Moth or butterfly?

Broccoli... nature's broom

This is the largest of the bunch that I planted in November. The florets grow in the center of the leaves, like the artichoke, really. These are robust and happy, though the leaves were damaged by hail in January. I can see them out my window from the office, and they make the garden look active and productive. The rows of spinach and red sail lettuce don't hurt much, either.

Artichoke

Everyone likes artichokes, right? This is the artichoke plant I bought at OSH 3 years ago. I planted it in the ground last July when I came to the new house, and it's doing beautifully. You can see that it's about 3 feet tall and 3.5 feet wide more or less.

There's a problem, though. There is supposed to be one central stalk that comes out the center of the plant. This plant is really 3 plants, and no signs of any stalks yet. How do you divide one of these suckers? Also, there's three intense insect cultures supported here. Aphids are eating the plant. And that has attracted ladybugs--there's about 5-6 resident on the plant at any given time, and I assume more will show as time goes on. The ants are intensively milking the aphids so the entire plant is very active.

WHat is this Part V

Nightshade or something else? A juvenile-- about 2" tall, not sure I've ever let one get bigger. Looks vaguely oak leaf like.

What is this Part IV

Nightshade? Which kind?

What is this Part III

I'm told this is chamomile. Yes? I've lots of it growing.

What is this Part II

This grows about 6-8" tall, with waxy leaves (like a succulent).

What is this Part I

California region 10 weed.

Rain brings weeds

Yeah, that's what I've concluded. Using a shovel to turn over 75 square feet of weedy soil is a pretty inefficient way to kill it.

I've been considering Mel Bartholomew's Square Foot Gardening, and I like how he uses the space well. Better than this row system which seems quite space wasteful. I'll plant a few squares and get some more broccoli and spinach growing (already have several rows going now).

I've got thousands of that pesky mallow weed out there. It's neverending! I thought I'd weeded some sections pretty well, but I guess I was just good about not watering between the rows, and now it's a green carpet of evil mallow. I musn't let it win.

Who needs toys when you have trash?

I love this kid, but sometimes he obsesses on some strange things. For instance, the open dishwasher is absolutely the best thing in the world, even better if it's full of objects he can emulate Louis Braille with. And the recycling trash--that's better than a roomful of toys. Here, Justin is caught in the act of reaching for that really interesting Pepsi bottle, probably for the purpose of smashing it against something else to be a, what else, percussion instrument. Why a drummer? Why!?