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Even on a rainy day, I couldn’t stay out of the garden!! ~~ Neglected plants mysteriously arrive at my doorstep. These two Boston Ferns arrived… and needed attention; I elected to trim them after I moved them into an area where they can enjoy our current storm. (Normally they are in the shade of the awning.) When I find a round tuit, I’ll probably transplant them into larger planters.

I think I’m suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome!! I’m always so-o-o tired!! But I force myself out into the yard where I’m breathing fresh air and getting exercise. This morning I pulled weeds. The wet soil was perfect (in between showers).

Square dancing tonight.

“Yours truly” is very protective of the Hummingbirds. The nectar is changed every two or three days; the feeders are thoroughly washed. I prepare nectar with high quality sugar in filtered water.

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I was horrified when a neighbor said she mixes four cups sugar with four cups of water.

No, no, no!! That is lethal to the Hummingbirds!!

See my blog message Lorraine loves Hummingbirds.

Honestly, I heard twenty percent chance of rain. However, at lunch, the discussion indicated “as much as two inches of rain overnight.” Currently, early in the day–but strong winds buffeting the trailer–so planters moved under the new shade cloth. Perhaps the overhang of the storage building roof and protection of the porous shade cloth will be sufficient to protect my delicate plants?! (Someone on Garden Training Project questioned if the cloth would “turn water.” I’ll find out.)

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Postscript, Monday, April 11, 2016, 10:30 AM: Although it rained briefly last night, no measurable amount in the rain gauge. However, the soil was appropriately wet enough to pull weeds. Before another rain shower drove me indoors, I pulled hundreds (thousands?) of the unsightly nuisance in my garden. (Two bags full!!)

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Q: What do you give a bride who has everything?

A: Pictures!!

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These… and eighty others–on a memory card–to process at their convenience.

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In a few months, southeast Texas blistering heat will scorch every living thing. My veggie garden suffered last summer!! I’m preparing a framework for the shade screen–to shelter my Garden Tower. ~~ First, we prepared a concrete slab so the Garden Tower would have morning sunshine. Now, I created the framework for afternoon shade. (My helper too busy to assist.) My intention: Something temporary. ~~ FYI: Other than shade screen, very little expense; I had the vertical pipes set in cement base, long PVC pipe for horizontal frame, and zip ties.

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“Yours truly” is obsessive compulsive. I was eager to climb the ladder and attempt to attach the shade cloth.

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I anticipate there will be modifications. Many of my projects are “trial and error.” ~~ I’m grateful this quirky project came to fruition.

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See my earlier post Cicadas and Tent Caterpillars. I am blessed beyond adequate praise!! The caterpillars are devouring the leaves on trees in neighboring yards. I speculate they do not like Chinese Tallow trees because my trees are untouched. Another CARE resident’s storage building is polka-dotted with caterpillars and/or their excrement. The laundry room, in adjacent RV Park, is covered and the floor is black with smashed caterpillars tracked into the building. I have relatively few caterpillars in my yard and I’m seeing fewer every day!!

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Link to article: Five Very Good Reasons to Eat Avocado Seeds.

How interesting?!

When it comes to real estate, we’ve always heard “location, location, location.” My conclusion: “location” explains the reason my Mosquito plant is blooming. Now they get morning sunshine; previously, they were always in the shade.

A combination for two years: Two Mosquito plants next to two rain barrels. On October 7th, 2015, I switched the rain barrels from one end of the awning to opposite end.