Maya's UpdatesSpecial shout-out to this buddy, who’s been having a blast weaseling his way around the plants and the walls the past few weeks. He’s jittery and nervous when we get too close, but he quite likes coming around to visit and catching some shade while he’s at it.
Rock on, little fella.
Spring is well under way down here and, just two weeks after its official start, we’re already approaching hot temperatures. It’s now 33 degrees C during the day (90+ F) and, with a south-facing backyard, the plants are starting to get vocal about their discomfort.
Until we get a more permanent set up to (hopefully!) allow the plants to survive the scorching summer, a makeshift shade structure will have to do.
It doesn’t cover everything and will need a fair amount of reworking, but at least the wilting plants are getting a bit of respite.
Just in the day since we put the cloth together, everything breathed a sigh of relief and perked back up.
A few more updates on how things are looking. The succulents are having the time of their life in the heat, and several of them are putting out funky floral antennas.
The hotter it is, the more colorful they’re getting, too. The pinks on this recent addition were much less vivid a week or two ago.
Other plants are still flowering, including some that came as a surprise. For example, did you know that basil gave out flowers…? Totally came as news to me.
Other things are getting nice and green. The carrots planted two months ago are getting quite tall and bushy. I’m curious to know what (if anything) is happening underground!
The fig tree, which used to be little more than a stick, is now growing large leaves.
Yesterday, we added extra straw to the plants to make sure the sun doesn’t make all the water in the soil evaporate too quickly.
The next challenge is to ensure that the garden stays alive when we’re travel away for 10 days. We don’t have an automatic watering system, so we’re trying to figure out how things will work. Will keep this readership updated!
Spring is here and the garden is in full bloom.
Three months of work for… seven pea pods.
This is the kind of thing that makes me rethink having a garden.
I bought these from a nursery two weeks ago. Today was the day they moved into their permanent home.
These should take 60-90 days to harvest, just in time for the birthday – cornbread in lieu of cake?
Special thanks to Lily for providing the background music. These stalks will be swaying to “under the sea” and dreaming of underwater adventures for months to come.
Variety: Golden Bantam
Seed/Transplant: Transplant
Planted: March 12, 2021
Estimated Harvest Date: mid-May to mid-June 2021
Source: Desert Horizons Nursery, 19250 S Ellsworth Rd, Queen Creek, AZ, 85142
