Posted by (Chip) on July 12, 2010

Ah a kindred soul.I can see Kevin has read the book square foot gardener, that is why everything is laid out in a grid. This works and works well we have done it this way for years. I have since modified a bit but the Principal is still the same. The evil pickle worm! they are relentless the part that just kills me is they wait until you are almost ready to harvest to strike. I have not tried burlap, I have used panty hose but that didn’t work. It was good for the funny looks we got from folks who spotted it in the garden. ...“Chip”

Posted by (Chip) on July 12, 2010

Kevin MacGyver you are my hero! Doing more with less might not always be pretty but works all the same. The key is the s-bend, a s-bend creates suction without it you will create back pressure and water will back up and you will be watering your carpets instead of your garden. A s-bend with rounded corners will work better [less water friction] but yours will work all the same. That and getting it up as high as you can like you did! It is all down hill from there as they say with gravity doing the rest of the work. From there it is y-connectors and old garden hose’s with soak-er hose’s on the end. If any does try this keep it simple at first and expand and change to fit your own needs…“Chip”

Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on July 12, 2010

Ah! Clever, clever MacGyvers all around. Drills and pipes and s-curves. It’s all Greek to me. But I sure can appreciate ingenuity when I see it. Sounds like patents need to be looked into. And I’m loving that blanket flower, btw.

Posted by (Chip) on July 12, 2010

The s-bend is an old trick. All you need to see an example of it is look under any sink. The s-bend crates a vacuum that keeps both water and air going in one way. A Plumber in England [his name was John} came up with it the Queen was so happy she Knighted him. For a while only she had this on her toilet [the throne}. And he claimed to have got the Idea from the Romans. So the idea is not new applying it to the A.C. is, way to go Rich! MacGyver ......“Chip”

Posted by (Janna) on July 12, 2010

Love these cheap and easy innovations. I’m not very creative but usually able to copy! It’s amazing how much water comes out of the a/c drain line - especially during these dog days of summer.

I also have some gaillardia that totally lives up to Penny’s description. These plants are really hardy and bloom profusely!

Interesting plumber John story, Chip! Where do you find these fun facts??!!

Posted by (Chip) on July 12, 2010

The history channel plus time on my hands equals a budding Cliff Clayvin.  ...“Chip”

Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on July 13, 2010

I have been trying to explain to Mr. Grumpy how that AC drainage works, so yesterday I had the picture up on The dirt so he could see it.

We have a little self made pond in the back yard, so I want the AC water to keep it filled. My dentist office does this and the fish do not mind. If and when Mr. Grumpy does this I will send in picture of the one he does. Love these ideas. Pumpkin

Posted by (Chip) on July 13, 2010

Pumpkin get a photo of your Dentist’s set up also!
...“Chip”

Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on July 13, 2010

I am calling this chapter two of Gardening Lemons to Lemonade Stories, the cucumber condom tops this. My dentist in Old Seminole Heights had a problem with the AC dripping and making a hole full of water, so he got the Idea to dig a pond under the drip and make it a fish pond! So when we get our teeth cleaned, filling or any other icky dentist stuff we get so see fish swimming around in a pond, surrounded by lush tropical plants.Pumpkin

Posted by (Chip) on July 13, 2010

Early this spring I bought a straw of mason bees from shells. Each straw holds six mason bee cocoons, they also sold mason bee habitats, but that was so incredibly simple copying it was easy.  But I like Kevin’s way better it looks like it belongs in a garden so I copy-ed that also. The fact sheet that came with my bees says they will nest soon so the timing for this story could have not been better. That I think the old 4x4 looks cool in my garden!.....“Chip”

Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on July 13, 2010

I still think someone should patent those mason bee homes or at least sell them at craft fairs and cutting exchanges ( wink wink).

Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on July 13, 2010

Penny,
    Dr. Kumar and every room does have a view.What dentist did you write on? Pumpkin

Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on July 13, 2010

I had a dentist who had that feature as well. Dr Wright at Smilewright in Brandon. She retired but the practice is still there.

Since I was buying something on Etsy.com I thought I’d see if anyone made mason bee houses. You should see them, anywhere from $16-$25. Chip should be on Etsy and start a business.

Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on July 13, 2010

Maybe the dentists made the ponds for themselves, because they needed stress relief from their patients???????????Pumpkin

Posted by (Chip) on July 13, 2010

I did make the mason bee house today. And the kids playing hide’n'go seek broke it. I gave them my best Mr Wilson speech about not playing in my garden and not going into it without either Diane or myself they left promising not to do this again. I had used an old 4x4 it made it look like it has been there for ever and mostly rotten. They way it broke there was no way to use it the same way. So I cut it into one foot blocks attached wire to each and hung them like bird house’s. I already had the holes in them. I am hopeful it will work the same. I don’t see why this will not work the same But I liked the look of the 4x4 post!....:“Chip”

Posted by (Chip) on July 14, 2010

Penny why not get one of those small/cheep water fountains they have every where you know the desk top sized ones they have in home depot to the dollar stores. They have so many different kinds I have seen them grocery stores even. Then just put it on it in it or around it what ever you like best and that do the job and if done right look cool. The hard part would be picking out just the right one. And in a few months stuff like that will be going on sale. Garden shops start making room for Christmas stuff early and things like that are the first to go on sale, so get a cheep one and keep your eyes peeled for a sale on a good one…“Chip”

Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on July 14, 2010

There is something at the bird store called a water wiggler. When I Googled it there were lot’s to choose from at many different prices.

Posted by (Chip) on July 15, 2010

I Never heard of the wiggler before, sounds cool. Still have a rainy day fund ready, Soon the garden centers will be marking things down. they have to chose sell it or store it and the bulkier it is Fountains, statues etc. the more they want to sell it. Timing is everything last year Diane and lucked out. We walked into a Wall mart on the last day before everything went into storage we got things that would nickle and dime you to normally. This year I got my eye on the prize and I need a new grill bad. Last year we had to chose one big thing or a lot of little things. Walking away from some of this stuff 75 percent off was hard to do..“Chip”

Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on July 15, 2010

I saw the water wiggler at Rich’s Backyard bird store in Lithia. I’m not sure how much it costs there. I looked it up and Wild Bird’s Unlimited has them for $29.95, which is closer to you. Saves shipping costs from Duncraft.