June 22-28, 2026

Weather | 6/22, 0.02" rain, cloudy to sunny, 57°, 74° | 6/23, sunny, 53°, xx° | 6/24, xx°, xx° | 6/25, xx°, xx° | 6/26, xx°, xx° | 6/27, xx°, xx° | 6/28, xx°, xx° |

• Monday, 6/22: Near Garden Planting is Done
  • I mowed the exceedingly tall grass growing around the compost bins. Then I mowed outside of the electric fence on the east and north sides of the far garden. Two passes were required in tall grass.
  • Mary planted 17 pepper plants, 10 hills of sweet potatoes, and four hills of cucumbers to finish all planting in the near garden. She planted in an industrial method...dug all holes at once, added all compost, all wood ash, then planted to finish it up. It makes planting go faster.
  • She reported that there are lots of earthworms in the near garden.
  • I took in a Missouri Department of Conservation Webex about butterflies in Missouri. The naturalist presenting this piece is Austin Lambert, from the Runge Conservation Nature Center in Jefferson City. I've listened to him before. He's very good. He had a little test at the beginning of the talk in identifying whether different specimens were butterflies or moths. Some were very tricky. From my elementary school years, when I delved into entomology in 4-H, I remember the difference between moth and butterfly antennae, so I got a perfect score. Austin showed how numbers of certain types of butterflies have dropped in recent years. He then outlined how to boost numbers, such as being a lazy gardener by leaving plants after they die. We're really good at that! It was a good session.
  • After the webex, I went outside with Cooper to put the mower away. Three bunnies took off in three different directions at the machine shed. He didn't know which way to go. When he saw the tip of a fallen tree branch on the ground that still had leaves on it, Cooper was so worked up he pounced on the branch, thinking it was a live animal.
  • I had a small glass of autumn olive wine made in 2022. It once had a strong alcoholic taste. It's quite good, now, after aging for four years. Mary had a small glass of jalapeño wine. She likes it as a slow sipping wine.
  • We heard a barred owl calling from the electric pole just southeast of the house while reading books, tonight.