After the very wet, long winter we had, this summer has been dry and warm. I guess the winter was “long” only in the sense of Sierra foothills weather! Nothing like Bozeman for example! And we did have a real spring for a change. But now it is July and the days are dry and warm. We’ve had some days over 100F but most are in the 90s. The grass is brown because we are using our water for the garden. It is very pretty and green, but a bit stunted again since we do not have the long direct sun in that area. I like my trees also.
To start, the flowers are blooming like crazy. We have finally figured out how to keep them going when we leave. Otherwise, it is a daily watering of everything in a pot or the garden with as dry as it has been. The pool area is all on drip waterers including the pots so that is pretty easy. Even the fuchsia is managing OK in the heat. I try to spray it a couple of times a day since it is a more tropical plant. And the strawberries are still producing a few berries each day and they are sooooo sweet! The sunflowers are just starting to flower and those always make me happy!! Even the lantana are starting to bloom – they have now survived 2 years in the semi-shade and finally we are getting the yellow orange one blooming.
The veggies are also producing quite well. Again, we have the issue of a lot of rippled sun for most of the day and only a few hours of intense sun in the afternoon. But, I have harvested 7 heads of garlic already ( a few more still growing) and yellow squash, zucchini, cucumbers and green beans. Although I made a pretty substantial mistake with the beans – I grew them where I grew peas over the winter. The plants are so amazingly green – but few blooms. Too much nitrogen! UGH. I just have to console myself with the carbon catching of the huge, beautiful vines growing everywhere! I even grew tomatoes this year (yes, I still agree with the early Americans – they are disgusting poisonous things – blech) since Lori S had seeds. I will harvest my first Roma tomorrow (is a miniature) and have several green Roma and cherry tomatoes in the cages. I thought maybe I’d make salsa for Dave.
I also planted both regular and round zucchini which have beautiful greenery and thankfully only a little bit of fruit since I also do not eat them. I will make zucchini bread though and have just enough to give away, otherwise! The yellow squash is very interesting because it has a beautiful plant also, but smooth good sized fruit. They never get the tougher bumpy skin most yellow squash have. They make very good lemon squash bread!! I do eat cucumbers but could never, EVER, eat as many as this very happy plant is producing. They are staying short – they look like perfect giant dill pickle sized. They are sweet enough for me to eat on salads – I have never liked them before. So yay for that!
So I spend about an hour a day (a morning – too hot after lunch!!) most days playing in the garden. It is great for my need to be outside!! I also have two bird seed feeders and 2 hummingbird feeders out there. Life is much better now that the deer and turkeys do not tear up/eat my plants. They do a great job cleaning up under the feeders though!Thank you to Cherie and Dave for this nicely fenced garden plot!!! And Matt and Jenny just gave us their bird feeder since they moved to Berkeley so more birds soon!!! All in all, a great way to spend hot summer days!