[illstillbe]

Ok ... I wasn't going to mention this yet ... because it is a trial run and this is the first season ... and I really did not build an adequate control group to make this scientific in any way ...

But I see that our lysie ... whose heart is strong and pure ... but bruised, this day ... with the news of another lost kiddo ... needs a perk up ... a lasting thing ...

Years and years ago, my Uncle Al told my Dad that the best way to get a good crop of 'maters was to plant .. soup bones ... 'neath the plants when you install them. YES!

Oh! The debate which followed! ... For my Dad thought Uncle Al was off his noggin ... and Uncle Al thought my Dad was closed minded with the growing things ...

I only this Spring remembered this hot and heated debate ...

So, I tried it ... and, really ... I have never ..... NEVER ... had so many 'maters growin' in my cages ... it's to the point I have had to rig a system to support the new ones drippin' over the cages and climbin' over the beans ...

I have never been at a point where I think it a plan to pinch wee 'maters ... ones the size of ping pong balls ... just to give the poor plant a rest!

POLs ... I can hear Uncle Al and my Dad ... up there ... debatin' these results ...

"Told you!"
"Oh, just go back to your dandelion wine , you old coot ... it nearly killed us all."

Glorious life continues ... though heartache follows, sometimes ....

[Citizen Soldier]

Ineresting Isb! I migt have to try that trick one day when I plant tomato plants again. I do have pots of basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and lavender on my deck up up away from deer and rabbits! they are doing nicely. I used to have rose gardens, 40 +/- in a bed and I loved raising them! It was wonderful to have cutting flowers all summer and into the fall. I used newspapers with peanut hulls on top once to keep teh weeds out, but nut grass came up through it, so the next year, pinestraw! Crabgrass grew under black plastic, so i gave up on that too. It was my refuge after a hard day of work!

[kayak]

Just had to come out of lurking mode today to share these pics with you ..... especially those with wee ones in the family or on the way ......

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With so much ugliness going on, sometimes we need a reminder that God is in control and there is still much goodness in the world, though sometimes we really have to look for it.

[lysie]

Thank you, sweetie.

Soup bones, eh?

This is the earliest ever I have had 'maters. I planted later than ever, too. Can't figure it out... unless it is the unusally hot nights that is ripening them much faster.