Garden? Growing

My straw bale garden is coming along quite well. My peas survived the convection oven blast we had in June—I covered them with shade cloth and managed to keep most of them. 

I also planted tomatoes, peppers, carrots, beans, fingerling potato, and eight zucchini plants—I know! I can explain... The first zucchini I planted rotted. So, I started a second planting in little pots, and only half germinated. But those that grew were doing quite well—until they weren’t. Slugs found them and decimated my entire crop of starts in a single night. By this time, it’s mid-June and I have only nine seeds left. I’m afraid I’ll be the only person in North America that can’t grow zucchini—how embarrassing! 

Desperate people do desperate things; I planted all nine seeds in three “hills” on the side of my straw bales, forgetting two important things. One: what happens if all nine survive? And Two: zucchini don’t trail the way pumpkins and cukes do. Zucchinis tend to grow in a big old clump—and I had planted NINE OF THEM. 

Slugs chopped off one early one, literally “nipping it in the bud,” but the other eight keep on growing. And growing. And—well if you’ve ever planted zucchini you can imagine what my garden looks like. Between the pumpkins that are once again bent on neighborhood domination, and the zucchini –well, it’s pretty difficult to see the forest for all the squash trees. You’ll just have to take my word for it that there are carrots and peppers, et al, in the midst of squash-a-ganza. 

 

My flowers are still losing the battle with slugs, but if you didn’t know what it was INTENDED to look like, some of my pots are quite pretty. 

                                                                And I have blueberries!

Tah-Dah!

This Week in Gardening: It’s Raining Slugs

 

Attack of the Slug Ninjas.

 

Look how skillfully he avoids the slug bait on the soil! 

It was a busy week in the garden last week, I hardly know where to start. I killed approximately 286 slugs, but still lost nearly every marigold I had in the process. I finally decided to dig up my remaining plant “stubs” and relocate them to the Plant Protection Program-- AKA the top of my patio table—when nothing else seemed to work. The previous week of rain, rain, and more rain overwhelmed my “slug bait” and it was Mardi Gras for Slugs, 24/7. Maybe living at table-top height will give my plants a chance to grow instead of being slimed back to dirt level. Every. Dang. Day.

The slugs also ate ALL of my zucchini starts and I have mixed feelings about that. On one hand WHY ON EARTH did I plant an entire PACKET of zucchini seeds? And on the other hand, it’s semi-bemusing that I have--inadvertently--found a cure for too much zucchini, one that doesn’t involve ding-dong-ditch. On the third hand (which I don’t have, but really could use) it’s kind of embarrassing to admit one is incapable of growing—of all things! —zucchini..

A garden pest of the cuddly sort

All but two of my dahlias from The Dahlia Guy rotted during our wet spring. If the dahlias did manage to sprout, they were promptly eaten back to ground level by the slug onslaught. I warned TDG when I acquired the tubers that I was not a safe space for dahlias, but even I thought I’d be able to manage one season of growth. Sadly, the slugs were not content to wait that long. 

Marigolds are DELICIOUS

Slugs have even eaten my Ghost Pepper plant out in my straw bale garden. I would have thought that since the fruit of the Ghost Pepper is super-hot, some of that zesty nature would have made its way to the leaves, but either this is not the case, or my local slug population has developed quite the sophisticated palate. Either way, Ghost Pepper has now been un-baled and added to the PPP/Patio Table.

Judging by this week’s forecast, I’d say the Slug Hay Day had reached its zenith. Sun, sun, and more sun ought to keep the little slimy munchers at bay.

How it started

How it's going

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Straw Bale Garden, growing.

I’ve been thinking about the adage that it takes a village to raise and child—and I think it also applies to gardening.

It’s true, that as a parent, I did a great deal of the heavy lifting when it came to childrearing—but my children had the impact from-- and the influence of-- their community. Family, coaches, teachers, assorted community members, and friends all had a hand in shaping my boys into the men they became and I am grateful for their loving participation.

When it comes to gardening—doing the heavy lifting is much less appealing. It is, you know, HEAVY.

This spring, I was lucky enough to score a free dump truck load of rich topsoil, full of lovely decayed leaves and chock full of all kinds of nutrients---and the occasional aluminum can. The fine folks who work for the county were doing some serious maintenance on the Cline Road and needed a place to dump all the dirt. Being public spirited and happy to help save the county transport costs, I naturally volunteered to take a load. And by volunteered I mean I begged—because the spot they were working in was under alder and maple trees, and sure to be super loamy and I WANTED it.

They cheerfully dumped a full ten-yard load out in the back 40 and went on about their business. I hitched my wagon to my lawnmower, grabbed my “#2 backhoe” and set to work moving my mountain of dirt into place.

By the second load of dirt that I HAD SHOVELED BY HAND, I decided it was time to call on my village. Fortunately, I have good neighbors with BIG tractors who came and moved the dirt for me. Neighbor Jim claims that zucchini is a reward, and if I drop some off on his doorstep this summer, that would be thanks enough. I feel like I got the better end of that bargain. And when you see me dropping off a load of squash on his lawn and then speeding away, please do not call the police. He ASKED for it. Literally, I swear.

My gardening friend Tim came and rototilled the relocated dirt for me-- I like to think it’s because he too, wanted some zucchini and not because his wife made him--thanks Eileen! Or maybe he did it because he’s hoping I’ll grow my own corn and stop loitering beside his Kelly Corn every harvest, I can’t really say.

Look at all that lovely dirt!

I realize that you’re probably wondering what 10 yards of topsoil, one giant tractor and a rototiller have to do with a straw bale garden. Turns out, SBG might be a gateway drug—because in addition to my SBG I also have a small, in-ground garden patch that has a bazillion tomato plants, some cilantro and peppers, and yes! TWO ROWS OF CORN. All thanks to my Village.

July Weather Rules

It is true what they say about the weather. Don’t like it? It’ll change. First it was too dry—in March!--, then it was too rainy. Then it was July and the Weather Rules were *supposed* to kick into action.

Everyone knows that in the Pacific Northwest—specifically eastern Lewis County—summer does not reliably arrive until after the first week in July. Odds are, July 4^th will be a bit rainy, but as soon as we get it behinds us—full bloom summer. Unless July 5^th falls on a weekend. If it does, the weather could remain rainy, but NO MATTER WHAT-- the sun is guaranteed to come out on the first Monday after the 4^th of July holiday. IT’S A RULE. NO RAIN AFTER JULY 5. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT.

Statistically speaking, this is a FACT. A warm, dry, beautiful, sunny fact...

Pre-rain petunias

It is after July 5. I woke up to rain this morning. I am not amused. My petunias are not amused. I’m ready to write a strongly worded letter to the weather gods and tell them just what I think about this unconscionable turn of events. I recall what Mark Twain said about statistics: There are lies, damn lies and then there are statistics. I do not find this at all comforting. The wording in my letter becomes a bit more pointed and saltier. I realize I have no idea what sort of postage is required to send a letter to the weather gods. There is a great deal of heavy sighing and consulting of the weather app on my smart phone. Looks like rain will remain for the next couple of days, possibly some partial sun on Friday. **sigh**

Well, at least rain is prime Slug Hunting Weather. Put on your gloves, grab your jug of salty water, and go out and collect the slimy lil’ buggers. Nothing like a little vengeance as a pick-me-up.

Beach Time

Sunrise on Lummi Island...shot thru the window, then back to bed.
Because sunrise comes pretty early in the morning.

Now that my fence is in and the ravenous elk are safely thwarted, slugs have stepped—slimed? —up to be the new bane of my existence. The dahlia bulbs I was so proud of myself for—both remembering to dig them up in the fall AND remembering to plant them again this spring—have thrice been eaten all the way down to stubs. My “organic, safe for children and pets” slug killer –and I use that word ironically as I don’t think the “killer” gives them so much as a stomachache—has proven to be less than affective.

For all I know, “Organic Slug Killer” is the slugs’ new favorite seasoning, goes great with delicious dahlias, and pairs delightfully with the shallow pan of IPA I placed out to drown them in. (What? Doesn’t everybody drown their garden pests in small batch, artisanal brewed beer? What are we, heathens?)

Hoping that the fourth time would be the charmed number for dahlias regeneration, and that the fence would hold, I packed my bags, engaged a cat sitter, and a plant water-er, and headed off to the San Juan’s with a friend and her family for some much-needed Beach Time.

Mt Baker as seen from Lummi Island

Beach Time is some how better than regular time; time seems to slow down and kick off its shoes. The day unfolds at an unhurried pace—walks become more meandering. Pebbles and shells and bits of beach glass are examined and collected. Meals are lingered over, sunsets are observed, and conversations are unhurried. And even though July 4^th was a week ago, we can still see “the rockets red glare” across the water to the mainland, as some firework “enthusiast” continues his celebration on the shoreline. From an island, this behavior seems amusing rather than annoying. 

What was it that wise Beach Philosopher Jimmy Buffet once said? “Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude”? I think he got it right. 

Beach Time is transformative.

Kayak photo bomb by Danielle

Moondance Sea Kayaks even makes you lunch on the beach.

Our Guide Laura points out the sights

https://moondancekayak.com/