The Battle for the Last Post: BATTLE FORTY FIVE

[Emmy]

Your garden is beautiful! I'd love for my yard to look that nice, but I just don't have the time or gumption.

[RhymeLovingWriter]

Your garden is beautiful! I'd love for my yard to look that nice, but I just don't have the time or gumption.

Thank you, Emmy. The truth is that we inherited almost everything that is here when my folks passed and we moved back to the farm a couple of years ago. That said, we have managed to add a few things here and there and not killed any flowers (to my knowledge), so I guess that's all good!

The biggest challenges here are the wind, spells of extreme heat (some summers more than others), keeping things watered, and a myriad of bugs (changes by time of year and even by year). Most of the plants are hardy perennials...bug/deer/rabbit resistant, drought tolerant, and just all-around "go-to's" when building beds in western KS. I've been trying to add in other varieties, or annuals that provide seasonal interest...in general learning about plants as I go.

We're trying to strategically add bushes for wind protection and eventually drip irrigation to both save on water and get the water to the roots of plants to minimize evaporation. All of that takes time and money, so we do it in bits and pieces. It helps that we're almost officially retired and have more time to devote to the process...

My sisters, all of whom have had great success with plants over the years, advised 1) starting small, 2) starting with plants you really enjoy, and 3) enjoying the process as well as the end product. I've found that to be great advice so far!

[Catz]

It's warm this week. I miss last week's temps.

[DepressingPoem]

Its really cold rnn

[Catz]

Still warm here. Actually, it's hot. I don't like it.

[Catz]

But I have bell peppers ! I could not get a single tomato out of my garden, but i examined my bell peppers and there are about 5 that are charry sized.

[DepressingPoem]

I suck at gardening I look at a plant and it just gives up on existing

[Emmy]

Long and busy couple of weeks. On the 1st my daughter and I were in a car accident--we are both physically okay but there is about $6000 in damages to my car. We had family pictures done that same weekend and they turned out beautifully. I'm trying to find a new job, because my current job has completely burned me out, especially since I can't actually "call in" if myself or my daughter are sick. I have to find my own coverage, and not call the supervisor on-call phone, because that doesn't constitute an "emergency", apparently. I interviewed for a job at the university hospital nearby back on the 1st, I'm still waiting to hear one way or another.

[Emmy]

On the bright side of things, I have my daughter's Halloween costume and first birthday party planned out! She's going to be a baby frappucino, and my husband and I are going to be the exhausted Mom-arista and Dad-arista Her birthday party is also coffee-themed, it's "A Latte Fun!"

[DepressingPoem]

Adorable... Love the idea

[RhymeLovingWriter]

On the bright side of things, I have my daughter's Halloween costume and first birthday party planned out! She's going to be a baby frappucino, and my husband and I are going to be the exhausted Mom-arista and Dad-arista Her birthday party is also coffee-themed, it's "A Latte Fun!"

Sounds like a frothingly good time!

So sorry to hear about the accident, damages, and job frustrations - but VERY THANKFUL you weren't injured.

Prayers your way, dear poetess. Keep the lattes coming!

[RhymeLovingWriter]

I suck at gardening I look at a plant and it just gives up on existing

I used to feel that way too, but this year we've had a bit of everything go well, despite many flops early on. Luckily we are zone 6b so we have a decent growing season...that helps give to time to try more than once for some plants!

[DepressingPoem]

I started gardening at like 4 and stopped for a while and I know how but its like the plants just refuse to grow... and RhymeLovingWriter Glad to hear things are growing better

[Catz]

I now see two tomatoes. Geez. why are they just squeezing a couple out now?

Is it the kind I chose? Beefsteak tomatoes. I should have just gone with the little kind lol

[DepressingPoem]

I would recommend German pink tomatoes.... I suck at house plants but I've grown food for a while they are some of the tastiest its good for sunny places that don't get to much rain and you said it was hot where you are... just a thought

[Catz]

My bellpepper is cute though lol

[Catz]

Also, Emmy - that's an adorable birthday theme!

[DepressingPoem]

qwertopiuy...