Garden Trial...

Where has time gone? May is upon us, and I have beds that are still empty. Up till now I have done as much as I can one or two hours at a time. There never seems to be enough time. This week is going to be different. I plan to spend several hours throughout the whole week at the garden.

My first task is to have some top soil delivered and fill as many beds as I can. I am going to use sifted top soil and then ammend with cow manure, cotton seed meal, and add a little Microlife fertilizer. I am conducting a trial of sorts in the garden. The first three beds were filled with sifted top soil. I ammended these beds with cow manure, and cotton seed meal, but without the fertilizer. The next two beds were filled with soil relocated from my garden at home. This soil came with volunteer tomatoes, peppers, and many earth worms. Last week I filled three beds with a prepared vegetable mix. This soil has lots of mulch, sand, a little chicken manure mixed with top soil. I don't like all that mulch in the mix, but felt that I was running out of time to get beds ready for planting. After shoveling two yards of this mix I decided to go back to the sifted top soil and ammend with what I like. The vegetable mix tends to be drier and requires more watering, and will take at least one growing season to mature. The mulch ties up nitrogen due to the decomposition process and is unavailable for the plants. These beds will have to fertilized regularly to keep the plants thriving. I will keep you posted as time goes on, and have results of the trial later in the year.

Meanwhile, "On" Texas Avenue, there has been some activity in the past few weeks. A portion of the Brunson Theatre at the back of the building was demolished, and the front entrance has been boarded up more securely. The car show was a success, even though it started a little wet, and we even had a few people walk through the garden admiring the plants. Or perhaps wondering what the hell is this. Visitors just the same. Then last week Channel 39 did a segment on the revitalization efforts by the city and their plans for the future. Exciting news for property and business owners on Texas Avenue, and the community. Thanks to all who honk or wave as you drive by, or shout out "I like your garden". It keeps me motivated. Visit any time.