September: Season of Hardscape Construction

You see those innocent looking little salad tomatoes? Sprinkle tomatoes as Trader Joe's calls them. Mexican Midget variety as Seed Savers Exchange names them (somewhat unfortunately). 

Well they are not so innocent.

Last spring, the seedlings were the strongest. So I planted some in every tomato bed. They've gone berserk. They are just an incredible pain to harvest.

Delicious, but a real pain. Next year, just a couple of plants. 

I've started working on moving two of the 4x4 beds in the lower garden to a place that gets a good deal more sun. Both beds have produced nothing for two years, and I'm pretty sure its because they spend a lot of time in the shade. The ambition here is to then level the area around these beds and lay down a gravel path that connects to the stairs. Construction began in earnest this weekend.

(The two beds not producing, where the garlic and potimaron squash went to die, They are being cannibalized for parts of the new bed.)

It's been hot (near record high 90's for the past few days), and no rain for a week. Lots of watering.

Also, I have a bone to pick with the bees that live in the ground. They've now stung me twice for the offense of pulling up creeping Charlie, apparently too close to their hole in the ground. I like a pollinator as much as the next person. But really. That's the thanks we get?