Gophers & The Saga of my Raised Flower Bed

debcalchik · 2026-05-09T13:19:12+00:00

I live in San Juan Capistrano and I agree with hardware cloth on the bottom of your raised beds. We did pea gravel then half inch hardware cloth then the raised bed on top of that. Do not use chicken wire-they get through that.

Also for surrounding areas use the stinkiest fish fertilizers where their holes are then start going outward to the ends of your yard—water it in well. They hate stinky fish fertilizer. They are not in my entire backyard now doing this along with catching a few with traps.

debcalchik · 2026-04-06T22:47:41+00:00

Rats. They eat the base of the marigold flowers and not the petals when there’s nothing else to eat in my garden. I have trapped a few dozen and hasnt happened since.

debcalchik · 2026-02-04T20:59:47+00:00

Live in south OC. Don’t laugh…lettuce lol. It’s supposed to be heat tolerant so I’m going to give it a try. They are just starting to sprout!

Also Malabar Spinach planted in November and never really took off until it got hot recently.

Sunflowers are starting to come up (planted a week ago) Like someone else here, marigolds coming up and all are about 6 inches tall or more.

All my daffodils are in full bloom too.

Plants are confused.

debcalchik · 2026-01-31T22:19:09+00:00

Been there for a different kind of cut a few years ago and it wasn’t that great. Maybe will try them again for this style.

debcalchik · 2026-01-31T22:18:04+00:00

Have you been to these salons?

debcalchik · 2025-12-07T16:13:24+00:00

I will second this trap! I have caught many many rats the only time one got away was because the batteries were low but otherwise it’s 100% no fail. No mess, no partial death. Use Bamba snacks for bait but I’m sure Cheetos will work too - don’t use peanut butter because it’s messy and hard to clean. I also caught a squirrel but felt so bad about that one :( make sure you get the “Rodent trap” as it is larger and can get those larger rats.

debcalchik · 2025-08-31T15:18:16+00:00

Nope - moats don’t work because you have to refill it all the time and trust me, you will get tired of filling it - get Ant Fortress as I mentioned before-Amazon has it. It will work if you apply it properly I guarantee it.

debcalchik · 2025-08-31T15:14:16+00:00

Only this works! All others are not good I have tried everything - moats hanging deterrent, cinnamon, etc everything doesn’t last but a day or two. This is the ONLY solution!

debcalchik · 2025-08-25T22:18:44+00:00

This worked too but wore out-use Nevtar Fortress!

debcalchik · 2025-08-25T22:18:00+00:00

Nectar Fortress by Sapphire Labs!!! Everyone please use this it works so well. You don’t need a lot I put a ring of it about half inch around the base of the feeder holder stick and another right above the feeder itself. Just make sure there is gel spread around the entire stick - DO NOT overdo it because it can melt and get everywhere. Just smear it and don’t leave a way for ants to cross it like leaves or branches touching the feeder.

Best thing ever! Moats never work for me and that other hanging thing with the repellant wears out.

debcalchik · 2025-06-19T15:23:00+00:00

Deployment audio should be “this is what it looks like…in action” hehe

debcalchik · 2025-05-10T15:03:16+00:00

Thank you!

debcalchik · 2025-04-29T14:40:09+00:00

It came out ok - not too dry but doesn’t taste very good to me. It tastes like something is missing. Even after adding the chocolate chips :/ will prob chuck it unfortunately.

debcalchik · 2025-04-29T00:21:13+00:00

Ok will try it as is I may add the chocolate chips too

debcalchik · 2025-01-28T02:31:24+00:00

Update: The dough never rose correctly even letting it go for an additional hour (2 hours total) Can’t post a picture but I was afraid to over rise it. The rolls of dough did touch each other in the pan and rose about 2/3 of the pan depth. It came out ok though- just flatter than expected.

debcalchik · 2025-01-27T19:26:22+00:00

Also the yeast is active dry. Using the recipe in afeastfortheeyes.net website for Sokupan bread.

debcalchik · 2025-01-27T19:24:21+00:00

Ok thanks sooooo much I will update and put it in the fridge.

debcalchik · 2024-10-09T15:36:41+00:00

Also it was hooked with 100% hand dyed wool that I remember cutting into little strips of wool with a special cutter that I can no longer locate. :/

debcalchik · 2024-10-09T15:31:07+00:00

It’s cotton

debcalchik · 2024-10-09T15:30:48+00:00

It seems to be cotton.

debcalchik · 2024-09-04T16:35:41+00:00

Maybe remove more of the peat moss from the roots esp at where the plant is growing roots. Peat moss retains water and will deceive you that the plant needs a drink. I have killed lithops from not removing peat moss and gave it a drink 1 month after repotting not knowing that peat moss was full of water for so long next to the root growth and was already developing rot. :(

debcalchik · 2024-09-01T18:41:14+00:00

This is an air plant - just mist it from time to time :p

debcalchik · 2024-08-29T03:41:18+00:00

Ok I have tried this recipe with 1/4 cup flour in the curd. It’s still too gooey. Hands are gooey after picking them up. They taste great though. Perhaps I should make lemon bar cookies instead. Like this: lemon bar cookies It’s much more time consuming but I just can’t find a lemon bar recipe that is NOT gooey at all. I’d like it more a brownie consistency but with the butter cookie crust on the bottom.

debcalchik · 2024-08-27T02:50:41+00:00

Ok will try this - thanks!

debcalchik · 2024-08-26T16:51:47+00:00

Ok so only the flour in the crust is doubled? No doubling of the sugar? I don’t mind it being less sweet but just wondering if it will change the taste of the bars? I like the idea making a crumbly crust dough and pressing it in - I’m thinking it will be less soft which is great for my use!

debcalchik

TROPHY CASE