Garden Friday

 

 

 

Welcome to Garden Friday!

The weather has been absolutely spectacular lately

and my time outside has been well spent.

 

Our raised beds have all been hooked up 

to drip irrigation,

so the watering just got a lot easier.

We have been blessed with ample rain this week,

but as the drier season begins,

we should not have to concern ourselves with watering.

The tat soi is really gaining ground and I've learned

that this is the best time to grow it here in the Piedmont.

It was started last spring,

but didn't go anywhere,

so I guess it favors the cooler temperatures.

This should give us delicious greens for at least a few months.

I'll be curious to see how it does in the wintertime.

 

The kale and broccoli look like they are problem-free

and enjoying the sunshine.

Another welcome addition to my daily salads

that I can look forward to all winter long.

 

The netting that was added to the raised beds

has done a great job of deterring squirrels from digging

and kept out the chooks as well.

My girls have plenty of room to scratch elsewhere.

 

It looks like something might be eating the lettuce.

I'm not sure if it's rabbits or bugs,

but we'll be adding a fine mesh row cover soon to thwart the problem.

 

The peas share the same space with those lettuces,

so I haven't figured out how to put the row cover on

without interfering with the peas' sprawl.

I may just have to pull up the lettuce and plant it elsewhere

and put in more leeks or broccoli in its place.

 

It's really thrilling to grow something new

and these walla-walla onions are a first-time crop for me.

I can hardly wait to see all those bulbous onions bursting 

underneath the soil.

My goal is to never have to purchase onions at the grocery store again.

 

We have several patches of nasturtiums planted

in various places.

I usually sow them where the veggies grow

to attract beneficial insects as well as deter pests.

This variegated variety is so unusual

and I was sure to save seeds for planting again next year.

 

These beauties keep flowering into the fall

and give us something colorful to enjoy

when dreary days set in.

If you've never tasted a nasturtium leaf or blossom,

give it a try.

It's a peppery sensation you may want to add to your cuisine.

cactus zinnia

 

Another flowering plant I'll be saving seeds from

is this hyacinth bean vine.

I collected seed pods last year from a friend's plant

and they've done quite well this year.

If I ever get the garden fenced off,

this would be a lovely addition to the spring or summer garden.

(If you want some, just email me 

and I'll be happy to send you some seeds.)

The black-eyed Susan vine has been sprawling 

across the drain field,

where our garden used to be.

 

 

It, along with the white Dutch clover seen here,

have been filling in the space nicely.

They can both be mowed over if necessary,

but during the cooler months when mowing slows down,

they can be left to their own devices

and give the pollinators a delightful haven.

 

I'm hoping to pick up a few more flats of pansies,

as I can't seem to get enough of these this time of year.

This old minnow bucket serves as a wonderful planter.

 

Netting was also used near our front walkway,

where the chooks were doing a fine job of creating a daily mess.

After planting some pansies in the front porch garden bed,

I placed the netting over them to deter the chooks

from digging them up.

Worked like a charm!

 

Unfortunately, several Monarch chrysallises did not result

in butterflies.  It seems we had an unusually high number of them

that just didn't make it.

This sweet butterfly was found in the grass,

struggling to fly.

I placed it up in one of the beds

and when I went back to check on it,

it was gone.

Fingers crossed.

 We are so grateful for the beauty and wonder all around us.

When things in the world look so bleak,

it's time to count our blessings and take stock of all we have.

Hope you are feeling blessed today.