What did you do in the garden today?

[Swiss]

I forgot to mention:
We got home on July 4, then got body-slammed by strep throat. So, I have spent basically no time in the garden for maintenance, other than squishing what pests I see, and harvesting some herbs for tea. We had cabbage loopers last year, so they aren't a surprise. I was seeing potato beetles before we left, but haven't seen any since we got home. The cucumber beetles that have been partying while we were gone were a surprise. I squish what I can, but hope they don't become over-populated.

Any suggestions for the cucumber beetles who are having a lot of... let's say, fun?

 

[WthrLady]

Making black and blue jelly ATM.

 

[fuzzi]

Hot. Humid.

Picked another bell pepper, a Summer squash, and about 4 partly red plum tomatoes. I let them ripen on the kitchen counter.

Hubby located the yellow jacket nest. I got some wasp spray, will hit the entrance after sundown. They must go, as I am not going to be afraid of walking next to the house, where the nest is located.

One of my surviving coneflowers has begun to bloom!

 

[Sally PB]

Making black and blue jelly

Well, that sounds interesting! What's in it?

 

[NanaK]

Hubby located the yellow jacket nest. I got some wasp spray, will hit the entrance after sundown. They must go, as I am not going to be afraid of walking next to the house, where the nest is located.

Those ground dwellers are mean. They will chase you. They build deep in the ground and sometimes move when you try to spray them. I use about a gallon or so pyrethrin/water mix on them. It needs to soak down into the ground a bit to get the queen or they keep rebuilding nearby. You have to be really careful doing this esp is you are allergic as they will chase you.

 

[Smokerbill]

Beautiful weather for working outside here. It's 71 degrees now, with a high forecasted of 75, and partly cloudy.

I've been working on the raised bed enclosure for a few hours. I finished putting together the other three fence panel frames and cut out the section of welded wire I need. Taking a quick break then I get to have fun driving in staples with my pneumatic narrow crown stapler. Using it is almost as much fun as riding my mower!

Most of my plants were protected from deer the last few days, but they hit again last night and ate the leaves off of a few hills of my summer squash.

Deer license came in the mail today....

 

[WthrLady]

Well, that sounds interesting! What's in it?

2/3 Arapaho Blackberries
1/3 Tiny Maine Blueberries
(my ratio, I'm sure they're are others out there)

It just went in the canner. It is get out of bed, sneak some at midnight good. It was all I could do NOT to lick some of the Napalm out of the pot.
Been a while since I've had a good enough berry season to make some.

 

[Sueby]

DH took out a yellow jacket nest today too. They made their home in the boom of the case (tractor). When he'd start it up they'd attack the engine but he finally figured out where they were today. All gone.

I made a rhubarb bbq sauce, kind of a mix of the 2 recipes in the ball book. It's ok, we'll see how it is on some pork or chicken soon. I didn't can it, didn't think the back would handle that so I froze 4 pints & put one in the fridge. It's pretty anyway.

 

[NanaK]

DH took out a yellow jacket nest today too. They made their home in the boom of the case (tractor). When he'd start it up they'd attack the engine but he finally figured out where they were today. All gone.

I made a rhubarb bbq sauce, kind of a mix of the 2 recipes in the ball book. It's ok, we'll see how it is on some pork or chicken soon. I didn't can it, didn't think the back would handle that so I froze 4 pints & put one in the fridge. It's pretty anyway.
View attachment 3570786

Pretty color!

 

[fuzzi]

Those ground dwellers are mean. They will chase you. They build deep in the ground and sometimes move when you try to spray them. I use about a gallon or so pyrethrin/water mix on them. It needs to soak down into the ground a bit to get the queen or they keep rebuilding nearby. You have to be really careful doing this esp is you are allergic as they will chase you.

I'm going to do this after it gets dark.

I'm also going to put on two pairs of sweat pants (I don't wear jeans), boots, a winter coat and hat, and safety glasses. I read, too, that laying down a flashlight on the other side away from your location will distract any that make it out, giving you the opportunity to vamoose.