My Stunted Garden

 My first strawberries! They were so tasty. Can't wait till more ripen.

 This is one of my garden boxes with different things in it. It started out with only strawberries and onions in it, wintered over from last year. A bunch of the onions died and I didn't want to take a chance replanting the berries so I left things where they were and planted lettuce, brocolli, dill, and cabbage (I think) in all the empty spaces. You notice the milk cartons. This is the way you have to plant in Northern Arizona to protect the plants from the wind and sun.

 The milk cartons not only make little green houses, they also give the plants shade. When the plants are strong enough and big enough that the birds and mice will leave them alone, the cartons will come off for the summer.

 I cover the tomatoes up every night but leave them uncovered during the day.

 I made these tomato cages last year using hog wire and compactor trash bags. The trash bags are so darned sturdy, they last for a couple of years. This not only gives the plant shade but keeps the ground moist after watering. I need to get some sturdy tomato cages pretty soon. The plants surrounded with the trash bags seem to grow faster than those left unprotected.

 Sweet taters! We never get many but they sure do taste good.

Looking down into a tomato cage

 If I remember correctly, these are cantaloupes. Ya have to replant so many times, ya forget what went where. I'm not a good one for taking detailed notes unlike our neighbor Tom who takes notes on everything. He can tell you what the temperature was 4 years ago!

 These are early girl tomatoes. I have these, Mortgage Lifter, Pruden's Purple and grape tomatoes.

 The strawberries are doing best of all.

 I keep them covered 24/7 to keep out the birds and mice.

 My Moss Rose is doing nicely especially since it is protected from mice and birds.

 Lavendar is starting to bloom. It does well here.

 Desert Spiderwort is doing great. The rabbits figured out they could at least eat the tops off the plants. Last year they were turning the cages over and eating as far down as they could.

 Petunias do great here. I'll bring some in for the winter but not all of them.

 Moss Rose again. It was doing great until something ate it down to the dirt level

 For some reason, purple petunias smell so good, kinda spicy

 I got so tired of my lemon tree in the house, I took it outside where the wind promptly blew off all the leaves.

 It seems to love it outside because it is not only putting out new leaves but is putting out new branches.

 This is the second or third year for my Peony. It has never bloomed....maybe this year?

One of our wild cactus. It's amazing how something so prickly could put out such a delicate flower.

We had a jack rabbit nibbling on the straw bale by the garden and was driving the dogs nuts. He didn't mind them barking at him and when we tried to chase him off, he would go a few feet and then stop. Pa finally got out the pellet gun and shot him. Well of course all Tilly could think of was bunnie, bunnie, bunnie so we let all the dogs out to investigate. Tilly dashed out and "killed" the bunnie and then tried to pick it up. She couldn't figure out why she couldn't pick it up. Maybe because it was bigger than she is? She couldn't even drag it anywhere. Meantime Harley was licking it's face, he's got such a killer instinct! Pa finally picked it up and threw it out back for the ravens to eat. He said it was surprisingly heavy.
The weather has turned hot and next week is the official start of our monsoon season. Come on rain! The garden will really start growing then.
Pa is calling me outside to do something so I gotta run!