Monday, July 12, 2010

Zucchini in California are not for Equal Opportunity

Alternately titled "How to Overcrowd your Vegetable Garden"
Alternately titled "When Maybe You Didn't Need That Second Helping of Miracle Grow"

When we planted the tomatoes, I had in mind the tall, slender tomatoes my dad grew in Virginia. Then we Miracle-Grew them because we're afraid of killing all our plants (please see grass in the picture of Henry below). They are planning their premier in "The Incredible Hulk" and are twice as wide as my expectations. The zucchini... to be fair, the zucchini also happened to be over the sprinkler line we had cracked (before we fixed it) and was routinely receiving LOTS of extra water. (Our fix didn't last too long, either, so we're not using the sprinkler system (hello, hose!) until the garden dies out and we can get to the crack again.) Apparently, it is impossible to over-water zucchini.

Anyhow. The garden has taken over the yard and is plotting to take over all of California. With produce for all. The zucchini however, is not into sharing sunlight and is currently trying to crowd out the tomato and basil with huge hand-like leaves. Just like a younger sibling. Please compare with our first picture of the garden with baby tomato plants, a teeny tiny (manipulating) zucchini and kolanchoe (the flowers.. they've since been removed due to overcrowding) with this current view of the jungle:
The tomatoes do not appear to be phased and are producing blossoms and shiny green pre-tomatoes at an alarming rate.

The zucchini blossoms on the other plant (which is incidentally, not using the TONS of room it has in its own garden across the patio) are starting to fall off to make room for edible things.


Today is Henry's first birthday. He is celebrating in his usual manner... with lots of attention and naps.

A sneak preview of the baby's room with its new coat of paint and recently-assembled crib (FULL of baby shower clothing). It will be classy and it will be all boy. Stay tuned.

4 comments:

Abby said...

Wow extreme garden! all the flowers on my porch died because of the heat :( I love the blue of Nathan's room!!

Jennifer (MM) said...

Wow. Come grow things in my garden. All I've got are weeds. And mint. Mint is happy, and it is going to take over the whole garden. But at least it's edible, unlike weeds.

Super excited to see more baby room stuff! I love the color. You inspire me--since we moved, I need to do Anna's room again, and I'm trying to brave up for a bold, bright orange and green and sunflowers. It looks amazing in my head, but I'm a bit nervous about picking the wrong orange for a lot of wall...

Love from the north to you and the little (big, now?) one!

Megan said...

Wow. California is good for something! Tom and Tina (God Bless their souls) would be so jealous of your garden. Or quite possibly gardening skills. I can do good things with the produce after it makes it into my kitchen. Save me some basil (actually lots, like 2 cups) and I'll make pesto for us in October!

Megan said...

Oh and baby's room is coming along great! Can't wait to see what you do with it.