Category Archives: my garden
favorite garden pictures
Holey pepper Batman
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I check the growth of my veggies every day. Yes, I’m impatient for them to ripen. So far it’s bugs two, me one. The bugs have managed to destroy one patty pan squash and an Ancho pepper. I’d been eyeing up that pepper every day since it was a blossom. By the time it grew to the size of my thumb, some bug managed to nibble a large hole into it.
I declared war. At night I haunted the garden by flashlight, picking bugs off the plants and depositing them into a jar filled with soapy water. I rubbed the same mixture onto the tiny peppers every night. Now I have quite a few nice sized peppers that will soon be ready to pick and they have no holes in them.
The melon and cucumber plants are also bug free now and growing with wild abandon. I have pea sized watermelons and cantaloupes on the vines. There are enough baby cucumbers out there to choke a horse or fill a large gherkin pickle jar.
There will be at least three eggplants since that’s how many blossoms we have today. It makes me glad that I have my mother’s moussakka recipe. That is a real treat.
Posted in My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Koi are like potato chips
Posted by doggonedmysteries
You can’t have just one. A couple of weeks ago I found I couldn’t resist purchasing one more Koi. I’ve told myself we don’t need more many times. However, one of the Koi we lost in the tragic poisoning of our pond a few years back was yellow and black. I never found one to replace him. That and the fact that one of ours has a physical problem pushed me over the edge when I saw the little guy.
I do mean LITTLE guy. Our Koi dwarf him. He is a game little thing though. He’ll brazen it out at night and swim rings around the big Koi. I’ve tried for days to get a picture of him in the pond. Tonight I managed to do so. He’s under the lily pads pictured in the top left of the first picture.
Posted in Misc, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Fish, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
Monet skies
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I gave away more plants today. The perennials have flourished and are elbowing each other for space. M’s mother and father in law stopped by and took several plants. They barely put a dent in the crop.
I may have to resort to pulling some of them out like weeds to make some room. I hate to do that. Better to expand the garden edges and weather DH’s complaints. He shouldn’t complain since it would mean less for him to mow, but he is rather particular about the lawn.
After a hot and hard day’s work in the gardens, I sprawled out on the hammock to cool off and relax for a bit. The clouds drifted across the sky on the tip of an impressionist’s brush. The results were astonishingly gorgeous. I daydreamed under a Monet sky.
As the day moved into night, the back yard became nature’s light show. It began with a colorful sunset and ended with hundreds of fireflies doing their winged dance. The neighborhood was quiet. All I heard was the sound of the waterfall and fountains.
Posted in Misc, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
Cucumber bugs in the melon patch
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It’s time to buy some insecticidal soap. I found cucumber bugs nibbling on my cantaloupe plants tonight. However, they are leaving the cucumber plant alone, which makes one wonder why the have the name cucumber bugs. I’d rather they’d leave my melon plants alone thank you very much.
Since I didn’t have any insecticidal soap on hand, I picked off the bugs and dropped them into a jar of hot soapy water. It killed them. I may have to continue this method for a few days. Right now, it looks as though there aren’t many in my veggie garden. I checked the potted veggies too and they seem to have escaped any bug damage.
My neighbors must think I’m crazy when they see the light from my flashlight bobbing around the yard at all hours. Although, if I hadn’t been checking plants at such an odd hour I might never have seen which bugs were snacking on my plants.
I am pleased to see so many little cucumbers and peppers on the plants. All the tomato plants have flowers, there are a few little patty pan squash growing, the eggplants have flowers now, and I have a few teensy acorn squash. Now all I need to see to make my heart go pitty-pat would be some cantaloupes and watermelons starting.
Posted in hobbies, My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Gardening, Gardens, Home, how does your garden grow, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, pests, veggie garden, Writer, Writing
Garden update
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We’ve had enough rain to get the veggies and melons off to a great start. I have tiny peppers on most of the pepper plants. The tomato plants all have flowers now. I have to go out and find another sugar baby water melon plant because I foolishly bought only one and should have purchased two. The one I have is growing like crazy but without another to cross-pollinate I doubt I’ll get any fruit.
The eggplant plants have tripled in size but no flowers yet. I finally have dill growing tall and happy without the nasty earwigs chewing the plant down to the roots this time. Planting it in the pot worked well. The squash plants are loaded with flowers and a couple of them have teensy squash on them. The bush cucumber has flowers but no sign of any cukes yet. I’m not very certain that the plant was marked correctly because the plant certainly isn’t a bush.
G gave me some cannas the other day and I planted them. I hope they come up. The black elephant ears are beginning to look good. The ones in the pot are bigger than the ones in the garden.
Posted in Food, hobbies, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Vined and died
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The heat wave finally broke today but not without some damage. We had thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. That didn’t do the damage, on top of all that; we had strong winds whip through after the rain.
In the back corner of our yard, we have a good-sized shed. Going up the side facing the alley we had four types of vines growing up and over the roof. Two types of ivy, bittersweet, and chocolate vine had all intertwined and created a lovely mantle over the boring aluminum shed. Ferns below covered any of the lower faults.
My first trip out into the yard with Gavin after the rain stopped the wind kicked up into high gear. When I took Patty out next, I was shocked to find that in a few minutes the wind had literally peeled all the vines off the shed. A huge mass of vines were now hanging by a few tendrils that had attached to the magnolia.
All I could do was put on my work gloves, haul out the trimmers, and get to work on clean up. I filled four forty gallon trashcans with vines by the time I finished. It took me three hours to clear away the mess. It was still hot and humid when I was working.
Now if I can find someone willing to paint the shed for me…
The winds continued through the evening but not as wild as in the afternoon. By 11 tonight, we’d cooled down to a very comfortable 61 degrees. The air conditioners are off and I opened the house to welcome fresh air.
Posted in Misc, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
DH and the dogs are air-conditioned couch potatoes
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I have one empty pot sitting out on the walk. I’m trying to figure out what sort of vegetable I’d like to put in it. Sure, I could do flowers but I so love fresh veggies. Maybe I’ll pick up some beet seeds and try them in the pot. I used to grow them in my garden when I had a huge veggie garden. We’ll see.
After the rains, we had yesterday and last night, all the veggies, whether in pots or by the back fence, have doubled in size. I found it rather surprising since I’ve watered them every day. Unfortunately, two of the patty-pan squash blossoms fell off…Sigh.
The southern flow of high heat and humidity has worn DH down to a nub. He’s barely functioning after he goes outside. The air conditioners are on and running for him. Heck, even the dogs are happier inside. They’ve become air-conditioned couch potatoes already.
We are both looking forward to the cooler temperatures and lower humidity heading our way from the north. It will be nice to be able to weed the gardens without having to take a million water breaks.
Posted in Dog related, MS related, my garden, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
How does your garden grow?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m pleased to say that all the tomato plants I put in have tripled in size and the plum tomatoes have blossoms. All of the pepper plants are growing tall and are loaded with flowers. This is the first time I’ve planted dill that the danged earwigs didn’t eat it to the roots within days. I guess planting it in a pot was the secret. The fennel plant looks good too.
There’s a lovely flower blooming on the patty pan squash and there are other buds a plenty. The sugar-baby watermelon vine has quadrupled in size and I do believe that also has buds. The acorn squash, the cucumber, and the cantaloupe are growing fast no buds yet but they’ll get there.
I don’t see any change in the lemon grass but at least it’s alive. I planted half of my black elephant ears in the pond garden and half in a pot. The ones in the pot are growing faster.
All of the new iris I planted are doing well and so are the other flowers. My oriental lilies are blooming. The stargazers are getting tall and have plenty of buds. I have a ton of coreopsis even after giving a bunch away to other gardeners along with some other iris I had to split. The day lilies have started to bloom. I took some pictures but have to download them.
Posted in hobbies, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Too hot too soon
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Wow, did it get hot today. The temperature leapt to ninety-one. If you add to that a lot of humidity, you can be sure that DH was miserable. He turned on the AC.
The pups were happy since they like the AC and they squabbled for the best place on the floor in front of the unit. Share? Are you kidding? It’s like living with perpetual three-year olds.
I like the heat so it didn’t bother me. I did some work outside and then took advantage of the heavily shaded hammock. All was fine while there was a breeze, but when that stopped, I decided it was time to retire to the house where it was cooler.
I hadn’t realized how hot it was outside until I walked into the kitchen. The cool non-humid air hit me like a tall ocean wave and felt as refreshing. However, I do hate sitting in the house all the time so I was soon back outside.
I harvested the rhubarb and took some over to G. Then I baked a rhubarb custard pie for tonight’s dessert—pure heaven. DH was more than a little delighted.
Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Who hid the Aleve?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I didn’t count how many plants I bought on Monday. I did count them today. My jaw dropped when I hit forty-four. Yikes! I planted all but six of them today. Am I an idiot? Yes, yes I am. Because not only did I did dig thirty eight holes and stuff thirty eight plants into the ground I also dug out three large Iris groups, a few coreopsis, a couple of moss roses, two sedums, and by the time I finished, I felt as if the partridge and pear tree had come along for the ride.
Why did I dig up so much of my flora? (It barely put a dent in the garden) Wednesday, I was telling G that I needed to split many of my perennials this year. I knew she couldn’t take them. G’s tiny yard is already jam packed with flowers. For a postage stamp yard, it is gorgeous. I made the comment about wishing I knew someone who’d like some flowers.
M walks her dog past our yard daily, we’ve only talked briefly, and that was about Patty who wanted to eat her dog. Patty’s greatest desire is to wipe all dogs (except her big brother Gavin) off the face of the earth. I was sure I was on this young woman’s list of people to avoid. However, she was within earshot and I saw her eyes light up. I asked her if she gardened. She grinned. G and I introduced ourselves M told us her name and that she lived on the other side of the cemetery. The three of us talked for quite a while and M and I arranged for her to come for flowers today.
Around five, the yard is shaded, the rest of the time most of the gardens are in full sun. M arrived with a shovel and bin. I gave her a list of all I had available to split. We didn’t even come close to one of each item when we had filled her car. M will be back.
I still have a ton of iris to split, bleeding hearts are running rampant among the beds, and many other flowers that have bivouacked where they don’t belong. Jackie, bring a shovel and expect to work for your flowers. I’ll supply the coffee.
I’m sore tonight—not getting any younger. Where the heck is the Aleve?
Posted in My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Masochist or avid gardener?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
You would think that after spending four days away from home, suffering from self-induced sleep deprivation, and having the dogs and DH miss me, that for a day or two at least I wouldn’t go anywhere. If you thought that, you would be wrong.
Before I left for the conference, my neighbor and I made plans to go to our favorite nursery and do some shopping for our gardens. When did we plan to go on this expedition? We planned it for noon on Monday. Yeah, I never said I was the brightest light in the harbor.
What a fool I am. Besides having to do a ton of writing, I now have extra gardening work to do this week. Can you say masochist? Truly, because I didn’t buy a few plants, I bought many plants. I’ll be digging holes and planting for two days.
However, I couldn’t resist buying two of the black bearded iris since the one I had died two years ago and I couldn’t find any afterwards. Then I saw two different variegated ones and two more in colors I couldn’t resist. Have I ever mentioned that I have a weakness for bearded iris?
I needed flowers to plant in the cement flower boxes on the front porch. I saw other flowers that I thought would look nice in the side garden—and those too went on the little garden wagon.
I was there for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants too and I found them. Then I saw the sugar baby watermelons and cantaloupe, not to mention acorn squash and patty pans. They were a tight fit but I got them on the wagon. I almost went to get another wagon but G mentioned that DH might kill me and that her hubby would make me ride home on the car roof if I overloaded their Suburban. It was close as it was. Between us, we filled the back and had to drop down and use half of the back seat. One more plant and I would’ve been on the roof.
Posted in hobbies, My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Wordless Wednesday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Tomorrow I am off to the conference. Thought I leave you these pictures to enjoy in my absence. I’ll post Monday.
Posted in hobbies, My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Doggonedmysteries 