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Sunflower Journal, Saturday 5/21/16, week 14

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 12:09 pm

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I didn't take any height measurements this time around. I probably should have, but if they grew any taller it was only a couple of inches. Still getting quite a few blooms and I enjoy walking out every morning to look at them.

On a side note, I spoke at a men's meeting this past week. There were about sixteen men there and I was using an illustration from the garden. To preface my illustration I asked the question, "How many of you have a garden?" I was totally surprised when only one man raised his hand. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. After all, it does take a lot of time and effort, but to me the benefits totally outweigh the efforts.

Okay, I'll get back on track and post the pictures now.


Sunflowers, 5/21/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflower, 5/21/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflower, 5/21/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflower, 5/21/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 5/21/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )

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Sunflower Journal, Saturday 5/14/16, week 13

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 11:33 am

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I thought they were done growing, but one is past 90 inches tall now. As you can see from the pics, some of the blooms are spent. I've already fed one to the chickens. There are still a lot of blooms that haven't opened though.


Sunflower, 5/14/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 5/14/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 5/14/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflower, 5/14/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 5/14/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )





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Sunflower Journal, Saturday 5/7/16, week 12

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 12:39 pm

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Not a lot of blooms to show off today, but look at the height of the tallest one, 78 inches. Somehow a different kind of seed got mixed in and there is one plant that has multiple buds. It is the sun-shaped bloom that is pictured below. Pretty excited about that one.


Sunflower, 5/7/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflower, 5/7/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers 5/7/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflower, 5/7/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )

This blog entry has been viewed 502 times

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Go Big or Go Home

Category: Gardening | Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 9:52 am

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I have ventured into something that I hope I don't end up regretting. I have always struggled with tomatoes. The only time I feel like I was even slightly successful with them was about six years ago.

With that wonderful track record in mind let me tell you that I'm trying again this year with...wait for it... 59 tomato plants! 51 of them are Romas and the other 8 are Pink Oxhearts.

Last year we ended up going to a u-pick tomato farm that was nearby and my wife really liked the Romas. So, since I'm always up for a gardening challenge I decided to dive deep into the world of tomato growing.

I put down a weed barrier and reused an old drip system that has been just sitting in my garden (I normally use a sprinkler). I'm planning to harvest some bamboo for stakes.

So far things have gone well and I saw some blooms yesterday. Now, if I can just keep them looking good and fend off the tomato hornworms.


59 Tomato Plants, May 2016 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )





Last edited: Sat May 07, 2016 12:42 pm

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Sunflower Journal, Saturday 4/30/16, week 11

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2016 12:03 pm

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The wait is over! Week 11 and I have sunflowers blooming in the garden. The first one opened up earlier this week. When I was out there this morning it was so peaceful. There was a heavy dew and the morning fog was just burning off. The air was crisp and clean. What's not to love about gardening? I feel sorry for all those people who never find the time to stop and smell the roses... or in my case, stop and view the sunflowers.


Sunflower, 4/30/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 4/30/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 4/30/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 4/30/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )





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Sunflower Journal, First Bloom, Thursday 4/28/16

Category: Gardening | Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 12:42 pm

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So I couldn't wait for Saturday to post this picture. I've been seeing some yellow and this morning it was fully open.


Sunflower, First Bloom, 4/28/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )





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Sunflower Journal, Saturday 4/23/16, week 10

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 1:29 pm

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Another ten inches this week and I'm thinking we'll be seeing an open bloom in a couple of weeks. I haven't applied any kind of fertilizer other than some Miracle Gro in the second week. I just keep them watered and try to keep the weeds away.


Sunflower, 4/23/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 4/23/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 4/23/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflower, 4/23/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )





Last edited: Sat Apr 23, 2016 1:31 pm

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Sunflower Journal, Saturday 4/16/16, week 9

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 1:17 pm

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Some exciting things are going on in the garden today. The sunflowers are averaging about ten inches a week and I've got the beginnings of the flower itself. It won't be long now.


Sunflower, 4/16/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 4/16/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 4/16/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflower Bloom, 4/16/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )





Last edited: Sat Apr 16, 2016 1:17 pm

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Sunflower Journal, Saturday 4/9/16, week 8

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 11:47 am

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Last Saturday the sunflowers were twenty inches tall. When I measured them today I was totally surprised to find that they had grown another ten inches.


Sunflower, 4/9/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflower, 4/9/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 4/9/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )





This blog entry has been viewed 478 times

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What's That On Your Face?

Category: Life As I Know It | Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 12:37 am

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I was recently reminded of something that happened while we were stationed at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia.

The big event in town was the grand opening of the Home Depot. We waited a few days after the opening so the crowd would die down before we decided to check it out. It must have been just after we moved there because my oldest son was still small enough to carry around. I had him in my arms as we browsed down the aisles.

I walked up to some metal looking, mesh type material to see what it was. It was about eight foot tall and four feet wide and it was positioned so that the tall side was sticking up. Just about the time I got up to it my son reached out and grabbed it. I responded by backing away quickly. He let go, but not before the material started falling toward us. I couldn't get away fast enough and the top edge of it fell right toward my face. It had ridged edges and they managed to scrape across my nose and also a little across my son's arm.

My son got a little scrape, but almost immediately my nose started bleeding profusely. My wife was standing right there and started frantically digging through her purse to find a tissue. Unfortunately, the only thing that she could find absorbent enough to stop the blood was... well, what do most women carry in their purse that could be used to stop bleeding?

She pulled it out, unwrapped it and said, "Here, use this!"

I looked at her with a dumbfounded look, blood streaming down my nose, and said, "I'm not putting that on my face!!!"

"Don't be so stubborn, it's the only thing I have!"

The situation had gotten pretty hectic. My son was still crying because of his scraped arm, my daughter was upset and my wife was close to being in a panic. By now, it was clear that I had been cut three times and the blood was flowing pretty freely. I knew I could never make it to the bathroom on the other side of the store so I reluctantly took it from her hand and placed it on my nose. I did my best to cover it up with the palm of my hand, but it couldn't be done.

We exited the store as fast as possible. I have no idea how many people actually saw what happened and I really don't want to know. I guess the proper thing would have been to tell a manager about it, but I wasn't about to face anyone while holding something like that between my eyes.

Maybe I could have sued Home Depot. I can see the headlines in the paper now, MAN BLAMES HOME DEPOT FOR HAVING TO WEAR A FEMININE PRODUCT. WINS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR SUIT FOR PAIN AND SUFFERING.

Oh, the humanity!

Last edited: Mon Apr 04, 2016 10:31 am

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