As it turns out, Lucy and I are spending this week in two different places. She is staying at the Bradenton KOA (Kampground of Armstrong) and I am home, mostly alone, at the Crowes’s Nest (beach house). I am very lonely when we aren’t together so … what’s up?
“Mostly alone” because AVA is with me.
Daughter Alicia, is attending a week long real estate sales seminar, so “Mimi” Lucy is doing school bus driver, housekeeper, grandmother, duty. She loves being helpful and spending time with the Armstrong’s…
Daughter Alicia and granddaughter Alana always make Lucy feel special…
As it turns out it is a “win-win-win” situation. Lucy gets to spend quality one-on-one time with the Bradenton family, the kids get to spend quality time with their Mimi and Lucy gets a break from hanging out with me 24/7. Our reunion is always spectacular. Lots of hugging, kissing and………..
Six year old granddaughter “Lucy Jo” turned her bedroom over to Mimi. Here is the welcome sign that Lucy made for her grandmother. Wonderful memories for sure…
So………… why am I not with them? Good question. I too am performing “childcare” duties. Difference is, all of my “Children” are GREEN. Lucy and I have planted lots of edible plants and they need daily care. Watering, weeding, tilling, mulching and feeding. I am also in charge of our hardworking earthworms… Even the worms, in their cozy worm towers, need care. Our practice of Vermiculture is dependent on the care and feeding of our two towers of European Nightcrawler’s.
We spent a lot of time and energy turning the ugly ornamental planting bed into a vegetable garden. I installed a nice paver-path and the screened in pool cage helps to guard against unwanted insects. You can watch a time-lapse video of the family effort conversion here. Please; Like, Comment and Share…
We have planted quite a variety of veggies and we hope to have enough to share with family…
Here is what I’m up to.
Our patch of “Golden Bantam” sweet corn is doing great. Already waist high. We have interplanted zucchini squash. It will grow under the corn stalks, protected from the hot sun. The squash will help to eliminate weds by shading them out.
Our watermelon plants are doing fantastic. They are planted under the baby Gumbo Limbo tree that I planted in our front yard. Companion planting is a proven method of increasing vigor in all plants. I started the tree from a branch pruning.
Our watermelon plants are already in bloom. With luck, these five plants will provide lots of, big, fat, juicy, sweet, melons. It takes a few months for them to grow to edible size – we will be anxiously waiting.
Our micro-greens, planted in a repurposed water softener tank, are already providing tender greens for our daily salads. Succession planting will help to insure a ready supply.
Our well tended nursery is full of babies waiting to take their places in our various garden spaces. In these cribs; cucumbers, kale, dill, egg plant, yellow and green peppers.
This area of our garden contains; two kinds of radishes, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, tomatoes and Kentucky wonder beans. It is our “Three Sisters Garden” spot.
In these pots, three different varieties of fig trees. There are also three purple sweet potato slips that will be transplanted into our main garden spot. Lucy loves figs and I love Lucy.
We don’t plant many ornamental varieties, but this young Frangipani tree sure ads a nice visual accent and a marvelous aroma…
In these rows, Lucy’s favorite “Sugar Snap Peas” are joined by purple tomatoes and Easter egg radishes. All are doing well.
It is a pleasure waking up each morning, pouring myself a cup of fresh coffee and walking out to see ll the growth in our Victory Garden. It is even more fun when sjhared with my sweet spouse. I am missing her mucho, but grateful for the time she gets to spend with our family.
What are you growing this year? I would love to read in the comments and see some of your photos. Until next time remember;
Five Spoke Wheel 