Of course, when you have company of any kind, everything switches mode from “normal” to “guest.” And, when my daughter Monique, arrived, that’s just what happened. I drove her all over our wonderful northland, showing off some of our favorite spots, trying to catch a glimpse of a moose. That didn’t happen, but we spent 10 days in tourist mode. I’m sure she has lots to tell our grandkids now about all the nature she experienced. (She lives in an apartment in Ohio.)
Will tried valiantly to keep up with weeding in the gardens, but it’s a ten-guy job. He did great but the lamb’s quarter and pigweed are very tenacious. Luckily, our friends, Dara and Sherri are here today, helping out Will, who also has a head cold. I’m headed out in a few minutes to get some cultivating done of smaller weeds, that I don’t have to bend or sit to pull. The hoe will take care of them.
Yesterday we were surprised to see a big flock of pelicans on our beaver pond. There were 25 of them! Holy cow. The resident Great Blue Heron was also surprised and didn’t know what to think about such a crowd. He eventually hopped up and moved off a little, trying to get a little personal space. Gotta run — the weeds are waiting!
— Jackie
Thanks for reminding me of the harvesting of the squashes, and watermelon. I should have remembered that, duh!
Since I hadn’t saved peas before, I am wondering if I’m doing them wrong, as they didn’t look as nice as the ones I’d gotten from you. Its the Green Arrow variety, and some have a bit of a brown spot on but are totally dry. Viable?
Sorry you’ve got the heat and humidity, it really is hard to work in!
To save pea seeds, wait until the pods are dry on the plant, then shell the peas out onto a cookie sheet and continue drying for a week, just to be sure they are really dry. To check your seeds for viability, soak a wash cloth of doubled paper towel in warm water and lay it in a bowl or refrigerator container. Put a few peas on it and fold it over, covering them. Keep moist and in a warm place (ha ha!!). If viable, they should sprout in a week or less.
We had a storm yesterday morning (brief power outage for us, others out couple of hours or more and one small area literally got hammered). Pulled a few weeds after I picked tomatoes – they came up pretty easy. So *if* we get rain tomorrow as predicted, I will be hitting those weeds. Otherwise the perennial bed will be watered (yeah, hate watering weeds but what do you do when the good “stuff” needs water) and I’ll weed Saturday morning. Been hot and humid but not as humid as it could be thankfully. Despite the low-for-us humidity/dew point), heat index was close to 105 today and will be again tomorrow. Humidity shot up after yesterday’s rain meaning the dew point is 70+. Gotta work smart during this kind of weather.
More rain today (YAY!) despite internet/satellite/yes-even-some-air-TV-stations being out for x amount of time. Weeding time tomorrow plus picking up sticks/branches. IF I was smart, I’d let them dry out and snap them down to smaller size for kindling. In reality, it is a bit early to start stashing kindling (when one has trees, there is a never ending supply). So they’ll likely get burned in the fire pit. Been far too warm for the fire pit this week but according to the weather prognosticators, it should move out tomorrow. Even it if doesn’t, I’ll be weeding in the morning given the rain this week. Those dang volunteer trees might require a bit of effort but the rest should give-up-the-ghost quite easy.
BAT on the menu tomorrow – it is officially tomato season.
Expected/predicted rain came (sans the 80 mph winds). Heat and most of the humidity has moved out.
Pulled a couple of heaping full wheelbarrows of weeds. Still some more to do but made a good dent in the one perennial bed. After a much needed shower (I truly was sweaty and dirty – had to smack a few ants off my legs with my dirty hands), enjoyed a BAT for lunch. Probably *could* have went out and weeded a bit more but took a somewhat decent nap. I try not to overdo things (physical or mental). But I am a big fan of some type of siesta every day – shorter ones during the work week as I am not retired).
Likely will be digging most of the potatoes soon – the plants are dying off. Better half suggested we stagger planting next year and I think we should. He didn’t seem to be against turning the one area into a tater patch. I’ll test the waters again come early fall.
Sounds like you’re keeping busy! I’m glad you got the rain. I know we’re super grateful to have seemed to left the drought mode behind us. Hooray!! I’m picking tomatoes nearly daily now and seed-saving has started. Gee, a nap sure sounds good!!
lotsa similarities here :)
pelicans ;at the dam here more like 100 than your numbers .
guest; as in long awaited visit from nephew and his daughters ‘to see the farm’.
now also back to weed, transplant, planting for fall crops, keep ahead of the dread hornworms, so far I am winning. tomatoes affected growing back. enjoyed a blissful evening shower a few days back. today beans dried out. and thanks too your tip about ‘harvest as they dry ‘ harvested 1/2 the crop today. was waiting till all had dried ug and pulling plants an all double ugh. so much easier your way.
cooler temps make it easier to work in garden but still look forward to the afternoon slow down , chores and finally calling it aday.
so ENJOY your blog take care
mary
Don’t get all those hornworms, though. I found out several years ago that they are the larval form of the beautiful hummingbird moth we enjoyed seeing in the evenings, hovering around our flowers! Now that was a shock. I haven’t squished one since; just plant a few extra tomatoes.
Nope. In northern Minnesota, we can’t afford to heat a high tunnel in order to use it in the winter. So, I can, dehydrate and store plenty of various foods in the unheated basement. We base our diet on seasonal and stored foods.
The heat is on here. Hot, hot, hot! Upper 90’s and low 100’s and no rain in sight. We are so dry and everything is just burning up. I have got a few tomatoes to slice, but my once dark green lovely vines are dying. I think they have a fungus. Sigh. Gardening is a challenge and its a good thing I am stubborn and not willing to quit. Good luck in the war against your weeds! Prayers for a safe and healthy week!
Thanks Marilyn. Don’t give up on your tomatoes. The dying vines may be Septoria Leaf Spot, which often makes the vines yellow and leaves falling off, but the tomatoes are often okay, despite it. We are just going through a real heat spell, for northern Minnesota; 90’s with high humidity. Ugh!!!
Mulch helps me alot in discouraging weeds, keeping the soil cooler in this heat and reducing the need to water as often. I use my (unsprayed!) grass clippings so they break down and nourish the soil, too.
Of course, my garden is not really large, so I have plenty of clippings to go ’round.
Yep, we mulch as much as we can, but this year, we haven’t been able to mulch like normal, due to my knee still not over being sore from last January’s replacement. So, we do what we can…. (We have 6 gardens, most over an acre in size….)
Hi, Jackie, Do you ever plan to have a high tunnel in which to grow in winter or year ’round? I’m thinking if the grid and everything else goes, we’ll all need high tunnels and something to warm them. My dream is to have a root cellar. We’re on top a mountain; I guess it could be done. My basement is just too little as a larder. Just put newly canned pineapple tidbits and also canned “new” potatoes (russet and yukon gold) down there. Your books are always the greatest help!
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