@keithp2012, here is a picture of the reisetomate grown from the seeds you shared!

This one has flowers:


Actually, there are two plants:


This area is where I intended to site most tomatoes, and originally, well, wasn't going to grow any (say that every year) then thought I'd try these reisetomate for the curiosity value and that they could grow along that chain link fence, and then ended up buying a packet of "rainbow mix" cherry tomato seeds because the picture was pretty and they could grow on the fence too, and then of course the tomatoes from the compost started to sprout and I can't ever resist growing a few of those out, just to see...

So in this area are the two reisetomate, a large black container with three of the cherry tom starts in it, and in front of that, a single tom chosen from the mystery compost starts (which doesn't appear in these photos). Now, I have a number of others of those in pots elsewhere..... and some other cherry toms from that package.

All well and good, right? And then, see this?



That is right in front of the large container with cherry toms and just to the left of the reisetomates. And bees are hiving in the taller of the two clay pots! I realize they may not be real visible but if you look closely in the second picture you can see one partway in that drainage hole.

So much for any thoughts of weeding that grass out~! I did have those thoughts.... Glad to have the bees there and I hope we can peaceably coexist while the tomatoes are growing and attached to supports and stuff. Should be fun!

ShadyGreenThumb said:More rain and thunderstorms. I am stuck inside again. Go Rockets! Beat the Clippers!

Do you find thunderstorms relaxing, especially the smell of fresh air outside after and the gardens look at their best! ⚡️💧

kylaluaz said:Woops! Having learned that the amaranth I sowed is not Love-lies-bleeding, but another variety, Amaranthus hypochondriacus 'Burgundy' I thought I'd look to see what the flowers look like.

Well, they're mighty pretty but the plant grows 6 to 8 feet tall!

So I feel I need to alert the folks I gave my extras to, what to expect. I'm fine with it; the places I have it will be okay with tall plants in there... well, except the container I put it in, that one will have to move eventually.



But hey, grain/seeds for the birds and they will be up there where the cats are less likely to get 'em. So, that's a plus.

I'm growing that in a pot for the first time this year, I think I'm going to need a bigger pot!

kylaluaz said:@keithp2012, here is a picture of the reisetomate grown from the seeds you shared!

This one has flowers:


Actually, there are two plants:


This area is where I intended to site most tomatoes, and originally, well, wasn't going to grow any (say that every year) then thought I'd try these reisetomate for the curiosity value and that they could grow along that chain link fence, and then ended up buying a packet of "rainbow mix" cherry tomato seeds because the picture was pretty and they could grow on the fence too, and then of course the tomatoes from the compost started to sprout and I can't ever resist growing a few of those out, just to see...

So in this area are the two reisetomate, a large black container with three of the cherry tom starts in it, and in front of that, a single tom chosen from the mystery compost starts (which doesn't appear in these photos). Now, I have a number of others of those in pots elsewhere..... and some other cherry toms from that package.

All well and good, right? And then, see this?



That is right in front of the large container with cherry toms and just to the left of the reisetomates. And bees are hiving in the taller of the two clay pots! I realize they may not be real visible but if you look closely in the second picture you can see one partway in that drainage hole.

So much for any thoughts of weeding that grass out~! I did have those thoughts.... Glad to have the bees there and I hope we can peaceably coexist while the tomatoes are growing and attached to supports and stuff. Should be fun!

Everything looks great! Perhaps the bees will deter any animals from touching your tomatoes
🐝🍅

My day was similar to yesterday, started out lovely, harvested a few stalks of rhubarb, watered the flower beds. Later I got a little done between the thunder showers, one planter and one hanging basket done, only about 20 to go.

I made it to the local garden center in the rain to pick up some Ladybug potting soil. I thought that would be a good garden-related, rainy day activity. $100 later...I walked out with a new orchid pot, 3 large hanging pots for my ferns, Kong coleus were on sale and I had to have some impatiens to enhance the coleus. DH wanted the interesting Monkey Cup plant (Nepenthes) that will go into the greenhouse to catch mosquitoes. Oh yeah, I got the last large bag of potting soil. I need more than that so I will have to return.

That's exactly why I stay away from garden centers. I send my son or my husband to purchase specific items for me. Otherwise, if I go--well, there goes my budget!

I could easily spend thousands of dollars in those place, all those plants, neat garden stuff.

BabyK said: That's exactly why I stay away from garden centers. I send my son or my husband to purchase specific items for me. Otherwise, if I go--well, there goes my budget!

You walk in like 😃💰👜

Walk out with 🌷🌻🌺🌹👜💳💰👎😱

Waiting rather impatiently for my inconsiderate neighbor's trash fire to go out, so I can. It just doesn't make sense to me; if you only have one neighbor, why start a fire when the wind is blowing their way? I was choking and hacking just bringing the groceries in, so heading out to the garden would be a nightmare!

I donned an air-purifying respirator and went out anyway. Although my eyes burn a bit now, at least I was able to breathe while I replanted the perennials that the wildlife dug out last night. It feels good to be able to think that at least we have some sort of control over a few of our gardening challenges...right?

Burning trash? That is so prohibited here. Burn permit required here since we are so prone to wildfire.

Chelle, what a drag! I hope your neighbor saw you in your gas mask and took a clue.

I didn't feel like doing a blinking thing in the garden today. Fortunately there is not much to be done but a little weeding. I needed a day off.

Went with a friend to a big fancy garden center, neither of us with much money to spend today (me with just a couple bucks but I have gotten great plants with that much, when I find them on sale.)

I asked one of the employees if they had a reduced price area and she gave me an odd smile and said, "No, we don't do that. We're not Lowes."

Well, pfft to you too, I thought to myself. I wasn't too impressed anyway. Lots and lots and lots of plants and high end garden chi chi stuff, but, meh.

Went on to my friend's house where she let me have a daylily and some Japanese iris. She's moving and trying to give away as much as possible. Says the dl is lavender, hasn't bloomed yet this year. All that I put in pots at home here til I figure out where it's going in the ground.

Guess what? I went back to the Garden Center! This time I stuck to my list for 5 pots they had at a good price and I didn't even look around! "Good Girl, Cheryl!" Pat. Pat. Pat. I was going to spend the afternoon with my plumeria who need my attention. I got to one, but the others had to wait as I got an Emergency Girl Friend call that demanded me to go out for Margaritas.

>> I got an Emergency Girl Friend call that demanded me to go out for Margaritas.

A true friend!

Actually, I think the definition goes like this:

"A friend is someone who will help you move.
A TRUE friend is someone who will help you move a body."

Emergency avoided. Effects of the Margarita(s) almost worn off. The rain has stopped and there is still some sunlight outside. I am heading to the greenhouse to do some work. Pray for all plants involved.

Kyla, yeah, he saw me because I walked over (in my mask...white, nose-pinching and scary-looking; especially with a ball cap and glasses ) to see how much there was left to burn. I thought I might be able to wait it out, but no, it looked like it would smoulder for some time yet. No clue taken, but I didn't expect it anyway.

Great score! I love all J. Iris, and I think you will too. Blooms don't last all that long here, but man-oh-man, are they ever beautiful!

Cheryl! Thanks for the grins!

The weather was more cooperative today, just a few light sprinkles and distant rumbles over the mountains. I planted pink, red and Violet Wave petunias in 5 large containers for the deck, an extra large container with several herbs. Move a daylily, Strawberry Candy to a new location, hopefully it is happier and will have more blooms, planted 12 Asiatic lilies, a good day.

Very good day, Margaret!

I did two arrays of petunias too. Violet singles and doubles, light pink -large and small, with black as the focal point...and a few white fillers and drapers. I tossed around the idea of substituting a dark red for the violets, but these are for my quiet area and I couldn't find any dark enough, so I decided against it.

All of my salvias from vendors are planted out now, but my salvia seedlings are still waiting to go.