Now that KB (the OTHER co-mother) is at music camp, I DARE to post a
non-lactational post where she is less likely to slap my flying fingers
(figuratively, at least)

To commemorate the wonder way in which all the LACTNUTS will ace the exam
tomorrow, I am here to CROW and Luxuriate in my gardening success this
year.

Veggies first (tehre is NO nursery at the Lactation Plantation--we do not
feel separating mothers and babies is wise!), but I do have a Veggie NIC
(for those babies needing neonatal intensive care!).

I have LEARNED to kill/discourage slugs.  As a result, this year I am being
overrun with zucchini and straightneck yellow squash.  My spaghetti squash
plants (I did three in hopes of getting one to survive the slug attacks)
are trying to take over the garden, the yard, my HOUSE!  Have already begun
giving away the zucchini!  Any takers?  One fruit I forgot to pick
yesterday.  When I went to check today, it was larger around that my upper
arm and nearly as long!  ACK!

Tomatoes are coming; no small feat where tomato blight completely destroyed
my entire crop last year.  I picked the first vine-ripened one tonight!
(WOW!)  Beets are still going strong; got tons of snow peas and pea pods.
Biggest problem here was my vegetarian Siberian Husky who patiently waits
OUTSIDE the garden for me to pick them and then sneaks mouthfuls of pods!!!
(Do you suppose her non-meat diet during gardening season is one reason
she acts 4 when she is actually 9 years old?!)  :-)

Back deck flowers:  bedecked with hot pink (except for the ONE red one that
snuck into my basket) ivy geraniums, the color matches the rose hedges that
are now above the fence in the back yard and still blooming like crazy.  A
huge pot of coleus also is thriving.

Roses: Peace and Mr. Lincoln are nearly 5 ft tall and putting out blooms
with regularity.  JFKennedy and pink one (I can't recall the name) growing
nearly as fast and fewer blooms, but just lovely.  Climber (red) is covered
with blossoms, tho still so short no need for a trellis this year.

Front porch hanging baskets.  7 (count em!) hanging baskets of hanging
begonias; 7 colors causing the neighbors to ooh and ah when they drive by
in the am and the east sun is shining on them--white, yellow, orange, pink,
red, white with red edge, pink with white edge + two gorgeous fuchsia
baskets brought to me by my late college roommates parents.  They are so
large the flowers hang from top of porch roof down to the risers around the
edge of the porch--and, a real bonus, they attract hummingbirds!

Anyone headed to the far NW corner of the US, near the Canadian border?
Feel free to stop in.  I promise to hand you iced tea if the temp is above
75°F or hot tea if it is below that temp! (You may pick the flavor AND the
mug to put it in!!!)

In the veggie NIC, another crop of winter and summer squashes, and
sunflowers (for the birds) + assorted plants/flowers, I am trying out for
the first time.  So far, so good.

Peace to you all and, if you are taking the exam tomorrow, chill out
tonight and celebrate having done it tomorrow night!

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"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
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