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Another week has flown by and the weekend will soon be upon us. Today the temp here is in the low 60s, but tomorrow is suppose to get HOT! Like 90s hot. Maybe too hot to work out in the garden. For those of you who may still want to do some garden work, we thought we would answer some of the emails regarding the actual cutting abilities of the Fiskars loppers we had reviewed last weekend.
We will be lopping of pieces off a bush which did not make it through the Winter. The branches ranged in thickness from 1/4" to 1.5". Click on any of the images to get a closer look at the cuts.
The 15" lopper easily took care of the smaller branches. The cuts were clean and crisp. The leverage afforded by the long handles will enable anyone to use this in their garden, but will be especially suitable for those looking for lighter weight tools which can still handle tough jobs.
The 17" lopper has two steel cutting blades and made short work of the 1.5" thick branches. Very little arm strength was needed. This is due both to the long handles and the well designed cutting blades.
We had a very positive FirstUse experience with these Fiskars loppers. We have an InTheWild follow-up in a few months. Next up will be a look at the Fiskars hand pruner. We are eager to see if the "rolling" grip will enable us to trim for a longer period before getting hand fatique. [Permalink] - Wan Chi Lau
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We told you about the four Fiskars loppers and pruners last week. Today we took the them out to the RainyDayGarden for a FirstUse. The collection was perfect for the various tasks we had in mind.
Before we get to the actual trimming, we thought it would be helpful to take a closer look at the... [More] - Fiskars FirstUse
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May is the time of year when gardens in New England go through a lot of changes. While the tulips and some irises start blooming at the beginning of May, the leaves on the trees don't come in until nearer to the end. By the end of May, things are in full growth mode.
The RainyDayGarden is no different. While many of the plants have started growing at the beginning of the month, Buffy and Eliot were not able to find many shady spots to rest during their daily patrols.
However, the interns were able to observe all of the goings-on today while remaining cool in the shade. Hmmm, we can see Buffy resting, but just what IS that Eliot up to? [Permalink] - Wan Chi Lau
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It is the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. Even with gas prices as high as it is, many folks will be heading out on the road. We, however, will be staying around Boston and doing some work on the RainyDayGarden.
One reason is that a variety of Fiskars garden shears came into the office. Since we just got back from being on the road most of the week, the thought of hanging out doing some gardening was pretty appealing.
These Fiskars are some serious garden loppers and pruners. They are lightweight, but their long handles will enable them to cleanly cut some pretty thick branches. We'll have a FirstUse this weekend. [Permalink] - Wan Chi Lau
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This past weekend started out sunny so we spent the morning cleaning and weeding the RainyDayGarden. Showers were forecasted for the latter part of the day, but one can never tell in these parts.
A few weeks ago, we got a few packages of the new MiracleGro LiquaFeed Advance. We decided this weekend was a good time as any for the Spring feeding.
The LiquaFeed Advance system came with an integrated sprinkler-feeder unit. The MiracleGro bottle attaches to one end. There are few spray options to the head. The switch for plain water/ mix feed switch is on the top.
The bottle's cap mates and seals with the sprinker for a precise mix when feeding. The bottles are designed as single-use only, but they are recycleable.
When assembled, the bottle is angled so gravity will cause the liquid to flow into the feeder. The entire unit is quite light and very comfortable to hold.
The balance of the sprinkler/feeder was surpisingly good! We had no problems aiming and spraying. The MiracleGro LiquaFeed system was easy to assemble and simple to use. We are looking forward to a vigorous RainyDayGarden this season. [Permalink] - Wan Chi Lau
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It has been sunny these past few days. The irises and tulips are loving the rays. We thought it would be a great opportunity to take advantage of the light and see what the Nikon D40's kit lens can do on getting up close and personal, at least with the flowers blooming out in the RainyDayGarden :-)
We took most of these shots early in the morning using the 18-55mm lens with the camera on a tripod. Our first close-up test was not too structured. We just wanted to get a feel for what we can expect at different zooms. Click on any of the images to see the larger versions.
The three images of the purple tulip are all the same shot just cropped and saved at different resolutions in Photoshop. You can see the details at full resolution here.
The red tulips shots give an idea of the range of subtle shades which can be resolved with the D40/18-55mm lens combo. How to print these subtle shades is a problem we tackle another day!
Close-up photos are not difficult to take, but does require a sturdy tripod, good lighting, and a lot of patience. Some readers have asked about creative accessories (specialty lenses, close-up filters, etc...). Many of these will give the photographer additional creative control of the image capture process. We will be taking a look at some of them in a few weeks. [Permalink] - Wan Chi Lau
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We were right about the weather yesterday. It rained all day and the plants in the RainyDayGarden loved it. We took advantage of a brief pause in the rain to do some more tests of the Nikon D40 and lenses.
The temperature was a bit cool for the tulips and the frittillaria, but at least it wasn't freezing! The grape hyacinths are in full bloom. The hostas are just getting started.
May is just around the corner and we are all looking forward to the warmer weather. This Winter felt a lot longer because we skipped our annual Spring Break trip to South Beach. We won't make that mistake again! [Permalink] - Wan Chi Lau
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Apr 29,2008 (NozzleTechTuesday) |
The April showers have finally arrived in Boston. The timing is perfect as we did a lot of work in the RainyDayGarden this weekend. We got a nice cold soak yesterday. Today looks to be more of the same.
While we don't do a lot of watering of the garden, we do love cool garden gadgets. On our last outing to Home Depot, we picked up an awesome looking nozzle from Orbit Irrigation Products.
This is the XL-Streem Super Magnum Hose Nozzle. It has a fully adjustible spray, adjustible pressure, and a large on/off lever. This nozzle looks and feels like a scaled down version of something one would find on a fire truck :-)
Hopefully we will need to water as little as possible, but when we have to water the garden we are now prepared. Hmmm, it might be pretty good for washing the car as well. Hey, interns... [Permalink] - Wan Chi Lau
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Apr 28,2008 (MiracleGrowMonday) |
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MiracleGro LiquaFeed Advance is the new no mess, no measure, no fuss way of
making sure the plants in your garden gets the proper level of nutrients.
The starter kit comes with two bottles of pre-measured LiquaFeed and a custom spray nozzle. Each bottle of fertilizer can feed about 400 sq ft.
The nozzle has four selectable spray options and can switch instantly between feeding and watering. The nozzle also has a locking trigger for extended use.
Feeding may now as simple as attaching a nozzle, insert bottle, and sray! We are looking forward to checking out the MiracleGro LiquaFeed Advance system in the RainyDayGarden this year. [Permalink] - Wan Chi Lau
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Apr 26-27,2008 (WeekendEdition) |
Things in the RainyDayGarden
started blooming a little earlier this year because of April's warmer than usual weather. The tulips, forsythia, and various other bulbs have been flowering for about a week now. The first iris opened this weekend.
We try to water as little as possible. As a result, the ground is always a bit on on the dry side. However, it does promote deep root growth and select for plants which will make it on just rain water alone! This year we plan on helping with water retention even more by mulching.
To minimize our lawn work (mowing, watering, etc...), we are contantly making new flower beds. This weekend, we opened up a new plot and moved a bunch of day lilies and iries from another part of the garden to the new bed. We are looking forward to seeing this bed take shape over the course of the year. [Permalink] - Wan Chi Lau
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Apr 6,2008 (WeekendEdition) |
The sun peeked out for a little bit yesterday. We took the opportunity to walk around Jamaica Pond in the "direct beam of the sunshine."
It was still a bit chilly, but signs of Spring were everywhere. There were people jogging, buds are on some of the branches, and nesting activities have started.
We didn't have any problems identifying the various wildlife at the Pond because we have been studing our copy of Bird Song of North America. OK, ducks and cormorants are pretty common :-)
However, how many of you know what a Paradise Tanager or a Streaked SpiderHunter sound like? We thought so. If you want to know, and who wouldn't, you need to get yourself a copy of the Les Beletsky's Bird Songs from around the World.
Like the Birds Songs of North America, the illustrations and recordings in the Bird Songs from Around The World are wonderful. So until we book our bird-spotting trip around the world to see and hear them live, we'll just have to be content with Les' book. [Permalink] - Wan Chi Lau
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Mar 30,2008 (WeekendEdition) |
It was a bit windy, a little cold, but Spring is definitely on the way. We thought a stroll through the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain would be a perfect opportunity to tryout the Nikon D40.
The goal of this outing was to get a feel on how the camera handles on one of our typical assignments. All of the shots taken in this trial were done using the default "Auto" setting. The flash came on when the camera thought it was needed. All we did was compose the shot and press the shutter button.
We used the 18-55mm lens for all of the building, interior, and landscape shots. The wildlife shots were taken with the 55-200mm and without a tripod.
The camera was easy to handle, even with gloves on. The buttons were logically placed. Focusing was quick and responsive. There were no problems with shutter lag or recovery.
The Nikkor 55-200mm VR lens continues to impress us. We caught the robin above using the 200mm zoom and on the move. We knew the camera would under-expose the bird, but we wanted to see how well the robin would hold up after some image processing. The colors and details held together surprisingly well!
We wanted to show some examples of images (ducks, buds, bark) uncropped, unretouched, and in full resolution to show you what you can expect when shooting outside on a bright overcast day.
Everybody here was surprised by how much more detail the photos taken with the Nikon D40 had as compared to past Canon S2 photos. We didn't think the differences would be so dramatic.
In the next installment of our Nikon D40 review series, we will try out the various "pre-programmed" modes. [Permalink] - Wan Chi Lau
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We have a tradition here at the office tht we take a four-hour walk around the Charles River on Thanksgiving day before the big meal. The temperature on some years had been in the teens, but yesterday it was a balmy 50º!
We love the walk because we do it at a time when most people are either home cooking or have left town. The experience is unique because the city seems deserted and is eerily quiet. Definitely the "calm" before the BlackFriday storm!
We post these images for you to enjoy should you need a refuge from the day-after Thanksgiving shopping crowds. - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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Nov 22,2007 (Thanksgiving) |
The staff here at RainyDayMagazine would like to wish all of our readers a Happy Thanksgiving. To read a...re-interpretation of the history of the first Thanksgiving, our lovely co-editor Carolyn offers a short piece you might enjoy (ahem, you've been warned). Enjoy the pumpkin pies!!! - Carolyn Donovn (permalink)
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Oct 27-28,2007 (WeekendEdition) |
A few of the RainyDayMagazine folks were invited down to Provincetown for the weekend to hang out, eat/drink, and watch the third game of the World Series.
We, of course, took this opportunity to bring with us a few gadgets to test: the Carson Spotting Scope, the Wicked Laser, and some yet to be reviewed items. The weather was so nice that we spent all our time enjoying it rather than playing with the gear.
Provincetown this time of the year is very quiet during the day, but it was still lively at night due to the coming of Halloween. Many of the galleries were closed for the season, but many of the boutiques were still opened. We checked out quite a few of the shops looking for end-of-the season deals. Unfortunately, we came away empty handed.
However, all was not lost since the Red Sox took the third game of the series 10-5! We'll be back in Boston tonight to see if they can sweep. If they do, then we'll be back posting gear reviews next week! - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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Oct 15,2007 (MonocularMonday) |
This past weekend we took the Carson Spotting Scope for a FirstUse outing. Mass Audubon has a preserve close to the office. We have been there a few times and knew it would be a good location to test out the scope.
It was just the start of Fall but the colors were already showing. We hiked in for a bit and set up at one of the boardwalks looking out at the wetland.
The setup we took with us on the outing was the Carson BackCountry Spotting Scope mounted on the TrekPod. We have been using the TrekPod every chance we had. A few sharp-eye viewers noticed that we used it to support the Jason telescope we had with us in Maine.
The Carson scopes performed wonderfully in this FirstUse outing. The controls were easy to use, the focus knob and zoom controls were smooth to operate. The image had high contrast and was razor sharp. The integrated sunshield came in very handy on this bright day.
The Carson scope/TrekPod combo is a winner both in the backcountry as well as in the city (we stopped by Jamaica Pond on the way back to check out the ducks). The pair is light to carry and quick to set up. Perfect for bird watching anywhere/anytime.
The only thing we wish was better on the Carson was the lens cap. It is a rubber cap, but the fit was loose. We did not take it with us on the hike because we knew we would lose it. Some kind of hinged cap may have been a better choice for a field scope. However, this is a nitpicking point in an otherwise excellent product. We look forward to taking out in a more extensive outing soon. - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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This past August in New England was a dry one. Many of the Cone Flowers (known as echinacea) have gone to seed earlier than usual. The golden finches have been spotted taking advantage of this bounty in the RainyDayGarden.
We spotted the finches only because Eliot and Buffy were both perched on the 2nd story window with their gaze fixated on a spot in the garden.
Getting a shot of them was a little more difficult. The 12x zoom on the Canon S2 was barely good enough. The slight overcast made for even lighting, but cut down on the overall brightness. This situation (high zoom, low light) is particularly difficult for digital cameras.
It is suprising how light birds really are. This finch is sitting on and pecking at the cone and there is not so much as a shake. - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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A few of the RainyDayGarden folks found out that the Mass Horticulture Society was holding a Marketplace Festival out in Wellesley. So we packed up Saturday morning and drove out to see what it was all about.
The event was held at the Elm Bank Horticulture Center. The grounds at Elm Bank were amazing. There were both formal and informal gardens with all kinds of things in bloom.
The event had over 50 vendors selling all kinds of tasty goodies (organic produce, Acai berry drinks, plants, etc...). Whole Foods sponsored the event and, more importantly, served some incredible roasted tomato gazpacho.
All kinds of great plants were also for sale. It was a good thing we didn't have the truck because it would have been easy to go WAY overboard.
We had to limit ourselves to just one purchase. After walking around and checking all of the different growers, we decided on a beautiful day lily called "Sammy Russell."
There was a lot more to the event than what we covered here. We'll have a full write-up of the event soon. Go here to see what else is on the calendar from the folks at Mass Horticulture Society. - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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The Passiflora we purchased from Logee's is doing quite well this year. Thank you for the requests for updates. No new time-lapse clips of the flowers this year, but we do have some exciting passiflora news...we got a fruit!
We had about six blooms last season. There might have been more this year if someone hadn't accidentally sniped off the main branch while tending to it over the Winter! At the beginning of Spring this year, we transplanted it to a larger pot and gave it a stronger trellis to climb.
The plant survived and we even managed to root a few new plants using the accidental cutting. We traded one for the banana plant, which is growing vigorously in its new home.
The Passiflora can survive in partial light, but loves a bright spot. It has been in "the direct beam of the sunshine" for most of the Summer. We have it in a pot because the winters in New England are too cold for the Passiflora to survive outside.
Having it outside in the RainyDayGarden enabled the insects to do their thing. This is our second year with the Passiflora and the first year in which it actually bore fruit (the RainyDayKitchen folks are pouring over their cookbooks looking for the perfect passionfruit recipe). We have been very happy with this addition to our garden. So no matter what your climate is, the Passiflora is a really cool plant to consider adding to your collection. - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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The delivery of birthday gifts interrupted the flow of the office for most of the day yesterday. In the midst of all the celebrating and the well wishing, someone noticed an interesting item in the pile of presents which we thought we would of interest to many RainyDayMagazine readers.
Carolyn received a book of Bird Songs (250 North American Bird Songs) which came with its own audio player. The player has a built-in speaker, control buttons, and an LCD display.
To hear the song of any of the birds in the book (finches, sparrows): first note the bird's number, press the selector until that number shows up on the LCD, then push the play button to hear the song.
Some may remember our photo of the Blue Heron from Walden Pond. This is what its cry sounds like. Somehow we would have expected something a little more...majestic? Well it is what it is :-) - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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July 7,2007  |
Eating locally grown food is both good for the local economy and good for you. The food is fresher, tastier, and better for you. In the Summer, the best place to get locally grown food is at your Farmer's Market.
In Roslindale, the Farmer's Market has been growing steadily for the past several years. This year, the market has grown so big that it was moved into the town's main square.
There are now all kinds of vendors at the Roslindale Farmer's Market. The stands are stocked with all sorts of seasonal produce, flowers, and tasty baked goods. This year, there are also local artists offering hand-made crafts.
If you are looking for something fresh this summer, whether it be a few juicy tomatoes or a new barrette, you should head down to Roslindale Square on Saturdays between 9 and noon and check out what's happening in the town center. It's (s)hopping! - Wan Chi Lau (permalink)
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June 29,2007 |
We would like to say "thanks" for all of the great emails we received during this week for our camera repair project. It was surprising to hear from all of the Canon users out there who love their S2s and want to keep them working!
The LCD transplant was completed without any problems. The camera powered up and the LCD powered on. We pushed all the buttons, turned all the knobs, and everything checked out just fine.
Up to this point, we have only taken a few test shots. We were all eager to see what kind of images we would get from our new and improved S2. It was a bright day out so we took a few handheld sh | | |
