Location Location Location

I've planted all over the yard. There is full sun and in Miami full sun can mean 14 hours of sun. I have some things planted in shade, which still means 6-7 hours of sun. With the summer rains beginning, I'm not as concerned with sun as I am with flooding. It seems the best location has been on the south side of the house, in a raised bed, without roof run off. The daily rains this week blow in but don't drown. The plants are dark green and growing strong.

The peas are not doing well though. They've grown tall but my research tells me they are suffering from powdery mildew. Some reading tells me to try sulphur powder. Any advice out there?

Seasonal Rhythym

Gardening, and I'm guessing farming, is the trying not to kill what you've planted. There are other good things to do, pruning and thinning are new to me. I can't really control the "growing" part of growing veggies. That's completely God's work. I can make sure it gets some water. I can bring pots in for light or warmth. But I think I'm only trying to keep them from dying.
I've been out of town this week. I can't be there to watch over the plants, especially the new baby carrot sprouts that have only just appeared. This time of year, there is usually an afternoon shower to provide moisture and plenty of sun. I'm much more peaceful with letting God take care of my plants. I don't always feel that peace in the care of the people around me. I feel that I need to nurture, water, encourage, urge the growing process. But it's the same as those baby plants. God is in charge of the growing.
If some of the other gardening principals work then there is much more to learn.

Hookworms on my Tomato plants

The bright green, rather hansom, caterpillar ate. I waited. He ate. I wondered, maybe he's a beautiful butterfly getting ready to hide away for the big metamorphosis. He ate. And I resorted to research. He's destined to eat the whole plant and then become a moth. Not that I have anything against moths, but I'm not as willing to sacrifice my tomato plant for them. Removal was the answer. Tomato plant saved for future humans not future moths.

Composting in Miami must be the easiest thing ever

I've grown to love the humidity here. I miss it when I travel to dry states. My lips immediately rebel upon entering MIA and overkill air conditioning sucking every last drop of moisture from the air.
Humidity and heat make the easiest place to compost. Disintegration maybe what the thing that is done best here. Having some friendly earthworms crawling around the landscaping beds is helpful too certainly. But I only need to bury the kitchen scraps. Two days later they're gone. Worm food. New dirt.
If you're new to composting there are a few rules. Don't try to compost the meat or the oily.

Reduce- Reuse- Recycle

I was in college when Earth Day made it's big comeback. Maybe not big enough, but we're getting there (well maybe not.) The 3 word phrase reduce- reuse- recycle gets thrown around a lot more now. But so often folks don't realize, there is an order to which it goes.
First you want to REDUCE your consumption. Cut back. Buy less. Take your own beverage in a cup. Drive less. Wear the same clothes.
Then if you have to buy it, or you already bought it, then REUSE it as many times as possible. I was reusing the bread wire ties to tie up my beans today. I packed the kids lunch in the bag the bread came in. Of course this lends itself to the many appliances that are being repaired instead of tossed. A friend of mine said he fixed his own refrigerator 3 times- I was impressed.
Lastly, if you have to toss it, RECYCLE. Cutler Bay's new recycling program added many more plastics that can be recycled than before. Good for them. Of course my favorite recycling these days is composting. Recycling food waste back into dirt. Amazing.

Cucumber flowers and the sexes

In this new hobby, I've taken on some reading. They don't call these years the information age for nothing. There's a ton of information out there. I was reading about cucumbers. I have 3 vines and one is doing super well.
The interesting cucumber fact is the first flowers are the male flowers. Following a bit later are the female flowers. Pollen has to make it from one to the other and if all goes well, just below the female flower the baby cucumber will begin to form.
The male flowers are slightly larger and all of mine have been really good-looking hearty flowers. The female flowers may be slightly smaller and sometimes more hidden under the broad leaves of the vine, but they are the creative and productive members of this little family. Amazing.

First Fruit Offered

yep, the first Tomato was laid as an offering tonight at church. And like good Levites, we ate it. Maybe the second will be ready for the elder's meeting tomorrow.