Sunday Gardening

Seems like Sundays are my days for reviewing my gardening adventures for the week. I am usually out in the garden every morning, watering, deadheading, and generally checking up on things. As I mentioned last week, I need to do the same for the front garden on a regular basis as well.

This morning’s adventures included discovering that the spider who’d run an anchor for his web from the wall of the house to the hose holder, had shifted the web so he is now parallel to the wall. The anchor threads seem to be self-contained for now. The main web itself is definitely an extension of the wall.

I’m glad the spider has shifted the web. I usually automatically walk to the right of the hose carrier to get to the faucet. I’ve had remind myself for the last few days to walk to the left. You might think I’m being very kind and considerate of the spider and all the work he’s put into making this web. The truth of the matter is walking into spider webs gives me the heebie-jeebies and I do that freak-out dance when I do walk into a web. You know, this one:

The well-being of the spider is my last concern. Spidey is just lucky I spotted him the first time (he was hanging at eye-level). My general feelings about all sorts of bugs is, if we’re outside, I’m in your territory and I will leave you alone unless you attack, and then all bets are off. If you’re a bug inside my house, you will die. No reprieve unless my husband finds you first and puts you back outside.

So, the spider had very kindly moved off the hose which meant I could water without worrying about any unwanted arachnid assistance.

In addition to watering, I transplanted some lacinato/Tuscan/dinosaur kale. Last year I had one plant that survived the great cantaloupe invasion, and it was tasty! This year, I started some in my seedling/herb box, hoping to get more this year. I transplanted the two largest plants into the raised bed and they’re now happily, I hope, ensconced between the basil and parsley, both of which are still going strong.

I also checked on my two little wilding experiments and they’re also doing well. In the southeast corner the Turks Cap are blooming regularly, and the lantana had a few blooms. In the northeast corner, the scabiosa (say that without using Hermione’s voice… bet you can’t!) is doing well, but the tickweed seems to be in trouble. Both are native plants, so I’m curious to see how they fare. The hibiscus in with them is prospering however (see photo at the top of this page).

Using my Neil Sperry book on Texas gardening, I will be planning out my front garden over the next couple of weeks. We probably won’t do anything drastic until fall (if we decide to put in fall plants), or even March next year.

The chaos continues and I’m happy with the results. How’s your chaos coming along?