Hubby's garden

Hubby has a couple of raised beds in the local p-patch. It gives him a chance to meet other people and get out of the house, sometimes alone. Almost of the fresh food we have been eating is from there.

His beds stop people in their tracks who are walking by. Because they are raised and filled (mostly) with sand there is no weeding. He tries to get there at least once a day to
water/thin/visit and the time and
attention show.

He is using the squarefoot method, and has a little of everything.

hatch and release

All of the painted lady butterflies emerged from their chrysalis in the last couple days. The pink spotted ladybugs also grew into their adult form so we set them outside for release. It took only a couple seconds for them to disappear into the sky (butterflies) or crawl into the vegetation below (ladybugs) But the girls found it very thrilling to watch them go out into the world.

progress of sorts

As the girls and I prepare for a vacation in Mn this week, there is much to do before our flight leaves. . . here is a rundown of what is growing.

tomatoes that need cages. . .and more tomatoes

. . . and more tomatoes . . . lima beans by raspberries . . . potatoes


Chicken coop and nearly done quail hutch

Australian butter squash seed vs transplant

one too many pumpkin . . .Wild flower area

purple Brussels sprouts. . .romanesco broccoli


Mesha's own garden . . .Lady Godiva squash bed

Peppers . . . Snow Peas

Front yard flowers and backyard hens (the Cornish are still there)

I'll be there with bells on my toes

I will actually be volunteering for the Littleton History Museum booth (and 1800s fashion show) This is the first of hopefully a long standing annual event. From the info I have seen this is not your traditional country fair (Best "County Fair" Drag Queen Competition - Friday, July 29th at 8pm!) but a celebration of the new "urban farming" movement. No cow or pig shows - only animals legal in Denver (Chickens, waterfowl, goats, rabbits, cats & dogs)

The picture is the link if you are interested.

well said

Faking it by Ben Hewitt

This essay(?) sums it up for me. I am uninterested in being a "real" farmer.

Science for the Garden

This last Christmas Costco had Bug kits in stock and in my usual way when they got marked down to under $10 I got one. (checking a children's' educational toy catalog these would have retailed for $40. Score!)

We got our pink ladybug larva and Painted Lady Butterfly Catterpillars a couple weeks ago in the mail. Each day the girls have checked them, adding a little water to the ladybug pool. (the Caterpillars are self sufficient at this point)

But now they are Chrysalis!! They will be moved into a netted container to hatch soon before all of our "bugs" are released in the yard.

We have been talking a lot about the importance of insects in the world. Even paper wasps, which are irritating to us, have a roll as predators of bugs that do damage to our vegetables and flowers. (We still knock down any nest we find around the back deck.) We are learning the difference between the bumblebees, honeybees, and leafcutter bees - and how they are different than yellow jackets, wasps and mud dobbers.

decision made

Hubby & I were up late cleaning a flooded basement, so when 5 am rolled around and the adolescent crowing started we were not pleased.

Granted it was 70 out, so all the windows were open. Our fan, which would usually block any noises not in our room, was downstairs encouraging the carpet to dry.

But if The Rooster formerly known as Heather woke us, he probably woke the neighbors too.

He would have made a good male for the flock. I told him so as he sat quietly on my hand. Oh for an old timer to teach me the art (and major surgery) of caponing.

I had more than a couple people suggest I toss him over the fence at the Littleton Museum.

But he is my problem and I found my solution.