Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 39 Entries. Friday, January 2 View Page Creek walking today and little trout - I honestly don't know if was in Missouri or Arkansas, but I think a few hundred yards into Mo.   Sunday, January 4 View Page Bought this for the pumpkin hauler this weekend at a Dixie Outfitters in Branson, Mo. Now I just need the horn...   Friday, January 9 View Page This is a few years old, but how I got the name Smallmouth. If this was a lake Smallie, it would have been well over 8 pounds, but she was pulled from a fast moving Ozark river one night.   Saturday, January 17 View Page Alex B and LL - I left a bar in Tempe, Arizona in 2007 and bought a seed packet for a couple bucks next door as a joke. Almost 8 years later, the biggest one from that packet is only the size of a softball (in back).   Saturday, January 31 View Page Old Ozark Spring house on a gloomy January day. Drivers, check your engines, we are getting close to go time. In one month, it will be March.   Monday, February 2 View Page Looks about right.   Wednesday, February 4 View Page My 85% shaded yard - only 4 hours of light a day can still grow 500-800 pounds.   Sunday, February 8 View Page Almost 70 degrees today here in the lower Midwest\Ozark corridor and seeing the first greens!   Friday, February 20 View Page May 28 2104, diary pic of my kids' frog pond and the 1813 on the right. Next pic was taken today, Feb 20th.   Friday, February 20 View Page Feb 20th, same shot as last pic above. We were at 70 degrees 2 weeks ago and had a big cold snap. As of 2 weeks ago the fish were alive in the pond below (low oxygen Mosquito fish). I have been keeping a hole in the ice so gasses from breaking down OM below can be released from under the ice in such a tiny area. The ice is already 3 inches in just 10 days. In one month we might be 80 everyday with this variable Missouri weather. 1813 was on the right, lol.   Saturday, February 28 View Page Not any big ones, but finesse fishing and going slow was the only way to get the stream Smallies to bite on this 20 degree day.   Friday, March 6 View Page It's been since 2011 that I really have felt motivated to grow. I think having 2 kids in 18 months set me back mentally, but I have the Eye of the Tiger again now that they are a little older. Oh yeah, Missouri state record... you might fall in 15.   Friday, March 6 View Page And here is the younger of the 2 that is in charge of irrigation and foliar feeds.   Sunday, March 22 View Page For a 2nd year in a row, I am hand turning 15 inches down over the entire patch. It is long, back breaking work, but last years plants were the best I have had. This is also the healthiest looking soil I have started with. I start my plants in 14 days and will be growing the 1317 Clementz and the 359 Foss given everything germinates.   Saturday, April 4 View Page 04/04 patch shot - with everything getting green, I started a 1317 Clementz and 359 Foss today. Doug English stopped by the other evening and we talked a little growing. Feeling positive about this season.   Wednesday, April 8 View Page 80 degrees again, trees growing thicker green, a pleasant thunderstorm, the frogs are singing out back, and the 1317 Clementz and 359 Foss germinated today.   Thursday, April 16 View Page 1317 Clements and 359 Foss transplanted today. Re-dug the planting holes last minute and went long instead of back to back to give more room for the main. Lots of green filled in, but it's going to get much darker when the big trees up top fill in.   Friday, April 17 View Page Got out and kayaked 10 miles this morning into the early afternoon since I took off work. The hawk on the Sycamore leaning over the river followed me for a good mile.   Saturday, April 25 View Page 359 Foss today and a bit more aggressive than the 1317, but we all know that doesn't matter now. Still, very happy with this plant.   Friday, May 15 View Page For Marley, put this under the truck today. Yes sir, that's the classic version. lmao - fortunately the neighbor closest to my driveway is half deaf.   Sunday, May 17 View Page 359 Foss today, and just hit explosive growth mode now that a couple nodes are rooted. Very aggressive plant, loves heat and grows well in my shaded yard. The 1317 would be 5 or 6 feet long too, but cut the main back after a mishap and let the first secondary become the new main.   Friday, May 29 View Page About 10 feet out on the 359 Foss. If she takes I will keep her. Past experience has led to secondaries in this yard.   Friday, May 29 View Page And here's where I just got back from with the old lady. The humidity felt worse here in Missouri when I got back.   Tuesday, June 2 View Page Pulled the 1317 tonight. Wasted a month and half on it, but couldn't recover after the main was terminated. The new main was as skinny as a French fry, and it wasn't rooting at any nodes even though it was 6 feet long. Secondaries were non existent. I put a severely root bound 1579 Wallace in that I've had growing in a Folgers can on our bar the last month. On a positive note, the 1579 backup is about 2 feet long and pretty stout. 359 Foss is now about 15 feet long and is realistically my only shot now.   Friday, June 5 View Page Pollinated a 4 lobe on the 359 today @10' out (in the rain). This has been the rainiest spring I remember. I have yet to water and the soil reminds me of a freshly drained lake bed. I might have to keep this, but I'll need another 30 days of good growth before I deadhead all secondaries. Good growth is only going to happen if it would stop raining for more than 1 day. Now I know how West Tennessee Kreig has felt the past couple years.   Thursday, June 11 View Page Been the second worst start I have had (falling limbs are bad)... here is my only plant left at 20 feet with about 8 total secondaries growing. I think it was due to heavy rains for a month straight and the roots couldn't breath in the shade. Hopefully the one pollinated up front this morning takes. On the plus side, it was very symmetrical and last year all I had were deformed lobes which lead to a split.   Saturday, June 13 View Page Couple of future Cardinal players with a coon causing havoc in the punkin patch - being relocated to a spot close to the river.   Wednesday, July 8 View Page Pulled the plant about 2 weeks ago. It was all or nothing this year, and 18+ inches of rain since June equal a flooded patch that wouldn't dry in my shaded yard. A finishing hail storm triggered me to make the call. I was way over due for the area to be rested, so the signs pointed to this being that year. I think this will be a good thing in the long run even though it sucks to not be growing now. I did catch this healthy little guy recently a foot outside my patch. He was immediately let go as they are highly appreciated here. I think there are a few of them in the back, and I'd like to believe they are helping me control the rabbits and squirrels. As always, I appreciated all the help I got this short year.   Saturday, July 11 View Page For the Duke fans and anyone who appreciates a muscle car that look like pumpkin - Southern Missouri Saturday night.   Saturday, August 1 View Page Just got back from the great Southern U.S. Added 4 new species of fish to my list overall list. Nothing great, but 20 inch Blue Runner was cool since I never was on a boat. Cover crop was mowed in the patch today, will let go then till in fall. Soil rest will only help next spring. Chances are also looking good one tree might come down that would give me 7 hours of light a day in stead of 4.5.   Friday, August 28 View Page Not growing but still chasing the Smallies.   Friday, August 28 View Page I am growing a ton of small varieties on the perimeter of the house while resting the patch this year. I think one of Glenna's old Phat Jacks got mixed up in the bunch, and is growing over the tops of all the flowers and bushes. Used an old Hackberry limb as support. lol   Friday, September 4 View Page I have tons of little gourds and pkns growing the peripheral of the entire yard, but resting the patch area makes for a long summer. Cannot wait to grow AG's again.   Saturday, September 12 View Page For the 1947   Friday, October 2 View Page No AG's this year, but look at the stem on that thing @40lbs. We call it the Ron Jeremy. Is this a possible genetic carry on or just by chance (recessive)?   Saturday, October 24 View Page Cheers to next year   Tuesday, November 3 View Page Changed my mind on the cover crop and flipped most of it then replanted. That's a vetch\rye blend coming in last minute. Hoping to also trim one of the big trees on the left back to allow for 6 hours of light per day, but just can't bring myself to cut any down.   Saturday, November 28 View Page Pic for contest - see General Discussion   Saturday, December 19 View Page Cabin fever is sinking in, here's a little redneck ingenuity a buddy of mine taught me today. Dried out Hackberry, 90 degree 1.5" spade bit hole meets a 1" inch spade at 4"x4". Kindle and grill.