Earth Hour with the Monkeys

A sampling of things I had to yell during Earth Hour.

"That's not fair. Your arms are twice a long as his."
"HEY! MY COUCH"
"Stop jumping around with candles"
"You may not catch anything on fire."
"Do not throw shoes."
"You have to pee in the dark"
"HEY, THOSE ARE MY PILLOWS."
"You need to take that stink outside."
"I don't want to learn how to play chess."
"NONONONONO, put the helmets down."
"DO NOT THROW SOCKS."
Seriously, somebody help me.

They initiated me into some secret club by candle light, wandered the house with an open cell phone, had a paper wad fight and declared Earth Hour the most fun ever.

Very Exciting Day at the Library

Today was a very interesting day at the library. Though I don't often post about it, I have a greenhouse. It is set up at a dear friend's place about five minutes from here. We keep it there because she has more space and an excellent rainwater harvesting system. I don't have any plants in it this year so my greenhouse partner is enjoying some peace and quiet without daily visits from me and the Monkeys. She called me just after we opened the library this morning asking for a little advice. Seems like the kerosene heater acted up and there is soot everywhere. The walls, ceiling, tables, and plants are all covered in "black snow." The only thing I could think of was to mix up a mild solution of liquid dish soap and wash everything down. We had quite a laugh at this new hiccup in greenhouse management.

Later in the afternoon, Paul, from the Texas Triffid Ranch brought me pitcher plants for our bog garden at the Outdoor Education Center. Right there at the library counter, we enjoyed a short, inpromptu lecture on pitcher plants and trigger plants complete with live plants to examine. Very exciting. Hope the Best Boss Ever is tolerant of plants taking over the library for just a little.

After we closed the library down, Paul and I took a trip to the OEC. We stopped by my house to pick up the camera on the way. Paul graciously explained pitcher plants and trigger plants to Middle Monkey. He also advised my son not to put his finger in the pitcher plant traps because of a possible nasty reaction to a chemical they secrete. (I have repeated "Do not put your finger in the pitcher plants' traps" about 400 times since the plants came home. Somebody help me, seriously).

At the OEC we examined the bog garden and took a tour of the rest of the plots. He was very complimentary and gave me great advise on how to grow the pitcher plants. Now this guy knows his stuff. I hope I can pull all the information he passed on back out of my brain when the time comes to use it. If not, I am afraid I will become his special needs client.

After leaving the OEC, we then had a nice lunch and a lively conversation at the Cotton Gin Restaurant. I wanted to buy all the plants he brought, but I had a $100 budget for plants this time around. I am asking for more next time.
 Paul at the bog garden at our KCMG Outdoor Education Center. Very near to where the pitcher plants will call home.

I've got to run now and get a few things together for our Earth Hour event. What did you do or not do during Earth Hour?

Ps: The cat thinks the pitcher plants are candy and has been licking them. Durn, now I have to wait and see if she has some sort of reaction.

I Want a Last Freeze Date Written in Stone

We had a warm wet stormy day. At about 6:00 in the evening the wind picked up and blew in some cold cold weather. I truly believed it was too late in the season for a freeze. Silly me. The weatherman says we will have snow flurries. So we do the move the plant dance one more time.
 















The lemon trees, ficus, and cleradendron are back in the kitchen.



 















Pepper and tomato sets are back inside as well.



 
Trixie asks, "Why do you keep bringing these in and out of the house? Are you just crazy? Never mind, I answered my own question."





 

I went outside in the cold cold dark and took this picture of the pots covering my tomato transplants because I want this blog to be more ridiculous more interesting.

Where All The Cool North Texas Gardeners and Garden Bloggers Will Be

Kaufamn County Master Gardener Spring Seminar. April 4, 2009, First Assembly of God in Kaufman, Texas. Located at the corner of Hwy 34 and FM 1388.

Programs will include cactus and succulents, home irrigation systems, and gardening with herb.

You may submit 8x10 photos to the photo contest. There will be orchids, Earthkind roses, and a pass along plants for sale.

You can meet me, Aunt Debbi. I will be the crazy lady pushing plants at the plant sale.

I almost forgot, there will be food and it is all for free (except the plants of course).

A Very Nice Evening After a Stormy Day

It rained on and off all day, but cleared up and was a beautiful evening. I need to sweep up the deck. The peach trees have blown their blooms and made a big mess.
 















Most of the tomatoes are planted and I went ahead and companion planted with marigolds.
 















I seem to have a thing for broken containers.
 















Here's another one.
 

Sideways

 
So, even though I am really tired, I am willing to do this actual gardening post on sideways tomatoes. We are advised to plant tomatoes deep even remove a few of the lower leaves in order to plant them deeper. Tomatoes will send out roots along the stem. These extended root systems allow tomatoes to grow more vigorously and, hopefully, more fruitfully. This requires a really deep hole. To avoid the deep hole digging, it is often suggested to plant tomatoes on their side, but this could lead to breaking the little transplants. Another solution is to tip the plants on their sides the day before they are planted.
 

After 24 hours on their side, they reach for the sun and can be planted sideways with the stem below the soil with limited chances of breaking.

Lemon Tree Very Pretty

Somehow I spent $100 at the nursery yesterday. All I intended to get was a bag of potting soil and some compost. Oops.
 















They had this Meyer's lemon tree and it was blooming. I just had to have it.
 
Bunnies eating flowers are just cute.  
Here is a picture of all of the plants back on the deck. 

I also bought a banana tree for Manly Man, a flat of petunias, and a flat of marigolds. I wish y'all could smell that lemon tree. Sweeeet.