Motley Monday - May 20, 2024

 I got a late start on posting today, but here are some garden things happening, plus Mickey.

I direct seeded some Galeux d'Eysines, but in case they don't grow I started some in a container too. These are the warty French winter squash.  Galeux d'Eysines sounds lovely, but it means Embroidered with Scabs from Eysines.  I hope they grow well this year, they have wonderful smooth orange flesh. 

Dragon Tongue bush beans are up!

I bought a salvia at Walmart when I was there for something else.  No name given, but it's a nice dark purple, and perennial.

As with the Warty French squash, I planted in pots and containers for lemon cucumbers. 

Ligated Furrow bee, a type of sweat bee, sleeping in a rose.  

The pyracantha is bursting with blooms. 

It's also covered with insects.  

This is a leafhopper assassin bug.  It's probably waiting to grab a bee with its forelegs, injecting it with venom with its needle-like mouth, and sucking out the liquified insides.  That's what they do.  Best not think about it. 

I also got a Sun Sugar yellow cherry tomato from Walmart, because it was there and looked healthy and sturdy.  It's been planted.

Yesterday was the day after the City-Wide Yard Sale nearby (tomorrow you'll be treated with my finds), so my son and I drove around for free things (also included in tomorrow's post) on the curbs.  In addition to free items, I found a woman selling tomatoes.  

She had grown them all from Baker Creek seeds, and most were purple, black, striped, pineapple, etc.  I don't like those, especially pineapple, I want a tomato tasting tomato.  She only had two red varieties.

Fejee or True Beefsteak

Abe Lincoln 

This one was tall, but not leggy, and once I cut off the lower growth (Which is advised when planting tomatoes since you plant them deeper than the container they were in, as they send out roots at the nodes.  Yes, the plant will look much smaller, but it will be healthier and sturdier.) it was too tall to place in a hole.

So, I just planted it sideways.  Tomatoes are vines, they don't care.  I've done the same with leggy cucumbers. 

Just gently bend it a bit, and set a rock behind it until it grows upright on its own. 

Mickey watching me work in the front yard. All the rest is reflection of things across the street (and a tiny bit of hand).

If you're curious how the City-Wide sale went, come back tomorrow!