Homestead Happenings

Welcome back to Homestead Happenings,

where we share what's going on here

on our Piedmont homestead.

We've been visited by many yellow swallowtail butterflies,

and I learned that this is a male because there are no

blue markings on the bottom of the wings.

These critters love our butterfly bush.

I'm excited to announce that the first monarch

was spotted this week,

so we look forward to a multitude of caterpillars

performing their magic on the milkweed!

The pumpkins continue to sprawl

every which way.

So far, it seems we are lacking proper flower

development, but there are signs of hope.

Several of the Seminole pumpkin vines

are sporting little gems,

as seen here next to the arrow.

I'm hoping to be able to store some

through winter, as these make fantastic soup!

There are turnips coming up nicely.

These are mostly grown for the chooks,

as this variety is grown for the greens,

rather than the root underneath the soil.

Another bed of mixed salad greens was sown.

It took only a few days to germinate.

There are other beds where lettuce seeds will be sown,

so that we can have a succession crop deep into fall.

Carrots are also getting established,

and I even remembered to thin them out!

This bed shares space with onions and lettuce.

Recently, beets and snap peas were also sown,

and kale is next on the list to be planted.

Then the fall garden will be complete!

The green beans are beginning to scale up the bamboo poles.

These are Jade green beans,

which I have heard from other homesteaders

are quite prolific.

It would be so wonderful to have home grown

green beans on the Thanksgiving table.

Jade green bean pods

For the first time, I am attempting to grow

chick peas, or garbanzos.

I'm not really sure what to expect here,

as I've never seen anyone grow them.

We'll just continue to monitor them 

and see what develops.

I eat chick peas so often that

this would be one crop well worth growing.

These are rattlesnake beans,

which are grown to use as a dried bean.

In the next few years, I would like to

continue to experiment with growing a larger variety

of drying beans.

As I don't eat meat, beans are an important part of my diet.

They're also great for sprouting!

The ginger has been blooming for the past week,

and I've enjoyed the tropical look it gives to this corner.

We have been enjoying bringing in small bouquets

of zinnias, mixed with other treasures we are finding in the garden.

Summer is my least favorite season,

but the flowers help to get me through it.

I asked for a retractable hose reel for my birthday,

and Big K came through!

A neighbor installed it for us,

and it's been working quite well.

Sure is easier than dragging a hose

all around the garden.

The only thing I don't like about it,

is that it is mostly plastic.

On the front part of the yard, under the maple tree,

another hose is handy for watering and

cleaning the chooks' coops.

This metal hose has so far worked well.

It's flexible, lightweight, and doesn't kink.

Summer seems to be winding down here, 

even though next week is predicted to have 

high temperatures in the 90s again.

It won't last long.

Everyone here is ready for autumn and its cool mornings,

absence of mosquitos and less humidity.

I hope you are counting your blessings,

 no matter the season.

"We cannot direct the wind,

but we can adjust the sails."

~Dolly Parton

Garden Friday

 

 

It's a balmy Garden Friday!

The summer heat is cranking out bodacious blooms 

and kitchen goodies around the homestead.

 

These moonflowers grew from seeds gifted me by a neighbor.

I always thought moonflowers were all white,

but this variety obviously has other ideas.

As soon as the sun comes out, they retire for the day.

 

On the other hand, I discovered these unique morning glories

near the oregano patch.

I've never seen this pattern before and it took me by surprise.

 

Our sweet next door neighbor had given me a cutting

from her hydrangea bush.

I simply stuck it in a glass of water and waited about 3 weeks.

It looks like I'll have a new ornamental bush in the garden soon!

 

Our first Mammoth Sunflower has bloomed

in the pollinator bed.

I'm estimating that it's at least 12 feet tall,

and I hope to be able to get the head off to save seeds

before the squirrels climb up the stalk and steal them.

 

The bees seem to be loving the blossoms on the loofah.

 

The first fruit has formed and I can't wait to see this plant take off!

 

Several more squash have formed on the cattle panel trellis.

Last week I was reporting that I had very few female flowers

and only one fruit on the vine.

I may even resow more seeds for a fall harvest.

The bug pressure should be reduced.

 

This lone broccoli plant is making a comeback!

Although it didn't give me a head last season,

it's decided to replenish its leaves and try again.

Fresh seed will be sown for fall planting,

but this one will be left in place.

 

The pumpkins continue to flourish without much intervention from me.

The drip irrigation is a game changer,

and I can see that they really benefit from the consistent watering.

 

The sweet potatoes are starting to arch over the piece of cattle panel

that I placed next to the bed.

I can imagine that soon the panel will be covered with vines.

The leaves of this plant can be eaten raw in salads,

or wilted like spinach.

 

Oh my goodness!

It doesn't take much to thrill me,

but this lil' watermelon did the trick!

 

And when I spotted a few more,

I was beside myself!

With multiple flowers on the vines,

it's a good time to feed this plant.

 

The turmeric resides in a shady spot

near the compost pile.

I'm also keeping about a dozen pots of aloe,

which I have repotted for a local giveaway.

Our homestead is abuzz with activity!

We have so many bees and other pollinators

and I couldn't bee more pleased!

One new task I've taken to doing each day,

is combing through our crape myrtle blossoms for Japanese beetles

and feeding them to the chooks.

They come running when they see the tin can in my hand,

for they know the treasures that abound!

Betty and Wilma chowing down

 

 

I hope your weekend is filled with what means the most to you.

As for me, I'll be right here

with everything I hold dear.

Garden Friday

 

 

 

It's Garden Friday!

Let's see what's growing this week.

 

I recently discovered these blackberries growing wild

in a little section of our woods.

They have been hit-and-miss with regard to sweetness.

Or maybe I'm just too impatient to wait for them to properly ripen.

 

The butternut squash continues to scale the trellis,

but so far, only one fruit has formed.

There is no sign of squash bugs or eggs on the foliage,

and I haven't seen as many female flowers on it.

There are two other squash plants in the same bed,

but they are not doing as well.

I'm afraid they may have been affected by a squash vine borer.

 

The sweet potatoes and melons are growing well.

The melons are flowering and I am keeping tabs

on how many female flowers are on the vines. 

melons

 

Lettuce is still being harvested a few times a week

and the less than perfect leaves are given to the chooks.

Our rooster Gandolf, especially, loves his greens.

 

 

The Green Oakleaf lettuce (my favorite),

started turning bitter as it is ready to bolt,

so I pulled some of it for the chickens,

and left a couple of plants to go to seed

and resow the bed for fall.

 

A couple of different varieties of cucumbers were resown.

They decided to come up right away.

 

The drying beans are still producing,

but are not getting as plump as I'd hoped.

I'm wondering if I need to increase the amount of water

they are getting,

as we haven't had much in the way of precipitation.

 

The pumpkins are growing, despite the lack of rain.

I sure hope we get some of these this year,

as I've not yet had success growing pumpkins.

 

The loofah has made it to the top of the gazebo frame.
Thankfully, the chooks have left the pots they are growing in alone,

and it's just a matter of time before they are climbing across the top.

gloriosa daisy

vitex

 

Our crape myrtle trees are finally blooming!

I know these are a common tree, 

especially here in the south,

but I think they are one of the most spectacular displays of flowers.

The bonus is, the pollinators love 'em!

 

This little gem was spied near the chicken run.

I think my plant app identified it as some type of mallow,

but I know I didn't plant it there,

so I still have no idea what it is.

Of course, I'm saving the seeds.

Any idea out there?

 

The garden gets ample shade in the morning,

so I can work out there quite comfortably for a while.

I'm hoping to add a few more beds to the vegetable garden,

but we'll see if the budget allows.

Until then, I'm using containers as needed.

 Our summer has been fairly mild, thus far.

I can't complain about temps in the 80's,

when there are so many suffering with triple digits.

I'm inside more than I'd like,

but fall will be here soon enough.

Until then, I will keep tweaking the garden,

one daydream at a time.

 

What's your favorite thing to grow in the heat of summer?