New Additions to the Garden
I got the first two full-grown veggies out of the garden thismorning! Yaaay! These zucchini are going straight into the thai curry tonight. I have been spending a bit more time on the garden this week, just getting it into shape for harvest time. I think in about a week or two we will have more zucchini than we could ever eat. And I have no idea when the tomatoes will be turning red, but I will be canning for days when they do.
Today I finally found some nice, inexpensive plant markers. You would not believe how hard finding these things has been. I looked in every major chain store and specialty garden boutique I could find, and finally found they had a bagillion options at Long's. Geez. And I really do need these, because my roommate can't tell the herbs apart and once put oregano in iced tea instead of mint. Yuck. Anywho...
They are simple copper and silver stakes that you're supposed to write on with a permanent marker. But I wanted something fancier, so I took my metal awl and a hammer and made pierced letters. If you want to make these, be sure to use a jell pen to mark out your letters, not a sharpie, so you can wipe the dots off when you're done. I also recommend using an awl instead of a nail because it is easier to hold and will make more precise holes. Lastly, be sure to put a piece of scrap wood or an old cutting mat underneath your piece of copper so it doesn't bend as you pierce it. Simple and quick, only took me about an hour to make all four, and for $2.50 who can complain?
Also purchased while I was at Long's was a bucket of ladybugs. Honestly, how could I not? I stood there for a couple minutes looking at them in the store until a worker walked by and said, "Set them free!", so I did! When I opened the tub I was instantly covered in ladybugs. It was awesome! And they will hopefully eat whatever has been attacking my pea plants.
I also dug a bird feeder out of mothballs and hung it in the tree to discourage the birds from eating my new friends. And I put a pinwheel by the tomatoes to keep the birds away once they turn red. And I added a mushroom, which needs no justification. I love my happy little garden! I even have a new friend to keep me company...
We just call her "friendly kitty" because we're not sure if she's a stray or if she belongs to someone. I would like to find out because I will adopt her in a second. She's always hanging out in the garden or on our tiny back porch, begging for pets. She's so sweet and friendly - the complete opposite of my current cat. Every once in a while she sneaks into the house and he freaks out while she sniffs around and completely ignores him. It's really funny to watch.
Oh, and on a totally unrelated note, I have a question I am hoping someone out there will be able to help me with: Whenever I hang towels out to dry on the line, no matter how much fabric softener I use they come back scratchy and stiff as a board. What's up with that? Is there some kind of special "line-dry fabric softener" out there? Thanks in advance if anyone knows!
*And be sure to leave a comment anywhere on my blog this month to be entered in my 4th blogiversary prize drawing!
I think I'm in love with your garden. Not only do those zucchinis look perfect, but I adore those metal signs. So sweet!
ReplyDeletethat cat reminds me of honey the same look in the eyes...m :)
ReplyDeleteGarden looks good! Those signs should get a nice oxidized look to them after awhile. Glad to see things are growing well and you have a friendly companion kitty :-)
ReplyDeleteMmmm...I could almost smell the basil there. Unfortunately that scratchy towel thing is pretty much inevitable with line-dried towels. I've always had that so I'm kind of used to it, although I do enjoy fluffy dryer towels too! My husband likes his towels stiff like cardboard off the line which is hideous, so I guess it just depends on what you're used to. On a really windy day they'll be less scratchy, or you can let them get almost dry and then pop them in the dryer for 5 minutes - or start them off for 5 minutes. Still, I'm willing to put up with a bit of scratchy for that wonderful outdoors smell!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone!
ReplyDeleteJacqui - That's pretty much what I have been hearing from everyone, that there is no cure for scratchy towels off the line. Oh well, I guess I will just have to get used to it until I have a place with a dryer!
You have one of the cutest blogs I have come across. :) Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteFor the scratchy towels- you have to "work" your towels as they hang out there. After they have been out there half an hour or so take them off, shake them out, and flip them over to hang them back up. I usually have many loads of laundry to hang up at a time so it's easy for me to go back and assess what can be "worked". It works well with all laundry and is essentially what the dryer is doing by tumbling it all around.
My best to you!
I have been told that scratch stiff feel is from your washer not getting all the soap out. To combat the problem use less soap and add vinegar on your rinse cycle. This is what I did and it works. They say people use entirely too much laundry soap to begin with. My clothes are never stiff and have nice softness that you get from a dryer, even after being out all-day
ReplyDelete