But my main goal was to get the potatoes hilled. The picture above is Before Hilling.
And, in logical order, After Hilling (The two pictures were taken from opposite ends of the three 25' rows. Sorry if I caused undue consternation or confusion.)
I took what was most likely my last picking of rhubarb yesterday. I usually quit harvesting it by mid-summer and I've set the date of July 4th as mid-summer, although we have more summer-like weather after the 4th than before it. (Am I making any sense?)
Anywho, the poor plant now looks as if it has been struck by lightning and needs to be shipshaped up a bit. Actually, we did have darn high winds again on Monday and Tuesday of this week that didn't do several things in the garden any good. I'll tell you more about that tomorrow. It just doesn't make a lot of sense. Here we sit, surrounded by heavy woods on all sides so you wouldn't think we'd get blasted with that much wind. But. We do. (Sigh.) Frequently.
Before I sign off, a report on the homeopathic tablet to repel mosquitoes I took this morning before going out to work on firewood. Didn't work. Although after the first mosquito nailed me, as he took off with a full tank of my blood I do think I heard him say, "Pa-tooie! Yuck, that tasted awful." I'm going to give it another test run to see if I get the same results. Today, I gave up in short order and had hubby spray my exposed skin with what seems to be doing the best job for us this summer . . . "Buzz Away."
Looks like nice soil, mine is too hard to hill up like that.
ReplyDeleteSunnybrook Farm - So how do you "hill" your taters? With mulch?
DeleteI have no idea what your post was about. Even after reading it twice. Kept looking at your garden filled with dirt. Wonderful, beautiful dirt.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn - We all have our crosses to bear . . . yours seems to be NO DIRT! You're to be given a lot of credit for what you manage to do without it!
DeleteGlad you can get out there and work in your gardens. Weeds don't stand a chance in your gardens, they are pristine!!! I've heard that lavender oil keeps mosquitoes away. I've never tried it. If you find something that works let me know, camping is coming up and mosquitoes love me. The only thing that works for me is DEET and I don't want to use that stuff.
ReplyDeleteSparkless - I know! DEET did a good job at what it was supposed to do. But I sure don't want to use that stuff anymore!
DeleteHere in the southwestern desert (especially in drought) mosquitos are not much of a problem. Standing water anywhere evaporates too quickly! In the mountains above us, it's a different story but here on the valley floor, it is little buzzing, mind-torturing gnats that will drive you batty!! Hubby recently bought Skin so Soft (an old Avon product) at a garage sale. It's a bit oily on the skin (maybe I used too much) but it worked really well. No gnats or biting deer flies bothered me while I toiled in the garden. You can still purchase it on Amazon and other sites. Hope this helps and glad you are over your ear problem.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - I could never use Skin So Soft because I'm really sensitive to some odors and that stuff gives me a nauseating headache. Avon has now come out with a bug repellant they call Skin So Soft Bug Guard. But it has that same smell that lays me flat. I know the problem is we have a lot of lakes and streams and water in our area where the bugs just love to live and procreate!
DeleteI'm with Carolyn...Such "pretty" dirt.
ReplyDeleteBTW...I'm still using the Downey dryer sheet taped to my shirt. Seems to help. The bastards can chew me up even with long sleeves and pants on but I was out yesterday at 6am picking beans and cutting flowers, wafting Downey.
Only one bite and that on my jawline.
Tami - Dirt can be "pretty" to a gardener, can't it?
DeleteMy next trip to town I'm buying a package of Downey dryer sheets. I am even willing to tape six or seven on my body if they do the trick!
Your garden looks great. I need to give mine more attention after I make pickles, and can the jalapenos. Now I know why there is more daylight in Summer, so much to do!
ReplyDeleteThe hubs and I look like we have a spotted disease from all the chigger and mosquito bites. We have them in places you wouldn't think they could even get to :/
Kelly - Isn't it just exhausting how much there is to do in the summer? Especially if (like all of the rest of us crazies) you're into gardening and preserving. There. Is. No. End. To. What. Needs. To. Be. Done!!!
DeleteBe careful with all of those bites. All that poison in your system isn't good!
I'm heading out to hill up my tades today too (although late for me). Hubby has been going to work earlier, and working overtime, so the garden is on me alone this summer. It's been very frustrating to say the least, considering I do the canning too. The girls do help pick berries for me.
ReplyDeleteKristina - I know what you're saying. And yet, growing (and preserving) as much of our own food as we can is so, so important for the health of us and our families. But how the heck do you get all the "regular" household stuff done when there is the garden and canning to do? Let alone finding any time for the handwork we love. I was so determined to get some time in my quilt room today, but I didn't really enjoy the half hour I managed there before starting dinner. I was just too tired!
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