Summer Solstice Report

Well, it's the official first day of summer, but you would think that the dog days have already been in full swing!  As I write this, though, there's a little shower going on at my house and it's very welcome.  I hope it cools things off, but I'm afraid it will just add to the mugginess factor.

Carl Wayne is having more than heat problems at the Victory Garden.  Who said rabbits are cute?  I'm in the Elmer Fudd camp:  "pesky wabbits!"

In my own garden, I've picked okra and eggplant.  The tomatoes are just about ready!  But I'm having a problem with blossom-end rot on my zucchini and yellow squash.  My father told me to spray the plants with lime.  Lime?  My internet search reveals that blossom-end rot is caused by a deficiency in calcium uptake. This is a result of (1) too much nitrogen, which impedes calcium uptake or (2) lack of calcium in the soil or (3) uneven watering.  One site said just remove the flowers once the young fruit has begun to grow and if you see any decay, just gently scrap it off.  It will leave a scar, but the fruit will grow normally.  What should I do?

An Even Better Use for Tomatoes

Thank you, Julie M., for giving us this heads-up about the best use for tomatoes that we've seen yet!

source

The great ladies at Garden Rant did extensive "research" before they crowned this one as King of the Vodkas.  Check it out here, and while you're at it, browse through their site.  I love their Manifesto!

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Fun Vegetable Art!

We were in Boone, NC last week.  Got up early Saturday morning and went to the Watauga County Farmers' Market -  a mandatory outing whenever we're there.  You can't believe the vegetables, flowers, crafts, food - almost as good as the farmers' markets here!  Anyway, a cute young girl named Freddie was there with her vegetable art and we just have to share.

My fave!

All images used by permission of artist

Are these terrific, or what?  There's lots more at her website, Animal Garden Shop.  You can buy online and maybe you can even get something personalized.

I purchased several, including one of an alligator made from vegetables that says, "Bite Me."  Wonder who'll get that one?  Heh, heh, heh.

Common Ground

Just wanted to make sure that everyone saw this article from the Commercial Appeal earlier this week:

Weeds of the World - Unite!

Julie M. recently sent us a link to a great, informative website A Way to Garden.  It's the creation of Margaret Roach, who many of us may recognize as the former garden editor of Martha Stewart Living - and before that of Newsday, a newspaper in NYC/Long Island.  Margaret gardens in the Hudson River Valley of New York.  Some of her challenges are different from ours and we won't track her timing, but there's still plenty that we can adapt to "sunny" Memphis.

As you may have been able to discern from the most recent posts, we have tomatoes on the brain!  Returned from vacation Monday, ran out to the garden, and there they were:  little green gems - oh my!  But how to maximize the little darlings?  A Way to Garden has growing tips here and trouble-shooting tips here.

‘Potunia Papaya,’ from German breeder Dummen-Red Fox

And check out these gorgeous petunias!










Finally, from the "Garden Humor" section of A Way to Garden, something we can relate to!

Andre Jordan - abeautifulrevolution.com