After such a long dry period, we were forecast to get some rain. So, yes, we busted butt getting as many plants and seeds into the ground as possible, looking forward to that. I planted watermelon, muskmelon, more squash, and pumpkins in the North Garden, which was all worked up again.
Unfortunately, the weeds liked the half an inch of rain too and seemed to grow several inches overnight! On Sunday, granddaughter, Ava, was confirmed. I drove the 100 miles to son, Bill’s, to go to church with them while Will worked at tilling between the onion rows and also the asparagus row, plus watering what he could from the house well.
Friends, Sherri and Dara were over on Friday and not only weeded/planted the peppers in the hoop houses but also weeded the onions and planted spots where the plants had died due to the drought. Yes, they should have been watered. But no, we didn’t do it — just kept on thinking that tomorrow the forecast rain would come. I had bought several bags of onion sets (on sale too!) from L and M Supply, making it quick to stick them into the ground. Somehow, we will have onions!
I’ve been very happy at the way our beans, corn, and cucumbers are popping up, even without rain, in the Wolf Garden. I’m not sure how that happened, but we’re very glad it did. (See what miracles happen when God’s your gardening partner?)
As it was supposed to rain last night, as soon as I got home from Ava’s confirmation, I hit the North Garden and planted more corn, melons, and squash. And, yes, it did rain! Whew! I went out after the rain quit this morning but just walking down a row, hoeing in hills for more pumpkins, my feet were huge with clay. Ugh! I’m going to let it dry out a bit before I go back. Our lilacs sure love the rain though. Boy are they ever fragrant! I sleep with the windows open, so I don’t miss a minute of that.
I hope everyone gets the rain for their gardens, nice and easy. No big storms or tornadoes! — Jackie
I love your comment, “See what miracles happen when God’s your gardening partner!”
Life is better in every way when we partner with him!
The blossoms on our lilacs got a late freeze. No lilacs for us this year. One of my favorite flowers!.
Oh, that’s so sad!! We were so lucky. Their one of our favorites too. We have five varieties, one from Russia.
In the spring we used to have “family “ time loading field rocks-can’t say the kids enjoyed it. Winter to spring seems to make the rocks surface-ours aren limestone. I always think it’s odd we have to lime the fields when they sit on limestone. We got 8/10 rain one day and the next day 2/10. We’re still behind but this helped a lot. Now to keep the weeds in check.
Lots of limestone where I live too. On one our properties, you hit limestone 18-24 inches below the surface. We have a large “slab” under the foundation of our addition.
Wow, just thinking about all the weeds makes my blood run cold. They’re here too!
I have to laugh about the rocks. Back in the 70’s I worked on a Century farm in the Catskills of N.Y. When the first started clearing the land they stacked the rocks into stone walls. Sone areas had so many the let it go to permanent pasture. Some fields were only two acres. Then modern machinery came along and they started taking out walls. The local government put a stone crusher in and used many of the rocks as a base to improve miles of the local roads. They also started filling a ravine instead of making new walls. When I worked there over 100 years from the start we picked rocks before planting corn every year and had large hay fields that had been carefully picked before seeding!
And I think those rocks have babies every year as each year, we pick lots of big rocks off the same spots in that garden. Will used them when he made the slip-form concrete/rock lower walls of the barn. Why waste them?
Love hearing your stories!
What a blessing!! So thankful you got rain. I have had a couple of inches of rain last week and too, am thankful. It’s been a drought here in northern Oklahoma but things are looking up as more rain is forecasted.
Your lilacs are beautiful. They were my mother’s favorite.
I’m sure your granddaughters confirmation was a blessing also.
Yes, it was. We all were so happy to be there with her. More rain is coming so I’m going right out in a minute and set in some more squash seeds, muskmelon and watermelon plants. It’s hotter than blazes right now, though.
It’s been 102-104F here in Scottsdale, arizona!
(See what miracles happen when God’s your gardening partner?) Jackie how true that is!
Wonderful you got to go to Ava’s confirmation, that you got some rain, and good friends came to help. Spotty rains forecasted but haven’t gotten them, just hot & humid. The size of your gardens amazes me! My little garden is doing well, thank God. There should be fresh peas for supper soon. Mmm, your asparagus looks great!
We’re due some more rain so are hurrying up planting before it comes. I sure hope you get some too! That’s a real fast, easy way to fix asparagus and boy is it good.
Last Saturday, we got 3+” of rain within about an hour. Only 9 days after that happening as well! Hay producers should be getting a 2nd cutting of hay shortly. Now, if they can just get into the fields……… To much rain can be as bad as not enough.
Looking at getting seeds in for the fall garden. Then, come mid August get the cool loving plants started for the winter garden.
Sure wish lilacs would grow here. I miss them from Colorado.
I know what you mean about lilacs. When we lived in northern New Mexico, I couldn’t get them to grow either. I sure love them.
Wow, that’s a lot of rain in an hour! A second cutting? Heck, we haven’t even started thinking about the first cutting yet.
We are having a lush spring here in the Lilac City, Spokane. It reminds one that nature is God’s art!
Yes, it is. Just look at all the colors around us! I feel like my eyes are on a swivel all summer. We don’t have lush, but boy it sure is pretty.
There is a field across the where our road dead ends. After the storm in April, a large number of rocks have appeared. I doubt the farmer will pick them up but I am amazed at the number of them.
Yes, I think rocks have babies during the winter. Another explanation is that the frost shoves them to the surface. I like my version better.
I think we’re in the get-lots-of-rain one month, then hardly any rain the next. Then repeat as we’ve had over 2 inches in the last four days and more to come. This afternoon was 3/4 inch – came down fast but not beat the plants up fast. I’ll pick strawberries in the morning (it was raining on and off after supper plus it was humid) but I suspect it will be the last time. Doesn’t take much for what berries that are left to get water logged. And since it has been so dry, birds, a motivated nuisance squirrel, and a chipmunk to found an entrance to the caged berries to wreak havoc. Due to the lack of rain (despite watering), not as many berries and most are smaller than usual. There is always next year and I will refresh part of the patch as the plants have gotten old.
I think the last lilac bush at my folks house is gone as are the yellow rose bushes. I wore a yellow rose in my hair when I graduated high school – many moons ago. Both were fragrant.
Our asparagus harvest was also less this year due to the lack of Mother Nature rain. Upside is I can mark where we need to plant crowns next year.
Garlic, potatoes, tomatoes, cukes and zukes (sans on plant) are doing well however. One has to roll with the punches. The last 3 years the garlic has produced zero scapes, which has me a bit perplexed.
Yes, you sure do have to roll with the punches. Despite the drought, our asparagus is producing very well. I have another batch to pick this evening, to can up. I’m happy with the way our beans and now the corn is coming up, despite dry weather. We are due some more rain in the next few days. So, I’m really busy planting and planting.
I’m so glad you got rain! Started planting the tomatoes and the ground where there wasn’t any leaves was really hard and dry – like August! Of course I am make garden in the front yard with my trusty shovel! :). Slow but sure.
I saw the lilacs and could actually smell them! You are so blessed!
Ava’s confirmation was really something wasn’t it. I’m so proud of her! Grandma is tickled pink 🩷.
I found two bags of onion sets! So they are going out also, I have a feeling we all are going to need all the food we can grow. But the Good Lord will bless all who try!
You and Will take care.
Can you send me some of his energy pills 💊, always busy.
I really do believe the Lord sure helps us but also expects us to do as much as we can. He’s not going to fix everything while folks sit on their hands. We’ve got proof every year.
lilacs! the best smell of spring! ours been gone well over 8 weeks but enjoy viewing yours. after Saturdays heavy rain i tried to do some weeding but the heavy soil gums up the hoe and hand rake so had to leave it for the winds to dry out. getting another soaking rain(cherry farmers are worried as picking started over the weekend) . i l take all the moisture The Lord blesses us with.yummy looking bacon wrapped asparagus. Will s Always pictured lifting, doing something! what a great team you make. Avas confirmation was a joy i bet.
Yep, I know what you mean about the wet soil. I tried to plant more pumpkins in the North Garden, which is mostly clay. By the time I hoed in 30 hills, my feet weighed a ton. It took half an hour to scrape it off my shoes with the hoe. I’ll wait till it dries up a little.
Yes, Will and I do make a good team. Both of us actually enjoy work, which is why we have succeeded where others have failed at homesteading. We look at it as participating in a hobby, not as that awful work that HAS to be done.