Monday, August 13, 2012

Rain Does a Garden Good


We've had a couple of rain showers lately, after several dry weeks with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees.  I was about ready to throw in the towel, between the heat, the constant watering and  fighting squash bugs but it was worth the wait.  Now my only problem is using everything up!
We have acorn and spaghetti squash, yellow summer squash, some cucumbers, several green and red peppers plus a few tomatoes.


The porch flowers are doing fine, so is the planter with sweet potato vines - real ones, not ornamental.  I can't wait to see if any sweet potatoes grew.  


The little chicks are laying- the three are from the new Buffs, the larger is for comparison.  We can have a  teensy weensy omelet now.
The plate is Taylor's.  You can "play" with your food as you decorate the lady's head LOL!  She's a little old for this and doesn't really eat off of it, but I would.  You're never too old to have some kid fun.


The tomatillos are next- just about ready to be turned into salsa and a really super sounding authentic Mexican dish using pork- provided by one of our own lovely readers!  I'll have to post about that one.

I can't believe we have had our WINDOWS open for a couple of days now.  I actually got to use a little throw while laying outside on our lounger during the meteor shower Saturday night.   

Life is good.




7 comments:

Sunnybrook Farm said...

The squash bug has few enemies it would seem and the ones it does have just don't eat many of them. Chickens won't eat them, they are the next thing to chinese stink bugs only chickens will eat them, go figure. Glad you got a break from the dry heat.

LindaG said...

Congratulations on winning out in the garden. And on the eggs, too.
Can't wait until we get chickens.
Have a blessed week, Kathy!

Shannon said...

Tomatillos are on my list to grow next year. Are they a hard plant to keep alive?

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

They are super easy, in fact you grow them like a tomato. You can let them sprawl or tie them up. Just when you think you don't have any, there they are, hiding among the leaves.

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

It seems I need to get tachinid flies. Maybe I need to plant a small patch of buckwheat near the garden?

Adult tachinid flies feed on nectar and to some extent on honeydew secreted by whiteflies and their relatives. Hart believes they are the most important garden predator of all. Depending on the species of tachinid, their larvae feed on certain borers, beetles, bugs, especially caterpillars, armyworms, etc. The tachinid fly particularly eats squash bugs, stink bugs, leaf-footed bugs, cotton stainers and other true bugs that bother tomatoes and other fruits. Tachinid adults are drawn especially to buckwheat. http://www.fbmg.com/GardeningPages/Beneficial.htm

Candy C. said...

A little rain always does more for the garden than twice as much water from the hose! :)
I have just noticed my first few squash bugs this week. Grrr...

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

Get out the duct tape. I spent countless HOURS turning over each leaf and removing eggs. It really helps, hardly any nymphs although I haven't done it for a couple of days due to schedule problems. I am sure they hatched out now!!!!