Beautiful days, plenty of itching

Okay, I have to admit that I haven't done much in the garden for a few days. I'd like to say it was weather related, but.. no it's not.

When I was a kid, I used to play outside all the time, and I'd come in way after dark. Sometimes even though I had been hot and sweaty during the day, my mom would have me just wash up a little instead of a bath. My feet were always a mess because of course I was barefoot most of the time, but still I just washed up. That was a mistake on my part, but hey, I didnt' know any better. The mistake was not washing WELL....well enough to wash off all the chiggers that were using my body as a host. There were summers when I had hundreds of chigger bites...and no one seemed to have a clear idea of where they came from, or how they managed to get under tight places such as elastic without me knowing it!

Well, recently Ray and I went fishing. Now I've not had many chiggers since I was little, but after that trip I had once again managed to get bites under the elastic. So, I finally went to the internet for some answers. Seems the things are almost invisible to the naked eye. They catch a ride on their host by climbing up to a high blade of grass or weed, then when you come by they just hop on. They like tight fitting places, not just elastic, such as behind the knee when you're wearing jeans. They burrow in and begin to secrete some enzymes that liquefy skin cells, then they eat their fill. When they're finished, they just drop back into the grass, or wherever you happen to be. At this point, you probably don't even know you've been biten. It takes a day or two, then the itching begins. It lasts about a week. It tends to make you a little gun-shy to go out into the garden. Even though I haven't gotten chigger bites before in my garden, as wet as it is this year it could happen.

So....All I've been doing is mowing. On the John Deere tractor. For those of you that are prone to getting chigger bites...be sure to spray a bug repellent on your shoes, your socks, your legs from the knee down and the outside of your jeans. Even then, I'd come home, strip and shower as soon as possible!! Wash the clothes in hotter than usual water and dry in a hot dryer.

Either it's rain or heat!!!

Yeah, like it's crazy hot right here. I'm sitting in the office, (with no AC) a fan blowing directly on me and still I'm sticky and hot. My windows are open and I'm hoping the outside air will begin to cool down, but my best chance for cool is to go on back into the air conditioned house!

I've been going out to look at the garden often, but it's sooooo, hot and because of this wet weather it's full of mosquitos that I'm not out very long. I did take some pictures of some of the bloomers and growers out there, and I've included them here today. I've had a few days off and would have spent lots of time in the garden if the weather had cooperated!

Even in good weather tho, ya still have to break off the gardening to take a stab at the dust bunnies in the house.....however in my house it's DOG bunnies. My two pugs leave many bunnies for me. So I've been using this time to clean up so I'll be ready when the weather gives me a break!

Back to Gardening

Yes, even though I miss my Dad and can't ask him questions anymore, I have to still take care of my garden.

This is what they call "late spring" and is the right time to put down a good fertilizer on your lawn. If you are using the Scotts brand, it's the number 2 bag for this time. Otherwise, any good lawn fertilizer is okay because it's just a regular feeding time, not necessarily using an herbicide for crabgrass or other broadleaves. If you haven't used an herbicide, it's not too late though. The best time is when the weeds are actively growing and there will be no rain for a day or two. Read the instructions because you might have to spray the lawn with water briefly to give the herbicide something to stick to. This type of product is usually called a "contact' herbicide, not a "systemic" or "pre-emergence" type. So, in order for it to work, it needs to sit on the leaves for a while. BTW.. check for sure by reading the label on your fertilizer too, you might be wanting to water it in or ask for rain for the next day!

It's time too to be staking up your tomatoes, or caging them, as well at clematis and other creeping vines. A trellis or fence works fine for these beauties.

If you have pictures of your garden efforts, or questions, I'd welcome them. You can leave them on the blog or send it to my email judiemorris@q.com. I'd love to hear from you!

My Gardener Dad is gone from my sight

The inspiration for my chosen study, gardening is gone now. Not that he is gone from my thoughts, but I cannot ask any more questions of him. He was very ill in Taylor House Hospice and I sat with him. Today, Friday, 5-28-10 we laid him to rest next to my Mother.

I owe him everything from the very first tiny plant he carefully helped me to pat into the soil to the lifetime desire to help things grow. He was my mentor, my go- to answer man about so many things besides gardening. From answers to big questions to answers to silly questions. From being a character full of mischievousness and orneriness to a steady, loving, gentle person. He is not replaceable. He is and always will be my Father. He will be missed and loved by his whole family.

Finally! Some warm weather!

I've been out in the garden even tho it's been cold. The Fern Garden is beginning to fill in a little, but until it really looks like a "Garden" I'll wait to post a new picture.

My latest area of study is pests and diseases. I've found that many of these pests can be countered by using a special soap. Hurray for a green treatment! Big caterpillars on tomato plants can just be picked off with a gloved hand. Even some smaller ones can just be removed too, but most are so small you just have to treat the whole plant.

Keep a watch on your garden. If you see leaf damage, gray molding or stunted growth, it's time to check for pests!

BRRRRRRR!

So, with this cooler May, I'm waiting for any more additions to my garden! Seems like Mother Nature is trying to tell me to slooooowww dooooowwwnnnnnnn. Sorry, can't do that!

While the weather has been cool, I've been cleaning up areas of the garden that has plenty of sticks and branches blown down. I'll be putting those through the shredder for additional mulch! I also have been surging forward in my studies for Gardening and Landscaping. Now I know for sure that my Dad is a very smart guy. I keep reading over and over how things are done that he already did when I was growing up.

Be sure to watch the lows in temperature and cover your tender plants or bring them in if they're not too heavy. I still have a patio hibiscus in my front room!

Don't let this cool weather get you down, soon enough we'll be turning on the AC to cool off after an afternoon of weeding and watering.....

Here's a look at the finished Shady Fern Garden