Susy, I'm so glad for you-and very envious. we've had thunder for last 2 days and not a drop here N/E of willow. ky3 said houston got inch and a sixth, hope jamie and some of those around s'ville got rain too--but i sure wish it would here.
we went to Skyfire at pomona sat night, big thunder claps too--not a drop.
I picked my first cucumbers this morning, the picklers, small, were hollow-no seeds. the big slicers had very few tiny immature seeds, think this must be signs of the heat, and lack of rain.picked first green beans too, they were easy to see, rabbits had eaten all the leaves off. I wont complain, other years they've left them alone, I've told the animals if there is nothing
else to eat, they can eat in my garden, if everything is plentiful, then they leave it alone. guess they must be saying there isnt anything else--so, i must keep my end of the bargain.
chickens seem to be doing fine in the heat, just read in another forum, when chickens were laying around panting, and mine are bustling around like normal-I have found out chickens wont eat tomato worms-lol--if thats interesting to anyone !!
watering the garden this morning, i have heavy hay mulch on mine, really helps, only second time i've watered. tomatoes about ready. think next year i'll have fewer pots on the deck, i used water crystals(and baby diapers,lol)in them too, but have to water every other day. flowers are georgeous tho, first time ever i have a poppy blooming(annual)thats a deep deep purple. more about ready, mandevilla vine going rampant, no blooms yet, but everything else blooming, lizard and tree frog living in my window boxes, must be doing something right.
so--i'll quit boring you all to death--please, share the rain-and, be careful in the heat.

Hey--now I use water crystals in my pots, etc. but baby diapers??? Now that is a new one on me but guess they do hold onto water. Do you put them in the bottom of the pot and then add dirt or just how does that work? I learn something interesting everyday!!

Susy

Susy, learned that on another forum, works excellent, i used them to line my window boxes that drained too fast, they absorb water, and the roots just suck it up!i bought new ones-but if i'd known they were so high-priced, i'd have accepted the offer of "fresly wet ones"lol.some also said they tore them apart, and used the water-retention material inside.even this old dog is learning new tricks everyday.oh, yes, thundering out now, light sprinkle as it passed over us-again.

Hi
Well we finally got some rain this afternoon, about 6/10 inch, I am dancing, don't have to water for a day or so.
Ceresone, Jamie e-mailed me and said he got 1/2 inch, so hope you got more than sprinkles after awhile.

GD, know how you feel. I was at my shop Sat, and had people come in and tell me they came from Houston and it was pouring and someone from the other direction, S'ville and said it was pouring and water running the streets and I was getting a few sprinkles, not enough to settle the dust! Sat there and watched it go around us.

My tomatoes are doing good, picked some summer squash and DH fixed it for supper last night. Green beans are about ready, so may pick them tomorrow.

I had read about the baby diaper thing, but forgot it. Will keep my eye peeled at yard sales and thrift shops for some cheap. Have seen them, but never tho't to buy them. Been repotting a bunch of house plants and sure could use some.
Donna

Hi...
Still hot and dry in Louisiana also. Had a 40% chance of rain in the forecast for today, but received none at our place.

Susy I read where you have tomatoes in large tubs. I am planning to plant a few in 5 gallon cans. Would appreciate to hear what type of growing medium you are using in the tubs. Our tomatoes in the garden are just about finished. We have been enjoying them for awhile but all good things must come to an end. Have some plants coming up at present so we can plant for our fall crop. Okra and eggplants are very productive at this time.

Reference to the colonoscopy your DH has later this week guess he knows that the procedure is a breeze, The worst thing about it is the preparation for it. Just went through that routine last week. Results were good. Will repeat in a year.

Hope everyone gets the rain that is needed.

Just had to post again.....we got 1 whole inch of rain!!!!!
The weatherman had just finished saying we wouldn't get anything out of this system, when it cut loose. I am jumping for joy! It is amazing what rain can do for your spirits....to say nothing of the plants.

Speaking of garden produce, I have had two cucumbers.....we have had potatoes for about a month and probably can dig them in a couple of weeks.

Ceresone, glad you reminded me about the diapers for next year. I read that too, but forgot it. I did use some shredded newspapers (I bought a shredder for the office/corner of the dining room). I soaked them first, but they sure wouldn't hold what a diaper would.

My tomatoes are about the size of golf balls and I have some banana peppers about ready. I had a squash volunteer and I think it is a zuchini x crook neck. It is yellow green with a slight hook. I think I read that they would cross. Tastes ok.
Susy, good luck with your husband's test.
GD

Hope you all get some rain tonight.

Picked two ripe tomatoes yesterday but...I covered them with rose cones and covered them and uncovered them at least three times because of the frost.The last time I uncovered them they had blooms!They were only 5-6" tall and people told me to pinch off those blooms but I got busy and didn't.Don't know when there will be another ripe tomato.We had 3/10 of an inch of rain yesterday and today it thundered all afternoon but no rain.Someone told me to have a yard sale to get some rain and that's what I'm doing this week.So far,it's worked pretty good.We got 2/10 last week too.(Right after I ran the ad!)Walked the garden this morning and the stargazer lilies are only half as tall as usual.Guess I better water them too.Ceresone,did you ever get those onions?Do you think the little sets would survive being mailed in some peat?Posy Pet

Susy, I intended to thank you for the update on your survivorship. Good to hear it. I have been dealing with some survivorship too. So far positive. We don't grow many things to eat as don't use enough of it but do grow tomatos. A few years ago my aunt gave me an heirloom she calls a 'tommy toe'. My mom had them in her garden over 50 years ago. They produce volunteers. It is a small and delicious tomato. I freeze the extra ones whole in plastic bags to use for juice later. I also make green tomato mince meat to use in cookies. The temps are predicted to get over 100 degrees the next few days. We deep water one area each day during the cool of the morning or evening. We turned our terraces into garden spaces to get rid of grass and have been pleased with the results. Almost everything is at peak of bloom now. The tiger lilies and tall garden phlox are just beginning to open. We have no pets to care for and do everything more or less ad lib. We enjoy the cottontail rabbits and the birds. Hope all have a good week. EP

Good morning and a good morning it is!!! Received one of those isolated thunderstorms yesterday afternoon with some wind, small hail and over an inch of rain!! I am so Thankful for what we got and glad to hear others received some rain as well. Made for a nice cool morning to walk--of course walking at 6 a.m. this morning helped too.

Yolanda, we plant the tomatoes in plastic barrels cut in half or the large plastic feed tubs with holes punched in the bottom. We live on a farm so the soil is aged hay/manure mix from where the cows eat the hay from a bale ring. In the planting hole I add Osmocote, water crystals and a little green sand and a handful of alfalfa pellets covered with some soil. We replenish the soil in the tubs each year. Results are better some years than others; maybe due to weather, plants, etc.

EP--thanks for the thoughts and I really enjoy seeing your photos.

ceresone--thanks for the diaper info. Will file that info. away to try next year (and hope I don't forget.)

Need to go eat breakfast and pick the limbs up out of the yard.

Thanks everyone for thoughts for DH-----

Susy

I am not doing much outside now....both the heat and my sis and her husband are visiting for a few days. It is so nice to have company now we are not milking! What a joy!

We checked the gardens yesterday and found a rudbeckia (the hairy leafed variety) absolutely covered with a dark brown, hairy worm about 1 inch long. I am going out at daylight and spray before they eat everything in sight. I have never seen this type before.

Still waiting for some of the new daylilies to open. Everything else is looking pretty good in spite of the 92° temps. Looks like the only leftover seed I broadcast that came up was tons of zinnias. Hope they make it to bloom.

The birds are sure enjoying the birdbath (new this year). I counted 5 in it at one time yesterday. I think the blue birds use it more than the others.

Hope we get some of the rain listed as a possibility for the next few days.

Have a good day.

GD

gldno... so you take breaks from milking... do you breed the milk cows.. how long is the break? Must be a nice reprieve. Hope all enjoy the week end. EP

The isolated rain has been missing us sad to say but I saw a turtle crossing the road this morning. The old timers say that's a good prediction of rain and I think there's a little truth in that one (maybe). My poor painted ferns were crispy yesterday. Hope I didn't wait too long to water them.
I've seen three red foxes this week that were hit on the road nearby. Makes me sad but maybe that means there are a lot more in the area. I can't remember the last time I saw one on the road so it seems odd to see three in one week.
I have some little melons setting on now. I mixed up my seeds so I don't even know what they are. I planted several different kinds. I wish I had planted more watermelons. I only have one vine. Do you think I could plant some now?

Would you believe we still have just recieved less than 2/100 of rain?
But- it's sure cut down on the mowing!havent mowed in 3 weeks, and even the dry weather weeds are falling over. my brother lives about 4 miles from us, recieved 1.26 inches of rain.garden dosent seem to be suffering, a thick hay mulch really helps.
posy, no, i've never found the onions, are you going to baker creek this fall? i thought i might, but the onions would probably mail fine. is there anything i might have you would want?
DH goes back for MRI again in august, wish surgery had been a option, but radiation and watching is all can be offered, kind of like a sword hanging over our heads. reason i mentioned is the heat, really seems to be weakening him.
Chickens weathering the heat fine, they seem to be growing so fast, banties getting brave enough to tackle the bigger pullets, lol, my best time of the morning is sitting with the chicks, watching the characters develop- yes, i AM getting old-and boring you all to death---have a nice Holiday, everyone, and if you're traveling, buckle up, and drive careful.

I am sitting here and listening to rolling thunder! I hope it does more than just boom.......it is pretty dark outside right now.

I know I am posting twice in one day, but my company just left to visit my BIL's sister so decided to check in.

EP, we sold the dairy cows last July, so are taking a permanent break! DH just reminded me how nice it was not to be milking in this hot weather. We still have 16 Holstein heifers but we will sell them in late Fall.

Ceresone, I feel for you with your husband's condition. I know how it must feel with that hanging over you. I sure hope the radiation keeps working. My husband has never really regained his strength since his heart attack last Nov 1. I think some of the meds are part of the problem, but the nurse told him to get over it! You are supposed to live longer after a heart attack if you take it.

Where are you Donna? and have you heard anymore from Jamie. I sure miss reading his posts. He does live in your area doesn't he?

Sun just popped out. I guess we missed the rain.

GD

Hi everyone....
From all the previous postings by the group it appears that no one is getting any rain. Well, add me to that list as we need rain in the worst kind of way. Yesterday was the hottest day of the year with temp reaching 98. Heat index was over 110.

Still picking a few tomatoes, but the birds are getting them faster than I can pick them. Okra and eggplants are still producing well and sure am enjoying those and sharing with friends and family.

Wishing everyone a safe July 4th weekend.