Too many plants

I admit it. I have some OCD coursing through my veins. I come by it naturally. When I came across people who sold dozens of varieties of tomatoes, it was hard for me to resist buying one of every single variety. I held myself back at about 45 varieties and 50 plants, or something like that.

I live in a city neighborhood, so I don't have a lot of extra space. I have turned half of my driveway into a garden by using so many pots. I also live on a corner, which means everyone can see into my yard, no matter where I am.

So, a couple of weeks ago, as I was wrapping up planting my pots, a car slowed down next to my yard. I thought it was going to be someone asking directions to someone's house I didn't know.

"Hey! You be selling some of them plants?"

I actually burst out laughing and said no, but it did strike a chord in me.

How fun would that be to actually grow and sell plants next year? I have always dreamed of creating decorative pots to sell.

Perhaps this year I will just settle for a roadside stand of my huge crop of tomatoes.

They're baaaaaaaaack! HELP!

I was sitting on my back steps yesterday when my neighbor decided to pop over for a few minutes. One of the things she had to tell me was that her grandson noticed that raccoons were hanging out in my driveway again the other night.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
 

They are adorable creatures, but darn it! This is not fair. I am one of the few people working hard at growing her own vegetables in the neighborhood. I am trying to do a good thing. And these cute little monsters are threatening me again.

A couple of years ago, I was actually successful in growing corn. I had a row of cornstalks along my driveway. The night before they were ready to harvest, the bloody creatures stole all of the ears. Apparently they also know when corn is ready to harvest.

A bunch of us called the city about it, because it was a problem. Rumor has it there were up to 40 raccoons at any given time. They refused to help because "someone was feeding them."

Yeah, I planted the garden just to feed a bunch of raccoons.

So, if anyone has any recommendations about what to do, I am all ears. A fence is not an option. The only space I have left for veggie gardening is either in containers or in a small bed that runs along my driveway in back. To put up a fence requires money and permits and it's a small area, anyway. I have a small foot-high white fence more for aesthetics at the request of my neighbor on the other side of the driveway. I believe regulations state it can't be higher than 2 feet.

*sniff*

Photo by Jeff Jones on SXC