Update

The beans are finally coming up. I think they just needed to be watered deeper. So, since the irrigation system has been in they are coming up nicely along with the okra. Tomato plants are still stagnant and James almost killed the Mexican Gherkin today. It's fine, but that was close. Whew! Will take pictures this next week if we aren't too crazy with swim lessons. ;-)

Irrigation and Okra

Here is the irrigation system on the large plot. I used 1/2" poly tubing and t-tape. It's an easy system to set-up.
Irrigation on the half plot. Things are coming along. I think I'm going to put more compost down and plant flowers between the squash and melons. I just can't believe this weather though. 100's last week, 60-70's and rain this week and finally back to 80's next week. Such wierd weather.
Little baby okra sprout. There are several coming up. I hope my beans start coming up. I think I should have waited until it cooled down to plant them instead of right before that heat wave. I have more seeds if need be.

Transplants and Seedlings in the Garden May 20th

Here is my cinderella pumpkin (Rouge Vif d' Etampes ) transplant. Besides the musquee it is doing the best. It's really taking off.
My zucchini seedlings are just popping up too. Waiting for some more musquee and mini jack's seedlings to pop up.

Batwings pumpkin. Really cool looking pumpkin.
Musquee de Provence pumpkin transplant. I like thier cool looking leaves.
Moon and Stars watermelon transplant. When they start producing watermelons I will show how to tell when your watermelons are ripe.

Zucchini transplant. It is doing better now that it has cooled down a bit. Seems like all my melon and pumpkin transplants are growing well now.
New England Pie Pumpkin transplant.
Cucumber seedlings popping up. I will need to thin those after they get thier second leaves.

Itty bitty Mexican Gherkin. I saw slug or snail tracks all the way around the plant, but not on it. So far so good.
The luffa transplant. It likes the cool weather. It's not even 80 after all those days in the 100's.
All planted! Can you tell yet?

My Garden May 14th

Large garden plot in the daytime. It's getting there. Maybe we'll see green soon.
Transplanted 5 tomato plants today. 9 to go that are still getting hardened off so they don't die in the 100 degree heat. Supposed to be in the 80's next week and I think they will have a better chance then. It's supposed to be 103 tomorrow. Yikes! Yes, my little seedlings. I had a hard time with my tomato seedlings. Tried putting them in a cold frame after 4 weeks and they were stunted and sad. Didn't have room anywhere else so there you go. Next year I will do all shelves and lights in the garage and they will be big like last year. :-) I can hope can't I? Maybe we can get a greenhouse for next year. I can dream can't I?
One of my tomato rows. I dug 1.5 foot holes and added egg shell for calcium and some pelleted fish emulsion then put the dirt back. James got a little excited with the egg shell in the first hole.

My Flowers

Hummingbird sage and columbine. The columbine is a companion plant for my rhubarb. It's supposed to keep some type of spider away.
My coleus and rudbeckia plants.
Queen's Ann's Lace, more rudbeckia, and marine heliotrope. The heliotrope is supposed to be really fragrant.
Really neat looking coleus. It looks to be speckled instead of the classic color in the middle of the leaves. I may have to collect the seed and try to get some cuttings of this one at the end of the season.

Some Transplants Today

We'll see how they do, its supposed to be hot the next few days. I can always direct seed most of these.

transplanted:
Musquee de Provence pumpkins
moon and stars watermelon
zucchini
batwings pumpkins

I need to dig holes for my tomatoes to put in thier amenities. That might take a couple days.

Seeds Planted

James and I planted seeds in the garden today:

Ura green pole beans
radishes for companion planting
mexican gherkin
butternut squash
new england pie pumpkin
moon and stars watermelon
zucchini
mini jacks
clemson spineless okra
batwings pumpkins
Musquee de Provence pumpkins (for cooking with)
cucumber

Later today we will put in some transplants. Yeah!

The Garden

The full plot with compost and ready to plant. That's our lavender and strawberry plants that the were left from last year. The strawberries are so yummy.
Here is a close-up of our teepee (I know its crooked, it happens ;-)), if you click on the pic you can see the wire in the front for the beans to climb. You can also see the compost at the bottom of each part of the teepee trellis where I will plant some butternut squash, New England Pie Pumpkins, Mexican Gherkin, and some Spinning guards. We have to have something fun for James to pick. I'm so excited!
Here is my half plot. I will be planting Moon and Stars watermelon, Musquee de Provence , and zucchini. Maybe some flowers in between for some color.
Me on Mother's Day happily spreading my compost out and getting my plots ready to plant. I am so happy! It really seems darker out than it was. There was one other couple there spreading compost too. It was so nice.

Luffa Sponges

Yes, many of the projects I would like to do. It was also suggested to put luffa sponge in a soap mold and poor the soap over the luffa. That would be an awesome scrub. Here are some pics from a fellow Idigger. Luffa Sponge making.

Will take pics of the garden Sat. Just need to make sure I have the camera with me. My father in law Phil is going to help me get a load of compost on Sat. so I can finally start my garden. Would have done this sooner except Roger's truck was totaled and there went my compost transportation with it. I have got the teepee up and need to get some wire up for the bean tunnel for infront of the teepee. Hopefully we can get that done tonight.;-)

Baby Bird

The baby bird we found yesterday. He looked pretty healthy, but he was out in the pasture and I figured he would just die or Maddie would find it and eat it so what did we have to lose. So far he is doing well. He eats every 3 hours. As you can see in the picture this is right after he ate. His crop is full. I think he was only a day or two maybe when we found him, he still hasn't opened his eyes. It will be neat to see what kind of bird this is.