Happy 4th of July to you! Fireworks 💥 and fun!

Loving your progress on the stockings and the le pouff. So cute to put Anthony’s special nickname from his little sister. I haven’t got much done on mine for a couple of days as life has got in the way, but now it’s the weekend so hopefully I’ll get a bit more time. Loved seeing all your fireworks, love and hugs xx

The most important thing to the success of a garden is water. Dehydrated plants cannot grow to their best regardless of any other assistance if they are thirsty. Increasing the number of times a garden is watered during summer is usually a must. It is generally better to add more frequent watering times when conditions are drier rather than adding a higher volume of water during one infrequent session. Think about it in this manner. We don't drink litres of water in one sitting then go without for a few days and plants are the same. When it comes to plants "burning" due to watering on a hot day, it has nothing to do with magnifying spots of water on leaves. It usually happens when people give their suffering plants a brief watering during the hottest time of the day. People see leaves wilting. Typically, a sign of stress. This can be normal. Plants drooping leaves to reduce surface area affected by conditions. When the soil is moist the plants will be fine. Despite the difficulty keeping up with the increase in transpiration rates, temperature and evaporation being forced upon them at that time of day they will recover quickly when the day passes into the kinder hours if adequate moisture is in the soil. Giving them a short burst of water during the hottest time of day can trick some plants into thinking it is raining, causing them to open their leaves. This may look nice, but the leaves are suddenly subject to the full drying effect of the weather when they need to be responding to it, and much like spreading laundry on the line this dries the leaves quicker leaving crispy areas. Of course, plants getting crispy areas can also happen from a drying wind, but hey that's gardening. There are always more variables that can cause similar issues and different results. Naturally, if the soil is dry watering may be necessary to save the plants. Dehydration kills. Water is life. Water at a bad time is better than no water at all. If the roots need access to a drink during a stressful time it has to be done but for many plants important to water the soil and not the leaves during extreme conditions. Now that you have chickens you have access to natural fertiliser. Their waste is a valuable resource to a garden. A handful of chicken poop a handspan from the base of each plant will feed the soil and give vegetables a rich boost in growth. Do you have a compost bin? That garden needs a spot for at least one close by and convenient where all the weeds and leaving of the chickens can be dumped into it. Food for the soil. All kitchen scraps and weeds can be given to chickens to "process" first if concerned about seeds. Then raked up and piled into a compost bin already mixed by the birds. Don't be concerned about all the talk about what the birds can and cannot eat or what should or shouldn't be added. Chickens won't eat what they can't eat but will scratch up everything, including items like citrus peels and onions that some say not to put in compost, and avocado pips and skins that some say not to give chickens, which they won't eat. My compost is made by my chickens and it has a motto "If it used to be alive it can live again". Which supports a large vegetable patch and much more.

Happy 4th July 🎉🎉

Soaker hoses are great. They are a spongy hose that lets the water seep into the ground and avoids water on the plants. The plants cancan indeed burn. Water droplets act like a magnifying glass. You want the soil moist but not the plant. 🌱😊

How do the dogs do with the fireworks? My dog shakes , shivers and pants.