Tag Archives: watering

Calvin vs. the Hose

Despite the recent rain, my garden was extremely thirsty when I got home from work. Here in Fridley, MN it was in the mid 90s and sunny for a good part of the day yesterday.

My plants were very happy with the heat. Most of my bean plants popped right up, and my squash and pumpkins are looking good. The tomato plants, which live in the sunniest part of the garden, are kind of sissies and were looking a little bit floppy.  About 30 minutes after a good soaking they had popped right back up.

Here’s my garden helper, Calvin.

Calvin handles the hose for the first time.
Calvin handles the hose for the first time.

Calvin stood at the garden gate saying “Come in garden? Come in, Daddy?”.  So I let him in.

Last time I let him in he trampled some plants, so I asked if he wanted to help with the hose. He was very excited. We watered together for all of 4 seconds before he insisted on doing it all my himself. A moment after I stood up and stepped back, Calvin discovered how much kick a hose has.

One of his hands lost its grip, and the hose shot back spraying him right in the face! This made him stumble backwards and he tripped on the hose.  I managed to get him picked up and get the hose pointed away from him before he panicked too much.

Of course he still wanted to do it himself, but this time he held on tight and did a good job.

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First Fruits and Good Signs

As I was watering the garden and plants this morning I was happy to see that we are making progress on several fronts. Our raspberries canes are budding, giving me hope that maybe I’m doing something right. As a novice and insecure gardener, I need that affirmation.  Sorry the picture is fuzzy. Even with the macro focus setting my camera kept focusing on the fence instead of the raspberry plant.

How you doing, Bud?
Our budding raspberry bushes!

Our apple trees are pretty new. We planted them last fall, and they are probably about 5 feet tall now. We aren’t expecting to get any apples for the first 2-3 years (that’s what the Internet and books I have read say) but these couple of former flower blossoms which are thickening up are making me slightly hopeful that we will get some!

Thickening Apple flower stems!
Thickening Apple flower stems!

Ryan and I were looking at the radishes and planning on when to thin them, when I saw some round little heads poking above the soil. Sure enough, a few of the radishes were quicker than the others and were ready to eat! Ryan was VERY excited to get to eat something from the garden.

I HAVE RADISHES!
I HAVE RADISHES!

Ooh. Those look tasty! I don’t think the boys have ever had radishes. Ryan saw them sitting here and asked…

Bright Pink Radishes
Bright Pink Radishes

“Are those radishes cherries?”.  Calvin just wanted to eat whatever the rest of us were going to be eating. The radishes were pretty mild — a little less flavor than I like, but perfect for a 4 and 2 year old’s first taste of radish. Just a hint of heat after you had already chewed and swallowed.

"Are those radishes cherries?"
"Are those radishes cherries?"
This radish will be good. I can tell.
This radish will be good. I can tell.

Unfortunately neither of the boys liked them this time around. Of course, expecting cherries and getting radishes WOULD be disappointing.

I am not impressed with this radish.
I am not impressed with this radish.

You can see the drool line still connecting his chewed radish bite to his mouth.

This radish does not taste like I want it to.
This radish does not taste like I want it to.

Needless to say, I’m very happy that my garden has grown something. Here’s hoping for a bounteous summer and fall full of things the boys will like!

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