Tuesday, June 22, 2021

In the Garden

 On Sunday, we went up to the retirement property. I took a spider plant to put in the greenhouse with the hibiscus tree which is growing at a phenomenal rate and the avocado tree which has grown another three inches. Further more, we have a fourth tree sprouted in the pot! At this rate, I will have an avocado jungle before it is all said and done. It amazes me, but thinking about it, I guess the trees thrive in hot places, so the greenhouse is a perfect place for them. 

I meant to take pictures, but unfortunately, I forgot my phone. 

Which is a shame, because I really wanted to get pictures of the mushroom logs. The garden is looking great. The heavy storms of this past week have really made things pop. My cucumber project? I was afraid to look, but they are growing well, and when I pulled the pots out of the barrels to check, the roots were growing right out of the pot like they were supposed to. I really wanted to get pictures of that for Northsider, but it will have to wait another week. 

I got the the tomatoes and peppers hoed, and I got to work tilling around the squash. Then the tiller died and would not stay running. Tim will have to take a look at that. Figures, though, doesn't it. When you're trying your best to get the most done in the small bit of time you've got to call your own, there's always some darn thing to hold up progress. 

The peas are coming up. The zucchini and the summer squash, the cantelope and the pumpkins are all coming up. My little tomato plants that I started from my very own saved seeds look very nice. The pepper plants, also from my own saved seeds, are small but healthy looking. The corn is up, the potatoes look great, I've got volunteer potatoes coming up from previous years all over the place. My onions look nice. Carrots and cabbages too. For whatever reason, I'll have to replant the beans, it looks like, but over all, I'm happy.

It was a departure from the norm for me. Usually, I plant what I think I'll need. This year, I planted everything and lots of it. I figure that whatever I don't need I can give away. Abundance is never a problem, right? 

As we pulled in the driveway, I saw a groundhog running from the garden, up towards the berry patch. I pointed him out to Tim. He said, "I was watching the one that was running this way," pointing in the opposite direction. 

I said, "You need to bring your gun next time we come." He agreed. 

Why do critters have to be so pesky? They can have anything they want outside the fence, but they are bound and determined to work their way under that garden fence! 


14 comments:

  1. Much more interesting stuff inside the fence. Run, Groundhog, run!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I wouldn't mind so much but I've never been able to grow peas, beans, or cabbages...for some reason, those are special favorites and they nibble them right down to nothing. They damage the squashes and cucumbers so badly that I end up with very little produce. I'm serious when I say they've got 10 acres of lush green to chew on.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I guess that was a joke about bringing a gun but I am a little scared about guns and America.

    You shouldn't have gone back to work, instead set up a fruit and vegetable stall as it seems your crops will give abundance.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Can't wait to see your photos Debby.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Andrew, we see it like this: guns are tools. Nothing more, nothing less. In this case, it is a necessary tool. Once under the fence, there is no stopping them. We saw where they were getting in last year, and closed it off again and again, only to have them push through. Since we only get to the garden on weekends, a garden can be annihilated in the course of a week. Last year, I got two cucumbers. That's it. No peas. No beans. No cabbage. The only answer is removing the ones that are breaking in.

    I agree with you on guns. When I see someone making sure that you realize that they have a weapon, they are doing it to intimidate and to cause fear. I don't think anyone needs to carry a gun to a father daughter dance, for instance (but they did, and it was perfectly legal to do so). I don't think guns are needed at the local tractor supply, but the man standing in line made eye contact with me. I wondered why he was staring. He pulled back his jacket and displayed a gun on his hip. What was his point? I am supposed to wonder if he is a good guy or a bad guy. They 'get off' on making people nervous and it is bully behavior.

    Of course, not all people who carry are like that, but I get awfully tired of hearing people go on about how much safer we all are because THEY carry. Anyone who has stood on a playground with their grandchild as a holstered man stands guard over HIS kids knows that this is bullshit.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sure they have ten acres of lush green stuff to eat but that quarter acre inside the fence is the only place to satisfy their cabbage fix!

    We usually aim to plant more than they can eat so we can all share but occasionally we have to use the gun/tool method too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The groundhogs will go for the best food, I imagine, just as we do. Have you tried other methods to keep them out of your garden?
    There are lots of remedies on google! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't think we have groundhogs around here. Or if we do, I've never seen one. I don't blame you for wanting to get rid of them after reading through some of your comments about how much they eat. A garden is too much work to only get two cucumbers!

    We have moles, and I was afraid they would disturb the roots of my garden plants, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I actually think they've been helpful in keeping the soil "tilled" so to speak. We have lots of earthworms, which is their favorite food, and I'm grateful for the earthworms, too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I suppose rabbits are our worst stealers of crops here - sounds as though we are lucky.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Where I lived in Ohio there were lots of ground hogs, we had a dog that was death on them if he saw them they were soon dead, but some people hunted them for meat. I never tasted one but my husband did and said the meat was tasty if he had not known what he was eating. I think guns are safe, it is people that do not know how to use one or do not care for human life. When I was growing up there was a gun rack in almost every pick up truck, even at our high school. Some Parents do not teach children gun safty or respect now.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You're right, Debby. Where I live, a gun is a tool. It's a shame we can't educate more folks about responsible gun ownership. I hope your tomatoes thrive and produce bountifully. My husband starts some every year from seeds he's saved. This year every attempt was ended by mice. I put out three plants I bought at the feed store and they've done great. However, when I went out yesterday morning, I saw where they'd been ravaged by hornworms!!! We pulled off SEVEN of them! Hopefully they didn't do too much damage. I was crushed! (and so were they)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your garden sounds amazing and I look forward to seeing some photos next time. I have the same conversation with the spiders. I tell them they have the whole yard to roam and do their business but once they come in the house then it is go time. Good luck with the groundhogs.

    ReplyDelete
  13. We haven't found a repellent that actually repels. We livetrapped last year and relocated them out of there. I was home and could drive down and check the traps daily. But with both of us working long days, it would be inhumane to trap and animal and leave it caged and unable to get to food or water. While Tim is a hunter, he only shoots what we will eat and for 'critter control'. It's kind of a fact of life. Apologies to all who might have been offended.

    ReplyDelete

  14. I was diagnosed as HEPATITIS B carrier in 2013 with fibrosis of the
    liver already present. I started on antiviral medications which
    reduced the viral load initially. After a couple of years the virus
    became resistant. I started on HEPATITIS B Herbal treatment from
    ULTIMATE LIFE CLINIC (www.ultimatelifeclinic.com) in March, 2020. Their
    treatment totally reversed the virus. I did another blood test after
    the 6 months long treatment and tested negative to the virus. Amazing
    treatment! This treatment is a breakthrough for all HBV carriers.

    ReplyDelete

I'm glad you're here!

Weary

I am sure that everyone has seen the video of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. I lived in Baltimore for a couple years while my...