Jackie's Beans 2013

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She grew them in SC in 2012 and we didn't know what they were. She grew them in 2013, 2014, 2015 I am trying to grow them now (2016) in PA. Mine might not grow to produce because of climate. They are sword beans. (see previous current posts)

Beans Grow FAST

We plan to have the cabin stained this month and the beans are growing so fast that I'm going to have to slow them down somehow or put them outside soon! More are even popping up! I was hoping to put "Henry" near a porch pillar so they would climb there. Now I just don't know.......

I fell in love with "Henry" the other day. Isn't he special?

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Green Thumb Fairy

There is not much room here to grow vines that like to climb, but that mischievous Green Thumb Fairy struck me again!

If you were following me in 2012, I posted the first installment of how this all began. At first we had no idea what the large vine with the humungous bean was because it came as a house gift to a beach neighbor. One bean in a can. She planted it. It grew. She gave me one of the two pods.

2012

The next year I gave her back some of the seeds which I had dried and saved.  She planted again and they grew wonderfully long and produced many large pods. She gave me a choice and I saved another pod.

2013

Then I gave some of those seeds to a different beach friend. Hers thrived as well. She saved seeds and intended to plant them in 2014. She planted moonflower seeds instead! Luckily she found the bean seeds she had saved and planted them last year.

2015

She sent me some and I thought I'd try again as we sold our place in the south. My first plants froze when we left them in Pennsylvania. Here I go again! 2016 beans are in the process - dang that fairy - I just couldn't resist AND...I HAVE PLANS! I hope some will germinate as I have never started any using this method. We shall see. This is what I did today!

soda bottles cut and hole drilled in cap

Clothesline wick should work

Big mess! too cold out today to work there

Beans soaked overnight and nicked

Sitting in sunny window waiting for germination
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Mishmash

Weather is not cooperating! I can usually find something to get into, though; like going to the local Goodwill store and finding something special. As most of you know, I live in an old log cabin. I picked this up, thinking it would fit in there, then put it back, and went on my way. Later going through every aisle and nothing grabbing my attention, I started to leave and heard the picture calling to me. "Take me home! Take me home!" I knew I had to go back and, hopefully it would still be there. I should have remembered that if something interests me to put it in my cart, go on, and return it later if the charm it had when I first was attracted to it had faded. I was lucky. It was still there. Price - $2.00! Half price because it had the number of the day marked on the back -  #37. The picture had been professionally framed and the back is plain brown paper with no credits. I won't take it apart. Besides the apples, the colors, the faux wood frame, the fine handiwork was what really grabbed me. How many hours did it take to make? What kind of person spent so much time to complete it and why this particular picture?

After returning home, I tried to research the item and only found one comparable - on e-Bay. A metal advertisement sign. Now I did already know who the Shakers were and I also knew that they had a lot of experience gardening. There wasn't anything about Shaker applesauce, although recipes of wonderful Shaker dishes were "out there."  What do you think?

Then I rode the golf cart around the block to check on the Sword beans that are growing in a neighbor's site. One is climbing the power pole (maybe to reach the top!) and another is on the porch post. The promise of more 12 inch long beans is firm. They are fun and unusual.

The mushrooms are popping up everywhere. These were about 25 ft. from my front door!

The first thing that came to mind when I saw this bush was from a childhood workbook task I remember, "one of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn't belong..." Well I guess it does, but it is strange looking.

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