Garden Update

September marks a new school year (even if students have gone back in August) and the arrival of fall. However, those of us fortunate to live in sunny California, aren’t experiencing much of the cooling season that we come to expect with autumn. Nope, it’s still a balmy 84 degrees outside, and the forecast expects the same for the next week or so.

All of this lovely weather is good and bad news for my little apartment-sized garden. I’ve chosen plants that love the sun, although at the moment, they’re not all thrilled with the extreme, day-long sun beating down on their still-fragile stems. The miracle of it all is that, at least so far, I’ve been able to keep them alive and healthy. This also means that my husband doesn’t have to comfort me as I cry over another withering plant I couldn’t resuscitate.

So, here is my sweet, little garden on our postage-sized balcony.

The large pot to the right was a house-warming gift full of herbs from our friend, Matt (Look, Matt! It’s still happy on our balcony. Thanks again!). The basil in the middle pot looks a little weak, I know…this I blame on our obsession with eating Pasta caprese. We pick basil faster than it can grow! And yes, your eyes have not deceived you, that is a pencil in the tomato plant, that I’m temporarily using to keep the plant from drooping under its own weight. A proper tomato stake is slow in appearing.

I also recently planted marigolds to keep our tomato plant company. On our most recent visit with family, my mother-in-law suggested I plant marigolds, as they apparently keep the bugs away from tomato plants (bugs don’t like the smell). I believe this is something my mom once told me, but it didn’t sink in at the time as I was not the proud mother of my own tomato plant. So, taking my mother-in-law’s advice (since it was her advice that got through to me), I planted marigolds. The flowers are slightly miffed at the hot weather, but I think once it cools a bit, they will be quite happy in their new home.

That’s our garden! Although, I do have a challenge for you! Below you will find two pictures (I’m providing you with two different views, so no one can say that the photo I provided wasn’t very clear). The pictures are of the potted herbs we received from Matt. There are five herbs planted in the pot. One of them is chives (I’m giving it to you because it’s virtually impossible to see in the photo). The first person to identify the other four herbs in the photo before I post on Friday will win a prize (Sorry, Matt, you are excluded from this challenge). Yes, a prize! I will send you the prize. You don’t have to tell me which herb is which, just give me their names. Good luck, and have fun!

Photo #1

Photo #2