While the vegetable garden is growing nicely so far, I’m also trying to expand the flower garden by adding a few containers and small plants. One of my favorite things is to go to the Lowe’s plant clearance section. With a little tender loving care, my finds there have added a lot to the garden. I, also, grow a few flowers from seed, get cuttings from friends and my brother, and mustering discipline I visit a couple of favorite nurseries in the area.

There have been days where I planted ferns, day lilies, and other perennials in various spaces and marigolds in the raised beds to fend off pests. On the produce side, Ridge gourd seeds from an Alcorn State University workshop and cantaloupe seeds were planted in the ground. Basil seeds and small Suya cucumber plants from seed were planted in raised beds. All the while I feel that my mama ancestors are watching over me. Geese, deer and a turtle may be nearby.

May 8 - 9

May 12-15

On May 14, our usual calm, tranquil space was disturbed by an alligator aka GATOR in the lake. The game warden had the man-dacity to tell me to be calm, that it probably came over because of all the rain we’d had in the past few weeks, and they’d try to catch it. Needless to say, things were a bit tense for a while. The geese wouldn’t even get in the water. It was another reminder that I truly live in an ecosystem, must be watchful, mindful, and respectful. GATOR eventually went away, and a beautiful full moon peaked through the trees one night.

By the last week of May, the vegetable garden was progressing, and little pears were prominently showing on the tree. And as usual, Emi watched from the flower garden.

May 21

One evening we went down to the levee to watch the sunset. Folks were out fishing, and boats were coming in before it got dark. And there’s never a dull moment with Emi guarding the homeplace. A goose had the goose-adacity to perch on our front door mat and Emi loudly let her know she was not welcome.

Totally surprised on the last day of May, when I found one nice size strawberry in the garden and it was sweet. Between the rain, there have been beautiful days in early June. I even did a day trip to Vicksburg at the spur of the moment. The rain is helping the garden to flourish. And pleasant temperatures are good for flower plants growing in the greenhouse. Emi has a watchful eye on something in a flower bed. And I made a delicious peanut chicken stew with Chinese cabbage and baby collards picked from the garden. So intent with creating my own recipe, I didn’t take any pictures of the stew, but it was delicious.

May 31-June 1

June 2-3

June 6

By June 9, I noticed some critter was munching on my sweet potato plants. Sadly, it also looks like my zucchini squash are all male plants. What looked like a possible female fruiting didn’t make it. Otherwise, eggplant, and cucumbers are growing. Grateful for first and second harvest of 1 cucumber each and a couple of sweet green peppers. Combined them with a beautiful purple tomato from a local Mennonite produce market for a tasty light lunch of cucumber/tomato/sweet pepper salad, tuna salad, and crackers.

June 9-10

Under a partially overcast sky, I went out to check the garden. Last night’s wind had blown aside the zucchini squash plants. They weren’t looking too good and in a moment of rescuing them from their misery, especially when there were no females and no fruit would be borne from them this season, I pulled all 6 plants up. Also, did the same with the 3 small collard plants, which fortunately had provided a few nice baby greens that served as ingredients for that before mentioned delicious chicken peanut stew.

The remaining morning garden inspection went well. I even finally spotted baby tomatoes. Jokingly I say, woman cannot live off of cucumbers, eggplant and bell peppers alone. But it’s sure nice to harvest a beautiful small bounty of them and I absolutely love the crunch of my Suya cucumbers. May pickle this batch.