The Beetles are Back

Although they are not as bad as they have been in previous years, the Japanese beetles have returned.  Thankfully, the most I have seen of them at one time is in the pool skimmer...drowned.  They seem to particularly like the okra plans this year, doing typical damage as pictured below.

Today in the garden

After a late planting this year because of weather delays, the garden is finally starting to produce.  By the number if cucumber blossoms, we are in for a lot of fresh eating and pickling this year.
The green beans and black eyed peas are blooming, the yellow crookneck and scallop squashes have tiny fruits.  I am anxious to pick and eat them.  There are LOTS of green tomatoes also.
I have noticed a few pests in the garden, particularly cucumber beetles and Japanese beetles.  They aren't causing to much damage right now though.

Another transplanting

I am currently working on the last transplanting, or potting up, of my tomato seedlings.  Last night I transplanted around 90 plants...and I am not done. 
This has caused me to reflect on a couple things. 
1.  I need another shelving unit with lights.
2.  I need more containers
3.  Going on vacation during all this may or may not be a good idea.  This remains to be determined.  Hopefully they will still be alive when I return.
4.  I LOVE playing in the dirt and can get lost for hours gardening.

Potting up

Repurposing yogurt, cottage cheese, and sour cream containers for potting up tomatoes.  Love recycling!  I burned drainage holes in them with yet another repurposed tool...a woodburning tool.  I definitely do this outdoors so I don't breathe the plastic fumes.  My great grandma would use a heated nail to make drainage holes in Dixie cups.  I think of her every time I do this.

Back in the swing of things

Well, I have successfully survived my first year of graduate school.  All in one piece.  Wow, is mid-life learning ever different from learning as an 18-23 year old!  The brain just doesn't function quite the same as it used to.

I am taking the summer off from school so gardening has a priority status once again.  :)

The biggest change that I have made this year is transitioning to an all non-GMO seed garden.  The seed saver in me had a tough time throwing away all of the old seed that I had.  Can you believe that I had seeds back from 2008?  While I have ordered seed from other Safe Seed Pledge companies in the past with good results, I ordered all of my seed from Baker Creek Seeds this year.  No particular reason other than I was one stop shopping for the sake of time at that moment.  I take that back...I did get a package of Seeds of Change yellow pear tomato seeds at the local Menards.  Oops.

Here are my towers of drying, recycled containers after I washed and santitized them.  I used nearly every one of them transplanting just tomatoes and peppers.

This is my indoor seed starting set up in my potting shed.  I am going to have to rob my sewing/craft room of its shelving in order to keep my seedlings under florescent lights as I continue to transplant and pot up seedlings.  I think I will be running out of room!

 

I transplanted tomatoes and peppers on Sunday.  I was a bit worried because the peppers totally wilted on me initially but were fine by the next day.  Whew!  The tomatoes got transplanted up to their first set of leaves...not their first true leaves, but the seed leaves.  They will grow extra roots this way.  The amount of growth in them in just a couple of days has been amazing.  I feel like a mother hen checking the progress in the shed every day, sometimes multiple times a day.  Each time, something new is sprouting, needs watered, or just admired.  :)  There is nothing quite like gardening to soothe the soul. 

I am looking forward to documenting this year's garden adventures again...at least until the fall semester starts up again...

New Beginnings

Ever since I graduated from college, I have wanted to attend graduate school to receive my master's degree. Throughout my career as a nurse, I have had many roles, each with its own specialty degree offering.  They all sounded tempting, but none of them stuck with me as something for the long term.  I have finally taken my plunge and after much, much, much research, (did I mention that I really researched this decision?), I have chosen my program and my school.
Anyone that knows me really well knows that I agonize over decision making.  I rarely make spur of the moment decisions.  Everything is researched to the nth degree.  We don't even buy household items without me checking ratings first.  My DH has laughingly adapted to this.  Thankfully.  Even after all that planning and researching, I continue to second guess the decision.  There is probably some syndrome name for me.  Yes, I think it mirrors perfectionism.  :)
I am starting with just one class since it has been over two decades since I graduated from college.  I need to get my feet wet first.
Excited and scared to death.  Just the beginning of a new journey for me.  Moving right along....  :)

Box Elder Madness

Awhile back we had groupings of box elders.  I haven't ever seen them like this before.  Not sure why some look different that the usual box elder bugs.