Drought In Alabama

The pond is down a foot and I've stopped feeding the fish so they will stay deep. There is always plenty to eat this time of year in the form of insects and vegetation. Once we get some decent rains and the pond goes back up I will begin their feeding schedule.

Speaking of which, I sure wish we had gotten the rain the East coast did with Alberto. Db is buying more hay for me use on the plants and raised beds so I don't have to water as often as I am. The heat is eating up the mulch material at an alarming rate. I am going to lay down old magazines and newspapers before I put the hay down to help conserve moisture even more after I give everything a good, long, drink.

The Agave pups I planted are doing great. They, being succulents do not mind the drought at all and in fact are relishing the hot sun. Too bad my tropical plants are not that happy. Even the banana plants are not happy that are planted out in open sun. The ozone layer has been so destroyed that even sun-loving plants can be burned by afternoon sun so I am setting up temporary shade structures on the south/west sides of the most vulnerable. This winter I will move them all to semi-shade.

The paper wasps are happily building nests in every nook and crany on the back porch but they leave me alone and I leave them alone. They are good for catching bugs as well as pollination of certain plants so we have learned to live together quite happily over the years. It astounds people that I live so closely with all of nature, but that is the Native American in me, I guess.

I had the grandkids plant some Zinnia's in pots before they left for FL to visit their grandfather and they will be so excited to see them up and growing. They love gardening as does their mama and that makes me very happy. They will all be coming back in on Monday for another week here before they move into their new home in N.GA and my daughter starts college to finish up her nursing degree.

Well, db and I are going grocery shopping tonight and he should be home from the shop any minute so I will stop here for now...later gator!

The Bamboo Jungle

The Bamboo Jungle This week is almost behind us. Really don't know where it went. Planted the Agave Americana after they arrived. The person I bought them from on ebay advertised 10 babies but instead sent me 26! How wonderful and generous is that??

The heat is on again and TheWeatherChannel.com doesn't seem to be able to get the next five day forecast correct for anything! Yesterday morning they said the temps would be in the 90's then a couple hours later they changed it to the 80's and now this morning they are back to the 90's !!! And we are supposed to take their word for our forecasts??? Flipping a coin would be just as accurate!

Speaking of TheWeatherChannel.com, what's with these girls (women) with the stick bodies? Don't they eat? Some of the gentlemen forecasters don't look like they are starving to death, but the women look like they are at deaths door! Also, did you ever here of brunettes??? Yes, the African American ladies have dark hair, but all the white ladies are either blonde or quickly turning blonde on that network. Me thinks a producer there is into blondies! ;-)

Back to gardening talk. One thing you need to watch out for at this time of year in the deep south, especially, is underground bee and wasp nests as well as those in the trees and tall shrubs. We have some kind of nest on our property up by the highway and these critters swarm every vehicle as soon as they turn in to go down the long, winding driveway to our home. Yesterday my son was attacked and it was like something out of a horror film! Luckily, whatever we have doesn't sting, but they can swarm all over you with-in seconds and that is what happened to him as he pulled his little Carmaro into the home stretch. He was banging on the front door (locked) and screaming to get in but my visiting daughter and I were back in my room on the computer and watching tv with lot's of fans going and didn't here him. He finally used his key and came in to tell us of his horrendous adventure with the "killer" bees. NOT! Being the commedian that he is, he had us rolling on the floor in tears before his story was even half over. Hmmmmm, I must remember to roll up my window the next time Db and I venture out to the store....Later gator!

Where Am I ???

Sunday: I went out at 6AM to feed the barnyard fowl and found a nip in the air. So unusual for south Alabama in June. I am not going to complain as the 90's are hard to take and these 80's since the storms pushed through has been very nice. It's just not normal for we here in the deep south.

I won some Agave on Ebay from a seller in Florida that I have been wanting to try. Agave Americana or The Century Plant as it is also known. I've never tried growing it here but since I seem to grow other succulents and cactus with no problem when I place them in an amended bed, I am sure it will be a success. There is a house about a mile from here with a huge Agave Americana in their front yard and it is quite impressive. You can't stop but crane your neck to look at it when you pass by. Thank God I don't drive anymore!

I always love adding to the jungle. It changes from season to season and year to year and I think that is what a good garden should do. Some plants will fair well and others you know just aren't meant to be in your situation. You keep what you can and say goodbye to the others, who have usually passed away by then.

Since today is Sunday, it will be spent gardening by Db and I and the day is a wasting at 8 AM so....Later gator!