I understand that Atlanta has been in the grips of a pretty bad drought this summer, but all signs of aridity seem to have vanished. I can only think of one day I've been here when it hasn't rained. I moved with three plants, who barely survived the rocky trip from the Midwest. They are loving it. I have an aloe - the token African succulent - who has sprouted a new finger since we arrived. It's of hearty stock, given to me by a friend whose mother plant is the equivalent of a 19th century Catholic woman: churning out babies for the good lord. My friend was beside herself a last year at a Labor Day barbeque, blessed with 30 youngins whom she was trying to pawn off on any naive guest who would take one. Mine survived a year in Chicago and has been rewarded with the plentiful sun and rainfall of the ATL. I also have an heirloom tomato plant, whose grower has rather annoyingly named Mr. Stripey. You've probably seen this fairly common variety at the local Whole Foods or farmers market recently. They are yellow with vertical orange stripes. I rescued Mr. Stripey from the evil ranks of the Home Depot garden center, where he was on life-support without water and days away from death. It's taken him awhile to come around, but again, Atlanta seems to be coming through with the cure. I just wish I could shake that name - Mr. Stripey - sounds like pet snake. The newest addition to the family is a mess of basil, which I purchased from a farmer at Chicago's Green City Market. It's bursting from it's pot and will shortly become the first resident in the estate's refurbished Knot Garden (read on).
After the usual tumult of moving subsided, I got my feet wet landscaping a 2.5 acre estate in Druid Hills that I will be taking care of in the coming months. My first day on the job I putzed around, moving plants, cutting back overgrowth, weeding, etc. I was greeted in full force by the mosquito population (did I mention there's standing water on the property?), stung by a bee, and had a run-in with one of the infamous Golden Garden Spiders (Argiope aurantia).
It won, inconspicuously biting me on the shin after I disturbed it. While they are nasty-looking and can grow quite large, they pose no threat to humans. However, I am told that they virtually overrun Atlanta during parts of the year, so I've got that going for me.
