Late vegetable gardens

http://www.rodale.com/tomato-blight-1?page=0%2C0&cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-2010_07_29-_-Top5-_-NA

Some interesting advice for restarting a vegetable garden, or getting a late start on one.

A Creative Solution

http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/3518

A creative solution to the problem of excess water kicked out by sump pumps.

Nutri-Cal

http://www.nutri-cal.com/home-garden.html

Calcium in liquid form.

Might be worth trying.

Lawn care

http://www.rodale.com/green-lawn-care?page=0%2C0&cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-2010_07_28-_-Top5-_-NA

Some interesting tips on lawn care.

Rain: 1"

One inch of rain last Friday night,

Sweet Cicely

Thanks to Nancy for calling my attention to this story.

"But nothing could top the tea we steeped from a dozen clover heads and a pinch of sweet cicely. It smelled like a tide pool; it tasted worse."

- NY Times (link here)

But I love my sweet cicely as an ornamental herb.

Worm composting

http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/vermicompost107.shtml

Note that worms might have a problem with garlic and onions.

Also note that some gritty material is desirable.

Corpse flower

http://www.startribune.com/local/99099809.html?elr=KArksUUUU

Unfortunately, it is not winter hardy.

It would make a superb addition to the garden.

Rain and more rain

6.25" rain since yesterday morning.

Catastrophic flooding throught the Milwaukee area.

We had some water in the basement because the sump pump was overwhelmed but it has since caught up.

More heavy rain forecast for tonight.

Two frogs in the garden pool

For the last few days, there have been two frogs in the garden pool.

Reminder to self: Plant more cover around the garden pool.

Moneywort, mint, and chameleon plant would be a good start.

Organic Gardening blog

http://organicgardening.com/blogs/overthefence/

Another reminder to read the blogs from Organic Gardening magazine.

Rain: 3"

Three inches of rain here in Hales Corners while we were in Michigan last week.

Weston's Antique Apples

http://www.westonapples.com/

Yet another local (New Berlin) nursery that I never heard of.

Milwaukee apple

http://www.jsonline.com/features/food/97811819.html

Interesting article on heirloom apple varieties.

'Milwaukee' apple trees have been planted at the Stahl-Conrad Homestead in Hales Corners.

Deer in the garden

One deer in the garden today just before dusk.

Rain: 1.25"

Two short violent thunderstorms this afternoon.

0.5" and 0.75" for a total of 1.25"

Urban Honey

Thanks to Nancy for calling this story to my attention.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/07/opinion/07Raffles.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

One wonders how many more decades will pass before Hales Corners leaves the medieval age.