i think, just maybe ... the recent frost/freezes are killing/killed my mystery weeds! sweetness. more at 10 (not really, its 10 now and i don't have more).
sorry about the lack of postage (as in "posts", not stamps). we've been partially busy, partially not much to report. but, here goes ...
the biggest house related item is that i put down the first round of fertilizer (post-starter fertilizer of course). the goal was 1 lb Nitrogen/1000 SF (along with some phosphates and potash) ... i think i ended up at more like 1.25#s N/1000 due to not knowing the right setting for my spreader (no calibration settings for our model listed--so i guessed). i used a 32-5-7 from Lesco, although i think i may have bought one with a bit too much slow release nitrogen for this application. but, it'll work i think. this is the first of 3 rounds i want to get in before December (1 every 4 weeks). i don't have enough bought for all 3 rounds, so i'll get more fast release product for application 2 ... ending with another mix of slow/quick release for the winter months.
in general the grass is doing decent. grow in is pretty good in some spots, but pretty so-so in others. i'm still concerned about the weeds. Purdue guy still can't ID it. still hoping it's an annual ... has ruled out bermudagrass, but orchardgrass is still a (very bad) possibility. we shall see. broadleaf weeds are kicking into overdrive, so it's time to do the fall application of broadleaf control. recent Purdue studies show better increased effectiveness in treating tougher broadleafs (i.e. ground ivy) if you wait til Oct. - Nov. after the first frosts. we just had ours ... so time to hit 'em.
emptied the garden also because of the freeze. our 2 freakishly large tomato plants had continued growing and producing tomatoes like mad. we just pulled all remaining tomatoes (probably 40 or so of various sizes) off and will ripen them inside and can them or something. green tomatoes anyone?
oh, and some of our ornamental grasses started blooming (the miscanthuses and the fountain grasses)! i'll have to post pictures next time. totally didn't expect blooms this year. cool.
we went apple picking the other weekend also. went over to Stuckey Farms in Sheridan. went overboard. yeah, at 49 cents a lb. you kind of just keep picking and picking. i think we ended up with 14 lbs. and a big pumpkin. so, we've been eating lots of apples. even made (from scratch) caramel and dipped some. mmm ... healthy (not!).
apart from that i've been intently following the Floyd Landis case. today was the big document release. check out Trust But Verify for excellent coverage of the lastest news and developments. tune into the Daily Peleton Forums for some lively discussion on the subject ... some extremely scientific and over my head, plus lots of talk about roosters and ferrets (guess you have to be there for that to make sense) :-) viva la Floyd!
