the jungle story

at this point i must take a hiatus from bolivia postings to display the saga of my yard. I had decided that this was to be the "year of the yard"... planted a new garden in the spot where the old swing set used to be (thanks to my dad!), sowed some wild flower seed in the back corner (thanks to Hillary and Jarrett!), and planted sunflowers right behind my house on the sunny south side (again, Hil and Jarrett - thank you, i think...). and then i left for a month. Here is what it has become: out of control!!!
















SO, i subdued the tomatoes in the garden, which was a challenge given their viney selves. and found some very large zucchini.











and then set to work slaying the vines and trees that the "wildflower patch" had become. this ended up being a 3 hour ordeal involving shovel, shears, a lot of sweating and dirt. i discovered pumpkins, volunteer tomatoes (underneath the jungle) and a few, very few flowers. and my cat. Kemba.




















The result of my labors:
3 pumpkins (from one plant, apparently part of the "wildflower mix"), 6 very small but red and ripe Roma tomatoes, one stalk of Zinnias, one yellow-flowered plant, Kemba and a HUGE pile of ... weeds!













i also found a cantalope in the true garden. so i ate it for dinner. with three of the small red ripe roma tomatoes.












Lessons learned:

• don't plant the "wildflower blend"
• put the tomato cages up when the plants first go in the garden
• don't get behind on weeding
• Illinois earth is very fertile?
• i still have a lot to do for the "year of the yard"

visitors are welcome. bring tools.