First Bowl of Tomatoes

Here is my first bowl of tomatoes along with a few peppers. The peppers were supposed to be Serrano. The nursery put the wrong tags on plants again. They look exactly like Cayenne peppers to me.

The tomato plants are having a really hard time this year. First there was a fungus. Michael of Tomato Casual helped me solve that problem. We communicated by tweets. Don't let anyone tell you twitter is useless.

Anyway, after that we had too much wet weather, followed by too much dry weather, followed by a flood. The tomatoes gave up and quit growing. Yesterday, I discovered spider mites. I gave them a bath with dissolved Zote soap and rinsed them well. Tonight, I will fertilize and add compost and mulch. Hopefully, they will snap back. As insurance, I am already getting my fall plants started. I took cuttings of yellow pear and Celebrity. I also started some Avivvi from seeds. Monica shared this wonderful tomato with me during her progressive seed exchange. Avivvi is my new favorite tomato. There are two of them in the bowl. They are not quite ripe, but you can see that they are a little stripey.

How are your tomatoes doing?

Another Lizard

First picture is Mr. Lizard who would not move out of the pathway. Mexican version of a troll. I am just not sure what he wanted.

Next is Manly in the jungle.

There I am looking out over the ocean.

The plants were amazing. There were hedges of ruella, lantana taller than I am and crotons the size of small trees.

Now I am off to take care of my own overgrown garden.

Dill and a Grass Hut

The dill seed was dry and ready to come in this morning. I will make pickles with some of it and use some of it, give some away, make a steak rub out of some and save some seeds for next year.

Here is where Baby Sister was married last week. Isn't is beautiful?

Steak Rub

1 teaspoon each dill seed, sea salt, black pepper corn, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika. Crush these herbs and spices together with a mortar and pestle. Rub on your steaks or ribs and grill.

Enjoy

Lizard #1

There are tons of lizards in Mexico. This was a very interesting lizard. I spent most days spotting lizards so they would not run over my feet or dare me to go to my room. So, does anyone know what kind of Mexican lizard this one might be?

I Have Returned.

We had a great trip. I missed GBBD, but I will show you more Mexican flowers and stuff than you ever wanted to see over the next few days. Thanks for all of your sweet comments and drinking encouragment.

Abby is happy to see us. She almost wagged her tail off, but the Manx are pisssed. Maybe it is because they don't have tails to express themselves.

Hi Y all from Mexico

hi, we have internet access at the desk in our hotel. I wish y all could see the plants and flowers. Fabulous. I cant work this mexican keyboard very well and cant post picture, but will have them up next week. There are a lot of lizards here. Have a great weekend. Ill drink a cervesa in your honor.

See You Later Alligators

Leaving for Mexico early early in the morning. Be back next week. Brother is house sitting and caring for the pets.