Alien Pods and Where's The Squash?

   A week of cool, damp, cloudy weather followed the short heat wave we experienced at the end of May.  It was nice to have a break from watering the garden and the brassicas seemed to love the cooler temps.  Most of the beans germinated despite the very cool nights.  The squash, on the other hand, is MIA.  Of the 23-25 seeds I planted, only 2 (Gold Nugget) have germinated!  Summer squash has usually broken through and started growing by now.  Note to self: start squash indoors next Spring.  Yes, even the summer squash.

North garden - dry bush beans (Tene's Beans, Ireland Creek Annie, and Vermont Cranberry) and winter squash (Gold Nugget)

North garden - dry beans, squash mounds, garlic

   North garden - snap beans (Red Swan and Roma) just starting to come up, cabbage, and garlic.

   R. and I spotted some cucamelon transplants at the greenhouse last week.  Neither of us has grown or eaten them before.  This will be an experiment.  I'd seen pictures of cucamelons on the seed sites and always thought they grew on plants with a bush habit.  Nope.  The transplants had very fine vines and tendrils.  When I did an online search for more information about them, I was astonished to read that cucamelon vines can reach 8-10 feet long!  R. found a light trellis and put that behind them, positioned against the fence.  Hopefully, that will do to support the vines.  I have a feeling our neighbour might be able to enjoy some cucamelons on his side later this summer!

   South garden - except for the peas, things seem slow in this patch.  No sign of squash (Early Prolific), few carrots (Red Chantenay), and no sign of snap beans (Calima and Slenderette).  The collards, chard, and kale planted in the shady section seem to be coming along nicely.

Tiger Eye beans - dry bush beans with short runners

R. bought two solar lamposts that have large flower pots at the base. 

This was taken around 10:00pm last night.

We like solar lights.  Can you tell?

   We went to the greenhouse to get some "basket stuffer" transplants.  I got lobelia (mixed colours - blue, white, pink, fuschia), dwarf Baby's Breath, a few kinds of petunias, and dianthus.

   The picture does not do them justice, but I think these are my favourite petunias so far.  ("Johnny Flame")

   These petunias are neat, too (it was the only item R. chose himself!).  I think it's called, "Starry Sky Burgundy".  They are deep burgundy with white speckles.

   Cucumbers are planted in the container with the spiral tellis.  The rest of the containers are different kinds of mint. 

   The planter on the saw horse contains petunias ("Black Cherry") and dianthus.  I'm glad I went with the "Black Cherry" petunias - I almost didn't.  They go very nicely with the dianthus!

   The Bathtub - begonia (from the greenhouse - I treat myself every year to one), yellow pansies, flat-leaf parsley, kale (Dazzling Blue), Swiss Chard (Rainbow and Red), arugula, mint (most from the greenhouse), Pineapple sage (from the greenhouse)

   South side of the house - tomatoes, dry bush beans (Beka Brown), thyme, and rosemary (from the greenhouse this year!).

    South side, continued - tomatoes, a bit of lettuce, dahliettas (still very small).

   Purple Vienna kohlrabi planted on impulse at the back of the house.  So far, so good.

   A good friend gave me some Iris sections from her garden last year.  It is nice to see them coming up so well.  Bittersweet, as she is no longer with us.  Seeing them every day will be a lovely reminder of her generosity and friendship.

    I had never seen Irises grow and kept wondering where the stems were.  So many long, lush leaves but no stems!  I discovered on the morning of June 3rd some alien-looking pods that had broken through some of the leaves from the inside.  So that's how they grow - neat! 

Irises, June 10th

   Onions and cabbage (foreground), potatoes, and winter squash (Lower Salmon River)

   Finally, some carrots are appearing.  Slow germination for carrots this year.

   L-R in the raised beds: Coastal Pride Orange tomatoes, Mitla Black dry beans w/runners, Early Romanesco cauliflower.

   East garden (we tend to call it "The Potato Patch" whether we're growing potatoes there or not). Potatoes (Kennebec), a few zinnias, marigolds, Dwarf cosmos, and Lemon Queen sunflowers, tomatoes (Midnight Sun, Black Prince, and Polish Linguisa), peppers (jalapeno, Tam jalapeno, and Orange Spice jalapeno), "Veronica" Romanesco cauliflower, dry pole beans (Dolloff), zucchini (Black and Fordhook), volunteer potatoes, and a volunteer bean (hopefully, a bush bean!)

   Potato leaves began popping up all through this tomato bed.  R. had put compost from our bins beneath the soil when he turned the beds this year and didn't recall seeing any potatoes.  He finally dug down to investigate and discovered potato peels that were sending up shoots from a good foot below the surface.  The peels were "fresh" from a month or two ago.  We pulled them all out, but I am still finding new ones every day in this bed.

   I had a startling encounter yesterday afternoon with a furry visitor!  I was outside puttering on the south side of the house and wanted to water the dahlias on the front step, so headed in that direction.  I came around the side of the house just in time to see the back end of an animal who was motoring at top speed off the step, belly low to the ground.  I stopped dead in my tracks, eyes like saucers.  What had I just seen?  It wasn't a cat, rabbit, guinea pig, or ferret.  Prairie Dog?  Groundhog?  Marmot?  Do they have those up here?

   About 10 minutes later, while watering near the squash mounds in the north garden, it came back on the step and paused, so I got a good look.  It stayed on the step for a minute, then slowly walked to the water barrels at the south front corner and peered out in my direction.  It retreated between the barrels and then stood up on it's back legs, gently pawing the side of the house (maybe getting it's bearings?  Or seeking a place to hide?).  It disappeared after that and though I went out again with a camera a short time later, he didn't return.

   It wasn't that large and it also had a bushy little brown tail.  Mostly tan with some dark brown flecks through it's fur.  I wonder if it was a youngster.  I poked around online and thought it looked like either a marmot or a young groundhog.  R. thinks it must have been a groundhog, as marmots are more typically found in southern BC.   In any case, he must have been lost, as I have never seen one in our yard or in town  (I have never seen one, period).  Poor little guy.  He sure was cute.  I hope he made it back out of town the way he came in, likely through the ravine near 96 Ave or the railroad tracks. 

Afternoon update  

   Perhaps the squash seeds were abducted by whatever arrived in the alien pods.  

   Frustrated, I went poking through the squash mounds to see what was going on.  Of the 10 zucchini seeds planted, only one was found.  It had germinated but was dead.  Only one of the Early Prolific squash germinated and only two of the Gold Nugget. The majority of the squash seeds I had planted couldn't be found, so I assume they rotted in the ground during the cool, wet weather (it was hot out the week I planted them).   I planted new seed this afternoon to replace everything that hadn't come up.  Two days ago, new Table King Acorn seeds were planted for the same reason.  Arhg.

   Hoping the heat will return and remain so the squash can get going!

 

Seedlings, Butterflies, and Smoke

Wrapping up May with some garden notes.

On May 20th, we planted Green Arrow peas (our usual kind) and Lincoln peas (something new to try) in the South garden.  The trellis and planting system we're using this year is a bit different.  We're hoping that by planting the peas in more condensed rows that they will support each other, stay dryer, and take up less overall room in the garden.

Bea (calico) and Loulou (orange tabby) assisted.  In this picture, Lou is making sure R. plants the peas in nice, straight rows.

Wheeee-zoooom!  (Bea saw a bug, maybe?)

Lou incubating the freshly planted peas.

A few days ago, the Schubert Chokecherry tree was in bloom.  The air smelled heavenly!  The flowers only lasted about 36 hours before the petals started falling from the tree like confetti.  Bees and several butterflies (all this brown type) took advantage of the flowers while they could.

Yesterday, we had a break from the smell of smoke and the light haze we'd been experiencing from the wildfires in Northern Alberta.  Early in the evening, the smoke rolled in again, thicker than ever and hasn't cleared off yet.  It smells like a campfire, indoors and out, and the haze makes my eyes burn.  The windows are shut tight and the smell of smoke still makes it's way into the house.  I feel for those with breathing problems and can barely imagine what people whose communities are close to the fires are enduring.

These pictures were taken around 6:30am.

At the end of our driveway, looking across the street toward the sun...

Looking down our street.  You should be able to see some of the businesses and buildings along the Alaska Highway and Bear Mountain on the other side of town.

I have almost finished planting the gardens, containers, and raised beds.  Only a few containers are left to plant.  Some tomatoes need to be staked and a few areas still need to be mulched with grass clippings or straw.  These pictures were taken around 8:40am this morning.  The smell of smoke is thick and the air is hazy.  There is a yellow tinge to the sky that is noticeable in some of the pictures.

North Garden 
Cabbage (assorted) – May 20
Garlic – Fall 2018
Gold Nugget squash (C. maxima) – May 25
Fresh bush beans  (Romano beans, Red Swan) – May 27
Dry bush beans (Ireland Creek Annie, Tene’s Beans – May 26
Dry bush beans w/runners (Vermont Cranberry) – May 26
Zinnias and Dwarf Sensation Cosmos – transplanted early May

South Garden
Peas (Lincoln and Green Arrow) –  May 20
Carrots (Red Chantenay) - May  14 - resown May 31
Fresh bush beans (Calima and Slenderette) - May 28
Early Prolific Straightneck Squash – May 25
Kale, Swiss Chard, Collards – May 20
Dwarf Sensation Cosmos – May 14

East Garden
Pole beans (dry – Dolloff) – May 26
Peppers (Jalapeno, Tam jalapeno, Orange Spice jalapeno) – May 24
Tomatoes (Midnight Sun, Black Prince, Polish Linguisa) –  May 22
Potatoes (Kennebec) – May 13
Romanesco Cauliflower (Veronica) – May 24
Zucchini (Fordhook, Black) – May 25
Sunflowers (Lemon Queen, Unknown) - May 28

Jalapeno peppers (and potatoes in the background).

Potatoes (Norland) - planted May 13.

Lower Salmon River squash (C. maxima) - transplanted May 28.

The asparagus ferns have emerged!

Romanesco cauliflower ("Early Romanesco") in the foreground - transplanted May 22.
Dry beans w/runners (Mitla Black) in the background with stakes - planted May 26.

Beets (Detroit Red and Golden) - planted May 13.
Kale (Lacinato or Dazzling Blue) - transplanted May 13.

The zombie currant bush...

Apple Tree

Odds and Ends

The Schubert Chokecherry tree and apple tree had blossoms as usual this year.  The crabapple tree barely had any, and two of the large trees on the front lawn that was usually covered with blossoms at this point had none and look like they won't develop any.

Few of the carrot seeds I sowed in the raised bed and the South garden germinated.  I might have waited too long to plant them (May 13).  They seem to germinate best when the weather is cool and sunny.  The weather recently has been hot, particularly this past week (daytime highs have ranged from 23 to 29 degrees).  I tossed some more seed in both the raised bed and the garden and am crossing my fingers.

Opening The Milk Jugs

   Blessed relief!  It was a cool 2 degrees at 6:00am, but now, at noon, it is 15 degrees and feels hotter.  At least two people within earshot are motoring around their yards on lawn-mowers. 

   It was back onto the front step this morning for the transplants after being inside for a few days due to cool, windy, wet weather.  They're shaded by an old bedsheet.  The cats love to curl up underneath the sheet among the transplants.  :)

   I planted the dinnerplate dahlia tubers (started indoors) this morning and decided to open most of the milkjugs to expose the transplants to some sunshine.  This month's weather extremes left some wear and tear on the cabbage and Romanesco cauliflower.  The little flies that put pinholes in the brassica transplants also started to make their mark recently.  I pulled out the weak and very damaged ones and put the rest in partial shade near the bathtub.  I think they'll be okay.

They seem to like the heat, so I left the Dwarf Cosmos...

...and the Summer Savoury in their closed "greenhouses" for now.

We had some extra Kennebec seed potatoes, so R. planted them in the old wheelbarrow basin and recycling bins.

The garlic patch is coming along!  All varieties, including the small "Brown Tempest" rounds (in the white, rectangular planter in the front of the patch), have finally sprouted.

Dwarf Purple Heart

     The weather has been cool, cloudy, damp, and windy for the last week or so.  Awful weather for hardening off the tomatoes.  They are looking ratty and still aren't ready to be planted outside.  They need some warmth and sunshine, ASAP.

    The only transplant of Orange Strawberry (tomato) snapped in half when the shade sheet was blown off.  One of the rocks holding the sheet in place landed on top of it.  I replanted the top half and am hoping it takes root and grows stronger than ever.

    One little transplant made me smile this morning.  The single Dwarf Purple Heart (from the only seed of this variety that germinated) produced a flower.  It is so cute!  

    Taking advantage of the cool days, we planted carrots (assorted varieties), potatoes (Norland and Kennebec), a few beets, and lettuce earlier this week.  This morning, I transplanted some Swiss Chard, kale, collards, and parsley from the milk jug greenhouses into the "bathtub planter" and the shady corner of the south garden.

    R. spotted two volunteer squash growing in one of the window planters!  I wish I knew what kind they were.  If they were zucchini or prolific straightneck squash - both fairly compact - I would try to move them into a larger container or one of the gardens.  The other possibilities - spaghetti squash, Galeaux D'Eysines, and North Georgia Candy Roaster - are large and vining, and I have different varieties of winter squash planned for this year.  In any case, they're hardy little souls, coming up despite this cool weather.  Credit where credit is due!

Snowfall to Heat Wave

   The morning of my last post (May 3rd), I woke up to snow falling.  It snowed all that day and into the next.  The snow stopped on the 4th, and then temperatures dropped to between -2 and -8 overnight.  I had to bring my milk jug greenhouses inside for several nights and put extra straw on the onion patches along the driveway.

   Less than a week later, we have jumped right into summer temps.  Yesterday was 20 degrees.  This afternoon, it is 20 degrees again.  Tomorrow is forecast to be 26 degrees!  The milkjug greenhouses are back outside, the onions are starting to come up, and I spotted the first sign of buds on the raspberry canes. The first dandelions of the season have appeared.  

   I began hardening off the transplants (mostly tomatoes and peppers, plus a few leeks, marigolds, and parsley) yesterday morning.  Part of this morning was separating and repotting our rootbound and sad-looking aloe vera plants.  Despite wearing sunscreen and a hat, I got a mild sunburn. 

    A few days ago, during the cold spell, R. spotted that the small crocus-like flowers growing in the flower bed (close to blooming) had been chewed off overnight!  We assume it must have been a young deer with the munchies, though we didn't see any tracks.  The anonymous nibbler was gracious enough to leave a single flower.

Update - May 19th:  The nibbled bunch of flowers bounced back, better than ever.  :)

We Jinxed It

   I woke up in the middle of the night to the strong smell of must and damp in the basement/crawlspace.  Uhg.  I knew there had been some kind of precipitation, but assumed it was rain.

May 3, 7:00am, -2 degrees C., still snowing

   R. changed his winter tires over to summer ones yesterday, and I put away the snow shovel and ice blade.

Opps.

   I am looking forward to having a stretch of weeks (or dare I wish it, months?) with mild temps, dry ground, and a dry basement.