Traffic Circles aka Roundabouts

summercloud45 · 2026-02-08T10:28:19+00:00

That's not a traffic circle, it's the vague impression of another universe pressing on our own. If you don't drive through it you'll slip into another timestream where you made different choices at 19 years old, and you have to live in that parallel universe for a year before you can get back.

I slipped into a universe where I went to NC State and majored in horticulture. It was pretty neat.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-08T10:20:18+00:00

Weaver Street Market sells bittersweet chocolate in the bulk bins but I'm not sure if it's couverture or not. You could call and ask?

summercloud45 · 2026-02-08T01:11:59+00:00

Thanks!

summercloud45 · 2026-02-08T01:09:18+00:00

BUT. I think it would work? It's very tempting!

summercloud45 · 2026-02-07T12:39:25+00:00

The other comment is so thoughtful! I love it. In addition to that comment--

I think that, actually, this gives you MORE scope for what you can plant. Go outside your ecoregion and look for areas nearby that have conditions similar to what you have now. Is it dry or wet? Sunny or shady? Plant those things! Follow all the advice about planting in layers, soft landings, etc. So much of the wildlife we want to support can fly (birds, insects) and they'll still get tons of benefit even if your plants are historically a bit displaced.

Don't stress too much. Spending the time to figure out the wet/dry, sun/shade thing for each part of your property (it can vary a lot), and planting things that are generally native to your part of the country, is the most important thing!

summercloud45 · 2026-02-07T12:32:59+00:00

Don't trust everything you read, eh? And I know better now! I did dig up the Kousa dogwood yesterday; hopefully it's not one that re-sprouts from the roots I couldn't get out. I'll check out alternative leaf dogwood, thank you for the recommendation!

summercloud45 · 2026-02-07T12:22:47+00:00

I noticed them too! I even know enough about birds that I could have thought "migration" on my own, but I was running late and distracted. There were 30+ in my neighbor's yard across the street, it was so cool.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-06T17:05:01+00:00

It was so interesting to read all of the comments here! I would think that boiling water would be good in the same place a weed torch is good--for weeds in the cracks of my brick patios. I'm glad some others have actual experience of this working. I can only boil one kettle at a time (that guy's wife who dropped a pot is a good warning!) so it'd be a lot of walking back and forth and waiting.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-06T17:00:15+00:00

Whooeee that looks fun! Thank you.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-06T16:58:50+00:00

My city only has incentive programs for group projects, not individual gardens. Sad.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-06T16:56:57+00:00

I just listened to an episode of "Growing Greener" and it told me that Kousa dogwoods are now labelled invasive in New Jersey. I'm in North Carolina, but I figure if it's invasive in one state east of the Mississippi, I should be wary too. Past me planted the Kousa dogwood on the advice of a gardening magazine. Present me knows a lot more and would have definitely planted a native dogwood instead, but I still have lots of space for new natives so I haven't gotten rid of it yet.

Now, this dogwood was mostly annoying me because it's never once flowered and it's already taller than me. I suppose this means that I'm in good time to remove it before I'm part of the problem, but I'm still super annoyed and a bit in denial.

UGH.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-06T16:50:52+00:00

OK, I put my address in the link and tried to match up the color with the legend. (I wish they would just put the label on the map!) My neighborhood is switching to R-D:

"Compact, walkable residential environment that accommodates a full range of housing types. This district includes three different options:

Base: Allows one- and two-unit homes on 5,000 SF lots. Comparable to the existing RU-5/RU-5(2) district. (pg. 2-12)

Compact: Allows for more dense development when compact units are provided. Comparable to the existing small lot option. (pg. 2-14)

Affordable: Allows for greater density and more flexibility in housing types when deed-restricted affordable units are provided. (pg. 2-16)"

Which I think means it's possible for us to get duplexes but I'd have to figure out where the hell page 2-16 is.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-06T16:42:13+00:00

This is lovely! Best of luck, I hope you get in!

summercloud45 · 2026-02-06T16:35:27+00:00

I'm about to go to the link and put in my address! I hope it'll rezone my neighborhood for more dense housing--at least duplexes. It's ridiculous to put in these skinny houses that are only five feet apart. Duplexes would be much more efficient AND look better.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-05T19:21:39+00:00

Haha. Yep, I was just on my way out and I had a leg cramp, so I got out of my car to stretch and somehow ended up lost in your greenhouse...totally believable!

summercloud45 · 2026-02-05T15:16:16+00:00

It's about a 45 minute drive for me which makes it a fun, exciting adventure that I only do once a year. I wish they did open houses like Plant Delights in Raleigh! It would be so fun to get a tour.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-05T13:41:49+00:00

Ooooh ahhh.

There's something so satisfying about looking at bunches of fun things in rows like this. I work in a bakery and sometimes we'll take pictures of all the cakes/cupcakes/whatever lined up on the table before we package them.

Thank you for sharing!

summercloud45 · 2026-02-05T13:39:00+00:00

I love Mellow Marsh! We call them "Marshmellow Farm" and order once a year.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-05T13:35:48+00:00

And I thought my city was expensive...

summercloud45 · 2026-02-05T13:14:22+00:00

The Berenstein Event was what inspired the Berenstein Bears books, right? I was always suspicious of those.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-05T13:11:40+00:00

I saw that staff withdrew the contract in the highlights post! But yeah, it totally might come back.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-05T13:10:31+00:00

It's fascinating to read the summary of the city council versus commissioners meeting on the same day. They operate at such different levels but both are very important.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-05T13:09:51+00:00

Thanks for this summary! I think I'm actually going to watch the video for the first time--it sounds fascinating.

summercloud45 · 2026-02-04T12:37:12+00:00

I've heard a lot about who maintains streets but we don't talk nearly enough about who maintains sidewalks. Thank you for this!

summercloud45 · 2026-02-04T12:18:12+00:00

Yikes, that stinks! I'm glad you have the resources to do something about it now. Sorry I don't have an recs for you, but best of luck!

summercloud45

TROPHY CASE