A Single Broccoli Plant

It's a struggle to grow one broccoli plant where I live.  I replanted this volunteer in a large container and put it in my netted off garden enclosure.  The net keeps the birds out, but those bunnies can burrow in and stretch to reach first the surrounding leaves, then later, after I knocked out the bottom of a cracked bucket to encircle the plant, the bunnies must have climbed up and started to eat the broccoli top!!

The plant is still growing!  Now, not only is it in an above ground container--within my netted garden--with a broken pail collar, but now has an old crab cage over it, (I had to wire the openings around the cage)!!!!!

Here's my little plot--the bunnies so far haven't gotten into this container and the net over the whole thing was a good idea--we now have plenty of lettuce and kale--and a few strawberries every now and then--notice the tomato plants around the edges, I've had to cage these in--the bunnies ate these down once--this is their second life.  I have to water about every other day, since we are in our dry season.

A Very Busy Birthday Weekend

Happy Birthday to me and my son!! Yes we share the same birthday. Twenty four years ago was a very good birthday for me!! So it looks like I'm turning 79, but we combined both our candles on one cake--what a blaze! Sure, you can do the math--why do people hate to tell their age?--I never understood that--I'm 55--A good number to remember, (I've been known to lose track of my age) Check out the cake! My son's fiancee made this german chocolate cake with a strawberry cake filling, decked with strawberries and peppermint patty wedges on top, (which were very warm and melty after we blew out the candles--yum!)

A sneak peek at my garden--A have soil, plants and a sprinkler system thanks to my son who is also creating his own garden that I have yet to see.

A street dance performance. She would not let me adjust her skirt, but thankfully she didn't lose it!

A visit with her father's family--spending time with her uncle and aunt--an important connection, she'll learn bits and pieces about her father from his family. And oh man, was that water cold!!

Great Blue Heron Marks the Spot

I realized the first spot I chose for my garden wasn't the spot. The sun quit that spot too quick in the day--this is after I had my son, who delivered a whole truck load of rich dirt for my birthday, haul it all up a hill! I've been trying to watch the sun, since I'm surrounded by trees, to pick out the lengthiest, sunniest piece of ground. My son's fiancee pointed out a likely spot. I only needed to check out if it gets sun in the morning. And there, first thing I see when I look out the window the very next morning, right on the exact spot, is a great blue heron! I took it as a good omen! Of course we all know that it was stalking for gophers, not so good, but I'm planting above the ground, so good!!

It slowly stalked away...

The sun caught its bright orange beak, what a beautiful creature!