Atlantic Hurricane Season Fast Approaching

The Atlantic hurricane season is not officially underway for a few more days but the seasonal outlook calls for an active season.  Of course, the outlook could be wrong, which we all hope is the case.  But, it could also be right, too!  

Are you prepared?  Do you have bottled water, non-perishable food, prescription medications, etc?  Go to the link below to learn more about being prepared.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/prepare/family_plan.shtml

Marvel of Peru

Who knew Four O'Clocks are also known as Marvel of Peru?  And that they originated in South America!  Our Four O'Clock bed is again filled with hardy green stems and leaves, all of which seem to be growing right before our eyes.  Any evening now, the flowers will open and fill that part of the garden with bright and bold colors.  Ahh, summer!

The Garden Grows

Everything is growing beautifully, so far.  One of the tomato plants is about to bloom and I think one of the pepper plants may be, as well.  The squash in the bags of soil on the ground are growing like mad!  I will be thinning them this weekend, along with the zucchini and cucumber plants.  

Still have some more to plant this weekend, including herbs.  It's been slow-going here with the drama as of late...human illness, doggie illness, crazy work schedules and other things, too.  

We have seen some squash bugs already and some little caterpillar chewing on one tomato plant.  I think some insecticidal soap may be in order for the caterpillar.  I will talk to my gardening consultant...my sister...she knows everything about growing veggies!   

We're Planting This Week...Are You?

It's that time again.  The frost date has passed and we are prepping the garden for plants and seeds.  This year, I am growing bush zucchini.  The regular ones didn't do very well in 18-gallon containers but the bush ones are supposed to do well in them.  I am using a no-dig method for the yellow squash since they also didn't do well in an 18-gallon container.  Otherwise, I am not growing anything new or using any other new methods.  By the weekend, everything should be planted and I can be watching for seedlings and flowers! 

Farewell to Bloo

     My sister, Joyce, adopted Bloo about 2 and a half years ago.  Someone was giving Bloo away...seems that he 'talked' too much and was keeping them awake at night.  So, 6-month old Bloo came to live with Joyce.  And Bloo did 'talk' a lot but Joyce didn't mind at all.  

     Bloo grew into a handsome, hairy cat who loved to climb trees, bat around golf balls on the nearby driving range and bring many animal 'gifts' to my sister.  Thankfully, he brought them in alive and Joyce was able to get them back out alive, too.  He was personable with visitors, very much unlike any other cat Joyce had ever owned, believe me.  Bloo even liked little kids. 

    Last week, Bloo started acting a little off.  He seemed to get better after a few days but then, one day when Joyce returned home, Bloo was very warm and obviously very sick.  She took him to the vet who diagnosed him with feline AIDS.  He also had a dangerously high fever from a probably bacterial infection.  He was in critical condition and the prognosis was grim and Bloo was suffering.   Joyce knew what had to be done.   Afterward, she brought him to my house and he was buried in my yard.

     Bloo lived a lot of life in his short time here.  And, he brought my sister much joy and companionship.  We are all sorry that he's gone.  We'll miss you, Bloo.

Vole Jerky

    We are dog people.  Or at least we were until last July when this sweet, cream-colored kitten adopted us.  After much discussion, we named the little guy Rusty.  As winter has dragged on, Rusty has become quite the handsome cat.  Now this spring, his hunting instincts have fully kicked in, too!  His current favorite is voles.  I see him through the window, dragging them out of the ground and then tossing them in the air and batting them back and forth on the sidewalk.  Eventually, the 'toy' stops moving and is either consumed or hidden someplace for consumption later.  The circle of life, I suppose.

    But, like squirrels and their hidden stash, Rusty obviously forgets where he has hidden some his treats.  One of our dogs, a black miniature poodle named Cajun, brought something in the house the other day.  It looked like something non-consumable and it was crunching as she chewed it.  This was not a good sign so my daughter, Lara, and I used a beefy dog treat and managed to lure Cajun away from her treasure...the sun-dried remains of a vole...vole jerky!  Gross.

Ants!

As Spring burst out all over last week, the ants reappeared. Little black ants in my kitchen and fire ants in my yard. All up from their winter sleep, set to do their antly jobs.

Oh, how they annoy me and cause me to step carefully in my yard. But they can also fascinate me, how they keep working and working, even changing strategies as needed. Amazing. Still, I don't want them crawling all over my kitchen or making a mine field in my yard.