Vegetable Gardening In El Casco

Vegetable gardening is a real challenge here in El Casco. Ground squirrels, gophers, rabbits and other critters require much fencing and other devious methods to thwart the beasts!  The fellow I bought the house from was sort of a 'collector' and left many building materials and downright junk for me to sort through. I found these large 'hydroponic' bins, approximately 4 foot wide and 12 foot long. They are made of fiberglass and were in pretty good shape.

So having a flat roof carport attached to the garage it looked like a perfect match. I hauled them from out back elevated them above the carport roof, put in drainage and irrigation and some nice rich composted potting soil.voila, critter proof veggie beds!

Here in Southern California we have two main growing seasons; summer for the warm growing plants; tomatoes, peppers, cukes etc. and winter for lettuces, kale, spinach, Swiss chard etc.

Even though we have plenty of summer left I am now purchasing seeds for winter growing I start them in community pots and when the heat breaks will put them in the beds. When the summer plants have been exhausted I clean out debris and replenish with fresh compost and  ready to go.

Here are some pics from last winters' crop. February I believe.

Garden Tip

Most of us who garden, have a garden in the front, one off the side and something out back etc. I don't always carry tools with me especially if I'm out just observing. A tip I learned years ago and have always utilised  is the discarded mailbox.

I keep my hand clippers(or secateurs, as the British call them), scissors, string or whatever you use most often, in the mailbox. They are weather proof, critter proof and placed in each garden, are very handy. I find them at yard sales, flea markets or from  friends that are ready to discard them when they buy a new one.I have four.

Who Rescued Who?

Coming back from my morning walk I decided I needed to talk about my best friend, Brody. Brody came to live with me about three years ago now. He  was rescued off the streets of a nearby city by a kind friend of mine , Megan. She coaxed this 70 pound intimidating American Bulldog in her car and took him home. He was scared and hungry and certainly looked like someone had dumped him. She cared for him but knew with her lifestyle she just couldn't keep him. So she was looking for a home for this sweet dog she named Brody.

I had been living here in El Casco for about year, getting settled in but finding the single life was not so wonderful. I was lonely borderline depressed, finding I was lacking something. I had everything, retirement, living in the country, growing my own food...still, life was not pleasant for me. Things got very dark.

Megan had been begging me to take Brody. I was hesitate, I didn't know if I could take care of myself much less another mouth to feed., Megan needed to go on a business trip and asked if I could watch Brody at my place, as a trial as well. I was very reluctant but agreed. well the rest is history. He never went back to Megans'.

He is the love of my life. He is sweet, gentle and very obedient. I have had many rescue dogs in my life. They always seem to be very thankful to have a new life. Brody is no exception.

 

A Bit About My Garden

I have gardened in Illinois, Colorado and  Minnesota. Now I am in Southern California in a canyon surrounded by chaparral and enjoying the challenge. Since this climate is more Mediterranean than desert this opens a whole world of exotic, (to me), plants. This Mediterranean climate is very conducive for plants from everywhere.

There are five Mediterranean climates areas in the world; The Mediterranean basin ,of course, Parts of South Africa, Western coastal Australia, Western Chile and most of coastal and inland California. What determines a Mediterranean climate is very basic. Cool moist to wet winters and Hot dry summers. A whole palette of plants thrive in these areas.

I am quite fond of Aloes, Yuccas, Agaves, oh hell, I'm willing to try anything if I have an open piece of dirt! In my vegetable garden almost anything goes. But there are two seasons, winter is for the greens, lettuce, kale, Swiss chard etc. Summer is for tomatoes, peppers corn, melons and such. Gardening year around, couldn't do that in Northern Minnesota

Here is a pic of another angle from my front yard mixed succulent garden a few days ago.  Details later....

You never know....

Yesterday I was coming home from my weekly get together with members of our local garden club, who I affectionately refer to as 'The Garden Girls" even though three of us are men. I was hungry thought I would swing by a local drive through and get a bite to eat before I headed home. The line was long and like everybody else in the world was checking my phone waiting for the line to move. I placed my order and proceeded to the pay window. The worker was leaning out the window smiling holding a receipt. Odd?
When I got to the window she told me the lady in front of me had paid my bill! I was stunned! It was a ten dollar purchase. I didn't recognize the car and didn't get a clear view of the driver. I waved in a feeble attempt to thank her but she drove off into the traffic.

A random act of kindness! All the shit going on in this world, that lady made me feel special for a while.Thank You. The down side? This ole' curmudgeon now has to 'pay it forward'. I have to look for the opportunity to make someone else smile and feel good. I am now, plotting how this is going to happen!

Moon Rise

Sunday night the moon was a little bit brighter than it usually is. It was a very beautiful full moon. The garden here in El Casco had it's own moon rise at about the same time. The Moon flowers planted from seed back in late May finally decided to make their appearance. The moon flower vine is related to Morning Glories except they only open at dusk at about moonrise.

The large white flowers open slowly and stay open all night. The vines can grow 10 to 20 feet with beautiful heart shape dark green leaves. Like most white flowers that bloom at night they have adapted to night dwelling moths for pollination. Alas the flower last only the night but there are many more to follow in succession

I love this vine, it was worth the long wait!