Garden Friday

 

 

It's Garden Friday!

Welcome to our lil' Piedmont garden,

where we were blessed with a bit o' rain yesterday.

The flowers just drink in every drop!

 

Both of the mystery melons that grew in our melon bed

were either eaten or split before they could be enjoyed.

 

This sometimes happens when watering is inconsistent,

although when this photo was taken,

we hadn't had any significant rainfall,

and the drip irrigation is very consistent.

All is not lost though,

these were fed to the chooks,

who suck up the seeds like a Hoover vacuum.

 

I managed to save some seeds for planting next season as well.

 

 Speaking of seeds,

my order from Sow True Seed came in the mail,

so I will be ready to complete my fall planting.

I got a bit behind, as I was dog sitting last weekend,

and didn't have time to work in my own garden.

I hope to remedy that this weekend.

 

 

This year, I will be trying their raised bed mix

on one of the larger raised beds.

Every year, I choose a different bed,

and sow cover crops in it. 

I will also be sowing some white Dutch clover

to the drain field in our yard.

The chooks scratched up quite a bit of it over the last year,

and it needs a bit of resowing.

 

Each year, I snap a picture of our Mammoth sunflowers,

although this year I'm a bit late to the party.

They were well past their prime by the time we got a photo.

Fortunately, the squirrels did not climb the stalks this year,

so I will be able to harvest huge heads of seeds for next year.

 

A surprise greeted me when I was perusing the garden.

A few more of the Kajari melons popped up in the grass.

We'll see if we get to sample any.

So far, we haven't had much luck with melon tasting.

 

The sweet potatoes are surfacing, for some reason.

I've grown sweet potatoes for a few years now,

and never seen them come up out of the ground like this.

It'll be fun to see what's under there!

 

Strawberries in September?

Is it me, or are things a bit off this year?

I never expected to see berries forming now.

Not complaining one bit!

 

The loofah are getting huge!

I have sampled some of the smaller ones,

and was surprised to find out that the chooks enjoyed them as well.

The rest will be left to size up and harvest 

to use as "sponges" once they dry. 

 

The chooks have relished the extra bit of shade the vines provide.

The pollinators have delighted in the flowers.

Everybody wins!

This sweet basket was made by a friend's husband

so that C could use it to collect eggs.

I gathered some basil for pesto making

and it was exactly what I needed.

 

There are quite a few projects planned for when it gets

just a wee bit cooler.

It's coming, little by little.

I'm hoping that the drier air and cooler temperatures

will motivate me to get out there and get things crossed off of my list.

I'm not sure if I'm slowing down,

or just not willing to go out into the heat anymore.

 Do you notice the asparagus bed in the foreground here?

We've not had any significant wind events,

but the ferns are always laying over in the bed this way.

Any ideas?

 

The weather is starting to change,

and once again my favorite season will be here.

It's such a blessing to be able to send the heat of summer packing,

and welcome in a milder season.

Here's hoping you enjoy all the loveliness of this very day.