Tropical storm Henri got here and went in a fairly mysterious vogue as elements of our area obtained drenched with 6 or extra inches of rain, i.e Tannersville and elsewhere in Greene County, whereas just some miles away, like my home, the
rainfall whole was lower than 2 inches.
The wet summer time has been good, on the whole, for our forested land and particularly good for these of us who received’t use our treasured properly water for the backyard. One draw back is that the native mosquito populations have been capable of breed usually. Mosquitos solely want a fraction of an inch of stagnant water to put their eggs in. Even persistent puddles, lasting
only some days to every week, will suffice as breeding grounds. It is a good time to examine your property for such locations and eliminate any standing water you see. Birdbaths, flower pot saucers, previous tires, clogged gutters, and even rain gauges ought to be emptied each time it rains.
For those who appear to be inundated with mosquitos it is rather possible they’re coming from inside 100 yards of your own home and never from a pond, stream or every other physique of water that holds fish. Do not forget that ticks aren’t the one blood-sucking pests able to transmitting ailments.
The rogue yellow jackets, hornets and wasps, now unencumbered from the work of elevating their brood, with their queen useless, are feasting on my hummingbird sugar water and any tasty snacks I depart unattended outdoors. I assume I can not blame them, however I want they’d keep away from my open can of beer! I as soon as obtained stung on my lip from an intoxicated yellow jacket within the can and it nearly value me my life!
Final week I discussed that I harvested my first ripe tomatoes and now I’m selecting a half dozen, or extra a day. I’ve eaten BLTs nearly each single day. Now my newest, favourite deal with is sliced tomatoes on crusty bread with a slice of
mozzarella cheese and a contemporary basil leaf, topped with a splash of olive oil. I additionally eat candy corn at the very least 5 occasions every week.
My zucchini crops are nonetheless producing. I’m overrun with inexperienced and wax beans to such an extent that I’m now pulling complete crops out of the bottom to make it simpler to reap. All these crops reward harvest by producing much more, which jogs my memory of an previous cartoon strip referred to as Lil’ Abner, created by Al Capp. There was a creature referred to as a “Shmoo” featured again within the early Nineteen Fifties. In response to Shmoo legend, the lovable creature died of sheer ecstasy when checked out with starvation. The Shmoo beloved to be eaten and tasted like every meals desired. Something that delighted individuals delighted a Shmoo they usually reproduced so rapidly that it was unattainable to expire of them.
Removed from being the salvation of mankind, the Smoo led to finish abandonment of any want to work or perform any labor in any respect. They needed to be exterminated to save lots of the world from an excessive amount of of factor!
Sadly, our gardens might seem shmoo-like proper now, however quickly, too quickly, they may expire on their very own. Within the meantime, we get to benefit from the healthiest food plan accessible at any time of 12 months. Nobody loves meat greater than I do, however I is usually a completely satisfied vegetarian for the months of August and September. Thankfully, we are able to can also, freeze, dry, course of and protect the good things we’ve now for winter treats. Residence canning will not be more likely to prevent any cash in your meals payments this winter, with the value of a brand new canning jar greater than $1 every, however the style of home-processed meals and the reminiscence it might evoke makes all of it worthwhile.
I stop weeding my vegetable backyard about two weeks in the past, which all backyard specialists agree is a nasty concept as a result of now’s when the weeds are all going to seed and this can guarantee a contemporary crop for subsequent 12 months. I don’t care and the very fact is that my backyard soil already has sufficient of a weed seed financial institution to final a century, even when I pulled each single weed I see. Now it’s the harvest season and there’s loads of work to perform placing the meals away for those who so want. Benefit from the fruit and veggies of your labor as the times develop shorter.
Our gardens are so much like our lives. They pace up as the times develop shorter, rewarding arduous work with the satisfaction of accomplishments and the successes or generally failures that should inevitably happen. Annually is a studying
expertise with a lot potential for the longer term, till frost lastly places an finish to the trouble.
Bob Beyfuss lives and gardens in Schoharie County. Ship him an e-mail to rlb14@cornell.edu.