Monday, April 27, 2009

...my garden is yawning [& I'm shivering...]

as I write this, I'm alternately typing...
and holding a hot cup of coffee...
trying to warm up my cold hands...

our high temp today will be 10˚ below normal...
and is currently only 64˚F...
with a cold wind from the west...
gusting to 20 mph or so...

since the sun is also shining...
I felt the need to water things in the back yard...
as our heat spell kicked a lot into high gear...
and now the persistent wind will dry out everything...
especially...things yet to be planted...

while I was at it...[shivering in the cold wind...]
I also put water on several containers to loosen the soil...
so that I can use them for some of my plantings...
then, "click-click" fever attacked me...
[along with the pollen & wind...]

first, some projects that need doing...



a new hose reel & hose [both were on sale at OSH...]
to replace the back one that died...
after the electrician moved it 2 years ago...
[it had lasted 15+ years...]

I used to be able to do these things myself...
but now will have to have someone do it for me...
my hands just don't have the grip or abilities they used to have...
to do this kind of work... sigh...

then...



there is this...
compost & potting soil...for the garden...
my back hurts just looking at it...
but it will enhance my investment in plants...
[& hopefully, my veggie crop...]

here you see, "the next target area"...



from several angles...



the clump of grass you see has to be removed...
and the hose pulled up & tested...
and a lot of compost worked in...



this underground hose leaks "big time"...
[I cut it with a shovel...oops...]
so it has to be replaced...
ie, I either have to find another in the garage...
[good luck with that...]
or make one from parts...
also in the garage...
[ditto...]



and then, there's the compost to be worked in...



after all the crap is moved out of the way, that is...
and the beans need their string on the poles...
though they're not climbing in this wind...
but it will slack off every day this week...
as it gets warmer...

& the cherry tomatoes ?



they couldn't be happier...

elsewhere...



the blood orange tree is "setting" fruit...
amidst the fragrant blooms...



as is my lime tree...
[doesn't the one on the right...
look like some sort of alien ?]



lots & lots of limes...
[these are so juicy and good...]



the grapefruit tree is also "setting"...
I find it interesting that the tiny fruit...
have the same shape the adult will have...



the grapefruit are very round...
the limes are more oblong...



here's a pomegranate bud...



and here's the first one to open...
there are more, high up...



high up, there are also roses that climb the pom tree...



and a real find...
Fugi apples that set !
now if I can only get them to mature...
& keep the critters at bay...
I'll have my first apples...
[it's been a long wait...]



here's the "mended" whirlygig...



whirling in the wind...

it revels in the wind...
unlike me, who got too cold...
& went inside to warm up...

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