I like playing in my garden.  No mater what else is going on there is something there I can do that will make a difference in the outcome.  There is so much in the world that can not be depended on and remains outside of one’s control.  The garden is a place I can go that just is.  I can work a little and even leave it and it will go on without me, always happy for me to return.  I am not the magic there just a steward, a husband to the magic of life that occurs within Her.

I broke down about 20 empty cardboard wine cases to use as a weed barrier.  Then wet them down with water.  It is a good use of what would have been waste and will eventually become part of the soil.  My grandmother used old newspaper in a similar way.

Now there is fresh straw.  Like Epcot, only different.  It makes for a good foundation aesthetically as the plants mature.  It helps with the weed control and retention of moisture during the warmer months.

Gonna give the plants in the raised bed a week or two, then give them some straw to rest on.  As you can see the space I chose was not perfect in terms of the sun’s arc.  There is plenty of morning sun but around two the shade gets to some of the plants.  They will be fine as the sun climbs higher into the sky with the changing seasons.  It reminds me that many times the perfect situation never presents itself.  There always seems to be something in the way.  But what I do know is that perfect fruit can come from imperfect situations.

The Cucamelon seeds have sprouted and are ready to go in the ground.  I’ve planted some and have several to give away to some friends who want to do something a little different.  We should have plenty in a couple months.  This process is so amazing to me.  How is it that we have gotten so far away from the knowledge that sustained my grandparents?

There the are with the tomatoes.  I used some cut bamboo from last year.  I will make them a trellis as the grow.

God these pictures suck but they are what I got.  We do what we call “Wine and Jazz” once a month during the warm months at the winery.  You can see an arbor I built three years ago.  Grapes are growing up it.  The flower bed is awaiting the lantania to sprout to fill in between the lavender and the rosemary.

The people are beginning to arrive.  We served mufalattas, red beans and rice, and gumbo, and wine of course.  This is where I usually sit to watch and listen to the music and the people.  Sometimes I get up and talk or serve or to smile at someone.  I gave one guy who was interested in the garden a cucamelon plant to take home and watch grow.  He was fun to talk to.  But mainly now I just watch and listen and think on things.  The band was good.  The lead was a young but very talented jazz standard and R&B singer.  She was really good.  It made me smile and remember when the songs were alive.  Be Groovy!