Tuesday, August 9, 2011

The 9th of August

This is the time of year that mosquitoes take to heart the commandment of their Creator when He told His creatures to "Increase and multiply!" And indeed they are obedient little critters. I can't tell the number of bites I got while out weeding yesterday and this morning I wore a halo of high-pitched buzzing companions.

The yard is suffering from the only intermittent rainfalls and the drawn-out heat wave we recently passed through. We have at last been given a respite - for example, tomorrow the high is only supposed to be 77 degrees... can it be?

So I've kept watering the bushes and vegetables in the early morning but possibly not as diligently as I ought to've. The weeds are the neighboring camps that are invading from every side. What weapon to call on next? The weather is on their side; the bugs deter them not. My new idea is consistent and persistent attack - every morning before the heat comes to their defense, I shall go out armed with garden glove and de-cultivator and wage battle after battle until the fields are empty of enemy corpses. This, I believe, is the only solution.

And it is high time. August is the prime for selecting short-season Fall crops and garlic, not to mention cover crops, which I also intend to plant.

In the meantime, here are some recent pictures for you:



A tremendous wind that effected a huge, though very passing, storm, Sunday!



Mom and Monnie and I walked up to the big cemetery in the post-rain freshness. The glow of the setting sun was ethereal!




Yesterday evening we noticed some of the grapes had turned red:

All but those two are yet green:


The back Junipers really seem to be doing fine:

This is the southernmost arborvitae - it's really suffering. My one hope is that over the winter it will find root and come back strongly next Spring. Otherwise, I think we can get a replacement.

Even the oak is suffering from the extreme heat - note the burned leaves.

The remains of Yellow Blossom Sweetclover:

Tomatoes growing tall amidst Spring Barley and weeds:


A freshly weeded Beta. :)

Icchh!

1 comment:

  1. Those are great photos! Sums up August pretty well, too... Here it is, end of August and still over 100 degrees! Next week should actually dip into the 70's for highs -- to everything there is a season. :)

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