Each and every year is always different. This year - the plan was to let the gardening go. This year - it was gonna be all about - animals.
And then…
The Volunteers showed up.
Two Cherry Tomato plants - from Loyd - our neighbor.
Now this is a funny one. These two tomato plants are - literally - Volunteers. In fact - Loyd tells me they are the 3rd run of Volunteers - from a couple tomato plants he got from another neighbor a few years ago.
He let the two plants have their way - all over the banister of his deck at the front of his house. Come the fall season - he just let ‘em do whatever they were gonna do.
Eventually - cherry tomatoes dried on the mess. And he just rubbed the tomatoes between his hands and let the seeds fall - before taking all of what was left of the bushes out to the compost.
But the doo-rag biker is downright anal when it comes to keeping his pickup and his Harley clean and spit-shined. { SMH }
Last thing he said to me before he handed these two to me - " Hell, I can't even find anybody else to take any of 'em off my hands! "
I can grow 1 or 6 Jalapeno Pepper plants. Doesn’t matter. I manage to yield enough that could help out a handful of restaurants. But this year was all about animals.
And then…
We cussed when we discovered we were opening our last jar of Peppers.
Hubs brought home a 4-pack of really pretty seedlings.
Three have gone into my flowerbed - with the two Volunteer Cherry Tomato Plants. The fourth plant went to Loyd.
Yes. I cut the heads off the Jalapeno Pepper plants. It encourages the bush to develop more thick and stocky - for extra and more rounded support.
I always plant my Tomato Plants deep. I cut the leaves off at the bottom - enough to give me about 50 - 60 % of the plant stem. Tomato stems will root a lot more for you when you do that. Gives you another opportunity for extra support.
My flowerbed tells a story about me - if you really pay attention. My life is all about picking my battles around here. Sometimes - you have to let the weeds go - when you’ve got 2 grazing areas to construct entire fencing around. Lots of corner posts. Lots of webbed fencing to stretch.
And thank God - for blessing me with the thought to choose a few good ones to plant in the bed - that I can depend on to take care of themselves long enough for me to get something else done.
I can hardly wait until my Coneflower begins to put out a full bouquet!
The Salvia - she even had babies!
The Rosemary is tattling her butt off. I really need to get in there and square her up.
But our Blue Rose of Sharon popped her first bud this morning!
This is 2012. This little lady was a mail-order plant that came to us in 2002! She has survived in big pots - and moved with us - twice!
She's 10 years old!
This is a dark red Crepe Myrtle bush that we bought last year. I love these things!
I thought I killed her. Looks like one more “ Tough Girl “ has decided to stay.
Our Azaleas are playing out - which is a good thing. We’re getting ready to do an overhaul here - as soon as I’m able to power-wash the last dead bud off both plants.
Ugh… more Volunteers.
Orange Cosmos that I planted last year. They haven’t gone hog wild - yet. That’s why they’re still there.
I am NOT procrastinating.
I pick my battles - and they’re low on the list.
But this…
This is another Volunteer that is showing up. Actually - this would be - many - Volunteers. Yes - enough to fill Neyland Stadium.
I may have blown it here. We planted Malabar Spinach in a huge pot last year - with a trellis hanging over it. It considered itself kind enough to leave us gifts.
I just keep pinching ‘em outta the ground - every time I walk by.
We’re having to do another re-weigh on the boys in the morning. I dunno. Dwayne’s hands were swollen - or - Bruce was jacking with him for some fun - holding a deep breath.
I don’t need a weigh tape to support my own eyes telling me there is no way that steer gained 19 pounds in 1 week. I’m just not buying that crap!
Artist is expanding his vocabulary.
“ Artist… you wanna cookie? “
“ Where is it? “
Kid you not! And he smacks when he eats his cookies.
I pick my battles. Artist’s table manners training is low on the list.
I dunno. Just keep looking. It’s somewhere down there on that list.
1 comment:
Beautiful plants! And yes I would believe 19 pounds in a week.
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