The End of May 2011

Rainy time coming...will it ever stop? Here it is, the end of May and we have just experienced one of the wettest Mays ever in our area. Most of the days have been cold and rainy. Sunny days...few and far between. Everything in the gardens is behind schedule. When I looked back at years past, there was a lot of color in my pictures. This year...the mulch is the color I see besides green. Joe planted his tomatoes a week ago. Poor things...they are just sitting there waiting for sun and heat. He planted a couple of early tomatoes...whew, glad of that. They will probably produce a couple of weeks later too. Maybe they should come out with and early- early variety LOL He sticks his tomato plants where ever he can find an empty sunny spot. He used to have a big garden and planted tons of tomatoes etc. He carried buckets to the neighbors.He's biven up the big garden, but still wants his fingers in the soil...nurturing some prize tomatoes.

I bought him some wall o' water thingys for part of his birthday gift this year, but old fashioned gardener that he is, he wouldn't try them. They are in the garage on the shelf along with the hanging tomato planter and other things that are new fangled.I was thinking of a contest...he would plant tomatoes without a wall o' water and I would plant a couple with...I wonder who would win? There's no room left in our existing beds...we would have to dig up another area and neither of us wants the extra work. So, our "early tomatoes" will come when they are ready....and we will wait patiently.

I always plant a cherry or grape tomato near my "herb" garden. I have one this year in a pot. It doesn't get as much sun as his, but there's enough for a cherry tomato. This year I planted a grape...I love how the little tomatoes are in clusters like grapes. So nice for salads. While I was out yesterday, my neighbor boy, Bryce, called to me and said to come over and see his beginning garden. His Dad made him a raised bed garden and now he wants to plant things there. He was asking for my advice. When he gets his tomato plants...I'll show him how to plant them. This boy wants watermelons growing down the side of the house. He has visions of big watermelons to eat when it is hot. I wish him luck.Why do all kids want watermelons and pumpkins?

As I look out my window right now...I see a cloudy day...with just a hint of sun. The front lawn is in need of a haircut, the lilies are doing well at the mailbox. Speaking of the mailbox...since I put the little wire fence around the planted area...the dogs, who used to come to water, really don't bother this place. They just move on down the road to better spots. There are tiny white petals from the honey locust trees falling to the ground. I hear a mower in the distance, maybe ours will be mowed today. Joe is at the gym and it's time for me to get going and do my walk around the yard and pick up branches. Ah...the story of my life.

Balisha