Heat losses

I got behind in the watering of…everything. I lost a tree or two and the two Anatolian puppies have decimated my shade garden. There is little left to salvage, but I am past the point of caring.

One tree that really bothered me was a willow tree I planted a couple years ago. I thought it well established and didn’t pay too much attention as the 90-100 degree temperatures took a toll.

Noticed its leaves turning yellow and gave it a good soaking. The next morning all the leaves had turned brown. I soaked it again. The day after the whip thin branches began to turn brown. I cursed at the tree. But I was really angry with myself. I really loved that young willow tree.

For a week I kept watering it each and every day with no visible sign of recovery.

We had a little rain over the weekend so I didn’t water it. But Tuesday I hauled the hose out to it and saw a light dusting of green on a few branches. The willow is recovering. It was just the inspiration I needed after this unbearably hot summer.

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It’s HOT!

Of course it has been the hottest summer in seven years. Today is 108 so far.

As a consequence I have done little beyond watering. Some plants continue to produce. A few tomato plants keep on. And the kale.

I hate kale, of course. The chickens like it. So I do get some good through their bright eggs.

Onion harvest

Had to harvest the onions and garlic today. Hot as Hades but it’s done.

Weeds

Had a few extra busy weekends, so the weeding got away from us. I haven’t mulched these poor plants in a year. This is the BlackBerry patch.

They will survive. But at this point I’ll just weed whack them and wait for cooler weather. Then I’ll put lots of cardboard down and deep mulch.

I am no Paul Gautschi.

When you’re desperate

I have a terrible sickness. I buy plants indiscriminately. If I see something I like I buy it, regardless of having space for it.

This is what happened to the above. Banana peppers and jalapenos and chili peppers are all living happily with basil. Somehow it is working. Sometimes desperation makes for good planting partners.

Happy Father’s Day!

Onions

I planted some extra onions in a raised bed that had some room. They haven’t done so well for whatever reason.

So I pulled them today. They will be prepared like Ina Garten does shallots in this recipe:  https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/caramelized-shallots-recipe2-1943921

I use onions and they are just as worthy and tasty.