Pinging the List. Really busy tonight. Wanted to get this started. I’ll be back later.
Lost my bees; they absconded when the queen failed to escape her cage. I have more on order. Hopefully, they found a new home, and will become feral pollinators. Unfortunately, they won’t last, since they can’t raise a queen without larvae to raise up: no queen, no babies; no babies, no new queen.
So far, we’ve cut over 200 stalks of asparagus. Less than 5 of them have been from the 4-5 YO purple varieties. Those established quickly, and just as quickly peaked, then about 8 out of the 12 have died out & the remaining are about on par with our 2 or 3 YO old standards. Meanwhile the oldest plants, are still spreading & producing like gangbusters.
This past Sunday & Monday—my days off—saw a stack of feed sacks full of pine cones, a circle about 10’ in diameter, chipped & tilled in in a major and a minor section if the garden.
Planted shallots, and seeded 2 hills each of 3 types of squash: two winter keepers, and Cocozelle (Italian Marrow squash).
Right now, the weather has cooled, and is foggy & drizzly, with rain & possible thundershowers predicted for the next week...except Sunday.
ZFruit trees are finally starting to bloom.
It’s been bone dry here in Central Missouri this week. We’ve had a couple teaser clouds roll through with some sprinkles, but not enough to even lay the dust. If this keeps up it’s going to be bad summer.
I finished cleaning up the kitchen garden after work today. Tomorrow I’ll get my tomato plants stuck in the dirt.
The green beans I seeded earlier in the week are starting to come up. Same for the cukes. I found seeds for the Russian pickle cukes that Mrs. Augie likes at Shumway’s. Those should show up in the mailbox early next week.
Nanner is still in the shop but I’m gaining. With luck I’ll have the last of the repairs finished by Wednesday.
Greenhouse is making things much easier this year! We’ve had several cold, rainy days, and I can sit in there and plant trays even when it’s pouring out. I have one shelf there so far, but I’ve ordered more. They should be here soon. I’ve also run out of seed starting trays. Planning a trip to the big Jungs headquarters today, so I’ll pick more up while I’m there. Along with some berry bushes.
Pinging the List - making an exception to my once a week only ping. Please pray for our fellow freeper Justice whose garden has been destroyed by the volcanic eruption and had to leave the area.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3654614/posts?page=38#38