While Mama's Away the Ants Will Play

I was away from home for nearly a week, and my home coming was not complete without a morning jaunt around the gardens. I have never had so many beans ready for picking at once! I'm still not finished, but had to go inside because the mosquitoes were eating me alive. Two green peppers looked ready for picking and I am excited to use them for dinner tonight. The potted squash is still about twice the size of the ones in the ground and has several small fruit growing. I should have started this much sooner, but was too busy wallowing over my lost plants. Before I left town, I planted broccoli from Logan's and a variety of lettuces. The lettuces have all spouted and the broccoli seems to be growing well. There is still no spinach, so this afternoon I may try to start some indoors. Joe didn't pick any okra while I was gone and they were huge - maybe too tough now, but I will just use them to harvest seeds for next year. The rye grass is lush and green.

Listen, I don't play with fire ants. Okay, so maybe I jab sticks in their nest, but when it comes to protecting my child's feet and my own from them, I am all about some serious insecticide. This week in Chattanooga, Daniel got a vicious bite on his "little piggy that went to market", and his entire foot swelled and now has a large painful blister. While I fully support organic gardening when possible, I will not allow fire ants to overrun my yard. I found one product that claims to be safe for crops, but still I don't apply it around the plants. I just read that it is best not to disturb the mound before application because fire ants will take their queen to safety. This is simply amazing and completely frustrating. While I was gone, an enormous nest popped up in the corner of the brick walkway. I knew ants were pretty active around there, but I didn't know they had colonized and were planning a stake out on the entire corner of the garden. Be warned Queenie, pack your bags because Mama is coming to get you!