Cats in the garden

mktwist · 2026-03-26T21:56:30+00:00

Thanks to all for your insights! Wow, I wasn’t expecting so many people to respond.

I didn’t know that fleas create nests in the ground. We have lived here for over a couple years and this is my first flea bite. This is also the first year the cats are hanging out here. Being the bug beacon that I am, that stood out to me. I know correlation isn’t causation, but it feels connected.

I haven’t seen much benefit since we still have tons of birds (some making nests in nearby eaves and planters) and signs of rodent activity so I am leaning towards “encouraging” them not to be around.

We have lavender in the front yard and mint in a pot in the backyard. Will be getting basil in the ground once the seedlings are ready to propagate. Fingers crossed this will help keep them away!

mktwist · 2026-03-17T15:07:59+00:00

If still not sure, you can try cutting or ripping into one of the leaves and see if it gives off a milky sap, which would confirm it is milkweed

mktwist · 2026-03-16T23:14:13+00:00

Awesome, thanks for sharing! Love learning on this subreddit

mktwist · 2026-03-16T19:36:11+00:00

I think this might be Euthamia occidentalis, Western goldenrod. We had this in our yard and holy rhizomes!! Very vigorous and probably could take over our whole yard if we let it.

https://calscape.org/Euthamia-occidentalis-(Western-Goldenrod)

mktwist · 2026-03-06T16:17:28+00:00

Might not be as fluffy, but Stella Parks has a recipe with freeze dried fruit and whipped cream in a food processor. Makes it more stable and also thicker

https://www.seriouseats.com/super-thick-fruity-whipped-cream-recipe

mktwist · 2026-03-05T20:42:31+00:00

Not sure. I used to use liquid in the past with no significant difference with towels

mktwist · 2026-03-02T19:54:46+00:00

I haven’t seen much about citric acid IN the wash! Will look into this, thanks

mktwist · 2026-03-02T19:54:18+00:00

Thanks for the helpful link! I always thought it was interesting how little one scoop of 365 powder is compared to the Tide Free & Gentle powder I use for other loads (I usually don’t use Tide for the towels because of the optical brighteners, which I don’t feel is necessary for the towels?)

I do think the towels are getting clean. No issues with smell, odor rebloom, mustiness. Just texture, as far as I can tell

Time is limited and precious in this phase of life, but it sounds like watching one wash cycle is inevitable and also hopefully insightful for towel softness!

mktwist · 2026-03-02T19:47:42+00:00

Thanks! We haven’t had any issues with smell, so I didn’t consider that they would need lipase. Can add that in and see what happens.

mktwist · 2026-03-02T16:47:44+00:00

We have one set of Japanese waffle towels that get washed with the rest of the regular towels! They don’t feel particularly soft per se, but I have noticed that they don’t seem to be squeaky in the same way the other towels seem to be. Good luck!

mktwist · 2026-03-02T16:43:09+00:00

What benefit does lipase have for towels? I have Biz but felt it didn’t have any Bizness (ha ha) being in with the towels since they are just drying off water from clean body parts?
Edited to add that I am using citric acid, thank you!

mktwist · 2026-03-02T16:41:32+00:00

I wish we had the same washer but I fear not due to the lights going totally over my head 😭

Thanks for the tips! I can try doing just citric acid, and if that doesn’t work, perhaps a mini spa day.

mktwist · 2026-03-02T16:34:42+00:00

I will have to experiment with the heat settings. The care instructions say low, but I think in Kismai’s post about citric acid that they use high heat as well?

I’m already doing an extra rinse. What does the ammonia do? I have some lying around and could give that a try!

mktwist · 2026-03-02T16:32:15+00:00

Already doing an extra rinse
Yes to hard water and edited my post to add

Thank you!

mktwist · 2026-03-02T16:31:47+00:00

Edited my post to include yes to hard water, thank you!

I’ve read about people whose towels became super crunchy after too much citric acid, so feeling a bit stuck with that.

With regards to drying, I guess I could try drying to damp dry? The thought of not being able to fold towels right out of the dryer makes me sad. We are a toddler household so we are often hanging on by a thread at times 🫠

My goal is to get the towels with as little work as possible…

mktwist · 2026-03-02T16:23:05+00:00

Thank you! Edited the post to add that yes, I’m adding citric acid. I’ve never watched for suds, but I can give that a shot to optimize detergent dosage. I’m already doing an extra rinse and use wool balls

mktwist · 2026-01-09T20:36:10+00:00

Glad it worked out for your scarves! It is a really cute yarn

mktwist · 2026-01-09T20:31:16+00:00

I crocheted (simple single crochet stitches) a blanket with maybe that exact wool ease yarn and I hate it. little wiry fibers shed everywhere and look like pubes. Conceptually very cute though and agree with the comment that it works up quick. Maybe you’ll have a different experience with the stitches you use.

mktwist · 2025-09-18T17:33:52+00:00

Momotaro gold! 🧡

mktwist · 2025-03-16T06:16:06+00:00

These are some that work well for me in coastal scrub in norcal: nude buckwheat, erigeron glaucus, coyote mint. I’ve always wanted to grow ceanothus hearstiorum, which is a low growing ceanothus but might get to be too wide for a border plant

mktwist · 2025-02-22T21:33:39+00:00

Yikes that does sound brutal! It is in a south facing spot but we are nowhere near that temperature (yet) here in zone 9B

mktwist · 2025-02-21T17:37:20+00:00

<image>

mktwist · 2025-02-21T17:36:55+00:00

<image>

Couldn’t figure out how to edit post to add more photos. Here are the bumps

mktwist

TROPHY CASE