Well, it is June, isn't it? I realized that today is a good benchmark day for determining that summer has officially arrived in Wisco. The kids are out of school for the summer, it's hot, my air conditioner is in and on (for chinchilla more than me; the poor thing would have a heat stroke if it got any warmer than this), and maybe the most telling sign? The vast quantities, shapes and intensities of sunburn! I have to admit, I burnt a little myself about a week ago, although it has now faded into a very-very-very slight tan and a new layer of freckles. We redheads tend to get those...
Another wonderful, beautiful thing is the extent to which my tomato plants are loving life!
I bought three different varieties of heirloom tomato at a garden sale in early May. Dr. Wych's Yellow, Black Pineapple, and Thai Pink Egg. They were itty bitty little babies and now they are growing right up, a couple showing buds already.
I couldn't be happier; this is the first year I've tried growing vegetables in containers. The closest I got was a basil plant last year, which of course I did again this year (times two!), but it was definitely time to put my deck space to good use. I can't wait to see what happens.
Yes, that is a Trader Joe's shopping bag! Truth be told, I was short one potting container, so I grabbed an old plastic shopping tote, poked a bunch of holes in the bottom, and filled it with dirt. So far, so good. I'm not sure it's recommended by Master Gardeners or anything, but... ;)
Happy tomatoes. Happy summer!
As the sky darkens and the forecasted afternoon storms begin to roll in, I think for a moment about the welfare of my plants out on the back porch and hope that high winds or torrents of rain won't tip or drown any of them. I have to be careful not to place them directly under the edge of the eave, as there is inevitably a waterfall when the rain reaches a certain strength. Waterfalls are not good for little flowers.
The other day during my trip to Saving Grace Salvage Co., I found an old wooden crate. It is very small and weathered, with two handles and a patina that makes me think of earth. I wasn't sure what to do with it; it's old, but I didn't want to risk rotting the wood out underneath by putting soil directly into it and using it as a planter.
It has now become home to my two gerbera daisies, pots and all, as a way of keeping them contained and looking cute as ever. My porch is currently strewn with individually potted plants: flowers, succulents, vegetables and herbs. It's hectic-looking, and I'm trying to make it seem a little less crowded and a little more adorable. This was step one! A baby step, but it's amazing how much of a difference it made to have these two together.
It would also be very cute with three smaller containers of herbs or little flowers. I imagined putting three different varieties of basil in here, but alas, I only have two! I also wanted to avoid putting the container in a place where it would get rained on constantly, so it had to go into the shade a little more, beneath the roof overhang. Gerberas like partial sun, so it turns out they were a good fit.
I couldn't resist a shot of this beauty!
