To view my photography site on MeWe, visit Karla Upton Photography
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Monday, December 22, 2014

Tennessee & Other Wildlife Resources


National Wildlife Federation - Backyard Wildlife Habitat Certification
http://www.nwf.org/how-to-help/garden-for-wildlife.aspx

Rutherford County - Online Burn Permits - Needed October 15 to May 15. 
https://agriculture.tn.gov/OnlineBurnPermitPublic/default.aspx

Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency
http://www.tn.gov/twra/conservation.html

Tennessee Watchable Wildlife - includes plans to make bird houses and bat houses
http://www.tnwatchablewildlife.org/backyardwildlifeinformation.cfm

University of Tennessee - Wildlife Food Plot PDF
https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/documents/PB1769.pdf

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Trees, Lovely Trees!

 (Click on photos to see larger versions.)
"Forest" Edge in Winter.
The trees have definitely  taken advantage of any pockets of dirt wherever people have not worked to keep the wooded at bay.  Less than 20 years, and the young, wannabe forest would happily take over the whole property, if given half a chance.  Going to be using everything I have studied and researched over the last 30 years to manage the woods and extend it.  Right now, the woods take up about 1/2 of the property - but mostly brambles and young trees growing too close together.  Some judicious culling, and some of the smaller trees should get their chance to race to the sun.

Lots of thickets - I wonder just how much poison ivy there is in there.
Yes, there, I said it: Poison Ivy.  I'm sure it is rampant.  Going to be fun attacking all that brushy stuff.  On a brighter note, some of those leaves on the ground are oak leaves. There is at least one black walnut on the property, too. I wonder if deer browse our thickets?  Maybe we don't want to clear too much of it.  And, I am sure hoards of squirrels will descend from the trees to feast upon my gardens - already laying out my battle plans!  I am very excited to have an abundance of wildlife on our property - just not in the gardens!

Another Step Closer - Official Survey

"Pins" found and flagged.
It was a cold, but sunny and beautiful day when the surveyor went out to find the pins and flag the property.  They didn't tramps through the woods to find the "pin" at the back of the property, but the main locations were completed.  Sr. and I slogged through mud, brambles, and thistle, and walked the property line.  Well, most of it.  We didn't tramps through the tree thicket at the back of the property, either.

I had been concerned that "almost 4 acres" would be too small since we had previously had "almost 5 acres;" however, my fears were unfounded - "almost 4 acres" is a large amount of land.  That is over 550 feet on the long side of the property - or more than 180 yards - or, almost the length of two football fields. I can live with that - especially for being 10 minutes from a grocery store, and half that to a gas station, and an easy commute to my job.

One of the reasons the property is relatively economic to purchase here is because the bedrock is at or very near the surface in many (most?) areas.  This leads to poor drainage, some boggy (mosquito-y?) areas towards the back of the woods, and challenging traditional gardening environments.  My, er, our, little 29 HP Case New Holland tractor is going to get a workout.  I am seeing some "earthworks" in my future.  Haven't run the tractor in a few years - going to be fun re-learning how to use the bucket loader!

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Our Soon To Be Little White Farm House in the 'Boro

So, technically, it is a "Cape Cod" style house, but in my eyes, it's a Farm House!
With careful planning, some luck, and a lot a patience and a lot of paperwork, this baby and the 3+ acres that she sits on, will be ours with the beginning of the New Year.  We are, as they say, "Under Contract."  Already thinking those little round bumpkins of bushes will be replaced with purple Bearded Irises this summer - with, perhaps, yellow roses flanking the steps.  She needs a little TLC, but she is structurally sound.  We should be able to grow old together quite nicely.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Journal Entry 2014-12-04

Gardening in Middle Tennessee

Cannot believe it is already December! We have seriously begun looking at homes. I really, really want a lot of acres; however, also need extreme Internet, affordable mortgage, and a commute that won’t kill me. So we are looking at a four acre lot in town in a neighborhood. I’ve been playing with the plat map. I could do a lot with this.

[Note 2017-12-07: We bought it in 2015!]

How did this entry get here? What are Journal Entries? https://www.thelittlebiddyhenhouse.com/2018/12/combining-blogs.html

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Yummy!


Cupcake & Truffle at the Cupcake Kitchen in Chattanooga, TN.
Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 55-300mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/7.1
Exposure: 1/60 sec
ISO: 640
Exposure Bias: 0.0
Focal length: 48mm (35mm = 72mm)
Max aperture: 4.9
Metering: CWA
Available light

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Journal Entry 2014-01-07

Gardening in Middle Tennessee

Hope it warms up soon.  I’m feeding the birds.  I bet Mr. Cardinal and his lady wish they had migrated this year.  Woodpeckers and something with a greenish yellow belly are visiting, also, along with our local squirrel family.

The New Year always brings the desire to start tomato seedlings.  Still two months before I should start them!  Especially since this might be an extra-long winter.


How did this entry get here? What are Journal Entries? https://www.thelittlebiddyhenhouse.com/2018/12/combining-blogs.html

Journal Entry 2014-01-07

Gardening in Middle Tennessee

Unusually cold winter - cold vortex, as they are saying on the radio.  Extra cold everywhere.  In the negatives in Nevada.  Down to one degree F this week here in TN.  If it doesn't kill the trees, should be a great year for peaches and apples.

DO NOT START TOMATOES!

How did this entry get here? What are Journal Entries? https://www.thelittlebiddyhenhouse.com/2018/12/combining-blogs.html

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Journal Entry 2013-12-29

Gardening in Middle Tennessee
Sunday
Starts my January Book.
Last week found that my last Farmers Market sweet potato had sprouted - so of course, I couldn't cook it - had to put it in a cup of water.

How did this entry get here? What are Journal Entries? https://www.thelittlebiddyhenhouse.com/2018/12/combining-blogs.html

Friday, September 13, 2013

Journal Entry 2013-09-13

Gardening in Middle Tennessee.


We are less than 300 feet from a small lake - meaning lots of skeeters - and the wonderous (sic) chirping of thousands of frogs. I have so missed such a chorus. And, of course, I hope all those frogs are eating LOTS of insects!!!


How did this entry get here? What are Journal Entries? https://www.thelittlebiddyhenhouse.com/2018/12/combining-blogs.html