Cold First Day of July

The the month of July is usually warm with temperatures in the upper 80's and 90's. Not so today. The high temperature is 66 and the overnight low is 51. It should warm up in the next couple of days. We're still waiting for rain according to the meteorologists we should get some before the end of the week.

The vegetable garden is growing rapidly. I bought another basil plant on Friday to plant near the Brandywine Tomatoes and hopefully stop the insect damage. The wilted tomato plant didn't survive, so the basil is going in it's place. I'm still having some trouble with something digging in the dirt and around the plants. We're going to put chicken wire around the bottom of the fence to try and stop the chipmunks from sneaking in.
Dad finished the gate yesterday. He took a piece of fence and remade it into a very nice gate. I'll take pictures tomorrow. He also attached a piece of lattice to the south end of the fence to serve as a windbreak. The lattice was only 8 feet wide, and the fence is approximately 14 feet wide, so he put some slats through the spaces left in the fence to break the wind. Next year I will try planting some clematis or morning glories to hide the lattice and provide some extra protection from the wind.

I've started collecting Cleome seeds. The Rose Campion is also producing seeds, and should be ready for harvest soon. The 4 o' clocks haven't grown much, but I think a good rain shower will fix that. The Double Click Cosmos is amazing! The flower petals start off rolled into little cones that gradually open over a few days. The package described double and semi-double flowers, but they look more like a variety called Sea Shells. They're pretty anyway. Maybe when the plants get taller the blooms will improve; they're still pretty short. I'm still waiting for the Calendula to bloom, and most of it is still pretty droopy.

I'm sure everything will perk up as soon as we get a good rainstorm, however as this quote so aptly puts it: "Despite the gardener's best intentions, Nature will improvise." ~Michael P. Garafalo, gardendigest.com

Farewell~
Sarah

I Can Finally Plant!!!!

As you probably figured out, I'm very excited! The beds are finished, and a friend came over to help my Dad and I put up the fence. Right now it has a fence with a temporary gate, to keep all the little critters out. We're working on a more permanent gate, but since we really need to get the garden planted the temporary one will have to do for now. I'm planning on planting my tomatoes tomorrow, and any other seeds I have time for (hopefully all of them). We still need to buy some plants: Zucchini, Peppers, and a Cherry Tomato plant. I still haven't gotten around to taking pictures, but I will search for the camera and take some tomorrow before and after I plant.

Farewell,
Sarah