I was out of town last week, but I have a neighbor child who comes by to tend the dogs and cats; my very own Puppy Au Pair. As she's gotten older, we've expanded her duties to include seeing to the flowers and vegetables. We've had limited success with that, though.
This time, we talked at some length about what would need watering, how often, and what the signs of needing water were. Really, we talked a long time. And then I made my fatal mistake: I told her she could use my computer while I was gone as long as she didn't go to MySpace. We talked about why *that* wasn't a good idea, too.
She's 14...what was I thinking! I was hardly on the plane before she was logged onto MySpace. She put the hose in the tomatoes, and didn't move it the rest of the week.
*sigh*
I keep telling myself it could have been worse. The bronze fennel will recover...eventually. About half the Italian basil is gone, but the plants that I had transplanted into larger pots will recover. Most of the shasta daisies are crinkly and brown. And the huge hanging basket of verbena in the front might sprout from the roots. It's tough.
The really horrible part, though, is that all the Almapaprika peppers are toast, as are all the yellow current tomatoes. A few of the Melrose and Big Jim peppers look like they're going to make it, too. But, you know...dang! I love Almapaprika peppers. I debated replanting them, but caved and just ordered some from Cross Country.
The rest of the peppers look a little worse for wear, but they'll do fine with a bit of regular watering, so she'll be allowed to live.
Only, now I'm worried about the "no boys" rule.
This time, we talked at some length about what would need watering, how often, and what the signs of needing water were. Really, we talked a long time. And then I made my fatal mistake: I told her she could use my computer while I was gone as long as she didn't go to MySpace. We talked about why *that* wasn't a good idea, too.
She's 14...what was I thinking! I was hardly on the plane before she was logged onto MySpace. She put the hose in the tomatoes, and didn't move it the rest of the week.
*sigh*
I keep telling myself it could have been worse. The bronze fennel will recover...eventually. About half the Italian basil is gone, but the plants that I had transplanted into larger pots will recover. Most of the shasta daisies are crinkly and brown. And the huge hanging basket of verbena in the front might sprout from the roots. It's tough.
The really horrible part, though, is that all the Almapaprika peppers are toast, as are all the yellow current tomatoes. A few of the Melrose and Big Jim peppers look like they're going to make it, too. But, you know...dang! I love Almapaprika peppers. I debated replanting them, but caved and just ordered some from Cross Country.
The rest of the peppers look a little worse for wear, but they'll do fine with a bit of regular watering, so she'll be allowed to live.
Only, now I'm worried about the "no boys" rule.