Weed Free is the Way to Be

I woke up early this morning to work in the garden before it got miserably hot outside.  It's nearly October... isn't it suppose to cool down sometime round now?  I've gotten on a kick this week to de-weed our yard.  It's been getting out of control I tell you.  Last week I started with the vines that were taking over our deck.  Then one day after work this week, I de-weeded the gutter out by the street (since Jason and his weed-eater no longer get along.)  Today I tackled the garden so we can plant some fall vegetables next week. 

I didn't get a before picture, so I doctored this one that I took in July to help you get an idea what it was like.

The green scribbles represent the additional weeds that had grown over the past two months.

Doesn't it look so much better now?  I even added some compost to start conditioning the soil for the veggies.

Our eggplants loved the rain last week, and now we can't keep up with how many there are.  Eggplant parmesan anyone?

Aren't the pair on the left cute?  I did notice some bugs on the plants though.  (See the orange guys on the right picture?)  I was hoping they were assassin bugs which are beneficial in the garden, but upon closer inspection, I discovered they are baby leaffooted bugs (which are very similar to stink bugs.)  Hopefully they won't do too much damage.

I was feeling a bit guilty after pulling out all the flowering vines around the garden because I saw a hummingbird out there this morning.  I keep reading that with the drought and lack of flowering plants, hummingbirds are having a difficult time this year.  So, I decided to buy a hummingbird feeder to soothe my guilt.  This turned out so much more difficult than I thought.  I went to Hobby Lobby in Meyerland and they didn't have any.  The Lowe's next door to the Hobby Lobby was completely out.  So was the Target across the street from the Hobby Lobby and Lowe's.  It was absurd.   All I could figure out is someone bought in bulk.  Meyerland must have the best fed hummingbirds in the nation right now.

Luckily the Lowe's closer to home still had some.  I made the nectar when I got back home.  It's 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. 

Don't lie... is my backyard getting a bit kitschy?   I personally like the wind chimes and bird feeders but I'm worried it's looking a bit too cat-ladyish.  No offense to cat ladies, of course.

Radar came to help me take pictures this afternoon, but he had to stay behind the gate.  This morning, he bolted out into the front yard chasing a squirrel.  He nearly gave me a heart attack.  He's been so good about not running off lately, it kind of caught us off guard when he dashed off without us.  Crazy dog.