Report from the Garden

 My car was outside for three days because of work going on in the garage. Once I was able to bring it in again, I decided the best thing to do was brush the ash off with the duster I usually use to get spider webs down from the ceiling. Adding water to the mix didn't seem like such a good idea.

I went out briefly to check the status of the garden after four days of record breaking heat, two days with no power and ongoing smoke and ash and soot raining down on everything. The basil on the left is bolting prettily. It's in a pot on our porch so we were able to keep it well hydrated. I've never seen basil behave this way, but it will have to do for Friday's flower because most everything else out there is s pretty shriveled. 

 Our poor fig tree is losing its leaves, even though it is still covered with figs. The ones that were almost ripe have shriveled. We'll have to wait and see what happens to the green ones. 

We covered the tomato plants which are in full sun. Fortunately we have eaten or made sauce with most of them because the ones that are left don't look very happy.

 The zucchinis would make it through the apocalypse and seem to have survived this one because I picked six or seven and found one a full foot long nestled under the leaves. If it looks edible when we slice it open, I think John will barbecue the lengthwise slices and we'll sprinkle it with a mixture of sesame and poppy seeds and maybe some dehydrated onion. The peppers too seem to have survived nicely. I wonder if it has anything to do with the bombproof chicken wire enclosures John put around them to protect them from the ground squirrels who seem to fancy the leaves.

We've been putting lots of water out for whatever animals need it. I found the neighbor's Siamese cat drinking out of the birdbath this morning while all the birds waited in the trees above it for their turn. They have been bathing vigorously in it, no doubt trying to wash off the ash. 

We were just beginning to venture out into a modest distanced, masked world even as the death toll in the county passed 100. Now, as the thermometer passes 100 and the fires continue to burn, it is not healthy to be outside for more than the most necessary tasks, and for those, N95 respirator masks are strongly recommended . These are the very masks were told NOT to wear to protect against Covid because they filter the air and send it back out again rather than keeping it away from each other. The contradictions pile up and make life even more complicated.

We were back to zoom coffee this morning, and have postponed our happy hour with the neighbors since we can't sit outside. Thank goodness for the Tour de France....and for Jim and Dana.