Every Dog Needs A Little Girl

2021 – Purple Martin Northern Migration

Nearing the end of March, 2021, Purple Martin scout birds have been reported as far north as Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

If you haven’t put up your Martin house now is the time to get your Martin house up in the air.
Location of your Martin house is an important consideration.
Poor house site location can lead to few or no Martins nesting in you Martin house.

Best results will be achieved if:
Martins prefer housing that is placed in open areas with clear flyways. Choose the largest open spot available, about 30-120 feet from human housing and at least 40-60 feet from trees.
Height of the housing should be no lower than 10 feet. Keep tall bushes, shrubs and vines at least 6 feet away from the pole.

Good luck attracting nesting Martins to your yard and garden.

Germination Chart For Annual Flowering Plants

Germination requirements (light and temperature) vary among the different flowers and vegetables. The various crops also differ in the length of time from seed sowing until the seedlings are transplanted outdoors.

The following chart provides germination information for many of the commonly grown annual flowers.

Annual	Germination Temperature (Fahrenheit)	Lighting	Days to Germination	Weeks Sowing to Planting
Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum)	70-75	L	7-10	8
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)	70	L	7-14	8-10
Wax Begonia (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum)	70-75	L	14	10-12
Annual Aster (Callistephus chinensis)	70	L-D	7-10	6-8
Vinca (Cathranthus roseus)	70-75	L-D	14	10
Cockscomb (Cleosia spp.)	70-75	D	7-10	6-7
Bachelor's Button (Centaurea cyanus)	65-70	L-D	7-14	8
Cosmos (Cosmos spp.)	70	D	5-7	4-6
Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum)	75	L	10-14	14
Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)	70	L-D	14	7-8
Sunflower* (Helianthus annuus)	70	D	5-7	3-4
Strawflower (Helichrysum bracteatum)	70-75	L-D	7-10	6-8
Impatiens (Impatiens wallerana)	70-75	L	10-14	8-10
Annual Statice (Limonium sinuatum)	70	L-D	7-10	8-10
Melampodium (Melampodium paludosum)	65-70	L-D	7-10	7
Four-O'Clock (Mirabilis jalapa)	70	D	5-7	6-8
Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana alata)	70-75	L	10-14	8
Geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum)	70-75	D	7-21	12
Petunia (Petunia x hybrida)	75	L	7-10	8-10
Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora)	75	L	7-10	10
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.)	70	L-D	7-14	10
Red Salvia (Salvia splendens)	70-75	L	10-14	8
Mealycup Sage (Salvia farinacea)	70-75	L	10-14	8-9
Creeping Zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens)	70	D	7-10	6-7
Coleus (Solenostemon spp.)	70-75	L	10-14	8-10
Dahlberg Daisy (Thymophylla tenuiloba)	65-70	L	14	8
Nasturtium* (Tropaeolum majus)	65-70	D	10-14	5-6
Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)	70	D	5-7	5

*Sunflowers and nasturtiums do not transplant well. Both should be seeded directly into peat pots.

Light conditions during germination are critical for many annual flowers. The seeds of some plant species require light for germination. (In the table above, annuals that require light for germination are designated with the letter L in the lighting column.) After sowing these seeds, lightly press them into the germination medium, but do not cover them. The seeds of other flowers require darkness (D) and should be covered with the germination medium. Finally, those designated L-D should be lightly covered, leaving the seeds as close to the soil surface as possible.

Category: Horticulture
Authors: Richard Jauron
Iowa State University

Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Horticulture and Home Pest News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Garden Vegetable Germination Chart

Vegetable Germination Chart

Hummingbird migration sighting map – March 7, 2021

Hummingbirds will soon be arriving all across the USA. It’s time to find and clean feeders and prepare for the birds arrival.
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Soil Temperature is more important than calendar date

Soil Temperature is the true key for better and quicker seed germination. Soil Temperature is equally important when your plant seedlings. With the right soil temperature seedlings will quickly send out roots and become well established healthy plants.

To day my soil temperature at 4 inch depth is 48%. Time to plant cool weather loving crops like onions and garlic for fall harvest.

Here is a planting chart with some of the more common garden crops and the best soil temperature to plant.

Amateur Radio as a hobby

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Thursday evening 2 of my grandsons traveled to Norman (90 miles) to take their Technician class Amateur Radio license test.
One passed the other missed 1 question to many to pass. 😦

Here is the amazing part. They left the test site around 7PM. He received an email from FCC with his new Amateur Radio license call sign, KI5OLR a few minutes after 10PM.

Other grandson and his girlfriend will retest the second week of April.
Fingers crossed for 2 new Technicians in April.

Where do pencils come from?

I see a teacher parent meeting coming from this man, boy discussion.

DIY – Chicken water warming system that really works

It’s a little late this winter, but it is valuable information that will save you lots of time and aggravation and keep your chickens supplied with fresh water even on the coldest days of winter.

DIY – Chicken water warming system Please note the light bulb(s) must be incandescent bulb(s) and not LED or CFL bulbs.
LED and CFL light bulbs produce little or no heat.

After reading this DIY project I believe 100 watt incandescent bulbs will be your best choice.
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Seed Package Terminology

What ‘Seed Package Terminology’ really means to gardeners.
Posted by Ann-Marie on Gab

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Men’s Health Test – It’s fast, it’s easy, requires no special equipment or training