Okra

I have a habit of taking seeds out to the back yard and looking for a suitable pot. It is better than leaving them to die slowly in the package. In my NFT system, I planted lettuce, broccoli and okra. The okra sprouted and took off. It has been growing bigger and faster than any plant I ever grew. I'm using General Hydroponics MaxiGro. At 2 tbsps per gallon, it comes out a perfect 5.5 or 6 pH every time.

Here is the plant just a few minutes ago.

Below was taken on July 15.

Here is a look at the stem and flowers.

Marmorkreb crayfish are great pets

I am really enjoying my Marmorkreb crayfish. It is sometimes called a freshwater lobster, but that's not really accurate. What is cool about them is they have a personality. The one I have will rush to the front glass when she see me looking. I know it is a female because all Marmorkrebs are. They reproduce without a male. She waves her claws around and tries to be intimidating. If I back up an inch or two, she will advance a bit. Yesterday, when she did that bit, she clacked her claws together. All crayfish are a little aggressive, but mine is one of the more docile. Still, there is a saying:
Crayfish eat everything, and everything eats crayfish. I think she knows it.
Anyway, she loves yellow squash and broccoli. I gave her a small piece of breast of chicken, and she guarded it like it was life. I want her to have lots of pretty colors, though, so it will be a lot of yellow and green blanched vegetables.