Some excitement last night and ho hum today

 Weather on repeat until further notice. 

I decided to take Rocky out after dark because it was a wonderful temperature and he was scratching at the screen to get out. Put his harness and leash on because I know what he might chase. Headed for the parking lot, he chased a few tiny crickets then wanted to follow the fence, which I didn't so yanked him and we headed back to the grass and patio. He wandered a bit then something caught his eye at the small patio wall in the ivy. Something was moving. I didn't see it from my vantage point and though probably a rat or mouse. Whatever it was, wasn't moving very fast and that concerned me. Rocky wasn't 'pointing' like he does when something is moving he wants to catch, more like curiosity of 'what the heck is this?'. I got closer, didn't see anything immediately, heard a throat rumble and thought it was either my cat or my stomach, looked around some more and a tuft of grey fur moved. Holy crap.... then the head moved back and forth, opossum! No pictures because I forgot my phone.

I let Rocky look for about five more seconds and then the possum started sticking it's head up further and I went 'oh hell no' and yanked rocky off the wall where he was observing. He, of course protested much but I told him you do not want to tangle with a possum, I don't have the money for a vet visit and possible rabies treatment. So that was exciting. I saw the assistant manager at the patio when I went to look in the spot where it had been and let them know there had been a possum there last night. Needless to say they were in mild disbelief and then 'wouldn't be surprised' attitude. 

I know common animals dammit, don't doubt me. Meanwhile, back in the garden. I have a full scrap bucket and forgot to bring it down with me again. But first, flowers.

Half decent pictures of the roses this time. Subdued sunset lighting helps.

Sunflower is shedding pollen like crazy, this is a picture before I accidentally plucked one of the top petals trying to move it. Coming up next, the tragedy of the tomatoes.

 

I swear I'm just going to yank that whole bush down really soon. I have not gotten any full size tomatoes off it and despite letting it go dry it is only turning up with blossom rot on the fruit.

All of them. 

The zinnias are doing okay, getting big enough to consider making flowers now but still not big enough technically. End of the month that bed will be cleared and dug up some more and the remaining bagged soil tossed in with several handfuls of fertilizer. I suppose if I want to start seeds I need to start now for lettuces but still feel it's too soon. 

Lettuce grows rather rapidly and if they get to a size that I need to transplant before the weather is conducive it will be a bad situation.

 

The little spider is still there, last seen day before yesterday but the webs are strung between the two tomatoes there, can't see it well despite me just watering them. And then there's the other sad tomato bed. I think I will yank that one sooner than the others because the only thing in this bed are the two tomatoes.

Dolores' lacy kale that she says she found two more worms on it last night. Her squash and tomatoes are doing fine, the tomatoes are still putting out flowers but it's really strung out like it was in too much shade. Will see if she manages to set some soon. If not I'll suggest to her to look for some of the dwarf type for next time. Oh I also told her there was a problem with the soil in the bed along the wall. Not sure what and she (she is not a native English speaker, she might be Mediterranean/Hispanic) nodded and said 'oh?' Not much she can do to help but was just giving her fair warning.

This time of year the shade from the wall is getting deeper and the sun is starting to set earlier which means anything growing along that wall has to be shade tolerant at least. Time to start thinking about cilantro, onions and potatoes I guess. Not going to be planting there I think but if I were that would be what would go there. I don't have a comprehensive soil test that includes calcium unfortunately and don't have the money to pay for one. Will have to do another dose of the liquid calcium on both beds just because I have it and make sure not to get it on the leaves.

If I were entirely dependent on the plants in the ground I would be in a worse state than I am. As it is, I can correct the issue in the west bed for the next crops to go in and  hopefully that will be good. I should do a test on the finished compost as well just to see what it's balance is. Other than that, have to review what I can plant and when. September and October are the go months.

Will see what happens and what I end up with.