Retiredrph
Retiredrph
@retiredrph.bsky.social
Retired pharmacist, professional writer, artist, reader, gardener, birdwatcher, living in Oregon.
Ward Cleaver is working nights to pile up food for the winter pantry, for June and Beaver Cleaver, the rest of our local beavers…
November 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I think my dog wants me to quit doing artwork…curled up beneath my easel
November 6, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The randomness of fallen leaves.
November 2, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Best apple out there, to me! Cross of Braeburn and Gala, sweet yet tart and crisp, great fresh or baked. Organic is worth it!! #fall #apples
November 2, 2025 at 8:55 PM
#PNW anybody besides me read this every year? We’ve spotted many a fun celestial event with their notes, good garden info, tides, etc. and nobody else seems to put moon phases on calendars anymore
November 2, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Enlarge to get the whole joke!
November 2, 2025 at 8:25 PM
And hey, how is Kiff?
My doggo is happy as a clam and does rodent patrol under the bird feeders, between naps.
October 30, 2025 at 2:28 PM
”Bug” experts: what kind of spider has claimed my recycling bin? @fishsqueezer.bsky.social @crawlieswithcri.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Here's another book with yet another reason why we are in our current mess--written long ago. Playing games instead of tuning in to what's happening in the real world:
October 29, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Such great trees, and they creat that golden carpet beneath
October 26, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Basil cuttings (TJ’s plant), Skyphos seeds from Johnny’s, under grow light inside.
Excellent Fedco silicone started cells, should last forever. Yes, late, but gotta garden, wherever, whenever and however! Lettuce to greenhouse, bubble wrap insulation, soon. #gardening #GardenSky
October 25, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Last flowers of the season, before the first Pacific storms start rolling in off the coast: #gardening
October 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Such a polite tree, columnar, drops all of its leaves about the same time. Leave that golden carpet below for a while, essence of fall
October 24, 2025 at 2:44 PM
@fishsqueezer.bsky.social Do you grow asparagus? I was shocked to find how easy they are to grow. Seed Savers seeds, now my plants produce more seeds (ones in brownish round pods are fully ripe) which I use to grow more. Sharing out more seeds! #gardening
October 19, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Auxiliary use for a greenhouse: drying laundry when the dryer needs a fix. Notice the temp inside, fortunately today is sunny!
October 7, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Just about the last flowers of summer—clarkia, bachelor’s buttons and roses
October 5, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Couple days ago, my asparagus had a coating of frost, making it a spooky silver, but it melted off. This year’s winning flowers had to be the gaillardia (blanket flowers). Covered with bees and our few, sparse butterflies.
October 4, 2025 at 12:36 AM
In the never ending battle to maintain a sense of proportion here in the Portland, OR area: I give you this awesome cartoon. NOTE: the cartoonist is Canadian! #portland
October 3, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Patrick, the Old Farmer’s Almanac has good astronomy, visible planets, eclipses, meteor shower info in a nice format. Would love to see your photos of some of these things!
September 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Recent ACIP meeting, previously unreleased video. Sound up!
September 23, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Ah sorry I missed this yesterday. Growing some wonderful strawflowers from Johnny’s, so tough one of them wintered over (down to 14 degrees).
September 19, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Wow, you grow orchids in your greenhouse?! Do you have them in there with heat all winter, or bring inside? I would kill ‘em. I’m great with veggies outside, but best indoor plants I can do are Christmas cactus, since they literally thrive on neglect and erratic watering.
September 12, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Dang.
I grow these, I believe they were originally honest plant maybe? Ok in ground here(briefly 12–14 degrees most years) but did freeze in pots
September 3, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Gardening is tied with painting the walls, for making rapid changes in your surroundings, a great reason to get out there! Patio cuke went crazy thus summer
September 1, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Our 30 yr old hardy hibiscus, also has volunteer shoots (probably from root stock of this hybrid? From its own seeds?) in different colors, so now it’s tri-color, instead of the original beautiful violet blue:
August 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM