So, the Woad was getting chewed up by Cabbage Moths. Moved the pot and covered with “hardware cloth”. The moths have enough to eat and I need the blue dye.
Brown and Green cotton getting started with squashed (by cats) Catnip. Woad roots look pretty shallow to me so I think that will live well in pots.
If you ever forget that parts of Southern California are desert under all the asphalt, an automotive breakdown in the San Fernando Valley will be your reminder.
Earlier in the year (after my last happy post) I woke up to one of the worst heat waves that I can recall. For a few days my local temperature beat out that of my (Pahrump,) Nevada relatives. Yay for me but parts of my garden curled up and died. Even watering before and after work didn’t save the Woad and Weld. Not being native or desert plants those two in particular did not survive the summer. Fortunately I do have seeds from last year and will try again next year. (Pictures of dead plants would be depressing so just use your imagination here.)
Cotton however did really well and I had enough for various guild friends and myself.
Some of the bolls that haven’t opened yet I bring in doors and leave in a warm spot – window, by heater, bowl near the stove – and they open later.
The 2nd year Woad plant.
Snow peas.
Dye, herbs, veggies and legumes coming up.
Super Fennel. I pruned it down last fall a it is shooting back up.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5bLB2Y5swg?feature=player_embedded]
Tomatomania is a wonderful, mostly tomato (California local) plant sale. Lots of enthusiastic gardeners, more varieties of heirloom and homegrown tomatoes then you can imagine and generally good fun.
My vegetable is so small everything merrily cross pollinates. This event gives me an opportunity to toss in some new varieties.
Tomatoes, Sweet Basil, Strawberry and Ladybugs.
Ladybugs on the loose.
And in the dye garden
What I have right now are mostly pictures of dirt. Not much sprouting yet.
Dirt covered in hardware cloth so small animals (ie.my cats) don’t roll in it, or commit other unspeakable acts on the seedlings.
One project for this year is to see what I can manage with Woad and Weld in container garden.
More dirt and something sprouting.
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