Well, that does not look very attractive does it? And yet, to me it is gorgeous because what it shows is a mostly-weeded garden, ready to be tilled and planted for the fall and winter garden. We really need to get some mulch on that garden but the oak leaves that people in Tallahassee neighborhoods so thoughtfully rake and bag-up and pile on the side of the road for us to pick up have not yet begun to fall nor will they for quite awhile. The oaks really don't lose their leaves until the new ones push the old ones off.
"Bye, Pops," I can hear them say. "Good job. We'll take over from here."
Now I have to get to the nurseries and buy my seeds. I guess a lot of people start their fall vegetables inside but I don't. They seem to spring up pretty fast as soon as we get them in the ground and watered. I don't know, maybe I'm just lazy. We've been discussing switching over to raised bed container gardening but we're having a hard time committing. There are dozens of options and methods and ways of doing this and they all seem to be
A. Very expensive if you buy the containers pre-made, or
B. A lot of work if you make the containers yourself, or
C. Both.
No matter what sort of container you use, you have to fill them up with good soil and compost. I suppose this is one of those projects where once you get everything going, it's pretty easy and pays off. But oh, the getting-it-going part is definitely not easy.
I made an extremely short video today when I was weeding, of ants hauling a tiny caterpillar somewhere. I have no idea where they were taking it. To feed their queen, possibly. But look at these guys go!
Interestingly, while I was watching those guys haul ass I was listening to a book entitled The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak which has, as one of the first-person narrators, a fig tree who discourses about many things in the natural world including different varieties of trees, mice, bees, Mycelium, birds, humans, and...ants.
I find the parts of the book in which the fig tree is given voice to be the most interesting. There is also a love story, a war, and lots of talk about Middle Eastern foods, both Turkish and Greek. It's interesting but truly, the best comes from the mouth of the fig tree. I am learning things that make me want to go and hang out with my own fig tree whom I must admit I ignore terribly.
It has been a fairly easy, loving day today. Not horribly hot and according to the weather widget on the phone, it's supposed to get down into the sixties tonight! WHAT?!
Getting up tomorrow morning will be worth it simply to see what that feels like. Is it possible that summer's fiery grip has finally loosened its hold upon us?
Here's what may be my new favorite picture.
Come on.
that photo of your gorgeous girls and their beloveds (sp) made me smile SO! Happy they enjoyed a night out (or day out)......together. and those ants carrying off the caterpillar? Yikes! No doubt it will feed many
ReplyDeleteSusan M
Two of my sweet girls.
DeleteI bet that caterpillars are really tasty for ants.
Oh those closing words. Just breathtaking and perfect and...I accept! I WILL dance, even in the rain!
ReplyDeleteESPECIALLY in the rain!
DeleteI am always astonished at the size of your garden. And you weed it on your knees! Anyway, I hopped down here to say I don't know about Florida, but here in Ohio, oak leaves aren't great for gardens. It's too late in the day for me to remember why, but you may want to check that with whoever you will get topsoil and fertilizer from. Also, do you have a county extension agent who can test your soil and see what it needs for remediation. Again, it's late and I don't remember the exact title of the agent who will test soil.
ReplyDeleteThat selfie of your besties is perfect. No one can smile like May.
Well, because you and Boud both mentioned that oak leaves might not be healthy for gardens, I just looked it up. According to several sources (and all I looked at) they are absolutely fine to use as mulch.
DeleteWhich is good because we have access to a lot of them.
You're right- no one can smile like May. She's a beauty.
I'll have to check out that book, and yes, you should hang with your fig tree. We may get more rain if the system near our coast develops...Sweet photo.
ReplyDeleteIs there another system forming? I'm behind on that tropical weather news.
DeleteI think oak leaves are acid and don't rot very well. Your gardens are so prolific I don't see what advantage there is to raised beds, unless it's to ease the work of aging gardeners!
ReplyDeleteI never used to till my vegetable garden, because it turned up weed seeds and I thought it was better to mulch heavily. That was back when I had a big veggie garden, grew about 25 types of vegetables, no spraying. I had more energy then.
As I said above in my reply to Joanne, according to the information I'm seeing online, oak leaves are fine for mulching. I have often wondered if tilling destroyed earth worms. I need to do some research on that. I believe in mulching with all my heart. It has so many benefits for the garden. But even with heavy mulching, the weeds and bugs can get ahead of us here in Florida faster than a cat can wink its eye. I really don't think of our garden as being that productive. I mean- we can grow a whole lot of a few things but certainly not everything.
DeleteAs to the raised beds, yes- it would be mostly for easier cultivation and also, to be able to contain the plantings in a tidier way. Not sure we need that.
Oh, that final paragraph. You really should write a book.
ReplyDeleteOh, I did.
DeleteI like the idea of raised beds too but hauling all that soil and compost has put me off. I just can't lug things around like I used to!
ReplyDeleteYeah. Me either. And even Mr. Moon can't toil in the soil the way he used to.
DeleteIf there's one thing ants do well it's teamwork. No shirkers there.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of raised beds if I had space I'd get some going so I wouldn't have to bend and stoop so far. Not that I do any bending and stooping now, my plants seem to be looking after themselves just fine as long as I turn the hose on a few times during the summer.
It's obvious you do NOT live in Florida! I wish our gardens were easier to deal with. We're probably crazy to even try although the fall/winter garden is not so bad.
DeleteYou are a remarkable human! Your garden is vast! Your life on this planet always astonishes me and that you take the time to be generous with your daily blog , like a touch stone for many, Mary Moon! I would be a terrible ant! They are a unit for sure, like
ReplyDeleteThe borg… I am far too selfish, I am “ the problem” . I have been watching programs about self sufficiency and community during the blitz, humans did come together in the most helpful ant activities. Not sure that would happen in most pockets of USA these days.carry on, dearest Mary , you inspire in so many ways. Love you.
Oh my gosh, Anonymous. I do not feel that I deserve such high praise. I believe my main attribute is only that I am regular and faithful. But thank you. I really appreciate your kind words.
DeleteI wouldn't make a good ant, either.
I don't know what it would take to bring Americans together for a cause these days.
Lindasue- never know what blogger will do with my mini
DeleteHere up north, I always thought I could hear the tips of the oak branches going "ptooi!" as the old leaves were ejected in spring. No lengthy explanations. I guess I'll have to listen harder.
ReplyDeleteHa! I love that!
DeleteHow nice to see your children having fun together! That is wonderful to see! Your garden is huge! You and Mr. Moon will figure out what works best for you. You always do.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you express yourself in your posts. Always leaves me smiling or thinking or feeling...
Oh, Ellen. Thank you. I am glad to hear that.
DeleteI love that silence before a soft rain -- I can imagine myself in your yard hearing it!
ReplyDeleteRaised beds SOUND nice but I agree -- they also sound like a heck of a lot of work. Plus I'd worry about all the little insects and other critters I'd bury alive setting them up! Apparently there is an incredible amount of life in the top layer of soil.
Wouldn't those little critters be able to just tunnel out? Or up? I have no idea. I am sure that someone has studied this. And yes, I can tell you that there absolutely is a GREAT DEAL going on in the top layer of soil.
Deleteyou have such a big garden. I'm determined to do more food gardening. my first attempt to get back at it this spring got off late except for the tomatoes. I don't have a dedicated space so I'm using the dormant flower beds for the winter garden.
ReplyDeletethose ants had a whole crew dragging that little caterpillar. back when we lived in the city, I had the whole front yard of the studio house in wild flowers. I was out there one day deadheading and killed a big grasshopper. didn't take long for an ant to find it and scurry off bringing back all her buddies. took less than 15 minutes for them to dismember and cart off the whole thing.
I guess that's one good rationale for killing an "innocent" grasshopper. As if there were such a thing. Those guys can munch through a row of whatever you've planted in a day. But I bet they do make good ant food.
DeleteI have some raised beds and love them, no weeds. They were work though and expensive to set up. They're also quite small compared to your very large garden.
ReplyDeleteYou'll be happy to hear that it's 55F here and at night it's getting close to freezing. Sigh. It does feel nice to have blankets on the bed again.
Oh my. I know I say this all the time but your seasons just change in a heartbeat!
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