The Harris’, Rains, Floods, Frost, Oh My

Planting at the Harris’ is always fun and often very eventful. This year was no different. Due to our excitement about receiving our Bonnie Plants, we just couldn’t wait to get the plants in the ground.

Cheryl is one of my favorite folks! She picks the very best plants for me! She knows her stuff!
Cheryl is one of my favorite folks! She picks the very best plants for me! She knows her stuff!

Once we have a vision for our summer garden, not much can keep us from moving forward.

Stacy Harris getting her Bonnie Plants! One of her favorite times of the year.
Stacy Harris getting her Bonnie Plants! One of her favorite times of the year.

The plants we don’t grow from seed, we get from Bonnie Plants. Their plants are always incredibly healthy and this year will prove that this statement is true.

Look at these luscious Bonnie Plants!
Look at these luscious Bonnie Plants!

I always try-”try” is the operative word – to wait to put them in the ground after Easter. The “old-timers,” including my dad, tell me to wait until after Easter to plant “because there will always be a cold snap even after the “safe” time to plant which is two weeks after the last frost date.” I made that bold so that I wouldn’t forget it next year.

Hampton is a great helper! I couln't do it without him. He is taking my plants to the car now!
Hampton is a great helper! I couldn’t do it without him. He is taking my plants to the car now!

Well, of course, we didn’t wait until Easter and planted exactly 2 weeks after the last frost date (like we are supposed to by the books)

We planted exactly 2 weeks from the last expected frost. I am always warned not to plant before Easter, but rarely can wait that long. We received torrential rains and a frost after I planted, but the plants are doing well despite the beating. Stacy Harris
We planted exactly 2 weeks from the last expected frost. I am always warned not to plant before Easter, but rarely can wait that long. We received torrential rains and a frost after I planted, but the plants are doing well despite the beating. Stacy Harris

 

This will always be one of mty favorite memories: seeing the older children teach the younger one's needed skills for life.
This will always be one of my favorite memories: seeing the older children teach the younger one’s needed skills for life.

and got torrential rains as well as another frost. These rain showers were no “April showers that bring May flowers.” No, this was a flood.

We do have a pond, but I didn't intend it to come up almost to my house. There were people unable to get home from work for days this year (2014) in Alabama from the floods.
We do have a pond, but I didn’t intend it to come up almost to my house. There were people unable to get home from work for days this year (2014) in Alabama from the floods.

Our garden was beautifully laid out. As we watched out the window and prayed for the rain to stop, we bounced ideas for solutions to the drowning plants.

The Alabama flood turned out to be quite fun for my kids!
The Alabama flood turned out to be quite fun for my kids!
While some of the kids were splashing in the flood waters, others were getting to higher positioning!
While some of the kids were splashing in the flood waters, others were getting to higher positioning!

We had to do something to prevent root rot. The first day without rain, we all took part in replanting the vegetables while raising the rows of plants – This is where I have to re-write “plant the plants” in my calendar just so I can cross it out again! Does anyone else really do that?

I am happy to report that the plants adjusted quite well and am looking forward to the first harvest! You can find some of my favorite vegetable recipes on the Bonnie Plant Blog to which I contribute. I am getting my canning equipment ready for the over abundance! Gardening is one of the joys in life that keeps on giving!

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