Awww... chipmunk buddy

Leftwood said:Your cat has a very attentive gaze in that pic. I would wonder who wanted to name her "Puss", but I'd rather not......
I do miss the neighbor's cat visiting me in the garden. Not sure where she went to now, as I haven't seen her in a while.

Here's another fun pic I came across while looking at inflorescence structure. It kinda reminds me of my avatar.


This one, too:

Rick, if the dinner lady doesn't get the hint, a smart cat has to keep her eyes peeled for other options.

I agree that the lily you posted resembles your avatar: it's hungry and attentive too!

Not lily related, but this dog is a goofball

I was down in the storeroom today going over supplies needed for lily work come winter, when I came across a baggy of left over scales from last Spring. These were a couple scales from each batch that did not produce at the end of incubation. I had tossed them in a common bag, laid them on a shelf and forgotten all about them until today when I spotted them. Tracey---?? I did it too!!

Here's what I found. There was absolutely no evidence of any scale remnant in the media, whatsoever. They had been 100% digested. There was about 15 little bulblets, just as nice and pretty and solid as could be, albeit some real tiny--but solid and lively as could be nonetheless.

The bulblets and media are in the lily fridge for now.

Good to know I am not alone. Sometimes I think scaling is a good idea, right before planting ( not necessarily planning to do it on the walk outside to plant the bulb...a last minute decision, if you will). Place it in medium , in a sandwich bag, place some books on top and it never is in plain sight unless I remember to look at it. Mine was only identified when I went to use the same space again this fall.

New tree topper?!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. About 7 to 8 inches of heavy, wet snow that will form a good insulation base for the lilies. I think it will freeze hard enough for 195# me to walk on. I had the newly planted one and two year old seedlings covered with oak leaves but no winter mulch on the established bulbs yet. Maybe won't need to if the cold weather holds and we get a little more snow next week

It seems that Paul's hybrids are a hit with the locals. Found this little praying mantis this evening:

The traditional Christmas is pretty subdued for us this year. My brother was back out of hospital on the 23rd, one sister in Arizona and one spending Christmas in Slovenia. We'll be having our real Christmas in January when she gets back.

Christmas Eve my neighbor set out ice luminaries. It was a perfect time to take my first night shots with the camera.

~ ~~ ~~ Merry Christmas! ~~ ~~ ~

Well, this about sums it up as far as our insulating snow base goes here in Southern Wisconsin. The second picture was taken back on Dec. 11th. Spent most of the day cleaning up the place from our annual Christmas Day celebration.

I just bought 4 bails is straw. Probably won't be enough though but will help on the raised bed. I'll spread it out tomorrow after work

Four bales will cover quite a bit. Fluff it up good so it catches any future snow. Now is an excellent time to mulch in Southern Wisconsin. I may even toss a little more around toward the end of the week as well. And hope we don't get any more 50 mile per hour winds

So thanks to @leftwood giving me a recommendation on a book, Ordered it and it finally can't today. Open it up to check the condition, and find these in the book. The news paper article is dated 1984.

I purchased that very same book app. 4/5 years ago, and having nothing new to read, I am currently re-reading it

I purchased mine (and many, many other gardening books) from an UK eBay store that sold books donated to charities (dropped at containers provided by the city?). This book, as most of the ones I ordered, were brand new. At that time, they used surface mail to dispatch orders and it was very, very convenient to buy from them. Unfortunately, they only ship airfreight now, which makes the cheap books unafforable at my end of the world

I love personal pieces left in old books. It's kind of a sweet thing. I'd call it a lucky day, Dave.

You will enjoy the book.... Promise!

I started quite a few hypogeal germinating seed lots in 2 x 3 inch ziplock bags this year. Most have only four to eight seeds per bag. Germination is very good in 14 of the 16 lots.

(Super Tsing x open pollenated) x (Amelita x Super Tsing)
Planted: 26 Nov 16
Germination: 16 Dec 16 to 27 Dec 16
Pic taken: 7 Jan 17

Thoughts of Spring and cabin fever.

Can't wait to check this grouping of baby L. michiganense that I discovered growing about 30 feet from my property line by the driveway. Dozens of them growing in an irregular circle about 1 meter to 4 feet in diameter. There is one young adult plant and a couple first time single flower plants in the group. It is a redder version of the several versions of L. michiganense that grow wild here.











Poor quality photo, but this is the young adult I let flower.

From the book lilies

I fully agree!

I am evidence.