Hurrah, It Rained!

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It has been over a month since we've had any measurable rain here. The storms that have been rolling across the state have all broken up and slipped around us. It is very strange to be able to see the clouds completely surrounding you and rain falling only a few miles away, but look straight up and see bright, blue sky! Of course, they're measuring and reporting the rain totals at the cities that are those few miles away and when I hear them say we've had a good rain I want to shout, "Bullcrap! Maybe you did!"

I really, really shouldn't complain since last year was the 'year without a summer', but it seems as if the last ten years have either been feast or famine when it comes to the weather.

But, it finally rained yesterday! I was worried we'd get a deluge and it would just roll across the soil without soaking in because the ground was like cracked concrete, but it turned out rather well. We had a nice gentle start and a quick burst of downpour, then it quit. So, it was perfect for the next bout of rain that moved through a few hours later to be absorbed beautifully.

Surprisingly, with the exception of a few crispy edged leaves on the hostas, everything I didn't break down and water seems to have weathered the dry period rather well. The plants all look so perky and happy today!

Oh, and I think our corn grew at least a foot overnight. Well, so did the weeds (but we won't speak of it!). lol.

Happy (no more drought) Growing!

Seriously?

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I was completely surprised by the comments to this post on Thriftcore: Not Buying it- Could You Go 1 Year Without Shopping?

Seriously? They couldn't do it?
I'm sorta shocked.
Let me explain why.
I don't shop for anything except necessities. Period. (ok, that's leaving out clearance plants/seeds - they're my indulgence).
This is exactly how I've lived for 25 years, so I really am having trouble wrapping my brain around someone not being able to make it for one lousy year. Although, it probably helps a lot that I absolutely hate, hate shopping!

Seriously, if you have growing children, this probably isn't going to happen. They need clothes, toys, school supplies, etc. (honestly, how could you tell a child they couldn't have a new toy for their birthday? Or would that be under the 'necessity' list?)

We never go out except for free bingo every now and then, we don't buy clothes (I make most, or get them as gifts for Christmas/birthday and simply make them last, but haven't bought anything besides underwear in years and I make most of those, too), I can't even remember the last time I ate at a restaurant. The last movie I saw at a theater was "The Fly II" in 1989, which I won free tickets for. I cut my own hair or have a friend do it and I've always done the rest of the fams myself. I own 3 pairs of shoes - a pair of heels for weddings/funerals, one pair of sneakers that has lasted me five years and one pair of dollar shop flip-flops for wearing around the house/garden. My friends and I have always swapped/hand-me-downed baby and kids clothes. We might treat ourselves to McD's or BK once a year, but other than that we don't even buy fast food.

It is so weird to me to think that it'd be a challenge for most people to go a year living like I do every day.

I wonder how long it would take these people to start pulling their hair out if they had to swap lives with me? Seriously.

I should write a book for these people on how to live just like poor people do and make a million!
lol ;)
Could you go one year without buying anything but necessities?
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Tomato Megablooms

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Megablooms happen on my, and lots of other tomato growers, plants almost every year. This year one has shown up on my Brandywine Pink, which is a first for me since I've never had one show on that variety before.



Megablooms aren't anything to panic over. Though the resulting fruit will be deformed and look rather ugly, it could end up weighing over 5 pounds and have a terrific flavor.

There is some argument about whether it strains the plant to produce such a mutant and that it might be better for the plant to just snip off the bloom and divert more of the plants energy to making more of the normal fruit, but ultimately, the choice is yours. No one knows exactly why these blooms form (some say from cold weather, but I don't buy that theory as my weather is usually 80's to 90's F by day and 60's to 70's F at night when they form) but they won't really hurt the plant.

Fortunately, I grow enough plants that I can afford to let a few mutants grow to maturity just out of curiosity. usually, it's my Rutgers or Ace55's that give me the megablooms, so I'm quite curious to find out what will eventually come of the Brandywine.

Happy (mutant) Growing!
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Grow Project, post 5

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First Sunday of the month, so here is the next Grow Project post.

The ones WS'd in April bloomed at the beginning of June, but they aren't looking so great this month. Of course, it has been rain every other day and only in the 40's to 60's F. I'm hoping they'll get a second wind.


The one's started inside in May are pretty much at a stand still. It's starting to warm up a bit, so they should take off soon.


There was only a 50 percent germination rate on the one's sown directly in the ground and they also haven't done much. Very disappointing :( But, as you can see, they're about the same size as the ones above that are a month older.


The one's started in containers are so-so. Some look nice, but some just aren't looking good at all.




So far, they haven't really done all that well for me no matter what the planting method. I've got my fingers crossed that they'll all pick up soon and surprise me!

"I'm growing Nasturtium "Spitfire" for the GROW project. Thanks, to Renee's Garden for the seeds."
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I'm Being Very Bad To The Earth

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This article, Politically Incorrect Gardening by Bart Ziegler, got me thinking about how bad I'm being. And, apparently, not only to my small piece of the environment, but to the entire earth.

But, you see, I can't help it!

I want to grow exactly what I want to grow, native or not. Alright, I do have to admit that this does not include invasives. Aegopodium anyone? ~shudder~

Every single vegetable I grow is not a native. So, should I stop growing and eating these things? That ain't gonna happen. Ever.

This is one part of the article that really put it in a nutshell:

"Yet some of these native-plant Nazis will go on about the heirloom tomatoes and rare purple-skinned potatoes they coddle in their vegetable gardens. But if you start applying the no-imports restriction to edible plants most of the kitchen garden would disappear."

"Now imagine a yard or flower bed with no imports. You can't grow tulips, daffodils or dianthus. Plow under your daylilies and dahlias and hostas. Chop down the lilacs, the willows, the peach and pear trees and the flowering cherries. All of them and scores more garden favorites came from other parts of the world, though many date as far back as colonial homesteaders.

And once you go down this path, how far should you travel?"

Exactly how far is too far?
Are you a Native Plant Purist? If you grow tomatoes, I'm guessing not.

I just can't bring myself to paying much attention to someone who says I'm hurting the butterflies and humming birds by growing snap dragons, basil and foxglove in my yard.

Dear Mother Earth,
I apologize!
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