Correction

In one of my most recent posts I misinterpreted what my Papaw said regarding the blooming process.  Uncle Powell read the blog and sent an email with correct information.  It's wonderful to have relatives that know what's going on.  The "square" Papaw referenced actually refers to the triangular shaped growth that produces the bloom.  The remaining plants are COVERED in those little triangles.  It is exciting to walk outside and see new blooms.

Dad will bring Papaw this Saturday for a visit.  This is a man who is familiar with cotton by the acre.  Our little plot might seems pitiful.  I'm sure he will be gracious as he looks over the plants and makes suggestions.
Uncle Powell will also visit on Saturday.  He and his long time lady friend are coming in to town for the Peach Festival.  He should be able to identify the problem with the two plants that are covered in what appear to be tiny black eggs.

Blooms!!!!!!

We might actually have cotton!!!!!!  I spoke with my papaw this morning and he told me a little bit more about how things should progress now that we have blooms.  When I asked why the blooms are different colors on different plants, he told me that the bloom is first white and then changes color.  The pictures below show some of the darker blooms shriveled up.  This is a good sign.  That means the blooms will fall off, leaving what Papaw said folks call a "square."  Apparently, its actually triangular shaped.  From the square comes the boll.  It's so nice to be able to talk to him about what's going on, instead of searching the Internet.

Look closely and you can see the bloom on the right hand side.

This one has two so far.

My pride and joy!

From here, the boll will start to form.  My Uncle Powell, manger of a farmer's co-op, said we should have bolls by July 4th.  Won't that be amazing?!

Big Un's

I've included a picture of Lilly in the garden to give some perspective on the height of the plants.  The wind has been brutal.  Every other day I have to go outside and upright many of the taller ones.  Maryann and I mounded dirt around the base, but the wind blows so hard (for Louisiana) that the plants sway back and forth creating a hole in the mound.  Eventually the plant leans to one side or another of the hole.  

None of the stalks have snapped yet.  We did lost one of the larger plants to what I suspect was an overzealous dog running through the patch.  

Notice the cat tail  on the left side of the picture below.  No doubt sniffing out a place to do his business.

Bugs? Disease?

I wish my papaw were here to diagnose what's wrong with this plant.  I described the condition to him on the phone, but understandably, he needs to see it.  We are lucky, that it is only one.

A Few of our Beauties

Distractions

There have been few postings of late given a myfavorite distractions.  The book, Game of Thrones, consumes most of my waking hours.  Before that, it was a book of letters from a frontierswoman in the early 1900's.  Reading, knitting and keeping house are all I do.  The cotton's been kept watered and weeded, no more.  I blame my lack of attention on the heat.  It's all the menagerie and I can do to sit on the patio in the shade and drink iced tea.   

              My reading buddies.                                                This is a cat without a concern in the world.

The Inevitable

We suspected that several of the seedlings would not make it when we first put them in the ground.  These were the plants that sprouted in teeny six pack containers.  My watering schedule during the month of April was not sufficient, therefore they did not get a proper start.  I theorize that the small containers allowed for quick evaporation of the water, thus stunting the plants.  

Many hung on for a while.  It was always so strange to see the four inch high plants situated next to the two foot plus monsters.  One by one, the tiny seedlings faded and died.  Some I pulled out of the ground as soon as their pitiful little leaves begin to wilt.   No sense prolonging the inevitable. 

Below is a picture of one of the lackluster specimens.  

Head Count

This evening we hauled out the fifty pound bag of cotton seed meal to fertilize.  Of course, the bag offered no instructions as to how much each plant might require.  That's  because no one in their right mind fertilizes individual cotton plants. The Internet was of no help so Maryann and I settled for a quarter cup per plant.  We laid it out on the side of each plant, counting as we went.  The tally was 113 plants.  Two of which are not fairing well, having most likely been sat on by a dog or cat butt.  56.5% percent of the seeds we planted have managed to hold on, in various states of growth.  Given this failure rate, we will certainly plant more seeds next year.   Nevertheless, Maryann and I are pleased with the progress.