Garden Friday

black-eyed Susan vine

 The garden is beginning the transition to fall,
with new transplants added, plans for new beds,
and the pollinators stocking up for the cool change that's sure to come.

 The Red Ripper beans have really come into their own in the past week,
with the vines covering the arch.

 The beans are harvested when the pods turn tan,
and the shelled beans are left out to dry for a week or so.
They will be added to the pantry for future soups, stews and sprouting.

 The cukes from the garden have been quite refreshing,
although I have to admit,
it's one of the few things I have pretty much ignored in the produce aisle.
We are still getting a few of these each week
and have had some to share with neighbors.

 Okra is picked nearly every day
and it shows no sign of slowing down.
At least not until we get our first cold snap.

 No matter how many different angles I view the plants from,
there is always one or two that escape my vision
and don't get picked at the right size.
Ah well, that's what compost is for, right?

The loofah continue to amaze us with their size,
and it will be fun to harvest and collect seed for next year.

We've now lost two of the watermelons,
one due to the weight of the melon on the trellis,
and the other that somehow escaped the sling.
This one looks better everyday
and will hopefully remain in the sling until picking time.

Green bush beans have been transplanted
into one of the amended beds
where butternut squash had previously resided.
This weekend I hope to be able to direct seed lettuce to fill in the space on the perimeter.
The nasturtiums will remain to deter bugs.

Lookee what I spied on our milkweed plants!!!
They have been furiously eating and getting chunky.

 We are proud of our Monarch Way Station status
and feel honored to help them along their journey.

 The four that are enjoying our goodies will soon be 
looking for a place to form their chrysalis and transform themselves.
I've been checking them daily so that I can capture it on my camera.

Plenty of seeds will make their way to other parts of the property,
ensuring that future Monarch butterflies make their home here.
The white, wispy material helps the seeds float on air,
so that each time the wind blows, more of it gets scattered about.

With the temperatures still in the high 80's this week,
it seems that summer wants to hang on for a while.
We are ready for a change,
but will wait patiently for it to come.
A gardener must be willing to embrace what is.