Take two

Hi all,

Well, my well-intentioned efforts to write this blog have gone astray and back again. I've moved twice since we last met. Now I'm located in a more desolate spot of center city. I like it here for that very reason- lots of empty lots and abandoned buildings to explore. Here's some great pictures: http://www.citynoise.org/article/6667

Anyhoo, slowed down on the esoteric bit- I've been revisiting a lot of this information. Currently I'm re-reading all of Castaneda's works. I feel like I "get" it a lot more now. Also, it's a different read knowing that Castaneda DID have contact with the work of G via Bennett. Very interesting. On a kind of out sort of note, I feel as though during the last week I have some sort of physical sense of power. I have begun to consult the YJ as of late, sort of just felt drawn to it. It (she?) has provided me with some very interesting perspectives to meditate on. I feel as though the right time to ask a question is when I feel a certain energy, a round energy sort of coming out through my heart. I had an instance today in which I believe that I may have some effect on the outcome of a most difficult situation. I calmed myself, emptied myself of extraneous thoughts, and just focused on that resonance, and directed it to provide a workable outcome. And things worked out well, when they should have been really messed up. Yeah, sorry, can't go into all the deets here. I guess the lesson is, if you are dealing with something (energy source, etc.?) that is not quantifiable in the terms of the world you live in, all you can do is to be fully present in that experience and observe what is happening. Also calls to mind Don Juan's idea that a warrior chooses to believe certain things because he has. Yeah.

So, no guns this time folks, but we've got a garden once again. After trying to fix up this lot down the street, and continually dealing with new litter and poop every couple of days, I abandoned that plan and decided to go crazy with pots. We have a long narrow alleyway at my new place between our rowhome and the one next door. It has southern exposure, though there's a pretty tall wall in the back. A horsechestnut tree peers over the edge from the east.

Here's the rundown:
5 gal pot #1: Tomato (Rutgers), Genovese basil
#2: Tomato (Better Bush), petunias, something else?
#3: Tomato (Roma paste), Genovese basil
3 gal pot #1: Eggplant (Rosa bianca), marigolds
#2: Zucchini
#3: Jalepeno pepper, yellow long sweet pepper, petunias
#4: Eggplant (Black beauty), marigolds
#5: Melon (early silver line oriental)
Hanging basket #1: 8 strawberry plants, purple petra basil
#2: 6 strawberry plants, lemon balm, scattering of lavender bergamot
seeds
#3: Yellow pear tomato, lavender bergamot, possibly purple basil
(I can't remember)
Rectangular planter: Radish (Champion) and carrots (little finger)
Long planter #1: Snow peas (Oregon giant) and cilantro
#2: Bean (Goldmarie vining)
Trader Joe's bag: Beets (Detroit dark red)
4-pack plastic- Frying peppers (Sweet Nardello)
Hanging planter #1: Thyme, summer savory, rosemary
#2: Nasturtium (Alaska), moonflower

I also have a pot I filled with butterfly-types: verbena, sweet alyssum, and lavender bergamot seeds. I scattered the bergamot seeds among a couple of pots because I couldn't get them to grow at all last year. Worst comes to worst, the other plants will take over. I have a lavender plant hanging out on a shelf-like protrusion up on the wall. I need to repot this, it's looking to grow. I also have 4" pots of sweet alyssum (2) and verbena (1). I have some plants coming in the mail: a pink lavender plant, and some additions to the shade garden I'm trying near that big wall. I got a pink coral bells plant today, and have 2 fuschia plants and a blue toad lily coming. Should be really nice.

Other things I'd like to plant: a mint, so I can make some mint juleps come summertime. That's definitely going in a small pot. Dill for sure, and also probably sage. I'd love to throw dill in a pot along with kohlrabi. Parsley would be good, and could go in the shade garden section, possibly with the mint. Some scented geraniums that I could use in tea would be awesome but I'm not pushing my luck. I would like to grow lettuce as well, but haven't really come up with a good planting solution. I also have a gazillion other seeds, but I guess they're going to have to wait. Turnips could easily go in another TJ's bag, I'd imagine. I didn't want to be a hog with the compost today, but I might have to go for it next time.

So far, of the seeds, the radishes have come up the best. I'm starting to see some basil and eggplant sprouting, as well as thyme, and a bit of the savory. I feel kind of worried about the nasturtium and moonflower seeds- no signs of germination yet, and it's been over a week. I hope the soil wasn't too rich for them. I never have any luck with nasturtiums, but I always keep trying. Of the plants, the strawberries are doing really great. The tomatoes look slow but steady, and the eggplant and squash are really sprouting up. The peppers look to be in good shape so far, I have not always had luck in the past with peppers.

I will try to get some pictures up of the actual garden and also of individual varietals.