May at Adler Acres

Tuesday, May 18, 2010
We had some good rain these past few days. Friday and Saturday it was scattered showers Sunday was partly cloudy and the perfect day to mix me up a batch of Spray-N-Grow and make the plants happy, happy.
5 weeks ago when I started using this mixture, I made it up in 2 quart batches, the last 2 times, I have graduated to the gallon. This week it took two gallons. The plants are getting bigger, so I have more to cover. My plants are healthy, strong and green and full of blooms and there are some peppers coming up, zuccine, cucumbers, beans are sprouting, yet to see a tomatoe, but there are blooms. The zucinne on the vines right now are about 5 inches. they have grown about 1/2 an inch a day in the last few days, I have seen them grow faster, but I haven't seen the plants as healthy as these are and I am thinking that with this rate of growth, should prove to be some good eats. Speaking of eats, I have been reading up on my canning. My garden and pear tree's are looking so good this year, that I think I will have plenty to pickle and canThe possiblities for some good dishes and canned goods are endless. I hope that you too are inspired this year by your garden to do the same. Something that seems like a neat gift idea for Christmas or to serve at the feast would be green beans that have been canned, pickles, pear and pepper jams and maybe some pear brandy. Now that is looking way ahead, what I am looking at in my near future would be friends and family coming up to the lake for a holiday and just weekends at the Adlers where cooking is a very big part of what we like to do. First of all we will have jalopenos for the barbarq's and hot sause which will be a big hit, plenty of lectucces for salad's, but I don't know if they will last all thru the hottest part of the summer. Green beens and ham should be a big hit as well as fried green tommatoes and zuccine and lets not forget the cuccumbers. Come around the end of July, if all goes well, we should have some wonderful corn to throw into a crawfish boil. I can see us sitting under the tree's and friends family and neighbors enjoying some good old summer times and the eats that go with it. I particuarlly like showing my neices and nephews what they can pick, wash in the hose and eat. It's always a treat watching their amazment at the fact that they can eat something out of my yard. Plus I hope that I enfluence them, like my grandfather influenced me to grow from the earth and enjoy the rewards. Yes I am sitting out in my garden right now just thinking of all the prommising things to come in the next month or two and feel really good about it. I think I will give Mom a call and make plans for her to be here to help with the canning. How fun will that be. It's all about living and making memories. Looks like where off to making some good ones, I already have great memories from Keith and I working on the garden together on the weekends, and it has sure made my days more pleasent having something to do outside that brings so much eye candy to everyone. As Keith and I where having a glass of wine this past Friday evening, we walked around at admired how well all our plants are doing, most of our neighbors where out and about as well, and I had to spill the beans on my secret. One neighbor asked if I went and got some bigger tommatoe plants, I had to start laughing, couldn't help but tell her. Keith and I do put alot of work into our garden, I will give you that, and our garden is healthier and bigger than everyone elses, we all started at the same time, but we are the only ones using the Spray-N-Grow mix right now. I am sure it won't be long before they will be using it too, that is if they want to keep up with the Adlers! Till next week, happy gardening.
Wednesday, May 18, 2010
This morning I woke up to find that my 5 inch zuccine squash is now 8 inches long. How did that happen? Also I have new peppers I didn't see yesterday and the green beans are about ready to pick.