yardgranny6's Blog

HOT and DRY
Aug 24, 2009 | 3:08 PM PST

Have been in the yard some the last week or two. Boy are my flower beds a mess. The weeds and grass just take over as soon as your back is turned. This morning I cleaned out two small spaces and hope to be able to get another little area this week as well.

I ran over something with my mower and it began to make an awful clanging sound every time I tilted it up a little. The son came on his lunch hour one day and we found that the metal housing had a new scrape place so we figured that was where the blade was hitting. He hit it with a hammer a couple of times and today it made no noise as I finished off the street front of the yard.

Do any on you wonder why we take care of the 5 feet or so at the front of our yards?? Wouldn't it be nice if the city would come every week and clean up their part of the grass?? All that grows at the street at my house is that old Johnson grass or highway grass. It just pops right back up as soon as you go into the house. Sneaky plant.

My attempt at the temporary raised garden grew tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers just fine, but the cardboard box did not keep the wild Bermuda grass down. That was one of the areas I cleaned out today. I do think it would grow through a piece of flat metal.

Pulled out the Cherokee Purple tomato plants. They never did make good tomatoes. What I did get tasted fine but don't think I will try those again. Next year I only want cherry and Roma tomatoes. One pepper plant, one cucumber and two squash plants. I will try purchasing plants and sowing some seed on the squash as that is one thing I really do like.

One area on the front bank is just invaded with wild Bermuda. I know that those roots go deep into the soil so I may never be rid of it. Just makes for a real dilemma in knowing what to do to make that left side of the bank look decent. Will be asking my SNJ (sweet neighbor J) what she used under her pinestraw in her front yard. Don't remember if it was black plastic or something else. May have to resort to the black plastic.

This is an interesting picture for me as those first two annual sweet potato plants came back up this year. The other I had dug and gotten all the root. At the end of this bank is where the wild bermuda grows and grows.

 

Annual plants are dying back now and need to be pulled out. Usually when I do pull them I throw them in a area I think the seeds might germinate next spring. Have already gotten some Cosmos and Zebrina Malva seeds. The Malva did not look good, as if there had been a mold or fungus problem so those seeds might not be viable.

Gardening is one of those hobbies that gets a'hold'a ya and won't let go. Only problem is the heat, humidity and rain for days on end, and the mosquitoes.  Other than that it is a fine way to live.

More To Come Later

 

 

Angel Trumpets
Aug 5, 2009 | 6:26 PM PST

are beginning to bloom. The end of the summer season gives us this wonderful plant. I like to go outside and just breathe in that heavenly scent. Only one is blooming right now, the others are reaching for the sky, most are about 5 to 6 feet tall. 

 

Then I found this strange looking spider and web in the garden. Anyone know what this might be called? He is a mighty strange looking critter.

 

More To Come Later