So today I had the bushes trimmed (Don't judge me, I'm a middle aged man with a 60+ hour a week job and a 13 month old baby girl) and after the crew left we saw this:

 

Nest is now completely exposed.  I did see the mom come back once.  Really hoping she sticks with it and doesn't abandon them.  

keep us posted 

18 hours ago, NCTANK said:

keep us posted 

Despite our best efforts to not distrub the nest further (not going outside by it, etc), it appears mamma is gone and both babies are on the ground. 

 

Called a local bird rescue, sent them pics and info, and are waiting for them to get back to us.

@NCTANK

Called the bird rescue up again. They said they thought they were robins.  "Oh, then I think they are orphaned because there is a grey bird hanging around but no robins".  So I brought them in.   

 

Turns out they are grey catbirds and that bird was the mamma.  And they had fresh berry stools so she has been feeding them.  But one was injured from the fall and the other didn't look so hot so they took the birds and are nursing them.  I gave them my email to find out what happened to them.

Mamma bird is still hanging around hoping they come back  

 

 

the tomatoes, peppers, and okra are beginning to come in

We've got squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, watermelon, cantaloupe, green peppers, and banana peppers currently growing. We're in the process of being overrun by squash. Plants are producing faster than we can eat it even giving an ish ton to the neighbors and friends of ours. This is from a couple of weeks ago.

 

I've been trying to get a little arbor of fruit trees growing in our back field, but the dude on the right of the picture (and his family) won't allow it. As you can see my guard dog is very helpful. 

Westy or white mini schnauzer?

Westie.

Peppers are coming in.

 

On 6/28/2022 at 3:23 PM, paco said:

@NCTANK

Called the bird rescue up again. They said they thought they were robins.  "Oh, then I think they are orphaned because there is a grey bird hanging around but no robins".  So I brought them in.   

 

Turns out they are grey catbirds and that bird was the mamma.  And they had fresh berry stools so she has been feeding them.  But one was injured from the fall and the other didn't look so hot so they took the birds and are nursing them.  I gave them my email to find out what happened to them.

😢

 

We’ve been finding an usual number of dead birds in our yard this year. Mostly these catbirds. Not a ton, but one every 2-3 weeks ever since early spring. My wife finally called the game commission and they said there is an avian flu going around the area that is likely the culprit and to just remove the dead birds from our yard when we find them. 

Does anyone know what this bush/weed is?  It was planted before I bought the house, and I have trimmed it to a stump, and it comes back with a vengeance.  I need to take it out, roots and all.  But I find little stems popping up everywhere; out of cracks in my driveway, in my garden, and out back in a woody area.

 

bradford pear?

Since we are talking about weeds that are the bane of our existence, what's the best method to deal with this crap?  Ever since we bought the house I've been battling weeds (the last guy didn't do crap) and for most of them I'm winning the war.  But these f'ers seem to keep popping up everywhere.   I pull em. (do my best to get roots and all)  I have lawn safe broad leaf herbicide.  I put down a spring weed and feed.  And I just bought some stronger s*** to kill the ones that arn't in the grass.  

 

But despite all of that, it seems like they keep popping up EVERYWHERE. 

 

 

Stock photo of what I think it is. (leaves on mine arn't as "succulent" looking and have a red stripe in the middle)

My neighbor says distilled vinegar or something like that would work, but I have never tried it yet.  I get those things too, particularly in the cracks between my concrete sidewalk and asphalt driveway.  I just keep pulling them, and then occasionally spray the hose between the cracks to get any dirt to take root in out as well.  Weedkiller spray and weed-and-seed grains have not done anything (and seemingly have not stopped the crabgrass, either).

12 hours ago, NCTANK said:

bradford pear?

Definitely not Bradford pear.  This is a bush, and my particular one reaches about 4 feet high.  I don't know if it spawns well or just has roots that can grow dozens of feet out, but I see little sprouts EVERYWHERE on my property, even in places like between my driveway and the brick wall that forms the side of my house.

On 7/12/2022 at 10:18 AM, paco said:

Since we are talking about weeds that are the bane of our existence, what's the best method to deal with this crap?  Ever since we bought the house I've been battling weeds (the last guy didn't do crap) and for most of them I'm winning the war.  But these f'ers seem to keep popping up everywhere.   I pull em. (do my best to get roots and all)  I have lawn safe broad leaf herbicide.  I put down a spring weed and feed.  And I just bought some stronger s*** to kill the ones that arn't in the grass.  

 

But despite all of that, it seems like they keep popping up EVERYWHERE. 

 

 

Stock photo of what I think it is. (leaves on mine arn't as "succulent" looking and have a red stripe in the middle)

 

Red stripe in the middle would be spotted spurge. I hate that ish. I get it along the edges where the grass isn't as strong. 

That be it.  How the f do I kill it.  S*** is immortal

22 hours ago, paco said:

That be it.  How the f do I kill it.  S*** is immortal

Stolen from the internet. Stuff is a PITA.

How to Get Rid of Spotted Spurge

Spotted spurge often grows in poor, compacted soil. While killing spotted spurge is relatively easy, the hard part is keeping it from coming back. The tap root of this plant is very long and its seeds are very hardy. This weed can and will grow back from either root pieces or seeds. Because of the spotted spurge weed’s mat-like nature, hand pulling is a good option for removing spotted spurge from the lawn or flower beds. Be sure to wear gloves due to the irritating sap. Make sure that you pull this weed before it has a chance to develop seeds; otherwise, it will spread rapidly.

After you have hand pulled the spotted spurge, watch for it to start growing again from the tap root. Pull it again as soon as possible. Eventually, the tap root will use up all of its stored energy trying to regrow and will die completely. Heavily mulching with either newspaper or wood mulch is also an effective method of spotted spurge control.

Cover ground with spotted spurge with several layers of newspaper or several inches of mulch. This will prevent the spotted spurge weed seeds from germinating and will also smother any plants that have already started growing. You can also use herbicides, but many herbicides will only work for spotted spurge control while the plants are young. Once they reach a mature size, they can resist many forms of weed killers. When using herbicides for killing spotted spurge, it is best to use them in late spring or early summer, which is when spotted spurge will first sprout.

One of the few herbicides that will work on mature spotted spurge is a non-selective type. But be careful, as this will kill anything it comes into contact with, and the spotted spurge may still regrow from the roots, so check frequently for regrowth and treat the plant as soon as possible if you see it. Pre-emergent sprays or granules can also be used for spotted spurge control, but these will only be effective before the seeds have sprouted.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Tips For Spotted Spurge Control https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/weeds/spotted-spurge-control.htm

 

8 minutes ago, TV Guy said:

After you have hand pulled the spotted spurge, watch for it to start growing again from the tap root.  Pull it again as soon as possible. Eventually, the tap root will use up all of its stored energy trying to regrow and will die completely.

That's where I'm struggling.  I'm trying to but there are so many of them here and there is so much non grass area (read: shrubs), its hard to keep on top of them.  Where I take the dogs out, good.  Opposite side of the house.... not great.

  

8 minutes ago, TV Guy said:

One of the few herbicides that will work on mature spotted spurge is a non-selective type. But be careful, as this will kill anything it comes into contact with, and the spotted spurge may still regrow from the roots, 

Yup.  The broadleaf herbicide has been useless.  I didn't know they may grow back even when I douse it with death. 😞

On 7/13/2022 at 12:51 PM, paco said:

That be it.  How the f do I kill it.  S*** is immortal

Been battling them SOBs for 5 years.  Good luck.  You're not alone in the fight.

2 hours ago, rambo said:

Been battling them SOBs for 5 years.  Good luck.  You're not alone in the fight.

I'm at it DAILY.

 

Oh, and I had to run over to our rental property this morning and thought "hey, I'll take care of the weeds in between the driveways".  90% of the ones that popped up there since we left in November are those Fers.  I don't think we had more than 2 in the 5 years we lived there.

green bells, cubanelles, and poblanos 

On 6/27/2022 at 3:46 PM, paco said:

So today I had the bushes trimmed (Don't judge me, I'm a middle aged man with a 60+ hour a week job and a 13 month old baby girl) and after the crew left we saw this:

 

Nest is now completely exposed.  I did see the mom come back once.  Really hoping she sticks with it and doesn't abandon them.  

Got word from the rescue that they were too injured and didn’t make it.

 

But….  Gray Catbirds can have 2 to 3 broods a season.  Mama built a new nest, laid 3 eggs, and they just hatched a few days ago. 🙂 

a Ruby Throated Hummingbird perched at the feeder