Late May Update!

The yard got a little out of control while we were traveling, but a neighbor let me borrow his gas mower and it was the only way I could get it cut down. Now the yard looks nice, and I have been pulling weeds like crazy. I read all the articles that say to weed and prepare beds in the early, early spring, but even when I do that the plants get so healthy this time of year it still needs a lot of maintenance. We have lettuce, early riser pea vines (no peas yet), and other plants I purchased as starts (tomatoes, basil, and some herbs). My experiments this year is an eggplant, cabbage and broccoli. I have to keep telling myself to Water! Water! Water! Some years I don’t water as much as I should, and those plants need to be watered often I think. Two years ago when I was on the Bloomington Garden Walk a person who had a wonderful garden stated that her gardens never worked out until one day her mom called. When she told her mother of her gardening woes, her mom reminded her to water. This gardener stated that once she started to water the plants, especially during establishment, her gardens took right off! Try running a marathon without enough water, and we can probably imagine what the plants feel like when they are dehydrated. Simone, my neighbor, is teaching me about the art of growing roses, except I am learning methods to care for them organically. I love the idea of having roses, but shortly after planting three smaller bushes deer came and ate most of the buds. What learning experience! I sprayed them with some organic-based smelly stuff (garlic, rotten eggs, etc.), and secretly I’m OK with this because I feel bad that we really did take the deer’s land when the community built houses. They are just eating! I’m going to keep learning about growing roses organically, but I am going to stop worrying so much about the deer. (Of course I’m still going to hang my soap out and put human hair around the beds, etc…. to ward them away…) This week I will take pictures to update everyone on the garden’s progress. These plants really are like good friends. I am so glad to see them!