15: things are staying alive

So I'm to the point now where I need to use the chive and basil that have really taken hold in their little pots. I need to get some cheeses and make some fresh salads. I was happy with this outcome. I was surprised things had gone this far.

Then, Mom reminded me about the other member of the Tiny Potted Plant family (introduced on my other blog). I had translanted zinnia when I got home at the beginning of summer. At that point, it had about four leaves and about 2.5 inches of stem. It was a sad, wilted little plant. I fed it, watered it and marked it for dead.

And then I saw this! I can't exactly take credit, since I don't water the flower beds. I've tried, but it seems I never get the ground wet enough. I don't water enough, so I let Mom do her thing and keep everything alive, including (to my great surprise) my zinnia.

See that? That's a flower. And that's my baby, growing up the side of the house. Zinnias, like marigolds, can be used to keep pests out of the garden. They don't smell so great to hungry bunnies, and they can get rather tall and work as a deterrent in that way. These could presumably do the job nature made them for at this point. They're real plants.

There's another member of the flower beds that is having some serious success. Mom may not be so excited about how my plant/weed is faring. I think it's amazing and hilarious. He is spiting my mother.

When I bought my milkweed (introduced on my old blog) from Schlafly to support a women's shelter,  I wasn't sure what to expect. I was wondering why I hadn't seen any blooms or blossoms. I did see this.

That's not the camera angle. At this point, the milkweed is nearly as tall as I am. When the two stalks reached this height (maturity? fully grown?) what buds started. They've reached the age where beautiful insects are supposed to hover on their leaves and be attracted to their fragrance and flavor.

They're also reaching the age where I'm supposed to be able to take them apart and eat them–the blossoms, not the whole bloody thing. I'm not sure how I feel about that anymore. I want to see how crazy this thing will go. How many flowers will pop up if I don't eat from it? How many butterflies will come? How many seeds can it make and throw all over my mom's flowerbed and lawn?

I'll keep you posted.