I went out early this morning and watered and was able to take some fairly decent photos of my gardens (see below). We're getting into some hot afternoons already and I am still on antibiotics so I can't be in the sun much.
Everything is doing well, although there are some aphids in the side garden I need to eradicate. The ladybugs don't seem to be doing their job, but I hate the thought of using chemicals. The marigolds I planted are not doing too well. I do think they discourage aphids and other pests, though.
The closeup shot is of our very first homegrown tomato. Hopefully in a week or so Mom and Michael can split it. We've got tons of blooms so maybe by Memorial Day weekend there will be some more ready to eat.
My brother Bruce got me two fig trees last year and we planted them in barrels on the back patio. Both fig trees are doing well but the one near the birdbath, which also has mint in the barrel, is going nuts. I'm thinking about transferring some mint to the one that isn't as big. I wonder if that will affect the taste of the figs?! You can see the smaller tree in the photo below, upper left.
Below, the back patio garden. I don't see any aphid activity. The potatoes and tomatoes are flourishing. I also have eggplant, zucchini, garlic, and a few green beans. I put a big bag of cow manure in there a few weeks ago and I know that helps. Dad swore by cow manure.
Above, the side garden. Planted lots of green beans and tomatoes.
this is the garden with the first tomato. There's a line in Steel Magnolias that Shirley MacLaine's character says and I can't remember the exact words but it's something like, "I'm an old white lady in the South, so I HAVE to grow tomatoes." I don't even eat tomatoes [too acidic] but I love to see them grow and feed them to Mom and Michael.
I have put a vinegar/water solution on our hydrangeas and they are blooming blue this year, yay. They are right outside Mother's bedroom window, so she can see them, and you can just see the birdhouse in her window. We keep hoping some birds will move in.
I didn't realize it until last night, but yesterday was the 9th anniversary of the day that I actually landed in America with Michael after his adoption. I will always cherish the memory of his face as we snuggled in the taxi, looking wide-eyed at the incredible lush beauty of Atlanta in the spring, with the azaleas and other flowers blooming. After the barren wintry sights of Kazakhstan, Atlanta seemed like a tropical paradise.
I was just thanking God we were home and I could finally relax a bit. The journey was an ordeal.
The shot below was made just a day or so after we got home. He still helps me in the gardens, if I ask, and he enjoys the produce of course..
