How wonderful that your rain is back! Hopefully it will help wash some of that smoke from the air. We’ve got chill and rain in our forecast and I couldn’t be happier 😊
Oh, birds and strawberries—they have a way of finding the plumpest, most beautiful berries, Gah!
I loved your update! I’m so glad the rain has returned to your area. We too had a very abnormally hot and dry May, so I was so delighted to finally hear a long-awaited “pitter-patter” on the leaves last weekend. Still, the weather folks are warning about a severe drought in our county for later in the summer, when things *really* get dry around here.
The smoke photo looked terrifying, and I hope it’s clearing out…I feel for you and all those caught in it. Last fall, our area had severe wildfire smoke, and like you, I just *had* to go out and get some gardening chores done. My reward was feeling nausea and my chest hurt for over a day. Not gonna do that again! So…please stay safe!
Loved, loved your Gandalf meme! A fun reminder too, that we food gardeners are all little Hobbits, struggling but steadfast in our journey through challenging weather, critters and everything else Nature sends out way!
Good luck to you with your reseeding—and getting to eat your strawberries before the critters do! Keep us posted 😊
Thank you, as always, for reading & commenting. Our air quality warnings have downgraded. I'll take them more seriously from now on. We have rain again today & it is gratifying to hear that pitter-patter. I hope you are spared from drought! May was hard enough.
Thanks for appreciating my Gandalf meme, I did make myself chuckle with it.
So far I think the strawberry score is even between us and the critters.
Oh yes,can share the dry soil problem. Thinking I could just water the area in the evening where I planned on planting flowers! Then soil would be ready next morning!? Well, just below the surface was either dry sandy soil or hard clay like soil. I have both of these soil areas in my yard. So manage to dig holes and drench with water. Then after the fact plant flowers.
Also,not sure,my easy to grow giant torch plants have grown. Planted in different area from last year. Might have to replant? Love the small orange sunflower blossoms! Different soil,too dry, not enough sun?
At least a month late in getting things done this year!
Also,much older body works very slowly. But what would I do without my flowers!?
Some plants are so picky about where they'll grow! Maybe your torch plants are going through a picky phase? The dry soil has not helped-- it looks like we will not have a good year for flowers at our place. And yes, we just feel like we're running behind this year.
I love that you put so much care into your flower beds year after year. It's inspiring. I really hope to be gardening for decades to come.
So much activity! You're super busy. My squash is fading away though my cucumber is thriving in a way that produces lots of flowers but no cucumbers, ha!
The difference in growing zones is fascinating! Your squash season is in full production when we're just coaxing along the indoor seedlings. I am hoping for better luck with cucumbers this year than I've had in the past. At least their flowers are pretty!
We had a drought in Aug/Sept of last year and I lost about 20% of my hemerocallis seedlings even with twice daily watering so I feel the pain. I lost all but one of my lithodora, monarda, lupine and my lycoris failed to bloom at all.
Had some very small increases in hemerocallis so not a banner year but still being rewarded for my efforts with gorgeous blooms.
Thank you! We so rarely have drought, that I feel a bit guilty complaining. Your flower garden sounds like a dream-- I'm picturing vibrant colors and happy pollinators! I feel for you with all your efforts to save your plants, then losing so many.
My brother-in-law cultivates day lilies, and I have been amazed at their beauty and variety. I'm glad you had some that bloomed!
How wonderful that your rain is back! Hopefully it will help wash some of that smoke from the air. We’ve got chill and rain in our forecast and I couldn’t be happier 😊
Oh, birds and strawberries—they have a way of finding the plumpest, most beautiful berries, Gah!
I loved your update! I’m so glad the rain has returned to your area. We too had a very abnormally hot and dry May, so I was so delighted to finally hear a long-awaited “pitter-patter” on the leaves last weekend. Still, the weather folks are warning about a severe drought in our county for later in the summer, when things *really* get dry around here.
The smoke photo looked terrifying, and I hope it’s clearing out…I feel for you and all those caught in it. Last fall, our area had severe wildfire smoke, and like you, I just *had* to go out and get some gardening chores done. My reward was feeling nausea and my chest hurt for over a day. Not gonna do that again! So…please stay safe!
Loved, loved your Gandalf meme! A fun reminder too, that we food gardeners are all little Hobbits, struggling but steadfast in our journey through challenging weather, critters and everything else Nature sends out way!
Good luck to you with your reseeding—and getting to eat your strawberries before the critters do! Keep us posted 😊
Thank you, as always, for reading & commenting. Our air quality warnings have downgraded. I'll take them more seriously from now on. We have rain again today & it is gratifying to hear that pitter-patter. I hope you are spared from drought! May was hard enough.
Thanks for appreciating my Gandalf meme, I did make myself chuckle with it.
So far I think the strawberry score is even between us and the critters.
As usual, I love reading your Suburbfarm info!
Oh yes,can share the dry soil problem. Thinking I could just water the area in the evening where I planned on planting flowers! Then soil would be ready next morning!? Well, just below the surface was either dry sandy soil or hard clay like soil. I have both of these soil areas in my yard. So manage to dig holes and drench with water. Then after the fact plant flowers.
Also,not sure,my easy to grow giant torch plants have grown. Planted in different area from last year. Might have to replant? Love the small orange sunflower blossoms! Different soil,too dry, not enough sun?
At least a month late in getting things done this year!
Also,much older body works very slowly. But what would I do without my flowers!?
Some plants are so picky about where they'll grow! Maybe your torch plants are going through a picky phase? The dry soil has not helped-- it looks like we will not have a good year for flowers at our place. And yes, we just feel like we're running behind this year.
I love that you put so much care into your flower beds year after year. It's inspiring. I really hope to be gardening for decades to come.
I so enjoy hearing from flower growers! My few ornamentals get short shrift in my garden so it’s fun to hear success stories 😊
So much activity! You're super busy. My squash is fading away though my cucumber is thriving in a way that produces lots of flowers but no cucumbers, ha!
The difference in growing zones is fascinating! Your squash season is in full production when we're just coaxing along the indoor seedlings. I am hoping for better luck with cucumbers this year than I've had in the past. At least their flowers are pretty!
I too enjoy hearing about planting and harvesting in other time zones!
I’ve noticed my cucumbers seem to have more tolerance for fluctuating temperatures than other squash. Wishing you and Jennifer success this season!
We had a drought in Aug/Sept of last year and I lost about 20% of my hemerocallis seedlings even with twice daily watering so I feel the pain. I lost all but one of my lithodora, monarda, lupine and my lycoris failed to bloom at all.
Had some very small increases in hemerocallis so not a banner year but still being rewarded for my efforts with gorgeous blooms.
Your beds look amazing.
Thank you! We so rarely have drought, that I feel a bit guilty complaining. Your flower garden sounds like a dream-- I'm picturing vibrant colors and happy pollinators! I feel for you with all your efforts to save your plants, then losing so many.
My brother-in-law cultivates day lilies, and I have been amazed at their beauty and variety. I'm glad you had some that bloomed!