Diana, do you have your mower back?
Clyde & I just spent about 3 hours of quality time together, mowing what should have been done last weekend, but wasn’t because we were getting just over an inch of rain. I was mowing “in style” (LOL) because I braved the maddening crowds this morning & found 4 tank tops at Goodwill for mowing & gardening. The 4 oldies I’ve had for about 20 years (seriously) are going straight in the trash! One of the new ones is Land’s End & two are White Stag which are very good quality. The 4th is a nice one, but an unfamiar brand. $5.25 each, 2 for $6.25, prices I can live with.
On the herbal scene, I planted a borage this year - haven’t had one in the garden for a long time. It’s blooming & I’ve been smiling about it all day - I love the little blue flowers & the pollinators love it too. Sage is still blooming. Between the sage & borage, which are crowding out my African Blue basil plus the oregano & one of the thymes, I need a bigger herb garden ... adding this to the “project” list for next year.
Critterville news ... haven’t managed to trap the big groundhog under the barn yet. I have had good success with the squirrels who were beginning to frolic in my garden walkways. There was a big ‘ol Eastern Rat Snake crawling across the front sidewalk this morning - disappeared under the ramp that goes up the front steps & was no where to be found when I went out looking for it about 10 minutes later. A doe has found mom’s hostas the last couple of days & munched away on a few of them.
The radishes have all been harvested - need to replant. Cukes & spaghetti squash are growing like crazy, onions are coming along. I believe I saw sugar snap peas to harvest as I zoomed by on the mower & will be taking a closer look at them & the tomatoes this evening.
It was pretty hot & somewhat humid mid-day, but some cooler weather was to filter in this evening. It actually started arriving while on the mower which made the temps very pleasant. Tonight is going to be a full moon - gorgeous evening coming up!
Yes, ‘Lily’ is back from $500.00 worth of repairs, but she runs like new!
Borage - I have some coming up in my Beneficial Bug Mix. I have Calendula that was the LAST thing that went to seed last season - and boy, did it ever! I have volunteers all over the place, but they’re not in the way so they’re staying. The smallest new leaves on Borage taste like Cucumber if you’re willing to try it. The bigger leaves are too prickly to eat, but the flowers look lovely on top of a cupcake or frozen in an ice cube. Your Mom might get a kick out of that!
Great deal on the tank tops. I am cleaning out closets and drawers to take stock - I haven’t bought clothes much over the past 5 years, so I am really due for a work and ‘Going To Town’ overhaul of my clothing! I’m with you on using the second-hand market whenever it’s feasible.
I haven’t had to mow; we’ve been so DRY the grass is browning. The loaner they gave us (she was gone 3 weeks, but it was over the holiday weekend AND she needed parts) was a 52” deck and that puppy could GO! Beau did the mowing for me last week. It usually takes me 2 hours to mow with my 42” but he got it done in an hour!
Spent 4 hours watering the fruit trees this morning; the apple trees (in another area) are on the list for early tomorrow AM, then we have a Graduation Party to go to. My BFF’s 70th was today and her daughters threw her a surprise party and they ALMOST pulled it off, but her husband took a really bad fall and while doped up he spilled the beans, yesterday. D’Oh! But, we had a blast this afternoon. Lots of Family, Grandbabies to cuddle and Army Folk who are just LIKE family. (She and I met in the Army 44 years ago.)
I’ve got salad greens to eat up and that’s about it. I’m moving into the ‘Weed, Water and Wait’ phase of the growing season.
And I’ll be whining about how tired I am of canning soon enough! :)