Garden updates

(JUNE 30)
Trying to manage the tomato jungle and beans growing EVERYWHERE by constructing some lattice using several criss-crossed bamboo poles


Overview of everything growing wonderfully, and a shot of the extension of beans #2 by lashing all three poles together with a fourth sticking straight up. One bean stalk visible growing up the stick holding up the chicken-wire fence


New Hungarian hot chili pepper separated from a set of five with artichokes growing in the background. These peppers grow straight up out of the top of the stalk, then droop when they get big; the opposite of most of the peppers I'm growing


My years-long search for Wormwood came to a close in Williamsburg, VA. Rather than risk separating these three, small but very close seedlings, I planted the whole mess in a 12-inch pot in hopes of growing them big and strong - I'll then take cuttings in the fall, or try to propagate via seeds if they actually flower. Yes, it's nerdy, but I'm very excited to see how this does.


I was a little nervous about splitting up the quad-set of Hungarian chilis, so I wimped out and left the rest as a single root ball to be transplanted to this windowbox. The tag said to plant with parsley, so rather than argue or second-guess I wound up grabbing some more parsley and cilantro (closely related, so for sake of variety I figured it'd do just fine) to flank it in the box. Misc. cooking herbs visible in the background.


(JUNE 24)
Tomato jungle


Corn growing enormous, with later plantings lagging behind a little


Overview with beans and corn going nuts in foreground.


Back view into the sun


Cayenne peppers taking off


One jalapeno actually getting close to full grown


(JUNE 15)
Corn growing considerably with fresh sprouts from newer plantings


Baby artichoke


Cayenne peppers just starting to take form


Baby jalapeno


(JUNE 7)
Corn growing nicely (seeded corn not yet sprouted), beans starting to shoot up


Everything still small and working on growing


(JUNE 2)
Overview with tomatoes and peppers at the top, and corn and beans on the bottom (three corn are transplants, three more are seeded and not yet sprouted). Middle is misc


Fresh transplants of tomatoes and two beans (back rown); two tomatoes, bell, and sweet banana peppers (middle row); two jalapenos, tabasco, and cayenne peppers (front)

Jeff and Marcie's Wedding

Jeff and his parents. Pardon the blurriness. It was dark, and I didn't want to kill them with the flash.


Jeff looks very serious. Oh wait, maybe it's because it's his wedding.


Marcie and Jeff at the altar (is it an altar in a synagogue?) with really cool stained glass.


Exchanging vows? It was hard to hear in the back row. Fun fact: Jeff almost stole the lapel mic that they apparently put on him but weren't using.


Another nice shot under the stained glass.


Jeff and Marcie's moms wrapping them in a shawl.


All weddings have semi-strange rituals, because why else would everyone get dressed up and go stare?


Jeff and Marcie on the way out of the church as newlyweds.


Sorting out the rings while waiting for the limos. I really like this shot, it looks like an ad.
(photo geek-out time.. it was a complete accident, but shooting with the sun really bright and lower in the sky gave a super soft tone and almost to the verge of washing the photo out, but not quite. I almost messed with the brightness and contrast in photoshop, but then I decided I liked it just the way it is with Jeff in nearly normal light and Marcie almost literally glowing. ok, too much about that one photo.
stuff: auto settings and no flash with a UV filter on the lens. side bonus: sweet lens flare.)


All five former roommates united for the first time since graduation.


Classy looking DAR hall for the reception.


Todd, Big Dave, Matt. 'nuff said.


Matt "busts a move" with Marcie. That's right, I just said 'bust a move'.


There's no way Marcie is having that much fun dancing with Todd.


Todd almost looks like he knows what he's doing. He probably doesn't.


Is she laughing at him, or because she's having fun? We may never know.


Marcie strikes a pose...


Jeff just wants to eat the cake.


A blurry but cool photo Matt took of a flower decoration.


Matt attempting to show how much ice is in the bucket. Or something.


Jeff and someone from our table - I'm terrible with names and it always makes me feel bad.


Even though it's his four millionth photo, Jeff still manages to get a smile going. Get that man another drink!


No idea who these people are. Maybe Matt took this photo too?


Jeff's friend and ex-co-worker Karen, Marcie, and another friend whose name has unfortunately been eaten by my brain.


You may now kiss the bride.


It absolutely appears that Matt is attempting to pee in the elevator. Judging by the look on Big Dave's face, I imagine that's what he was going for.


Huge fish tank in the middle of the hotel lobby.

Building a vegetable garden

8-foot by 4-foot frame


Landscaping cloth stapled down (duct tape on overlaps)


Finish stapling down chicken wire for support/pest control


Another view


Flipped the beast over


Shiny, new, and mostly free of tree helicopters


Dumped in a load of compost (so I could lift the damn bags). Note the tree helicopter-free left side.


First two 2-cu. ft soil bags down, some mixing with compost


Laying down another layer of compost between first and second soil layer


One of four top layer bags down


Only three of eight 2-cu. ft bags left


Final compost to be mixed into top of top layer


Fully blended, raked out and smoothed with four planting rows and a free bed (changed later)


Corn (in wide double row, with smaller free bed between row groups), far end three tomatoes and two pole beans


Fully planted (second row: three artichokes, two hot peppers, one chive)


Fully planted (free bed, top row: artichoke, onion. bottom row: artichoke)


Wrapped chicken wire around the whole outside with a couple sticks for stability as a temporary fence solution

Allentown Beirut Tournament

Killington