___________________________________________________________________________
One of the fun things about gardening is that you can never predict the exact outcome of a planted seed. Even seedless things insist on having seeds in them sometimes. Such was the case with the mother of this watermelon, apparently seedless, it had only one. This series of photos were taken on Sept.19th, 25th, Oct. 25th and 27th, and Nov. 16th (2008).
I haphazardly plunked a few avocado pits into the soil six years ago and one of them is now over seven feet high. However, it’s too close to the house and if I had known it would grow three feet in height and width this past summer I would have transplanted it somewhere smarter early last Spring.
In the South there are no basements and the foundations of houses are more susceptible to cracking and deterioration; maintenance and prevention is critical. Now, Avocados are supposed to develop fruit the seventh year…this one possibly next year. What to do? Should I move it next Spring to some location with completely different light and soil conditions and risk it dying, or allow it to do what it will and perhaps enjoy a few home-grown avocados (a dream come true for a northern gardener), knowing that next year’s roots will be anticipating serious business as far as where they establish themselves…most likely in our foundation and the accompanying sprinkler system. The best decision is to move it sooner than later. We may not live here long enough to enjoy the fruits of our labor, but hopefully this tree will reestablish itself and produce fruit sometime soon, and it’s cool to think that someone – whoever, whenever – will enjoy fresh avocados from it.
If you can grow tomatoes in Texas, I figure you can grow anything. If the plants manage to survive Summer’s 105* F heat they will still not produce tomatoes on those leggy vines until November.
One day in July when I was outside tending to yard work, my neighbor came shrieking out of her yard with a tone higher than her usual typically high octave that native Texan women have. All the fuss was about a tomato presenting itself in her garden, and she was mighty excited about it. She told me that someone told her that someone else told them that throwing used coffee grounds on the base of the plant will do the trick. I had heard about putting coffee grounds on rose bushes and do know the goodness that composting provides, but for fear of attracting snakes, rats or scorpions into my yard – which I’ve never seen but apparently they exist here – I have not kept a compost at all in this garden. I’m not fond of the idea of Snake Surprise. Anyway, coffee grounds have regularly been sprinkled on the tomato patch since July, plus this particular plant was propped up onto a bird bath stand. It’s November on the verge of frosty nights and the fruits are looking quite healthy. Next year the tomatoes will have the advantage of this years’ supply of the ol’ Texas coffee-ground-trick a lot earlier in the growing season. I can hardly wait for next year’s giant tomatoes to appear in June.
We were away for two weeks and forgot to turn the sprinkler system on before leaving, so I thought the Green Anoles might have moved to greener pastures. Fortunately they are still thriving; here one is staying cool and safe inside a large Canna Lily leaf, a leaf that I nearly cut off while clearing out dead and dying plants.
Kudzu, an invasive vine species covers trees in Southern USA, here in Tennessee, creating miles of sculptural shapes.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Awesome Sunflower seed-head, 12 inch diameter, and healthy Cantaloupe, Lewisville TX
___________________________________________________________________________
Scarlet Runner bean vines overtake this abandoned barn in Denton Texas
The best heart-shaped items reveal themselves when I’m not searching for them at all.
After two weeks away, one of the first things I did was inspect the garden, most curious about the cucumbers, because it’s the first year they’ve survived this far into the season. There I was at midnight, feeling around in the dark, and found a cucumber that had grown from 1/2 inch long to 8″L X 3″ wide during that short time. I expected to find a virtual Jack And The Bean Stalk situation this morning, but all the other cukes are average-sized. The heart-shaped cookie cutters I placed around some veggies have fallen off, so will have to try again; now able to monitor the progress of growth.
Everything in the garden looks 10 times as beautiful with water on it.
