Wow, last night the storms were extremely active. Lighting storms specifically, that were very active and close. When you are surrounded by trees, you start counting between the light and the crack (if you know what I mean). Each time, we also scanned around to see if anything was struck.
Monika and I attended the Home Owners meeting the other night at the library. We learned that we have a group that will come out to the ranch (that lives in the division) in the event of a fire or strike. As the BLM and Fire company can take up to an hour to get here, they found it was essential to get the fire contained in the meantime. I think I’ll join this group when the time comes for volunteers.
We also learned about noxious weed control and that we are responsible for eliminating a ‘specific list’ of weeds on your property. We never even knew that was a thing, but in the ‘Preserved Land’, you must control the outside influences from destroying the natural landscape. So we are now linked into the Weed ID locater and are taking control. So far, I’ve been very good about taking out things that don’t look like they belong. Including those darn daisies!!
The rains, have meant that everything is now in a rush to grow and bloom with all this water and warmth. The nights after the rains get down to about 50, so nice and cool. The days are nice with about 80-90 for a high. NO MORE GNATS either. It’s a really nice part of the summer.
The farm is doing very well (for a rookie like me). I have HUGE plants, and have signs of fruiting.
We’ve begun eating the butter lettuce, it loves growing under the Zucchini leaves, which are flowering, but I’m looking for those female flowers with the fruit. The tomatoes are massive, and show signs of large amounts of fruit. I expect tomatoes in about a week, and I don’t know when the Zucchini will come. Oh, I think some of it is Squash too.
The slow starters are Carrots, Watermelon, and Corn. I also very surprised recently by new comers like my second variety of lettuce.
Thank you Dorrie for all your advice, I don’t even think you realized how much your experience and information helped. I spray the plants with the oil you suggested (weekly), and I also planted the Herbs and Marigolds around the Tomatoes and that is working nicely.
Thanks Farmers Almanac for the insight into how to design the garden so it works, like the lettuce between Watermelon and Squash as they are late fruit while the lettuce is harvested early and encourages growth for the late bloomers. Corn, who knew? You plant it in a square rather than a row, neat stuff.
So far I have loads of leaves and I’m hopeful of a great harvest.
Until Next time….
Desert Migration 