What did you do in the garden today?

[Flockincrazy]

nothing it's to hot I walked into my greenhouse and walked right back out omg it was so hot it took my breath away

 

[pennyJo1960]

Sad part I need to get packages from PO or plant hot out short pants time

 

[Compost King]

I just walked through my garden a few times and watered a few pepper plants that started to wilt today. Spent more time being sure chickens had water so far today. I will likely do a light watering after sun down and the Tomatoes are due for half an inch of water which I may give them today.

 

[NightingaleJen]

We have a neighborhood watch but normally that is me....No one else likes to get involved, lacks courage or is lazy... not sure. I start off nice about things but don't wait too long b4 i pull out the stops. I don't want to see the kids get hurt or killed. I'm the worst and have no prob sticking my nose in neighborhood business that effects me or mine. I'm also the one who gives freely- eggs, mangoes, chickens, cages, time, medicines and tomatoes... when I have lol, most all the times.

Well, since you are giving and helping, obviously you're not being a jerk, you actually care, otherwise you would not be generous. People who actually care don't just 'care' and do nothing. They at least say something. Also, I think—especially these days—while some folks probably are lazy or lack the courage, the latter at least might be encouraged when they see someone doing the right thing, someone who cares enough to step up in a kind but firm fashion to try and keep things in line. They might (one hopes) eventually be encouraged to do the same. Have you any like-minded neighbors, even if only regarding one or two topics? That may be where to start. You can tag-team it and then enjoy ice cold beverages regularly while "having a meeting".

Sorry about your fourth. That sounds really, really unpleasant, to say the least. :/

Sorry about your soup and the haying issues, @WthrLady. Hope you had a restful evening and feel better today.

My goodness, @karenerwin, you had a rough weekend! I am so sorry! Especially about your pen. I'm guessing you saw no signs of predators or you'd have a better idea what actually happened.

Plant away, @littledog. Seems to me gardeners are pretty hopeful, optimistic types to begin with. When is your first frost? Ours is not 'til mid-October, so IMO, plenty of time to plant all sorts of things. It can't hurt.

Also, isn't hoeing kind of zen? Once you get a good rhythm going...

What about putting that rebellious squash in a tomato cage, @Sueby? Have seen people have good luck with that. If nothing else it'll keep some of that foliage out of the soil (and maybe give you a bit more room in the bed).

@Wee Farmer Sarah Thank you, think I'll try the onions AND sriracha. Maybe I'll put the latter with a bit of water into a squirt gun and just sit waiting in the woods...

Good luck with the borage, @NewBoots! It's so pretty it's worth any effort.

Despite the continuing exciting reaction to the mosquito bites (Hubby told me that from now on I'm to carry the EpiPen with me even just in the garden—it turns out my response to the bites now is just a step or so short of going into shock) I did manage to hobble/drag myself out to do a little peeking and weeding of the veggie garden. Also planted "Trail of Tears" (! sad name...) and "Blauhilde" pole beans, as well as the Japanese Long and some sort of "White" cucumber seeds. Hope springeth eternal...or I'm just an idiot at this point!

No rain yet here, either; think we're at more than a week of 90+ days. Thank God for the soaker hose, at least I didn't have to stand there watering for ages! Hubby helped by watering the flower beds & window boxes for me (actually, he insisted, because the bites have me in bad enough shape that it's tough to walk...and I, so eager to hit up the nursery to replace what the critters destroyed). But I missed visiting my garden. Can you blame me?

Oh, did I mention—the Flanders Field poppies decided to bloom for our Independence Day BBQ. I almost cried with joy. What beautiful timing. Sorry no pictures...for obvious reasons. They are such lovely flowers!

Also managed to hobble over to visit the daylily. She's giving us one stunning bloom every day!

Finally, I must say I'm a bit envious (not in the bad way—I'm happy to see so many doing so well!) with everyone's yellow squash and zucchini. Can't figure out what I've done wrong this year, having done everything shy of animal sacrifice and/or dancing sans apparel beneath the moon.

 

[WthrLady]

KONKED right out at midnight and was up and running at 430am. Toast and a Latte, class, 3 loads of laundry, sprayed weeds, showed and was in the village by 10am.

7 year old Washing machine bearings are shot. New ones $500 IF I could find them. LG stopped producing them last year, New machine 800. No brainer. Will be here Wednesday. Won't match the base or the dryer, but will still be grey.

Ate lunch. Fluffed all the hay in the hayfield.

Tonight I'll finish work on the baler and spray the rest of the weeds. I think I need to tie up some tomatoes. One of the Boston melons has quit. It just up and wilted. Humpf. Need to check the cabbage. I see holes in the leaves even though it is totally under a fine mesh box. No idea how a moth got in their to lay eggs.

 

[Sueby]

@NewBoots - I've tried pickle crisp, aka calcium chloride, to keep them crunchy & it didn't work. I've read a long soak (2 days with soaking & rinsing) in pickling lime works - I haven't bothered with that yet. I've tried keeping my cukes in ice water before canning, not sure that helped either. I also read that you can process cukes at a lower temp for a longer time & they stay crips. I read that from a state health department & I downloaded the PDF but now I can't find it, LOL. Not sure it would work or is safe for jalapenos.

@NightingaleJen that's a great idea for the tomato cages for the bush squash! I bet that would work great to keep them under control. I don't have any cages, but will keep that in mind! I must have missed it while I was gone maybe, you had a bad allergic reaction to mosquito bites?? Yikes! I've never heard that! Ugh, def a good idea to keep your pen on you at all times.

 

[karenerwin]

Wow, @NightingaleJen, that is seriously sucky that you are that allergic to mosquito bites!!

Have you ever seen or heard of these products? The 1st picture is one you can spray on your person , the 2nd picture is used to treat your clothes or camping gear.
I wonder if either of these would help you?
I haven’t actually tried either of them but have used a product similar to the yellow can. Mostly to keep off ticks!
We make both of these products where I work ( and we are allowed to take 2 cans every day that we work) so I brought them home to try.

 

[karenerwin]

I ate the first cucumber straight off the vine.
Yes, I was able to fix the strawberry jam.
I also made Liver Bait Fudge ( chicken liver fudge). It’s a dog treat.
I got the recipe from a book of recipes for your dog. I will say that my 3 dogs loved it! It made 2 pounds 9 ounces worth of treats!
Plus I got to use up the chicken livers that no one wanted ( from the chickens I processed).
I also checked the bee hives (pictures in The Honey Factory thread) and watered everything. Was going to process another meat chicken but ran out of time.

 

[karenerwin]

Oh and took a picture of my biggest sunflower.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Wow your as busy as I end up here but do not have job outside the home and honestly could not see how I would