Nostr notes by AO Smith

Nostr event nevent1qqs8qtpz84mws7yy2sr0khfp6ujlvz6f5kgjkj9h5z363aqcrg2scsqzyre8e7l9k0c28h7suxmpyarx6hv6atxl4uavm4v8f32fcyfjldecu8udxtx

2026-11-01T13:47:58Z

#SilentSunday

No freeze yet and these little sunflowers are still going strong. ...

2026-10-30T21:25:29Z

No freeze yet and these little sunflowers are still going strong.

#FlowerFriday #zone8b #oregon #BloomScrolling

This warm, dry fall is accelerating the pawpaw harvest, which was ...

2026-10-08T23:18:45Z

This warm, dry fall is accelerating the pawpaw harvest, which was looking pretty slow.

We have 3 varieties putting on their first fruit this year. One was a lot firmer than other varieties when it fell off the tree but still with the sweet pawpaw flavor.

#gardening #GrowYourOwn #pnw

And on the 6th day they climbed. Foster kitten Gilly managed to ...

2026-09-25T17:15:21Z

And on the 6th day they climbed.

Foster kitten Gilly managed to climb up to the bathroom sink this morning. I'll have to revamp my "I'll just put this high up so the kittens can't reach it" plan, haha

#CatsOfMastodon #cats

I took this photo to capture the vigorous growth of the Bingo ...

2026-07-25T14:30:04Z

I took this photo to capture the vigorous growth of the Bingo pole beans on the left, having already hit the top of the 8 foot fencing trellis we put up 2 weeks ago.

But I figure it also works for #Caturday since Miss Popsy-doodle photo bombed, marching down the row with her trademark scowl-face even though she's happy. (Well, mostly happy except for getting bugged by that young Mochi cat.)

#gardening #CatsOfMastodon

@nprofile…qj33 I just put one in last year after seeing folks ...

2026-07-19T18:06:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…qgfz
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I just put one in last year after seeing folks discuss and being envious of how cool they looked. Lovely!

This little bumblebee was really packing away the bright golden ...

2026-07-06T21:43:23Z

This little bumblebee was really packing away the bright golden pollen from a St. John's wort shrub into her pollen baskets

#BloomScrolling #bees #bumblebee

I really like this bicolor type of cosmos so I saved seeds from ...

2026-07-05T23:00:52Z

I really like this bicolor type of cosmos so I saved seeds from one that bloomed last year. Most of the new plants also have bicolor flowers, although at least one has solid color blooms in pink.

#gardening #BloomScrolling

The garlic spent around a week drying out in the greenhouse. ...

2026-07-04T15:43:34Z

The garlic spent around a week drying out in the greenhouse. After a little more cleaning it braided up nicely enough and is now in the pantry. Even the variety that was left in the ground too long went up OK.

#GrowYourOwn #gardening

Looks like we finally have a cat who might earn her keep. If only ...

2026-07-04T13:41:19Z

Looks like we finally have a cat who might earn her keep. If only she could reach the pedals... 😸

#Caturday #CatsOfMastodon #cats #tractor

The little stars that are common milkweed flowers 😍 ...

2026-06-28T21:46:38Z

The little stars that are common milkweed flowers 😍

#BloomScrolling

Nostr event nevent1qqszxrvcrvpzkrzns5pzs0nst8n3amwfm959y4d6tmj068c42yxtmlczyre8e7l9k0c28h7suxmpyarx6hv6atxl4uavm4v8f32fcyfjldecux397hv

2026-06-28T14:22:57Z

#SilentSunday

I'm trying Convolvulus 'Royal Ensign' for the first ...

2026-06-09T23:17:00Z

I'm trying Convolvulus 'Royal Ensign' for the first time. Started from seed. First blooms this week. Pretty color!

#BloomScrolling #gardening

Photo looking out of the greenhouse at a nesting cavity in the ...

2026-06-06T22:57:59Z

Photo looking out of the greenhouse at a nesting cavity in the fence.

We put in a short stretch of cedar fence along the greenhouse, since it is within 20 ft or so of the property line and the road can be loud. Early last spring I glimpsed a chickadee prospecting one of the knots. My husband drilled it out and attached a birdhouse on the back of the fence. The pair moved in immediately and raised a clutch of chicks. They are back again this year, currently feeding so heavily they're hard to catch going in and out.

#birds #nesting

We limit mowing during bird breeding season, but do try to keep ...

2026-05-29T19:16:10Z

We limit mowing during bird breeding season, but do try to keep some paths open

#FootpathFriday #pnw

An afternoon walk around the property took us by these spruce ...

2026-05-18T00:48:35Z

An afternoon walk around the property took us by these spruce cones in purple. They really pop against the bluish needles

#BloomScrolling #trees

@nprofile…vfe6 Hmm, I hadn't thought of grafting them but ...

2026-05-11T00:51:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…wfmm
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nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyd968gmewwp6kyqpq4hals7mg55wgdj0lwv3p2th0lk5jz9whseagcqkcjamvqqmlf4fsjlvfe6 (nprofile…vfe6)
Hmm, I hadn't thought of grafting them but that has potential. I think I feel a little burnt on pomegranates, as a potted one also came with this house and I kept for years and it never bloomed. These ones bloom but unfortunately aren't good eating. I did see some other varieties available that are considered workable here in zone 8b that are also tasty. Any suggestions?

The overwintering greenhouse is emptying quickly, what with all ...

2026-05-10T23:19:34Z

The overwintering greenhouse is emptying quickly, what with all the early warm weather. I've been cleaning up potted perennials plus adding annuals where they fit and moving outside.

Along the way we decided to rehome a couple of dwarf pomegranates. We've had them for years but originally purchased for the fruit, which are not tasty. But they are attractive as ornamentals so fingers crossed they are adoptable.

#gardening #pnw

Nostr event nevent1qqsrhmpdu8wmjku07ppm6z3grldnv6l66wcqdurkvf5h6ecuyy2qt3gzyre8e7l9k0c28h7suxmpyarx6hv6atxl4uavm4v8f32fcyfjldecus6mey9

2026-05-03T13:46:05Z

#SilentSunday

I liked the look of the unusual yellowish new leaves on the maple ...

2026-04-12T21:53:35Z

I liked the look of the unusual yellowish new leaves on the maple variety below the pink, floofy ornamental cherry blossoms next to the patio on a rainy spring day.

I added a photo of a close-up of the leaves because I think they are neat. Even as they mature they stay pale greenish with green veins that turn orange in the fall.

#BloomScrolling #spring #trees

I planted some new tulip varieties last fall that are just ...

2026-03-28T14:32:41Z

I planted some new tulip varieties last fall that are just starting to bloom. Now if only I could remember which varieties I selected... 😅

#BloomScrolling #gardening

Mochi did not stop to smell the flowers #Caturday #CatsOfMastodon ...

2026-03-07T14:42:56Z

Mochi did not stop to smell the flowers

#Caturday #CatsOfMastodon #cats #BloomScrolling

This Gravenstein apple tree is sort of a long term #GardenFail. ...

2026-03-01T21:17:32Z

This Gravenstein apple tree is sort of a long term #GardenFail. Years ago now, the previous owners missed a couple of pruning years in a row due to illness. And then we missed another one when we moved in a late Feb time frame.

The tree became unruly and needed both winter and summer pruning to get it more manageable, although some years we forget and we go backwards again. However, even with those problems plus heavy deer browsing the tree is a prolific producer to the point that many apples are wasted each year.

#gardening #pruning

Nostr event nevent1qqsgvu6s8f5p3eh09ymq5xyyd8y3fscqxvh3jm0qjvtynfexuucr47qzyre8e7l9k0c28h7suxmpyarx6hv6atxl4uavm4v8f32fcyfjldecuvtjyva

2026-02-22T15:14:32Z

#SilentSunday

@nprofile…2wsh I did mot know it hadn't had one recently. ...

2026-02-03T19:36:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…473k
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nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyd968gmewwp6kyqpqwwc9vmthqxuxr0r9g6l6wjlc7mpeyqn4zhjg5l5fswplyvlc8dfqr22wsh (nprofile…2wsh)
I did mot know it hadn't had one recently. It always did when I was a kid and we'd take trips to pdx sometime from the boonies just to use it. Glad to hear it is back!

I've never really noted the flowers of Parrotia persica ...

2026-01-30T17:36:59Z

I've never really noted the flowers of Parrotia persica (Persian ironwood) before, even though their are quite a few around the farm. Blooming now, similar to relative witch hazel.

#BloomScrolling #flowers #pnw

"This box is quite pleasing" #WhiskersWednesday #cats ...

2026-01-21T18:01:40Z

"This box is quite pleasing"

#WhiskersWednesday #cats #CatsOfMastodon

Easy hike out to the "Giant spruce of Cape Perpetua" ...

2026-01-13T23:49:40Z

Easy hike out to the "Giant spruce of Cape Perpetua" today, estimated to be 550+ years old with a 40 ft trunk circumference. The seedling originally grew on a nurse tree, so has a tunnel under the roots. A great tree.

Dog + human for some scale (although shooting up makes for some odd optics).

#ThickTrunkTuesday #DogsOfMastodon #pnw #OregonCoast

Nostr event nevent1qqsvp2gpcw2f94d8f6539wh5wzqlmzsrlh3gdpu9hf830xvc6tqlc9czyre8e7l9k0c28h7suxmpyarx6hv6atxl4uavm4v8f32fcyfjldecunswafn

2025-12-28T15:42:19Z

#SilentSunday

Crocheting with cats #Caturday #crafts #CatsOfMastodon ...

2025-12-20T15:28:08Z

Crocheting with cats
#Caturday #crafts #CatsOfMastodon

Nostr event nevent1qqs89zjch2yq8m2hxte55me4t2zdejjhayls7jpzqcal5papx8fgtnqzyre8e7l9k0c28h7suxmpyarx6hv6atxl4uavm4v8f32fcyfjldecu3suzxl

2025-12-14T15:28:39Z

#SilentSunday

Looks like we may hit 4 inches of rain at my house from this ...

2025-12-09T21:09:57Z

Looks like we may hit 4 inches of rain at my house from this storm. The ground feels truly saturated for the first time this season, with water running over the ground surface in many areas and the creek running high.
#pnw #oregon

Looking out at upper Klamath lake from the northbound train. ...

2025-12-08T17:02:35Z

Looking out at upper Klamath lake from the northbound train.

#PhotoMonday #FotoMontag #oregon

I planted a few nasturtiums this year and they spent the hot ...

2025-11-22T22:07:28Z

I planted a few nasturtiums this year and they spent the hot summer in a fairly unhappy state. The long fall (and continued lack of frost) greatly improved their outlook
#BloomScrolling #gardening

Nice to see some snow on the mountains! Back home after a work ...

2025-11-07T23:56:27Z

Nice to see some snow on the mountains! Back home after a work trip.

Looking from the ~SE at Mt. Adams and Rainier. St. Helens was pretty much under cloud cover.

#pnw #mountains

Such a pretty, bright green lichen on the base of a maple tree ...

2025-11-02T00:31:35Z

Such a pretty, bright green lichen on the base of a maple tree

#lichen #lichensubscribe #pnw

Pulled the last bell peppers and eggplant today. Now that ...

2025-10-26T23:32:46Z

Pulled the last bell peppers and eggplant today. Now that we've had some real rains some are starting to rot.

After sorting any damaged ones out, we'll keep some to eat fresh and the rest of the good ones will go to our local food bank. It has been a very big bell pepper year for us and we already have more than we need put up in the freezer.

#gardening #GrowYourOwn

Nostr event nevent1qqsfh3s6njvhlupk258mcup9lc6dzzqm54ea40rw0a87yhka09m95uqzyre8e7l9k0c28h7suxmpyarx6hv6atxl4uavm4v8f32fcyfjldecuve29hv

2025-10-26T14:39:40Z

#SilentSunday

Breadseed poppy seed heads are very cool. #gardening ...

2025-10-12T20:58:09Z

Breadseed poppy seed heads are very cool.

#gardening #BloomScrolling

I finished shelling the yellow heirloom bush beans (aka Buckskin) ...

2025-10-09T15:28:37Z

I finished shelling the yellow heirloom bush beans (aka Buckskin) last night.

These are a small bush bean that, in my experience, can be extremely productive. The shells are soft so are easy on the fingers.

The harvest felt light this year and, if this were typical, probably not worth growing. I will say this can be a great bean for short seasons, always the first to ripen.

#gardening #GrowYourOwn

I'm enjoying the 'Firepot' dahlias so much right now. ...

2025-10-08T14:01:08Z

I'm enjoying the 'Firepot' dahlias so much right now. I think the colors really resonate with me.

#BloomScrolling #pnw

I shelled the first third of the Bingo bean harvest yesterday ...

2025-10-05T22:50:20Z

I shelled the first third of the Bingo bean harvest yesterday evening. We grew a single 35 ft row of these.

This is a pretty productive pole bean variety. The beans fall out easily of the dried pods. It needs a tall trellis as, in my experience, it can grow to 8+ ft. The beans are creamy white with dark purple speckles, with a few pods of dark purple beans with white speckles. A hearty bean, good in soups, etc.

#gardening #GrowYourOwn

Poppies #bloomscrolling #flowers ...

2025-06-12T13:51:33Z

Poppies
#bloomscrolling #flowers

@nprofile…5hte @nprofile…vdm6 This was a reason airlines were ...

2025-06-03T13:58:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…n0pv
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This was a reason airlines were pressed to run the air filtration system while parked starting in 2020. Which doesn't help in places like the jetway, waiting area, etc, of course.

Byzantine gladiolus #flowers #bloomscrolling ...

2025-05-25T20:27:43Z

Byzantine gladiolus
#flowers #bloomscrolling