Belated planting update

I've been out of town recently and lazy perpetually, so my daily blog is looking a bit monthly.

Since I last wrote I've planted many seeds - three different kinds of beets, cilantro (coriander), Parisian carrots and arugula. I am an unrepentant anglophile, so I've taken to calling arugula "Rocket". If I ever get over to France I'll start calling it Roquette, but my french accent will be so bad no one will notice a difference. I'll have to explain the change and everyone involved in the situation will not be amused.

I am sure everyone is dying to know, why so many varieties of beets? He has such a small garden, is he mad to allot such precious space to so many beets? Truth is, most of my beet eating has been the canned, pickled kind. They are awful. Even more awful if you spot them in the Thanksgiving buffet and think they are canned cranberry sauce. You put a pickled beet in your mouth expecting cranberries instead, and you do not want beets again for a very long time.

I planted so many beets because my Mom requested them. Apparently she loves them, I never knew that. So she asked and I planted. The same goes for all family and friends. Ask and I shall plant. Of course if your not my Mom, you probably will not get such a good response. One variety, maybe two, but not three.

More rain, questions

I didn't know it was supposed to, but it has rained again today. A nice, slow drizzle from 8 or so through early afternoon. Half an inch, I'd guess. I think that is good. Could it be too much rain? Is there any such thing?
I built trellises in the garden yesterday morning. I've backed off calling them tuteurs. They are not nearly beautiful or sturdy enough for that title. I should back off using the term built, as well. Threw together, seems more appropriate. The pictures are coming and we can have some fun placing bets on days to destruction.
My questions are : shouldn't my plants be bigger by now? why have the fennel and dill stopped growing at 4 cm high? what the hell is the matter with the tomato plant now? fertilize more? water less? the pumpkins seem happy, why not everybody else? will I get any production before the first frost? lettuce seeds or transplants?
The questions, as I read them, are less quizzical and more plaintive than I intended. I stand in the garden, then lean over and stare at the parsley and wonder: are they supposed to look this way? Are they too small? Is that even parsley or just weeds? I've no frame of reference, no experience. I look forward to a time when I can say, "Oh, the parsley is doing OK, no need to fertilize. Last year, they looked just like this and that was one parsley crop to see. We had so much the neighbors wouldn't speak to us for fear of receiving parsley."
I'm sure that time will come. And a lot of the wonder of gardening, or just doing something new will go before it comes. I should enjoy my ignorance.
But really, what is that tomato's damn problem?

Pumpkin Flower

More plantings; first off topic side note

I planted Swiss Chard seeds (big, spiky seeds), garlic cloves and shallots on Saturday morning in the light rain. It then poured down on Saturday night and today I already have Chard seedlings pushing through.
The garlic and shallots raised a couple of questions. 1) What is the difference between the ones I bought at King Feed and the ones I buy at the grocery? Since I paid more for the ones at the feed store, I've decided to not deliberately anger myself and will not answer this question until next fall before I plant more garlic and shallots. 2) I knew to break up the cloves before planting, but to plant with paper husk on or as naked cloves? I couldn't find much on this topic online or in my books. I am sure the answer is so obvious as to not even bare mentioning, but which one? I found a video of P. Allen Smith (a somewhat more masculine version of Martha Stewart, sans prison tats) planting some garlic and he doesn't mention one way or another, but a close up shot looked like husk on. So there I was.
Other news - I have some great new pictures of pumpkin blooms, those will go up soon. Also all my vining plants are large enough to require something to climb on and I plan to build some tuteurs over the next few days. I'll post photos of those to immortalize my architectural wonders (How do they remain standing?).

Non-gardening side note - check out this trailer for a new book out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYg9X_ZC9Gk
Lynn is a freind and I think the book will be good and I just know that this blog will provide the publicity her book needs to be a big hit. Right? Hello? Is this thing on?

Senna / Cassia Flowers

My Senna / Cassia in bloom. We call this our Good-Night Tree - the leaves fold close each evening at dusk. I received this tree as a small potted plant from an old friend and kept it alive and in pots through 3 moves before plunking it in the ground here.
There are a bunch of different kinds of Sennas out there and I can't seem to figure out just which species this is. It blooms for about two weeks late September / early October, is semi-evergreen, is somewhat deer-resistant and mildly drought hardy. Any thoughts or insight on this plant's true name / species would be appreciated.
Sexy picture, eh? My wife is getting pretty good at this.