House and Habitat build thread:

[catscratch]

Had a little storm pass through this afternoon which led to me being in the house in time to see a cat out on the prowl... followed by maybe the nicest evening ever.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[catscratch]

Growth and progress pics.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[Turkey Creek]

I swear you must have a petting zoo! I cant believe with all the commotion that comes with raising all those boys that the wildlife just hangs around your house like that.

 

[catscratch]

Ya.... it's cool.

I swear you must have a petting zoo! I cant believe with all the commotion that comes with raising all those boys that the wildlife just hangs around your house like that.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[lakngolf]

I remember the pond from deck view when you were building. It only got better.

 

[catscratch]

Thanks lak...

These two bucks were in the yard this morning. Amazing the difference in growth.

The sunflowers have taken off well, but look a little yellow to me. Might have missed judged when I didn't fertilize.

The Austrian Winter Peas are a little slower than the sunflowers but it does appear that throw-n-mow will work for them. I figure within a few days their roots should be deep enough to handle some drier weather.

Other than some grasses the clover/chicory plots are looking good.

The young Golden Hornet has some apples started...

As does the Dolgo. Nothing else has a fruit set including the pears that have grown like crazy but have never produced a single fruit.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[Gravel Road]

Those look like nice cages around the Dolgo's. Do the deer browse them heavily? I have some in 5 ft tubes, but need to put some wire cages around the tubes before they get raked this fall.

 

[catscratch]

Those look like nice cages around the Dolgo's. Do the deer browse them heavily? I have some in 5 ft tubes, but need to put some wire cages around the tubes before they get raked this fall.

Well... I don't know specifically if the dolgo or other fruit trees I plant will get browsed but everything else I plant does (down to the ground). Not going to find out with a $30 fruit tree.
Thanks on the cage. I made them big and with nice wire.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[catscratch]

Throw-n-mow workin it's magic with big seeds. Sunflowers and Peas are growing great.

Got two turtlerats this morning. I am not a fan of these things!

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[T-Max]

Throw-n-mow workin it's magic with big seeds. Sunflowers and Peas are growing great.

Got two turtlerats this morning. I am not a fan of these things!

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I have a buddy that lives between Independence and Coffeyville. I went to see him last weekend and those damn things were everywhere!

 

[Turkey Creek]

Saw a couple of road killed ones when I was in SE Kansas this past weekend.

 

[j-bird]

I see them laying dead along the highway all the time when I visit the bootheel region of MO, but I am not sure we have them in IN. I have not seen them in my area any way. Are the good for anything other than target practice?

Any idea yet on the success rate of TnM for larger seed? We planted some sunflower, pole beans and snap pea with the kids and for a little experiment of my own, but I pushed the seed into the ground. I didn't think TnM would work as well due to the larger seed size.

 

[catscratch]

I have a buddy that lives between Independence and Coffeyville. I went to see him last weekend and those damn things were everywhere!

Yep, they are. I remember seeing my first road kill dillo as a kid. It was in Texas and I had never seen anything like it. We didn't have them in KS at the time, I wish TX would have kept them. I'm not far from Independence and Coffeyville. They have more trees over that way than I do. Some monsters are sure shot in that direction...

 

[catscratch]

Saw a couple of road killed ones when I was in SE Kansas this past weekend.

You came to KS and didn't bring me trees?!? I'm a little hurt... but I suppose you were probably a couple of hours away so no big deal.
Here are a couple of trees from the latest order I got from ya. They are doing great!

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[catscratch]

I see them laying dead along the highway all the time when I visit the bootheel region of MO, but I am not sure we have them in IN. I have not seen them in my area any way. Are the good for anything other than target practice?

Any idea yet on the success rate of TnM for larger seed? We planted some sunflower, pole beans and snap pea with the kids and for a little experiment of my own, but I pushed the seed into the ground. I didn't think TnM would work as well due to the larger seed size.

This is what they are good at. Digging little holes everywhere and tearing the crap out of your plastic car parts when you hit them on the highway. Otherwise they just root around like miniature pigs, and carry leprosy.

Germination is great with my throw-n-mow. I do have some grass in the plots but that's my own fault for not spraying twice before planting. Not a big deal. The grass isn't nearly as bad as it is where I disturbed the soil. That spot exploded with grasses. I do have to admit that pushing the seed into the soil is probably the best or most effective way, but I get great results with little effort, almost no equipment, and few weed problems.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[catscratch]

A little update on things going on. This is a clover patch (hard to tell... right!). Once I have a stand established I "manage" it for wildflowers. These are all natives. Sometimes I pick seeds out of the pasture and throw into the clover... sometimes I just choose not to mow before what's growing seeds out. Very showy, easy, and the deer are in it every morning and evening. Almost every summer pic I post is from a plot like this.

The clover is in there, you just have to dig down a little so see it. This pic has 3 stages of bloom in it. This plot has lasted several yrs and is only getting prettier as it goes.

I manage my grass much the same way. I like having a lot of forbs in the mix and either; burn, graze, or mow in a way that promotes them seeding out. I do a lot of spot spraying for invasives such as Johnson Grass, Sericia, and Locust.

It would be easier to boom spray the pastures for invasives, but I like the color and the deer seem to like the variety. I find beds in mixes like this all the time and they are seldom related to cover. Just grass and native broadleafs. To me this is a very productive and healthy habitat.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[Turkey Creek]

You came to KS and didn't bring me trees?!? I'm a little hurt... but I suppose you were probably a couple of hours away so no big deal.
Here are a couple of trees from the latest order I got from ya. They are doing great!

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Wasnt too far from you. Went south from Topeka to Tulsa and then back up through Wichita to Manhattan. Went to see King George in concert at Tulsa. Unfortunately George is getting too old wants to play all his old slow songs and not the more up tempo stuff. Luckily Asleep at the Wheel opened for him and they have a very talented young lady that is a great singer and fiddle player!

 

[Turkey Creek]

You came to KS and didn't bring me trees?!? I'm a little hurt... but I suppose you were probably a couple of hours away so no big deal.
Here are a couple of trees from the latest order I got from ya. They are doing great!

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Wasnt too far from you. Went south from Topeka to Tulsa and then back up through Wichita to Manhattan. Went to see King George in concert at Tulsa. Unfortunately George is getting too old wants to play all his old slow songs and not the more up tempo stuff. Luckily Asleep at the Wheel opened for him and they have a very talented young lady that is a great singer and fiddle player!

 

[catscratch]

Lol, drove a circle around us!
As far as towns go I really like Tulsa. I've lived in KC and never again, but Tulsa would work if I had to live in a city.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[Turkey Creek]

Lol, drove a circle around us!
As far as towns go I really like Tulsa. I've lived in KC and never again, but Tulsa would work if I had to live in a city.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I didnt care for what I saw of Tulsa, but I am biased I dont like cities at all no matter what size they are. I did see some countryside on the trip that looked like it could hold a big buck or two.