What did you do in the garden today?

[Acre4Me]

Took 32 chickens to the auction today. Many were young ones from straight runs (April hatch), some older. But it needed to be done before winter.

Very dry here, so lots of watering when the garden needs it.

Asian Pears: one tree ripens mid August, and the other is around now (first year with fruit). We tried one about 2 -3 weeks ago and it was definitely not ripe. Tried one a couple days ago and pretty close to yummy. Waiting a few more days. There were only 7 fruit on it this year, so not a lot of them to play with.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

I am seeing that! They are still on the dehydrator at 95 and are no where near dry hours & hours later. They'll go overnight. I might have piled them on a little thick, but its ok - I use a l ton of sage, it's one of my favorites. Tomorrow I do thyme (another fave) & suspect that will go much quicker.

I have 2 birds separated out, one had a bald neck from feeder damage that everyone kept plucking her new growth on so I sent her up to the spa with a friend. She's growing back feathers really well, hopefully they can go back in with the others before I go away so it's easier on DH.

Going to can some dilly beans tmrw. Maybe a couple jars of salsa too.

I like that...the Spa

I've got a few areas, the Sick Bay, the Bird House, I call my spare bathroom either the Greenhouse (when I start seeds) or now the Spa if I'm bathing & drying a chicken. Amazing how they Love the hairdryer...close their eyes nearly napping, or puff up preening...then admire themselves afterwards in the mirror

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Cut down a bunch of low-hanging branches in the backyard today. Also did some hedge trimming. Did I mention how much I hate wireweed, pokeweed, and wild raspberries?

I also scooped the poop boards in the coop. So dusty... I'm going to be coughing up a lung later.

I really need to go work on cleaning out the debris from the garden but I'm not very motivated this evening...

Wireweed...nasty stuff, have alot here as well. That crap will grow under & through so-called weed barrier cloth...ask me how I know. I was pulling up the crap that grows around the firepit, yes I surrounded the pit with a large circular area, weed cloth then small stones a few years ago & was pulling darn wire grass up just yesterday. No gloves. DH exclaimed my hands felt like sandpaper. My reply...gardener's hands. Lol

Where are my pics on this phone...need to organize over 5,000 pics. Well, the only firepit pic I can find right now, here are the 3 amigos visiting, they want me to have a fire so they can bask in the warmth & I think they like the smell of toasted marshmallows, as we had some the night b4 this pic was taken. They're looking at me like, wow, you didn't offer us any, we smell them, toast us some now please. Lol. I know, I've got to be the only nut that has a fox rodent patrol that fortunately leave the flock alone. So there's the firepit, anyway.

What can ya do about wiregrass? It is All Over this area...along with nutsedge & Bermuda grass, which the previous owner planted in purpose. See that green mound lower right in the pic? That is a lovely succulent mound...unfortunately inundated with Wiregrass, nutsedge & Bermuda grass at the time of this photo. Nasty weeds!


Found another pic on my phone. I'm constantly picking the wiregrass out of the stones & that crap goes down into & through the weed barrier. A PITA.

 

[Sueby]

Not I. Top of the country, I'm 6 weeks behind that. So I've got time.

Ohhhhh. Phew.
Its chilly here, in the 40s. Got a bunch of rain last night, garden needed it.
Sage is still drying, but getting there.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

It’s a very cool and breezy 50F this morning. I’ve already picked a few pinto beans and strawberries. Will check out the big garden area after I sit with the littles for their morning ranging. I finished slicing up the peaches and put them into the freezer yesterday afternoon. I have nearly enough to make another batch of preserves. The grandkids are coming over this morning to help make Concord grape jam. I got a little over a half pound from my new vines so I bought more at the nearby farm to have enough for a batch of jam. I’m also making sourdough waffles for breakfast. Tomorrow I’m planning on making salsa. I still have a lot of tomatoes on the bushes. I’m giving them until the warm up in a few days to ripen but plan to make green tomato salsa verde after that. Next weekend is apple picking.

 

[Sammster]

I also scooped the poop boards in the coop. So dusty... I'm going to be coughing up a lung later.

I wear a simple, dust mask when I do my regular scooping, and a respirator when I clean out the whole coup. They ARE very dust birds, aren't they?

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Yesterday I picked a bunch of tomatoes, Red Cherry, Orange Cherry, Beefsteak, Plum & Cherokee. Weird how the tomato plants always have the most bounty right as the onset of Fall is rapidly approaching. Like they're saying, No, wait, don't pull us out yet, we will produce! Darn shorter days & lack of rain, though...leaves are showing more stress in spots.

The okra is doing well but the cucumber plants are not happy. I checked for squash bugs, saw none, but the cuke plants are checking out.

I had one gorgeous bell pepper turning red, I was thinking yes today is the day to pick it. Well, I saw & smelled the beautiful red pepper...but as I approached closer I yelled No! I saw it was no longer attached to the plant. Then I saw it was completely empty! A big hole at the top, nothing but a red shell of pepper skin! Who does that?! A squirrel? Every year, some critter either digs up my newly planted pepper plants, or this year, as I kept it in a portable pot, some evil, pepper lovin' critter waited & watched til it was perfect picking ripe, then ate the pepper! I was really ticked off. It was the most beautiful, large red bell pepper I've ever grown. I'm thinking I need a motion camera, I wanna know Who Does This crap!

Well, eating the pepper inside...maybe this time it was a big worm? I don't know but I was ticked. The chickens ate the pepper remains...at least someone got to enjoy it.

 

[Sueby]

Weird how the tomato plants always have the most bounty right as the onset of Fall is rapidly approaching. Like they're saying, No, wait, don't pull us out yet, we will produce!

This is so true! With squash too. I was going to pull them because the powdery mildew is bad, but they have like 5 new fruits on them.

 

[WthrLady]

I decided not to cut the tomatoes yet. There must be 50 pounds out there or more in one row. We'll be in the 90s next week.
Well keep going this year until nature stops.

 

[igorsMistress]

G’morning all. I saw 102 in our forecast You know it has been has been hot when 102 is something to look forward to. No ice will be needed and I’ll be able to let the little out of the shade garden.

I watered this morning, that will be it until we get those cooler temps.