Sunday, July 8, 2018

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

I had every intention of writing and posting this post last night, but after coming in before dinner, taking a shower and eating . . . I bonked.  Although it may seem comfortable to some of you who have been having to survive in 90-100 degree temps, working outside all day in our temps in the 80s was enough to drain all the oompf out of me.

But, boy howdy, did I get a lot done.  (Papa Pea, too, in his own area of expertise expended as much energy . . . and sweat just as much!)  We did kind of push it because today was forecast to be a day of thunderstorms and much precipitation.  As of about an hour ago, that's exactly what's happening.  'Tis dark as can be out there and the thunder is rolling and the rain is falling.

We have a good day to be inside and rest.  We may need it as Papa Pea had a lot of trouble winding down and falling asleep last night and after nature called me at 3 a.m., I wasn't able to fall back asleep so went out onto the couch and read.  And read and read before falling back into a rather restless sleep.

Yesterday late afternoon I did stagger outside right after my shower (and clean, cool clothes) to snap some garden pictures.


Our asparagus is starting to fern out.  We're still getting a few thick stalks for fresh eating, but the end is near.  We ate A LOT of it fresh this season, and I managed to get 17 servings stashed in the freezer for winter meals.


This is a bed of immature dill in the middle, Swiss chard on one side and spinach on the other.  The Swiss chard will last until frost (and even a little longer) while I cut the outer leaves to use when I wish.  Although I've harvested many baby spinach leaves, it's starting to bolt in a serious way in this hot weather.


The sugar snap peas have climbed about four feet up each side of the hoop trellis.  They've been slow in blooming (I've found only one lonely blossom so far) for some reason.  Maybe they're using all their energy to scale this bigger trellis!


The scarlet runner beans planted around the tepee trellis are lush and starting to grab hold and climb.  I'm looking forward to the display they'll put on once they blossom with their gorgeous red flowers.  Those are carrots on either side of the bed.


Yippee!  The broccoli is starting to head out.  The heads are 3-4" across but not as tight as I would like to see them.  This particular variety is Goliath, an old, well-proven variety that I'm trying for the first time this year.  The heads supposedly reach 10-12" across (yikes!), and I've never grown broccoli with such (supposedly) big heads before. 


The haskap bushes are LOADED this year.  Fruity, deep dark purple wine, here we come!


The slicing cucumbers are just starting to crawl over their bed.


The row of cosmos planted on the north end of the field garden is looking good.


Yesterday I spotted the first blossom.  I adore bouquets of these multi-colored, long-lasting flowers.


The taller plants here are dinner plate sized sunflowers Chicken Mama grew last year and saved the seeds for her birds . . . and some for me to plant in my garden this year.  The shorter row are Ring of Fire sunflowers.  Smaller head sizes and perfect for cut flowers.  (Sweet Sue in Michigan, you were the one who turned me on to this variety a few years ago, weren't you?)


Lastly, although kinda funny looking right now, this bed of cauliflower plants are shrouded in their own leaves while their heads grow into big, beautiful, white mounds.  (I hope!)

Yay for summer time and gardens and good growing weather! 

11 comments:

wisps of words said...

You do sooooo much!!!!

And you are getting so much produce, for your efforts.

But...

You just knew there would be a "but" didn't you? >,-))))

When both of you have trouble getting a full night's sleep, are your bodies telling you something...????????? Hmmm? Hmmmm? Hummmmm?

Oh love cosmos. Here, our zinnias and marigolds are really blooming like mad. It's wonderful!!! After the trouble we had, with other plants.

Mama Pea said...

wisps of words - Yes, dear Wise Woman! We both were over-tired last night which no doubt did contribute to our less than super night's sleep! We've both taken it easy today (we got 1-1/2" of rain!) so I have a feeling we will conk out tonight with no problem.

I do love zinnias, too, because they make long lasting cut flowers. I start mine inside every year, but for some reason they did not grow for me like they usually do. I babied (baby-ed?) them along and finally put them out while they were still small and puny looking. Now with our warm weather they're (at long last) growing big and strong. Well, maybe not so big yet, but strong! :o}

Yarrow said...

Wow, your raised beds are great, thank you for the tour :D

Leigh said...

Your garden photos are always inspirational and it amazes me that you can grow warm and cool weather crops at the same time. I really like the look of those haskap berries too, and have had that on my plant wish list, but since they emphasize it's cold hardiness my concern is how heat tolerant it is. Probably not enough to survive our summers. :(

Mama Pea said...

Yarrow - You're welcome. I find the raised beds SO much easier to take care of and per square inch (or foot) I can grow so much more in each of them than in a traditional garden space.

I don't have near the artistic talent you do, but I also struggle to find time to create as much as is my desire. (And a true need, I sometimes think.) Doesn't this all relate directly back to finding one's balance in life? Easy to say, difficult to achieve!

Leigh - Warm and cool weather crops at the same time . . . ha! I don't have a choice in this wonky climate! It still amazes me that my cool weather shell peas mature about the same time as my warm weather beans! (What's wrong with this picture?)

My first thought was that you probably would have trouble growing haskaps in your area. But then I think I remember reading of some varieties that have been developed for successful growing in warmer climates. Was I dreaming or is this true? I'm sure with your good researching abilities, you could find out.

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

Three cheers to a fabulous garden!!!:)

Susan said...

Wait - there is something missing in these photographs... WEEDS! Everything looks wonderful, thanks to a lot of hard work on your part. Glad there is a good use for those haskaps!

Mama Pea said...

MrsDM - Thank you! Let's hope the harvest turns out well. With this crazy weather (high winds that are smashing things flat!) one never knows how it will all turn out!

Susan - Hee-hee-hee! Must confess I did just finish weeding everything really well before the photographs. (Now if it would only STAY that way!!)

Yep, add a little alcohol to the haskaps and all is well! I'm using so little rhubarb this year (or my plant is growing like it's on steroids) that I really should be making wine from that, too. Wait. Where's my kitchen intern to do that little task? ;o)

Donna OShaughnessy said...

Your beds are wonderful! Neat and tidy as mine will never be, at least not this year. I see many of our fellow homesteading types speaking of how exhausted they are. Such a busy busy busy time!!

Cockeyed Jo said...

I posted a blog "Too pooped to pop" when my best intentions combat my energy issues. All too often, it's happening with the high temperatures.

You have a kitchen intern? I want one all of my interns keep vanishing to get married and have children of their own

Mama Pea said...

Donna - You know, all I did outside today in the heat was pick strawberries. And I just commented to my husband that I feel so stiff tonight that I can hardly move. He says he thinks it comes from working in this intense heat and humidity. Of course, coming in from picking and sitting cleaning berries for two and a half hours probably didn't help either! Gee golly, if we're exhausted now, how are we ever gonna make it when fall harvest time comes??

Cockeyed Homestead - If you can figure out how we can all stay at a high energy level when the heat and humidity are so oppressive, you will immediately be rich and famous! And much revered!

Oh, if only I did have a kitchen intern. Or a garden intern. Or a house cleaning intern! Have never had the good fortune to have anyone like that, but I sure could keep them busy from dawn til dusk. And then they'd leave just like yours! :o(