Hard Times

Well it's time for the little transplants to go through the "hardening off" phase. This is where they gradually get used to the outdoors. Now, one would think that plants wouldn't have to get used to the outdoors, that they would naturally just do well out there, but when they've lived the sheltered life of a warm and temperature-consistent house, the outdoor conditions can be quite a shock, what with all that scorching sun, blustering wind, and not to mention those pesky bugs! So for the last couple of days I have placed them on the porch in semi-shade, and today I actually placed the tomatoes and peppers outside in the morning sun.

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I think this weekend I will plant them in the big planter. I'd like to say that I don't really think we're going to get any more freezes this year. However, with as crazy as the weather has been in the last few months, I quite possibly would have to retract that statement at a later date - so let me just say that I am going to take my chances. After all, the worst that can happen is that we do get an overnight freeze down to 25 or 30 and I have to cover everything with sheets. No biggie there. It's not like it's going to be -15 or something!

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Ode to you oh little plants

You've grown bigger than the ants

and your fruits I soon will see

once visited by the bees!