Dawn posted on facebook their internet's been out.

Y'all, DH went to the restaurant supply store. Where is all that stuff going to live? LOL. He went to Walmart, too, and brought home another canning funnel and 2 jar lifters. And 2 sets of tongs.

My dehydrator is again loaded with carrot tops. We'll see how THIS goes. There's still green flecks and powder and dropped stems all over the kitchen, but the piles of carrot tops are gone...well, there's a pile of stems.

I don't use seven, but at least it doesn't smell like malathion. My dad used to spray bagworms with it when I was a kid. It is what made me organic when I started gardening. I'm guessing seven is the least objectionable option, but I've never really researched it.

I brought in the first bigger than cherry tomato today. Fred's Tie Dye. A little BER, but its planted in too small a pot and dries out regularly. Whippersnapper is giving me red cherries and of course Sungold. The Suraj eggplant needs to come in. The lemon and lime trees have new leaves and buds. The herbs really seem to like the fabric pots I bought,

I Another exquisite day here. . . Just on the verge of being too warm, but cooled off nicely this evening. We had a widower friend of ours over for dinner. . . He's my mother's age (95) and still going strong. I didn't clean house for him, but did clean the yard. LOL. We had dinner on the deck, and it was lovely. EXCEPT he told me I'd have to speak up because he left his hearing aids at home. I said, "Honestly, you two!" (Garry and him. . . GDW doesn't have hearing aids, but should.). How funny it was. And except I had no idea what I was going to fix him for dinner until I committed to chicken pot pie about noonish. And a small salad and strawberry shortcake (with biscuits, not sponge cake). I was going to cheat and use pre made pie crusts, but NOOOOO, was out of those. So I first had my pie crust flour mess, followed by my biscuit flour mess. But all was good. Chicken pot pie seems like more of a cool weather dinner for us, but I always try to fix old-time home cooking stuff for our friend. I like having company for dinner. . . It makes me clean stuff up. I even swept the deck off for him. And wiped our glass table off. Big time cleaning! Meanwhile, GDW is down two his last two rock borders. Well, one and a half. That's uh, seven rock borders for him this year (I did the first big one, though. . .). I can't believe he puts up with my plunking in plants everywhere. . . But glad he does.

Doggone. . Reading your dehydrator posts under food preservation. Do you all use your dehydrators a lot? We've thought about it for a couple years. . . But I suppose we should focus on a freezer first. And I'm afraid I may have to buy a new computer, too. . . Yikes. What kind did you get, Amy--

Sitting on the deck, I can smell the nicotiana from about 15 feet away; walked out into the yard an hour ago and could smell them clearly--heavenly. I'd forgotten how much they perfume the air.

I'm thankful the grass has grown so heavily this year. I sure needed clippings for mulch. SO glad to have it.

I got a kick out of Dawn's post on FB that doesn't look like she's missed much on GW. Well, DUH, Dawn--it's because you've not been on it! LOL.

You all are a bunch of hard core gardeners. . . So amazing to hear about and see your produce! And here, my tomatoes and peppers are just mosying along--at least the peppers are getting some size to them, finally and all are finally GREEN. . . Good to go. But the eggplant and okra are taking OFF. . . Zoom. . . . And I've not even planted the cucumbers and sweet potatoes. . . I can get to the sweet potatoes tomorrow (thanks, George), and cucumbers as soon as they get there. We'll yank the rest of the potatoes Saturday.

Bon, Amy and Alexis. . . Having a hard time figuring out how big your gardens are--they must be BIG. . . And Kim, I can't imagine how hard you are working. . .can't even imagine. Try, but can't. :)

And then there are some of the rest of you all with like actual big ole farm gardens!

Nancy, this year I have 9 4x8 beds for veggies. There is one more bed that is like 3x6 (it is designated for perennial onions). There are 2 3x8 flower beds. A whole lot of containers. I plant INTENSIVELY. Too close together for sure, but when it works, it works. I also use trellises whenever possible. I usually have 2 4x4 herb beds, but DH is still working on repairing them. I have room for 1 more 4x8, which MIGHT happen next year. I have room for more flower beds. I'm going to solarize this year. I want one meant just for flowers with low water needs.

I have an Excalibur 9 tray dehydrator (the new one). I have used a hand-me-down round one for a few years. The round ones are cheaper, the newer ones have variable thermostats so you can vary the temp. My old one was just one temp, and a little too hot for delicate stuff. There are other options for drying. Depending on lowest temp, you can dry in the oven. You can hang herbs in a protected place. You can put a tray in a closed car during an OK summer day.

I love chicken pot pie. Commercial ones have milk in them, which triggers my lactose intolerance. I don't have the patience to make scratch pie crust. Mom used to make great pie crust. One of the few things she did you could call great, LOL.

Brought in a dozen cherry tomatoes and a handful of the first green beans of the year. When they hit your plate less than 15 minutes after being picked, they don't need much adornment.

I chopped down the Rosso Sicilian that had the herbicide damage. Still wasn't doing anything, and it was too big to yank out. May or may not replace it. Also, the Black Cherry is dying piece by piece. Branches are turning brown and crispy, and just falling off. Flowers pollinate, then the truss turns brown and crispy and falls off. So that'll come out too. I don't think any of my leftover seedlings are in good enough shape to stick in that grow bag, but I may try. Or possibly another yellow squash. I have a different variety I can try. Otherwise, I'll keep it for a fall plant. Think I'm done with Black Cherry now anyway. This was it's second chance to teach me how to like it's fruit. I think I get the message.

The SS 100 is trying to escape into the neighbor's yard.

Replanted the cucumbers (sigh) and some bush beans that didn't germinate. Yanked out the dead sugar snaps, so aside from the two buckets earmarked for mom's American basil, I can think about what to do with them. Cleared two bins for summer lettuces too.

*Might* have a couple bell peppers trying to set. I was still having blossom drop as of last week.

Amy, we ARE sisters with another mother!!! LOL. Laughed at what you said about your mom. Mine too! My mom DID make BEAUTIFUL bread and cinnamon rolls. Hmmmmm. . . . And could make some good cookies. End of story. My recollection of eating dinner growing up was overdone deer steak (tough and dry), boiled potatoes, iceberg salad with bottled dressing, and canned green beans. I exaggerate, of course. . . . But not on purpose. THAT's the image I really truly have in my mind and memory. And it's Mom's fault that to this day, I cannot eat canned green beans, do not really like salad unless it's really dressed up with all kinds of fun things, and probably wouldn't eat a plain boiled potato unless someone paid me. Hahahaha. . . . But true.

Because GDW loves iceberg lettuce, and salad, we eat it 3-4 times a week for dinner. . . But I throw everything into it, peppers, carrots, radishes, lots of onions, a bit of grated cheese, mandarin oranges and/or sliced black olives, sunflower seeds, diced hard-boiled eggs, maybe some true bacon crumbles. He gets bottled ranch dressing. I love homemade blue cheese dressing, or oil and vinegar, sometimes ranch with a little Thousand Island added. BUT ONE thing I've found that makes tossed salad tastier is SALT!! (And pepper.)

I used to make pie crust from scratch a lot, like once a week at least (in the old days when Pillsbury didn't have their good refrigerator pie crusts, or the other one that you unroll.). So I know it, I can do it. But I am like the messiest cook ever, so I know goin' in this is gonna be a mess, not gonna end happily with "no clean-up." But occasionally I'm up to it. I wasn't tonight but had no choice. The crust was terrific, the clean-up not so much.

You couldn't have eaten my pot pie, as it had about a half cup of thick whipping cream in it. (Also a cube of butter and about 3 cups chicken broth.). I'd leave out the cream for you if you came for dinner.

Excalibur. . . . Will remember, thank you Kim and Amy. BUT, agree, first we can dehydrate with the oven, drying naturally and in the car! Loved that tip.

Amy. . . All these beds. . . Surely they're not all raised beds? Are they? Do you have lots of sunlight?

Although I so yearn (and have for 35 years) for more sunlight, I guess I must confess that I do love the shade we have, too. We all have our gardening challenges. Mine is finding enough sun for everything. And we have the perfect full sun--in THE one area of our property that is nothing but rocks. Serious rocks, like 10x10 God knows how thick rocks, and so of course the only option would be raised beds. . . And darn it, I'm 69 this year. So no. Although I always am up for a challenge, I also am finally beginning to know my limits! LOL. Love that Alexis has none! Dang, Alexis. . . . Am a little jealous.

I fixed my computer for what, 3 days? It was perfect. Now it's dead. We're off to Tulsa tomorrow for a repair in the best of all possible worlds, for a new one, if necessary. Actually if push came to shove, I COULD get by with this IPad. . . But GDW told me he cannot do the IPad. lol

Best to all my sun-blessed gardeners this evening, a little envious, but probably my blessing that I don't have it or I'd be totally overwhelmed.

Rebecca, sounds like you have a good-sized garden too! And a lot of flowers to boot. All this puzzles me so much. I may have to take a state-wide tour and visit all of you. I would love to see all of your yards and gardens and especially veggie gardens. So amazes me what y'all grow. (Am I turning into an Okie? LOL).

That is THE very first time I've ever typed "y'all." And it was good.

PS Amy. Will wait till tomorrow to calculate your bed sizes! I love to estimate my own. . . When I got here, poor GDW God bless the guy, none--well one 20x20 foot rocked-off area where "nothing grew" (was the formidable black walnut tree smack dab in the middle of it--now deceased.) For veggies exclusively, I only have 3 3x20 foot raised beds. But I have tomatoes and peppers and cabbages in 4 other beds, along with other stuff. But now 2 1/2 years later. . . 9 beds (not counting the raised beds). About 1100-1300 square feet of beds added, not counting the front yard which is on the west, and ironically is the shadiest part of our property. Much of the rest of it is too shady for most veggies. And too shady for some of the stuff I have out there, so while stuff is out there and growing well, gets too tall so flops over. That is a constant refrain of mine. Too much shade, too tall, flops over. :)

Rebecca, I feel for you. I know the frustration of bunnies and CHICKENS and bugs, you sound like me the last couple of years. I'm so afraid I'll jinx things if I say things seem to be working this year. You're not fond of Black Cherry? It is a diva here. I think it doesn't like containers. And it sprawls. It is the only tomato my daughter likes. And, oh yeah, green beens are exceptionally good this year.

Nancy, all my beds are raised beds. The veggie beds are made from 12x2s. They are at least a foot tall. DH now ads a 2x2 on the bottom in hopes he can replace those when they rot, while the upper 12 inches might be reusable. the flower beds are made from cedar fence slats, so they are as tall as a fence slat is wide. They might be 3x6 instead of 3x8. Whatever works when he builds them. We brought in pick up loads of dirt to fill them. 2 years ago DD gave me 5 cu yds for Mothers day. "What do you want for Mothers Day?" "Dirt". A dump truck dumped the dirt in the drive way, and then it rained, and rained, and rained. (2015). The last 2 were made lasagna style and have been much better from day 1. That off site dirt just didn't have...something. My theory is microbes. 95% of it is full sun all day.

DH got me into gardening as a physical therapy after I had a knee and both hips replaced. I can't get down on the ground (I could, but I couldn't get up again). So my beds need to be raised. I would love it if the beds were even taller, but I'm not bringing in any more crappy dirt.

I remember when my dad got ragged on in MN when he asked for a "tahl" (towel). It's a Tow-EL Bill 2 syllables...

I've been reading everyone's updates. Not much on my part. My vegetables all have blooms and I only have three tiny tomatoes so far. Still trying to combat the fleas/chigger indoor and outdoors. I've been intensively cleaning the house the past few weeks because my skin is sensitive to the flea & chigger bites. I think it's better now. Need to get some CedarCide and sulphur for the yard soon. Thanks for the suggestions Dawn.

All of you eat more veggies than the average American! Two of my friends were over at our place that day and they don't even eat celery. I was quite surprised. Dawn, I agree with you that gardeners get used to a higher level of healthy eating which I think is really awesome. Hope I can learn from y'all on the best varieties to grow, so I can enjoy more!

Nancy, my friends and I are also waiting (impatiently) for Ft Gibson lake to go down, so that we can play with the SeaDoos. Hope your computer can be fixed. Do you use a Mac? Mobile Macsters at Tulsa has pretty good service.

Amy, that's a lot of veggie/herb/flower beds you have! I can be your free labor for canning if you teach me how to do it. :P

Welcome Eileen!

I can assure you, I don't eat that many vegetables. There are only so many I like enough to grow them. There are others you couldn't pay me enough to choke down.

I'm all about the tomatoes, really.

Welcome Eileen glad you jumped in here is a wild fast posting group here.

Rebecca I am a little jealous of green beans and you are right they need nothing to show off and stand out.

Nancy glad you think I am hard worker. Everyone thinks I am except me. I never get enough done. This week I got the best stuff done. ..long breaks in the garden with my little man, snacks books stories the first peach pulling weeds and laying onion people straight in their trays 200+ and they all are family you know and make believe and long naps. Well these ARE the most important things.

I got lots done after daddy picked him up.

Noticed my redrose plants are not growing. I may give a shot of fertilizer and see. Sun sugar are cranking out some pretty tomatoes. I have been giving them away but will start dehydrating as soon as I am done with some herbs.

Eileen, me teaching canning would be the blind leading the blind. I canned pickles and blackberry preserves Last year. Not a long resume of experience. I did brandied peaches 35 years ago. No idea where the recipe came from, but they were good. I will do more pickles if I ever get cukes planted.

Kim, why aren't you selling those Sun sugars? I have sun golds producing. The ones I've grown from seed are not as sweet as the ones I remember from a purchased plant 4 years ago. I thought last year was a fluke, but they aren't doing it for me this year either. Sounds like you had a lovely visit with little man. I get to pick up my grandson today, I've been missing him.

There was just a post on one of my facebook groups about a woman who was bitten by a copperhead in Wagoner. Nancy, you and your husband be careful!

I do sell the ones I pick Wednesday Thursday Friday but Sunday Monday I give away. Get the locals hooked and they will come back. Lol

I need to get pictures of this dying Black Cherry. I need opinions on it. My Sun Sugar and Cherokee Purple are doing the same thing now. Branch by branch it turns brown and crispy, and falls off. Any fruit set does the same thing. But, I realized something tonight...these are the only 3 plants affected, and the only 3 I bought from Red Dirt at Atwoods. So far, nothing else is doing the same thing. I guess if it was contagious, other plants might be affected by now? I guess I will yank those 3 this weekend, and start a few seeds for fall.

I'm having fertilization problems on the squash. Lost 2 more tonight. So, I guess I get to start playing sex therapist. I have my paintbrushes ready, if I can just get out there early enough. And maybe a couple pots of flowers next to it. Any other ideas? I never see bees around, unfortunately.

Amy, I saw that too about the copperhead. That's scary.

Oh for crying out loud, Amy! If it's not tornados, it's copperheads! LOL. Yes, we've heard tell a copperhead will show up even here occasionally. . . haven't met one yet. Met a pygmy rattler 2 yrs ago, up close and personal! :) I almost planted a nasturtium next to his nose.

Now every time I go out on the lake (IF the water ever goes down), Eileen, and someone goes by me on jet skis, I'll wonder "Is that Eileen?" LOL. I forget where you live, I know it's near. . . Choteau? Also, yep, a Mac. . . and we made an appt at the Apple Store on Memorial in Tulsa and went in today. My SMC fix a few days ago failed last night. We got a TERRIFIC "genius" tech. Superior customer service--a really nice young man with a good sense of humor, to boot. Hardware diagnostics were good; he dumped everything to the back-up and started it from factory settings. His explanations were clear (and convincing. :) ). I hope it's all good now. He couldn't guarantee it, but said he thought it would work. At the very least, I won't be nervous about going back if we have to. They obviously know what they're doing, and I appreciated the experience as GREAT service.

Bizarre about your tomatoes, Rebecca. I'm not sure how mine are, I think okay. . . lot of yellowed branches here and there. Gotta go inspect them more closely tomorrow. I thought they were just abused by earlier weather, but better to inspect. This is largely just the ones in my raised beds. . . and not all of them. Possibly early blight, I better get on it. And sex therapist. . . how exotic!

Amy, been sitting here on the deck, trying to say "tahl" out loud. . . . saying, "Throw me a tahl. . ." haha. Not sure I've hear people say tahl. I'm still laughing. Now I don't say with with two obvious syllables, I kinda run it together, as in towl. . . . hmmmm. Now I just remembered some weird ones I had that people in the east made fun of. . . vehicle. Garry and I, both from Wyoming, always say "VEEhickle. And wash. I always said woish. Now I often say veeickel and wash. :). But not always. . . .

Kim, the hardworking part. . . proof is in the pudding, and you got the pudding!

Dawwwwnnnnn! Computer problems are the pits, aren't they! (Or internet providers. . .) This group needs you . . . best get back to make sure everything hasn't run amok.

Your talk, Kim and Amy and Dawn, of canning, got me all excited. Now gotta go hunting recipes, and here I am planning all these pickles and my cucumber seeds haven't even arrived yet! I may end up doing what you did, Amy and going to buy a bunch of cucumbers! LOL, oh NO! I will NOT.

Glad you have fun with your little man, Kim, and know you will too, have fun with yours Amy. Boy those little ones just suck the energy right out one. . . 24/7. But they are most worth it!!

I can't say as I am having any big problems in the yard or garden so far. . .oh, found a jillion little larvae/eggs(?) on one contained of potted milkweed (don't even ask why it was in a pot. The short answer is I wasn't sure what it was when I put it there and hadn't gotten around to moving it to it's proper bed.). Fascinating but gross. I sprayed it with spinosad (only thing I had handy. . .) and then wiped em all off with my gloved hand, and what I couldn't get at the tops, cut off. The plants didn't seem yet hurt at all, and hopefully I killed the larvae (would spinosad kill the larvae or is there something else I should have used? or or or. . .). It was strictly experiential for me as if I lose them, it's okay, but hopefully you all can help me know what they might have been and how I should treat such infestations. I can see now I'm going to have to expand my arsenal of plant weapons. . .

Mildew on bee balm is nothing unusual in a wet year, but this year, I actually have been attempting to treat it. And I promptly ordered a few varieties of mildew-resistant bee balm, which I will bring to you all next year at Spring Fling to make up for the ones I brought you this year that aren't mildew resistant!

So no real big problems (oh yeah, still a lot of vole holes out front. . .) couple big mole tunnels out back; deer are getting ever closer--Titan! Better hop to it and stay on guard. We have a lame doe in the herd (about 30 of them) and I've caught her close to the yard line out front, inside which, 30 feet further in, is the new shop bed, and there are a few tasty plants in there. I better get the fish line fences up or I'll be sorry! That'll be on my "to-do" list for tomorrow. Having said no big problems yet doesn't mean I'm not expecting some, as there is no such thing as a free lunch (for us--sometimes there is for them).

Titan never gets into the flower beds; he's such a good guy, really. And although he's friendly to all the other dogs out of our yard, he's very territorial about the yard, and doesn't like them in his yard. People, if our demeanor is pleasant to them, he gives a break to if we're there. . . (I hope he doesn't if we're not). And wasn't pleased when he thought the meth head acquaintance showed up was A-ok (guess we were too pleasant to the kid). When we first got him at 10 months old, we feared that he'd be a deer killer, as he'd take after them like a true predator intent on mayhem. . . . now we have to order him to get after them if we think they've gotten a little too close and he doesn't think so. We lucked out big time with the big lunk. Easily the best dog either of us has ever had.

So Eileen. . . . any vole troubles to report on? How's everything going in your new yard and garden and house?

Haha Rebecca, Amy, both your replies cracked me up.

Kim, you have a great strategy on giving away your tomatoes to lure them in. I wish I'm near enough to buy from you! I'm near Tulsa and the farmer markets here are quite boring. They all sell the same varieties of vegetables.

Rebecca, I have not seen any bees near me too. Hope someone can help you diagnose the affected plants.

Nancy, I live in Catoosa (near Tulsa). It's about 45 minutes from you. We usually only jetski at the lake cove where there are lesser boats/traffic. It will be so cool to bump into you there and be able to see your garden on top of that! My friends and I are going to Flint Creek tomorrow since the lake isn't ready yet. There are a few more holes in my yard!! Have not spotted any voles/moles, and the plants are still fine so far. Gosh, I just realize they all rhythm. The elephant ears that the previous owner left behind are starting to grow. I bought some Caladium White Christmas to add to them. Can't wait to see how my front yard's flower bed will look like in a month's time.

Ahh, Eileen. See you. (Well, see Catoosa.). Yeah, you're not that far. So when you say you jet ski at the lake cove, do you mean Whitehorn Cove? Or do you mean up near the dam to Hudson, or Mazy, or Rocky Point? If you mean Whitehorn, you drive right past us. If you like going to the lake, we should set up a meeting point, because we are all over the lake in those places. That would be a hoot! I'd love it!

Although neither of us has seen actual damage from voles yet, I am hoping for the best but expecting the worst. I hate that. But guess what. When the worst happens, I'm still here and have always gotten through it. . . here's to expecting the worst and not getting it, for both of us.

And Kim, just let me know when you have some sachets. . . . no hurry whatsoever, but want em!!!

My dad's wife sent me a box of goodies that I have to plant asap. So i thought I'd ask here. Will any of the following do well in dry clay with morning sun? Currently the vinca vine and sage is thriving in the spot. Columbine, popoy, freesia, iris, purple clover

I've not grown freesia or columbine down here, Jennifer. Do you have any place sunnier you could put the poppies? I'd not hazard a guess, not knowing how hot your sunny morning place is; if it's not too hot, the columbine and clover might do okay. . . . I have iris that get too much shade all day, but thankfully when they bloom, the trees aren't leafed out yet, so though they get awfully tall, I did get lots of blooms. And I think the freesia might do fine. Our jonquils bloom like crazy in dappled shade.

Maybe some longtime OK flower growers would be more help. And, you could always try them all. . . moving and relocating all part of the game for me. lol

I have multiple cakes growing! And I have zukes too!

And I can't stay off the internet. Damn it!

Love u guys

haha, Bon . . . so nice to see you back on once in a while! I'm nervous about this fall planting stuff. . . or rather June 10th planting stuff. . . . but here I go, sweet potatoes and cucumbers. . . (my specially ordered cucumbers haven't gotten here yet, but I have a package of Baker Seeds' Double Yield.

I planted cucumbers today. I want them NOW. I'm thinking next year I leave room for them along the edge of a bed so I can start them in a cool season bed earlier. They are in my onion and garlic beds. I'm also thinking I put short fruited ones next to slicers, kind of alternating, so I can tell which is which. My cukes did poorly last year, and I had no idea which ones set fruit and which didn't. They'll all be tangled when they get up the trellis. I should also look for an early one to grow in a container so DH doesn't have to wait so long for cukes. Maybe a bush cuke. Not only does DH like the Korean Summer Squash, He took seeds and samples to a guy at work. I am sad I have to wait for okra, too. Planted it among the onions that refuse to fall over. Used a rock to mark where. Hopefully I won't weed out my okra. I finished planting peppers today, except I think I have to find a home for a jalapeno, I don't think any of those made it in the ground. I will be in trouble, except DD says mine aren't hot.

Nancy, we usually go to Rocky Point. I will let you know if we head over. Maybe 28th Jun. Yep, regarding the voles, I am hoping for the best but expecting the worst too. Just trial and error until I figure the best options.

That's where we go, too, 90% of the time. Ha--yes, that'd be fun! GDW said on his way back from town today he saw a big number of boats moving around--hmmmm, we're going to check out Rocky Point on our way back from dinner tonight (going in to get hamburgers or Subways). The gate was locked a few days ago.

Eileen, Rocky Point opened their gates yesterday. Looks like it will be easy enough to get the boat in, although it's still high. Whitehorn was open today, too. They had a lot of damage.

So soon it will be work really hard in the garden for two days, go fishing and come home exhausted on the third day. . . and so forth. :). Got sweet potatoes in today, beds arranged for cucumbers tomorrow. Maybe beets. Lettuce in a couple flower beds. . . . yikes, tired. Need to go watch baseball (code for take a nap.)

Poor Dawn, she doesn't know that with our ringmaster away, the clowns are running the circus. :) I hope she's able to rejoin us soon.

I spent the evening tying up tomato plants (or rather, ziptying them up). Most of them are going bonkers. It's interesting, though, seeing which ones are shaped the way they are. My Brandy Boys and Costolutos are built like tanks, huge thick trunks and thick stems, requiring more and more support just because of sheer size. The Rutgers are skinny and spindly, and need a lot of support to keep from falling over. Homestead are kind of squat, even though they aren't bush types.

Anyone else have killer wind today? I did not have to thump tomato flowers today, that's for sure. And I got out early this morning to artificially inseminate squash ladies, but none of the girls were open, only one big boy flower. I wonder, if I harvest pollen from the boys, how long it stays viable, so I could inseminate the girls later? Hmm. In vitro for c. pepo...

I used some of the purple scallions tonight on a bbq chicken naan pizza. I like these. Good onion flavor, without blowing out my palate like regular red onions. And they're already dividing, which is even better.

I cut a bunch of dill and have it hanging upside down in the laundry room, to see if it'll dry well that way. My cat is fascinated. And it smells soooo good. If it looks like this'll work, I'll cut the rest of it. I'm surprised it hasn't bolted yet. The pepper that it's sharing a pot with is pretty much ready for it's own place, anyway. I figured the dill would be gone by now.

So...when does purple basil turn purple? It looks exactly like the Thai basil still. Maybe I have two pots of Thai basil...

The spinach I planted in April is coming up. WTF?

My baby bird is looking more like a real bird every day. Won't be long now before he's ready to fly the coop.

haha, Rebecca, I sort of intimated that to Dawn, only in a much nicer way. ROTFL. I have to say, I like the way you put it. Had I thought of that, I'd have used it!

Speaking of her. . . she had a discussion about her favorite canning books. Of the Ball's, she had a favorite and then a second favorite. . . anyone remember? I'm getting ready to hit the "order" button, any day now. . .What about the rest of you mad canners? Favorites?

I like the hanging dill. Thanks, Rebecca, I think I'll do the same. I have to get some out now, though! Have new stuff going again. The Japanese beetles apparently adore four o'clocks and hollyhock zebrina, as I was able to ambush at least a dozen on those to plants twice today. That's fine--they can act as decoy plants. Why, it was like shooting fish in a barrel--squishing beetles on a bush.

Yes, we had killer wind earlier today; it eventually died down later afternoon. I was kind of glad to have it, though, as I weeded the part of the compost bed I hadn't been using. There were still lots of leaves and loose dirt in it, so the weeding could have been worse. Still, it was out of hand. I think we'll use that part of the bed to plunk cucumbers in--that was Garry's idea--I liked it. Should be able to get at least three plants in there.

AND, I was wondering the same thing about my purple basil! However, in its defense, it's in partial shade, so not likely to get very purple. My nicotiana plants are all out of control. . . four feet tall, for the most part. Wish I'd planted a bunch more now, as again, they're growing in not enough sun. Holding up well, though, and the SMELL. . . . yum. It's very funny--they don't look like any nicotiana I've ever grown before, with that kind of height to them.

Someone was nibbling on the eggplants, stems of the tall tomato that were poking out of their cage and a couple peppers, in the hugelkultur bed. . . I am thankful they were just sampling rather than having a full course dinner. Until we get the raised bed fence extended, for now I have cages everywhere as of today both to encircle plants and also to provide protection for the inner ones. Ha! That'll be a lively obstacle course for the varmint(s). I also put in T posts for fishing line fence on the shop bed, but need to get the fishing line on it pronto. There aren't many rabbit/deer-delectable plants in there, but if I were a deer or varmint and spotted those plump tomatoes, healthy pepper plants and other samples, I'd certainly be stopping to snack.

Yeah. hehe Who has time to tolerate the "little people"? hehe

I mean, because when I'm not doing the things I know I should be doing - the things that make me grow into a better person, the things that make me truly happy - I should just demean other people to up myself.

Thanks, Rebecca! I really needed that catalyst for my focus.

Brilliant!

Ciao

I'm the little people. But I will never forget your first post to me Bon, when I asked my first questions about raised beds in January, and you and Dawn answered. I appreciated your response to me SO much, and it has stayed with me since. You were so kind, and told me I was doing good with the stuff I had in the bed. You and Amy and so many of the rest of you. . . so helpful, and like you, "I love you guys!"

Dang, I stay away for
a bit due to other pressing matters and you all go crazy, lol. I can't
even get caught up! For the last couple weeks, it's just been paint,
paint, paint, prep kids for ACT (the last 6 months), drain and clean pool out
then refill, set up new trampoline, make sure my garden is "trying"
to thrive, and get my son ready to fly to TN. Whew. I am ready to
slow down and just enjoy the summer.

My garden:
part of it isn't doing as well this year. For some reason my tomato
plants are pouting and all joined the NGG Alliance aka "not gonna
grow". hahaaaa. But seriously, they are so pathetic and it makes me
so mad. They had a wonderful start and then boom, they just stopped. Not sure what I did because I did nothing
different than I ever have. Makes me sad
too because I had several different varieties I wanted to try this year. I went to Guthrie to see if the two little
greenhouses were still open but they weren’t.
Guess I’ll have to resort to grabbing me some plants at Lowe’s.

My zucchini, on the
other hand, are doing wonderful. My spaghetti squash is looking beautiful
along with my cucumbers. I have a little spaghetti squash and I am so
excited since this is my first year to grow it. I do need to make a trellis for
both of them though. I got a pretty
decent sized onion harvest and getting ready to pull beets (first year for them
too).

Today I’ll be running
to Lowe’s to grab some salt for our pool, so guess I’ll mosey on over to the
plant section. Who am I kidding?! I’ll dart for that section!! My kids know me
all too well and know that anytime I go to Lowe’s or Home Depot, I ALWAYS must walk
through the gardening dept. My 17 yo
daughter does “try” to keep me in line to not buy too many things when we are
driving our Fiat, lol.

It was super windy
here yesterday as well. It was kind of
nice to have a breeze to cool down a bit.
I jumped on the trampoline with my youngest daughter then coaxed my dh
to go out with us. It was so fun. My
family is my life and so when they are happy, I am happy. DH even walked through my garden with me
while I pointed out what I had and what had veggies on them, etc. ‘Twas a nice day!

Nancy

I emailed you. Canning books I only use the approved books. " So easy to preserve" has tested and approved recipes and the ball blue book.

Rebecca spot on. It's usually like this around canning season anyway. Just not quite this long.

Eileen I would sure share if we lived closer. I love giving things away. My ex boss told me I should be a philanthropist. I could not remember whether that was a nice word or not so I looked it up. The way he talked he was always sarcastic with terrible negative undertones. All is well I like sharing my produce.

Market was good but not great. There was a lot of stuff going on in town.

My peach eater. Took a break from hoeing. He was hoeing one day with my regular very dull hoe and said "I am going to need a sharper tool to get this job done" so he got the one pictured on the back of the chair. Don't let him within 10 ft of the plants lol.

:) . He's such a cutie, Kim! I had to get me a shaper hoe, too! Great minds thinking alike, Little Man! Now to go find your email! :) . Thank you.

OOPS. I fear I got overzealous cleaning up emails this morning..... May have accidentally deleted it--would you mind terribly sending it again?

This is the source Dawn always recommends for canning. NCHFP. letters I can never remember!

Kim, he is a cutie!

It was windy here yesterday, too. Blew 2 potted (Red Robin) tomato plants off their shelf. Either the wind or DH broke a tomato branch with fruit on it :( Already found 2 tomatoes with holes in them.

Talk to me about purple scallions, Rebecca. I have tried growing bunching onions without much success. (The chickens really hate onions in their dust bath areas).

I posted your ring leader comment over on Oklahoma Gardening Network on Facebook. Dawn got a kick out of it. She says her internet provider can't figure out why she has no internet.

My Dark Opal basil comes up purple, there is no question.

Nancy, four o'clocks are a trap crop for Japanese beetles. I actually thought they were poisonous to them, but I couldn't find anything to verify that. Four o'clocks are pretty hardy, they will get over the damage. Maybe you need to throw some corn or grain out so the 4 legged nibblers have something else to snack on.

Sounds like you've been busy Melissa!

I have been useless today. Too much yesterday I guess.

The first non-cherry tomato was a Fred's tie dye. The next to are JD's Special C-Tex. I have a whole passel of Sub-Artics breaking color. Nibbled on Sun Golds, threw some whippersnappers to the chickens...I really don't like those. The wind knocked the Red Robins over AGAIN, along with the lemon verbena :(

Picked another Korean squash, and another eggplant, and some broccoli plants. I think I had a pircicaba survive. I thought it was a happy rich, but the sprouts on those look different. The blue wind is putting on 2 new sprouts.

Watered everything today.

I had to work today, but am useless after. I still have things to get done, no time to be useless, or have a backache, like I do now.

No snakes here, but I've been bitten senseless by something outside. I made the mistake of only spraying my legs and shoes with DEET (trying to keep from bringing fleas in), so my back and shoulders (and BOOBS, argh) are covered in big red welts. Don't look like normal mosquito bites. Hail Benadryl!

I also managed to burn the heck out of my upper arm (!!) while making pizza. Margherita style with cherry tomatoes, red scallions, and fresh basil from outside.

Amy, I hate to disappoint you, but the red scallions are just red bunching onions, whatever kind Burpee had out this year. They do seem to take longer for me than what the packet says they should, though.

Kim....he is so cute!!! I need me a helper like that who "knows" what they need to get the job done!!! :)

PS: Thankfully the stand-offishness from neighbors is but from 2-3. I've met so many wonderful folks here, and been overwhelmed with the many people I've met who are just so lovely and kind . It's all good. VERY good.

I've grown Martino's Roma. They are a tough little plant. I only this year heard about Abu Rawan. I will be interested to see what they are like. I grew a Cameroon tomato in 2015. It grew like a weed, produced through the heat, but I didn't enjoy the taste. I've grown Chadwick's cherry. I have reached the point I don't want to pick a million little tomatoes. I don't know the other one. It does sound like they will be different shapes and sizes.

There are always the 2or3 that try to spoil the pot but we just keep ignoring that and go on don't we. My 2 farmer garden friends are so competitive they are no fun.

My dogs just found a stunk as my grandson calls them. Wow I hope they did not get sprayed

Rebecca, you mentioned a tomato disease with "crispy stems." Here are two links to an article about tomato diseases. I suspect it's verticillium wilt.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/growing-tomatoes/common-tomato-diseases-zm0z15fmzsto?pageid=2#PageContent2

verticillium wilt

.

Thank you, Macmex. That's disheartening.

I came back this morning and read all of this thread to try to catch up on everyone's news that I missed while we were without the internet. Y'all know I couldn't read it all without commenting at least a little, so here goes:

Amy, Flea beetles are only an issue here very briefly, usually in the February-March time frame, but sometimes a little bit into April as well. Are they a problem for you in hot weather? I hope they don't find your eggplant, but your plants are large enough now that they ought to be able to withstand the flea beetle damage anyway.

Jay, Without seeing the yellow striped bugs, it is hard to guess, but my best guesses would be one of the more obscure striped varieties of Colorado Potato Beetles, Cucumber beetles or blister beetles. Sorry to be so late to reply but our internet has been out and I've largely been cut off from the world. Lots of folks in OK are reporting various striped versions of pests that they normally do not see. Here at our house, it has been striped cucumber beetles in huge numbers. We normally only have the spotted ones. I have no idea why 2017 is the year of the striped pests.

Amy, I wouldn't let my DH near a restaurant supply store! When we redid the kitchen, I planned a space for everything....but I did not plan a space for random impulse purchases from restaurant supply stores. Tim even has his own drawer for all his BBQ tools, which is a first. At least that way, his BBQ stuff isn't cluttering up the regular drawers of everyday kitchen utensils.

Eileen, You can learn canning at the website of the National Center for Home Food Preservation. This is the government-funded source for safe, approved canning procedures and it is awesome. Also, in the summer months, canning classes often are offered by local community colleges, the extension service and sometimes through other community groups. The most important thing to know about canning is that one must follow the canning recipes explicitly. You cannot make a recipe your own by changing things because any change you make can render the food unsafe when canned and can lead to illness and even death via nasty pathogens like botulism. When recipe changes are permissible, they are clearly stated. Not many canning recipes come with a lot of approved substitutions because of all the work involved in testing to ensure the safety of each approved substitution.

Kim, I'm so glad you've been having fun with your little man. Man, he sure is growing and getting tall now!

Rebecca, Even before I read down to George's post, I was getting a sinking feeling about your tomato plants. Verticillium normally is a cool-season disease and not seen here in OK nearly as much as fusarium. However, May did turn back cool for various parts of the state, so I think it certainly could have happened in this case. Normally, it would be more likely to be fusarium wilt here. I hope these plants are in containers so it cannot spread. I wouldn't reuse that soil. Well, maybe you could if you pasteurized it in the oven (which will stink up the house). Or, put it on a hot compost pile and cook it to high temperatures this summer to kill the pathogens.

There now, I feel a little more caught up on what I missed last week.

My week, especially without the internet, was an endless round of mostly harvesting tomatoes, squash, peppers, and onions. I'm glad I dug all the potatoes before the heat arrived. I haven't weighed them (who has time?) but there's more than we ever can eat before they all sprout. I'll likely dehydrate and freeze some. The frozen ones can be used to make quick mashed potatoes over the next year. The onions still standing in the garden (one intermediate daylength variety, all of the .ong daylength variety Copra, and most of the other 2 long daylength varieties, Red River and half of Highlander) need to hurry up and flop over so I can harvest them. It is an epic onion harvest this year thanks to the lack of cold weather in February and March. I'll be able to chop or slice about 3 years' worth and freeze them, and then still have enough long daylength types in dry storage to last us through next year. I'd like to get something else growing in the onion space before we start hitting 100 degrees again.

Dawn

Welcome back Dawn, your wisdom was much missed :-)

Thank you, that's such a kind thing to say. I hope your garden has been doing well.

Dawn from pics they look sime like a cucumber beetle. I don't think I have ever gad them in KS.

Jay, I'm not surprised. It is a huge striped cucumber beetle year here. I don't know why.

Dawn