I have a relatively small container garden. You would think it would be easy to keep in under control, but alas, weeds take over wherever dirt is available, and every year, the weeds get crazy as soon as the heat ramps up. I planted very little this spring, knowing that my beloved zucchinis always end up taking up too much room and producing way too little (thanks to the lovely, yet deadly squash borer bug). I did plant several cucumber plants, since my husband and I could not survive the summer without cucumber/onion salad. (I buy the sweet onions from our local grocer.)
Today, I went out early in the morning, thinking it would still be coolish. It wasn't. Summer has settled in with a vengeance, and we'll be sweating for a while! Those cucumber plants had already sent out their "feelers," encouraging them to wrap themselves on any sturdy prop. In order to keep the cucs off of the ground, I had to unwrap and "retrain" several of those delicate tendrils, tying them up higher on the plant cages and/or trellises. (I did that yesterday with our big, "Sun Gold, sweet cherry tomato plant, using my jute cord to bring that mangled mess into zen zone of growth. Before we know it, we'll be gobbling down those tasty little tomatoes, and enjoying my cucumber salad. I'd better stock up now on the white vinegar!
Now that I've got the vegetable garden weeded and looking well, it's time to work on the flower garden again. I weeded and mulched in the spring, when temperatures were more cooperative, but when watering today, I noticed that the crab grass is on the move again, doing what it does best…damn plant! And my hubby is a very messy grass cutter when it comes to my flower bed. He just uses the weed-whacker, which sends the mulch flying. It goes into the grass, and all over the driveway, and even across the driveway into the neighbor's grass, so I'll be out there later today with my broom and rake, trying to round-up the escaped mulch and clean things up as much as I can. That's what gardens are best for. Getting you out in the sun, soaking in those rays for some natural vitamin D production, while getting some good exercise. If you haven't started your garden(s), run to the plant nursery tomorrow, and get some advice on what would be good to plant in your yard. It's not too late, and you'll appreciate your handiwork (and some good, healthy sweating, as well as dirt under your fingernails!) for the rest of the season. Then plan ahead for next year, and sign up for some seed catalogs to be mailed to your house. And I will share my easy, cucumber salad recipe with anyone who asks!
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