Hurricane Preparation and Busy Gardening Month - September

My mind is going in so many different directions this month.  This is my first year of trying to be prepared for hurricanes in this area, mainly because recently hurricane "Earl" formed and luckily just went up along the coast toward Canada.  Maybe that will pay them back a little for all the cold weather they send down to the U.S.  Hah!  At the time of my writing, "Igor" is listed as a Category 4 Hurricane that will hit Bermuda and aim north, they say.  "Julia" is in the eastern Atlantic and so far is a Category 3. 

Last year there weren't any hurricane formations to be worried about in Florida, but the media are really pushing it this year.  Every store has the merchandise you would need to purchase for your needs in case one hits.  Things like flashlights and fresh batteries, cleaning supplies, water, canned goods, first aid kits, disinfectant, garbage bags and so many other items you may not be able to buy once a hurricane hits.  The Hurricane Checklists tell you to get extra cash from the ATM since they will not be working later on.  I gathered my Important Papers (such as Birth Certificate, House and Car Insurance papers) to take with me in case of evacuation.  I would also take my photos, as well as computer and charger and phone and charger, and clothing of course.  I drove the evacuation route and tried to choose a town and hotel I would stay in during the storm; at least 2 options.  We are told to keep our cars filled with gas in case of evacution.  The idea of being prepared is to prevent last- minute shopping and waiting in long lines. 

Then of course, before leaving for a safe haven, we are to cover our windows to protect them from flying debris.  In my case, closing the metal awnings and locking them down securely.  Turning off the water and electricity at their main sources is also recommended.  Thinking, planning and preparing for all of this has really made me nervous and on-edge.  My neighbor, who has lived here for 10 years, keeps assuring me that chances are likely their won't be a major hurricane.  It's been 5 years since one has done any damage to Florida.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

I also cleaned my gutters, caulked around several windows to provide extra protection against leaks, trimmed all the shrubs around the perimeter of my house and stored my grill and extra seating from the porch in the shed.  All loose, empty gardening pots are also stored away.  Basically,  anything that will fly around in heavy wind needs to be stored indoors.

In the meantime, I'm trying to get my Fall plantings started.  All of the vegetables I plant will be in containers but the remaining plants, such as shrubs, are planted in-ground.  Just yesterday I planted a small Black Mission fig tree in a containter in order to keep it a smaller size by pruning it back as it grows, since they can grow to 10 feet.  I hope this works.  Today I've got to get out there and plant a Natchez blackberry bush.  I'm planting it in the ground so it can spread to it's full 3 feet.  I'm really hoping it grows quickly and produces berries for me since picking blackberries is a fond memory for me.  We had tons of blackberry bushes growing around the edge of the property where I lived in Pennsylvania.  I loved going out in the morning to get a big bowl full of berries to put on my cereal.  (Sigh.)



Natchez Blackberry



Black Mission Fig



So far this September I've started 2 tomato plants, one of which has been completely eaten by Something (unknown) except for it's main stem!  What is that?  So far so good on the second one.  They are both slicing tomatoes.  The cherry tomato I planted for summer yield is still producing well. 

I've got a small watermelon plant, a zucchini plant, a baby pumpkin plant and a crookneck squash plant all started from seed that need to be transferred to larger, self-watering containers soon.  I'm also planning on trying to grow Swiss Chard this year, as well as lots of beets and spinach.  I always have a container of spring onions growing, as well as a garlic plant.  If I had a stronger back, I'd turn my entire back yard into a vegetable garden! 

I've bought several packets of Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) seeds.  They are perennials and are supposed to flourish here in my Zone 9b.  We'll see.   So, I have lots of work to do.  I better get out there and get started! 



Here are a couple of photos of other fruits and vegs that seem to be growing steadily. 

Avocado

Meyer Lemon

Pineapple

Eggplants

The Story of Sandy and Fraser Crane

Recently our community bulletin presented this lovely story about the birth of 2 little Sand Hill Cranes, written so well by Bob & Joan G., residents of our village.  I've excerpted some of their story below:

"We had watched over the past months as they (sand hill crane mama- and papa-to-be) came every morning for about 2 hrs and pulled reeds from the lake bottom and piled them at one spot.  We hoped they were building a nest as some cranes had done so in the same area seven years before.  With the egg laying, we knew they were.  Then they both left that evening.

They came back in the morning and the female laid another egg and then sat.  An internet search told us the eggs should hatch in about 30 days and the baby chicks can swim within 24 hours after hatching.

As the days went by, Mama sat on the nest all night and in the morning, about 9:00 a.m., Dad appeared.  He sat all day till about 5:00 p.m. when mom re-appeared and he left.  During the month, the birds continued to add to the nest as it seemed to sink into the water.

On day 30, we had some folks sitting on lawnchairs waiting for the big event.  That started the EGG VIGIL.  We used our binoculars frequently during the day to observe the eggs for any signs of cracks.  On April 9, the birds gave out long calls early in the morning and then both stayed by the nest all day and all the next day.  The next day we noticed Mama pecking at one egg.  In the morning, the 35th day, we saw a lovely little yellow chick and decided to name him Fraser Crane.  We watched the chick struggle to walk, falling over its long legs, all wet and very young.  Mama kept using her beak to fluff up the feathers and help it to dry. 

By the end of the day, it was actually swimming in the lake around the nest while Dad proudly watched.  It was April 11.  The next day, Dad began pecking at the remaining egg and in a few minutes another lovely yellow, wet, weak tiny bird appeared (Sandy Crane).  It too staggered around, falling, while its older sibling watched with interest. 

As the day drew to a close, mama bird sat on the nest and moved her wings apart from her body a bit and we watched as the chicks awkwardly tottered into the space she left for them.  When they were totally in there, she drew her wings in again.  Sure gives new meaning to the phrase "having someone under your wing" doesn't it?"

Florida's Summer Heat!

Whew!  We're in a blast furnace, full force at this point - end of June.  Any outdoor activities like gardening, walking, or even shopping, need to be done in the early morning.  By 7 a.m. it's in the 80's.  The air conditioner is a life-saver; what did people do before it was invented?  And thank you, whoever it was who thought of such a wonderful thing.  Right now, at 9:00 a.m. the humidity is only 75%, but as the temps rise, so will the humidity. 

Last year during June, it rained everyday and I MEAN everyday.  After all, this is Florida's rainy season.  But there has been very little rain so far, so it's been necessary to water my really small garden daily. 

(Above) I did get ONE butternut squash off the vine that I babied for 3 months.  I'm happy that I accomplished that much because 4 or 5 of them dried up after reaching 2 or 3 inches or so of growth.  Disappointing.  The taste of a homegrown vegetable like this is so worth the months of extra care!  So far, no acorn squash have matured.  They die by the time they reach 1 1/2 inches.  The vine is still producing blossoms, so I have hope.  The zucchini plant also is still alive and producing blossoms and at this point there is one tiny zuc on it.

Below is an update in photos of what I've planted in June.

Butterfly Bush.  I'm eager to entice some of Florida's amazingly beautiful butterflies to my yard.  I've made a start with this bush and as time goes on, I'll plant more shrubs that attract them.

Meyer Lemon.  I may plant this in the ground later on, depending on my ability to keep it growing for an extended time.  I've been thinking of planting a lemon tree since I bought this home 3 1/2 years ago.  I'm not sure of my growing skills where fruits are concerned because I don't have any experience in this area of gardening, so for now it's in a container.  If it flourishes and looks like it's going to outgrow the pot, I'll move it into the ground. 

Blueberry Bush.  My dream (my gardening dream, that is) is to have a whole line of a variety of fruit bushes across the back of my yard.  I'd love to have an assortment of berry bushes or dwarf trees  (blackberry, raspberry and blueberry, as well as lemons, limes and oranges) but I'm unsure whether the berries will survive my 9b climate.  All the varieties I see in catalogs will not grow here.  Since this was sold at Home Depot, I'm counting on them to have chosen a variety that will grow well here if I take good care of it.  Keep your fingers crossed!  Surprisingly (to me), I get a small handful of dark blue berries EVERY day!  They just keep on comin'. 

Eggplant.  I planted these seeds the beginning of June and they're growing pretty fast.  I have read online that eggplants should grow during the summer here, so I'm trying it.  I have grown them as a Spring crop before and they do very well.

Dill.  These seeds are growing like weeds so it seems they aren't averse to the summer weather.

Plumbago.  My very favorite shrub.  The cool blue flowers are so welcome on these flaming hot days.  I'll plant more, maybe in front of my home.  Some of the homes in this community have these bushes in their landscaping, so apparently they grow well here.