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117 Entries.
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Saturday, May 5
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Been a while, but I’m still growing orange. May you all find a little paradise in your garden this year.
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Tuesday, May 15
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M-I-C-K-E-Y...
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Wednesday, May 16
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M-O-U-S-E...
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Wednesday, May 16
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All checked in and ready for an amazing summer of heat, humidity, and some of the most amazing Horticulture this great country has to offer. Good luck to all on a personal best this year, a HDA to those who chase them, and a bit of relaxation to those who are on a break like myself. See you this fall at the scales!
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Sunday, May 20
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Just a warning, no pumpkins to come this year, but I will have some amazing horticultural updates, so if you like plants in general, stay tuned!
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Sunday, May 20
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I got my ears yesterday!
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Sunday, May 20
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Shortly after, I got to meet the creator.
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Sunday, May 20
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Since then, the magic hasn’t stopped!
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Sunday, May 20
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From the front gate...
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Sunday, May 20
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To the middle...
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Sunday, May 20
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And the back...
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Sunday, May 20
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My cheeks are hurting from smiling so hard. My first day of work is tomorrow, but somehow it feels like I’m just starting a 12 week vacation. It truly is a horticultural heaven here!
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Tuesday, May 22
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For you orchid fans out there... few hundred of em strapped to some palm trees.
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Tuesday, May 22
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And it’s been a bit wet, but otherwise nice weather here so far.
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Friday, May 25
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Pretty much been the story since I’ve been here. I’m told it’ll dry out sooner or later. The lightning and flash thunderstorms come out of nowhere here, but it does cool things off a bit. Still working on getting rid of my winter skin.
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Sunday, May 27
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Saw the tree of life yesterday. It was pretty amazing despite not being an actual tree. We do like things super sized around here. The bug life show inside the tree was pretty immersive as well.
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Sunday, May 27
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As I’m a week into work here, I realize this is more like a vacation album than a Horticultural guide, but to be honest they’re pretty restrictive about what we’re allowed to take pictures of. Lots of cool behind the scenes stuff, but we have to keep pictures to things that are “show ready” so perhaps I’ll have to catch people up when I see you this fall at the scales.
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Saturday, June 2
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Ok Henry, this one is for you bud! Plants are about 4 feet tall, super loaded with red hot death...
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Saturday, June 2
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Saw some artichokes blooming the other day, first time for me. Electric color on them and quite the contrast in texture compared to the fruit itself, super soft and silky. Would like to be able to grow these at home.
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Monday, June 4
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Put a few miles on the articulating hedge trimmers today...
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Saturday, June 16
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Trimming...
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Saturday, June 16
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Little break for some much needed giant veggie contact :)
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Saturday, June 16
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Little break for some fun...
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Saturday, June 16
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Went to do some zip lining
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Saturday, June 16
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This is what I look like at 100 feet off the ground
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Saturday, June 16
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Taking the first giant leap
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Saturday, June 16
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And after the first big adrenaline rush!
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Saturday, June 16
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Even met the boss :)
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Wednesday, June 20
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We’re missing a thunderbolt! The weather is getting... better :)
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Friday, June 22
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Went back to get a couple pics of the first big changeout we worked on from the flower festival
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Friday, June 22
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6,000 bedding plants in 2 hours... used to think I worked hard in the garden until I came here :)
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Friday, June 22
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Don’t worry Bart, still collecting data, even while on vacation. This is my average day.... slacked off a little at happy hour today though.
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Friday, June 22
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Saturday, June 23
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Have a lucky day today! :)
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Sunday, June 24
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Gas station mango... it MAY have looked tasty if it didn’t come with a warning, lol.
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Sunday, June 24
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Went for some thrill rides yesterday. They have some good horticulture as well.
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Sunday, June 24
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Tried to get the hippo in the background but she wouldn’t cooperate
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Sunday, June 24
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Punk-in.... the middle :)
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Monday, June 25
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Somebody’s about to drink around the world...
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Monday, June 25
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THIIIIIS GUUUUUUUUUUY! :)
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Thursday, June 28
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While everyone’s chasing the newest bestest fertilizers out there, I still feel this is the most important input every year... Cheers to doing what you love in life!
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Friday, June 29
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Giving a horticultural haircut :) Averaged about 20 minutes per plant over a few hours of hand shearing.
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Saturday, June 30
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Shortly after I saw love in the sky... I saw the Dark Mark! Yin and Yang I suppose. Turns out, it’s the remnants of an early morning space shuttle launch.
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Saturday, June 30
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Monday, July 2
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Went to Universal Studios with Kirsha over the weekend and found me some big orange at Hagrid’s Hut :)
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Tuesday, July 3
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Who’s ready for America’s Birthday!? :)
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Wednesday, July 4
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Fireworks are about to be rained out...
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Friday, July 6
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May all of your trucks feel like this come October! :)
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Friday, July 6
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Been a long time since I’ve lived with anyone but Kirsha, so here’s my roommate Tony. Mi otro hermano de la otra madre.
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Friday, July 13
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My new office :)
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Friday, July 13
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More trimming...
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Friday, July 13
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More trimming...
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Friday, July 13
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More magic...
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Friday, July 13
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More magic :)
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Wednesday, July 18
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Heh! Protecting the patch even in my absence :)
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Friday, July 20
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Got to change out “The Watch Band” Mickey head yesterday. View is from the California Grill at the top of the Contemporary Resort. It’s harder than you might think to make perfect circles, but I think we did a pretty good job on it :)
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Friday, July 20
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Closer look...
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Sunday, July 29
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Sooo... I figured I’ve been here for ten weeks now and I could go without the sunscreen for a day....
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Sunday, July 29
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Been trying to have some fun with things so I’ve been practicing a hidden Mickey each day before my shift ends so that the park opens with one.
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Sunday, July 29
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Some junk ass vines that we’ve been pulling by the truck load out of here turned into something beautiful
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Sunday, July 29
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At the Contemporary Resort valet desk. Strelitzia reginae and Caladium hortulanum
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Sunday, July 29
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My friend Alexandria and I learned quickly not to put them in a walkway or they get trampled. We like to find little spots on the props or boulders behind ropes so that they stay a little longer for more to enjoy.
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Sunday, July 29
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This was on a wall in the cue line for Big Thunder Mountain.
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Sunday, July 29
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Had a day with the interior plants team.
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Sunday, July 29
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And I got to re-plant part of the most iconic bed here! Switching from Summer to Fall colors, this is the before pic from Thursday evening.
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Sunday, July 29
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And the after around 6AM Friday morning, ready for an early open at the park :) I’ll go back in the daytime to get a better picture of the color, plant is dark purple Setcresia.
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Saturday, August 11
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Went and checked out the Serpentarium in St Cloud last weekend with my friend Rachel.
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Saturday, August 11
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Watched them do some venom extractions too! I often think the things I get into for work and play are dangerous, but this is pretty extreme to be doing every day. Feels good to be on this side of the glass!
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Saturday, August 11
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Sister in law is enjoying herself while pet sitting :)
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Saturday, August 11
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I love that you get to see the most random things here... wonder how much it cost just to draw that smiley face?
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Saturday, August 11
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Kirsha brought my sister down to pound out the parks as my internship is coming to an end, so we hopped on the safari and I introduced her to the bosses.
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Saturday, August 11
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This was me a month ago, ready to start my first day at the last park, Magic Kingdom...
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Saturday, August 11
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This was me starting my last day... looking back, I can say with 100 percent certainty, I went the distance with both feet on the gas this summer! The last 12 weeks has done more for my career than I could have ever expected. Wore straight out! :)
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Saturday, August 11
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But then I found a pumpkin! They’re decorating for HALLOWEEN today!!!
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Saturday, August 11
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Lunch party with my group and our friend Chegui. His wife made us some flan :)
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Saturday, August 11
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One last ice cream at costume turn in...
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Saturday, August 11
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And BOOM! I’m out! Kind of a bittersweet end. I don’t want to leave the magic behind, but I am ready to get back home. Next post... after a coffee in my pumpkin patch!
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Thursday, September 27
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Good vibes to all this scale season! See you soon friends!
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Thursday, September 27
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Kirsha wants to remind you to buy those new fancy square straps and practice safe pumpkin hauling :)
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Thursday, September 27
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May your truck feel like this...
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Thursday, September 27
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Taking Entomology this year, been learning bout bugs n’at.
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Thursday, September 27
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Like this Glow Worm...
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Thursday, September 27
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Whuuuuut...
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Thursday, September 27
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Been lumberjacking...
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Thursday, September 27
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Been swamped...
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Thursday, September 27
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Been collecting bugs...
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Thursday, September 27
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Been playing with bugs...
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Thursday, September 27
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And I’m waiting to see what hits the scales this year! Hope everyone thinks I’m just goofing off and resting on my laurels... (Little WV love there with the state shrub) but I got a chip on my shoulder that needs shook off something serious.
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Monday, October 8
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Altoona was a lot of fun as it always is. Congratulations to Karl Haist who brought this monster!
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Monday, October 8
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Just what it took to end my off-season! How short they are... sulfur added, cover crop in, ready for seed season!
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Saturday, October 20
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HAH! Check it out!
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Saturday, October 20
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Must be something going on in Pittsburgh today...
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Saturday, October 20
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A little Pittsburgh history lesson :)
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Saturday, October 20
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Hats off to Dave Stelts for all the work he’s doing to put this event on! Lots of support in the area for this hobby and this is a great way to end the year!
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Friday, October 26
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Getting the critter numbers down slowly but surely
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Friday, October 26
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Got a winter compost pile started up
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Friday, October 26
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Getting some trees planted
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Friday, November 2
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Built a bigger pile :)
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Friday, November 2
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Also decided I was going to get a handle on the weed situation here. Things got out of control while I was gone...
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Friday, November 2
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My front patch which was off-season this year and will also be off next year. No tillage done, September soil test looked pretty good, but I was late to a cover crop due to tiller repair... how easy it is to get behind... everything inside the logs is weed seed germination after taking the patch to the soil with Glyphosate.
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Friday, November 2
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After one practice round, I found it fairly controllable, though I wouldn’t dream of getting within 3 or 4 feet of any plant I cared about with it. Was able to get past those straw bales without any issue...
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Friday, November 2
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You can see here two different zones. The lower left L shape has been done twice, while the top right was left for another day to see how effective the re-touch was. The first pass killed most annual weeds, but perennial weeds and thick blankets of annuals needed to be re-flamed. A slight re-passing of the torch is good to get the wilt after the initial pass heats everything up.
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Friday, November 2
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Whole patch cleaned. Two passes on 2500 sqft, took a little less than 2 hours total and used about 13 pounds of propane. Time to cover the soil for winter. I will note, this thing is super fun to use, but one needs to be most careful when hitting it the second time. I found myself chasing after little flare ups from the dead material of the first pass, so a hose close by is always a great idea just in case.
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Saturday, November 3
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Saw Bohemian Rhapsody today... great movie! Never expected to run into Freddy at a strongman competition though.
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Friday, November 16
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First snow of the year...
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Friday, November 16
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Not too bothered though, seems to be going just fine still.
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Thursday, November 22
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Happy Thanksgiving everyone:)
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Monday, December 10
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Looks like Santa comes early when you’re a veteran :)
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Saturday, December 15
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Since I slacked off this year, the wife and I decided to squeeze in one last trip before pumpkin season starts again.
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Wednesday, December 19
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What an amazing finish to a wonderful year of horticulture! Yes folks, one stump!
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Wednesday, December 19
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Stopped by the Charles Schultz museum :)
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Wednesday, December 19
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Lemons as big as my head out here!
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Wednesday, December 19
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Foppiano Winery, a charming little 5th generation family run estate.
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Wednesday, December 19
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Some late season Cabernet left on the vine “just for us” :)
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Friday, December 21
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Boys... always playing in the dirt...
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Friday, December 21
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Saw some really cool petrified redwoods
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Friday, December 21
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:)
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