It’s been about five years since I had a home grown tomato. Only someone who has grown and enjoyed a fresh picked tomato can appreciate the juicy taste of your first picked tomato of the season. Nothing you can buy in the grocery store can compare.
I’ve gone from being able to have a decent size garden on our five acres to having to become a container gardener in the rental we now live in. A very big change from what I am used to.
Many people have successful container gardens. I’ve seen them in the magazines and on the Internet. I know it is possible.
But something that is so easily accomplished for people who live in other states is not as easy for me. I live in Florida and if it isn’t the high temps drying your containers out, wilting and killing your plants in a day it is the diseases that get your plants from the monsoon like rains and humidity we face in the summer.
Today I was looking forward to slicing into my first vine ripened tomato. I have been dreaming about a tomato sandwich slathered with mayo, sprinkled with salt and pepper since I saw the first faint blush of red on the maturing fruit.
I have been watching that first sparkling red gem ripening on the plant all weekend. Yesterday I decided today would be the day.
I walked out my back porch to move my plants as the lawn maintenance guy cranked up the mower in the front yard.
I lifted the pot and moved it into the lanai.
I moved my yellow pepper plant and found an unripened pepper on the ground.
The lawn man moved to the back yard and did his work. Nothing was amiss as far as I could see. Then I started moving my plants back out side.
I can only image the look on my face as I turned the tomato plant pot around and set it out on the ground and saw the big empty hole were my sweet little baby had hung only hours ago. I know my jaw literally dropped. I turned my head to look behind me, thinking maybe the ripe fruit had fallen when I moved the pot. Nope.
I looked around on the ground. No tomato. Not trace of a tomato.
Below is a picture of who I believe is the culprit.
Do not be deceived by this cute face!
Measures will have to be taken to protect the next ruby red jewel to develop on my plant.
Raccoon’s of the neighborhood beware!
Britney
Hello,
I wanted to let you know that I am following you from Moms Blogger Club, "The Under 100 Followers Club" group. I am hoping when you get a chance you can follow me back at http://www.britneysbeautyblog.com and http://www.britneysbeautymark.com. Also, I would love to place a link to your site on my blog if you want to do the same with my blog on yours. Please let me know by sending me an email regarding this and it has been nice meeting you via the web.
Thanks, Tracey
(A.K.A Britney/ author)
Bob Hayles
Nice post.
I got here from SeededBuzz, but as I read the post I said to myself, "Self, I'll just bet she reads…", and I was right!
Right there in the right sidebar, in the blogroll, was what I suspected…The Pioneer Woman.
You and I have good taste in blogs…LOL
Bob
Flour On My Face
@Bob Hayles
Bob
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Yes I love The Pioneer Woman! I haven't figured out Seedbuzz yet. It's a bit confusing. I checked out your blog. Its great I will be back to read more as I have a busy day today. I couldn't find you comment button or would have left a comment there.
Arlene