July 8th

 

Here we are, feeling the heat and the

endless days of rain.

Our crops aren't doing so well.

The constant wetness is taking its toll.

No more tomatoes.

The cucumber vine

seems to have blossom end rot,

That means the plant blooms and then

the flowers fall off.

Same thing is happening to the summer squash.

We think it's the weather.

So,

the CEO sprinkled some diatomaceous earth

over the plants.

What is that, you ask?

Lemme 'splain....

Well, it's literally fossilized remains of

tiny aquatic organisms called diatoms,

that died and accumulated in sediment.

These microscopic skeletons are

made of something called silica.

This substance is used in lots of products

ranging from "food safe" items to

non-pesticide pest control.

We use the food safe kind.

We either sprinkle it on the plants or

apply it wet with a small amount of Dawn

to make it adhere to the plants.

What happens is that it desiccates the insect,

meaning the microscopic sharp pieces

are eaten by the bug,

then it dehydrates and dies.

It can be an irritant to humans too if 

it is blown around.

Yes, we use caution.

Masks and safety glasses.

Only catch is,

you have to reapply if the weather is

particularly rainy.

That is an Assassin Bug on our Summer Squash.

Here's hoping our non-pesticide

solutions work.

***********************************

This is a Japanese Eggplant flower

Japanese Eggplant

This one is about 6 inches long.

We harvested the first one last week

and that one was about 8 inches.

It was very tasty!

I baked it, sliced and breaded,

with some bell pepper and onion.

Mmmmm, good.

Bell Pepper.

Nosy Miss Nugget.

The Herb garden needs a haircut.

With all the rain,

I haven't been out to cut it back.

Hopefully I'll get a chance today.

Ethel, Lucy and Nugget hanging out by the shed.

Hazel following me around the yard.

Nugget grabbing a bite

of cabbage.

We hang it on a string to 

make it a tad more interesting

for the girls.

Lantana.

Gardenia.

This little guy had better stay

up high on that window.

If the girls see him,

it'll be 

Katy Bar The Door!

They love to eat lizards!

At the front door are 2 large ceramic pots.

We planted Caladiums

and purple Sweet Potato vine.

Under the Magnolia tree,

we have another large pot with

Caladiums. and a few others.

This is called

"Silver Gumdrop",

and is a Heuchera.

Good partial shade plant.

This is called

"Bloodleaf".

It's a Iresine plant.

Also good in partial shade.

I'm trying to root them for more plants.

The Bloodleaf has a few roots already.

Nothing yet for the Silver Gumdrop.

**************************************

Well, 

on my last visit to the doctor

and after a bone scan,

I found out that I have low normal

results for osteoporosis.

So, now I have to take an extra supplement of

Vitamin D and Calcium.

Since I fell in the yard last month,

(didn't get hurt, just a couple bruises)

and my balance is like a drunken sailor,

I'm trying to be extra careful in the

wet slippery grass.

I don't wanna go down like a fat 

kid on a see saw and break a hip!

I should also be exercising.

Ha!

I'm not motivated.

Any amount of extra steps to me,

is like scaling the north face of

Half Dome in Yosemite!

But,

I told my doctor, with as much

gravitas as I could muster, that 

"yes, I will certainly exercise more."

Seriously,

I knew his BS detection meter was 

edging into the red zone,

but he said that was great.

So, 

to keep my half-assed promise to

the medical gods,

I'm determined to try to exercise.

(Saw that? I said "try")

So I'm looking into online classes.

That way I don't have to leave the comforts 

of my air conditioned den.

After all,

who likes to sweat?

*******************************

Winnie The Pooh quote.......

💚