The first time I got a universal remote control I thought to myself, “This changes everything”.
No walking today… It’s gardening time! Below is my new Zebra Plant which began to die… the leaves would shrivel up and turn brown. research indicated it needed humidity…now, Paul has a spray bottle by the plant and the Zebra gets a little “baffy” twice a day! Zebra Plant got its name from the white stripes on its green-colored leaves similar to the stripes of a zebra. The plant with its striking striped foliage and brilliant yellow flowers are a great antidote against the winter blahs.
We know the secret to the Zebra plant now!
To the yard! Everything got a good dose of water today as it has been windy and dry for a few days!
The corn is growing like made right now!
The berries against the back fence are doing well and to help, Paul spread a layer of steer manure around the base of the plants. Another month or two and we should have our first crop of these delightful critters.
Did You Know? Botanically, some of the fruits commonly called ‘berries’ are not true berries, and many fruits most people do not consider berries are in fact true berries in the botanical sense.
A true berry is a simple fleshy fruit formed from the ovary of one flower with seeds embedded in the flesh.
Some examples of true berries are blueberries, gooseberries, cranberries, grapes, tomatoes, bananas and peppers.
We will have berries in a couple of months
Random Memories: Paul remembers growing up on Comey Avenue is Los Angeles and in the early 1950’s we did NOT have fences between the back yards like we have today. The neighbors had a large berry patch in the back yard (these yards were 200 feet deep) and generally had some kind of garden in them! Oh, we also had an incinerator for burning our trash! Paul would wonder out into the thicket and pick blackberries until he was stuffed, hands and clothes were stained, or “caught red handed”.
By 1955, the concrete block wall was raised and the berries disappeared. Not to be deterred, Paul would go around the wall (and sometimes over it) and sneak into the neighbors back yard and continue to pick the berries. Since Paul likes tart, many of the berries did NOT reach their full ripeness. Red blackberries were the best!
Paul overhead Mom talking to the neighbors as they were complaining about the “damned birds” getting their berries even before they were ripe. Little did the neighbors know that Paul was the bird!
The birdies are getting busy meaning Paul has to get busy covering the blueberries before the NLB’s get them (Nasty Little Birds). Perhaps Paul ought to be looking out for eight year old kids???
This year Paul is building a 18’x6x6 frame from 1 1/4″ PVC. We will put a net over it when the blueberries arr ripening and during the heat of the summer when we move the blueberries to the protected side yard, we will provide a cover over our garden swing.
The net is going up today!
The nectarine tree is doing great with all sorts of blossoms on it. The job now is to thin the fruit out as it gets so many thinning is required!
The blossoms reveal we will have a load of nectarines this year!
Paul did NOT walk today as he usually does. He decided working in the yard is plenty of exercise and sure enough, over a period of four hours he did close to five miles. Coming up on 190 miles!
Reaching 200 miles slowly but surely
Although Paul didn’t “walk” around the house many many times adds up!! A couple of miles. Close examination reveals most of the walking wasin the front yard today!
Typical of an afternoon in the garden!
We cleaned up and got dressed and headed for LAX to go dancing with the Nightlighters! Because of medical issues, we have not been there for the past two dances and we we anxious to see everyone. We stayed until 10:00 PM and then headed home to watch some TV. Good dance and met a new couple who we hope join the fun!
