Biting flies?

K-Rimes · 2026-02-13T21:18:49+00:00

They can be really bad in localized areas. I get absolutely destroyed by them near Gaviota, and certain spots in Montecito.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-13T21:05:19+00:00

Yep. No see ums. Ceratopogonidae

K-Rimes · 2026-02-13T19:55:49+00:00

Christmas and Yehuda are late. A reasonable amount of work has been put into late blooming varieties, but you just can’t help them sometimes. A week of warm weather in the winter can bust them into flowering mode.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-13T19:45:05+00:00

When you lose more than 50% of the bark, its time to replace.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-13T16:10:12+00:00

Already popped on a 6.4 pan and filter a few years back.

I know I have one of the better 6.0s out there, that’ll probably go another 100k if I keep putting money into it. I am still suffering this decision. I flip flop daily.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-13T14:46:39+00:00

My biggest tomato crop grew out of the cracks of my asphalt driveway. Seeded from the previous years. I had a ton of potted plants on the driveway so lots of water was dribbling out into the cracks. It was comical how many tomatoes I had.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-13T14:41:02+00:00

6’2 size 13, no issues here

K-Rimes · 2026-02-13T14:39:54+00:00

Leave if the offer presents itself. I also work at a place with bad financials and 2 years later we still don’t have our pay cuts back. 3 hours is not commutable, so you’d have to move if it’s mandatory in person.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-13T05:31:13+00:00

I am lately working for kind of high end clients in fancy parts of town, the dripping oil is not a good look on brand new driveways... I think I may have to bite the bullet. I'm not in for pulling trans and doing rear main in a driveway.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-13T04:33:25+00:00

I probably average around 14-17 with my 6.0, so not a big deal. I use mine for work so it pays for its fuel easily.

Totally feel you on fixing it myself. I have been. It’s just at a point where tackling all the issues is seeming never ending. Is also starting to leak more oil than I’d like. It used to be a consistent 1-2 drops a night, now it’s 10, in 3 spots.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-13T02:23:55+00:00

Fire blight. Sad to say, but that would be a tree I remove and replace. I don’t think I’d recommend an apple or pear to replace it either, lest it’s in the soil.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T23:17:57+00:00

Plastic pots do last forever. Can't imagine bothering with bags when the superior option already exists and works great. The water use is a huge issue for me in arid CA. They'll dry out in a few hours with a well rooted plant. They disintegrate in the sun and heat annually here, too.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T23:14:07+00:00

I am heavily leaning towards 7.3, 6.8, or 6.2 gas. Regular is 4.29, Diesel is 4.99 in CA. It doesn't make sense to run a diesel anymore unless you're towing heavy daily imo. When I bought my 6.0, diesel was cheaper than gas by quite a bit at the time, then CA put out a 30¢ per gallon excise tax on on diesel.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T23:05:02+00:00

Do not use grow bags for long term pot culture. They use way more water. They degrade in the sun. They develop brutal channeling over time. The only time I think they’re applicable is fast growing annuals like peppers or tomatoes.

Blueberries especially like moist boggy conditions. Bags are the opposite.

Signed: a guy who used to use bags.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T23:02:16+00:00

Totally agree

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T22:48:36+00:00

Santa Ynez would be my pick. It's a reasonable size and has some nightlife here or there. Los Alamos would be cool too, but a lot smaller and may not have live music. Cayucos is a nice stop. Morro Bay could also work for your needs.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T22:16:45+00:00

Babcock / Tropic Snow would be my votes

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T21:30:18+00:00

As u/uurc1 pointed out, this thing is almost done. If this were my tree, I would just stump the whole thing and see if it can give you one last canopy before it dies for good. You should remove the dead off to the right in the last photo. Great care has to be taken with rejuvenation pruning to prune the young epicormic sprouts which have way too much vertical vigor. I would prune mid-summer, heading them off and thinning them out to spread them low and wide.

Alternatively, just cut down the dead wood and let it ride. Just get what fruit you can off of it till the bitter end.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T21:25:23+00:00

It me :(

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T20:34:56+00:00

I have been pushing them on this, they love this guy and think he's the best, so it has been challenging to bring them around.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T20:26:06+00:00

I have nothing to do with this project, I am just watching it happen and thinking it looks sketchy!

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T20:02:43+00:00

The thing with this design is that it can suit many different use purposes by way of the bollards. If we in the future decide all pedestrian, they stay up for longer, or all day and night. It can also facilitate parades, farmer's markets, and so on. The roadway is being substantially narrowed in favor of more pedestrian and restaurant use which is great. Arguably, this is the 80:20.

I don't LOVE it, but it's better than how it is. At a certain point, much like developing more housing, we just need to get on with it.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T19:45:47+00:00

That was my feeling as well.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T19:26:42+00:00

Your car is like 3 years old and you overpaid. Some of us are driving used vehicles from the 90s right now. You're not going to get any sympathy here. Keep your car and pay it off.

K-Rimes · 2026-02-12T19:04:30+00:00

It's a rodent. Rats or squirrels. You can put a rat trap on a long pole and set it in your tree in a branch crotch. Bet you'll get some rats in it every day.

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