The Garden Grows

We've been blessed with rain, 

pollinators, 

and a good growing season.

"The devil's in the details"...

or are these angels?

For a nice summer lunch we had lightly floured fried summer squash, coleslaw, brussel sprouts, tomatoes and cucumbers...all from our garden.  Couldn't get much fresher than that!  We are blessed. 

Been Working

Had neglected my sister's back yard. A crew is coming to repair her roof and build a porch.  I had to hurry up and catch up.  Before...yes, this is the same area.

After...we are ready for the repair and the build.

Another neglected spot...remember, I've been trying to paint the house. We made these steps on a slope between our yards so we would be less likely to slide down. I haven't had time to weed them this year with the wonderful rain and then the blessed heat.  Before....

during and almost after.

We don't have cattle, horses, goats nor chickens now but we still have work.  Keeping the jungles tamed that are our yards keeps me busy.  My weed eater and push mower are broken so all the work that can't be done with a riding mower or tractor is done with hand clippers and pruners. Hubby runs the equipment so I have help.

I have the asparagus bed cleaned and mulched.  Sorted and cleaned the garden shed to put more garden items in storage.  Cleared the weeds from the blackberries.  Have piles of mulch, piles to burn and blisters! When I've nothing else to do I dead head flowers, work in the garden and just do general yard work.  The house is suffering with no deep cleaning but will wait for those triple digit days when I can't force myself outside.  No, the painting is not finished, just on hold, but I'm down to the trim.

A job well done is its own reward.  I do sleep well at night.  Hope your summer has been productive, too. 

Garden Goodies

We are blessed.

The Eating's Good

In our garden

the wild life is eating too.

Wonderful cucumbers

and tomatoes

with yellow squash on its way.

In The Garden

baby cucumbers are now visible

and growing well.

The worms have left the purple cabbage in good shape

unlike our broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts and Dutch cabbage.

I guess they taste better! Or the bugs could be racists.

The Elephant Garlic blooms.

Still harvesting green onions.

Mmm, mmm good.

What Did Your Flip Flops Do Yesterday?

Mine rested on the creek bank as I crossed to plant seeds in the wild life garden.  I planted Kentucky Wonder beans, two kinds of pop corn, cantaloupe and a variety of other seeds.  We shall see what happens.

Rescued a catalpa tree from honey suckle and briers.

After...I think the tree may fare better now.

I enjoyed tiny wild flowers

and watched plums bloom against a beautiful sky.

My bare feet played as my eyes feasted on the new growth of spring.

My flip flops were happy.

The Past Few Days

I've picked water cress from the spring branch to add to salad.

I've burned a few limbs.

We have planted broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage (two kinds), brussel Sprouts, radishes, lettuce and turnips.  We've  also sewn bare spots here and there with turnips for three reasons:  We will eat them, the deer will eat them and they will prevent erosion.

I've enjoyed clear waters

and beautiful flowers with soft rain.

We are blessed.

Gray Ladies Digging

on a warm spring day

 can be taxing work.

Although extremely exciting

it is very exhausting.

Just ask me...another gray lady digging in the garden with Lil.

We were both very serious about and satisfied with our work.

On A Spring-Like Day

the bees come out to play.

The early garden is plowed

and sweaters are shed.

Onion sets are planted, three kinds in short rows.  As these sprout and begin to grow later onions will be planted to satisfy our green onion hunger. In the mean time, fresh garlic will do for cooking with a tiny bit in salads.

For those still deep in snow...spring is on its way.

Gardening At The Shop

 Beverly always plants a little garden in the sandy soil at the shop.  She digs it by hand and nurses her seedlings to produce from nothing.

 Hubby does the bush hogging around the shop and some road work when needed.  This year he took the disc to her garden spot that is close enough to see customers when they pull in for shopping.

 He added some top soil and disc that in the mix.

The soil is a little richer so I hope her garden does well this year.  When there are no customers she tends her garden.  The customers seem to enjoy seeing her working.  One customer asked me, "Is that your sister I see folded up like a little Vietnamese lady pulling grass?"  Yep, that's my sister.

How The Garden Grows

The garden seems to grow by the minute!  We have been blessed with a perfect blend of sunshine and rain.  Been enjoying cucumbers, onions and radishes for a while but the tomatoes seem to be taking their sweet time. I guess they want to shine alone.

Happy gardening.

As Everyone Celebrated

I had a walk and a talk with Dad as I traveled over the farm.  I know he's with me.  He would have reveled at the growth in the valley.  He would have been delighted with this Bull frog peeking out.

Dad would have seen the face in this old coffee pot

and admired the garden.

Dad would have bragged on my progress 

although he could always work circles around me.

He would have stopped to admire the conglomerate rock I found

and discussed why it was conglomerate and not metamorphic.

You are not here with the living, Dad, but we carry you inside our heart. Thank you for serving our country, fathering us, and loving us. Happy Father's Day!  I feel you in the land around me.