I've picked a few more zukes since Friday's first harvest, got a few more on the vines, 1 got pretty big yesterday so I'm leaving it until tomorrow since DS is coming home late tonight and he likes it grilled. Picklebush cukes seem to be growing pointed on the ends - the 1 I left to fill out got kind of big, I think I'm going to slice these all up and make bread and butter pickles for my dad, I don't have any left from last year. It has been a very disappointing year, I've been to market twice since it started a month ago and haven't had much to bring except for jams and jellies (and tomato plants, strawberries 1 week, haven't gone with blueberries since we had a heat wave right after I picked a lot and market is in a parking lot, forecast was 99 degrees that day so I just froze them). Veggies are really slow, though the oregano that overwintered is in flower, the basil (seeded this year) is finally getting big enough to cut (I should have planted more), the dill looks great, and the volunteer cilantro has bolted and is starting to form seeds (yeah!!). I haven't checked the beans or tomatoes out back since I watered them Sunday - beans were flowering but no beans yet, some fruit set on tomatoes but even the cherries aren't full-sized yet, they're going to take a while to ripen. The blackberries were starting to really turn color, I might have wild blackberries before an veggies (other than these squash and cukes)!

Well Good Afternoon All; I was outside working on a project when the mailman came and delivered a bunch of bills. Thanks alot. Then he stopped on his way back down the street because he had forgotten a box (how many times do you think that goes back to the PO with him?) Anyway, I am humbled by what I received from Jessica. I had mentioned that Shadymeadow sent me a wonderful loose leaf binder with info about her and her part of the world and that I used it to this day. Jessica made me a book!! The book starts off with a detailed description of the plants she sent. They were beautifully packed and traveled well. One even had a flower already, how cool is that? But then she told me about her and where she is from. I am busy reading it and we are getting an electrical storm so I will have to finish this later but I am amazed and embarassed because my box lacked the time and effort "livingdedgirl" put into mine. diene

Morning!! Margo, it's not as bad to take care of as people think. I think because its bigger, its pretty self sufficient. I do need to get in it every month or so and weed. My water plants reproduce so quickly they would cover the whole top if I didn't. What's nice is I put all the pulled ones in a wheelbarrow and bring them down to the veggie garden. Pile them up and let them dry. I about a week they are bone dry. So dry they crumble! I use them for fertilizer. I don't know if its the pond water, fish waste or what but those plants work almost like miracle grow ;) Shirley, we have a Master Gardener's plant swap usually every year here around Mother's Day. I say usually, cause this year we didn't have one? I was so busy at the time, never asked why, and till you just mentioned it forgot all about it :) My fair swap has been growing a little every year by 1 or 2 people. :) A lot of the same people come every year once they get hooked. The like the variety of different things I bring every year. What's awesome is that it all comes from the gw. :) The seed swaps in the fall produce nice little babies for my swap. This year I tried a bunch of Dianthus.... I have Ipswitch, Black Adder, Yellow something I can't remember, Black Magic, Fire Witch...as you can see I got most of these from the Halloween swap last year :) I also have some different Althea's that I can't remember right now, lol. The turtle is officially done. He's not a fancy turtle, but, he does look cute. ;) The kids are so excited I hope he wins. Taylor was looking through the entry list for ecology classes. She's entering photography, art (painting and sculpture), sewing, flower arranging (gee, wonder where she's gonna get those?), and house plant arrangement. I have 1 house plant in my house. Taylor's zebra plant. This thing has produced 8 babies! She took my tea cup planter and planted them around in it. She then used one of my old spoons and stuck it in. Made a tea bag tag to tie to the spoon, " Taylor's Tea" It came out so cute! Billy is entering art. He made the most beautiful pastel drawing of a fish this year in kindergarten. It won an honorable mention at the school art show. I framed it. He's also entering the house plant arrangement too. We didn't have any house plants for him, but, we did have some hen's and chicks. So yesterday we got a pair of his old sneakers, washed them, and filled them with hen's and chicks. They are so cute!! Little blue sketchers!! So adorable!! My neighbor saw them when she was walking her dog and asked if they were going to be at the plant swap...lol! I have to get a photo of them. Have a great day!! vina Here's a weird one...found this double gaillardia. It looks like a science experiment gone wrong, lol.

Good Morning! I opened Sharon's (GMOM)cookbook fun last night!!!!! Love it all Sharon! *Several crochet and handmade pot holders....I think the ones with the birds are pot holders???? I will email you! *Gardening gloves *America's Country Inn Cookbook *Promise Yourself a Good Meal With Optimism Cookbook (Optimist Club) *Fresh Delights Fruits and Vegetables Cookbook *Tropical Blossoms Of The Caribbean...a little book just about specific Caribbean flowers...pics and descriptions! *Sweet and Salty Mix Thanks so very much!!!! Annie