Paradise Lost . . . or Saga of a Suburban Gardener

[anifani821]

EM - ROFL! Oh my . . . I can't feel too bad about this after reading your post! I can see all of us gathered round - cartoon characters . . . you are too much!!!!

Well, DH has put the kibosh on the cantaloupe in the back yard. He says I am nuts and that will bring all sorts of creatures to the door. So I have canned that idea, as it were.

I feel for ya w/ your African backyard. Mine is a vast wasteland, as far as grass. Just dirt w/ clumps of crab grass every few feet. DH has been working too hard and has not had any free time to work on that deck. Last time he built one, he would quit working about 4:30 pm and put in a few hours each evening b/f dark. Well, here it is July 19th, and he is working late in the evenings and on the weekends; he is obsessed w/ spreading that pile of mulch. So I don't know when we will get the deck in so it covers up part of the dead expanse of lawn (now dirt). DS is working every weekend up in the mountains . . . and school will start back for him in a few weeks anyway . . . guess we just are out of luck on getting some help from that fine young man.

However, I have to brag on the work DH has done at the front of the property. He finished spreading all the mulch up there and tomorrow, hopes to put in the last plants on the left side of the driveway. So we are making progress. The drought defeated us but we have bounced back - with a new strategy! No lawn, all mulch!!!!! Works for me!!!

Don't get dismayed w/ the spiders. Just keep spraying or get an exterminator out there. You will conquer them after while. Or at least - clean 'em out for the season!!!!

[cynwldkat]

Ahhhhh, the joys of our gardening! I have been bragging about those pesky Japanese Beetles not bothering my roses---well I spoke to soon. The little buggers have finally found them! So I once again applied some systemic stuff to keep them away. A never ending job, our gardens. Be it veggies, fruit or flowers it keeps us all very busy!

[TheEmissary]

Originally Posted by anifani821

EM - ROFL! Oh my . . . I can't feel too bad about this after reading your post! I can see all of us gathered round - cartoon characters . . . you are too much!!!!

Well, DH has put the kibosh on the cantaloupe in the back yard. He says I am nuts and that will bring all sorts of creatures to the door. So I have canned that idea, as it were.

I feel for ya w/ your African backyard. Mine is a vast wasteland, as far as grass. Just dirt w/ clumps of crab grass every few feet. DH has been working too hard and has not had any free time to work on that deck. Last time he built one, he would quit working about 4:30 pm and put in a few hours each evening b/f dark. Well, here it is July 19th, and he is working late in the evenings and on the weekends; he is obsessed w/ spreading that pile of mulch. So I don't know when we will get the deck in so it covers up part of the dead expanse of lawn (now dirt). DS is working every weekend up in the mountains . . . and school will start back for him in a few weeks anyway . . . guess we just are out of luck on getting some help from that fine young man.

However, I have to brag on the work DH has done at the front of the property. He finished spreading all the mulch up there and tomorrow, hopes to put in the last plants on the left side of the driveway. So we are making progress. The drought defeated us but we have bounced back - with a new strategy! No lawn, all mulch!!!!! Works for me!!!

Don't get dismayed w/ the spiders. Just keep spraying or get an exterminator out there. You will conquer them after while. Or at least - clean 'em out for the season!!!!

While you were probably writing this, I was pulling the last of the wheat - I mean crabgrass, away from the air-conditioner. I actually feel better about the Black Widows after I saw 10 Deadliest Creatures the other night. The naturalist had one crawling on his hand saying that unless you blow or press on them, they won't bite. Needless to say, I'm not trying that anytime soon. After I saw the next segment on Sydney Funnel Web Spiders, the Black Widows look downright friendly! I say we take the Sydney Opera House and leave the spiders!

I have so much gardening to catch up on, but with the old house sold and the new house all painted, I won't be abrogating my gardening chores! I'll be trying for the cover of Better Homes and Gardens next year. Oh, for a tomato sandwich with home-grown tomatoes. It doesn't get any better than that!

[TheEmissary]

Originally Posted by cynwldkat

Ahhhhh, the joys of our gardening! I have been bragging about those pesky Japanese Beetles not bothering my roses---well I spoke to soon. The little buggers have finally found them! So I once again applied some systemic stuff to keep them away. A never ending job, our gardens. Be it veggies, fruit or flowers it keeps us all very busy!

Oh those Japanese Beetles! If we could gather them up and bring them to a Toyota dealer and exchange them for Camrys, I'd be eternally grateful!

[nchunter]

Ani,my offer still stands for the tomatoes. I have my second crop coming in now! I also have enough green beans for all of Iredell county! I've been freezing and pickling okra. Our second round of corn is also ready. We had tons of plums, so I made preserves. I'm ready for the garden to slow down a bit!

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by nchunter

Ani,my offer still stands for the tomatoes. I have my second crop coming in now! I also have enough green beans for all of Iredell county! I've been freezing and pickling okra. Our second round of corn is also ready. We had tons of plums, so I made preserves. I'm ready for the garden to slow down a bit!

I swear, I am moving to Mooresville!! Perhaps I have told you my sister is there and my parents are there part time. They want me to move up that way.

I am gonna be making a trip up that way, not this week, but the next week. I will DM you and see if you still have an abundance of anything and can share a few tomatoes . . . then I have an excuse to come meet you!!!

Speaking of freezing, did I tell you that somehow, in our move, all my canning equipment "went missing?" Several other items went by the wayside, but when I finally figured out my canning items were gone, I was disgusted. However, my mother told me a few weeks ago that she is giving me all my g/mother's items - down to her sieves and tongs. Yes, mine were newer and in better condition - but the thought of my hands wrapping around those instruments that my beloved grandmother used for so many years - well - I get all misty typing about it. My g/mother died in 1976, way too soon (she was raised and lived in Iredell Co).

Canning is not for everyone - and really, other than tomatoes, stuff stays so nice when frozen. (And I have frozen tomatoes to use in sauce and they were great!!!) I hope my son's generation will take an interest in these homemaking skills. My son's g/f has taken up sewing and knitting, as well! So there is hope!!!