This morning we harvested a bucket of yellow squash, cucumbers, sweet
chiles, and carrots. Not a huge amount but more than we can eat and
don't have a need to preserve. So the descendants got emails offering
not only the fresh veggies but a share of the closet full of preserved
foods. So far no answers but I think there will be some later.

We've had so much rain of late that not only the gardens are growing the
grass is going crazy. We mowed three days ago and need to mow the
backyard again this afternoon plus we will do the front yard this time
around. There is more rain in the offing if the weather guru's haven't
missed their guesses. After years of drought and near drought no one in
Texas is complaining about the rain except the other old grumps.

I'm pleased with the progress of the Hopi red lima beans, the runners
are vigorous and are over topping the four foot high trellis plus there
are many young bean pods and a huge amount of blooms. The Straight Eight
cucumbers are really growing wild, they, too, have surmounted the
trellis and are searching for something else to grab. Lots of little
cukes and even more blooms on those and we don't really need more
pickles. May have to try some sour pickles this time around as the great
grands love anything that is either sweet or sour.

We're looking at 93F today but, luckily, it is cloudy out there. Squash
borers hit a couple of our yellow squash yesterday so we're on the prowl
for caterpillars again. Didn't have any last year but we sure do this year.

We're seeing some sort of ground bird on the detention pond area, one we
haven't been able to identify as yet. We're sure they're not killdeers
or meadow larks but will keep trying to find them in the bird books.
Routinely we see egrets, two or three kinds of herons, and various other
wading birds plus some wild Muscovy ducks, both white and black, have
been coming in there since there is now water in the pond. I keep hoping
the Canada geese that were raised on a man made lake nearby will come in
and land, it may be air rifle time. G

Got to cut Swiss chard again this afternoon, it is getting unruly and
huge. I think I am learning to like the Square Foot Gardening method.
Got a few empty spaces and trying to think what to plant in them. What a
job!

George