Remember the rain I was excited about last Monday?  It never came.  We finally got a bit of a sprinkle on Saturday, but nothing that made much of a difference. 

The bees, butterflies, and other insects that a garden really needs to prosper and thrive continue to be virtually nonexistent.  Thank goodness for plants that self-pollinate and for decent success with everything I've been attempting to hand pollinate.

I really must look into some sort of sprinkler watering system for the garden.  Without significant rain for over a month now, I have to admit that I have become quite tired of standing and watering everything.  I kep reminding myself that it's essential or putting in the garden was a waste.

I've learned quickly what I need to plant more of ... green beans is one.  The plants certainly don't seem to care for the overhead watering though.  It could be a combination of that and the poor quality of our well water (high in iron and sulphur).

We seem to finally be having some success (although very little) with cucumbers.  Three are finally growing well.  I'm not sure if they are ones that I attempted to hand pollinate or not.  The Big Kahuna is anxious for them to do well as organic cumcumbers jumped from $2.39 each to $2.69 each at the store.

Okra is starting to make an appearance in the garden.  I am contemplating sowing more seeds soon.  It's the one thing I've been told will grow here during the summer.

We learned this weekend that we need a successful garden more than ever.  The natural foods market where we do the majority of our shopping is closing at the end of May.  This leaves us with the lesser variety/selection that the remaining options (Target/Super Target, Publix, an independent natural foods market, and WalMart ... I loathe the thought of even having to shop at WalMart because the stores here are awful plus I'm not so thrilled with the company as a whole either).

The Big Kahuna and I finally got started on a new garden bed yesterday.  It's far from finished, but we'll hopefully complete it this coming weekend.  As I said before, I'm thinking about sowing more okra seeds so the new bed would be put right to use rather than be left to cook down over the summer.

The little sunflower patch I put in for Tiger Cub and Lion Cub is doing well ... considering.  One fell victim to Lion Cub wanting to smell it.  Poor thing thought he could put it back after he pulled it out.  Supposedly another was beheaded by a swipe of the cat's paw.  I wasn't there to witness the event, but that's the story I'm being told.  Hmmmmmmmmmm.  Two more seeds were sowed in their places and Lion Cub finally stopped crying.

I also got my first experience with fish emulsion yesterday.  It was ... interesting.  The smell leaves a lot to be desired, but it's supposed to be great for the plants.

Mama Cat