Steve Mills and his wife have one daughter. They previously owned two coffee/ice cream shops, currently operate an internet sales company and teach classes, but his primary job involves the paper industry worldwide. Hobbies and interests lie in gardening, photography, recorded music and of course, their pets.

Garden Club Meeting Friday 24th and developments in the garden

Posted Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at 12:06 PM

Next gathering of the Weed'em & Reap garden club will be this coming Friday, May 24th at the UT Extension building 2119 Midland Road, right next to the fairgrounds.

We try to start around 7:00 but since there is no formal meeting, don't worry about coming later. We have two members who come faithfully, but can't get off work and be there until about 8:00 so....

Now that my sugar snap and snow peas are making peas, they are fired up. I have to check almost every day and I am always surprised at how many I miss going down the line. It never fails that when I come back from a different direction it is like I never picked at all. THEN, go on the other side!

I thought we were about to make hay in our lawn this week. The rains made for excellent growing conditions but not mowing. Then when we went to fire up the mower, it was not cooperating.

I knew I had some bad gas, so I changed the filter and while I was at it changed the air filter too. Cleaned the gas tank, blew out the carburetor and made sure gas was getting to the plug. No go, after a LOT of cranking.

When I checked the gas to the plug again I noticed the white insulator on the central point was loose, as in flip flop, so I was sure I had it. The new plug did fire but only to make some colossal backfires,so I thought timing.

It was the timing but only because the flywheel pin had sheared. That meant getting a wheel puller and trying to find the right size and shaped flywheel pin on a weekend. Nope, not done, so by yesterday we were almost to a panic, BUT yesterday we got it in and the mower ran like it was new. Peace restored in the kingdom.

After an original bout with flea beetles, the tomatoes and eggplant are starting to thrive. The peas are being protected by ladybugs so no aphids although aphids did get on some patches of garlic chives. No worries, part of our lawn next to garden bed has been overrun by chives, so no shortage.

Weeds are doing well too! I am keeping them at bay where plants are planted but two beds probably need to be lightly tilled to scratch them away before planting another batch of corn, edamame and some new cultivars of squash.

Overall, I am pleased with how things have turned out, even though this Spring was a roller coaster.

Oh yes, I am now taking my byproducts from my smoothies and adding them to the garden after blending them down. It should make quite a gourmet feast for the worms, which will in turn be nice to my garden.