Good morning from the Garden

Heirloom lettuce. Ready to go.

Note: Do a VERY thorough removal of slugs from your lettuce before you eat it.

More peas getting ready for us. Finally.

Basil is one of my BIG crops this summer. I am hoping to make a lot of pesto.

This is the first time I have planted spring onions. They did VERY well and they are ready to pick. Now I just have to get my drying rack unpacked and built.

Deer, Sprinklers and Sounds

Ok, so I sent my kid barking after deer. Whatever.

I am beginning to feel a wee bit neurotic about protecting my garden. Is this normal?

Time spent relocating motion detector sprinkler this afternoon, 10 minutes. Really?!? Really. I had to get it just right. Protect the beds and the strawberries. Protect the pumpkins and watermelons. I won't even mention how many times I got tagged in the face by the #%?! thing. Yes, I had turned it off, thank you. But then I kept forgetting, again and again. I hope my neighbor saw some of the display and was entertained. I was just getting pissy.

Now I am sitting in my favorite chair, watching "Master Chef" and listening. The sprinkler has gone off a couple of times. Pressing my face against the window to the dark outdoors doesn't provide me with much of a view. Maybe if I press it a l i t t l e bit harder, it will make a difference. No. I can't see squat. Fingers crossed. Cursing under my breath (everyone is asleep). Ugh.

What extent would you go to to protect your harvest?

Please share.

~Say What?!?~ 062111

Somebody is busy chomping my radishes. Any ideas on who it could be? Any suggestions about how to conquer them? Interestingly enough, they aren't bothering the radishes themselves and we haven't jumped into the world of eating radish greens. As a result, these little pests are leaving us unscathed for the most part, but I am worried about the damage they might do elsewhere in the garden. Thanks for your suggestions!

All photos are taken by Val Curtis and can be used with permission only.

~Say What?!?~ 061411

Give me your ideas in the comment box below. Humorous and factual entries appreciated.

SAY WHAT #1: Once upon a time this was a perfectly happy Thompson's Broccoli plant living under a cloche. One day I lifted the cloche and **GASP** this is what I found. Ideas?

SAY WHAT #2: I found this at the base of another Thompson's Broccoli plant. Huh???

All photos are taken by Val Curtis and can be used with permission only.

Keep Your Eyes Open

Gardening and I are relatively new friends. I would consider us to be in the courting phase. We both surprise each other with new revelations upon each encounter. We are learning about ourselves through our interactions. And there are those frequent "Say what?!?" moments when you have to call your best girlfriends to see if the latest manifestation is "normal" or if you should run for the hills.

Every Tuesday, I will be sharing my "Say What?!?" moment of the week with you in hopes of finding some answers.

See you tomorrow!

Join me. Laugh with me.

After dealing with the furry little bandits and a little anticipation...

Time: 10:23pm

Sound: chick-chick-chick-chick and some serious squealing.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

The sprinkler may not solve my problem, but that sound byte was worth every penny we spent on it.

Now I can go to sleep with a smile on my face.