Tag: gardening

Posted in Sunday Report

Another week done gone

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

We marked the 45th birthday of my boy-child on Thursday, but the poor wee fella just got a bit of cash and a hug. He’s not one for parties, so I don’t feel too negligent. We got a photo, a rare glimpse of him without a hat, and he looks so much like my Dad! Not that he looks old enough to be my dad, but he looks like my Daddy looked in his 40s –you know what I mean…

Both handsome and smart, he’s a true mensch.

Harvest has started with the first gathering of basil and oregano, drying in my hanging rack. Today I’ll cut back another basil to put in water until it’s their turn to dry, and cut back the next oregano to hang instead of drying flat.

It’s dang miserable out there, but I’ve still put off bringing in the whole garden, just because I hate to see the season end. Well, I don’t mind losing this hellish heat and humidity, but cooler temps are a ways off, so it seems premature to put it all away. We’ve had a good season, with dozens of tomatoes, cucumbers, and green beans. The peppers have been slow, and the squash up and died long ago, so I’ve learned a thing or two. Like most gardeners, I’ve already started to plan for next year’s garden, hopeful, as always.

We used to celebrate Michael’s birthday every Labor Day week-end at Ellis Park, but the track has closed before the holiday for several years, so these days we don’t do much. I think I’ll give the Jrs. a call and see if they want to have some brunch tomorrow.

Hope you’re enjoying the holiday in your neck of the woods!

Peace

Posted in Weekly Wrap-Up

Sunday Report

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

The gardens and the gardening is winding down for the season. The Peace/Bird Garden has been looking very scraggly for a while, partly because I leave the blooms until they’re fully pecked by the birds and partly because of the frequent rainstorms. I finally got out this morning and lopped off the really dead stuff and pulled weeds.

before
after

It feels fresh out there, now, with plenty of seed heads left.

The Edible garden is closer to closing time, though. I’m just putting off bringing in the tomatoes, giving some small green ones time to grow. There are six peppers very near harvest, but after that, they, too are done.

Instead of going to Disney World this fall, I decided to buy a new refrigerator and stove. Marked #1 off my list this week when I found this lovely icebox on sale. We had to uncover a little filth to get it in its new home, but doesn’t it look dandy?!

I’ve got my eye on a bargain-priced stove, hopefully bringing it home this week. The dust bunnies under the stove might need to be called “dust groundhogs”.

In the meantime, #two grandie and her bf are going to take the old fridge, and possibly the old stove, as well. I like that kind of recycling.

My Dolly crying jag delayed my potting-up the mums, but I decided to just keep everything out on the back porch, the one I hang out in most, so I can enjoy it. I don’t know when 80-years-old started being too young to die, but it is, so I’m pressing on, determined to Enjoy Every Minute that I can, Look for the Positive, and Be Grateful…

I hope you’re enjoying today in your neck of the woods!

Peace

Posted in Summer at Sonnystone

A Simple Sunday Report

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Hey! I didn’t mean to be gone so long, so thanks for hanging in here. For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been processing some personal matters, changing some routines, and obsessively navel-gazing while I floated in the pool. I’ve got things sorted out (I think), and a decent tan, to boot.

When not ruminating, I’ve been in the garden. The weather has been whimsical, rainier than usual, therefore more buggy. The cucumbers loved it, producing dozens of fruits that I’ve made into delicious salads.

The cantaloupes teased us, but the rains were just too much for them. The butternut squash are all that’s left along the trellis now, so I planted some moonflower and morning glory to fill in, fingers crossed. The green beans are ready to start harvesting; they are a new variety to me that will rebloom, allegedly.

So far the tomatoes aren’t showing signs of blossom end-rot, but I’m carefully watching several dozen better boys and lots of cherries. The peppers are about half-and-half, but the rains kept pummeling their flowers, so if it would just stop, they can have a second flush. The zucchini are a failure. Prone to powdery mildew anyway, their position in the back was deadly. I’ve saved three or four of them, but I think we’ll be buying our squash at the farmers market.

When I’m making my way through liminal spaces, gardening is the perfect place to Be Here Now, planting, trimming, watering, feeding, not-thinking.

I’ve been doing a lot of online reading – is that what we call it? – and I want to talk about blogging, writing, and particularly Substack, but not today. Today is just a Simple Sunday Report, but watch this space.

Hope you’re enjoying Summer in your neck of the woods…

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report, The Gardens of Sonnystone...

Let it Grow…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

And since all this loveliness can not be Heaven, I know in my heart it is June.” —Abba Louisa Goold Woolson.

After a cool and rainy May, June met us with Sunshine and balmy breezes. My cataract surgery went super great and I’ve been outside breaking all the rules to finish up the gardens and porches. I have been careful, but I couldn’t resist.

Let’s take a walk around the house, starting in the Edible Garden. Along our trellis, the cantaloupe, butternut squash, cucumber. and watermelons are all coming right along. None of the lima beans I put in sprouted, but I’ve got two more cucumber plants to fill the bare space soon.

On the outside of each side of the trellis are 14 bell pepper plants – 8 California Wonders and 6 Big Berthas. In between the peppers and the trellis are sunflowers of all kinds and they are going to town! At the south end of each side are moonflower vines, sure to shine.

In the back and on the sides are nine tomato plants – 4 Better Boys, 1 Early Girl Bush, 1 Celebrity, a sweet cherry 100, a husky red cherry, and one called chocolate sprinkle that is alleged to taste like a black cherry.

Nine squash – five zucchini, four yellow straightneck prolific – are having the time of their lives, flowering like champs, but where are the bees? I have anise hyssop to attract them, not to mention a yard full of clover, but so far I’ve seen very few.

The peas are flush with edible pods (Oregon sugar pods II) and I’m often out there snacking.

I’ve been so bored with my own cooking lately – like for the past year – and decided to learn a new style: a countertop griddle. So far, Casey is better at it than I am, but I warned him if he is tooo good, he’ll end up doing all the cooking. We used an old highway sign as a heat shield, which I think is kinda cute.

Around here on the front porch, walking in from the north side, I’ve moved all the coleus that I propagated last winter and they look great! I guess I’ll end up with twice as many next year….help!

In the Peace/Bird garden, the hummingbirds are back buzz-bombing each other at the feeder, and Casey had a skirmish with a squirrel (he won) the other day. This garden is all native perennials and they are so reliable and calm – you might say peaceful. I am so thrilled to be able to see the avian display with a clarity I’ve never experienced. It’s a dang miracle.

I think I’ll grab a handful of those sugar peas, sit out on the swing, and enjoy. Wish you were here…

Peace

Posted in Spring at Sonnystone, Weekly Wrap-Up

The latest News

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

We are enjoying a couple of days of warm and sunny after mostly gloomy and wet earlier in the week. The windows are open with the birdsongs wafting in on the wind. Casey’s already outside tilling the Edible Garden and I’m on my out to repot the basil. All of our plants are growing strong and it looks like the weather is going to be perfect to get them planted when we return.

As I’ve Planned and Planned this trip to London, then planned some more, I have come to the conclusion that my best option is to have an outline rather than a rigid schedule, giving us flexibility for bad weather or just feeling tired. After a half-day trip to Windsor Castle on Friday, we will have no other “appointments” and we’ll buy our tickets at the door of wherever we decide we want to stop. We know that will include Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, The Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, The Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The National Gallery, Buckingham Palace, St. James Palace and Park, Kensington Palace and Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park, Wildlife Park, Victoria and Albert Museum. I have mapped out several walks to see all of that and who knows what else we’ll see on our way? I am not sure if I’ll be able to write much next week, but I am going to try.

Leaving Wed. 4/27 Return Tues. 5/3

The Queen had a Birthday, her 96th, on Thursday. Of course, we had a toast to her Health. Whilst checking out the latest Royal Gossip, I came across this fascinating little clip.

It is such a Fine Day! I’m going to go outside and play.

Peace