Moving right along

Once again I have been gone for a bit on business, and in my absence was ample rain fall. The plants must have had one big party for the free water, for they were huge and strewn about, unruly at best. I strutted out in the garden early to see what work could be done. Before any actual work could take place, the eggplant's flower took my attention. This must have been my very first time to see one, and I had to check it all out. Once my awe was under control, the recipes were flying around my noggin on what could be made of this lovely fruit to be. Mmmmm.

What a strong nightshade family resemblance.

I have never started tomatoes from seed before, and the wait has been long for the sweet tastes this summer. But the tomatillos are rocking and rolling, producing copious amounts of fruits, and its only a matter of time til the tasty goodness will be made into sauces and eaten in salads.



Take a closer look to spot them all.

 I was given a green zebra tomato from a neighbor, and one was oh so very close to provide its yummy goodness. But when I checked its progress in hopes today was the day, something got to it first. Damn, but luck for me there are a few right behind it ripening up.

The evidence...

...and the hopefuls.

Another tomato that is just doing what it does, and doing it well, is the Peacevine Cherry tomato. I was just sure that none of these survived transplanting til I worked on the jungle that is the area of the tomatillos. In strapping up the limbs of the tomatillos I saw this little plant trying its very best to reach sunlight, and was bent over towards the corn.

While I installed the bamboo supports for the tomatillos I heard a crazy buzzing from the non worm compost pile and caught this little guy decomposing like a pro.

scarab beetle

And one last pic, I gotta get back to the garden....but a pic of the fence. With one person's idea, and the other's new brad gun/compressor kit, a job can be done, and done with reused materials.

95% made of found materials and mandala love sign by Robert Moondragon.

Can I make that a double?

I have been lucky enough to have a few extra days off this week, and in my antsy in the pantsy way, I have had many side projects to keep me occupied. No rest for the wicked. So, I finally did it.  I saved up and got my very own air compressor and brad gun. I strutted out of Lowe's with my chest filled of pride and a smile a million miles long. I have been wanting this set up for some time now. I even had strategically placed piles of wood, all free wood by ways of pallets and the likes, hoping this day might come. These couple of days off, the newly purchased tool kit, and mounds of wood have allowed me the opportunity to check things off the mental to-build list. First couple of things built were flower boxes to make sure I remembered how to do everything.

Flower box looking over the town

Today's activities included building a much needed fence where little Miss Frida cannot escape. Team efforts work out for the best, and the fence is almost built. One more hour or so tomorrow will be just enough time to finish the fence to the start of its glory. This is definitely the work of a Bisbee fence in progress.

It's a start...

While playing a quick game of Skip-Bo, and losing might I add, I fixed up a second worm compost. Yes
sir-ee, I expanded the worm compound. Those little guys are quite the multipliers. I started this compost thing with a cheap idea found on the internet, click here for an earlier post...(http://pocosobremivida.blogspot.com/2011/03/creepy-crawling-creatures-oh-my.html), and figured my own little method through the process. With the original way I tried to see if the worms would go in a clean patch if fresh food and such was provided. I moved worms and food to one side and used chicken wire in the middle to separate. Each time I wanted compost I still had to go through the awesomeness by hand picking out most of the worms. If this was to be the way I extracted the compost, why mess with trying to lure the worms back and forth, which did not work for me.

No, you are not seeing double. There are now two compost bins.

So with the multiplication of the worms, and an extra bin under the worms, I halved everything and now have two compost bins. It is a good day to be a worm on Opera Dr. Now a bit of sand was added to the mix thanks to some guy at the farmer's market by the name of a.k.a. the worm guy, giving me a tip of the benefits of the grit. If I don't watch out I am going to have a whole army of worms. Won't choo be my neighbor?

Giddy like a school girl

With the showers of free water as of late, the plants are growing right along. It takes forever for me to water and such, there always seems to be another fruit or flower, and sometimes a new plant peeks from the soil and catches my eye.

After the massacre up top I was super upset that little to no broccoli survived. That very day I transplanted the sickly looking plants, and I also planted a few broccoli seeds, and they have just popped up something fierce.

A little late season broccoli? Don't mind if I do.

And the brussel sprouts that were brought down all mangled up are doing quite well too. Their leaves are growing back nicely. My mouth waters thinking about roasted brussel sprout burritos. I am as giddy as a school girl.

leaves on the mend

This is my first year to grow tomatillos, and I have verde puebla tomatillos. The little plants sprang up fast as all can get and are just bursting with yellow flowers. I have a feeling I might learn to whip up a nice green sauce. Mmm.

from yellow to...green...

And the new addition in the land of pups is quite the escape artist. I have had to build a mini fortress around the gating area until I have a tad bit of extra time to build something hopefully secure. It is a sight to be seen, I will have to take a pic and post in the near future.

We accept all kinds of artist, even escape artists. With that face, how could you not?

 Not only is this new addition an escape artist, she has gone into heat as well. This means every meshuggina male dog has entered the property. I had my first ever planted, and about to open, sunflower. I babied that damn flower for so long, and just as it was hopefully going to show its inner beauty within a weeks time, a dog trampled it in half to attempt to take advantage of the new little one. When I found it I had a quick dramatic scene play through my thoughts of me crashing to my knees, hands shaking and head lifted to the skies as I yelled, "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!".  It was so close to blooming.....

mere days before its demise

And what is the most natural subject to talk about after talking of a dog in heat? Yep, you got it, flowers and seeds. Takin' it back to junior high biology class. I picked up a cinnamon basil (great for dry rubs by the way) somewhere early in the season. In a slip of lazy I allowed one of the plants to flower full force, and since it has already flowered in its stalk like fashion, I am about to have a few seeds available. Any takers? Remember it is good in a dry rub.

bringin' it, basil style

And one last before I go. What naturally comes after flowers? Well, if they are pollinated in natural form? Right again, fruits! Someone gave me two tomatoes and I mixed them up and don't know which is which til they are ripe. But a tomato none-the-less and the first this year.

drooling here just thinking about what this will taste like

This garden thing just keeps me entertained.

oh the destruction!

Another life happening took me away from gardening for a couple of weeks. This time there was barely enough energy to fall into bed at night, so about all I did was look at the plants as I stumbled down the stairs each morning. I was called in to work the Monument Fire, and working a fire does not allow one to piddle in the garden, especially when working 16 hours most days.  Thank goodness for team efforts, no plants were neglected, and all were watered and much loved.



Monument Fire, Father's Day 2011


Post fire I was given a few days to get prepared to go back to work, so I used this time as garden time. Oh how I missed the plants. And tragedy in the way of plants struck again. With my failing efforts in making a fence, part procrastination/part guilt, something went to town on the plants. My guess, javelina. Each plant had its own individual chicken wire fence staked down like no other. Whatever creature it may have been, it took the cages out and feasted on the leaves of my beloved brussel sprouts, Apache watermelon, and various tomatoes. I was heart broken.
....................................

A few months back I looked about the gardening area around the upstairs houses, which is gated by the way, and thought to myself that there was little space left to garden. This is when preparations were made to start moving plants to the upper garden. After most leaves from the plants were gone during the up top massacre, I looked around the same area around the upstairs houses and thought to myself that there was plenty of space left to garden.

Alas, I went to work finding things that could act as beds. I found old drawers that once belonged to a chest of drawers, and now strung about the abandoned house above. I plopped them down where they were to be, rallied up a bit of straw, and added the soil mixture. All but a couple of plants were brought down from the upper garden to be guarded by the gate and 3 dogs. Plus there was enough room to plant a few more broccoli and cilantro.

drawer beds

It is a bummer that the upper garden could not be protected. S did a great job on the soil prep up there, and the dirt was looking really good. I must say, since this is my first year using straw, I am a believer. Adding straw to the mix produces great results. I would bet for years to come straw will be a mainstay in my gardening efforts.

On a side note: One great thing that happened in the garden this week was the squash, mmmm, the squash. I had a taste of the first squash from the garden, and tasty it was. Oh, and strawberries daily. This garden thing rocks.

The first.

squash blossom

Ye ear of corn

Can I have a bean with that?

A few more pics from this week to spoil your eyes.

Calendula...finally

A new bed for the chard offers great results

Frieda...tossed in my hands by an evacuee during the fire, no one has claimed her

Inpatient Ina, raise your hand

Impatient Ina, yep, that's me. I must admit this about myself. But it is funny how the impatience will just show up, and in this case, drive me nuts. Then make me laugh.

A few months back I had a taste of watermelon and it was yummy. I do not think this was quite the time of year for it, but it was good. So good that I took 4 seeds home from the melon and plopped them in a cute little orange pot I found on the side of the road. Items randomly appear on the side of the road here, and if you don't swoop something of your liking up, you will not have the chance later, for it will be gone. I digress, where does the impatience factor in?

Well I sat and looked at the pot for some time, empty promises from beneath the soil. Then when a tarragon plant was stumbled upon, I brought it home. The most ideal spot for this tarragon was the cute orange pot, it was lonely.

Fast forward a few weeks and there I am watering the tarragon and it has friends. Puzzled by this, I tried to recall what the plants might be to no avail.




watermelon





tarragon and watermelon unite!


Fast forward one more week or so....and....OH its watermelon! I chuckled as my neighbor walks up, and after telling her the story, we have a good laugh together. So impatient! But there are now three newly transplanted watermelons in the upper garden, leaving one in with the tarragon for about a week to see how the ones up top take. Don't want to lose em all, just in case

I guess there are always surprises in my world. Another surprise that came to fruition this week was the flowering of the petunias. When you start everything from seed, it can take a while. There has been a planter of petunias sitting on the railing for some time now, and this week 4 popped! They make nice flowers.


such a pretty petunia

A couple of more flower pictures for your enjoyment. The first plant picture's name escapes me, I don't really think I even remembered it from when the lady told me what it was, but pretty none the less. And the other are the portulacas. It is amazing that so many different colors can be dispersed in one plant.



And just a few more happenings this week in the garden. A serrano pepper plant has gone and given me the most flavor this week. The little pepper has produced so much that many meals consist of the little pepper, and boy are they good!

And a bean has finally came up!!! About half of the beans, the newer plantings, were lost as well, but this guy made it through. Unsure what type of bean it is, I forgot it too, but I will soon take a bite and see. If anyone reading this knows what type of bean, pass that knowledge on brotha or sista.

And now to the salad tray. Full sun is a blessing in February, March, and April, but come May, it is HOT and not all plants like it. So the salad try was moved to a shaded area since almost everything was fried. New seeds were planted, and yummy chard and collards have popped up. These two greens are awesome!!! And the spinach went to seed while I was not looking, so I am letting them produce seeds for next time. There is hardly a fail in this corner.



oh so colorful chard



collards, mmm



flowering greens

The garden grows with delight, and in most cases I know what I have planted. In the rare case that I do not, I am surprised with delight, just like when I finally remembered that I had planted watermelon in that cute orange pot I found. I heart surprises.

Getting a bit wormy...

It has been less than a week since I returned home from Mexico. A week ago today I was sitting on the sands of Kino Bay in beautiful Sonora, Mexico.

Pic stolen from SLee

The vacation was much needed, and I enjoyed the time spent there. I enjoyed tripping up on my Spanish, yet by the end of the trip talking politics with a couple of hombres from Hermosillo. Gotta love riding that bike... Unfortunately for me while I was there I broke out with the funk, also been called poison ivy.

Caution: This might be disgusting for you, or you might be that person who wants a little taste (by taste I mean look, not actually tasting it you sicko) of the funk.

the funk

So now that I am healing from the first ever attack of poison ivy, there is not alot I can do. I might be a wuss, but who knew the pain would still be here from said attack, so I am taking it easy. I did minimal in the actual garden this morning, planted more corn and okra, and built a new cage for either broccoli or Brussels sprouts. Deep down I am hoping this plant is a Brussels. Mmmmm, I am addicted to Brussels sprouts.

One activity that can be done is messing a bit with the worm bin. This can be done sitting down, indoors, and while I enjoy my soon to be famous sangria and a good foreign flick from India. The compost has built up something fierce. I moved everything in the bin to one side, placed chicken wire in the middle, then new food, straw, and newspaper to the other half. Many and most worms headed to the other, freshly fed area, but some did not. I went through the remaining old stuff and compiled a stack of compost to be used in the garden.



A pot full of compost!!!

Since numerous plants  have been in for about 4 months now, this is a great time to supplement the soil with a bit of natural compost.

As I watched the movie and played in the compost, I couldn't help but think what this compost was made of. Putting it nicely, worm castings, but I work in and around the outdoors, this is plain and simple worm poo. And the food the worms are eating are the vegetable, grain, and fruit ends from the foods eaten on the property that do not make it into the stock pot or go to the chickens. Add a few strips of old newspaper, and a bit of straw left over from planting up top. Amazing!

Since the heat of the desert, and the lack of water before monsoon, a couple of lettuce rows and some herbs from the tray were burning in the rays, we moved the lettuce and herb tray into the shade and planted more to back fill what has been taken. This is the first stop for the newly harvested compost to aid in the new seeds and plantings that are starting to pop from the dirt. The soil needs the nutrients for a long season of lettuce yet.

Have I mentioned how cool it is to play in worm poo? A tad disgusting, but hey, that's nature for ya.

Side note: If the blogging uploader would work I would share a couple of pics from the Mexico trip, but it does not want to cooperate.
Next time....

I might be alive, but are the plants?

It is definitely here, summer. And the first couple of months of summer can be quite brutal while living in the desert before the monsoons arrive.  Fortunately most of May was reasonable, even a bit chilly for my memory. Just my luck, when the temperatures increase to their normal numbers, I go out of town on a vacation. And hot and dry conditions can be hell on a garden when its maintainers are on vacation.

Many and most plants did make the few days with a neighbor watering a tad, but some did not. The newest beans sprouting, about 5, a pot of carrot tops, multiple dill plants, and a few other random things did not make the few days absense. The carrots did not die in vain and will be a yummy taste addition in Pad Thai this week.

A group of plants that did smashingly well during this time was the 3 sisters planting of beans, corn, and squash.



I am surprised and stoked that the squash is doing so well. Many flowers are in bloom, and even more have gone to fruit. It will not be too long til this plant will pass on its goodness to me, a nd I cannot wait! Squash is one of my favorite summer foods, and the hardest decision at this time is what way shall I cook this for the first time this year?

Not only was the heat and lack of water a nuisance to the plants, but a critter as well. I guess the presence of two dogs keeps the critters away, and since they were on vacation too, critters are what became of a few plants. Not so sure what, or how many different critters, but the first of the strawberries and a couple of large tomatoes were eaten. Can't win 'em all, but this time the critters won. It looks as though chicken wire will be added for further protection.

 There may have been a few plants lost, but the beach trip was totally worth it. Sand, water, speaking Spanish, and camping are always a good time. And until the 'free rain' arrives with the monsoons, the plants are going to be adapting to warmer, drier weather, and I will be watering with a bit more frequency.