LionelB / is on Nostr

My main themes here are gardening, nature and conservation, green energy and open source software but my frustration with the way billionaires are trashing our world will inevitably feature at times.

Last Notes

2024-08-06 21:37:59

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The thyme I would grow on for quite a lot longer. I would probably thin out and then take cuttings, once the remaining plants have reached a decent size.
Coleus need winter warmth even when quite mature. 65-75°. I would have started them early next year. You have your work cut out unless you have a hothouse.

2024-08-05 16:18:55

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Hybrids are like switching to herbal cigarettes and a nicotine patch. They are absurd and miss the point but hopefully they will lead people off their addiction, albeit more slowly.

2024-08-04 18:29:10

The hibiscus is looking very good now. It contrasts nicely with the bedding dahlias.
#gardening
https://media.expressional.social/media_attachments/files/112/905/152/462/663/457/original/8845b7429bbee540.jpg

2024-08-03 18:31:20

Duotone bliss. A very basic family saloon but dressed up to impress. It shouts 'holiday'.
#Vintagecar #weirdcarmastodon
https://media.expressional.social/media_attachments/files/112/899/496/222/841/726/original/d19a0f7e4939fbf1.jpg

2024-08-01 18:01:06

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You will never get them to leave.

2024-07-29 19:18:35

Let's hear it for the vulgarity of purple gladioli. I didn't think they would flower for a second year but they clearly like the spot.
#gardening
https://media.expressional.social/media_attachments/files/112/871/375/176/405/655/original/16ccf09a719f1609.jpg

2024-07-23 07:38:28

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So that is Vespula consobrina. A blackjacket.

2024-07-18 10:34:14

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Looks like insect damage. Lays an egg on the flower, which then wrecks the blossom end of the fruit.
Theory: the other pear flowers a couple of weeks earlier, before that pest is airborne?

2024-07-13 08:35:31

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These really should be in humidity controlled cases in subdued light, so that future generations can enjoy them.

2024-07-12 16:51:11

I returned to the ride which was roughly mowed at its peak. It is starting to recover but rather little there. What I did find was this dark bush cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera). This fearsomely armoured insect is female.
#insects #crickets
https://media.expressional.social/media_attachments/files/112/774/544/569/818/455/original/752aa9e0ace55254.jpg

2024-06-30 22:12:05

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The comment about temperature is significant. If you look at each as an insulating layer, it isn't surprising that hay keeps the heat of the soil.
The other point of interest was dew. A body of still air entrained in vegetation and well insulated.
Compost contains much less air than straw.
Competition between plants for water seems trivial compared with the water loss they collectively prevent by being tightly packed.

2024-06-19 14:53:04

Just been playing a game with one of the crows.
Crow takes one step. I take one step.
Crow takes two steps. I take two steps.
Crow takes two steps. I take two steps.
Crow takes one step. I take one step.
The crow started the game.
Crow concludes that I have some small intelligence and a rudimentary idea of numbers.
Crow is happy.
Same.
#birds #crow #ornithology #animalbehavior

2024-06-06 14:55:32

Ahah. So our Moroccan broom is grafted onto laburnum.
That combination is interesting because Laburnum and Cytisus are not only compatible for grafting, they also sometimes combine into a chimera.
Whereas a hybrid shows characteristics from both parents, with the plant chimera it is like a Frankenstein monster, with one side of a stem laburnum and the other side broom. Messy and weird.
#gardening #Grafting
https://media.expressional.social/media_attachments/files/112/570/238/355/074/396/original/00152f50bc3cac35.jpg
https://media.expressional.social/media_attachments/files/112/570/239/363/697/406/original/84f37f9f39ac3100.jpg

2024-05-29 14:25:38

https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/may/29/ultrasonic-coffee-australia-scientists-unsw
@npub1ep8…29a5
Hard to believe nobody has done this before.

2024-05-15 17:04:10

This is a Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) a very bright, attractive insect with heavy wasp vibes.
#hoverfly #insects
https://media.expressional.social/media_attachments/files/112/446/176/559/416/408/original/6782f9cb3dd4449a.jpg

2024-04-19 08:44:12

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But can they do it without spilling the beans or yanking the handle off?
Been there...

2024-04-03 22:04:43

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Washing soda is generally a very efficient, non-contaminating cleansing medium with no perfume taint. Is there any reason why that wouldn't be suitable?