Trees amongst us

There's a squirrel in the tree's somewhere. Maggie saw her first squirrel yesterday tried jumping as high as she could but was no match for him.

Bathroom destruction

Who would have thought so much could come out of a room so small. Hiked up and down the stairs for 5 hours putting all the "debri" in the garage i can hardly walk my calves are so SORE!

Lookout gal

Watch dog on duty. What a beautiful morning had light rain showers just enough to smell the pines.

Zipping on by...

Another busy week so glad i have my new phone to keep me organized

Monday-Conference call with Hands on Greater phoenix & then Shade tree prepping for the folders at the Valley Permiculture
Tuesday- Master gardener class
Wednesday-First day of school @ MCC then Composting class that evening
Thursday- phx Urban garden, Manor Garden and then city council meeting
Friday- Crown! and that was all for the day I always get wiped out from the numbing gel and then the shot never the work...just the drugs. Quickest 656.00 every spent but a cracked tooth what can you do i don't have that many left.

And now that brings us to Friday evening doing bills and credit card balances while poor Robert is pluggin away at work. He has been there now for 14 hours this Starbucks will be the death of him if he keeps up this pace. I hope resolution comes soon for his sake.

I am hoping to get some pictures posted and more work in the gardens maybe just maybe summer is starting to stop this exhausting heat. All this week it has been 113 high and 90 low...except today and thunderstorms are coming- keep our fingers crossed. I almost forgot i got a massive crack on my poor little new bug :( Monday i will be getting a new windshield with only 4700 miles on the car...i will need to stay FAR away from all vehicles, though living in Arizona no matter how small or big you are every summer here comes the rocks! The kid also got stung by a bee on his ear...he called all hyper wanting to know if he was allergic as his Dad was. Apparently he made it thru without having to go the emergency room, though stated he was in lots of pain. Bee stings to me are like mosquito bites...they don't bite me very often maybe 2x and all the gardens i am in though i don't mess with them and they don't mess with me. I just let them buzz all around me. Well off to bed early morning volunteer at the Volunteer Garden party at 2nd st and Glendale 7am!

What a beautiful morning with clouds such a rare treat...

Phoenix Urban Farm @ Indian Steele Park

See the one sitting ..that's me pulling Bermuda Grass- more volunteer hours for the Master Gardener Class!

Vegan struggles....

Thought i would attempt a Peach pie well it doesn't look bad. Of course Robert is eating it but ....i can't seem to get it down to where i can eat any vegan deserts. Well ok i can eat the ones at Pomegranate Cafe anyday....i really wanted a piece of pie. Kind of tee's me off especially since the flour was 4.79 a bag...

  Will have to make an apple pie with "normal" stuff this week. Might even entertain the thought of getting some Sonoran white flour from Hayden Mills which is an ancient grain flour less gluten....

Cat in the hat....

Cat in the box.....

Propagation Class at Coop Extension with Carol Studdard

Great teacher...she is the same teacher who i am taking the organic farming at Mesa Community College which starts this week. Wonderful talker and  hands on presentation with lots of different varieties of plants.

have we moved into hell....

The heat is on 113 during the day ...90 at night now for 3 straight days expected to continue into next week. Humidity is here as well, winds...no rain. Keep our fingers crossed.

Finished painting the sign for Washington Manor-made a few changes plus did blackboard paint on the backside. Now all i need it the eyelets/chain and hang it up!

The Garden Patch...

will be in the Rave this fall thanks to Esmie! I do need to get those flyers passed out before the end of this month!

Quiet times...but has

been a busy week trying to get in my volunteer hours for my Master Garden. Wedesday am went to a class on Beneficial Insects, what a wonderful and educational class. Brought home a praying mantis waiting to be born, now i just can't decide if i should leave him under the glass bell or put him outside, per Deborah North who taught the class they are several in there but usually only one survives.

For now it is under the glass bell with my wood mushroom & frog...what a cool cocoon it has a "zipper" on the front of it.

Then Wednesday nite went to a class on Ancient grains that have disappeared from the US as well as the southwest and they are trying to bring them back. What a tie into the Master Garden class the wheat farmers have shortened the wheat from 4-5 ft to 1-1.5ft to accommodate easier handling and picking. The grains from past had less gluten in them but the shorter versions have more. One would think this might explain why more and more people have become gluten sensitive, the root structure as well would change...amazing.

Then Thursday morning off to Washington Manor to teach a class on "What to do in your garden in August" I grew a pot of cover crops which Margo found fascinating. We decided to plant one section this coming spring to see if it improves the next crop we plant. Now there was only 2 people at the class, how am i going to get more interest from others? I could bring food that always works but only temporary. All I can do is keep coming and keep pushing forward.

Escalante Community Garden

On Saturday volunteered to work at Escalante gardens in Tempe. A true community garden package. Dave started it with the help of Tempe assistance from the community center which helps homeless and seniors. Dave himself used to be homeless prior to becoming involved in the garden, which has been his job for the last 2 years. They have involved the school next to them, he has garden classes every Tuesday and Wednesday for 3rd and 4th grade kids. Saturdays is harvest day in order to get produce you must work 2 to 3 hours during the week volunteering, breakfast is served every Saturday.

This shows how far a garden can go with the proper backing behind it. Not only is it thriving but the circle is complete from homeless to employed to learning and teaching.

Always looking for different things and ideas- stones around watering spigot and a hand made adobe raised bed.

                        True dedication towards helping the community!

it's official....

The Garden Gal is here...now i just need to get the website going and go somewhere...:)

Slithering in the hallway...

found by J what one would have thought was a black worm until it started moving...was a

Brahminy Blind Snake - non venomous, burrowing snake native to southeast asia. Brahminy Blind snakes are parthenogetic - can spawn young without males.

These snakes resemble black worms in Thailand. They have a lot of energy when you pick one up. You will likely find them in soil in your potted plants or climbing up through your drain in your restroom.
Brahminy Blind Snakes are completely harmless.

They have been found in Phoenix though more common in Florida in marsh type environment. So no, there is no marsh type environment per say in Phoenix, of course unless you manually turn on the sprinklers and forget them for 6 hours...and then it rains the next day...
Needless to say the water was over my ankles on the back porch and took 4 days to soak in....i may have to take out a loan to pay the water bill!

Manor garden

Planted tomatoes this morning oh i hope the heat won't take them down as much as the residents like to water they may get water logged though! Garden is looking good the pepper plants are perking up even have flowers the sweet potatoe vine is going to town let's just hope some potatoes are growing in that dirt. Here some updated shots.

The roses are doing great even setting blooms in this heat.

The ants are gone from the melons with the thanks from Margo who sprayed them with vinegar & water.

Here is their new sign i am working on...

Each person represents a group-VP Culture, Garden Lead, Residents and Hands on Greater Phoenix. Now i need to draw it - paint it and hang it- i hope they like it. I was looking for something that would represent all groups but be very unbiased and not "overly garden" oriented as it is more getting the people together everything else falls into place once that occurs..

You want me to do what and go where....

Leave me be i am sleeping lady!! I've done my time now i get to do what i want!

What a pissy look...i must have woke him up toooo many times yesterday he has been finding peace in the front room. I haven't seen him all day.

It's Raining.....

Need i say more!

Here is proof even!

Garden patrol

                 Ms. dove is on the bench, her sentry post for  guard duty!

Getting bigger

Not sure which one this is as the names have changed but i think it is Lucy...they like the warmth of the fan from the frig...as if Arizona is not hot enough?

       Robert playing with the other two...they just wanted to take a nap. They are now eating kitty food and using the litter box....anyone want a kitty. Kristi made chili for dinner it was mmm good i hope she remembers to send the recipe. I know chili and its 109 out...but i drink coffee when its 120!

I sleepinzzzzz....

       

        You need to turn off that vacuum, can't you see lady, i"m sleeping here!

Manor Gardens..

Linda was to do a class on Compost....no attendance. Let's hope i have a better attendance when i do my class in two weeks. Dee and Margo came out to the garden helped pull grass and sit and "garden gossip".

Marty's watermelon are taking off he has 3 or 4 big ones. He even shared them with Dee, though she accepted graciously, she promptly threw them out afraid Marty might try to poison her. Just another day at Washington Manor.

The cantaloupes took off though if you look closely there are little black fire ants all over them. I told Dee that is probably why they are still there and haven't disappeared.

And we FINALLY have a flower on the eggplant. The raised beds are not just not meant for Phoenix. Hopefully Saturday we will be tilling....hopefully :)

Master Gardener status

Attended my first volunteer advent for Master Gardener Cert 2.5 hours done with only 47.5 to complete. Interesting class "SNAP Program" teaching kids the basics food groups and excerize. Got some ideas for the kids at the Garden Patch, was lots of fun.

Signed up for gardening class at Mesa Community College called "Gardening Practices And Techniques" the teacher is Master Gardener, Carol Stuttard. I know it's in Mesa i will have to drive in that wonderful am traffic, only one day a week though. This class is solely on veggies...my favorite subject and it counts as educational hours-yeah!

                            Classes are going well very interesting.

Lover Boy, Ginger & Walker make thier appearance

                                 Kristi finally found Peekaboo's kittens!

 I knew they had to be in their yard somewhere. Now she has 3 little kitties in the house and looking for homes for them. Lover Boy, Walker & Ginger though i still am not sure which is which, at least at the latest update Ginger has learned how to use the litter box. Imagine Maggie  & J if we had 3 little kittens in the house but Baby hasn't even ventured out to investigate.

Update- new names! Lucy, Ethel and Ricky.......2 girls and one boy

Another week has come and gone tomorrows Friday already....

Went over to see Exile last Sunday so he could "replace" Robert's water pump in his car....see him smile ... not...those BMW's! Exile summed in up in saying i could have put in 10 Toyota

water pumps by now! But the hit of the day was Garfield! He decided to help wash the dishes in the dishwasher what a nut! Couldn't imagine Mom if a cat got in her dishwasher her world would come unglued. I though it was hilarious!

Next he will be climbing the trees to get the bird's nest out front what a fun kitty he is!