Friday, June 28, 2013

It Has Begun

Our yearly war with Mother Nature's creatures for our garden produce has begun.  We have been optimistic that this year won't be like last year since the squirrels took what seemed liked half of my tomatoes.  But it has started again.  I walked out to the garden yesterday morning to find one green tomato on the ground bitten into and two half ripe tomatoes with chunks taken out.


Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Lebanon Garden Tour

Last weekend we went on a local garden tour in Lebanon, Ohio.  We saw some cute gardens.





But the show stopper was a farmhouse out in the country with a beautiful cottage style garden.  There are a lot of pictures but I just couldn't help myself because it is so beautiful.


This is the entrance to the vegetable garden that was divided into quadrants by the stone paths.

The outside of the vegetable garden is flanked on all sides by perennial beds.

Sundial Garden




Rose Arbor Garden



A cute little greenhouse and cold frame.

Potting Shed

Rock Wall Garden

Asparagus Bed and Peony Bed

Monday, June 24, 2013

Harvest

Cilantro

The first green beans came in this week.

Lettuces

Kale, Green Beans and Sugar Snap Peas


Friday, June 21, 2013

A Moment In Time

Today is the first official day of summer.  My garden right now is full with plants at all stages and there doesn't seem to be a bare spot.  But this is just a moment in time, the garden is almost never completely full.  Soon the peas and garlic will be pulled and the lettuce will bolt.  And while everything else will be larger and fuller there will again be empty spots in the garden.  So for the next few days I am enjoying the completely full garden.

In the first bed on the left are the tomatoes, eggplant and borage.  
The next bed has garlic, kale under the netting and peas on the tepees.

The next bed has zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, a few zinnias and dianthus.  
The small bed behind the hive is full of lettuces.

This bed is full of snap beans, a cherry tomato plant, parsnips, swiss chard, zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos, carrots, and herbs.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Cucumber Trellis

I needed to construct a cucumber trellis in the middle of a bed and this is what I came up with.


I was afraid the weight of the cucumbers as they got bigger would pull in the middle and break the string.  So I attached a piece of bamboo through the top and secured it to the post for more support.

We will see what happens, so far the cucumber is starting to climb nicely.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

On Their Way

There are a few plants in the garden that are very close to producing some harvests.  Both eggplants are loaded with blossoms. 

I found this little guy yesterday on the Fairytale eggplant.  It will only be a few days now!

There are also some teeny tiny eggplants on their way.

Itty bitty beans are set on the bushes.

One or two look like they are ready to pick.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

I think...

I have a slug issue.  Actually, I know I do.

I have been picking a decent amount out of the garden lately.

The other evening I found all of these in our thyme.  I've thought about putting out a beer trap just to see what I get.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Harvest

Lettuce, kale and peas this week.

The peas are coming on strong!


Saturday, June 15, 2013

Everything Strawberry

A week ago we went strawberry picking and I have spent some time this week preserving and using the ruby  jewels.

 
Strawberry & Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Freezing berries for smoothies

Strawberry ice cream and strawberry rhubarb crisp

Plenty of fresh strawberries on cereal or for snacks.

This is the last of the berries.  And to think I wasn't sure I could use them all up.  Now I am wishing I had a few more.