July 2014 Garden Update

Still not happy about the low yield of a non wheat bale crop, but I am able to get something going. This week I lost the broccoli, most of the cabbage, the older corn, and the broccoli rabe to pests and too much moisture.It has been overly wet these past few weeks and with the automatic sprinklers on, the yard is starting to get slimy.

 

Pole Beans

Most of the sections of garden are a hodgepodge of things this set has tomatoes of varying types, basil, oregano, and cucumber

Love my bees!

Roma type tomatoes

By this time last year I had triple the amount of zucchini. But at least I get some.

We have a lot of aphids this year, Working on getting rid of them, the seem to like the okra, so I don't get as many pretty blooms

Corn, sunflowers, pumpkins, and cantaloupe on side of house. Had to net up these to prevent movers from destroying the crop.

Front yard

Elephant ears.....compare the leaf with the door....YES they are HUGE! — in Augusta, GA.

 Cantaloupe and watermelon weave their way all through the front garden.

Joshua with the giant elephant ears to give you scale as to how big they are.

Joshua's Splashin' 11th Birthday

We had a great birthday party last weekend with Josh...Jay and I were so exhausted afterwards! Here are some pictures! I set up a huge team course over 2 yards and we ate birthday snow cones. Josh was so happy to celebrate with friends!

Here are 11 amazing facts about Joshua:

1. Joshua received the most improved student in the fourth grade this year! We are so proud at how he overcomes his learning disability time and time again!
2. Joshua still loves to cuddle with Mom. I don't know how long this will last, but I will take it as long as I can get it.
3. Joshua is the sweetest of the brothers. ~Beth
4. Joshua is the most compassionate boy I have ever met. Joshua is good at making friends.
5. Joshua is a great chick flick watching buddy.
6. Joshua plays the viola, NOT the violin.
7. Joshua is an early bird. He often is up and completely ready, with breakfast and shoes out for all of us, before I even roll over to hit my alarm.
8. Joshua has to touch everything. It's how he figures things out. Often he will have things figured out by touching it faster than I can by reading the instructions.
9. Joshua is obsessed with Skylanders and Minecraft He also likes Beyblades, Pokemon, and Yu-gi-oh. I have had to hear countless of lectures about all of these.
10. Joshua loves to talk - which sometimes is a hard thing because he doesn't always think like most of us - and it takes him a while to get to his point, but it almost always a good point.
11. Joshua loves to laugh. He loves slap stick comedy. He is a great joker. I love his laugh and smile.

I can't wait for next year so I can add more about my wonderful little man. I am constantly in awe the way he looks and reacts to the world. We are so proud of him and love him so very much. Happy 11th Birthday Josh!

Garden Update May 2014

I may or may not garden next year, so you must all excuse me if I've gone overboard. I am also still lamenting the nonavailability of wheat straw bales, so it's been difficult getting it all going in containers of in the already bald spots in the yard. But here are the pictures. Please excuse the longer lawn...our lawn mower is at the lawn mower hospital getting repaired and having it's blade sharpened. We are already enjoying leaf lettuce, strawberries, peas, and spinach.

Corn, lettuce, broccoli, and miscellaneous (aka I forgot)

Zucchini in the front of the big planter

Tomatoes (I forget what kind) and watermelon on this side

Still waiting for the cabbage, I am starting to think it is a failure as a crop again.

Peas and carrots

Strawberry and bean patch

Still haven't seen any life out of the celery plants.

The nursery - mostly baby tomatoes

Newest bed by side of house. I had to leave an indent so the housing office could access all the neighborhood meters

this bed has 3 types of sunflowers, 2 types of corn, cantaloupes and pumpkins

Front yard - I expanded the veggie garden to the front of the house too

the last of the blueberry bushes. All others died out.

I love these mammoth elephant ears

the only artichoke baby to survive the nursery

See the swirly colors of green, yellow and blue?