But now it’s dry again. It’s kind of hard on the garden as the soil has some clay in it and tends to crust on top pretty soon after a rain if it gets hot, which it has. Most of the second planting of sweet corn hasn’t come up yet, and I’m afraid it won’t. The weather’s been too crazy, and we have it planted where we cannot water it. However, I was tickled when I went out to the North Garden and saw the Simonet corn poking up very nicely. Whew! We have some nice Bear Island Chippewa, Damaun, Seneca Blue Bear Dance, and now Simonet. I still have hopes and prayers that the Who Gets Kissed in the Sand Garden will come on better than it started. The Seneca Sunrise is still undecided.
When I was tilling for the corn in the North Garden, a mama Killdeer kept scolding me, so I knew she had a nest out there somewhere. I narrowed it down by the way she tried to lure me off. When I knew I was close (because she played the “I’m injured” card), I stopped and later came back on the golf cart. Walking carefully, I located the nest. It only has one egg but she’s guarding it with her life. She’s been on it for two weeks now. So, it won’t be too long before she hatches it, and I can till that strip. For now, I’m happy to let her have it.
Fortunately, the beans, squash, melons, and cukes are looking great. I planted Suyo Long cucumbers on an arched trellis in the Wolf Garden. The plants were a little too big and probably getting root bound. But I planted them anyway and they seem to be recovering. To make sure, I planted seeds, not only on the one side, but also in between the plants. They are up and looking good.
I’ve been weeding the beans as they’re getting weedy. Our friends, who have previously helped weed twice a week, have family things this summer and then Sherri’s been sick too. So, we haven’t had a lot of help this summer and I’m trying to keep up. Drew is working overtime and hasn’t been able to help either. We do what we can do.
Yesterday, Will finally cut the huge hydraulic cylinder loose from the excavator and brought it home. Next, he has to, hopefully, get it apart so he can install the rebuild kit. Taking a “break” today, he first mowed the tall pigweed between the rows of Bear Island Chippewa corn and is now in the process of tilling up the roots. We’ve found, with the bigger weeds, it’s best to first mow them to make tilling go much better.
It’s hot today, so we’re taking breaks to rehydrate and stop sweating so hard! Happy Fourth of July to you all! — Jackie
