Author Archives: Julie Riebe

2015_Day 181: Rain, the birds and pretty flowers 

Just two days after our area of central Texas got 3.2 inches of rain, we got dumped on again. This time it was only 1.5 inches, but the night is young and the skies are still threatening to open up. The raised beds and the flower pots continue to fill up.

While I was out between downpours checking the rain gauge, I was disappointed to see a mockingbird fly out from beneath the netting around my tomatoes. Darn birds! #%@&

Another blogger suggested I try a birdbath to keep then away from my tomatoes. I must admit I’ve read about that as a solution, too. That they’re just looking for water. Although given the bird had access to several natural birdbaths (refer to photo at top of this post) and still was found beneath the tomato netting, I have my doubts. Again, darn birds!

One thing I’ve neglected to write about the past few days is that my gazanias are finally starting to flower. And oh, how cute they are. I was surprised to find out though, that their flowers apparently close at night. Realized that this morning when I took a quick stroll around the yard before work and saw one of the buds curled up. By the time I got home from work today, it was open again. Being so pretty must take a lot out of them so they have to rest at night, yes? As long as they bloom during the day, I don’t really care! 

 

2015_Day 180: Upping the ante in my bird war

Okay you crows and mockingbirds. How much do you really like my tomatoes?

Okay you crows and mockingbirds. How much do you really like my tomatoes?

So tell me the truth. Is netting really going to keep the birds away from my tomatoes? Given that my garden now looks like a huge spider web, I hope so. It was fairly easy to put up — I put a 5-foot tall trellis at each end of the two 4×4 tomato beds, then anchored one set of 5×15 netting on them. Because the birds seem particularly fond of the big tomatoes, I criss-crossed another piece of netting over them. Continue reading

2015_Day 179: This gardening interruption brought to you by Mother Nature

I was wrong to think these storm clouds would roll on through with little rain to show from them.

I was wrong to think these storm clouds would roll on through with little rain to show from them.

Oh, I had such grand plans for this fine Sunday. Well, I had plans anyway. Get my inside work done during the hottest part of the day, and when it started to get cooler, head outside to get some gardening in. I had devised a plan to try to keep the birds away from my tomatoes, and I was going to take action. Continue reading

2015_Day 178: Tenacious and sometimes slightly annoying

Oh, the joys of raising a strong-willed daughter. Mine, she is unwavering in her persistence to get what she wants. It’s like it’s a game with her — and she doesn’t plan on letting anyone else win. Continue reading

2015_Day 177: A perpetual vacation

Geting goofy on our real vacation to Wisconsin recently.

Geting goofy on our real vacation to Wisconsin recently.

During a visit to Wisconsin recently, a family member asked me how it was living in Texas. None of my immediate family have ever lived outside the Midwest; in fact, most have always lived in Wisconsin. My parents briefly lived in Texarkana when my dad was in the service, but other than that, my immediate family members are homebodies. They like Wisconsin (I do, too!) Continue reading

2015_Day 176: Blossoms and blooms

Despite leaf-footed bugs (and crows, I’m thinking now) getting at my big tomatoes, the blossoms just keep coming on my Super Sweet 100s. The cherry tomatoes haven’t produced as many red tomatoes yet as I hoped they would, but all the blossoms give me hope. Continue reading

2015_Day 175: Tired evenings a drag

A couple years ago, I went through a long stretch where I had a hard time staying awake in the early evenings. I would sit down in my chair after supper, and I’d zonk out. It didn’t matter if it was 7 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. Reading would put me out. Ditto for watching TV. Sometimes I’d only doze off for 10 or 15 minutes, but suddenly I’d feel my neck bobbing (sleeping while sitting in a chair is a terrible thing for a bad neck) or more embarrassing, hear daughter sighing or giggling. Continue reading

2015_Day 174:  Pop-up clouds drop rain, beauty

The clouds were awesome AGAIN this evening in central Texas. I first noticed them while taking father-in-law to airport in Austin. I wanted to pull off on a side road to take photos, but opted to drop f-i-l off at the airport first. Many of them moved north by the time I got home, but I got a few good photos. Continue reading

2015_Day 173: Leaf-footed bug(ger) getting tomatoes 

For the last month, I thought the birds were pecking away on my tomatoes, leaving them pocked with a hole here and there. Tonight, though, it was worse, with half of the bigger tomatoes with holes this size.
I saw this bug last night, but it got away, only to reappear today. It did not escape my wrath tonight.
A little time on the internet tells me it’s the leaf-footed bug, which I don’t recall seeing in Wisconsin. I’m not sure if it’s totally responsible for the pocked tomatoes, but it’s getting the blame right now. I’ll have to keep a close eye on the ‘maters and dispose quickly of the bugs I find.

I hope I can keep it in check or my tomatoes are in trouble.

2015_Day 172: Sleepy, soggy Sunday

Another soggy Sunday in central Texas, and it’s really making me lazy. And sleepy. I think I’ll stare at some zinnias and see if that can bring me out of my funk.