Terra cotta wetness guage

On By CarynIn Garden

I’m trying something. I buried a terra cotta pot in my garden because I’ve noticed that the baked clay changes color when it is wet, and it is porous, so if it is wet on one side, it looks wet on the other side. I’m using this feature to tell if the ground is wet in my garden. I tend to overwater, and this might convince me to give the watering a rest.

Photo description: Terra cotta pot buried in soil, but left empty to show the darkened clay at soil level, indicating that the soil still has moisture

I’m testing it this summer, and have witnessed the terra cotta indicator as pictured above and all the plant leaves in fully hydrated form, not wilted. I did refrain from watering.

Harvest

On By CarynIn Cats, eggs, Garden

I’m glad I found the harvest apron when I went out to the cucumber patch and coop. I hadn’t been out in a couple days and I found 5 cucumbers and three eggs!

Photo description: looking down into a handmade harvest apron loaded with three eggs and five cucumbers, muck boots just visible past the apron

Turks cap

On By CarynIn Garden

We planted a Turks cap shrub, which is another Texas native, in our front flower bed this Spring. So far it is thriving and just started producing flowers.

Photo description: Turks cap bloom, with waiting grasshopper

Depending on how much the shrub loves the corner we’ve given it, it could fill the space. We’ll see. I’ve read that they usually are 2-3 feet wide and tall, but can reach 10 feet.

Bee butt

On By CarynIn Garden, Insects

I witnessed the pollinators doing their good work on my cucumber plants: Honey bees!

Photo description: Western Honey Bee visiting a cucumber bloom

I looked up how far honey bees will fly to forage, and the general consensus seems to be upwards of four miles, with some going farther. That is a rather large circle around our area, so I don’t know if they are wild or a neighbor is keeping bees. We live in an area where either is possible.

Throwback Thursday: Master bath

On By CarynIn Craft

In November 2017 we had finished remodeling the master bath of our house, just in time to sell it. My husband designed and did the plumbing and structure, and I did the tile.

Photo description: Master bath dual bowl sinks with white cabinets and custom tile, the mirrors are also cabinets
Photo description: deep tub (the largest we could get in the space)
Photo description: walk-in shower with custom tile and bench and multiple shower heads, with built-in linen closet outside the custom glass panels

It ended up being a beautiful master bath. My husband had one shower in it before the house sold.