It's Alive!

Due to circumstances beyond human control (solely a mole), our artichoke plants had to be taken to a more protective area. That means transplanted into a self-contained box with cement blocks underneath to prevent a certain mole from pulling it down by the roots.
Can you imagine a 5 foot tall plant with a stalk the size of small car tire being reduced to a 10" tall piece of leaf? I mean come on…!

For a quick refresher on the plants as young things, click here.


Anyhoot, shortly after transplanting, the poor things were dumped on by at least 11" of rain, winds up to 50mph, and more rain. There was doubt of survival.
Yesterday being the first sunny day in a really loooooong time, I ventured out.
Lo-and-behold…. It's alive! and ….producing already!

Well, if that weren't enough to throw me into summertime hypertension, I turned to the backside of the property and saw this…in all it's glory….

And wept with joy.

Summer 2010

Things have been...well, let's just say there are lots of reasons why I've been a bad blogger.
Just this week, we've had 2 family losses on my husband's side.
One older person, one younger person.

Instead of dwelling on those losses here and since it's been a while since I've posted anything at all, will save those details later when I can see better.

Meanwhile, back in the garden...we are abounded with cantelopes, watermelons, tomatoes, peppers, zuchinni, really huge garlic, shallots, red/white onions, and any herb we'll ever need. (remember that when I say "we", it's not that I took a hand or shovel to the dirt, but documenting with pictures is an important part, right?)

I'll leave you with a picture from yesterday

I'd Croak for a Choke!

This is unheard of in our area...
everyone said it'd be at least 2 years before we'd have chokes...
everyone said that artichokes need cool weather, then hot, then cool, then hot (like as in the annual seasons) before we'd have any buds let alone chokes.
everyone said we'd need to fertilize the heck out of the ground.
Well now! I guess everyone was wrong!!!

I see Salsa in our future....

Okie Dokie Artichokeeee!

Wowzer!

My Mouth is watering for Hot Artichoke Dip leftovers!
Why leftovers you say? It's too dang hot here for any hot foods!

One of the five plants just shot right up and out...and lo and behold...It's a double first time out...
oh wait...make that a triple...there's a baby too small for the nakid camera eye!

Have I Mentioned that I DON'T Garden?

Let me mention here....I do NOT garden...I know there is a lot joy to be had for gathering dirt (or digging in said dirt), starting seedlings, or rescuing sad little saplings from the home/garden stores, applying the proper nutrients, water, weeding, (and oh yea ...dosing the proper amount of love) and then standing back and admiring all the fruits of the labor whilst patting one's self on the back.

It just ain't me, folks.
Plants commit harie/karie when they see me coming.
I don't know how they know. They just do.
I've even killed the cute bamboo shoots shaped into a heart that Haley gave me one year.
How does one kill bamboo shoots you ask? Give them to me.
Their end.

So where did this awesome (and healthy I might add) broccoli plant come from?
In my our garden.
The BFG* digs in the dirt, plows, rototils, adds rebarb for the perfect grid, builds a 2 x 4 raised bed right smack in the middle of the lawn (ok, towards the edge of property line), uses all my cute holiday metal decorations to keep birds away (picture; purple metal witch heads, red/white/blue baubles, and "welcome bunnies" signs sporadically placed around said raised bed in the grass)

Then he pops a beer and stands back to pat himself on the back.
Many times... during the day,
the weeks
and the months.


acronyms are how most web users identify family members.
For example; DH can be dear husband, darling husband
BFG* is the acronym I use for mine.