Garden Friday

Welcome to Garden Friday!
The first week of summer went by without a hitch,
and without a drop of rain!
We're doing just fine with our fabulous irrigation system
in the veggie garden.
 

This week, over 12 pounds of potatoes were harvested.

They have been cleaned and placed in mesh bags for storage.
It was so nice to be able to share some with friends.

 The rest of the garlic was cured and braided
for use throughout the year.

 In the raised beds,
we have cucumbers flowering and fruiting.
Guess I better decide if I want to pickle or eat them fresh.
Why not both?

One of our volunteer cantaloupes made great progress this week.
It's planted in a container and growing larger every day.
Last year, melons were grown on the cattle panel arches,
but we didn't get one cantaloupe.
Hopefully, this year will be more successful.

 Another volunteer cantaloupe sits in a raised bed,
ready to sprawl out.

 The squash vines are climbing the panel,

 and starting to form fruit.
We have three varieties planted,
this one being the butternut squash.
It's a favorite for soup making!

 The turmeric popped up this week.
So far, only one of the four pots containing rhizomes has come up.

Gladiolas were one of my mom's favorite flowers.
What a treat to have these blooming in our yard now,
and be able to take cuttings for the house.
It keeps Mimi close to my heart.

 Big K and I measured the sunflowers in this raised bed.
So far, the tallest has reached 12 feet,
and towers over my five foot three self.

 The vitex started blooming this week too.
The pollinators are loving it!

 I was able to snap a couple of photos while working,
including this brilliantly vibrant echinacea in a client's garden.

 This Rose of Sharon caught my eye quite by accident,
while I was digging up some butterfly weed to transplant.

This sea of bee balm is quite striking.
This is the taller variety, close to 4 feet or so.
It is planted very densely, which works for me,
as there is less weeding for me to do in this bed.

We have been promised some rain this weekend,
which I don't mind one bit.
It gives the garden what it needs
and it forces me to slow down and do some chillin'.

How's your summer garden growing?