Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Watch Out, The Compost Is Flying!

Papa Pea got a bee in his bonnet regarding rearranging our compost bins, and he's been tearing into it for a couple of days now.

He's cleaning out the chicken house, dropping pit included, of course, and the birds' solarium.  All this goodness is being distributed in a couple of different spots along with weeds and vegetation I've been tearing out of the garden.  There's a patch of black dirt he's also using for layering all this bounty.

Like I say, beware when out in the yard or you'll get run down by a madman on a mission wielding a wheelbarrow and shovel!

I don't usually have much luck with any "fall" planting because we get zapped with a killing frost before anything matures.  Hasn't stopped me yet from putting seeds into bare spots in the garden though.  Where there is a gardener, there is hope!

We've actually been having some warm (HOT for us!) weather the past couple of weeks.  Temps way up in the 80s during the day.  Lots of humidity, too, but we're trying to deal with that without getting too cranky.  It's been just wonderful for the garden.  The one thing I always miss is being able to use the oven to bake in the warmest of our summer weather.  Our house does stay remarkably cool even on the hottest days, but I don't want to take the chance on heating up our naturally air-conditioned dwelling.  We haven't had one single night this summer that has been uncomfortable for good sleeping, and we'd both just as soon keep it that way.

Don't look now, folks, but I may actually get some flowers to bloom yet this season.  The sweet peas are letting me have a peek at a couple of flower stalks.


I have a few zinnias with nice blossom heads on them.  (These are the seeds you sent me, Sue.)


Buds, actual BUDS, on my cosmos!


And will you look at these nasturtiums that I was afraid were going to be all foliage?  What a plethora of lovely blooms!

15 comments:

Mark said...

Might be contagious! I've been a bit disgruntled with the condition of our compost piles, too. They just haven't floated to the top of the to-do list yet. Let see.... Kid's car fixing, barn door fixing, lawn mowing, bean and tomato picking, weeding, coop cleaning, compost piles.... Nope. Won't be this week!

Nasturtiums look great!

Susan said...

I love the foliage on those nasturtiums! Mine are plain vanilla green. My flowers did not turn out well, but it was my first go at it (having rigidly demanded food out of everything I plant). Gardens sure love hot, steamy weather - wish I did...

Susan said...

P.S. Could ya send Papa Pea down here when he's done? I got a chicken coop that needs cleaning and lots of piles of compost that need fluffing... :)

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

I plant nasturtiums around my squash plants, but I still get bugs. I do think they are pretty. This would have been a excellent week to get our wood re-stocked, but Hubby worked over every night and I'm not even sure who has borrowed the wood splitter yet. Hubby might. We need to get crackin' on it.

Sue said...

The nasturtiums are GORGEOUS! Wow!! I've never had luck with them. You certianly know the secret!

Lisa said...

I'm with Sue that your nasturtiums are GORGEOUS! Crossing fingers for you that your zinnias open up soon!!

Sandy Livesay said...

Mama Pea,

When Papa Pea is done at your place and Susan's send him this way too :-)
It's great to have your husband taking care of the compost and garden beds for you.
I'm thinking once every thing is done growing in my garden beds, I'm not planting anything else until next spring. I may just take a break until then.
I'm pretty sure you're going to have all these beautiful flowers blooming before you know it.

Savicious said...

Your husband is so nice to you, so great to hear from you.
Love the blossoms!

would you like to follow each other? Let me know!

http://savicious-photography.blogspot.com/

Mama Pea said...

Mark - I'm not sure how this compost job thingie got moved to the top of my husband's list . . . I do know he's been talking about making these changes for a couple of years though. At any rate, good to be getting it done. Good luck reaching it on your list!

Mama Pea said...

Susan - I just know he'd love to come clean out your chicken coop, but he reports he's had his quota of playing in chicken poop for many moons! :o)

Mama Pea said...

Kristina - Methinks you'd better track down that wood splitter pdq! When we were doing all of our wood, I commented so many times that it would have been such an impossibility without the wood splitter!

Mama Pea said...

Sue - Shhhh. Don't tell anyone, but this is the first time I've had good luck with nasturtiums. Sure hope it continues!

Mama Pea said...

Lisa - I talk to my zinnias every day but they don't seem to want to open. They're teasing me!!!

Mama Pea said...

Sandy - Yes, I don't really envy those of you who can garden most every month of the year. Our season is short but very intense so that by the time it's done, I am too!!

Mama Pea said...

Savicious - We've always worked as a team which couldn't be a better arrangement as far as I'm concerned. Without his help I could never manage the big garden I do!