RAIN!!!

We have had enough rain already. It averages about half an inch every three days. Can't get into the gardens to pull weeds and they LOVE the rain. It is getting ugly in there.

We have over 100 tomato plants out and between the temperature and the rain, they are just sitting there. I guess we will have late tomatoes. I just hope they don't rot. The ground is pure mud in most of the garden.

Come July and August we will burn up and there will be no rain. Sometimes i just don't think it is worth the effort. But, we will probably keep doing this and keep complaining every year. That is what we do, I guess.

I hope you are having better luck with your garden. Happy growing!!

SUN!!!!

The sun is trying it's best to come out. It sure looks good. Hopefully the rain is over for a few days. The creeks and rivers need time to go down.

A lot of people had water in their homes again. One year almost to the day since last May flood. I sure hope this is not going to be the norm every year. We can do without it.

It will probably get as dry as it has been wet as the Spring and Summer go.

Tomatoes will be going in the ground this weekend. I'm tired of trying to keep them from falling over in their little pots. Some of them are about 18" tall. They are healthy though.

Ready!

OK, the garden is plowed and disked up. Plastic is down and ready for plants.
One more week and we can put the tomatoes in, I hope. The temps are staying above
freezing. We have about 85 tomato plants waiting to go in the ground.

I have peppers too. Going to put in Zucchini, yellow squash and cukes.
My sugar snap peas are coming on out. Hopefully I will get some before it gets too hot. They get ugly when the temperature gets hot and humid.

I have a cherry tomato planted in the backyard garden. Dill is coming up from
last year. Lettuce and radishes are up. Leeks are ready to go on the grill. Looks like
they will be eaten next weekend. Supposed to be nice. Rain moving in today.

Have a great weekend.

"Lady Slipper"

Spring Beauty

I'm so confused!!!!!

This crazy weather is like none I have ever seen. The poor plants and animals don't know what to do.
80 degrees one day and 40 the next. The extremes are awful.
I will be waiting until May to even start my garden. I will not be running down the hill every night covering things up and the next morning going back down to uncover before the sun hit's it.
I always get in a hurry to get started. I'm like the wild things. When the first warm day arrives, I get the fever. I will just slow down and bide my time.
I hope the weather is good to you where you are. If not, make a cup of hot tea, grab a book and sit by the window for a while. It won't be long.

My "Little Nature Lover"

Hints

Until the gardening starts I thought I would post some hints on using everyday things to help make life a little easier.

Salt:
*Add 1/2 cup salt to the wash cycle to prevent colored fabrics from running.
*Toss an occasional handful of salt into your fireplace when you've got a fire burning to help loosen soot inside your chimney. An additional benefit is the salt produces a cheery bright yellow flame.
*Fill a small cloth bag with salt and hold tightly. Dampen bag with water. Rub it on the outside of your windshield to keep snow and ice from sticking.
*Remove tea or coffee stains from light-colored cups and mugs by rubbing stained areas with salt and a little water. Wash as usual.
*Pour a strong solution of 1 cup salt and 2 cups hot water sown the kitchen drain to eliminate odors and break up grease.
*Prevent white wicker furniture from yellowing by scrubbing it with a stiff brush moistened with salt water. Let dry in full sunlight.

Hope this is useful. I know I have tried some of them.
More hints to come.

Enough is ENOUGH!!!!

Enough snow already. Everybody has had enough!!!
I need sunshine and warm breezes.
I need to feel the dirt in my gardens.
i am ready for SPRING!!!!

Monster Clematis

 This is year 2 for this "Autumn Clematis."
It is taking over. I thought it had a nice smell to the blooms but it doesn't.
That would have been nice to smell when you come in the back door.

I have blue morning glories running through it too.Very pretty.