Hot and hot.\u00a0 Humid of course.\u00a0 And hot.\u00a0\u00a0 Apparently the country is under a “heat dome”.\u00a0\u00a0 Used to call it ‘summer’.\u00a0\u00a0 There was certainly lots of ‘summer’ yesterday.\u00a0\u00a0 111F in the sun, near the roof…\u00a0 but I’m not a roofer, so it was probably closer to 100F in the real world of my back yard.\u00a0\u00a0 I’ve got to get another sensor somewhere in the shade so I have a gut check on the highs.<\/p>\n
Spent the day catching up on auction and home stuff, and opened cards for Father’s Day.\u00a0 Kids are off at camp now for the week, and I’ve got stuff to do.<\/p>\n
I did harvest about 6 more blueberries when I checked the gardens.\u00a0 Heat has been hard on the tomatoes.\u00a0 And everything else really, but the tomatoes and my grapefruit tree especially.\u00a0\u00a0 Peppers are not doing well in the heat either.\u00a0\u00a0 Apple tree is fully leafed in and looking strong.\u00a0\u00a0 Zukes and\/or cukes are flowering and haven’t died yet. Grapevines are growing, which is nice.\u00a0\u00a0 I thought the freeze killed one of the two.\u00a0 It’ll be a couple of years before I pick grapes again though.\u00a0 Setbacks in the garden would have dire consequences if I was counting on it for food.\u00a0\u00a0 Good thing I’ve got canned veg.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42 And good thing I’ve got canned meat, as the local squirrel population is much reduced since we cut down the pecan tree.\u00a0\u00a0 There is still a lot for them to eat- oak, cherry, pine, mushrooms, and other seeds, but the pecans must have supported a dozen more than we have now.<\/p>\n
One small change to the very local ecosystem, and a big change in the animals that depend on it.\u00a0 Something to think about.<\/p>\n
Right now, the garden is the backup to the canned goods, not the other way around, and I’m under no real illusion that I’ll get more than a couple of meals out of my current situation.\u00a0 But I am learning some things.\u00a0\u00a0 Mainly that it’s harder than it looks!\u00a0\u00a0 Get started climbing the learning curve, even if it’s just in containers on the porch or in the driveway.<\/p>\n
And because gardens are fickle, finicky things, stack the canned goods high and deep.<\/p>\n
nick<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hot and hot.\u00a0 Humid of course.\u00a0 And hot.\u00a0\u00a0 Apparently the country is under a “heat dome”.\u00a0\u00a0 Used to call it ‘summer’.\u00a0\u00a0 There was certainly lots of ‘summer’ yesterday.\u00a0\u00a0 111F in the sun, near the roof…\u00a0 but I’m not a roofer, so it was probably closer to 100F in the real world of my back yard.\u00a0\u00a0 I’ve got to get another sensor somewhere in the shade so I have a gut check on the highs.<\/p>\n
Spent the day catching up on auction and home stuff,<\/p>\n