Happy Fall Equinox Y'all!

It was clear and sunny with not a cloud in the sky today. It warmed up enough this afternoon we had to close up and turn on the AC. When that sun comes over the building and blasts the wall....didn't help I used the oven to cook some chicken but it was only for a few hours. All is dark and cool and fall feeling now. Having it cool at night is making it much easier to sleep well. 

 

There was a free mulch/compost event starting this week from the SD Green Waste. Luckily one of the locations was a fifteen minute drive from where I live. My only problem was collecting sufficient containers that would bring home enough.

I used what I had as much as possible. Bags would work as well but harder to shovel compost into. This compost was drier than a popcorn fart and very dusty so I didn't want to waste bags too much. I had hoped that there would be yard type garbage bags in the rec room but the assistant manager brought out the same kind of kitchen trash bags I have. I used them to line most the crate and then dumped out the orange bucket that had my collection of trashed plastic containers and the cat litter bucket. Had to bring my own shovel too and at least remembered my moving gloves (cotton gloves with black rubber dots on both sides)

I first was just going to leave the soil as is in the crate, putting one of the log pieces on top to deter critters. I then decided to take the bags out and just use the crate to put all the compost in as a planter..... well it being very dry and dusty... that wasn't such a good idea. I happened on the cardboard box on the patio and it just so happens to fit perfectly. I'm concerned about the larger slots on the side but once the compost gets wet I think it'll work out okay. I'm hoping to use it for potatoes or maybe bulb onions. All that compost needs to be wet down thoroughly and guess what doesn't reach all the way to the end of the garden anymore? I also covered the orange bucket with a bag and hope that will deter any diggers. 

So all totaled I think I might have gotten maybe enough compost to fill the crate.  Not nearly enough to replenish the raised bed. Enough for adding to the south bed a little and definitely will be saving some for the west bed when everything is done. That raised bed will have to wait until I can get some bags of actual potting soil to go in there. Can't do anything with the west bed right now though because everything is still growing.

So this little critter was on my screen this morning, I think it's one of the fig beetles and about 3/4 inch long. I tried to flick the screen to scare it off but it just shifted position. Funny how those pictures are taken almost the same time but different angles, the close up is angled more to the north so some clouds are visible in the sky but nothing in the other one. 

That was my excitement for the day. I might dump all the compost into the crate box and go get two more containers tomorrow. The compost is fine as an additive into native dirt but would need some perlite and maybe some larger bits or some native soil if I wanted to put it into the crate for growing. 

Yay for dirt!

Many things and Manny sighting

 The weather has taken a turn for the cooler! It's only going to be in the high 80's in the next four days other than that in the mid to high 70's with very chilly nights dipping into the 50's. Huzzah for fall weather! This also means that garden beds are staying moist longer and one particular bed is now in shade from noon on.

Yes indeed, cloudy cool weather that I will not be complaining about. It may get down into the 50's during the day in the winter and colder at night but I can always throw a blanket on and wear more layers. Hot weather you can only strip down so far before it's indecent exposure.

Overcast mornings with just a hint of moisture in the air that smells like rain. I finally shook the bushes enough I caught sight of Manny heading for better hiding place. So he's there, just very very good about hiding in the leaves and branches. 

You would think as good as that bed looks I would be having a bumper crop year but not so much. I have one small tomato on that tiny plant, which Layla actually thanked me for. I don't know why since she's not paying attention to that or the other one that I pulled out. I put lots of logs and pieces of bark in the bed to keep out whatever critter was getting in there and so far it's successful. Keeping the chicken wire in the other two beds full time.

I picked up the bark and branches to water and discovered the only critters in the soil is still millipedes. They aren't going to harm anything so I'm not concerned about them being in there. The leaves and logs I put down as a base is likely broken down a great deal and I know there's worms in there somewhere so it's okay.

At first I was both pleased and disappointed two Fish peppers were coloring and then discovered the holes from some microscopic bug. That caused them to age rapidly so I pulled them off but there are still two more that are progressing just fine.

They're staring to show more pronounced stripes and the poblano is not being burned with the cooler weather. I picked the two tomatoes yesterday because they were starting to color but also showing signs of sunburn. They are currently in a bowl with garlic and peppers on the counter getting riper.

I had to water again today and did it from about six feet away from the bed. Seriously. I mentioned to Layla maybe we can all pool our money for a new hose. She didn't understand a word I said apparently because all she did was smile and say 'oh yeah?'. I tried to also mention it to Dolores and again, less then involved or aware of what I was saying. I suspect what I have to do is either buy it myself in two weeks or when I see Dolores have to stand firmly in front of her and speak clearly and slowly. Not be a pleasant garden person but a concerned gardener. The shortened length isn't a problem for her, all her plants are near the hose, same with Layla. 

I actually caught Dolores yesterday as she was moving things around and that's when I asked about the hose, then when I was finishing walking with Rocky I saw her moving pots of soil/compost and asked if I could have a bucket of her soil for one of the beds, she said sure and almost started handing me one of the pots I told her to put it near the bed at the end of the wall.  So when I got back it was a 5 gallon bucket of home made compost and soil. She said there might be snails in it but I had dumped it out already. Oh well. I thought I saw something that looked like a slug as I did that but wasn't worried. I spread it around as best I could using the cultivator then put the chicken wire protection back on. I watered it yesterday and it was still damp today. That will be a cilantro, onion and lettuce bed.

I wish I had used more patience when I lined that bed and the West bed with chicken wire. I'm losing about six inches of growing space due to not making the corners square but I was very angry at the gophers. There's enough room to plant what I need and thanks to that compost it should hopefully be sufficient for the seeds/plants to thrive more than survive. 

So lots of little things and the big weather news, right now it's clear and warm but a bit smoke hazy and windy. I heard the hawks calling again today, it sounds like they keep coming back to this neighborhood hopefully finding a new tree to use. Or maybe they found one not far from here and are just circling. The parrots are migrating back and forth again which is always fun and I managed to get a less than 30 second clip of them flying over the garden. And once again it's being difficult to get it uploaded, oh well will try again next time.

 

 

Well it's definitely fall now, sort of.

 But not for long. It is very nippy outside at night, I even wish I had long pants to slip into but the temps are going to ease back up to the high 80's in a week so may not need long pants for a while. It has been very windy the last few days while it was partly cloudy, go figure. And now that the wind is gone, skies are clear and hot weather is coming back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not really falling leaves but branches eaten bare from the caterpillars. Poor trees, I now understand why there are branches that are totally naked on those trees. Not from age but from being eaten naked. And the Chinese Flame trees are in bloom and seed. This was in the park near the school and shows a younger tree just in full bloom but an older one is in glorious scarlet coloring of the seed pods.

 

 I finally cut down and pulled out the tomatillos in the south bed. I got a bit of a surprise when I did because most of the roots were in a flat plane about an inch thick near the surface. No deep roots at all which means that all the moisture was near the surface, which makes sense considering the way I was watering. I almost lost my clippers because I picked up the stack of branches and the roots and then dropped them on the sidewalk near the entrance of the garden while I used the cultivator to smooth things. I then realized they were not in my pockets nor anywhere obvious. Whew! I found them in the bundle of branches. So other than needing compost that bed is ready for onions and lettuces.

 

Meanwhile, another incursion by most likely a skunk looking for grubs which are not there. There were also other marks in the south bed and this time, something got into the raised bed.

 

So, I suspect the damage in the raised bed was actually a cat because there was heavy paw prints right at the base of the trellis and a little scraping here and there. Possums can't jump that far and that neatly and I don't think Raccoons would bother.

 

Some of the tomato branches were folded over as before and there was some small digging spots at the back and in the corner behind the onion. The small tomato that was in the East corner I finally  just pulled up.

 I put so much stuff in that bed I'd like to see whatever it is try and climb or dig there. It was traumatic for the onion and fish pepper unfortunately. I had to crumple the chicken wire and fold it down best I could. The white short rack I've been using for putting the seedling trays on and then big pieces of bark and some pots along the edges. See what happens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, I used the other piece of chicken wire again crumpled a bit to make it fit and add more to the obstacle and then the broken trowel at the East end then behind the tomatillos I placed the remains of that lodge pole that's been sitting around. The south bed is watered and waiting until after the hot weather at first. Then I realized the light had changed.

 

These pictures were taken a little after noon. The bed is completely in shade by noon now so despite the heat coming back on the weekend it should be perfect for green onions and maybe lettuce after the weekend. I watered it very well so will see how long it takes for it to dry out.

But I still don't have any compost to mix in the soil!

I'm sure there's likely some dirt type compost at the bottom of the buckets...the very bottom, but that would mean figuring out how to dump them out and mix everything before putting the dry stuff back in.

I still don't have a tarp or even yard bags to use. I could ask Dolores if I can use some of hers, she's offered a few times but I noticed she has a Miracle Grow bag of all purpose soil and then her own compost. I have to get out there way early in the morning if I want to catch her, I am too shy to just go knocking on her door.

So that's the excitement, late summer animals and crop change over. Still no Manny sighting, either he's gone or hiding really well.

Been busy, not much happening but weather.

 I was out all day yesterday visiting a friend and the day started out rather cloudy and cool I still only have shorts to wear so I hoped it would warm up, which it did. It was a lovely day and still is where we are, still cloudy and breezy and at 2 pm, only in the mid to high 70's. Absolutely heaven!

Three days ago when I was on my walk, clear blue skies but mild temperature. I just had to take a picture of that palm tree and 'mountain' in the distance. Today, clouds horizon to horizon in varying shades of grey and white. Such a relief!

 

So, three days ago got out to the garden and something had been very industrious digging around in the west bed. Unearthed the pepper and dug all along the front and a little to the sides and back. One of the peppers seemed to have been burned and then I realized it was likely blossom end rot, oh well. I know there's a possum in the neighborhood for sure so it's just mildly frustrating. I replanted the pepper and moved the soil around so everything survived. I also noticed that little tradescantia that I had planted was dug up and frankly, didn't care so I tossed it.

The tomatoes are... surviving. I actually pulled the large one that was coloring up this morning. Again it was a case of not holding on very tight and came off in my hand, which as it should be.

It was starting to get a little sunburned where my thumb is holding it. Just like the later season romas from last year. Still no sight of Manny for the past three or four days, he's hiding really well now. Probably a bit skittish from me jostling the bushes to find him.

So Dolores didn't just cut off a short piece of the hose. She then cut of another chunk which shortened it by at least two more feet. The hose doesn't even reach the raised bed now and I used to be able to walk to the jade bush with it fully stretched. Very frustrating to say the least. A new good hose would probably be about $30. I personally would want a short wand on it as well but that's just me. Wonder if I can convince her to pitch in 10 dollars and I'll go buy another one this time. 

I hate it when people don't listen to my advice and then something worse happens caused by their stubbornness or ignorance. I don't think I'm going to have any free money next month so will have to keep surviving on what we have.