What did you do in the garden today?

[igorsMistress]

I have a stainless steel work table in my kitchen ( too small for an island). I use that for kneading bread dough and rolling out pie crust and pizza dough, but use parchment for baking cookies and separating meat before freezing. I’ve thought about getting a silicone mat but I wonder what the life of one is. Is it more cost effective than parchment?

Not in my opinion. Parchment is more versatile and I'd rather have the stainless table than the mat. My counters are high and I'm short so I use the mat on a tiled table I have. It doubles as a second table for dining when we manage to get everyone together so more practical for us.

 

[NewBoots]

Today we pulled at least five tomato hornworms off the tomatoes. We also had at least five yesterday. Big ones, too. We fed them to the chickens -- they adore them.

The peach tree is getting some new growth.

The figs have tiny baby figs. The pumpkins are taking over the backyard.

The spaghetti squash, cantaloupe, and zucchini are just taking off.

The watermelons are still tiny and are not yet producing fruit.

One sunflower finally opened, and the roses are coming back after being devastated by escaped chickens.

The sage is spreading out, not up, and one of the pinks sprouted neon purple flowers.

The delphinium is getting new growth.

The butterfly bushes are getting some flowers.

We finally have a baby jalapeño.

Pics please! We love the pictures!

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Pics please! We love the pictures!

That would be a lot of pictures! I'll do my best.

 

[WthrLady]

I helped a squirrel out of my garden. We just put up fencing around it, thinking it was a rabbit eating my vegetables. Came out in the morning to let the chickens out and guess who I see? A squirrel that can’t get out.

I cannot recommend the squirrelinator or chipmonkinator enough. We leave them baited and check at least once a day.

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Just came in from weeding. I can only stand about 30 minutes at a go in this head and humidity, with this pollen and my sinus'. Can I tell you how much I loathe bindweed?

After I weed, I'll go over the beds with weedkiller to top it off. I hate to, but this stuff is insanely invasive.

I'm halfway around the workshop and only about 1/8th around the house. I'm trying to stick to the shadier bits as the sun adds 15 degrees.

As I was working in the shade below the deck, something bonked my ankle. The chickens were about, so I figured it was one of them. I looked down and it was a 12 inch bull snake who apparently didn't like my white cotton socks. I reached down and grabbed its tail and carried it off to the concrete drive apron of the shop, 20 eager little pairs of beaks in tow.

I tossed it down and it coiled up and was instantly surrounded by a ring of hens and one growling rooster. Once he declared it was no threat, all bets were off to see who could get it. In the end, the 9 month old RIR skipped across the lawn with her prize her sister tagging behind to share.

Man, I love chickens.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I cannot recommend the squirrelinator or chipmonkinator enough. We leave them baited and check at least once a day.

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Just came in from weeding. I can only stand about 30 minutes at a go in this head and humidity, with this pollen and my sinus'. Can I tell you how much I loathe bindweed?

After I weed, I'll go over the beds with weedkiller to top it off. I hate to, but this stuff is insanely invasive.

I'm halfway around the workshop and only about 1/8th around the house. I'm trying to stick to the shadier bits as the sun adds 15 degrees.

As I was working in the shade below the deck, something bonked my ankle. The chickens were about, so I figured it was one of them. I looked down and it was a 12 inch bull snake who apparently didn't like my white cotton socks. I reached down and grabbed its tail and carried it off to the concrete drive apron of the shop, 20 eager little pairs of beaks in tow.

I tossed it down and it coiled up and was instantly surrounded by a ring of hens and one growling rooster. Once he declared it was no threat, all bets were off to see who could get it. In the end, the 9 month old RIR skipped across the lawn with her prize her sister tagging behind to share.

Man, I love chickens.

Squirrels aren’t normally a problem and I really don’t care too much so I let them be. If they get trapped I just let them out and they normally learn to stay away.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Have to admit that would send my into orbit bull snake or other .. yup sinuses in full
bloom here also

 

[TropicalBabies]

Aloha gardeners,
So, I caught my neighbor taking tomatoes off of my volunteer tomato plants. 3-4 weeks ago I thought it was strange that it had so much fruit but I was never able to harvest much at all unless I picked early, now, nothing at all. I never saw the chickens around the plants much but blamed them anyways (ok, that is fair because they absolutely would if they could), then I saw my neighbor gal, ya know, the one who always wants oranges or eggs or lawn mowed or TV fixed... She is older and been widowed for awhile so I let things go, but she was reaching well into my yard and was caught red handed twice. The second time I let her know that she was spotted and she came up with a lame excuse that it was her first time... the lie irritated me more than anything. She is always picking our flowers, complaining if our tree drops leaves in her yard so we trimmed it back heavily for her... Her yard is a mess and she is of the generation or mind set that it is someone elses job, not a woman's, though her house is a mess also... I have done many, many things for her through the years with barely a thank you if at all. I don't want to be mean... but I no longer have any tomatoes for my salads and well, that just don't seem right. Thinking of turning a sprinkler on her lol.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Aloha gardeners,
So, I caught my neighbor taking tomatoes off of my volunteer tomato plants. 3-4 weeks ago I thought it was strange that it had so much fruit but I was never able to harvest much at all unless I picked early, now, nothing at all. I never saw the chickens around the plants much but blamed them anyways (ok, that is fair because they absolutely would if they could), then I saw my neighbor gal, ya know, the one who always wants oranges or eggs or lawn mowed or TV fixed... She is older and been widowed for awhile so I let things go, but she was reaching well into my yard and was caught red handed twice. The second time I let her know that she was spotted and she came up with a lame excuse that it was her first time... the lie irritated me more than anything. She is always picking our flowers, complaining if our tree drops leaves in her yard so we trimmed it back heavily for her... Her yard is a mess and she is of the generation or mind set that it is someone elses job, not a woman's, though her house is a mess also... I have done many, many things for her through the years with barely a thank you if at all. I don't want to be mean... but I no longer have any tomatoes for my salads and well, that just don't seem right. Thinking of turning a sprinkler on her lol.

That's really hard! Maybe you could suggest she get her own plants, or tell her that she doesn't need to steal, she can go to the grocery store or buy them from you? I know this sounds insensitive to your issue, but I definitely agree that she should not be doing that.

 

[jkohlrieser]

For our first year, surprised to say we haven't had a big issue with pest in the garden (yet). Sweet corn, zucchini, squash, broccoli, cucumbers, and potatoes are doing great. Watermelon, Strawberries, green beans, and tomatoes are coming along.

 

[NewBoots]

That would be a lot of pictures! I'll do my best.

Wooohooo!

As I was working in the shade below the deck, something bonked my ankle. The chickens were about, so I figured it was one of them. I looked down and it was a 12 inch bull snake who apparently didn't like my white cotton socks. I reached down and grabbed its tail and carried it off to the concrete drive apron of the shop, 20 eager little pairs of beaks in tow.

I tossed it down and it coiled up and was instantly surrounded by a ring of hens and one growling rooster. Once he declared it was no threat, all bets were off to see who could get it. In the end, the 9 month old RIR skipped across the lawn with her prize her sister tagging behind to share.

Man, I love chickens.

As sympathetic as I am to snakes, I got to admit this made me laugh. I don't know if mine will ever get that brave. Most of them still run like a little girl from a worm.