UPDATE - photos

I've been looking forward to getting these papayas and marigolds planted since the beginning of Summer when I started solarizing the soil for root knot nematodes. In a few months I'll plant asparagus in between.


My other project yesterday was to install this sediment filter onto my well pump along with a shut-off ball valve. Now I won't have sediment clogging up the soaker hoses for the garden. I'll eventually build pvc feeders into my SFG boxes. 




Speaking of which... Here's my zucchini. I'll have to take more photos of everything else in the boxes. The cukes are growing fast, as well as the Seminole Pumpkin. I hope that by this coming weekend I'll have my trellises up. 

Dstack,  Good to hear from you.  And thanks for the updating photos.  Can't wait to see even more of your garden.   (Hint)

You sure a a handy fellow about the garden. I'll be interested to see your PVC watering rig once you get it going. Or even pics of the assembly process.

Cukes -  Like I said, I hope to get my lattes up this weekend.



Seminole Pumpkin/Squash - and yes, I've already had a few pests here. I've sprayed these with Garden Safe BT which works well with caterpillars and larvae.   



Collard Greens - I've got three of these that are about the same size.
 

sanderson wrote:Dstack,  Good to hear from you.  And thanks for the updating photos.  Can't wait to see even more of your garden.   (Hint)

Sanderson, in one of these threads we discussed how to keep the cats out of the boxes. I took your advice and built this cat sand box. And they love it! A little catnip helps too.  




The black one is Mo (Mojita) and the tortoiseshell is Kiki. She's a TALKER! We're glad these two precious souls chose our house as their home.

Fantastic!!! They are adorable. I was just telling DH that our cat needs an outdoor emergency box for when it rains. Little cover over it. But Sweetie would LOVE a roomy box to roll and snooze in! Maybe two of them. Knowing her, she will roll in the large one and, ahem, use the other. There are several catnip volunteers I could pot up, etc.

Do you have anything like squirrels or crows that like to eat garden goodies? I wonder how good the cats would be at keeping them away.

From what I understand, crows can be vicious, and because of their size, possibly dangerous to cats.

And yes, I've seen cats chase squirrels! Sometimes right up a tree. You wouldn't want a feline to catch one, however.

donnainzone10 wrote:From what I understand, crows can be vicious,

I have never before heard this........... nor have I observed such behavior in crows.

vi·cious
adjective
1. deliberately cruel or violent.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crow


Cats on the other hand............ My old Maine Coon cat used to bring me grey squirrels as gifts.  

I like the new cat sand box.

camprn wrote:
Cats on the other hand............ My old Maine Coon cat used to bring me grey squirrels as gifts.  

This was your cat being nice to you.

Ours brought rats. She was even nice enough to behead and disembowel them, and leave the head and guts in neat, separate piles. Really a lovely gesture and quite a generous thing to do.

I didn't have the heart to tell her we never actually ate any of it.

Sweetie brings tree/roof rats and fledgling doves. I have no idea how doves survive as a species. Their nests are flimsy (3 twigs and they call it good) and the young just flutter to the ground when they try to fly. The mockingbirds and bluejays used to just dive bomb her without mercy during nesting time.

Love cats. But you have to understand what makes them tick to truly appreciate them.

Marc Iverson wrote:

camprn wrote:
Cats on the other hand............ My old Maine Coon cat used to bring me grey squirrels as gifts.  

This was your cat being nice to you.

Ours brought rats.  She was even nice enough to behead and disembowel them, and leave the head and guts in neat, separate piles.  Really a lovely gesture and quite a generous thing to do.

I didn't have the heart to tell her we never actually ate any of it.

I know, he was a wonderful cat and was with me for 21 years and brought me many gifts. But when the squirrels arrived on the stoop it was always a surprise. He was a very good mouser too. 

Marc Iverson wrote:Do you have anything like squirrels or crows that like to eat garden goodies?  I wonder how good the cats would be at keeping them away.

We have squirrels that eye my garden from trees next door but they don't dare come into our garden. The cats are excellent at keeping them and crows away. I've also found a couple of dead rats in yard, thanks to the cats.

sanderson wrote:Sweetie brings tree/roof rats and fledgling doves.  I have no idea how doves survive as a species.  Their nests are flimsy (3 twigs and they call it good) and the young just flutter to the ground when they try to fly.  The mockingbirds and bluejays used to just dive bomb her without mercy during nesting time.

Love cats.  But you have to understand what makes them tick to truly appreciate them.

Those tomato horn worms like papaya plants too and once in a while I see a bluejay in the garden picking them off. He was a welcomed visitor, to say the least. 

I ADORE cats! I always have, and we have 5 3/4 cats inside. One is a tripod. LOL

dstack wrote:

Marc Iverson wrote:Do you have anything like squirrels or crows that like to eat garden goodies?  I wonder how good the cats would be at keeping them away.

We have squirrels that eye my garden from trees next door but they don't dare come into our garden. The cats are excellent at keeping them and crows away. I've also found a couple of dead rats in yard, thanks to the cats.

Nothing like opening the door to a dead mouse or bird they left as a gift, lol.

Shortly after I adopted her, my beautiful (now deceased) Maine Coon, Princess, apparently responding to my facetious request that she bring me a bird for Mothers' Day, actually brought me one--only a couple of days late.

cheyannarach wrote:

dstack wrote:

Marc Iverson wrote:Do you have anything like squirrels or crows that like to eat garden goodies?  I wonder how good the cats would be at keeping them away.

We have squirrels that eye my garden from trees next door but they don't dare come into our garden. The cats are excellent at keeping them and crows away. I've also found a couple of dead rats in yard, thanks to the cats.

Nothing like opening the door to a dead mouse or bird they left as a gift, lol.

I've unsuspectingly squished dead rodent innards between my toes when stepping outside quite a few times. Eventually you learn to look down, but sometimes you just forget, or you're going to go outside for JUST a second ...

donnainzone10 wrote:Shortly after I adopted her, my beautiful (now deceased) Maine Coon, Princess, apparently responding to my facetious request that she bring me a bird for Mothers' Day, actually brought me one--only a couple of days late.

How sweet and thoughtful!

Our dogs have done that with birds and rabbits too.

The first of my veggies in the new garden! I'm amazed at how quickly the zucchini started producing.






And the fennel is doing well too. The screen is there to keep the cats out until it fills in.

Beautiful! I love zucchini!

Question... are you going to have to cut the screen to get it away from the plants and off the bed?

Depending on how full I let the fennel grow before I lift it off. It's an old screen anyway so it's not a big loss if I have to cut it more.

cheyannarach wrote:


Nothing like opening the door to a dead mouse or bird they left as a gift, lol.

Funny how they place them ONE step out the door.  I've done some crazy dances to keep from stepping on the presents.

Okay.

I'm jealous....  We now have SNOW ( Northern Michigan)

I know I need to move -

Come on down to Florida! :-D

I've planted marigolds and mint among the fennel hoping to keep the bugs from coming back after I ANNIHILATED THEM!   

Yes, I know mint is invasive as everyone reminds me, but I would rather deal with cutting back the mint than dealing with these bugs! Mint can be cut back or replaced with a fresh sprig. 


Faded Pineapple Plant:


It's not serious, but just disappointed that the most mature of my four pinapple plants isn't as dark green as it use to be. Either it doesn't like MM, or I may have watered it too much. So a couple of weeks ago I've started on a schedule of light watering once a week. And of course it rained today right after I watered it. 


Beets: Doing fine, just growing slowly.




Kale: Also doing fine, just growing slowly. 




Collard Greens: Ditto




Parsley: Ditto




Onions: These were planted by seed. I'd prefer bulbs but my favorite nursery didn't have them yet. They should be in sometime this month. 




Papaya!:  Will be peaking over the fence soon.