July Monthly Post

[ysabetwordsmith]

This is the July community post for birdfeeding. Which birds did you see this month? What were your wildlife activities during July? What are your plans for August?


July anchor posts include:

July Garden Tasks

Fledgling Season (and assorted thoughts)

Comments

Done!

[ysabetwordsmith]

My big project this month was getting a new picnic table, water-sealing it, and moving it into position near the septic garden. I'll be using it as a plant holder. Currently I have a flat of pots where I'm trying to start wildflowers; I got some seeds for blue false indigo and yellow false indigo which are better planted fresh. I still want to move some of my already-potted things there.

[impala_chick]

I saw some really neat Stellar's Jays while camping in Yosemite. They were pretty talkative and also weren't afraid to come down and try to steal our food.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I've seen them out west. They are beautiful and cheeky creatures. :D Some will come down if you put peanuts or large sunflower seeds on a picnic table.

[darkcedars]

I have seen the northern flickers a lot recently.

At the start of the month bugs destroyed my winter squash, so I replanted a couple weeks ago. Bugs destroyed it last year too, maybe later planting will work out.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I have seen the northern flickers a lot recently.<<

They are pretty birds. :D

>> At the start of the month bugs destroyed my winter squash, so I replanted a couple weeks ago. Bugs destroyed it last year too, maybe later planting will work out.<<

Bummer. Some things you might try:

https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/garden-pests/squash-bug-control/

https://www.kawvalleygreenhouses.com/blog/Detail/how-to-prevent-and-control-squash-bugs

https://ozarkmountainjewel.com/breeding-c-moschata-for-squash-bug-resistance-introduction-to-sare-grant-2021/

http://www.waldeneffect.org/blog/Insect-resistant_vegetable_varieties/

How much space do you have in your garden? Since you're growing squash I figure it's not a tiny garden. If you have room, consider landrace planting.

Either look for landrace squash seeds, or start with a packet each of whatever varieties are said to resist bugs. Native American varieties are well worth a try too. Squash crossbreed with great enthusiasm, and promiscuous pollination maximizes the gene pool, thus ability to adapt to hazards. Are your friends and neighbors having similar problems? Pool your funds, buy as many landrace or native varieties as possible, then dump them together and give everyone a portion of mixed seeds.

If you can get at least some fruit off the vines, and then save their seeds, then over time you should develop squash that stand up well to challenges in your locale. Also if you like surprises, landrace gardening is lots of fun to see what turns out. :D Squash have lots of interesting stunts with color, shape, etc.

Some promising seeds:

https://www.nativeseeds.org/collections/southwest-traditional/squash#

https://www.marysheirloomseeds.com/collections/squash-pumpkin-seeds

https://wildmountainseeds.com/product-category/vegetable-seeds/winter-squash/

https://store.experimentalfarmnetwork.org/collections/squash

https://givinggroundseeds.com/collections/winter-squash

[a_natural_beauty]

While on a trip to Indiana I saw a few cardinals - both males and females.
Yesterday while out in Cleveland Ohio I saw a mourning dove on the sidewalk! It didn't fly away until we were close.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>While on a trip to Indiana I saw a few cardinals - both males and females.<<

Yay!

>>Yesterday while out in Cleveland Ohio I saw a mourning dove on the sidewalk! It didn't fly away until we were close.<<

They vary. Some are skittish and others phlegmatic.

Re: Yes ...

[a_natural_beauty]

Yes, it was a nice surprise!

This one seemed to be used to humans.

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

That's cool. Sometimes mine explode out of the forest garden, tootling in terror, when I open the door.