Container Garden To Commence "Eventually..."

   I'm beginning my container garden, in the front yard...  I went to my local hardware store and bought my pots. I needed a second opinion so I had my husband go with me.  The pots that I thought about were okay, I just kept hee-hawing with it...  You know couldn't make up my mind. I like them because they were nice and big.
   But my husband as usual made a point.. Remember, plastic pots ahhhh!!, everything I had in those plastic pots died.        I murdered my chili peppers.   Remember !!!!!

   So husband said, ickk... I don't like plastic!!, Anything but plastic!... Well, okay, that means a shift in price and a different path of thinking...

   I walked around the store, trying to rethink... All the pots I liked were $50.00 and above... a big jump from what I was going to pay..

   So I found  two pots that were just a bit smaller, not by much you see, but just enough.

   The magic of it wasn't that they weren't made of plastic...
   It was, that they were only $13.00 a piece. What? AND They were made of clay?

   That means the pot I want for the third area can pretty much be anything, any price... Hooray!  

   Here they are... Now, they are not symmetrical and I find that a bit of a head scratcher. But, that's okay. My husband said it wasn't a big deal to change up the drips...
   Next, I will be yanking out that bush... I probably won't be doing that until it cools down some... 110 degree weather is not my ideal working atmosphere..



 Sunflower Experiment!

   So I am very excited to see that these sunflowers are taking off to be wonderfully bright  happy flowers...

I did go out to check on my experiment and they were thirsty.. so I watered...



Why Does This Happen?

We have not had a decent cucumber out of this plant yet! First they kind of curl weirdly, then as they grow, they take on this color that is almost like albino...  Then when I pick one or the "one" they are so bitter...

Here is a picture of one that has died, or I'm not sure what you call it....

    Now most of them end up like this... I am so disappointed... but I guess that this is a learning moment, but I'm not sure what I'm learning though...




Zucchini trying to do something...

    I'm not sure "what" this zucchini is trying to do... but it is trying something. It has a bunch of flowers and I really don't think it is zucchini, I still think it is yellow squash.. I just figured it wasn't going to do anything and I was just going to yank it out.. but look

The color of it is so neat... so I'll just see what it'll do..



I have Parsley...

Isn't it cool lookin'? I'm so excited.. I  usually can't keep it growing or around long enough to have any to use... I'm going in and sniping as soon as I can... Hooray!

I know, a bit messy.... but I will get in there and clean things up some too...

But a huge bonus for me!!!

My poor Sage plant!

It was so hot outside, That my poor sage plant looked like it was melting!

I did have a regular work day, I couldn't get outside to do any watering. Sage was drooping so much, that I will be surprised if it perks back up....


I guess we will see in the morning if all will be okay!

Pests, Pest, Pest...

 This is what I found so far!
I can only hope that my tomatoes will do fine!   

But the one that I found was like green/yellow tone.. Is this the same type?

• Stalk Borer
  The stalk borer is an insect pest that attacks a wide variety of plants including tomatoes. The larva (caterpillar) bores into the stem and tunnels inside the stalk. (The entrance hole is small and often difficult to locate). Affected plants wilt and often die. However, stalk borer damaged plants that are given good care may survive. The stalk borer is a purple and cream striped caterpillar with a solid purple band around its body 1/3 of the way back from its head. It is an early season pest that moves from tall grassy weeds and occasionally attacks tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers in the vegetable garden. An individual stalk borer may damage more than 1 tomato plant. The adult is an inconspicuous grayish brown moth. Tomato plants that die should be pulled and destroyed. The destruction of the plants may also kill the stalk borer. Cutting or mowing tall weedy areas around vegetable gardens may also help control the pest. Stalk borers cannot be effectively controlled with insecticides.

This article originally appeared in the July 22, 1992 issue, pp. 1992 issue, pp. 127-129.

Year of Publication: 1992

Issue: IC-463(19) -- July 22, 1992

by Richard Jauron, Department of Horticulture

So now I am in melancholic despair for my tomatoes (sigh!!!!)  

Okay! OVER IT!

   I will be cleaning out my garden soon enough!  When I do, the soil will get a organic overhaul... what that is... I don't know. But I am determine to make that soil yummy for the plants and beneficial for all beings in that little world..

So I have been doing research on these backyard weeds. These weeds have started to take over and it is extremely irritating.

Spotted spurge, prostrate knot weed, and caper weeds are almost impossible to get rid of... 

spotted spurge

prostrate weed

      

caper weed

These are the main culprits so off I go to do the research....

Enough of downers....

 How about one of my favorite flowers...  Now I know some people think they are weird or scary but I think these flowers are quite happy and giving...  Are you ready?

Sunflowers - Helianthus
 

    Native to the Americas-
These happy face flowers are annuals. They like late spring to be planted. 
   Warm weather and soil are their vice for success..
 
    I usually see them popping up from the bird seeds that is given to the menagerie of birds that visit every morning...
    So I am usual quite happy to see the volunteers all around my yard...
It just means that my backyard is full of life and that makes me as happy as the flowers that visit... (and also make the birds happy as well.)

   Heliotropism- to follow the sun. This flower has a misconception, these flowers do not follow the sun. They typically face East then turn towards the west . Sometimes the littler flowers or young buds and leaves orient themselves towards the sun.
  I pretty much think that every one knows what to do with these flowers, from vases, to eating the seeds or using the oil... These flowers are always welcome in my yard at any point in time...