and we have six zones for irrigation!

The Crepe Myrtles were also placed in our landscaping.

The tree line is a protected area and will not be cleared.

We sold all of our lawn equipment when we moved here to N.C. –

Now that I am 75 years old – mowing is not at the top of my list –

So we hire a young man to mow – and trim –

He does lawn maintenance with fertilizer and pre-emptive growth-

but for some reason this year we have some weed!

We have had so much rain and really heavy at times –

this area gets like a small stream running through it and down to the woods.

It washes the sand out from underneath –

Trying to come up with a solution to remedy this!

But – this is the backyard with the trees put in place.

The outdoor patio with our Tower Garden is also here!

Finally the other side yard with the red roses at the top –

The lawn will come back – it will take time –

I now have the irrigation system on automatic.

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

WEED AND FEED – THEN IRRIGATION! PAPA’S WORLD!!!!!!

Papa’s World – Backyard – SNAKE watching!

/ Tom / Leave a comment
Sitting on my open-air patio – I have seen two snakes on the lawn in a couple days!

This has been the first time I have seen snakes in the backyard!

I knew they were around – I was sitting out here and saw my first one

about twenty feet away.

I am respectful of snakes as long as they keep their distance.

This one was coming through the grass straight at me!

I first saw it right over the top of the solo stove in the shade to the right of the palm tree.

When I got up and took a step toward it – it stopped and raised its head.

It was not afraid of me and just stayed where it was at.

I managed to get a picture of it and later identified it as non-poisnous

But it was long – and extensive around – a water snake someone said.

Now – we are in a drought and very dry.

The woods is where it came from and there is a pond about a quarter-mile away.

But no water back there.

The woods line the entire backyard and are protected and will stay there.

I know snakes are in there but we do not go near them and always are watching and looking down.

The next day I saw a small black snake – in the same place!

Both snakes – as soon as I turned away – reversed their direction and very quickly went back into the woods.

Since then I have made sure the grass is cut low – they like long grass –

and we bought SNAKE-BE-GONE and MOTH BALLS!

I spread it all along the tree line – so far have not seen anymore.

But – our neighbors down the street – had a timber rattler in their yard that bit their dog!

They rushed it to the vet and was saved and took a picture of the snake,

So – we are careful when out in the yard or walking the streets and paths.

We are investigating other methods of snake control –

we have several species of dangerous snakes in this state.

I respect nature but also want to protect ourselves and our company.

It is all part of living in the south.

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD

MY BLOG SITE: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog BACKYARD – SNAKE WATCHING fitztdf@aol.com

Papas World – Sheltering Day#51 – yard work – planting

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Finally – it would be warm all day – mid ’70’s – bright sunshine

Time to get outside after all the rain and cold days!

Even though we have had to stay inside from our walks

The rain has left the lawn thick and lush!

I have now mowed at least a half dozen times – seems like every 4 days

except when it rains and then I sneak it in between showers!

The side yard has really filled in – that has been my problem area

I also started two years ago – putting lime pellets down

in the fall time!

One of the outdoor Tower Gardens – the other is in the enclosed patio

It has been cold at night – high 30’s to mid 40’s –

yet with all the rain and peaks of sunshine – it is growing!

We decided this year LESS IS MORE in planting flowers!

99 % of the greens you see – flower and come up each year

except the green bushes !

So we decided to POT this year with flowers

with three or four in the flower beds

and the rest in the enclosed patio.

It takes me 60 minutes with a push lawn mower

trimming included and weed whacker

to mow the lawn

a few people tell me they no longer do this

but I enjoy it !

It is a form of exercise for me – almost 5000 steps!

And I get the feeling of something I have created

and see the results of all that I have planted in the 14 years!

All of this I have planted by hand and cultivated.

I only wish this bush would look like this all summer

but – after it blooms it loses it petals

and new leaves are formed along with getting larger.

The grass is so soft and spongy like

almost as if you are walking on a carpet.

I have a lawn company called Bio-Turf

for four years now –

and they do a terrific job.

Six different times they come to the house each year

and do all the spreading – plugging – and seeding and lime spreading

VERY HAPPY WITH THEM!

The pot to the right is all MINT
and you can smell it as you walk up the bank
the enclosed brick area is my strawberries
and last year and this year my Potato’s

Our first rose of the year – with many more to come

they will bloom – go away and later in the summer bloom again

The three Swedish horses that Maddy – Ella and Sarah made for us

laying in the bed.

And – with the same theme – one potted planter

everything else comes up each year.

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

I hope you enjoyed my little tour of the yard

I hope to do the same tour of the enclosed patio.

PAPA’S WORLD

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!