Give Us a Break!

This week was supposed to be relatively dry, but I think the weather folks are just trying to break the news to us gently - it's raining, yet again. This morning it was about 55 degrees, which was 3 degrees better than yesterday, and we are pitiful enough at this point that that actually seemed like good news. The blue sky peeking among mostly clouds seemed like a good omen for the day, but then again, we always try to look on the bright side.

We managed to get some corn seed in. I (Serena) checked to find out the maturity dates on all of the seeds we are planting. The corn, Golden Bantam Improved, is supposed to be ready in 78 to 85 days. We also decided to try some Stowell's Evergreen, a white corn, which is supposed to be ready in 80 to 100 days. At this point we have resigned ourselves to the longest date out.

Adam is not quite two, and is interested in the garden for about 15 minutes, then it's time to do something else. Trista and I thought we could get the corn in, and we did manage to plant some before we needed to go for a walkabout, Adam style.


We walked along the road, admiring native plants we came upon. Adam found a great stick to drag along, too. We saw some beautiful honeysuckle. (Pictured above) I think it has lasted more this year than usual, so there are benefits to this cold and wet weather.


The vine maples (pictured above) are leafed out, and their shapes are so pretty, whether in leaf or without. There is a nice dogwood growing between the vine maples, which are at the edge of the drive in a grove of douglas firs.


The thimbleberry (pictured above) is blooming, and mixed in are mossy areas with ferns. Definitely a feast for the eye! While wandering back, Adam petted a soft-leafed plant, and then hugged it. That's what you do with soft things, don't you? It was one of those moments that you have a camera in your hand, and although you still aren't quick enough to capture it, the vivid memory remains.

I had good luck last year in planting pumpkin and squash among the corn, so we planted our seedlings there. One of our seedlings is pictured above. We have 4 different kinds. They are:

Lady Godiva ( 90-100 days)
Musquee de Provence (100-110 days)
Thelma Sanders Sweet Potato Squash (85-90 days)
Sweetmeat Hubbard (115 days)

That sounds like a lot of time, but since they are ready about the last of fall, we should make it. All we have to do with those is pick them when they are ready, and store them properly. We decided to get just one pumpkin for Halloween's sake - we hope there will be a perfect pumpkin for Adam.

Just about the time it began to rain, Trista finished getting the pepper plants in. One of our pepper seedlings is pictured directly above. We have:

Tolli's Sweet Italian (75-85 days from transplant)
Rooster Spur (95 days from transplant)
King of the North (70 days from transplant)
Ancho Gigantea (90 days from transplant)

We have high hopes for King of the North and the Sweet Italian, but it is going to be touch and go for the two others, as they are hot weather peppers, which doesn't seem to be our lot this year. I like the idea of the Anchos as they are fun to have stuffed, and the Rooster Spur looked pretty, so maybe we'll end up putting the plants in pots, which might warm them up too. For now, though, they are in the garden.

While Trista was making a mad dash to get the peppers in, I noticed our zucchini plants still in their pots so quickly dug some holes for them. The rain was beginning to dash us with giant drops, but our four zucchinis are tucked in the ground and getting watered in as I write.