Experiential Gardener

My new tumbling composter with two chambers. I have had compost piles in the past, but look forward to trying this one. This composter should not attract slugs and snails like the old compost pile on the ground.

A shiny bell pepper.

A misshapen banana melon. It almost looks like some strange gourd.

This Tigger Melon did not grow very large before it ripened (because of the 95 degree plus days). This melon like most emits an intensely fragrant smell when it ripens. The Tigger melon fragrance reminds me of a Pina Colada.

These are the hornworms I spare (brown ones). These will be Sphinx and Hawk moths. I hand raise them when there are too many on my moonflowers/morning glories and set them free when they transform into moths. They are gentle and seem to remember me when they transform (stay on my hand and are not afraid). Confession: When I was a child, I wanted to be an Entymologist.

A pretty yellow mushroom that appeared after the rain.

A close-up of a rose moss flower. I love these durable, sun-loving flowers.

A tomato that has been eaten by a bird (specifically a Mockingbird). Mockingbirds like to pull ripe tomatoes off the vine and then sneakily eat them while hidden under the tomato vine. Notice how they eat the seeds from the cavities.