As an expansion our weekly discussion of the yard and garden, I'm adding some pictures to capture what I can't share with clarity via Facetime, Greg. I just finished rescuing the garden from a grass invasion! That was a lot of work, but finally the plants are growing more happily.
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| These marigolds are really the most flourishing part of the garden! They also seem to be doing a great job keeping bettles and other pests far from the tomatoes. The hot sun does not seem to bother them at all, unlike most of the remaining plants. |
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| Our wee peppers. The seedlings were carefully started by Jeff's mom, or we would have none this year... Though they usually thrive in the sun, the extreme conditions have slowed growth. These baby peppers are the first of the year- not that I started my outside garden really early, so I missed the more gentle spring weather! |
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| Yarrow... a new addition, and hopefully a perrenial. Like the marigold, it's bright flowers confuse beetles and like other herbs (chives, lavender) the strong scent of the leaves annoys aphids. At least, that's what I read. And since for the first time ever I have signficant aphid-ant problem, I'm hoping this will help! (If not, there will be no pumpkins or cucumbers!) You can make a infusion spray with it too, as an insecticide. |
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The happy cucumber plant, now clambering up our garden fence.
It sports some itty bitty fruit, but the aphids are making a true harvest look doubtful. :( |
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Unlike other years, the tomatoes are just getting by.
Of course, it this WERE our only source of food, I guess I would be out there watering with much more diligence. The slightly hands-off approach of other years has left my plants just surviving this year. Live and learn... |
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| The happy corner. The not-so-happy corner need not be showcased this year. |
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| There's always something to be grateful for... two types of basil growing like crazy, and my strawberries finally taking off once we dipped under the triple digits. Amazingly, the chipmunks and birds have left them alone. |
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If the garden fails to satisfy, there are other summer treats... like ice tea and blueberry pie. It was perfect for our picnic dinner at the outdoor Shakespeare performance last weekend.
Even better: a vacation to give you enough time to enjoy making the pie! |
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The newest addition... we bought rhubarb and then realized you have to give it some space of it's own. So a friend helped dig up a fresh bed yestereday. I added some perrenial flowers at the ends, just for fun. They will look like golden daisies.
So that's the garden, Greg. And now you know what I like to do on vacation! Garden and cook... :) |
