Posted in Creatures, Plants

Scarlet Runner Beans and Hummingbirds

I first learned about scarlet runner pole beans (Phaseolus coccineus) in The 2 Hour Garden book by Roger Grounds. I honestly did not research them much beyond his mention, and rather impulsively fit them into our $20 seed  budget instead of kidney beans.  Back then, I knew very little other than they were a pole bean with at least 6′ vines (I’ve seen up to 15′ listed), and should be one of the first things in our kitchen garden once they arrived.  I read in that book that apparently most Americans don’t like the beans, while others consider them a gourmet legume.   (Apparently the shell is a bit tough for some, and at least one site recommended cutting the pod before serving, other sites say forget the pod and shell the beans.) Continue reading “Scarlet Runner Beans and Hummingbirds”

Posted in Plants, Progress

Grape Trellis Project Part 2

Hard to tell from pick, but sturdy.
Thank you neighbor(s) that got rid of these.

I mentioned before picking up some trellis for free that we plan to use for the volunteer grape we found on our property.  (Likely seed brought by birds from a multiple section chain link fence length of grape just under a block from our house.)

My partner suddenly decided at gloaming last night that it was a fine time to put it together.  I pointed out that he’d be drilling the pilot holes and screwing them together in the dusk if he was lucky, and the dark if he wasn’t.  I’m almost afraid to see what it looks like come morning. We did not paint it as I wanted because no budget for such at the moment. Continue reading “Grape Trellis Project Part 2”