We have had an unusually long spring this year. I am not complaining, believe me! The past three days have been rather hot, though, and it was quite humid today, also. Thunderstorms are expected tomorrow. Sounds like summer to me!
My vegetable garden is coming along nicely. The self-watering containers are working well with everything but the pepper plants. My sister says they have shallower roots than the others so they might not be wicking up the water yet. To combat this problem I have been top watering the peppers in the evenings.
When I look at my garden and see the dozens of tomatoes growing and the first peppers appearing, I get excited about the prospect of eating the tasty veggies. Next week, I will be planting a second round of green beans. Plus, I am considering planting kale in late July.
I have found gardening to be a contemplative time, as do many gardeners. Today, while watering and checking for unhelpful insects, the book Rascal came to mind. I thought about the main character, Sterling, and his war garden. His vegetable garden was much larger than mine, considering he was harvesting bushels of carrots, beets and potatoes, among other things. It is clear in the story Rascal that war gardens were important in that time of global unrest. The gardens made everyone feel like they were helping in the war effort, too. People probably gardened anyway in those days but the war gave them another reason to grow some of their own food.
Are you growing vegetables this year? What are you growing? How is your garden coming along? I'd like to know!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Garden Pests and Other Things
This morning I ventured outside early to check on my vegetable and herbs, looking for evidence of critter disturbances or any other problems. It has been a few weeks since I found the aphids a tomato plant. I sprayed it with a soap solution and the hungry beasts were gone. I hadn't seen any other concerns since.
This morning, though, I found some interesting looking beetles eating some weeds in the nearby four o'clock bed. They were red-orange beetles with black spots on their sides. And their bodies were bent a little, like a rolly-polly. After capturing a few, I headed to the internet and discovered that these hungry beasts are Colorado Potato beetles. Well, I am not in Colorado and I am not growing potatoes so at first I was not sure how they got to my garden. I researched more and found that they are now found in the 48 connected states and eat more than potato plants. The soapy spray killed the more mature ones, but not the ones that still seem to have their 'armor' on.
My, Joyce, sister said to squish them...every last one of them...to leave no survivors...and to look for their yellow-orange eggs and squish them, too! Joyce is an experienced gardner and she knows her stuff, so my daughters and I went outside and took care of every Colorado Potato beetle we could find.
The second outdoor adventure today was tackled by my husband and one of our daughters. One of our downspouts empties into a plastic pipe so as to carry rain water away from the house. A few days ago, I notice many flies, big ones and little ones, congregating in the area. And our dog has found that connection between the downspout and pipe to be very interesting. The connection doesn't make a tight fit so the flies were traveling in and out of the plastic pipe. I remembered that several days ago I heard something inside the downspout, something that sounded like it was climbing or trying to climb inside of it. Put the clues together and you can figure out this next part easily. Yes! You're right! These was a dead animal in there, probably a squirrel. My husband and daughter dragged the plastic pipe to the back of the property and took care of it. What a day!
This morning, though, I found some interesting looking beetles eating some weeds in the nearby four o'clock bed. They were red-orange beetles with black spots on their sides. And their bodies were bent a little, like a rolly-polly. After capturing a few, I headed to the internet and discovered that these hungry beasts are Colorado Potato beetles. Well, I am not in Colorado and I am not growing potatoes so at first I was not sure how they got to my garden. I researched more and found that they are now found in the 48 connected states and eat more than potato plants. The soapy spray killed the more mature ones, but not the ones that still seem to have their 'armor' on.
My, Joyce, sister said to squish them...every last one of them...to leave no survivors...and to look for their yellow-orange eggs and squish them, too! Joyce is an experienced gardner and she knows her stuff, so my daughters and I went outside and took care of every Colorado Potato beetle we could find.
The second outdoor adventure today was tackled by my husband and one of our daughters. One of our downspouts empties into a plastic pipe so as to carry rain water away from the house. A few days ago, I notice many flies, big ones and little ones, congregating in the area. And our dog has found that connection between the downspout and pipe to be very interesting. The connection doesn't make a tight fit so the flies were traveling in and out of the plastic pipe. I remembered that several days ago I heard something inside the downspout, something that sounded like it was climbing or trying to climb inside of it. Put the clues together and you can figure out this next part easily. Yes! You're right! These was a dead animal in there, probably a squirrel. My husband and daughter dragged the plastic pipe to the back of the property and took care of it. What a day!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
As The Garden Grows
The self-watering containers are full of thriving, beautiful vegetable plants! So far, the few casualties have been caused by attack of the yard critters - either baby squirrels or birds. I am thinking it is the former since I have also caught them rummaging through my herbs, looking for nuts that do not exist. I will need to replant some beans and a zucchini, too.
I caged my tomato plants just in time for this weekend's rain. I don't think they would have survived if they were not caged. This morning, though, I discovered aphids on one of my tomato plants. My sister advised not waiting for the rain to stop to spray them. So, with the assistance of my daughter, the plant was saturated with insecticidal soap and covered with a trash bag to keep the soap from washing away in the rain. This was sister's idea - she is an experienced gardener so she has been a wealth of information for me in this entire gardening process.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Self-Watering Containers...Will They Keep Me From Killing My Garden?
I am trying something new this year - self-watering container gardening. I am a plant killer from way back. I even had an air fern die in my care! I gave up on gardening for many years, but last year I successfully grew herbs in pots so I am feeling encouraged enough to grow some vegetables this year, along with the herbs.
My family worked for a few hours on Saturday, prepping 5-gallon buckets and 18-gallon storage bins with drainage holes, aeration screens, wicking chambers, etc. I am excited! I already have cabbage, lettuce and pepper plants and will soon have tomato plants, too. I am also planting green beans, zucchini, yellow squash and cucumbers. Wow! When I read all that, it sounds like a bit much. Hopefully, the self-watering containers will do what they are supposed to do and we will be enjoying a bounty of yummy veggies come summer.
Curious about self-watering containers? Do a google search or watch some videos on youtube. Self-watering containers can be made with nearly any container, once you understand the gist of how they work. Take a look and see what you think. Maybe you will spend next Saturday drilling holes in buckets yourself!
My family worked for a few hours on Saturday, prepping 5-gallon buckets and 18-gallon storage bins with drainage holes, aeration screens, wicking chambers, etc. I am excited! I already have cabbage, lettuce and pepper plants and will soon have tomato plants, too. I am also planting green beans, zucchini, yellow squash and cucumbers. Wow! When I read all that, it sounds like a bit much. Hopefully, the self-watering containers will do what they are supposed to do and we will be enjoying a bounty of yummy veggies come summer.
Curious about self-watering containers? Do a google search or watch some videos on youtube. Self-watering containers can be made with nearly any container, once you understand the gist of how they work. Take a look and see what you think. Maybe you will spend next Saturday drilling holes in buckets yourself!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Why Orrin Street Press?
I grew up in a typical suburban neighborhood, not far from Washington, DC. My immediate family consisted of my parents, my older sister, my grandma and me. My extended family was ever present at holidays, on my grandma's birthday and on weekends, too. Sometimes, even greatly extended family from South Carolina would come to visit my grandma so I met many of my distant cousins. Much laughter and love happened in our house, our home. And some sadness, too.
Most of my extended family moved a few times...some of them just to another house in their community...others from city to city...one even from country to country when serving as missionaries. Our little family was the only one that stayed in the same house through those many years. Everyone knew the way to our house and everyone felt like it was their home, too.
My parents were generous folk and they loved family and friends unconditionally. Some of our neighbors were like family, too, and were included when we had family gatherings. My parents lived in that house for over 40 years, and after they passed away, it was sold. As one of my cousins sat in the dining room of that house for last time, she said it was the end of an era. And it was for all of us who had spent days, weeks, months or years at that house...that house on Orrin Street.
Most of my extended family moved a few times...some of them just to another house in their community...others from city to city...one even from country to country when serving as missionaries. Our little family was the only one that stayed in the same house through those many years. Everyone knew the way to our house and everyone felt like it was their home, too.
My parents were generous folk and they loved family and friends unconditionally. Some of our neighbors were like family, too, and were included when we had family gatherings. My parents lived in that house for over 40 years, and after they passed away, it was sold. As one of my cousins sat in the dining room of that house for last time, she said it was the end of an era. And it was for all of us who had spent days, weeks, months or years at that house...that house on Orrin Street.
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