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
Happy 4th! I have decided that the weeds in my garden are going to shade the tomatoes from the hot sun this year, lol. Seriously, the weeds are awful. I have used the weed whacker and mowed around the edges of the garden this year. Its embarrassing to say the least. But, things are growing. I picked the first batch of green beans the other evening and fixed green beans and potatoes for Dad. I picked the first two cucumbers and the squash plants are loaded with blooms. The rabbits destroyed most of the cabbage and peppers. My replanted beets and carrots are coming up, but this heat is hard on everything. Wishing you and Will a safe 4th and blessed week.
Thank you so much! We had a wonderful, relaxing Fourth and are now back to work in the heat. Yep, our weeds are sure bad this year. Worse than they’ve ever been. Keeps us busy though. My doctor doesn’t dare say I don’t get enough exercise! Ha ha! I’m glad you’re getting your harvest under way.
Beat the heat
Drink pickle juice eat pickles! Keep you hydrated
Ah, pickles! Of course!
Hot and humid in Southern Illinois, today was stifling 93° temp. and a heat index of 108°. Tomorrow scattered thunderstorms, Mother Nature can have her own show! Of course it’s better at night when you can see the heat lighting in the big thunderheads!
Zucchini and cucumbers – sounds so good!
Have a safe and happy 4th of July celebration 🎉-
Happy 4th of July to everyone! Try to stay cool 😎☀️!
Yep, hot and humid here today too. I nearly got overcome by the heat, trying to weed beans. I came in and drank cold water then went to lie down for awhile. I don’t do heat well! Grandson, Drew, continued and weeded several 50′ rows of beans. Whew!! I sure appreciated that! Happy 4th to everyone out there!
Here in N. IL we lost power close to noon on Friday and it *finally* was restored 3 pm on Saturday. We fired up the generator but finding more gas was a challenge as the towns close to us lost power (and no businesses, including large businesses. had no backup generators). Time for a whole house generator. We’re not getting any younger, these storms are going to be more frequent. Driving to find fuel is not so much an issue in the spring/summer/fall but winter is a risk I’d rather not take. True we can heat with wood and *might* be able to use nature’s freezer in the winter (temps are no longer what they used to be in the winter in my area).
Thankfully the heat dome had passed but it still was humid.
Weeds? What weeds? You mean that living mulch in my garden? Lol. I find the mower or weedeater my friend too, esp this year. Beautiful rain right now as I write this. Just came in from picking green beans for supper, and have gotten 1st zuke & tomato. Your picture of the killdeer is so nice! Wishing all a safe & peaceful 4th!
Yep, I guess we can call those weeds green manure or living mulch, can’t we? But do we feel better. Naw… I love mama killdeer guarding her single egg! It seems like we always have one or two of them in our gardens, which we try and locate and protect their eggs. I love to see those tiny chicks which look just like their mom!
It’s hot as hades here in southern middle Tennessee. Heat index of 107 and, of course, we have a thunderstorm firing up. I am hoping that there is no hail included. Prediction is for hail, strong winds, etc. It is a good thing to prevent fire after the fireworks, but the hail can ruin the corn, so hopefully, there won’t be much of that. We have killdeers here, too and they are so cute. They will run in the opposite direction of their young, so it is easy to spot their babies. We have Canadian geese on the small pond each year and our bachelor male still has not “remarried”. It is so sad, as three years ago his mate was killed by something unknown. We found her feathers, so we know she is dead and he sits alone by himself about 15 feet away from his original group. I was told that they mate for life, but often they will find another mate if one dies. He has not found anyone, and it has been three years now. So sad. We are hoping he will find another mate this year.
Aww, I’m so sorry your gander has remained single and alone. Let’s hope he finds someone soon. I sure hope you don’t get hail. I’ve had a couple gardens ruined by hail and am always on the lookout for those bouncing hailstones when it storms.
Your struggle sounds like mine. Tougher year weather wise. Making dill pickles today. We bought early cucumbers from a local farmer. Today we attended another funeral which seems like a weekly event. We live in a small community and know most of the people. We’ve been having friends and neighbors passing on. That’s what makes life richer-knowing your neighbors. Sorry to add this sad note but it is part of days. Your umquah broccoli has made large heads. I’ve been harvesting your Kuroda carrots (as baby carrots) and our peas. I replanted beans once as the topsoil crusted and prevented emergence. Pig weed is growing strong this year-last year lambs quarter. Each year a different problem. I’ve also used a weed wacker to knock down the weeds. Have a great 4th and enjoy Freedom.
You have a great Fourth too! People forget how very free we are in this country and need a reminder. I can’t think of a country that’s better than ours, despite all the turmoil politically right now.
I’m so sorry to hear of another of your neighbors passing away. We also live in a small community where when you go to town, you always meet and talk to someone you know. |So much nicer than living in the city where you don’t even know the names of the folks who live behind your house, on the next block over.
Hot here, too, in central MO. Maybe pop up showers tonight, but I am not holding my breath for that.
I picked 2 small zucchini today. Tomatoes are doing well with the heat, but it will be at least a month before we have any fruit. We are watering raised beds everyday now. NO SQUASH BUGS YET—but I am watching.
And we’ll be harvesting onions within a week, as well as thinning carrots again.
Maybe we’ll have some cooler temps this week.
Happy Holiday to All!
Let’s all pray for cooler weather and no severe storms or wildfires! We’re a long way from harvesting anything but asparagus and lettuce, but everything is coming along fine but our sweet corn. We’ll see how that turns out later on. Have a wonderful Fourth of July!
Kill Dares always lay eggs in our church parking lot. We have orange road cones we put around them. We have one momma that’s been setting for 4 weeks. I’m afraid if eggs aren’t hatched this week they must be bad. Happy 4th to you and your family 🇺🇸
Killdeer eggs hatch in about three to nearly four weeks after the mother starts setting on them. Sometimes when one clutch is stolen by predators she’ll lay another batch so it seems like she’s been setting longer than she has because of the second batch. I hope your momma hatches soon. Happy Fourth to you!
Happy 4th to you and yours. Still hot and humid here – rain is coming tonight and of course thru Sunday morning.
And a very happy Fourth to you, as well. It’s very hot here and humid too. We sure hate that! We may have some rain coming tomorrow but hope it doesn’t ruin our visit with the family at the lake.