THELOADEDDRAGON'S 2010 Outdoor

theloadeddragon

Well-Known Member
Very rarely do I feel angry......

But right at THIS moment.... I am letting myself feel anger..... and it feels good to let it flow through me...... to let it hold sway over my muscles and my movements. No one is around, so its safe to be angry right now.

What a day. What a long, wonderful, exhausting day.

Everything is fine.

Im just angry..... and Im happy to be angry...... home and angry

Don't worry.... my anger will melt away like butter to flame, when my children come anywhere near me, :)
 

notoriousb

Well-Known Member
hey man been awhile since Ive checked your journal, but first check back and the yard's lookin great!
Mmm and that pk is to drool over :weed:
looks like things will be a little bigger this season compared to last too ;-)
 

theloadeddragon

Well-Known Member
Yes.... bigger indeed, :D

Smoking some of that Purple Kush right now too..... yummy yummy.... purple sour grape smoke, :)

Im really happy today, so are the plants I think, :)

Thanks for checking in..... more pics this upcoming week sometime....
 

doublejj

Well-Known Member
Looks awsome again this year bro!

It was your PK from last year, that made me grow some this year!

I'm glad things turned around quickly for you my friend.

Good luck, I'll enjoy watching

Peace
doublejj
 

passthatsh!t23

Well-Known Member
AHHhh godda hand it to you man.
you one dedicated man. bud shots are amazing. like always.
your my hero with that garden!
 

veggiegardener

Well-Known Member
Impressive effort! Some of those girls will be monsters!

I'd like to suggest you open your plants up, using LST. The increased sunlight absorbed could increase your yield, substantially.

In your situation, I'd put small nails into your boxes, and use bailing wire and string to anchor each branch individually.

I've been doing this for a long time, and never regretted it.

If this was mentioned, my apologies.
 

veggiegardener

Well-Known Member
i was looking at your pix more closely.

Your native soil looks like decomposed granite?

Great drainage, but very low in nutrients.

Truthfully I'd prefer that to my adobe clay.
 

theloadeddragon

Well-Known Member
Looks awsome again this year bro!

It was your PK from last year, that made me grow some this year!

I'm glad things turned around quickly for you my friend.

Good luck, I'll enjoy watching

Peace
doublejj
Im glad your growing the Purple Kush, and Im sure you won't be disappointed! Stay tuned and your bound to see something interesting ;) :D

Glad your feeling up again, garden is looking good.
As up as I can be. Thanks, Im happy with how things are coming around with the garden :)..... just need to get some lumber and I can put up some more raised beds :)

AHHhh godda hand it to you man.
you one dedicated man. bud shots are amazing. like always.
your my hero with that garden!
Dedicated indeed! This is all just my labor of love, thanks for tuning in :)

niiiiceee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks

Impressive effort! Some of those girls will be monsters!

I'd like to suggest you open your plants up, using LST. The increased sunlight absorbed could increase your yield, substantially.

In your situation, I'd put small nails into your boxes, and use bailing wire and string to anchor each branch individually.

I've been doing this for a long time, and never regretted it.

If this was mentioned, my apologies.
I don't think that I have mentioned it, but LST'ing via netting etc is in the plans.... you will see it as it comes.... thanks for saying something though, because your right, and I need as many reminders to get things done as possible, :)...... my only issue has been and will be materials...... always short on materials, picking up what I can when I can...... being broke all the time doesn't help either, hehe

i was looking at your pix more closely.

Your native soil looks like decomposed granite?

Great drainage, but very low in nutrients.

Truthfully I'd prefer that to my adobe clay.
Yes, there is a significant amount of decomposed granite around, but it is bolstered by the natural cycles of plants and trees decomposing and naturally composting. DG is rich in some vitamins and minerals that are crucial to plant health and vigorous nutrient uptake ;).... and yes it does break up the soil well and enhance drainage, but not enough on its own, as I have been adding perlite to the beds, :). I too prefer it to clay. I did amend the local soil with horse and steer manure as I was redistributing the it for the greenhouse area from January through April, and will be cultivating in more amendments in the middle and end of June, as well as September, but I will get into more on all that later.


This is a busy busy time of year for me...... but....

Watered all the plants outside yesterday, and am making preparations/arrangements to construct more raised beds and do more transplanting over this upcoming week.
I just recently have been harvesting some Silverback (OD), Jack Herer (OD), Chemo Cindy (OD), Purple Kush (OD), and soon to come more Purple Kush (ID), and Chemo Cindy (OD).
Hope no one minds if I mesh some indoor action in with this thread..... I'd rather not create a whole new journal/Thread......
Grapefruit X NYCD and Red Buddha are almost ready to go outside.... :)
Veggie garden is starting to come around :)

Summer weather has come in full swing and abruptly... temps in the 90s during the day and upper 40's to mid 50's at night, :)..... pretty soon I will be watering the plants outside twice a day 8)

Pics and a movie on Wednesday or Thursday :)
 

theloadeddragon

Well-Known Member
could have done better with this batch of indoor PK.... but I was a bit too busy most of the time to feed them, move the light up, and keep the room at ideal temps..... still going to be great smoke though :).....
 

theloadeddragon

Well-Known Member
Mmmmmmm Looks tasty as hell TLD good job bro. Bet it smells wonderful.
Thanks! :) It smells like sour grapes coated in chocolate that has been freshly split open, wafting its aroma into my face. Makes me salivate, so I satisfy my taste buds by smoking some of the dried and cured outdoor PK :D, and it sure is tasty. The taste kind of looses the chocolate and is primarily PURPLE sour grapes, :). Yum

Mouth watering for sure, best wishes and warm reguards to TLD and family...
Thanks Hodgegrown! And the family is doing very well...... getting ready to start BBQ'ing.... and hopefully do a good amount of fishing this summer :)
 

theloadeddragon

Well-Known Member
Funny how...... people offer to help me all the time, over and over, and they seem so happy to offer, to give the gesture..... "anytime" they say....... then I call em up, one by one, and say "whatcha doin"....... they say "nothing, just hanging out"..... and I say..... "wanna come help do some work? I will even pay you for the day, cash AND compensation" ;)....... then there is that silence, the pause, the hesitation....."yeah, sure, let me call you right back"..... and four hours later, Im working alone, and when Im sweating a river, my hands and arms are shaking, and my vision starts fading, I take a break....... and Im by myself, surveying the work I have done, organizing the next steps in the tasks, I feel alone and helpless, but confident and accomplished....... some water, and thoughts about the reasons I do what I do, when I do it, and how I do it and I am ready to get back into work..... my mind floats as I go laboring into it, visions of my childrens facial expressions my wifes beautiful body flash everytime I blink and their angelic sweet voices sing to me in the back of my mind.... as background music to Mom and Dads voices pounding out proverbial phrases..... "It is what it is", "Life is beautiful on its own", "Put your heart in your work", "only when you love life, will it love you back", "family, friends, hard work, those are the true gold nuggets in life", etc etc. ...... they come in waves with my own bodies motions, they are the breaks between my conscious thoughts that are focused on the work in front of me........ so when all the work is done, in the evening time as things are cooling down, my buddies call me back.... "still want me to come help?"...... "works done" I say...... another pause.... moment of silence..... I can tell they can feel the tone of my voice across the phone line, that it shivers down their spine...... "sorry bro, (this or that) happened...." .......I cut them off "it is what it is, and I love you the same"..... and they can hear my voice pick up as I say it........ "can I come see how it came out?".......

There is no silence this time. My immediate response is : "Of course my brother, better get on over here quick cuz Im just pulling the steaks and burgers off the grill, and Lavenderstars has made a feast. Come on over, and we can watch the sunset and puff one together. I will even send you home with a little tasty treat courtesy my good friends Chemo Cindy and Purple Kush."

I smile to myself as I say it, and physically feel my heart expand. I look over at my Beautiful amazing lavenderstar. With a look of love and confirmation, no words spoken between us, she starts pulling out the extra chairs.

"be right over" my buddies say....... and as I hang up the phone, I realize- She made enough for my family, and the four extra of them. She even bought some brew (We don't drink)...... and the tears well up for her..... She is the largest most brilliant gold nugget I have......... I realize that her and our children Are my lifes dream

Later as Im seeing my friends out the door, she is in my arms..... my children at my feet.....
I know I put in a good days work...... that I enjoyed it to the best I could..... I know my heart is complete.
That my life is a garden, it is my labour of love.....
 

Drella

Well-Known Member
great shots of that pk bro! i know what you mean about being busy this round. the ladies suffered a little, but still come out great!

must be nice to have indoor and outdoor samples to keep the taste buds happy.
 

daRube

Active Member
>>Funny how...... people offer to help me all the time, over and over, and they seem so happy to offer, to give the gesture..... "anytime" they say....... then I call em up, one by one, and say "whatcha doin"....... they say "nothing, just hanging out"..... and I say..... "wanna come help do some work? I will even pay you for the day, cash AND compensation" :wink:....... then there is that silence, the pause, the hesitation....."yeah, sure, let me call you right back"..... and four hours later, Im working alone..<<<

Re-read "The Little Red Hen" from your childhood... http://www.enchantedlearning.com/stories/fairytale/littleredhen/story/

they'll show up when the bread comes out of the oven...

You are doing an outstanding job and will reap the benefits of all your hard work..Congratulations on your awesome grow.. (I notice your pup dog is doing his/her best to be there for moral support...)
 

theloadeddragon

Well-Known Member
>>Funny how...... people offer to help me all the time, over and over, and they seem so happy to offer, to give the gesture..... "anytime" they say....... then I call em up, one by one, and say "whatcha doin"....... they say "nothing, just hanging out"..... and I say..... "wanna come help do some work? I will even pay you for the day, cash AND compensation" :wink:....... then there is that silence, the pause, the hesitation....."yeah, sure, let me call you right back"..... and four hours later, Im working alone..<<<

Re-read "The Little Red Hen" from your childhood... http://www.enchantedlearning.com/stories/fairytale/littleredhen/story/

they'll show up when the bread comes out of the oven...

You are doing an outstanding job and will reap the benefits of all your hard work..Congratulations on your awesome grow.. (I notice your pup dog is doing his/her best to be there for moral support...)
That was always one of my childhood favorites. Its also one of my childrens favorites, we still read it to them on a regular basis at bed time. I think a couple weeks ago we all read it together. Always a good idea to keep prominent childrens stories in mind when dealing with life issues..... at least life is more colourful that way :)...... the only problem that I have with that story (which I talk about with my girls when we read it together), is that she eats the bread alone..... "does that sound like fun?" I ask my daughters..... "No!" they say..... "Why not?" I ask...... "because sharing our labours of love, is one of lifes greatest joys!" Maybe one day, when the world is a better place, we will all feel this way. Im sure the cows and dogs and pig etc. had their own things to do ;)...... hopefully they will share their fruits with me (the hen) some day too..... You have sparked a Huge issue that I have been wanting to write about at length......... Hopefully I will get to write/post about it sooner rather than later....

Thanks for the support daRube... And Drella... I really appreciate it. One of the greatest things about it is that I am not the only one that will reap the benefits from it! 10 patients and countless others will as well.... and hopefully people might learn something/anything from my threads that can improve their own grows!

My dogs are my best friends..... you know what they say about coming between a man and his dog.... you just don't do it! She is always there for me..... and she is Fucking awesome. She is naturally protective of my garden! She hasn't knocked over a single plant in a pot, she doesn't dig at the soil, she doesn't chew on leaves, and she chases all the deer and squirrels and stuff away! Perfect garden dog! She sleeps in the late afternoon in the shade of the larger Purple Kush plants. The pit bull Im talking about..... my Lab is Huge, is a male, and is learning slower how to behave around my garden.

My neighbor came over the fence yesterday.... while I was out in the front yard.... and she (the pit bull) went in the back yard and was all over him until I got there, between him and my garden, you should have seen the look on his face. All I had to do was say "get him" (same command for game farther away), and she would have chased him all around until I called her off...... or drew blood..... I prefer for that to never have to happen though..... I prefer that the greatest use I get from my dogs is playing with them, them playing with each other and my children, and them helping me see some of the light in life I may otherwise overlook ;)

Speaking of called off.... time for me to go to work...

Lovely day to you all, :)
 

Hulk Nugs

Well-Known Member
another great insight on how you live your life loaded, alot of peoples dreams!!

keep up the great work and a video of the nieghbore visit would have been great hahaahaha
 

theloadeddragon

Well-Known Member
yeah that would have been great, hehe..... Thanks, Im living my dream anyways.....

So These raised beds.... here is more info on them..... but my disclaimer is not two will be, or have been done the same, with the exact same mix or anything (.... interesting).....


Pic 1- First I dig the holes... hehe... I don't know if you can see the tape measure, but its about 18" deep. Thats some Garner & Bloome Soil Building compost in the bottom of the hole.

Pics 2-4 The amendments Im using for this hole. Only thing I forgot to get a picture of was the FFOF, I use a bag of that for every hole, sometimes two, depends on what the garden store has going on.....

Pic 5- I amend the soil up about 6 inches: mostly with steer manure and/or horse manure (well composted and premixed and left to set), G&B soil building compost and harvest supreme, and perlite, all mixed together by hand until completely consistant and evenly mixed. Then I lay two layers of "chicken wire"/"aviary wire" (whatever) at a cross and all the way up the sides of the holes.

Pics 6 and 7- An example of an amount of the amendments I am adding on top of the chicken wire, I then mix together with local soil about another 4 inches, until I get to the edge of the "chicken wire", where it goes from 2 layers to one, This way I can set the 2"x12" on top of this layer firmly and evenly throughout.

Pics 8+9- the next thing I do before I set in my lumber is add perlite all around the sides and loosely cultivate it into the soil where the lumber is going to sit, so water will drain out to the sides of the buried wood evenly and well.

Pics 10 +11- Once wood is in place and nailed together, I mix more soil inside the bed, as well as in a wheel barrow for around the sides of the bed, filling it level to the ground. Once this bottom layer (1 ft) of the bed is filled, I can wall in the top layer, :).

Pics 12 +13- After I do get the top layer nailed in, I mix another layer of perlite heavy mix, to hopefully aerate and allow for water transfer where the two pieces of wood meet. The FFOF and happy frog get mixed into the on top of that, along with local soil and a fairly small amount of Harvest Supreme and perlite, and I use that all the way to the top of the beds :)

Pic 14- since the pot sized holes are already dug out of the beds, I have extra mix for when I do transplant later this evenning.

Pics 15 and 16- As I walk away I turn my head and glance back for you......

For now, back to work.... and more later :)
 
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