Update on the new garden

[Chester B]

Some of you may know that I moved from Oregon down to Texas this last January.  Unfortunately I had to leave my garden that was approaching 8 years old and start all over again.  I was able to bring a lot of small palms that I had been growing and purchased a few small and medium palms/plants to round out the mix.  So I'm back to square one, and will not be purchasing any specimen palms like I did last time.  Here is my first video tour for those of you who are interested.  Most of the garden is between 4 and 10 weeks old so it has a long way to go to start looking respectable in my eyes.  I figure a video is easier than posting pictures.  There is also a link to my first video here before I started.  Enjoy.

 

[Ben G.]

28 minutes ago, Chester B said:

Some of you may know that I moved from Oregon down to Texas this last January.  Unfortunately I had to leave my garden that was approaching 8 years old and start all over again.  I was able to bring a lot of small palms that I had been growing and purchased a few small and medium palms/plants to round out the mix.  So I'm back to square one, and will not be purchasing any specimen palms like I did last time.  Here is my first video tour for those of you who are interested.  Most of the garden is between 4 and 10 weeks old so it has a long way to go to start looking respectable in my eyes.  I figure a video is easier than posting pictures.  There is also a link to my first video here before I started.  Enjoy.

 

You are doing a great job with your new yard. Too hot to work though? Summer's just getting started! 

I am only half joking, since I tolerate working on the heat pretty well compared to most. It's s that time of year when it's pretty miserable doing anything outdoors that isn't in the water.

I only got 1/3 of an acre with my new home in San Antonio (so I am a little jealous of the extra room you have in your backyard), but I did get a place with a pool. So that was a nice consolation prize.

Does your yard have irrigation lines? I have found that to be one of the more challenging considerations when making plans for my yard space. I came from a place where almost no one had irrigation, so I could make planting beds wherever I wanted. Now I get the choice of working around the pre-existing irrigation, or putting in the work of changing the irrigation lines and/or heads. I am sure it's not the worst problem to deal with, but it's new to me.

[RJ]

Looks fantastic! Keeps me motivated. Great work. 

[Chester B]

9 hours ago, Ben G. said:

You are doing a great job with your new yard. Too hot to work though? Summer's just getting started! 

I am only half joking, since I tolerate working on the heat pretty well compared to most. It's s that time of year when it's pretty miserable doing anything outdoors that isn't in the water.

I only got 1/3 of an acre with my new home in San Antonio (so I am a little jealous of the extra room you have in your backyard), but I did get a place with a pool. So that was a nice consolation prize.

Does your yard have irrigation lines? I have found that to be one of the more challenging considerations when making plans for my yard space. I came from a place where almost no one had irrigation, so I could make planting beds wherever I wanted. Now I get the choice of working around the pre-existing irrigation, or putting in the work of changing the irrigation lines and/or heads. I am sure it's not the worst problem to deal with, but it's new to me.

I don't mind the heat either but when its in the mid 90s with humidity and no shade it's getting to be too much for me.  I think age plays into this, I'm not in my twenties anymore.  I overdid it one day and dealt with some heat stress that night, so that gave me somewhat of a gauge as to how much by body can handle.

As far as irrigation, yes the whole yard has it, however it's so screwed up and the old owners never used it.  We had a company come out to take a look and it was going to be $3,000 to fix it.  We would have to move lines for the patio, have to move lines for all the gardens, and if we put a pool in, then we're moving things again.  So we said F it and had the back shut off and had them fix the front.  I have no idea how this garden is going to take shape and don't want to pay someone every time I make a change to the yard layout.

[Swolte]

10 hours ago, Chester B said:

So I'm back to square one, and will not be purchasing any specimen palms like I did last time. 

What do you mean by not purchasing any specimen plants anymore? 

Great video, keep them coming! Let me know when you're around College Station!

[Chester B]

15 minutes ago, Swolte said:

What do you mean by not purchasing any specimen plants anymore? 

Great video, keep them coming! Let me know when you're around College Station!

I meant large palms that are already trunking. Palms that I can walk under. 
 

I haven’t had a reason to make it up there but I do now. 

[RJ]

17 hours ago, Chester B said:

I don't mind the heat either but when its in the mid 90s with humidity and no shade it's getting to be too much for me.  I think age plays into this, I'm not in my twenties anymore.  I overdid it one day and dealt with some heat stress that night, so that gave me somewhat of a gauge as to how much by body can handle.

As far as irrigation, yes the whole yard has it, however it's so screwed up and the old owners never used it.  We had a company come out to take a look and it was going to be $3,000 to fix it.  We would have to move lines for the patio, have to move lines for all the gardens, and if we put a pool in, then we're moving things again.  So we said F it and had the back shut off and had them fix the front.  I have no idea how this garden is going to take shape and don't want to pay someone every time I make a change to the yard layout.

If the sprinkler companies down your way are anything like the ones around here they’re all hacks. They do it the cheapest fastest way possible. I have yet to see a quality residential job done around me. When I ran my drip irrigation lines I ran all 3/4” hard PVC lines buried at least 8” then ran 1/2” threaded stub out to manifolds that connect directly to 1/4 drip line. I also put a pressure regulator on my drip line so it never goes above 30 psi to avoid lines popping when they get hot in the sun. Was at my folks yesterday and they had one popped that was put in less than a month ago. 
 

 

[ahosey01]

On 6/10/2024 at 10:16 PM, Chester B said:

Some of you may know that I moved from Oregon down to Texas this last January.  Unfortunately I had to leave my garden that was approaching 8 years old and start all over again.  I was able to bring a lot of small palms that I had been growing and purchased a few small and medium palms/plants to round out the mix.  So I'm back to square one, and will not be purchasing any specimen palms like I did last time.  Here is my first video tour for those of you who are interested.  Most of the garden is between 4 and 10 weeks old so it has a long way to go to start looking respectable in my eyes.  I figure a video is easier than posting pictures.  There is also a link to my first video here before I started.  Enjoy.

 

Looks good.

Also - give it time.  It’s not an age thing, it’s an acclimation thing.  Your body will adjust to the heat.  Just takes a summer or two.  I can work outside on the hottest days here in Brownsville or back in Arizona.  It’s uncomfortable and i’m soaked in sweat and tired by the end of the day, but I can absolutely do it.  Back when I first got to Arizona from Colorado, however - totally different story.

[Swolte]

53 minutes ago, ahosey01 said:

Also - give it time.  It’s not an age thing, it’s an acclimation thing.  Your body will adjust to the heat.  Just takes a summer or two.  I can work outside on the hottest days here in Brownsville or back in Arizona.  It’s uncomfortable and i’m soaked in sweat and tired by the end of the day, but I can absolutely do it.  Back when I first got to Arizona from Colorado, however - totally different story.

Same here. I also learn to move slowly, drink more water, and become increasingly aware of the limits of my body. And yeah, no manual trunk removals in the afternoon. A simple headlight has been the best purchase as you can work evenings and nights. Cooling towel around my neck also helps, I think... 

[ahosey01]

4 minutes ago, Swolte said:

Same here. I also learn to move slowly, drink more water, and become increasingly aware of the limits of my body. And yeah, no manual trunk removals in the afternoon. A simple headlight has been the best purchase as you can work evenings and nights. Cooling towel around my neck also helps, I think... 

For Christ’s sake this man JUST came from the definition of a mild climate!! lol

[Chester B]

2 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

For Christ’s sake this man JUST came from the definition of a mild climate!! lol

Very true, in Oregon it was not too hot, not to cold.  Temps slowly rose and fell throughout the year and no humidity in summer.  I could work outside all day in 95+ degree temps.  I haven't had to deal with humidity in 8 years so I'm sure I still have some acclimation.  I was happy I moved in January for that reason, it would be an easier transition than if I showed up in July.

Too @Swolte's point I am trying to move a little more slowly especially when it's more physical labor.  I'm not sure if I could work at night though, the mosquitoes would likely carry me away.  I have timed a few afternoon thunderstorms though, they tend to drop the temps a good 20 degrees for a couple of hours.

Next project is a shed. and a drainage ditch - so much fun...

[RJ]

2 hours ago, Chester B said:

Very true, in Oregon it was not too hot, not to cold.  Temps slowly rose and fell throughout the year and no humidity in summer.  I could work outside all day in 95+ degree temps.  I haven't had to deal with humidity in 8 years so I'm sure I still have some acclimation.  I was happy I moved in January for that reason, it would be an easier transition than if I showed up in July.

Too @Swolte's point I am trying to move a little more slowly especially when it's more physical labor.  I'm not sure if I could work at night though, the mosquitoes would likely carry me away.  I have timed a few afternoon thunderstorms though, they tend to drop the temps a good 20 degrees for a couple of hours.

Next project is a shed. and a drainage ditch - so much fun...

I moved to SC in July of 2016 in the midst of a multi week long 100+ heatwave. 😓 Brutal. It took me about two years to acclimate, now I’m 100% fine in the heat. Yeah I sweat a lot but just drink lots of water. 
 

odd you have mosquitoes, we hardly have any. I can probably count on two hands how many I see all summer. Funny folks down here complain about them I just shake my head, they have no idea what they can be like, up in New England they would eat you alive. 

[SeanK]

2 hours ago, Chester B said:

Very true, in Oregon it was not too hot, not to cold.  Temps slowly rose and fell throughout the year and no humidity in summer.  I could work outside all day in 95+ degree temps.  I haven't had to deal with humidity in 8 years so I'm sure I still have some acclimation.  I was happy I moved in January for that reason, it would be an easier transition than if I showed up in July.

Too @Swolte's point I am trying to move a little more slowly especially when it's more physical labor.  I'm not sure if I could work at night though, the mosquitoes would likely carry me away.  I have timed a few afternoon thunderstorms though, they tend to drop the temps a good 20 degrees for a couple of hours.

Next project is a shed. and a drainage ditch - so much fun...

Spread a granular insecticide onto the lawn. Skeeters rest on the ground until you walk by, then they swarm for blood.