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Alexa @irlalexa.com · 16d

It’s amazing how such small changes can have a major impact! Thanks for sharing!

Alexa @irlalexa.com · 23d

Another game changer in the garden: improved egress.

No more dead ends and wider paths (~2’ wide)

I accepted nothing will grow along the shadow zone parallel to the fence and turned it into a path.

I’m generally working with a 12’x15’ zone, last year I packed things too tight

Another garden path along a fence, this space is constantly shaded.

Alexa @irlalexa.com · 23d

Fortunately we anticipated the backlash to the sticks.

Strategically placed grain and grass cover crops provided daily enrichment. This guy loves to graze.

The golden retriever is chilling in the garden, sitting on a nice path between two young garden beds full of cover crops and sunflowers.

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · 23d

Oh - the logs and sticks we added to edge the bed?

If you’re a fan of chewing on sticks till you get sick, you might think it’s a cruel fucked up “joke”

If you’re a fan of just looking at sticks, you might think it’s kinda cute and also cool because it came from a tree you’re chopping down

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · 23d

This year the paths along the garden bed were just layered cardboard and paper grocery bags.

Very pleasant to walk on. Kept paws tidy!

2024 we had straw paths and a straw covered dog.

#gardeningreport

The golden retriever patrols his garden in the peak hours of the day.

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · 23d

2025 GARDEN REVIEW:

A garden path is the single most important part of a garden!

It’s a defining characteristic of ANY space AND it is one that ALL creatures innately understand if it works or not.

This year, the paths were deemed impeccable by our judge…

#gardeningreport 🌱

A sweet golden retriever steps tenderly down the garden path. This garden path is made of layers of paper grocery bags.

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · 23d

2025 GARDEN REVIEW:

To start off, let me introduce the judge - he’s more than just a colleague, he’s my dog and my son.

He has high standards and good values. He rarely barks, never digs, always walks on the designated path…
#gardeningreport

Alexa @irlalexa.com · Sep 15

THE 2025 GARDEN REVIEW IS IN!!! 🌱 📈

Although the season is still going strong, our esteemed reviewer has provided us with an in-depth and nuanced report. This report helps us uphold the quality and functionality of the garden.

Stay tuned as we release these assessments this week!
#gardeningreport

A chipper golden retriever walking down a garden path made of paper grocery bags. This gentleman has finally released his 2025 gardening report, which we will be sharing with you throughout the week.

Urban garden in zone 8b, Pacific Northwest.

Alexa @irlalexa.com · 29d

Who wants to CYBERBULLY this FREAK of a tomato

a SUCKER on the LEAF STEM?!
🍅 🌱

A mutant cherry tomato with suckers growing off the leaf stem (rachis).

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · 29d

It’s a terrible thing to have your name hijacked by a corporation

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Sep 15

Thank you! He’s very popular

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Sep 15

THE 2025 GARDEN REVIEW IS IN!!! 🌱 📈

Although the season is still going strong, our esteemed reviewer has provided us with an in-depth and nuanced report. This report helps us uphold the quality and functionality of the garden.

Stay tuned as we release these assessments this week!
#gardeningreport

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Sep 14

Comparing 2025 (left) and 2024 (right) sunflowers
Photos taken beginning of June

I went overboard with the crimson clover in 2025 because 2024 I felt like my soil was too dry. Did it help? Maybe. More rain and regrading the garden this year could contribute as well

2025 beginning of June: sunflowers are barely peaking out of the crimson clover that covers the bed. Currently blooming in this photo (cause I think it’s pretty), a nice green mulch - some might think it’s too much.

2024 beginning of June: comparing the sunflower growth, you can make out more seedlings because the crimson clover is in a neat row in the bed (as opposed to covering completely).

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Sep 14

2025 sunflowers so far

Not the perfect comparison to 2024 sunflowers (different angle and layout, different types, different bloom times), but same 2 months documented

#gardening #bloomscrolling

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Sep 14

The native ladybugs were everywhere this year.

Lots of bug diversity this year, lots of predators.

3 years ago this urban yard had none.
#gardening #nativeplants

A polished lady beetle (Cycloneda polita I think) hanging out in the lacy looking, bolted cilantro. It’s a smaller ladybug, spotless, a solid red body, and it’s white markings look like eyes. A very cute and native bug in the Pacific Northwest, found in my urban garden. Photo taken in late July.

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Sep 14

I love creatures and critters and that includes plants

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Sep 10

Can’t wait for the new South Park episode

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Sep 8

“Sustainability” has turned into this ambiguous and useless noun.

Climate adaptation and resiliency is what we should be thinking at this point.

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Sep 8

The outrage in the replies are funny to me. In reality, every net zero, sustainability framework, whatever it is- is PR! The marketing worked.

I’m not saying Net Zero is bad - I’m saying it’s a rigged system and we are pretending to sustain something unsustainable.

Dave Vetter @davidrvetter.bsky.social · Sep 8

ICYMI: Google removes net zero goal from website.

Google quietly removes net-zero carbon goal from website amid rapid power-hungry AI data center buildout — industry-first sustainability pledge moved to background amidst AI energy crisis

Google's goal to be net-zero in carbon emissions by 2030 is still apparently company policy, it's just not broadcasting it anymore

www.tomshardware.com

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Sep 8

I’m interested to see how other businesses that push this feel-good marketing as a core part of their identity, handle this as we inch closer to 2030. Sustaining the unsustainable rather than adapting to the inevitable, wasting so much time

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Aug 31

I can’t claim i made it up, but i saw this and it spoke to me bsky.app/profile/grow...

Brian Engler @growhighlow.bsky.social · Aug 30

Is #SquirrelCrimes a hashtag? 🌱

A candidate tomato from my Moskvich x Chocolate Stripes breeding project that was cruelly ended by a marauding squirrel.

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Aug 31

‘Sparky Vino’ Scabiosa

In the direct sunshine it’s a nice red wine color - at any other moment it is a dark black flower that makes all other flowers POP. Perfect for the gothic gardeners.

Here you can see how to flower opens up.

#bloomscrolling #gardening

Scabiosa, or pincushion flower. ‘Sparky vino’ is a new cultivar and claims to be the darkest color yet. Nearly black, but when held in the direct sunlight, as shown in this photo, it’s a deep red wine color. Grown from seed from the Frank Morton at Wild Garden Seed. I started these plants indoors in March, before transplanting in my urban garden in Portland Oregon. Zone 8/9.

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Aug 31

Scabiosa, or pincushion flowers, are new for me this year - and will become a regular.

Highly productive with strong stems and a long vase life.

#bloomscrolling
#gardening

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Aug 31

Today and yesterdays harvest

This year I’m plucking my tomatoes off earlier due to an influx of #squirrelcrimes

🌱 🌼 🍅 🫑 🥒

A metal basket in the garden full of tomatoes, peppers and one cucumber. Grown in my urban garden, zone 8a, in Portland Oregon. PNW gardening is like cheating!

A metal basket in the garden full of tomatoes and peppers, and a cup full of zinnias, scabiosas and dill flowers. Grown in my urban garden, zone 8a, in Portland Oregon. PNW gardening is like cheating!

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Aug 23

‘whirligig’ zinnia
‘sparky vino’ scabiosa

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Alexa @irlalexa.com · Aug 23

‘whirligig’ zinnia
🌱

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