Journal Feb11

Sunny, windy. Hi: 70's
Exciting night last night, with the tornado warning sirens going off and the power going out.
Heavy rainfall- the run-off from the back porch gutter cut a trough through the back yard.
I see a rain barrel in my future. All our premises are fine and the power came back on around daybreak.
T/P: chives, catmint, lemon thyme, two lavenders. Mint to t/p later, in pot. All from Calloway's.
Also bought cowpea seeds and corn seed. No inexpensive rain gauges, though. Try W-M.
Finished digging 3/4 of Bed II.
New book: How We Garden Now from library. Divided into small, medium and large projects that teach all the basics of gardening. One idea she has intrigues me: a sunflower folly. I don't have enough space to do this in the backyard and the front is out, due to street repair. But I might try this in modified format in the Bird Area. A short, medium and tall variety by the front gate, maybe.
I also want to try a no-dig temporary bed idea from MEN's veggie supplement. This is planting directly into cut open bags of topsoil, that are then covered with mulch.
Garden Now has two good trellis ideas, which I might use for the squashes and beans.
Two little skinks on the porch- one tail-less. Want to encourage them for bug-eaters.
Vile nut-grass already sprouting in herb bed. Sprayed it with clove-killer. Really don't want to use Round-up. Will explore other organic remedies.