Re: [gardeners] Saturday in the garden - maybe
Annetta Green (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Sat, 20 Jan 2001 10:38:03 -0500
Wow George,
It sounds like the cold that is headed this way has already hit where you
are. Yesterday it hit 86*F here, and was a beautiful day to work outside.
I helped my FIL clean out some of his walkways, as the freeze had caused a
lot of fall over to block them. I did not clean up to much as to leave the
dead leaves to protect the plants from the cold that is supposed to get here
tonight. Temps in the low 30's are expected. It is 65* right now, and
supposed to stay about there all day with the cold coming in later this
evening.
At home I have done less cleaning up. There are a lot of marginal plants
that may not make it despite being wrapped up each cold night. The blankets
are ready to go back out this afternoon to try to at least save the roots.
What makes it harder is the severe watering restrictions that have been
implemented. We are only allowed to water two days a week from 6 to 10 am,
and asked to only use one of those days. I disconnected and capped any of
the sprinkler heads that water the lawn and only am getting the flower beds,
as they need it more. My lawn may be a dust bowl before this is all over.
I am afraid to plant anything out there as they will not get watered as
needed, and have already lost some of the biennials that were put out last
fall. I am not sure the poppies will make it either. They had started to
germinate and despite the wet today, they may not get enough water to
survive. The pond out back (natural) is dry as a bone, something I have not
seen ever before.
Even the animals are feeling it. Bears have begun to wander into our
neighborhood. One was seen walking out of the garage two doors down
carrying a big bag of dog food. We found where he spent the night after
finishing all of it off. Another neighbor has been confronted three
separate times with bears on the back porch, going after their dog food. He
now has two holes in the porch screen, one where the bears have come in and
one where his dog went out. His house backs up to a huge nature area.
There are at least 3 different animals according to the state animal
control. The tell us not to confront them, they are looking for easy food
and water. They are naturally lazy and will not attack healthy animals and
we should keep the dog food inside to keep them from coming back.
We need rain. I am actually looking forward to hurricane season.
Anne in FL
sunset 26, zone 9b
----- Original Message -----
From: Shirley,George <gshirley@deltech.net>
To: Gardeners List <gardeners@globalgarden.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2001 8:48 AM
Subject: [gardeners] Saturday in the garden - maybe
> Got up about 0400 this morning so went out to get the paper while the
coffee was
> brewing. There was a heavy frost on the grass and on the roof so went
around
> back to check the garden, same thing there. Greenhouse was a cozy 40F but
the
> ambient temp was 31F and, by 6:30, was 29F. Boy, do I wish La Nina would
come
> back. I can stand the drought better than I can the cold. I was so cold
this
> morning I was whistling up stray dogs and offering them a place in the bed
with
> us. That blasted Sleepy Dawg had the best place, sleeping in between Miz
Anne
> and I. She had the nerve to snore too. She generally gets up when I do but
this
> morning she just stuck her head out from under the covers and then ducked
back.
>
> Lots of housework to do today to catch up from the week. Have to get that
> kitchen cleaned up and wash the clothes again. Already vacuumed yesterday
and
> would like to pick up leaves with the mower but it's still to wet out.
>
> The broccoli is heading up nicely but still no curds on the cauliflower.
The
> cabbage is about gone, these small heads (make a good meal for two) get
eaten up
> regularly around here. Reckon if I grow Savoy Express next year I will
have to
> plant twice as much. The fennel is bulbing as are the kohlrabit but not at
the
> pick 'em and eat 'em stage yet. Carrots are still a wee bit small to start
> pulling. Got plenty of scallions though. Picked a bunch yesterday. Used
three or
> four in a spaghetti sauce I made and chopped the rest. They're residing on
a
> cookie sheet in the freezer and will get bagged today. Miz Anne made a
nice
> salad to go with the spaghetti using lettuce, scallion, chard, fennel
leaves,
> and a small broccoli head from the garden. We all had a nice dinner from
all of
> that. The sauce had low-fat smoked sausage in it versus other meats and I
used
> the last pint of the spaghetti sauce I made last summer. Better get warm
soon,
> we're down to our last pint of green beans. Still got lots of jellies,
jams, and
> preserves though, and we never run out of canned carrots.
>
> Better go vote and then come back and jump on that housework. Hope all
have a
> productive day.
>
> George
>