tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5201670155348222852024-03-13T23:20:28.211-07:00Adirondack GardeningMy adventures in trying to grow most of my own produce organically in the Adirondack ParkEllen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-4820365311508866322011-05-14T14:11:00.000-07:002011-05-14T14:11:44.533-07:00New BlogMy new gardening blog, Homemade Harvest, can be found <a href="http://www.homemadeharvest.blogspot.com/">here</a>. It will follow my adventures trying to turn marginal agricultural land into a small holding that will allow me to produce most of my own food. Come on over and see how I do!Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-25528415936066888832010-12-06T09:44:00.000-08:002010-12-06T09:46:44.759-08:00Closing the BlogFor those who follow this but not my other blog, I am moving to Michigan. My state job here in the Adirondacks has been terminated and I have been very lucky to find new employment.<br /><br />So, since I will no longer be gardening in the Adirondacks, I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br /><br />That is, unless, of course, I start up a new garden blog at my new place, in which case I will post directions to the new blog here so you can follow me there, if you wish.<br /><br />Cheers!Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-40655314164586936992010-11-12T11:58:00.000-08:002010-11-12T12:19:17.791-08:00The Final HarvestThese days I am busily packing up my household. For those who don't know, I was offered a new job (at last), which I accepted, the result being that I am moving. To Michigan. It was a difficult decision, but a job is better than unemployment, and the place where I am going looks like it will be a terrific place to work. Even so, I am heartbroken to leave my property here, with the apple trees just starting to produce, the native shrub hedge finally growing in, and my veg. garden soil improving each year.<br /><br />Walking in and out of the back porch I kept passing the pile of runner beans that I brought inside to dry. Finally, this morning I decided it was time to shuck them, for the sun was out, the air was mild, and I needed to tackle the porch soon in the cleaning frenzy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2eWqwAi6I/AAAAAAAAFoY/wRCLySY4YzA/s1600/20101112_6.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2eWqwAi6I/AAAAAAAAFoY/wRCLySY4YzA/s400/20101112_6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538757229005540258" border="0" /></a><br />Each pod was stripped from the dried vines and its contents were placed in a bowl.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2eWlNz6hI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/CCQ0ysIYxig/s1600/20101112_4.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2eWlNz6hI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/CCQ0ysIYxig/s400/20101112_4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538757227519928850" border="0" /></a><br />Idefix did as all cats do: sat on whatever I was working on. In this case, the unshucked beans.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2eWdTvFPI/AAAAAAAAFoI/QWT5pC9uyzM/s1600/20101112_1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2eWdTvFPI/AAAAAAAAFoI/QWT5pC9uyzM/s400/20101112_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538757225397294322" border="0" /></a><br />All of a sudden, Toby bounded up and charged the fence. He ran and barked and turned and jumped and barked some more, completely beside himself. What could it be? I looked for a deer, but no deer was to be seen. Instead, I saw...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2eCp5Y5ZI/AAAAAAAAFoA/UO5m4Vvjyc8/s1600/20101112_8.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2eCp5Y5ZI/AAAAAAAAFoA/UO5m4Vvjyc8/s400/20101112_8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538756885179065746" border="0" /></a>one of the many stray cats our neighborhood now has. Unresponsible cat owners have left their fertile cats outside and now we are overrun with a feral population.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2eCRvuD2I/AAAAAAAAFn4/c-bqgrHJ0zg/s1600/20101112_7.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2eCRvuD2I/AAAAAAAAFn4/c-bqgrHJ0zg/s400/20101112_7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538756878696058722" border="0" /></a>Toby was defending his property and his own cat. This stray was not impressed, for it stayed there all arched up and fluffy for several minutes, no doubt laughing internally at the futile efforts of the dog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2eCAhrrJI/AAAAAAAAFnw/gXhfqsnbPfw/s1600/20101112_9.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2eCAhrrJI/AAAAAAAAFnw/gXhfqsnbPfw/s400/20101112_9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538756874073779346" border="0" /></a>I returned to my shucking and ended up with quite a good haul. I don't remember which beans are which, though. However, I think the little reddish-brown ones in the bowl with the large white ones are the dwarf bees, a very short runner bean that is considered "rare."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2ctU5x7QI/AAAAAAAAFno/N22CV2cqXI4/s1600/20101112_32.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2ctU5x7QI/AAAAAAAAFno/N22CV2cqXI4/s400/20101112_32.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538755419254680834" border="0" /></a>These might be the scarlet runner beans...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2csrogjFI/AAAAAAAAFng/mlTaNmnhEbY/s1600/20101112_33.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2csrogjFI/AAAAAAAAFng/mlTaNmnhEbY/s400/20101112_33.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538755408176385106" border="0" /></a>and these maybe are the sunset runner beans?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2csU4Q-OI/AAAAAAAAFnY/xX8hSJSJCh4/s1600/20101112_34.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2csU4Q-OI/AAAAAAAAFnY/xX8hSJSJCh4/s400/20101112_34.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538755402068457698" border="0" /></a>Would that make these the painted ladies? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2csIZFe9I/AAAAAAAAFnQ/aBzhI8uhVLY/s1600/20101112_35.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TN2csIZFe9I/AAAAAAAAFnQ/aBzhI8uhVLY/s400/20101112_35.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538755398716455890" border="0" /></a>Hopefully I'll have gardening space next summer and can plant these to discover (once more) which ones are which.Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-85166443531558946262010-10-04T08:32:00.000-07:002010-10-04T08:48:06.988-07:00Putting the Garden to BedSaturday was a near-perfect autumnal day. I was, sadly, at work (first time in about two weeks), so I was stuck indoors. When I got home, though, the dog and I toured the yard. It's been many days since I've done that, too. I checked on the carrots, the only produce remaining in the garden, and discovered some critters had been noshing, so I figured I might as well harvest what was left.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKn0ZFNl7KI/AAAAAAAAFUU/PmwuK4jBQ6c/s1600/20101003_46.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKn0ZFNl7KI/AAAAAAAAFUU/PmwuK4jBQ6c/s400/20101003_46.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524215129679719586" border="0" /></a><br />Some of the carrots were quite robust:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKn0Y-s-_zI/AAAAAAAAFUM/5l6zSKcVVn4/s1600/20101003_47.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKn0Y-s-_zI/AAAAAAAAFUM/5l6zSKcVVn4/s400/20101003_47.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524215127932337970" border="0" /></a><br />A few were longer, although none would've met grocery store standards:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKn0ONFRxdI/AAAAAAAAFUE/_-qF9m0-IrM/s1600/20101003_48.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKn0ONFRxdI/AAAAAAAAFUE/_-qF9m0-IrM/s400/20101003_48.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524214942813767122" border="0" /></a><br />Hm...yellow carrots? Only had two of these.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKn0Nx4vhtI/AAAAAAAAFT8/v-a7GJZg1bI/s1600/20101003_49.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKn0Nx4vhtI/AAAAAAAAFT8/v-a7GJZg1bI/s400/20101003_49.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524214935513433810" border="0" /></a><br />One whole bed had been sampled, as mentioned above. Like the critters eating the apples, they took a few bites out of just about every carrot top.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKn0NoeMciI/AAAAAAAAFT0/FRw_C3v3W8A/s1600/20101003_51.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKn0NoeMciI/AAAAAAAAFT0/FRw_C3v3W8A/s400/20101003_51.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524214932986163746" border="0" /></a><br />Considering I didn't thin or weed the carrots (or much of the garden, for that matter) this year, I was (and still am) impressed by the size of the majority of the carrots.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKnz4Mm0VzI/AAAAAAAAFTs/_wW94vtr1HE/s1600/20101003_54.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKnz4Mm0VzI/AAAAAAAAFTs/_wW94vtr1HE/s400/20101003_54.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524214564728887090" border="0" /></a>Not the largest crop in the world, but enough to keep me busy for a day, scrubbing, peeling, chopping, blanching and freezing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKnz38WRoDI/AAAAAAAAFTk/vm8gBXqYYHU/s1600/20101003_57.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKnz38WRoDI/AAAAAAAAFTk/vm8gBXqYYHU/s400/20101003_57.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524214560364535858" border="0" /></a><br />Sunday dawned equally nice. It was time to put the garden to bed. After all, who knew when we'd have another nice day like this? So, I pulled out posts, and tore down trellises (took down in a couple hours what took several days to put up). Then, because the weeds were overwhelming, and because I probably won't be here next summer, I opted to cover the whole thing with black plastic - take the garden back to the beginning and just kill off everything. This way the next time one goes to put in veg, it will be an easier start - bare ground and no weeds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKnz3pHajlI/AAAAAAAAFTc/aBRcHU6SL_g/s1600/20101003_62.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TKnz3pHajlI/AAAAAAAAFTc/aBRcHU6SL_g/s400/20101003_62.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524214555201932882" border="0" /></a>The new beds, on the far left, where the white row covers can just be seen, are still under production: pumpkins. Small pumpkins (Baby Pams), but should be good for pies. I'll give them a few more days to finish ripening.Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-7531101668419201282010-09-20T10:35:00.000-07:002010-09-21T12:31:46.234-07:00While walking through the garden yesterday afternoon, I noticed some large carrots. Could it be time to harvest them?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TJebfYj7VtI/AAAAAAAAFMA/_XQi6959fvQ/s1600/20100919_136.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519050831837222610" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TJebfYj7VtI/AAAAAAAAFMA/_XQi6959fvQ/s400/20100919_136.JPG" /></a>Nah - one really should wait for cooler weather, but I did pull the really big ones. Don't want 'em to get too tough and woody. Most will be small - I never got around to thinning them this year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TJebeYH_QLI/AAAAAAAAFL4/-4HfxyisQ7Y/s1600/20100919_137.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519050814540169394" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TJebeYH_QLI/AAAAAAAAFL4/-4HfxyisQ7Y/s400/20100919_137.JPG" /></a><br />The last of the onions are in now. Good year for onions and garlic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TJebd4Cc00I/AAAAAAAAFLw/w-bMiQFSunc/s1600/20100919_139.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519050805927007042" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TJebd4Cc00I/AAAAAAAAFLw/w-bMiQFSunc/s400/20100919_139.JPG" /></a>Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-24630251088442597042010-09-01T10:28:00.000-07:002010-09-01T10:41:29.254-07:00Stop Eating My Apples!UGH! Are those flying ants!?? They were all over my garden and on my lawn!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6OWK9tw6I/AAAAAAAAFCw/Yof8Ubk6xn0/s1600/20100830_47.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6OWK9tw6I/AAAAAAAAFCw/Yof8Ubk6xn0/s400/20100830_47.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511999505499538338" border="0" /></a>Hundreds of them! Carpenter ants? Oh no! I stepped on as many as I could, but I'm sure I hardly made a dent. Most disturbing, one large batch was within five feet of my back door!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6OVuYjuQI/AAAAAAAAFCo/9ONQMuxz9eQ/s1600/20100830_48.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6OVuYjuQI/AAAAAAAAFCo/9ONQMuxz9eQ/s400/20100830_48.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511999497827498242" border="0" /></a><br />On the other hand, the tomatoes look like they might actually be starting to ripen!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6OEGw2sFI/AAAAAAAAFCg/Srrrk739oC0/s1600/20100830_6.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6OEGw2sFI/AAAAAAAAFCg/Srrrk739oC0/s400/20100830_6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511999195134210130" border="0" /></a>Of course, the ones with the most color have also been eaten by critters already, or have some metabolic damage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6ODSm-jCI/AAAAAAAAFCY/lxz-FrK6gUs/s1600/20100830_8.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6ODSm-jCI/AAAAAAAAFCY/lxz-FrK6gUs/s400/20100830_8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511999181134138402" border="0" /></a><br />I didn't get too many flowers planted in the veg. garden this year (for beneficial insects), but those I did plant are only just now starting to bloom.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6OC4aF5EI/AAAAAAAAFCQ/d_g98D4RaTk/s1600/20100830_11.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6OC4aF5EI/AAAAAAAAFCQ/d_g98D4RaTk/s400/20100830_11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511999174100771906" border="0" /></a><br />Okay - something is eating my apples. Here's a small pile collected under the Jonagold. There were more the day before - something ran off with them overnight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6Nq8J4k2I/AAAAAAAAFCI/Nm9PZY_2gCY/s1600/20100830_18.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6Nq8J4k2I/AAAAAAAAFCI/Nm9PZY_2gCY/s400/20100830_18.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511998762789671778" border="0" /></a>But there! Do you see it? It's not just insects - something is taking BITES out of the apples while still in the tree!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6NqbpW_nI/AAAAAAAAFCA/igWHvIDsMKc/s1600/20100830_20.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6NqbpW_nI/AAAAAAAAFCA/igWHvIDsMKc/s400/20100830_20.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511998754063318642" border="0" /></a>Okay, Ellen...calm down. Who could the culprits be? Deer? Bears? Squirrels? Crows? <br /><br />The bears are certainly out eating the apples, but not in my yard (no damage to the fence since spring).<br /><br />Deer might be, but they don't have the right kind of teeth to do this kind of damage.<br /><br />Squirrels? Maybe - I'm sure they are around and they must know when the dog is trapped inside.<br /><br />Crows? HM. I've seen them fly off with dropped apples from the yard.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6NpyFGjFI/AAAAAAAAFB4/jcL8mTptQWg/s1600/20100830_42.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TH6NpyFGjFI/AAAAAAAAFB4/jcL8mTptQWg/s400/20100830_42.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511998742905392210" border="0" /></a>Well, all I can do is hope that some of the apples are left alone and ripen enough for me to eat them.<br /><br />I was all excited last week to see I actually had a northern spy on the spy tree - I didn't think I had any this year. When I took these photos, though, a day or two later, it was gone. GONE! <br /><br />LEAVE MY APPLES ALONE!!!Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-73875468692274980222010-08-28T07:46:00.000-07:002010-08-28T07:48:56.960-07:00Home Grown Tomatoes<div align="center"><em>There ain't nothin' in the world that I like better<br />Than bacon 'n lettuce 'n homegrown tomatoes<br />Up in the mornin', out in the garden<br />Get you a ripe one, don't pick a hard 'un<br />Plant ‘em in the spring, eat ‘em in the summer<br />All winter without 'em is a culinary bummer<br />I forget all about the sweatin' and the diggin'<br />Every time I go out and pick me a big 'un<br /><br />Homegrown tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes<br />What would life be without homegrown tomatoes?<br />Only two things that money can't buy<br />That's true love and homegrown tomatoes.<br /><br />You can go out to eat and that's for sure<br />But there's nothin' that a homegrown tomato won't cure<br />Put 'em in a salad, put 'em in a stew<br />You can make your own, very own tomato juice<br />You can eat 'em with eggs, eat 'em with gravy<br />You can eat 'em with beans, pinto or navy<br />Put 'em on the side, put 'em in the middle<br />Homegrown tomatoes on a hot cake griddle.<br /><br />Homegrown tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes<br />What would like be without homegrown tomatoes?<br />Only two things that money can't buy<br />That's true love and homegrown tomatoes.<br /><br />If I's to change this life I lead<br />You could call me Johnny Tomatoseed<br />Cause I know what this country needs, and that’s<br />Homegrown tomatoes in every yard you see<br /><br />When I die don't bury me<br />In a box in a cold dark cemetery<br />Out in the garden would be much better<br />'Cause I could be pushin' up a homegrown tomato.<br /><br />Homegrown tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes<br />What would like be without homegrown tomatoes?<br />Only two things that money can't buy<br />That's true love and homegrown tomatoes.</em><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><br />This was one of my favorite John Denver songs. He didn't write it (that may have been a fella named Guy Clark), but he did record it.<br /><br />I noticed yesterday that some of my green tomatoes are starting to look kinda yellowish...could they actually be ripening? These 40-degree nights (Fahrenheit) aren't speeding them along any, though.</div>Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-35383279462188215012010-08-19T09:11:00.000-07:002010-08-19T09:14:09.389-07:00This Just In!<span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Alert!</strong></span> Join Seed Savers Exchange in helping to save the Pavlovsk Station from development<br />A Russian court recently ruled that one of the world's most important seed banks near St. Petersburg, Russia may be destroyed in order to make way for a housing development. If allowed to stand, this decision will have a catastrophic impact on global plant diversity. Called a "living library", the Pavlovsk Experimental Station is widely considered the crown jewel of agricultural biodiversity, since 90% of the collection's varieties are not found anywhere else on the planet.<br /><br /><br />Join scientists and concerned people around the world in petitioning President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin to overrule the court decision. To learn more about this issue and to sign the petition, click on this link to the <a href="http://www.croptrust.org/main/?utm_source=Summer%2FFall+2010+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6c0f7d044d-Summer_Fall_201008_18_2010&utm_medium=email&mc_cid=6c0f7d044d&mc_eid=bdf40988d1">Global Crop Diversity Trust</a> .Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-27371701282326240642010-08-18T07:12:00.000-07:002010-08-18T07:29:08.931-07:00The Hops are Hoppin'Yes, I grow hops. I have two vines, and this year they are LOADED with flowers:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGvrsEm4DlI/AAAAAAAAEow/6mOck_77vXA/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506754111774133842" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGvrsEm4DlI/AAAAAAAAEow/6mOck_77vXA/s400/DSC_0025.JPG" /></a><br />People ask me why I grow 'em. I don't drink (aside from water and occasionally juices), and therefore have no real interest in brewing. So, <em>why</em> grow the hops? Well...because I think they are pretty nifty looking plants. I love the flowers! And, if I had a pergola, or other structures to surround a formal garden, they'd be great to grow up and over the things. As it is, they are next to the dog fence and grow upon it instead.<br /><br />I've contemplated doing a harvest and selling them to home brewers, but I don't know where to start. If you live in the Adirondacks and are doing some home-brewing, and you are interested in a local source of hops, let me know!Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-85458335395983845562010-08-17T07:00:00.000-07:002010-08-17T07:16:49.297-07:00RootsThis was a mini harvest weekend, and here are the fruits of my labors:<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqXyKbmXVI/AAAAAAAAEnw/-QrqPMMZ8F4/s1600/DSC_0117.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506380382463221074" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqXyKbmXVI/AAAAAAAAEnw/-QrqPMMZ8F4/s400/DSC_0117.JPG" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Clockwise from top left: onions, potatoes, beans and peas, garlic.</span></em></div><br />It all started Saturday evening when I got home from work. On a whim (I tend to work on whims), I decided to get out the spading fork and dig the spuds. After all, the CPB had done their work and the plants were all shriveled twigs. I figured I might as well dig the things up - the odds of them continuing to grow were likely very slim. I planted about 11 pounds of potatoes this spring, and the harvest was about half a bushel. Did I get back my investment? Not this year.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqXx5mMcxI/AAAAAAAAEno/FObKKQdMYFs/s1600/DSC_0118.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506380377944257298" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqXx5mMcxI/AAAAAAAAEno/FObKKQdMYFs/s400/DSC_0118.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Sunday morning I tackled the garlic and onions. The onions did very well this year, which surprised me. Here's a bushel basket full of onion braids, and I still have one more bed to harvest!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqXTc7uIGI/AAAAAAAAEng/chITeg22HoQ/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506379854853840994" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqXTc7uIGI/AAAAAAAAEng/chITeg22HoQ/s400/DSC_0119.JPG" /></a><br />But one can't leave one's onions in a basket...they must be hung to dry. Not having a root celler, or a drying shed, I have to make do with whatever space I can find. <br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqXTAtaPTI/AAAAAAAAEnY/sFQ-iG4GJN0/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506379847277624626" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqXTAtaPTI/AAAAAAAAEnY/sFQ-iG4GJN0/s400/DSC_0120.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqXS_p4pcI/AAAAAAAAEnQ/DOrDs5VrNuM/s1600/DSC_0121.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506379846994404802" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqXS_p4pcI/AAAAAAAAEnQ/DOrDs5VrNuM/s400/DSC_0121.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqWt9KzMTI/AAAAAAAAEnI/93awtzWeBfQ/s1600/DSC_0122.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506379210671993138" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqWt9KzMTI/AAAAAAAAEnI/93awtzWeBfQ/s400/DSC_0122.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqWtG6__RI/AAAAAAAAEnA/MwDUbTL6-ks/s1600/DSC_0123.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506379196110208274" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TGqWtG6__RI/AAAAAAAAEnA/MwDUbTL6-ks/s400/DSC_0123.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>The bundles of garlic have been laid out to dry as well. Some did very well, while others were hardly worth the effort. German white seems to be the strong favorite, with nice large bulbs. Several of the best will be put aside for planting this fall (who knows...I might still be here next year).</div></div></div></div></div></div>Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-6400875400815405392010-08-13T06:57:00.000-07:002010-08-13T07:05:20.981-07:00Harvest UpdatesTwo evenings ago I was dumping food scraps into the compost pile when I noticed a fair number of pea pods on the pea vines. I thought I'd pick a few for the dog's dinner, and ended up with a shirt full of peas! When I got them all shelled, I had well over a quart of 'em. Who'd have thought we'd have a pea harvest in mid-August!<br /><br />Meanwhile, the beans continue to produce, and the zucchini are rolling in. This weekend I should tackle the potatoes - completely naked now thanks to the CPB. There's no point leaving them in the ground now to keep growing. Without any leaves, I can't imagine there's much food source for the tubers.<br /><br />I'll need to pull garlic, too. The plants are all looking quite brown and deceased - much like the potatoes, actually.<br /><br />The apples are ripening nicely on the Jonagold and Haralson. Several have dropped to the ground and have been nibbled on by who knows what. I've seen crows fleeing the yard with green apples in their beaks, but I suspect most of the damage is from rodents of one stripe or another. Still, I expect to have several apples this year, if all goes well.<br /><br />I heard a NYS apple report on the radio this morning. The statewide harvest is down quite a bit (we did get those frosts after the trees blossomed), but they said the apples that did grow should be of exceptional quality. We shall see. I'll have to make my pilgrimage to the orchards early this year! It seems that like many things this season, the apples are ripening about two weeks earlier than normal. Hm...a trend across the entire plant spectrum this year it seems.Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-22928092028566376812010-08-02T10:41:00.000-07:002010-08-02T10:48:09.765-07:00Giants from the GardenSure...it looks like any normal pile of beans...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFcDtGAMNpI/AAAAAAAAEfY/iesw3jnOzuU/s1600/20100801_76.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFcDtGAMNpI/AAAAAAAAEfY/iesw3jnOzuU/s400/20100801_76.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500869543096759954" border="0" /></a><br />...but let's put 'em in perspective:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFcDssyHcUI/AAAAAAAAEfQ/_GRv8HwAO2g/s1600/20100801_77.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFcDssyHcUI/AAAAAAAAEfQ/_GRv8HwAO2g/s400/20100801_77.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500869536326840642" border="0" /></a>And it's not like they are old beans - noooo - these are the first beans of the season. I need to check my planting map and see which ones these are. Could they be the Cherokee Trail of Tears?<br /><br /><br />The same could be said for the zucchinis:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFcDsYQqzkI/AAAAAAAAEfI/p4YXi6viVcA/s1600/20100801_78.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFcDsYQqzkI/AAAAAAAAEfI/p4YXi6viVcA/s400/20100801_78.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500869530817842754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFcDrzBY0hI/AAAAAAAAEfA/DR8omiLwMVw/s1600/20100801_79.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFcDrzBY0hI/AAAAAAAAEfA/DR8omiLwMVw/s400/20100801_79.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500869520821637650" border="0" /></a>And it's not like I overlooked them! There were no zukes on these particular plants when I checked them a week ago! Hmm...I wonder what I'll do with Jumbo there. Just finished up the first batch of stuffed zucchicni, and I finally tossed all of last year's shredded zucchini from the freezer. Maybe I'll just make loaves of bread this week - use it up right away and freeze the bread.Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-46520398115686015892010-07-31T08:23:00.000-07:002010-07-31T08:25:53.945-07:00Brrrr!Chilly night last night. The thermometer at work told us of a low of 44*F. That was here, where it is sheltered. At home, where things are much more open, it was probably even lower. I don't feel so silly now for lying there in bed last night wondering if I should've covered the tomatoes, beans, and squash! At this rate we just might have frost in August!Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-90035297198255562592010-07-28T06:27:00.000-07:002010-07-28T07:16:12.475-07:00Crop Updates - an Evening in the GardenMy heart has simply not been in the garden this year. The weeds and pests have taken over, and I can't seem to get myself to care. It's the whole job thing - will I find a new one (and be moving), or will I be on unemployment come winter? With the former, I won't be able to reap the benefits of my veg garden, with the latter, a garden's worth of produce will surely be welcome if there is no income! I waver between the two. Some days I'm out there weeding and mowing, but most days I just don't seem to care. It's been a strange year.<br /><br />I finally gave up on the peas. The freezer is full and the plants were slowing down. The pods that remain I'll let dry and then harvest for seed.<br /><br />Still, other things should be ripening, so it was time to tour the beds and see what was what.<br /><br />The garlic will be ready for harvesting pretty soon. The tops are turning brown, which is usually the indicator. I pulled up this one to check size - not too bad. I'll give the rest another week or two.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA3mmGdadI/AAAAAAAAEaA/1do0KFOC6Qw/s1600/DSC_0026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498956281221573074" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA3mmGdadI/AAAAAAAAEaA/1do0KFOC6Qw/s400/DSC_0026.JPG" /></a><br />Ah - the Haralsons are starting to redden! I'm very excited about the apples this year. Only Haralsons and Jonagolds, but there are several fruits on these two trees.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA3W-FTBAI/AAAAAAAAEZ4/PyRotEpIiCU/s1600/DSC_0028.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498956012781241346" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA3W-FTBAI/AAAAAAAAEZ4/PyRotEpIiCU/s400/DSC_0028.JPG" /></a><br />As you can see, these runner beans are still refusing to grow up.</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA3WWtPzxI/AAAAAAAAEZw/WK2yiF17378/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498956002211385106" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA3WWtPzxI/AAAAAAAAEZw/WK2yiF17378/s400/DSC_0011.JPG" /></a><br />The pole beans are just not robust this year, either. Only now are they FINALLY starting to fill in, but even so, they are Spartan. Reasons? I have a few possibilities: these are the same beds in which I planted beans last year; I didn't use any innoculant this year; we had a cold snap early in the season; we had a lot of rain in June, and very little rain in July; and the soil is generally pretty poor. Take your pick.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA3VyxyHuI/AAAAAAAAEZg/e3hGxaA2zBY/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498955992566734562" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA3VyxyHuI/AAAAAAAAEZg/e3hGxaA2zBY/s400/DSC_0020.JPG" /></a> </div><div>But, the beans are blooming and that's a happy thing. The hummingbirds are content - between the beans and the bee balm, there is finally food for them in my yard.</div><div> </div><br /><div> The first two blossoms here are runner beans (scarlet and painted lady); the others include Cherokee Trail of Tears, Rattlesnake, and Blue Coco, among others.</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2hAdc3uI/AAAAAAAAEZY/Iy6XrVkaEZQ/s1600/bean1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 340px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498955085706485474" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2hAdc3uI/AAAAAAAAEZY/Iy6XrVkaEZQ/s400/bean1.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2g7zqRRI/AAAAAAAAEZQ/srdnkYAGr4Q/s1600/bean2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498955084457461010" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2g7zqRRI/AAAAAAAAEZQ/srdnkYAGr4Q/s400/bean2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2gU6tx9I/AAAAAAAAEZI/aRPI8XwkopY/s1600/bean3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498955074018068434" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2gU6tx9I/AAAAAAAAEZI/aRPI8XwkopY/s400/bean3.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2gCqMl2I/AAAAAAAAEZA/i-ItC_R7IO4/s1600/bean4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498955069116946274" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2gCqMl2I/AAAAAAAAEZA/i-ItC_R7IO4/s400/bean4.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2EHd-eaI/AAAAAAAAEY4/yEFX0aEQuXU/s1600/bean5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498954589371529634" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2EHd-eaI/AAAAAAAAEY4/yEFX0aEQuXU/s400/bean5.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Beans are starting to form. I imagine in a week or so I will start picking and freezing.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2D26_7fI/AAAAAAAAEYw/MfG8CHk5emk/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498954584929857010" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2D26_7fI/AAAAAAAAEYw/MfG8CHk5emk/s400/DSC_0017.JPG" /></a><br />Look! A tomato!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2DRD3EhI/AAAAAAAAEYo/o_VXQy9GT80/s1600/tomato+crop.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 334px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498954574766477842" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA2DRD3EhI/AAAAAAAAEYo/o_VXQy9GT80/s400/tomato+crop.jpg" /></a><br /><div>The zucchinis are doing well - lots of blossoms and some fruits already, which something seems to be enjoying.</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA0j-_MbPI/AAAAAAAAEYY/ppJzpsad_wk/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498952937827495154" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA0j-_MbPI/AAAAAAAAEYY/ppJzpsad_wk/s400/DSC_0002.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA0jlNRtdI/AAAAAAAAEYQ/UbTH-XkViLY/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498952930907239890" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA0jlNRtdI/AAAAAAAAEYQ/UbTH-XkViLY/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" /></a><br />I picked these last night and after some judicious trimming, they became stuffed zucchinis. Rice, sausage and tomato sauce.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA0CY37hvI/AAAAAAAAEYI/yJVsYWx0KB8/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498952360660797170" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA0CY37hvI/AAAAAAAAEYI/yJVsYWx0KB8/s400/DSC_0005.JPG" /></a><br /><br />After a slow start, the cukes are now loaded with blossoms!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA0CNH0ciI/AAAAAAAAEYA/S8DOsst2tUI/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498952357506216482" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA0CNH0ciI/AAAAAAAAEYA/S8DOsst2tUI/s400/DSC_0007.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>I admit, I have been a poor gardener this year. Not knowing if I was staying or leaving, my heart just hasn't been in my garden. So, I did not patrol for pests, and here is why one wants to keep on top of CPB infestations:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA0BpELMRI/AAAAAAAAEX4/yNVnDUoQ6Xo/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498952347827253522" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFA0BpELMRI/AAAAAAAAEX4/yNVnDUoQ6Xo/s400/DSC_0009.JPG" /></a>The leaves were completely gone from the spuds and the plants were brown and dead. Still, I was hopeful that there might be some potatoes underground, even if small, so I dug in with my hands.<br /></div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFAzCSFWNnI/AAAAAAAAEXw/VAyL7IJFCQw/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498951259326396018" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFAzCSFWNnI/AAAAAAAAEXw/VAyL7IJFCQw/s400/DSC_0031.JPG" /></a> Voila! Not a whole lot, but better than none at all. These are, I believe, purple majesty potatoes.<br /><br />Scrubbed up, they are a beautiful purple-black color. It almost looks like a pan full of very large black olives!<br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFAzCGhIaWI/AAAAAAAAEXo/f551sQ_0oCk/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498951256221706594" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFAzCGhIaWI/AAAAAAAAEXo/f551sQ_0oCk/s400/DSC_0033.JPG" /></a><br />The inside, as you can see, is a beautiful deep purple.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFAzB3Cv0WI/AAAAAAAAEXg/qc9xcfv9hOA/s1600/spud+crop1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 349px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498951252067733858" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFAzB3Cv0WI/AAAAAAAAEXg/qc9xcfv9hOA/s400/spud+crop1.jpg" /></a><br />And look! Purple smashed potatoes! I know, some folks will turn their noses up at this, but I think they are lovely. And they taste just wonderful.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFAzBTKr5YI/AAAAAAAAEXY/C56vYzoX_kY/s1600/DSC_0049.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498951242437354882" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TFAzBTKr5YI/AAAAAAAAEXY/C56vYzoX_kY/s400/DSC_0049.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>t</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-80426624677081451582010-07-14T13:20:00.000-07:002010-07-14T13:27:49.024-07:00Sunflowers Galore<div>I was on my way to Marcellus for a job interview yesterday when I passed this field of sunflowers somewhere west of Utica, along Route 365.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493860068500619442" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TD4cn-SuwLI/AAAAAAAAEPg/4EnrVvxUQmg/s400/DSC_0265.JPG" /><br /><div>There was a field on each side of the road. How could I not stop and photograph them?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Meanwhile, back in the home garden, the peas are finishing up. I have discovered that peas ripen rather predictably: first you get a handful, then for a couple days a bowlful. The next two days you get a fairly good harvest, followed by one day that is a whopper. After this, the harvest slows, with a couple smallish batches, then maybe a bowlful. <br /><br />Now you can miss a day without worrying you've let too many get giant-sized. Soon you think, "Do I really need to harvest any more? Maybe I can leave the rest and save them as seed for next year. Think of the money I'll save!"</div><div> </div><div>All told, it's over in about a week and a half. </div><br /><div> </div><div>It's a happy thing to have filled the freezer with peas for winter, but it's equally a happy thing to not have to blanch anything more for a while - especially when the weather is so hot and humid.</div>Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-21801628369633641822010-07-07T10:07:00.001-07:002010-07-08T08:29:31.774-07:00It's Sea Peason...um...Pea Season!<div><div><div><div><div><div>I harvested the first peas a few days ago, but last night (actually, that would be two nights ago, now), in the 90-degree heat, I picked the first real batch - almost a half bushel. Most were snow type peas - the kinds with the edible pods. These include the sweet golden peas (new this year - found in a market in Inida - that's what all the descriptions in the catalogues say),<br /><br /></div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491554006868081794" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TDXrRhQ-vII/AAAAAAAAEFE/7Gpo31PLbWQ/s400/DSC_0024.JPG" /><br />and the Schweitzer Reisen, which are HUGE. </div><br /><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491554015558646418" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TDXrSBo-OpI/AAAAAAAAEFM/cW_Pcq7U_xc/s400/DSC_0026.JPG" /> <br /><div></div>The humidity is a killer, though - I had rivers of sweat running down my face while picking. Things were made even worse in the house later that evening as I blanched the produce for freezing. It took HOURS for the fans to pull out the heat and humidity and bring in the cooler air from the wee hours.<br /><br />Still, it is great to have the summer harvest officially underway.<br /><br />The spinach bolted...before it ever reached edible status.<br /><br />Most of the greens fed the slugs. I think I had them too close to the peas this year, for they never really thrived and the peas over-topped them. The cool, shady, damp microclimate was perfect for slugs and snails.<br /><br />It seems like most of the carrots never sprouted. One batch is doing okay (needs thinning), but the others are so Spartan that thinning is not required. Most of what you see are weeds. When the weather breaks, I need to go out with the cobrahead and do some weeding.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491554736169582082" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TDXr7-IAfgI/AAAAAAAAEFc/0J0sSvfEKwE/s400/DSC_0028.JPG" /> <div><div><br />Some of the beets are up...they need some thinning, too. I've never had luck with the beets, so maybe this year will be a first.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491554720525035602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TDXr7D2DqFI/AAAAAAAAEFU/xokxlIZpFxg/s400/DSC_0027.JPG" /> <br /><div>And the spuds, well, the CPB are lovin' them! </div></div><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491555300622141666" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TDXsc03_COI/AAAAAAAAEFk/bSNDdAqMhCs/s400/DSC_0033.JPG" /><br />Hooray! The pole beans are finally starting to climb! I knew all they needed was a little heat, although this heatwave is a bit excessive. Feast or famine, that's the weather in these modern times.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491555320111895794" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TDXsd9etFPI/AAAAAAAAEFs/olRwkgW7x3Q/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" /><br /><br /><div>The runner beans are blooming, but are barely 6" tall. Maybe they are really crawler beans.</div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 297px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491556756556322530" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TDXtxkpvluI/AAAAAAAAEGE/Z0rqnL30oP8/s400/runner+beans.jpg" /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Only one bed of squash is thriving. The rest of the pumpkins and cukes are struggling, and I don't think the melons are even remotely in evidence.</div><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491555891790306338" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TDXs_PJdXCI/AAAAAAAAEF8/jcD6A83XWA8/s400/DSC_0035.JPG" /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-53987189990992948312010-06-21T09:46:00.000-07:002010-06-21T09:59:28.890-07:00Update on the Garden<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Y</span></span>esterday I finally got the trellising finished! Hooray! Now the pole beans have an option for getting away from the slugs.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Meanwhile, the peas have started to bloom. I thought I'd share some of their portraits with you, just so you can see that peas can be quite lovely.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TB-ZFCA3XaI/AAAAAAAAEBM/HDFLVUE3YaA/s1600/20100619_1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TB-ZFCA3XaI/AAAAAAAAEBM/HDFLVUE3YaA/s400/20100619_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485271182879448482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Golden Sweet - edible yellow pods - very rare<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TB-ZD9O9vuI/AAAAAAAAEBE/azwlnBV-ZnA/s1600/20100619_7.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TB-ZD9O9vuI/AAAAAAAAEBE/azwlnBV-ZnA/s400/20100619_7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485271164416540386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">And here's a wee pod already forming!<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TB-YwLDY4_I/AAAAAAAAEA8/QFdkVJgJslc/s1600/20100619_11.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TB-YwLDY4_I/AAAAAAAAEA8/QFdkVJgJslc/s400/20100619_11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485270824528700402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Schweitzer Reisen - another rare one.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TB-YvcSxqRI/AAAAAAAAEA0/NFS76V9J2mc/s1600/20100619_12.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TB-YvcSxqRI/AAAAAAAAEA0/NFS76V9J2mc/s400/20100619_12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485270811976771858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Green Arrow - neither rare nor exotic, but still lovely.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TB-Yu45FuiI/AAAAAAAAEAs/wp_F3ozSMrw/s1600/20100619_13.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TB-Yu45FuiI/AAAAAAAAEAs/wp_F3ozSMrw/s400/20100619_13.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485270802473794082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">I think this was a Blue-podded.</span><br /></div>Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-38122511514156209082010-06-17T09:59:00.000-07:002010-06-17T10:05:49.897-07:00ARGH!They are back. Again. The Rose Chafers.<br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483788640181915522" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBpUtsFdj4I/AAAAAAAAD78/0mknXmCv1b0/s400/DSC_0302.JPG" /></div><br /><p> </p><p>Here they are, devouring the buds on my ninebark. I mixed up a batch of pyrethrin-based insecticide and attacked. They were skeletonizing all the leaves on the hawthorns, and were rampant on the dogwoods, chokecherries, and other ninebarks. There were some on the grapes and hops. They were on the alpine current. The viburnums are both dead this year, so they are leaving them alone.</p><p> </p><p>I sprayed. Went out a couple hours later, and sprayed again. The next day, I sprayed again, and filled a jar with soapy water and flicked the breeding SOBs into it to meet a watery death.</p><p> </p><p>But they just kept coming.</p><p> </p><p>I finally bit the bullet and bought a bottle of Sevin, a toxic insecticide. Swore I'd never use the stuff, but I've reached the end of my rope with these guys. </p><p> </p><p>Too late. </p><p> </p><p>I went out after the rain and sprayed everything. And then it rained again. I haven't been out since. The sun is out this afternoon - perhaps I'll check again when I get home.</p><p> </p><p>Meanwhile, there's not a flower or bud left on any of the ninebarks. :(</p>Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-27450126077208619982010-06-12T06:41:00.000-07:002010-06-12T07:00:20.818-07:00The By-products of Rain<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBOQiSwwBMI/AAAAAAAAD4c/AXxlMWPqiA0/s1600/rain1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 342px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481884090266289346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBOQiSwwBMI/AAAAAAAAD4c/AXxlMWPqiA0/s400/rain1.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBOQiAy_4eI/AAAAAAAAD4U/uvWWNY5c9qg/s1600/rain2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 340px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481884085443879394" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBOQiAy_4eI/AAAAAAAAD4U/uvWWNY5c9qg/s400/rain2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBOQhm5cCkI/AAAAAAAAD4M/9g_sJmNiv1A/s1600/rain3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 384px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481884078491568706" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBOQhm5cCkI/AAAAAAAAD4M/9g_sJmNiv1A/s400/rain3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-54674284123589268522010-06-10T06:48:00.000-07:002010-06-10T07:17:34.946-07:00The Minerva Community GardenI was early for an appointment yesterday, so I took some time to wander around the Minerva Community Garden. The photos are not great - it was overcast and raining - but you can see the wonderful layout they have.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBDyoggwWOI/AAAAAAAAD2M/tqtNXp0GTx4/s1600/DSC_0197.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481147524245903586" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBDyoggwWOI/AAAAAAAAD2M/tqtNXp0GTx4/s400/DSC_0197.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Just about all the beds are raised and have boxes built around them. Several have integrated head- and footboards from various beds. What a novel way to build a trellis!</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBDyobON-_I/AAAAAAAAD2E/KTuSR205Tss/s1600/DSC_0198.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481147522825976818" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBDyobON-_I/AAAAAAAAD2E/KTuSR205Tss/s400/DSC_0198.JPG" /></a> </div><div>All the beds are very tidy.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBDyn3wgJ9I/AAAAAAAAD18/UneVZBgfhZ0/s1600/DSC_0199.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481147513306097618" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBDyn3wgJ9I/AAAAAAAAD18/UneVZBgfhZ0/s400/DSC_0199.JPG" /></a><br />I've never seen such tidy beds in a veg garden. <br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBDx-YVebPI/AAAAAAAAD10/vjnTMAlo-lc/s1600/DSC_0200.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481146800496602354" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBDx-YVebPI/AAAAAAAAD10/vjnTMAlo-lc/s400/DSC_0200.JPG" /></a><br />Lots of brassica family plants. Someone's going to have a lot of broccoli, or cauliflower, or cabbages. The bed in the back has corn - already over a foot tall!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBDx-KOYiQI/AAAAAAAAD1s/mkbqpsxem04/s1600/DSC_0201.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481146796708759810" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBDx-KOYiQI/AAAAAAAAD1s/mkbqpsxem04/s400/DSC_0201.JPG" /></a><br />Either they have a serious ant problem, or these are potato hills.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBDxcENRI8I/AAAAAAAAD1k/2zz33Ktn0nU/s1600/DSC_0202.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481146210977915842" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TBDxcENRI8I/AAAAAAAAD1k/2zz33Ktn0nU/s400/DSC_0202.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Last year they had tomatoes hanging from pergolas, but this year all the tomatoes I could see were in buckets. I wonder what they'll put on the pergolas this year.<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-69567100701984998072010-06-08T11:57:00.000-07:002010-06-08T12:04:24.245-07:00Frost and RainWe've had nearly three inches of rain since last week - it's been wonderful. Overnight my manure beds went from brown to green as the buckwheat sprouted forth with leaves galore. (Photos coming soon.)<br /><br />But now we are in the throes of a cold snap. It was in the mid-30s last night, and I dutifully covered the newly planted tomatoes and the newly sprouted squashes. Tonight, frost is in the forecast. The row covers will remain in place until things warm up again.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the pole beans are up and running (underneath their row covers). I picked up posts and stakes over the weekend and now must make more trellises. I may have to get more bailing twine.<br /><br />I came home from work yesterday to find a package waiting for me: the folks who made my drip irrigation timer sent me a replacement timer! When I went to install mine this season, I found it wasn't working. Installation of a new battery (twice) didn't help. I took the infernal contraption apart only to find the entire inside corroded. Many phone calls later I finally got a hold of a helpful gent at the correct company, and since I was within my 3 year warranty (I've had it just under 2 years), he said to send it to them and they'd take a look. Looks like they replaced the whole thing! <br /><br />So, now I will wait for some sunnier, drier weather and install it. It's time to see if the dripper system is still functional.Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-37037600049368469432010-06-08T06:48:00.001-07:002010-06-08T06:50:18.246-07:00Lethal BeautyToby and I had just started on our walk yesterday evening and were not too far from the house. We were at a standstill while he checked out the roadside grafitti, so I was playing with the tree leaves. There on the leaves of a mountain ash was a beautiful beetle.<br /><br />I dragged the dog back to the house to get the camera, then back again to get the camera battery. When I got back to the approximate location, it took a bit of searching, but the insect was still there. I snapped a few frames and we finished our walk.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480399685576031106" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TA5KekXr-4I/AAAAAAAAD1E/ZY9XGpaJdZY/s400/round-headed+appletree+borer+Saperda+candida.jpg" /><br />This morning I looked it up. It's a beetle, I knew that much. Turns out, its a <strong>round-headed appletree borer</strong>, <em>Saperda candida</em>. This didn't sound good, so I did a little research.<br /><br />As attractive as this striped, blue-legged beetle is, its presence does not bode well for my apple trees. The striking adults are nocturnal, feeding on leaves and sometimes fruit. That's not a problem. It's when they set about reproducing that they become "dangerous," for they seek out apple trees (crab and regular) in which to lay their eggs. They make a slit in the bark at the base of the trunk and lay the eggs there (June is peak egg laying time). Soon the eggs hatch and for about a year the young larvae feed just under the bark.<br /><br />When winter comes, the larvae go dormant. Summer #2 rolls around, and the larvae start to bore into the tree. Here they will tunnel and feed for the next 1-3 years, each winter going dormant. Afterwards they emerge as adults, mate, and the cycle begins again.<br /><br />Trees that are weak are usually the target. While apples are preferred, mountain ash, hawthorn, service berry, cottoneaster, Saskatoon are also hosts.<br /><br />What is an apple grower to do?!? The base of trees can be painted with a schmezz made from white latex paint and water. This apparently discourages the adults from laying eggs, and makes the sawdust-like frass from the larvae more apparent if they are present. Shallow larvae can be cut out with a knife, while those that are already tunnelling can be chased with a stiff whire shoved up their tunnels.<br /><br />An important factor in avoiding these insects is to keep your trees healthy. When they are newly planted, be sure to keep them well-watered to promote good root growth. This means for 2-3 years, not just a week or so after planting.<br /><br />Because I have an apple tree that is in poor health, I'm going to have to do an inspection when I get home. Check out the base of all my trees for suspicious activity. If I see anything, steps will have to be taken.Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-70742624997404646392010-06-01T12:26:00.000-07:002010-06-01T12:42:09.400-07:00Rain!I know that many a holiday reveller this weekend gladly rejoiced in the lack of rain, but I, the gardener, whose winter supply of veg depends on the success (or failure) of my garden, was thrilled when the darkened sky and rumbling thunder actually produced some rain last night and this morning.<br /><br />It is so easy to just go to the store and purchase what we need/want. Well, for most of us here in the US it is easy. Some of us have to plan a bit further in advance, since the store is many miles away. But still, when we produce our own food, we appreciate it all the more. And we appreciate what goes into making it happen.<br /><br />Too often I hear people moan about the cost of food. But let's look at the real cost - the cost that may not be reflected in your 50 cents/pound peas, or your $1/pound beef. Is your food subsidized by the government? Does it come from half way around the world? Was it picked by migrant workers who get little pay and no benefits? Was its production detrimental to the soil in which it grew (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">eg</span>: potatoes that are grown in soil that is first <strong><em>completely</em></strong> sterilized - poisoned - by herb- and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">pesticides</span>)? Were the animals raised and slaughtered humanely, including fed food that is appropriate for their digestive systems (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">eg</span>: did you know that factory farmed cattle are often fed on ground up parts of their fellow cattle? This is one reason why they are pumped full of antibiotics, because they are so sick from having to eat "meat" with a digestive system designed only to consume plant material.)?<br /><br />Yes, I pay $50/month for 10 pounds of meat - but it is raised locally and humanely. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Grassfed</span>. Hormone free. And only travels a couple hours to reach me.<br /><br />Yes, I buy my eggs locally. My egg lady is wonderful - $2/dozen for terrific eggs. Most other egg folks sell their homegrown eggs for at least $3/doz. - I've even seen them go for over $4! Sure, $2 is still more than the grocery store eggs, but my eggs are from happy roaming chickens and have a flavor you can't find in any store-bought carton.<br /><br />And yes, I grow my own veg as much as possible. It is the right thing to do. I know what goes into my produce and I know that the greatest distance it travelled was from my yard to my kitchen (unless you count the seeds, which in truth did travel some distance to get here).<br /><br />There is a growing movement to eat more local food, and I fully agree with and support this notion. I also think everyone should grow his/her own veg. And not just a couple tomatoes in a window box. We would be a healthier nation as a whole if we all put a little more effort into the basics of life.Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-50869151073220332402010-05-31T08:09:00.000-07:002010-05-31T08:29:23.727-07:00Finishing (almost) in the GardenMany hot days...many days off...working in the garden.<br /><br />Moved the tomatoes outside so they can begin to harden off. Less than half of the tomatoes I planted sprouted and survived. Don't know why - I've always had great luck with tomatoes. Could be many of the seeds were old?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSs-6QluI/AAAAAAAADvM/R5WkX8ED-Ws/s1600/20100530_21.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477453242056087266" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSs-6QluI/AAAAAAAADvM/R5WkX8ED-Ws/s400/20100530_21.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Bought 20 bags of mulch and completed the new beds. Here they are, in all their glory. Look kind of nice, eh? Just wait a year or so and they will look like the rest of the garden...</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477453229952319266" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSsR0fvyI/AAAAAAAADu8/B1LhEXdrJFs/s400/20100530_7.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>...full of weeds, every path a jungle of dandelions, strawberries, buttercups, sheep sorrel, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">cinquefoil</span>, chickweed...</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSsgCcuUI/AAAAAAAADvE/TwgCt4FA_8k/s1600/20100530_8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477453233768937794" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSsgCcuUI/AAAAAAAADvE/TwgCt4FA_8k/s400/20100530_8.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div> The spuds are sprouting. Well, they were "sprouting" before I planted them, but now they ha<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span> green leaves above the ground. Many potatoes that missed the shovel last fall are also sprouting. These I've been pulling/digging up and tossing because all the literature says that this should be done if they grew in a season of late blight - the insulated spuds underground can be harboring the fungus. Of course, I've just chucked them into the weed piles...won't this also keep the fungus alive? We shall see. Meanwhile, I squashed my first <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">CPB</span> eggs yesterday - bright orange on the underside of a leaf. </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSfoPCqnI/AAAAAAAADu0/jzPiRYgkmdQ/s1600/20100530_35.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477453012630940274" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSfoPCqnI/AAAAAAAADu0/jzPiRYgkmdQ/s400/20100530_35.JPG" /></a><br />Many of the onions seem to have recovered. Whew! I thought they were going to be a total loss this year.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSfCMfvoI/AAAAAAAADus/4mHuzhQGoBU/s1600/20100530_34.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477453002419715714" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSfCMfvoI/AAAAAAAADus/4mHuzhQGoBU/s400/20100530_34.JPG" /></a><br />The greens are sprouting now, too! Spinach - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mmmm</span>.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSezJwe7I/AAAAAAAADuk/KiiPzL7vayY/s1600/20100530_31.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477452998381697970" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSezJwe7I/AAAAAAAADuk/KiiPzL7vayY/s400/20100530_31.JPG" /></a> </div><div>We need rain so <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">desperately</span>. The ground is parched. I dug a hole to plant the flowers I purchased Friday, and I could barely get the shovel to break the soil. It looked promising yesterday - the winds picked up, the air cooled off, and the sky turned grey, but no rain fell. It's been weeks.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSP44P5sI/AAAAAAAADuc/y6vEwCyVzvE/s1600/20100530_32.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477452742220834498" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSP44P5sI/AAAAAAAADuc/y6vEwCyVzvE/s400/20100530_32.JPG" /></a><br />Meanwhile, the swallowtails are loving the new beds - 100% manure, full of all sorts of good nutrients. Took several videos of them puddling, but I'll spare you those. Here, however, is a shot of two enjoying a sip at the nutrient bar.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSPRnz4HI/AAAAAAAADuU/IceXgEVFmgU/s1600/20100530_17.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477452731682906226" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSPRnz4HI/AAAAAAAADuU/IceXgEVFmgU/s400/20100530_17.JPG" /></a><br />Got lupines? Mine are going great guns. Like the bee balm, they are almost a weed. I hate to weed them out, but if I don't do so soon, they will be the only plants in the flower beds besides the bee balm!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSPIJL7sI/AAAAAAAADuM/B0RE4Y-yDHU/s1600/20100530_44.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477452729138540226" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPSPIJL7sI/AAAAAAAADuM/B0RE4Y-yDHU/s400/20100530_44.JPG" /></a><br />Pretty, pretty flax. The plants are so wispy and delicate, and they are topped with these darling pale blue flowers. They don't blossom for long, but are nice while they do.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPRTWSEtCI/AAAAAAAADuE/6pDUH7vwNR0/s1600/20100530_40.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477451702141760546" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPRTWSEtCI/AAAAAAAADuE/6pDUH7vwNR0/s400/20100530_40.JPG" /></a><br />My <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">irises</span> have started to open now, too.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPRTPfodGI/AAAAAAAADt8/q9t9GRQf-_s/s1600/20100530_6.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477451700319581282" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPRTPfodGI/AAAAAAAADt8/q9t9GRQf-_s/s400/20100530_6.JPG" /></a><br />I discovered a neat "kaleidoscope" feature on my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">photoshop</span> program. Here's the iris again, although you'd never recognize it. Ah...technology.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPRSm0GwHI/AAAAAAAADt0/5hQ4POOz744/s1600/iris+kaleidoscope.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477451689399599218" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAPRSm0GwHI/AAAAAAAADt0/5hQ4POOz744/s400/iris+kaleidoscope.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520167015534822285.post-59352335294648932832010-05-29T10:48:00.001-07:002010-05-29T11:07:59.202-07:00The Garden ExpandsFriday I decided to tackle the newest part of the veg garden. As you may recall from past photos, one end of the garden has been under black plastic for about a year, an attempt to kill off more lawn and convert it into garden space. Yesterday was the unveiling. Beneath the plastic was nice barren soil, several ant hills, and one garter snake which immediately took off.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUttVMK6I/AAAAAAAADs0/6FRwLd3lwPg/s1600/new+beds2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476751766098553762" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUttVMK6I/AAAAAAAADs0/6FRwLd3lwPg/s400/new+beds2.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Once the plastic was rolled back, I covered the space with newsprint - no mindless digging and tilling here - I was going with the "pile it up" method. First, we had to put down layers of newspaper. However, try to find a newspaper these days that isn't printed in color! Our local rag is about six pages long (three sheets) - only one is useable. This was getting me nowhere.</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUjBeBCZI/AAAAAAAADss/slL4EGbxiSs/s1600/new+beds1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476751582525720978" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUjBeBCZI/AAAAAAAADss/slL4EGbxiSs/s400/new+beds1.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Luckily I had a couple rolls of newsprint to put down, but it wasn't enough layers. So, off to the dump I went (uh...transfer station, that is). Lots of newspapers in the bins, but all were colored. What is with the newspapers these days?!? Afterall, people read 'em and toss 'em, so why waste the money on colored ink? If they went just black and white, not only could gardeners use them, but they could also be burned in woodstoves for kindling!!! Just something to think about. </div><div> </div><div>So, being left sans newspapers, I went with the next best thing: cardboard. I had to make two trips to the dump to get enough (barely) to cover the garden. Then I started adding the manure.</div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUi4OREPI/AAAAAAAADsk/hT4E5U7k3EE/s1600/new+beds3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476751580043743474" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUi4OREPI/AAAAAAAADsk/hT4E5U7k3EE/s400/new+beds3.JPG" /></a> My wonderful egg people brought me a load of manure this last week that they estimate was upwards of 30 years old!!! It was black and crumbly - wonderful wonderful stuff. But not nearly enough. I put down 2.5 beds of last fall's horse manure, then 2.5 beds of this lovely black stuff, and had to finish off the 6th bed with a mixture of the dregs of the good stuff, a couple scoops from the compost (which didn't really compost last year - not hot enough), potting soil and peat moss.</div><div> </div><div>Meanwhile, while I was digging into the good manure, look who I turned up:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUicW8gbI/AAAAAAAADsc/UUw1MjMiGmc/s1600/red+bellied+snake1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476751572563952050" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUicW8gbI/AAAAAAAADsc/UUw1MjMiGmc/s400/red+bellied+snake1.JPG" /></a><br />This is a little red-bellied snake - a delightful little snake who was quite startled when I turned it up in the manure. I'm just grateful I didn't kill it with a stab of the shovel!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUQKMUVcI/AAAAAAAADsU/bX3bvLEPxcY/s1600/red+bellied+snake13.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476751258449892802" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUQKMUVcI/AAAAAAAADsU/bX3bvLEPxcY/s400/red+bellied+snake13.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div> Of course, I had to have a photo shoot. Look at these lovely scales!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUPro0DHI/AAAAAAAADsM/0suKWQqm7zo/s1600/red+bellied+snake15.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476751250247912562" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUPro0DHI/AAAAAAAADsM/0suKWQqm7zo/s400/red+bellied+snake15.JPG" /></a><br />Had a terrible time getting a shot of the belly - it wouldn't sit still and flip over! Can't imagine why!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUPFWltgI/AAAAAAAADsE/0Pw5yBt4FPs/s1600/red+bellied+snake10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476751239970928130" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFUPFWltgI/AAAAAAAADsE/0Pw5yBt4FPs/s400/red+bellied+snake10.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I finally turned it loose in the rock pile at the edge of the garden.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFT3LIiS-I/AAAAAAAADr8/LqzhGckiUos/s1600/red+bellied+snake18.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476750829205736418" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFT3LIiS-I/AAAAAAAADr8/LqzhGckiUos/s400/red+bellied+snake18.JPG" /></a>Here are all the beds...now I need to put mulch around the edges. Later that evening I planted squash, pumpkins, melons and cucumbers in the beds. 100% maure - should do well! </div><div><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFT2lARbVI/AAAAAAAADr0/JO6dhZOYjCQ/s1600/new+beds4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476750818970529106" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFT2lARbVI/AAAAAAAADr0/JO6dhZOYjCQ/s400/new+beds4.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div> The butterflies were impressed. When I went out that evening, two tiger swallow tails were puddling on the beds, but I was only able to photograph this little white butterfly. I have no idea what it is.<br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFT2ONoAyI/AAAAAAAADrs/oXb2EmDyVPE/s1600/puddler2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476750812852519714" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eOHKzNaOcRI/TAFT2ONoAyI/AAAAAAAADrs/oXb2EmDyVPE/s400/puddler2.JPG" /></a> </div><div>I also got the pole beans planted...now I'm off to get poles for them!</div></div></div></div></div></div>Ellen Rathbonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684750034177425795noreply@blogger.com0