If You Want Blood, You Got It, and a Few Other Blooms, Too.

When the heat finally let up, I finished the porch cleanup.   Then did a little watering of the Tomato plants.   Oops, now that I am writing, I forgot to lock the chicken coup.  Be right back.  Headed out with the flashlight, but after being allowed to roam free all day, they were back in the coup waiting for me to come make them safe.

Hmmm, now what else.  I put some Cajun Delight Okra seeds in the seed starter.  I took the plastic top off of the Earth Box, and as I suspected, the soil was quite dry.   The upwards water percolation was just not happening.   I'll water it as a standard planter box to see if I can salvage the two tomatoes planted in there.  I was out there 2 hours, so I know I did some other stuff, but I'll be darned if it is coming to mind right now.  Oh well.

OK, how about some pictures.  First, the Blood Lilies have arrived.   Neatest things you ever saw.

And a little Jacobina, set back by winter, but not down for the count.

And I guess we can finish up with some Christmas Berry.

Heat is Brutal

Its a tough one out there today.  Cel put up tomatoes this morning, then she mowed the 3 acres today, then went out and picked 3 more grocery bags full of Tomatoes from the garden, and weeded it, too.   Somedays I prevail, but others she just plain puts me to shame.  I mostly cleaned up a month worth of poop being left around here and there.   The crawfish boiling equipment went up for the season.  The beach stuff was consolidated and stored in the attic where it will be nearby.  The crawfish may be over for the year, but the beach certainly isn't, if the BP oil doesn't ruin them all, that is.

I filled all of the gas cans, treated with Stabil in preparation for the hurricane season.   Always good to have fuel on hand, as just before, during, and for a while after gas can be hard to come by.  I keep 30 gallons in the shed.  I'll fill up the boat tank as well, so that's another 24 gallons at hand.  Oh, and another 2 - 1/2 gallons of 2 cycle for the chainsaw, blower, and tiller.   While I am not likely to need a tiller after a hurricane, the chainsaw is a must as many limbs and sometimes trees are down that need to be cleaned up.  Fortunately only once, during Hurricane Lily, did I have a tree come down on the house.  It took out a third of the garage, the greenhouse, and tried it best to take down the back of the house, which fortunately it was unsuccessful at doing.  Although it left several holes in the roof ruining floors, furniture, etc.  Still, having seen the destruction hurricanes can do here in the coastal regions we felt fortunate.

Hey, I got off track.   Back to the garden.  Well, its too hot to even go look.  I'll reserve that till the early even hours just before dark.  I may even snap a picture or two.

No Garden Work Today, Friday is House Cleaning Night

Long weeks, long days with work then outside work, but things change on Friday.   When I get home for work on Friday I don't venture outside, it's house cleaning time to set the proper stage for the weekend.  If I finish early enough, I get a few minutes outside, but most Fridays I don't.   But that's OK, really.   I enjoy a break from the heat one day a week, like today.   I am done, and there is at least another hour of daylight out there, but I think I'll watch it fade through the window with a cool beverage in my hand.

I always like to include a photo, I think a I took a few a couple of days ago, let's see.

Here we go, how about a pretty little mushroom growing in tall grass, both provided by recent rains.

I am Star Struck, Well Maybe Star Fruit Struck

My Star Fruit tree, which was 2 years old was really not meant for this climate.  So when our past colder than normal winter killed it, I wasn't surprised.   But what did surprise me this week is that it appears to be coming back from the roots.   We'll see what happens as time passes, but for now it is a very pleasant surprise.

It was hot and hard work, but I got the last 2 acres mowed today, so now I am a day ahead of schedule.  All I have left now is 3 to 4 hours of weed whacking and I'll have this place back under management.   The beginning of the rainy season was not the time to skip 3 weeks of maintenance.  I felt more like I was making hay, rather than mowing.   At any rate, if I have some energy after work tomorrow, and get that weed whacking done, I'll have a relaxing birthday weekend ahead.  Yeah!

I even got in a little extra work.  The old potato/spinach/onion bed that I till a couple of week ago, already had weeds 4 inches high with all of the recent rain, so I whipped out the Mantis and whipped it up again.  An 8 foot by 10 foot bed takes about 5 minutes with this little beast.  Yes, I know I am supposed to be working my way to no-till, and I am, but in between nothing is as sweet as fresh tilled earth.

I also tilled up the compost bin(pot).  I make compost a little differently than most folks.   One day while going down the road I noticed this humongous plastic pot.  I am guessing it is 150 to 200 gallons.  I didn't have a clue what I was going to do with it, but it was free, so I threw it in the back of the truck.  Over the months I throw in everything, leftovers, used paper towels and their cardboard tube center, the cardboard center for toilet tissue rolls, old potted plants, cardboard boxes, paper, just about anything that will rot.  Once it is full, I stop and let it rot down, but occasionally I stick the Mantis in, mix it up and rip anything resisting rot to shreds.   After a few rounds like that it finished up pretty quick and I get 2 batches of approx 75 to 100 gallons of compost a year.   And let me tell you, it is fine stuff.   My best tasting and best producing tomatoes are in the bed that I tilled a batch into in early spring.

Adapting is Sometimes Necessary

Plans last weekend and again this coming weekend, along with frequent rains are causing some variation from the normal Saturday morning yard routines.   So, today I mowed the front acre.  Tomorrow will be the middle and Friday the rear.   And sometime over the weekend I will have to find time for the once a mount weed whacking.

For today's image, I'll leave you with this funny little Bell Pepper.   It is oddly shaped, but coloring up in a quite beautiful fashion.  It may just find it's way into an omelet in the morning.

Today Was a Better Day

Felt a little better today.  Did some work out in the chicken coop freshening things up.   I planted the last few straggling seedlings.  Pick the Tomatoes for the day, and then started a new batch of compost tea.  Then I finally picked up the mess that had accumulated on the boat over the last month.  The most popular use of a boat is to catch things, I think.   Hmm, I tossed out some dead potted things into the compost bin, and pulled a few weeds that had popped up in the compost.   I bagged the potatoes that were recently dug from the garden, and hung the onions to dry as well.  A few photos were taken along the way, too, just to document the day.

Might Be My First Merlitons, Ever

I tried two Merliton vines this year.  One petered out, but the other has a foothold on St. Joe's Tower.   Here it is reaching the 10 foot mark.  No sign of fruit yet, but the summer is still early.   I remember these growing across the top of my Grandparents chicken coup, so growing my own would be super.  Passing on the legacy.

Today Was Pretty Much a Nothing Day

Didn't feel well, and didn't venture outside other than to feed the chickens.   I did stumble upon this one mushroom.

Beauty is Everywhere, and Sometimes Just Slaps You in the Face

I was out of town earlier today.  I pulled in a parking, with an overgrown edge, and there they were, staring, begging for me to capture their beauty before they fade.   The Trumpet Vine is not in favor today, being a bit invasive in certain circumstances, but it is a beauty, non-the-less.   One can hardly blame today's gardeners, with life being so busy, but it is a shame to see so many beautiful plants fading away being labeled invasive, weedy, messy, etc.   But indeed, it is their very nature that will keep them alive and with us, not needy of our help at all.  Perhaps, that is why indeed many gardeners don't like them.  They plant themselves where they choose, expand where they choose.  They give us the impression that they own us and not the other way around.  What gardener would like that?  God for sure.

The Rains Awaken Much Beauty

These rains are bringing one beauty after another.  As is typical, Louisiana is a rainforest existing between droughts.   It was a very dry spring, but summer can the rains, and the awakening of many things that struggled through a very tough winter.

Darth Maul Visited My Garden Today

I went out in the garden this morning, and God was not there. But Darth Maul was, all 3 inches of him, and he was ready to take me on. Good thing I misplaced my Light Saber or he would be in a thousand tiny pieces.

Here is one more for the evening. This Althea was blown over by Hurricane Gustav and Ike, and then went over again during this super wet winter, but is making a fine recovery. Althea are pretty tough plants. I love its whiter than white flower with a dash of scarlet.

Great Harvest of Tomatoes Today, In Spite of the Stinkers, But They Got Their Share

Really nice harvest from the Tomatoes today.  And half again as many went to the Stinkbugs.  The DE I put on yesterday really seemed to have knocked them back from the numbers I saw yesterday, but there were still more than a few around.  I hit the plants with DE again this afternoon, only to have a rainshower pop up an hour later, so I just went out and hit them again.

Heirloom Don't Only Come in Vegetable Form

Our old heirloom daylilies finally popped open. We got a start from a long ago abandoned homesite.  Nothing fancy in the daylilly world, but nice to look at, and tough as nails.  I am sure these will outlast me on this planet.

Stinky Little Pest They Are

I was just saying a day or two ago, that I was having a light pest year on the Tomatoes, and how I was wondering it was the organic program.  Past years have been nightmarish with Stinkbugs here laying waste to many a great Tomato.

I thought this year would be different, but today it appeared as if they arrived overnight like a plague.  There were 5 or more stinkbugs on literally every fruit.  I pulled out my Dust Mizer and hit them with DE.  Hopefully that will put a dent in them.  If not, there are more powerful organic pesticides, but judging by their numbers, I need to be very observant and progress fast. 

Fig Crop is On The Way

With a few rains, finally, the fig crop is developing.  This is LSU Purple.  Until I tasted them, the Texas Brown Turkey was my favorite, but LSU Purple just may be the finest tasting of all figs.  And the size is good too.

Chicken Tractor on the Move

I have moved the chicken tractor out from under the Oaks in early spring when we had the gnat invasion/infestation.   I moved it out in the open, which provided some breezes to help with the gnats, but now that the intense sun and heat of summer arriving, it was time to give them some relief from that.  Since the chicken tractor has no wheels yet, it is a drag and sweat operation.   By next spring's gnat season, I have to get busy with the wheels.  And be ready with some organic gnat-i-cide, too. 

Here is my Orpington Hen setting on a combination of 6 Orpington Eggs and 6 Mallard Duck Eggs.  The duck eggs are another future story.

Here is my Orpington Rooster.   My second hen did not feel like posing, haha.

The Dog Yard

Almost forgot to put up a finish shot of the dog yard.  There is a small doggie door behind the Avocado tree in the upper left of the yard.  It is next to the house, directly behind the recovering Silk Floss Tree.  The Silk Floss will be coming out soon.  Other than learning to stretch a chainlink fence, which was not bad after I bought the proper tools to do it, the only other issue was no section was level.  On the sides I went with the incline.  On the long side, I wanted the fence level with the wall, so I have to use some garden edge blocks to hold the built up soil on the inside of the yard.

Well, its technically not quite finished still.  I have to cut off the tops of those t-post I used for the intermediate post.   And I'll spray paint them to match the color of the green fencing of course, but those are minor details and will have to wait until after the height of the spring/early summer gardening season is past.

Note - Also in the picture is my Rio Red Grapefruit, towards the outside of the fence on the left side.  In the center is a clump of Canna native to South Florida along with a Washingtonia filibusta palm.  On the far right inside the fence, not really noticeable is a recovering Variegated Lemon.   Outside the fence on the far right is another Washingtonia filibusta and a Tung Oil tree.  At the outer right edge of the photo is a clump of Bordelon bananas and at their base you can see the small Mamou tree (Erythrina herbacea).

Grapes Grapes Grow Today, We'll Make Wine Another Day

These Champanelle Graps were given to me as cuttings.  They just get better every years as the trunks thicken and the vines get stronger.   Here are some shots of this years crop.

22 Tomatoes in These Photos Alone, and Some Olives, Too.

Well, Tomato production will now outpace our ability to eat them.  The kitchen counter is loaded, and this is just a section of two of the 19 plants.  I think it is safe to call this year's organic minimum till, heavy mulch effort a success.  I have not weeded these tomatoes since the day they were put in, nor do I expect to have to do so.

On the unusual front, it looks like our Arboquina Olive is gonna hold fruit this year, and a good bit of it as well.

What a Difference a Week, and a Wee Bit of Rain Can Make

It finally rained a few days before we left town to head for the beach.  It rained again while we were gone.   And after the horrible winter the gardens were wrecked.  It didn't help that I had not the desire to get out and clean up the carnage.   It was just depressing all the way around, but with the moisture came the recovery.  Slow for sure, and some things are just truly dead, never to return.  But there were some surprises, and some hardy plants that just needed some rains to show.

Well, all of a sudden, things sprang to life, and everything is looking up.  These of course, were all expected to return.

I'll show you some other surprising recoveries later.

Tomatoes

The tomatoes are coming in strong.  Here's to the organic methods.  Very little tilling and soil prep with organic fertilizing and a healthy mulch of oak leaves.   I must admit I am astounded at the health of the plants, the lack of pest issues, and the quality of the tomatoes.   Assuming that these beds will just get better, I can't wait for next year.   This is about a third of this weeks harvest.

A Little Petunia Never Hurt Anyone

Winter Harvest is Done, Almost

The heat of summer is moving in early, again. I harvested the Irish potatoes and onions today. They are done and the beds retilled. Not sure what comes next in that spot. Maybe some melons. The tomatoes are in high gear finally. We harvested about 40 today, and the plants are overloaded with green tomatoes with well over 100 on the vines, and one monster, about 6 inches or more across.

And this is will beds with minimal soil prep, all organic, planted late, and with a healthy cover of Oak leaves.

So, what's left to harvest.  Remember those Yukon Blue Potatoes.  They are doing awesome.   After digging the first plant, I saw they were still producing, so I left the rest in.  I will easily have a 20 to 1 return on those.   The few beets I made are left, along with the Kale and Swiss Chard.  All look great.   I'll get to the beets next week.  Not sure about the rest.

Vacation 2010 - Not in Our Yard, but Maybe in the Future

It was beautiful in Pensacola.   Even with a horrible oil spill threatening destruction, there was no evidence here, other than the lack of people.   No doubt the economy was having its affect, but I am sure the oil spill and its threat to the coast seconded the effort.   In over 30 years of vacationing here, I have never seen the water so perfect, so crystal clear, and the area dead from a tourist perspective.

Frost Proof Gardenia Finally Show

Here is nature's other little perfurme. After struggling for a couple of years, it seem that they have hit there stride. And they smell wonderful.

Jamine - Nature's Sweetest Perfume

Not at its finest.   Hurricane Gustave blew its support down a couple of years ago.  Last year I put in a new support and cut it back hard so it would embrace its new support.  Then came the hard winter, but as you can see, it perfumed the garden for a month this spring.   Next year, look out.

Mamou, Mamou

Can you say Mamou? Here is the first flower on my Mamou Plant (Erythrina herbacea)

Dog Run Post Are Cemented In Place

Here is the right side.  Note the remains of a dead Cassia alata near the house.   And if you look close between the post you can see a Sabal etonia seedling.   In the left front you can see the Variegated Meyer Lemon returning from the freeze that almost did it in.

And above it the left side.  Towards to front is my nearly killed Silk Floss Tree.  And towards the rear is my Wilma Avocado.   It looks OK.  But the combo of the freeze and spring drought has taken its toll as well.  Next pictures will include the fence.

Its No Longer a Case of the Mayhaw May, The Mayhaw Did!

The Mayhaw is full of pretty red berries.   For the first three years, I thought it would never make it, but this year, sure enough it looks great, and it made a couple dozen berries.  It'll be another few years before I can make even one jar of Mayhaw jelly, but one year it will happen.  

Not for the Squeamish

Multiple live births. Don't enlarge if you are squeamish.

Finally a Place for the Dogs

The dog door was installed this morning.   Next is the dog yard. 

There is nothing more hilarious that trying to train dogs to use a new dog door.  So, far 4 of the 5 can make the trip out the door.   The trip back in is escaping them at the moment.  Rather than come in the always open doggy door, they run around the front, sit at the front door and bark to get let in.

Rain, Yes, Finally Real Rain

Light rains fell in the early evening hours and I feared that was it.   But in the middle of the night it came.  Lightening, thunder, and steady hard rains.   After nearly 3 months of drought, it could hardly rain too much.   There were cracks in our silty clay loam soil a half in wide and 12 inch deep.   I could leave the sprinkler on in the same place over night, and there would not even be a puddle.  But last night we got real rain, at least 2 inches, maybe more.   All but the large cracks are now close, but a few are left.   We need rain like that at least a couple more times to get the soil moisture level where it needs to be.  Regardless I am thankful for what we got.  I am sure the Tomatoes are as well.  It was the first real rain they have tasted since their birth.

The Parrots and the Shrimp Have Arrived, with a Little Fire on the Side.

The cold winter and spring drought have left much destruction in their path, yet things do surprise me.  Well, the return of the Parrot Lilies was not a real surprise.  They are pretty tough and have taken advantage of the cold winter to expand into new areas.

The Shrimp Plants, on the other hand have surprised me.   Not only surviving, but also may ultimately thrive taken over space once occupied by more tropical natured species.  Now, admittedely, both are shadows of their former selves, but a warm summer, and some rains should do wonders.

And the Fire Spikes are back as well.  I am surprised to see them at all.

Other surprises are the return of the Carnation of India, the Variegated Pandora Vine, and even more surprising is the early return of my Jatropha.

God Sent Me a Fleeting Little Present

I was watering a few things by hand the old fashion way, you know thumb over the end of the water hose making a spray.  While I was watering my Artichoke plant from about 10 feet away a Ruby Throated Hummingbird flew into the spray, playing.   Then lit on top one of the Artichoke leaves, where a tiny bit of water had pooled, like it was a little bathtub and proceeded to bathe.  It was a Ruby Throated Hummingbird, but I must say his throat was so bright fluffed in the water and full sun, it was surprising how bright it was.   We kept this up for about 5 minutes till he flew off.  The experience was a little magical, I must say.

Smoothie World Around Here Lately

I had a Strawberry, Banana, Honey smoothie tonight. Yesterday, it was Mulberry, Banana, Honey. I think the Mulberry was better than the Strawberry, which is good because I have to buy Strawberries, but I have a big old tree full of Mulberries.  

The tree was given to me as a cutting from Mr. Picard, my old neighbor.  I still remember him, with a plastic milk just with the top cut out and strung through his belt up in that Mulberry tree picking berries.   He also gave me my Champanelle grapes as cutting off of his vines, too.  Mr. Picard has passed, but if you are looking down on me, you must smile seeing me enjoy the fruits of your gifts every year, literally. 

Planting and Another Tomato

I planted two more rows of Dixie Lee Field Peas today, two more rows of Edamame, and a row of Perique Tobacco.  This fills in the left arm bed to create an intensive planting arrangement.


Oh, and we had a second ripe tomato too.  This one was the "Bush Goliath" plant.  It is so thick and healthy one can hardly see the tomatoes inside, and there are many.

Almost Forgot to Mention, First Tomato

The first ripe tomato came off the vine today.  It is, most appropriately a "Creole" tomato.  Cel and I will share it in the morning with some good home grown scrambled eggs.  If I had to choose between that and a 5 course meal at the finest restaurant in the country, the homegrown tomato and egg sandwich wins every time.

As a side note, we haven't had a real rain here in over 9 weeks.   My tomatoes have never known any water except what comes out of my sprinkler head.   All of the tomatoes are growing well, despite the drought, but totally due to my watering.  And the water that comes from my hose pales in comparison to the real thing.  If real rains would come, I have no doubt they would all double in size in just a few days, along with the flavor.

The Left Arm Bed Springs to Life

First up were the Dixie Lee Field Peas on Day 5, and today on Day 6 the Edamame are springing to life.   No sign of the Eggplant or Okra yet, but I am sure they are coming.  This is gonna be a fun bed to watch progress.

Next bed to transform is the head bed.  The Irish Potatoes need to be dug.  The spinach harvested and frozen.  The Onion are not ready, but thankfully are on the edges which will not interfere with a complete reworking of the center of the bed.   Dixie Lee Field Peas, Edamame, Perique Tobacco, and a few other things will be planted there.

Tomatoes, Tomatoes, and More Tomatoes

When I ran out of garden space to plant tomatoes, but still had tomatoes varieties in seedling, I got creative.   First is an old Earthbox that's been around for years.   I mentioned it in an earlier post.  I pulled it out of mothballs.  The vinyl top was lost along the way, but as you can see, I cut a Miracle Grow Organic bag in half to make a nifty top.   Those tomatoes have been in the box only about 3 weeks and are really growing.  One is Razzleberry, the other is Red Currant.  Behind that you can see a very large nursery pot and an ornamental plant support.  I put two varieties in there.   I put 5 more on tower post.  

And I still have some left.  I'll stick them in the ground somewhere.  They came this far so they deserve a chance to make a tomato or two.

Oh, almost forgot.  The big leaved plant in the middle of the tomatoes is a Perique Tobacco Plant.

5 Days After Planting, The Dixie Lee Field Peas Have Awakened

And they're so cute.

Chickens Get a Repose - Final Chapter

It appears the gnat infestation is over.  There are still a few around, but that is normal.  The chickens are looking much better.  I have them on a corn heavy diet as a treat.  The girls are back to laying regularly again.  The rooster is back to crowing and waking my up in the morning.  Sad we lost one, but at least we had an extra.   Now, if those tomatoes would just hurry up.  I am ready for my first egg and tomato sandwich.

My Bougainvilleas Have A Little Boogie Woogie in Them After All.

They were all presumed dead.  Two of them were left out, totally exposed to all frost, multiple nights below freezing, and 3 nights right at the 20 degree mark.  By all rights, non should have survived.   Oddest of all, is the one I did take a few steps to protect is the one that has not yet comeback.  But I still have faith.

They Showed Up Late, and Left Early This Year, But They Sure Were Pretty When They Were Here

Our Byzantine glads are a highlight of spring.   The hard winter caused them to flower late, and the spring drought caused them to fade early.   But for the short time we had them, they were beautiful.

Another Bed is Planted, No not-till On This One

This bed went unplanted this spring, well at least until today.   It was new ground, broken and amended.  My neighbor used his big tractor to break it earlier this spring, but I never got around to planting it.  I had amended it with compost and hay, and let's just say the hay was quite fertile.   I broke out the mantis last week and worked it over good.   Today, I planted it out with Dixie Lee Field Peas, Edamame, Aunt Heddie's Red Okra, and Ichiban Eggplant.   A drawing is attached. 

Its Raining Cats and Dogs, Out of the End of my Water Sprinkler, That Is.

I watched daily rain chances go from 60, 90, 30, go to 30,80,20, to nothing, nothing, and nothing.   No rain for me as we extend to nearly 8 weeks without rain.    Established plants have slowed to no growth, one/two year old plants are showing visible stress, and any new plantings must be watered every other day.

My Mayhaw just may indeed.

My little Mayhaw struggled its first few year.  Indeed, I had decided that if it didn't show signs of establishment and growth this year, I would remove it.   Well, not sure it is was just enough years in the ground, maybe our cold winter, or what.  But it did indeed show signs of finally establishing itself.  Not only with new vigorous growth, but also with fruit. 

Almost Forgot About the Potatoes

We hosted not one, but two different Crawfish Boils on Saturday.   As we started the first, Cel said, oops, we forgot the potatoes.  No, problem I replied, I'll go dig some in the garden.   I did, and that was soooo cool.  Looks like I am gonna get a 10 for 1 return on my seed potato investment, at least.  

Any my crazy little Blue Potatoes are growing like crazy too.  That was a wild experiment, so I far so good, so I can't wait to see how that works out. 

Year of the Tomato

I had 17 Tomatoes in the ground.   Insane winds of the last few days worked them over pretty good, but they were strong.   My father-in-law told me today, that he had checked out the Tomatoes all over the area and mine looked the best.  Yes, my chest stuck out a bit, I admit it.  The best thing is I have done this year all organic.
I put Paw Joes old ladder leaning up against St. Joe's Tower with the Snail vine on one side, and a Cucumber on the other side.

Chickens Get a Respose #2

I lost one of my Roosters, so the chickens spent the last 3 days running free.  I felt so sorry for them, but they found some relief here and there and are looking a little better.  But, Monday is here, so time for the pen again.   I don't take lightly moving away from organic, and only in a small area, but I had to find them some relief.  I got out a hose end sprayer with liquid Seven and pounded the whole area and beyond.   Seems to have worked, as I brought the chickens into the pen one by one, not even a single gnat landed on me.  So, I'll keep this up, till the gnat investation is overcome.

Chickens Get a Repose

It was nearly death by gnats for my poor birds.  They are ragged and haggered for sure.  Despite all of my effort, and some were extreme, I was unable to reduce the gnat population in their area.  Now, my chicken cage is fairly large, 10' x 10' for 4 chickens, and it is moveable.  This is known as a chicken tractor.   But moveable does not equal easily movable.  The "easily" part is a future project I have yet to get to.  But they were so miserable, that I let them out and pushed, pulled, dragged the kennel 40 feet to an entirely new environment.   In the past, at dark, they have always gone into their pen knowing they were safe there, but not tonight.   They stayed on the back porch readily trading safety for relief from the the gnats, and I gladly let them.   Now I have no idea how I will handle this come morning.   One of my neighbors may be forgiving of my chickens wandering over, but the other likely not.   Prayers be with me please, a chicken herder I am not.  Actually, I guess you need to pray for the chickens, lol.

Life Returns to The Bayou Teche

When we moved here in mid 2002, I saw little life in The Bayou Teche, not even minnows in the shadows.   I didn't know much about it at that time, and shortly thereafter came Hurricane Lili.   Hurricanes here tend to flush local waterways with oxygen poor water due to the leaf fall and turnover, resulting in fish kills.   I saw many dead fish floating down The Bayou Teche that fall.  There was no evident life the next year, but slowly year after year, the Bayou Teche came back to life.   It does seem this bayou has everything going against it, everything from urban runoff, to cane field runoff turbidity and the chemicals that go with it. 

Life was starting to return, and the The Bayou Teche was looking to look like a natural waterway again.   Then came the hurricanes Katrina and Rita of 2005.   Another setback.  Still by 2008 things were looking up.  I even caught a few Catfish while fishing.  Mullet were jumping, and there a few minnows here and there.  But again, came the hurricanes later that year, Gustav and Ike, both of which impacted the water shed within a few weeks of each other.   More dead fish floated down the bayou.   Signs of aquatic life were slim.

This year, the spring of 2010, I again have hopes.  It was an extremely wet winter.  This is the first time I have even seen the bayou rise significantly from rain fall.   But I am sure the flushing effect helped.  Aquatic grasses are gowing along the edge of the channel this spring.   Mullet are jumping.  I saw what was likely a small Bass striking in the grass, and Mullet jumping in the channel.  No minnows yet, but I have hopes.  The Bayou Teche needs a break, and with a little luck, nature may just give it one this year. 

Invasion of the Blood Suckers

Gnats and deer flies are attempting to carry me, and the Chickens, away.  I stay inside, but the poor chickens just huddle up in the corner of the coop.   The Rooster sat one day with his head stuck in the laying box trying to get some relief.   After looking for some relief for them, all I could find was to dust their feathers with Sevin dust and coat their combs with vaseline.   I did both, but substituted DE for the Sevin dust in an attempt to stay organic, for both their sake and mine. 
I hope it help.  Tomorrow I am going to let them out of the pen to hopefully find some relief.  Since I also have their pen set up as a chicken tractor, aka, moveable, I will move it to new virgin ground as well. 

Man, Its Dry Out There

No break on the rain front, nothing but sun and low 80s.   I picked up another truck full of Oak Leaf Bags.  Well, kind of, Oak leaves and Oak Pollen, with pollen taking the majority in some bags.  Either way, it'll work for my purposes.   Today, I spead mulch around the new Camellias, the new Rain Trees, the old PawPaw and the Old Mayhaw.  Also, around the Moso Bamboo, and the Tomatoes, and the new Roses, as well.  Looks like this is the way its gonna be for a while

Tea in the Rain? Well, not quite

We finally got a tad of rain again, and again not enough.  I am guessing we got a quarter inch, a half at best, but it was enough to wet things down a tad, but not close the cracks in the soil, some of which I have observed at nearly 1/2 inch wide.  I finished nature's job in the vegetable garden by putting out 25 gallons of aerated compost tea.  That and the rain, should give them a little jolt.  A few of the Tomatoes are starting to take off, so I guess I can no longer put off the tomato cage decision.  I have 18 tomatoes and 5 rickety cages, so somthing has to be done, that's for sure.  And on top of that I have 2 flats of seedlings.  I am just going to plant them here and there, and let them ramble.  There is certainly nothing to lose at this point.  The story of how I have all of those seedlings is an interesting learning point, but also a story to be told another day.

There is a bit of good news on freeze recovery.  The little Erythrina herbacea (Mamou Plant) although frozen to the ground, is returning from the roots.  The Erythrina crista-galli which was much large is yet to show any signs of life.   Two of the small Washingtonia filibusta that I assumed were dead are also pushing new spears.  Well, its not much I know, but after a winter like this every little bit helps.

Mayhaws, Maybe Some Paw Paws, and I'm Itchy

It looks like my poor little Mayhaw may finally have hit its stride.   It is still small, but looks great.  Best of all, I have a handfull of little 1/2" Mayhaws growing on it.

My PawPaw on the other hand, has not hit is stride.   It made a little handfull of flowers again, as it did last year, but I have the feeling it will drop them all, as it also did last year.

Last but not least, my Ichi-Ki-Kei-Jiro Persimmon is also looking much better.  I doubt it will fruit, but at least this year, it looks like it will live, lol. 

More to come, lots more, it's spring, yahoooooo!

Spring Can Be Tough Here for a New or Young Plant

Springs here consist of windy, continually heating, drought.   Not a friendly beginning for a new spring planting.   This is not a problem for established plantings.  With our wet winters and water hodling clay soils, they rarely required supplmental watering.  Only when the summer rains run late, do they suffer.  New plantings however lose moisture at alarming rates and have no roots spread into the surrounding clay soils to grab moisture.  Even worse, the silty clay loam tends to crack, so you can water all you want, it just runs off into endless cracks.  End result is the first year, in the spring and fall in particular you must water constantly. 

The 1-Step formula really has helped with this.  It has both water absorbing crystal to less the loss of water, and mycorriza fungus to improve root efficiency and root growth.  I have not lost a new planting since I began using it, where before it was no uncommon.

So far, new plantings this year include 2 Figs, 2 Raintrees, 3 Camellias, and 3 Blueberries.  I still have a few seedlings/young plants still to be planted as well.   I am always planting some kind of seed.  I remember as a small boy, one of the trees in our neighborhood made these giant Acorns, more than an inch across.   I parked in a parking lot a month or so ago, and sure enough under one of the trees were those large Acorns, which I had not seen in over 40 years.   I grabbed five of them.   Already, 2 trees have sprouted.  

And we are looking for a couple more Camellias to finish the Camellia Garden Room.   Cel has also just identified an area where she would like more Azaleas.  I'd like just 2 more hardy palms, but they need to be kind of large, so that won't happen anytime soon.  I am looking for a sale, haha.