slug party

Slug traps come in a four pack of tall boys from McDades. They don’t seem to mind that its just warm Steel Reserve, in fact, they absolutely love it. A small dish of beer attracts the slugs, they climb in and then die of alcohol poisoning. Trails leading to the dish indicate that they set out for the beer that night, not my plants.

Morning after, by the bush beans:

With a few nourishing rainstorms (tragically, devastating in other parts of the state), warm weather and lots of sunshine, most things are coming up nicely. Again, I was late putting things into pots, so my tomatoes, peppers and eggplants are probably well behind this season. Some are in pots on the deck to transplant, some are in large pots to stay. A few rows in the side garden have been planted from seed with tomatoes, cayenne peppers, mini bell peppers and eggplants. The mini bell peppers are not really coming up, I wonder if that is because i stereotyped them into the small pots on the deck…

The kale and cabbage are being eaten by ants, as the last things still in the garden besides arugula, going to seed. Two generations of carrots are popping up on the other end of the garden. Garlic planted a few months ago seems to be withering, apparently a sign its ready for harvest soon! I had made two mounds for squash in the street side garden, but apparently the seeds felt the need to migrate down away, maybe washed in the rains, maybe just traveling.

Surprisingly, the blueberry bushes have berries. I guess it is about time, but we only just planted them! The blackberries are springing up, and the muscadines are branching out, looking for their trellis. Still waiting on the cucumbers and such at the top trellis…

catch up

When I got back from my extended spring break, i found the garden on an absolute tear. Everything had shot up while I was gone thanks to the abundance of sunshine and warm air and a bit of rain. This did mean, unfortunately, that many of the winter crops were bolting. Arugula, mustards, turnips, radishes were all bolting, or nearly bolting. Soon to follow were brussels sprouts and lettuce. It was impressive while they were still around. The arugula flowers smell of honey, and I am keeping them around for seeds.

I did not take any pictures during that epoch, nor have I taken any of the current work.

I started a number of plants in pots now, tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers and eggplants. Some will be transplanted when they are of age, others are just to be shifted around as I please. I followed Felders recommendation with that, just get a big pot and put things in it! He says it is easy, so ill go with it. The side garden is almost completely changed: I have added two mounds for squash which are starting to sprout, another little patch of carrots. A few tomato and bell peppers have been transplanted in, while rows of greens were removed (and eaten!) to make room for tomatoes, bell peppers, bush beans, eggplants and cayenne peppers. The back yard peas are steadily climbing, almost reaching the deck now. I have made an okra patch fairly inconveniently located under the clothes line. The muscadine trellis in the front will have to do double duty this summer, supporting brown berry tomatoes, cucumbers, and pole beans and peas.

more as this develops.

the world is definitely ending

This white stuff is falling from the sky. I don’t know any other explanation. The world is coming to an end.

I woke up and looked around. It was all snowed down outside. Quiet. Its been about an hour and the kids who would have been at school are now having a great time around the neighborhood. But I actually wanted to go to work. What else am I going to do for the day?

Bonus Recipe:
Last night, I brought 2c milk to a boil, stirring constantly, then cut it off. Then I quickly added 1/2c steel cut oats, a dash of salt, and a lot of cinnamon. Let that sit overnight, then heat it up in the morning. Was fine. Great with maple syrup.
P supplied the recipe, it was easy, i made the milk modification.

So i guess the Murrah game has been rescheduled for tomorrow. Maybe ill track down one of these open local restaurants and hit them for lunch…

Lastly, pictures from the end of the world, including some gorgeous crepe myrtles. Even though all snow pictures end up looking the same, I have to take them. Its not like i get snow often enough to not bother.