Things are plodding along in the garden beds here. We’re getting close to the “too hot to work outside” season. This is part of what motivates me to stay as busy as I can from Christmas through March around here, so that now, when the heat turns up, I mostly water, watch, and pull a weed or four.

Which takes beans on March 23rd…

To beans on April 4th

To beans that are now three feet tall.

It also takes us from orange-yet-shy squash blossoms…

To mystery squash!

And yellow crookneck

Unfortunately, my largest squash plants so far, the lemons (in the middle bed below)…

Are currently wilting due to a re-invasion (or perhaps never-left-asion) of fire ants. I sifted diatomaceous earth on them, as that had seemed to work on the ones by the walk-up at home, but apparently instead of causing them to relocate like the ones at home did – they simply burrowed deeper. I’m afraid boiling water might kill the squash along with the ants though. Before I try and scheme a plot to get boiling water two miles from my stove, I’ll dig the diatomaceous earth down where they live and see if that doesn’t agitate them enough to leave. Any other ideas on ousting fire ants? If only I had some phorid flies handy…

(A quick side note: Someone was asking about growth rates for melons. This is my second attempt at melons, but feel it safe to say they are slower growers. The picture above is of three squash varieties, all direct sown on the same day as three melon varieties.) The melon varieties?

A fair bit smaller than two of the squash types. Yet a mere three days later and we have a new surprise!

Melon blossoms!

Things I learned:

• Fire ants aren’t gone just because you think they are.
• Melons will take their time, but may surprise you in fits and bursts.
• It’s ok to not be super busy in the garden all the time. Keeping it watered will keep it patient for your return.