Pictures of that darned old bamboo grass!

This guinea hen was wise and built her nest in the monkey grass a few feet from our front door...unlike the little guinea hen who lost her life a few weeks ago while sitting on her eggs in the ditch along the dirt path.

I've built a little enclosure around her with some old chicken wire, so when her babies hatch, they can be safe. I know from experience that mama guineas can not raise babies. Why, the first thing she will do is lead the tiny little things through wet grass and lose them, one by one. 

Hope this idea works because I do not want to take the babies away from her, not after watching her sit patiently through these hot days, and through thunderstorms, and pouring rain. She deserves to enjoy and raise her babies. Pardon the mess, by the way. The yard is starting to look pretty scraggly about now.

and speaking of scraggly, here's some pictures of that old bamboo grass I've been complaining about...pictures requested by Linda over at "Linda Letters" blog. Thank you Linda...

that's monkey grass trying to bloom through the veil of bamboo grass. Anything that can out-grow liriope, has got to be strong and invasive.

here, climbing the birdbath.

and taking over the tall phlox and obedient plants

and believe it or not, this was an Iris bed planted along the driveway. I should be ashamed to admit how out of control this has become. See why I think a bulldozer is the best solution? 

Finally and at last, red tomatoes in the teeny tiny garden...and as mama would say, "such as they are".

I've seen worse looking tomatoes, but these are tastless. We had bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches last night. We cut the biggest, reddest tomato in the bunch and it was watery tasting, not sweet at all. 

Before next spring, we want to have the soil tested in the teeny tiny garden and find out what needs to be done to grow sweet tomatoes. Wonder if it could be from all the leaves I dump in the garden during the fall and winter months, maybe that puts too much acid in the soil. Sure need to find out.

Why, the very first year we had a garden here on Henny Penny Lane in the early 90's, the tomatoes were huge and very sweet. I remember proudly carrying a sack full of our tomatoes to my boss in Raleigh. The next day, he said to me, "Melba, you may think that I am just saying this, but those are the best tomatoes I have ever tasted. Ever!" Sure made me feel good. 

and the kitty cat picture today...

Smokey stretched out on the kitchen floor.

and surprise, surprise, surprise the teeny tiny garden grew two pretty squash like I've never grown before. I'm going to try roasting them for supper tonight, using a simple recipe I found on line.

Hope to be back soon.

Love,
Henny