This week I thought I’d give you a look at how my gardens are doing followed up with some art.
FYI-photo heavy post
The deck box garden holds my yellow pear tomato plants each year to keep them from cross pollinating with the red regular sized varieties, This year I think I got a few seeds mixed up. I have some non-pear shaped tomatoes on a couple vines. Hmmm. Time will tell. I also have my Egyptian walking onions, radishes and jalapenos in there. Resting on the edge is a new to me shepherds hook. Mr. G is going to move one hook about 10 inches down for me when he digs out the welder.
The shed garden is going gangbusters after what seemed like a very slow start. I have tons of tomatoes on the vines. Even the bedraggled plants that came home from Biology class with J are doing fantastic.
The pumpkin and this tomato included. I really had no hope for either of these plants so I didn’t work very hard making a good home for them. Obviously they don’t care a bit.
The yellow summer squash and zucchini are getting large although the zucchini hasn’t produced anything yet.
The yellow ones are tasty though.
The first bit of bounty from the garden has arrived.
I am dealing with this pest though. Anyone know what it is and how to get rid of it without chemicals? I’ve been knocking them off and squishing them but the little munchers keep coming back for more.
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We changed things up a little this year and didn’t attend the local parade for the 4th of July. Instead we went to a party close to our old neighborhood. We figured out that we hadn’t been to their annual bash in 10yrs. I forgot my phone at home so no pictures from there.
We came back for the standard evening shenanigans on our block. J had 6-7 friends hanging out by the end of the evening. You wouldn’t believe how quickly 3 large pizzas can disappear.
We joined a neighbor in their front yard for the awesome view of the fireworks, What a fun night.
Of course, there was lots of overindulging of all sorts so my drink of choice the next morning was….
alka-seltzer.
I did take a bit of time for creating. I’m not sure how I feel about this page now that its dry. The colors of the stains were so fun and vibrant before they dried. Now the page is a little dull.
I went back and added these paper beads I made years ago to try and dress things up a bit. I love that they’ll hang outside the book begging someone to open it up to take a peek.
I’m planning to work on the landscape edging around a flower bed before it gets too hot. The humidity is what is so bad right now. UGH! I get very cranky in the heat. And don’t even talk to me about my hair.
What are you doing today?
Your garden is so neat and productive Halle. Mine is so full of weeds I am jealous. That little bug is a Japanese beetle. They are ferocious leave eaters. If you use pesticides they say to use Seven. I’ve also heard you can mix borax and sugar and put it out in little dishes near your plants and go into it and die. Or spray with dish soap in some water. I haven’t tried those so I can’t tell you for sure how they work. (I was just talking to someone today who mentioned these to me). Happy T day Hugs-Erika
Love the journal page you made, it looks great. The garden is looking good, too, but I don’t like the look of those bugs! Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie
Beautiful plants in the garden you will have some great meals with the fresh vegetables
Good to see you enjoyed the celebrations on the fourth
Love the artwork
Happy T Day
Love Chrissie xx
I have NO idea what that bug is, but I’ll take Erika’s word for it that it’s a Japanese beetle. Is that basil the bug is devouring? The rest of your garden looks fabulous. Mine is going to pot in the pots. I have so many weeds in the pots this year, I’m frustrated. And it’s too hot to do much except weed about 6 am, then head inside to cool down.
I actually LIKE that art, and the little beads add so much to the spread, too.
Your 4th looked fun. I sat on my front porch and watched the fireworks all around the neighborhood. No guests this year, so I had a breather. Kathy and her husband stopped by the day before, though.
LOVED your drink of choice. Another first for T.
Thanks for sharing your garden, your art, your 4th, and your Alka Seltzer with us for T this Tuesday. And my hair is pretty curly right now, too!
waue lovely weggies and your art is fab.
You have a beautiful garden and your plants look so healthy too. That beetle is a Japanese beetle and they will devour your plants if you don’t get rid of them. I know that you can buy small bags to hang that they will gravitate to and once they go in they can’t get out. There must be something in those bags to attract them though. I have seen them at Lowes and Home Depot and garden centers. My Mom is dealing with them at her place and she just put a bag up.
I like your pages so far. I used to teach a class on making paper beads and such.
Hope you can get rid of those bugs. Happy T day!
Your garden looks amazing with so many wonderful plants and veggies to enjoy! How lovely to spend time with friends from your old neighbourhood for your “Happy 4th” celebrations too ?. Your artwork is beautiful and I love how the colour has spread over the page, it reminds me of the Painted Desert in Arizona. The sheep and humidity sentiment made me smile too, thanks! After a lovely sunny weekend at the Carnival, it’s raining today so we are relaxing and catching up on chores, I may make some time for crafting later though ?. Wishing you a very Happy T Day! J ?
Your garden looks full of wonderful edible plants, I’m sure you will have many delicious meals in the coming weeks.
The photos looked super as well, a good way to celebrate a special day for your country.
Yvonne xx
Now that’s a well cared for garden! I didn’t do any veggies this year, but I love seeing how neat and thriving your plants are. Good luck with your beetle :(
Happy T Tuesday
I have heard from a Rose Gardener who is plagued by the same bugs that there is a bait bag you can hang on or near the plants that attracts them and they fall in and DIE… Other than that i think picking them off is the only way if you don’t want to use chemicals… Happy happy T day!! Hugs! deb
Your deck box garden is really neat, Halle. I had to look up Egyptian walking onions and learned that they really do walk across your garden (self-propagating)! I also had to look up shepherds hook. I guess that shows you how much I know about gardening ;-)
Laughed at your beverage for the T-party, though I’m sure it wasn’t funny at the time.
I didn’t think your page looked dull at all. I really like it; it’s quite unique. But the addition of handmade paper beads is a lovely touch.
What a fun post :D Happy T-Day! Hugs, Eileen
you really have a green thumb! i hope you win the fight with the beetles.
your altered book spread Looks gorgeous! (first i thought rust would be involved.) Brown and turquoise always go together so well. and the beads are a perfect Addition!
have a nice week and happy belated t-day:)
What a lovely productive garden. I planted Jalapeño sedes and got Little plants in spring, but they are not growing. They are still about an inch high (and still in the pot) I’m really disappointed, as we can’t get chillies here. And as this is a warm country (Southern Spain, same climate as Arizona, hot and dry) I thought they would thrive….
Happy (belated) T-Day,
Lisca
Hi Halle, your garden looks great! As others have said already, that bug is a Japanese beetle. They have been eating the flowers on my rose bush–grr. Here is what the U of M says about them: http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/fruit/integrated-pest-management-for-home-raspberry-growers/japanese-beetles/
Your garden looks very productive, although I was sorry not to see ‘pearshaped’ tomatoes! Your drink made me smile – Oh dear!! I love your book pages! A wonderful vintage look! A very Belated Happy T day! Connection was dire at our caravan! Chrisxx