05-18-2026 — Chippie duh, dew, duh
Howdy all. Today summer arrived. It was 70+ when I got out of bed this morning, and is now in low 80s just before noon. Humidity is also running quite high, as well as the Air Quality Index (but in that case, high means poor and bad for people like me that want to be able to breathe!!). There was a wet coating on the ground to start the day, and the heat is putting that into the air. The sun is also on high.
They were expected winds from the south blowing around 15-25 mph. Not happening yet. Maybe 5 mph?
But, I went outside because I needed it. The strawberry plants look fantastic with hundreds of small green fruit. I’d guess a couple of weeks before first ripe ones. The plant runners are spreading out in the freshly fertilized beds rapidly. Filling out more than I was expecting. And I just added another dozen more plants to areas not yet reached. I weeded those beds as best I could.
The tomato plants all look like they survived the chills and may grow good now. Potato plants are thriving and looking great. End of July start of harvest, maybe?? That would be nice.
The Onions either took and look very healthy, or didn’t pop out of soil at all. I poked under the soil around some of the bigger plants and the bulbs haven’t really gotten bigger yet. September?
Oh, the flower seeds I put in the back beds for this year, are sprouting vigorously. But at this point I can’t tell some flower plants from weeds. I carefully yanked any weeds I know by sight.
And surprisingly, there are maybe 15-20 flower bulbs, from the 80+ I planted a couple weeks ago, that are already pushing through the soil, towards the sun. Another 10 or so, were dug up by critters looking for bugs or dinner. I replanted the ones that looked like they still had a chance.
That cute little guy could be one of the many culprits of the dug up bulbs. I’ve seen him a few times now in the last week. First chippie sightings of the year.
All of the garden beds could use a good drenching from rain. And if it doesn’t show up by tomorrow I will have to use hose to do the deed. Not looking forward to doing that.
Oh, Kitty is really enjoying the warmth coming through the open window. She hides behind a blanket draped over one of her bed-trees, and watches, and listens to, the squirrels and birds emptying the bird feeders.
She knows how to Enjoy Life