A Weekend at the Farm 07/08-10/2011

This is Obedient Plant, also called Dragon Head Plant.
Hot and dry. The drought goes on.

Sprayed herbicide in the Rose Garden, the Long Border, the Orchard, around the pool, around the flowerbed edges, and the paths in the Greenhouse Gardens.

Watered some plants that are really struggling.

Weeded various beds.

Weeded the two Bulb Beds and mulched the Bulb Bed against the shed. When it gets closer to autumn I will plant some large plants in there.

Cut away dead vegetation on plants that are partially dead from lack of water.

Planted some zinnia seeds and sunflower seeds.

Swam often.
Worked a long time in various gardens. The Orchard was a mess. I pulled up all the Bachelor Buttons and laid them down in the Orchard to give them time to throw off their seeds. Also laid some of the plants down along the fence line in the Rose Garden so they could throw off seed. I pulled up lots of dead plants in the Long Border (annuals that have gone to seed) and pulled weeds. I need more anchor plants which I will buy in the fall. No need to plant anything right now unless you want to waste your money.

Rocky was outside barking like crazy early Sunday morning, and I saw him chasing an armadillo across the front porch, down the driveway, over a fallen log in the Shade Garden, and into the woods. I had no idea that armadillos could run so fast! It was something to see. I yelled, "Rocky has an armadillo!". My husband came running, roused out of a dead sleep, with his gun, but it was too late. Lucky armadillo.

Sprayed fungicide on the zinnias.

Pulled up all the tomato plants and cucumbers and turned the soil over in 4 beds in the Vegetable Garden. The tomatoes had pretty extreme nematode infestation. I soaked the soil in the four beds with orange oil and water and also buried lots of lemon slices in the soil. I ran out of orange oil before I was finished, but it was a good start. I have lots more beds to turn over - the spring garden has run out of steam. I guess I could plant okra now. Okra loves the heat. But instead I will let the earth rest for a month and plant for fall. I will buy more orange oil this week and take it up there with me next weekend.