You got really beautiful garden Turbo. That squash is kickin. What is that behind the sign,Callaloo? Mine looks so industrial by comparison. Us old Catholic boys have to believe we got our butts kicked out of the garden like that. Sometin bout apples and snakes and now we is nekid.

That's one of my favorite garden sayings. Another one is from Thomas Jefferson "Tho' an old man, I am but a young gardener." Another one, this time from Margaret Atwood "In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." No problem there. I think at the end of the day (spring, autumn summer and probably large parts of winter), I do smell like dirt.

When I was a child, I walked past a beautiful big clump of daisies in the yard of one of the second-grade teachers every day on my way to school--then behind it were flowers leading back to a large garden in the back of her house. That sign was next to the daisies. Loved it then, love it now. Thanks for the memory, Mary. I must order one for myself!!

Jerry, thank you:) Actually, the garden is big mess, but that spot is pretty :) No, behind the basil is a pepper plant, actually. My basil seeded itself all over the garden. In places where it popped up inconveniently, I just dug it up and moved it somewhere else. I don't think you can kill basil!

Dawn and Nancy, I love the whole poem. I've been trying to find a plaque that has the whole thing, that isn't a lot of money. No luck so far.

Thank you for this. It is so true for me as well. Peace joy contentment are all found in the garden.

Love this!

Nice thoughts!! My thought for today is "It's Hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Off topic a bit. My son bought me a tee-shirt for Father's Day that reads:

"I live in the Garden, I just sleep in the house"

I think if I lived in the garden today I might die in the garden!!

Try to stay cool out there and take lot's of breaks!

Jack, I love that shirt!! Your son picked out a terrific gift.

I've already been out, done my harvesting and watering, and am indoors to stay.

The rate at which the grasses, greened up so beautifully by the early July rainfall, are now browning and turning dry is just horrible. We are seeing an increasing number of fires, though they are still small and easily controlled, but I can see things going bad quickly if more rain doesn't fall.

I'm seeing more and more locust holes in the ground daily, so I guess the main hatch of this year's bunch is underway. It does keep the cats entertained chasing the locusts around.

This morning when I opened the chicken coop to let the adult poultry out, eight chicks ran out and proceeded to run wildly around the yard. Since cats already were outside as well, my morning devolved into a circus pretty quickly. Those chicks are now in the brooder where they will stay another few weeks until they're big enough that the cats won't chase them. I don't think any of our cats would harm a little chick right in front of me, but I think that the minute I was out of sight they might. Our turkey, Augustus, has been molting for a couple of weeks now. There's white feathers everywhere---it looks like we've had a poultry disaster, but we haven't. If it wasn't so hot, I'd rake them up and put them on the compost pile.

Here we are near the third week of July. We've just got to hang on a few more weeks and the heat will break. I ate watermelon and cantaloupe for breakfast. I might eat it for lunch too. It's take time of the year.

Dawn

The heat has finally hit here as well. For all of June and half of July we had cool nights. It was still down to 67 overnight just a couple nights ago. But now it is in the 70s overnight 72 last night and supposed to be warmer from now on. And warmer midafternoon too. 95 in the shade yesterday, the hottest so far this year.

Love it Turbo!! Jack, if one of my relatives had that shirt they might just find it missing after I visited, lol.

After working so hard on inside projects and stressing out to get everything finished before my mil came for a visit, I was finally able to truly breathe some when I stepped back into the garden. I just feel so peaceful out there. Although the squash bugs really teed me off, I did not let them steal my peace.

Dawn, I have about 4 watermelon and I surely hope they make it. I haven't seen any cantaloupe yet but I am not giving up on them. Even if I get one or two out of it.

Dorothy, Wow! You've been having a great summer so far. It is too bad the heat has to show up and ruin it.

Melissa, How's your MIL's health. Is she still undergoing treatment? I hope she is doing well.

I'm glad you didn't let the squash bugs steal your peace.

I hope you get melons .This heat should make them grow quickly and mature quickly too. I'm always amazed at how well melons respond to heat.

My garden thought for today is that yesterday's rain-cooled 76 degrees in the late afternoon felt so much better than today's 93 degrees. It isn't a poetic thought, but it is a realistic one. : )

Dawn

Dawn- My mil is doing good. She finished with her treatment awhile back. Sometimes I think she is pushing herself too hard and just being too busy all the time. Anyway, her dr changed in Chicago so she is transferring to the CTCA in Tulsa and now will be close enough to come for a night or so when she has an appointment.

Checked the melons earlier when I went out for awhile and goodness they do love this heat, don't they?! I was hoping for a ripe one by the beginning of next week, but we'll see.

I found a little garden sign but haven't gotten it up yet. I have decided that my garden isn't just for veggies, it's for whatever our heart desires. I know a lot of people companion plant as well and I do as well. I want my garden to be whimsical and inviting; maybe not to others but simply to me because I spend the most time out there.