The Great Thistle Extermination - part 1

Not every wild plant can stay in a Mountain Garden. Such is the case with this Thistle Patch.

Pictures can be deceiving - this Thistle Patch is about 20 feet long by about 9 feet wide. The main reason for the extermination - my Mom's allergic to them. As this project begins I find I'm slightly allergic as well. So, I stay out until my nose stuffs up - then go in the house until it clears (this is one of those clearing moments).

These spiny little guys need to be cut at the base - one at a time. I'm using thick rubber gloves and picking them up with the same trimmer I'm cutting them with. Taking no chances.

This little friend came to watch.

I can almost hear them say, "Whatja doin Sandy?"

Well that's part 1 - now we'll see how far I get today.

I Guess This Was A Learning Year

POOP! The veggie patch has all been eaten, I was able to save 4 radish roots - not even plump. Something also ate ALL the flowers in the wild flower garden. I feel like posting a help wanted ad - Wanted, strong person that's willing to help for NO money and unless the garden works, NO food. LOL.

Snow on May 11th

This is what it looked like outside, yesterday morning.

Needless to say, not a lot of gardening got done. Over the day the snow did melt, but it never really got warm.

This morning I was able to get a video of a squirrel trying to get into the bird feeder. This little guy is hilarious - and his comedic timing is just perfect.

What this did make me rethink was the fencing around the veggie patch. With the plan I was working on, the tenacious squirrels and rabbits will STILL be able to get at the garden. I really do need to come up with another idea.

Problem #2: Deer

Face it, if I put in yummy vegetation and water I'm going to get a serious number of these guys.

Not to mention the Wild Turkeys, Bear, Rabbits, Squirrels - and all the meat eaters going after them like Coyotes, Cougars, and Bob Cats.

The only solution is fencing - but what kind? At the beginning I will most likely just encircle the few plants out there with supported chicken wire - and take my losses. But I am really going to need a more permanent and secure fencing for the long term. Insert what the land gives me. I have rocks to build secure supports and one of the most amazing kinds of wood - Cedarwood - for in between.

For many Centuries Cedarwood was used as the primary wood in this location for fencing, telegraph poles, home building and much more. It's very resistant to bugs and can stand decades without rot (and that's with nothing put on it). This entire country side is littered with Cedarwood to the point of being able to pick and choose without hurting the forest in any way.

That leaves me with the final question. What to fence in? Honestly, on my own I don't think I could fence the property - and I don't want to. One of the joys of this area is seeing all these animals, followed closely by the feeling of freedom and wide open country. There is no way I want to put a fence around it and block myself in. And one more thing, I WANT the wildlife to visit and enjoy. I am building this for them too.

At this point my thought is simply to fence in the actual 'vegetable' garden area leaving plenty of room for paths and gardening FOR wildlife around it. The actual vegetable garden area is a circle and that part will be fenced in.