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.

Garden Friday

 

 

 

Welcome to Garden Friday!

We are enjoying days in the 70's

with abundant sunshine!

I hope the weather agrees with you where you are.

 

The first veggie bed we planted this fall

is doing fairly well.

We have snap peas, leek, carrots and several lettuce varieties sown.

Sampling a few of the baby greens yesterday

encouraged me as the taste was sweet and tender.

There are countless varieties of lettuce from which to choose,

but I've become quite fond of buttercrunch, Red Planet mix,

Red Salad Bowl and Green Oakleaf.

These will remain my tried and true favorites.

 

 

The carrots are filling in and I'll need to thin them,

something I've not been very good at doing in the past.

We eat carrots every week in one form or another,

so I look forward to harvesting our own.

 

 As you may be able to see in this picture,

we had very good germination in all of the 3X4 beds we planted out.

I started installing the drip irrigation last weekend,

but ran into a bit of trouble,

so it will, hopefully, be finished up this weekend.

A couple of parts had to be ordered to complete the system,

and I'm hoping that it will be as problem-free

as it was in the former garden site.

Using drip irrigation is really a game-changer!

 

 

A friend gave me a basket of beans to sort through.

These will be shelled and kept for dried bean use

in soups, stews and for making bean burgers.

I'm even planning on trying something new

by soaking and sprouting them for the chooks.

 

We still have plenty of beautiful blooms to enjoy on the property

as well as friendly and photogenic critters.

Here's hoping you can find some time to spend outside

to drink in all the wonder of nature's bounty.

"Autumn shows us 

how beautiful it is

to let things go."

~Author unknown

Garden Friday

 

 

Good Garden Friday to ya!

Autumn weather has been a welcome change

here in the Piedmont.

The garden is humming along with some serious progress.

 

Several lettuce varieties have been sown,

including this Red Planet Mixture,

 

and buttercrunch, which are both doing quite well.

 

The carrots are popping up and we will most likely sow another batch in containers

before too much of October gets away from us.

 

The broccoli, kale and red cabbage have all germinated

and are enjoying daily doses of sunshine.

 The Cylindra beets are starting to sprout as well.

This was a new crop to me in the spring.

I decided to see how they do in cooler temperatures.

So far, so good!

 

All the beds have now been covered with this deer netting,

in hopes of keeping the birds, chickens and squirrels out of the boxes.

It is draped over the boxes and the nails that hold the baling twine in place

also keep this netting from moving about.

 

 

The pansies that were picked up last week

were planted in a few odd containers.

We like a lil' pretty in the veggie garden.

And after all, can you ever get enough of cheery pansies?

 

The Dutch white clover is coming in so nicely

and will be a wonderful groundcover over the drain field.

Big K even suggested that I get more and spread

it in other areas of the yard.

Any time I can get rid of grass, I'm happy to do it.

The seed has been ordered and should be here soon.

 

The cattle panel compost bin is working well,

and was added to after working on the planter boxes downtown.

A few of us Master Gardeners got together to do a bit of fall trimming.

 

 

Not sure if you can tell by this picture,

but the chooks have found their favorite spot

for their dust bathing.

This is the front flower bed

that right now doesn't have much growing,

but it will be a challenge to plant something here

that they can't tear up.

Some of the bulbs that were under the soil

have been dug up with their scratching.

Hmmm...this will take some figuring.
 

 

We still have tons of blooms in the flower beds,

like the tithonia that starts blooming in early summer

and gives us loads of brilliant color for months.

 

The beauty berry is the most vibrant shade of magenta.

The pictures can't really capture their intensity.

 

These cactus zinnias are one of my absolute favorite summer blossoms.

They come in a variety of colors and sizes

and are fabulous used as cut flowers for the house.

 

The hyacinth bean pods are starting to swell.

That means that I'll be able to dry them

and save the seeds inside to use for next year's vines.

 

This wild flower is growing near our woods.

I'll have to remember to get it ID'd.

It looks similar to feverfew, but it's low-growing.

 

Another busy week on the homestead.

Thankfully, I've been able to keep up with projects.

This weekend, I'd like to get the irrigation installed 

in the new veggie garden area.

With the weather cooperating,

it'll be a breeze to get that all buttoned up.

 

Zucchini Fritters

I've been watching the YouTube channel

Downshiftology for a while now.

Lisa's recipes are simple, clean and

take no time at all.

I have to say, that every recipe I have tried

from her website has turned out well.

All of her recipes are gluten-free,

and many have vegan options.

 

It's the first day of October

and you're probably ready for some down-home comfort food.

But the reality is that you are still harvesting zucchini

that never seems to tire of growing,

am I right?

Well, have I got a winner for you!

 

 

This recipe comes together so quickly

that it can be made on any busy weeknight.

The ingredients can be swapped out for whatever you enjoy eating.

I changed a few of the components myself

to use what I had on hand, like using red onion

instead of shallots and omitting the cheese.

They still turned out great.

 

Any excuse to use one of my cast iron skillets

gets me right on board.

For the most part, I steam or roast veggies,

but using the cast iron not only ensures a quick meal,

 

 

but the iron from the skillet helps me stay healthier

by allowing some of the iron to be absorbed into the food.

There's nothing like cast iron to add crispness

without the grease-laden problems of deep frying.

Aside from that, it reminds me of my late momma,

who was the best dang cook on the planet

(this skillet was one of her favorite tools)!

This simple recipe could be used with a number of veggies,

which would be a wonderful way to use up 

what our gardens produce abundantly.

The following is my twist on the recipe,

although you can find the original 

if you click on the website name below.

Feel free to make a mess of 'em,

and freeze them for later. 

 Zucchini Fritters

(Downshiftology)

 

2 medium zucchinis, grated

1/2 medium red onion, diced

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 C almond flour

salt/pepper, to taste

2 Tablespoons coconut oil

 

Add grated zucchini to a bowl,

salt and let sit for about 20 minutes.

After the allotted time,

squeeze the water out of the zucchini

using a nut milk bag or a tea towel

and set aside.

(You can reuse this liquid in soup or broth.)

Add the remaining ingredients and the zucchini

to a clean bowl, and stir just until combined.

Heat the oil in a skillet and place 1/2 cup mounds

of mixture in skillet, flattening if desired.

Pan-fry for a few minutes on each side,

until golden brown.

Remove to a plate or storage container.

Makes about 10 fritters.

Enjoy!

 

Garden Friday

 

 

It's the first official Garden Friday of autumn!

Welcome to our humble homestead.

Recently, I had found this chrysalis hanging on a blade of fountain grass.

Yesterday, when I checked on it again

this was the sight that awaited me.

C and I moved the pot underneath the eaves,

as the weather was predicted to get even rainier,

and it looked like it wasn't yet ready to fly.

It must have eventually dried its wings enough,

because by suppertime, it was gone.

Have a beautiful life, you amazing thing you.

 

This week I found myself at Lowe's drooling over the pansies.

I love this time of year when I can replace the faded flowers

and add this vibrant pop of color everywhere.

The front porch beds have been filled and our mailbox planter

has been planted with a smattering of these beauties.

I may have gone overboard and bought a few too many,

but there is always a neighbor with whom to share

a few extra blooms.

 

The snap peas are looking good,

and with yesterday's (and today's) rainfall,

they should be mighty happy to climb the cattle panel.

 

The three 3X4 beds were put together this week

and divided up using baling twine that came from straw bales.

I inserted nails every foot and stretched the baling twine across the beds,

both vertically and horizontally.

This not only keeps my planting area defined,

but acts as a bit of a chicken-proofer to keep them out of the beds.

Taking advantage of a cool evening, sowing was done in the 3 new beds,

as well as the 3X8 bed already in place.

 

It feels good knowing I have most of the fall crops in.

I still plan to sow some containers,

and will try to get to that by this weekend.

I'll just slide in my self-imposed deadline of 

having the fall garden planted by October 1st.

 

The new boxes contain beets, broccoli, cabbage, chard, kale, 

leek, lettuce, parsley, spinach, and tat soi.

 

In the space that used to be the garden,

we decided to overseed with White Dutch Clover.

This will be a pollinator haven and may give the chooks

some extra foraging space.

We also have a lot of wild rabbits in the neighborhood

who will no doubt find it enticing.

Another purpose for the ground cover

is to help absorb moisture, as this is our drain field.

It's coming in nicely with very little effort from me.

I simply spread the seed by hand and let the rain do the rest.

 

This black-eyed Susan vine is a volunteer that is spreading nearby.

It was originally planted in straw bales,

when we had some veg growing in them as well.

It'll make a gorgeous ground cover and be another way

to attract pollinators to our yard.

 

The tithonia is starting to take off and we're lovin' it!

This is one of my all-time favorite blooms.

It germinates easily, has abundant blossoms

and stays around for a good, long while.

Our summer and fall garden will never be without it.

 

With most of the bigger garden projects completed,

it's time to focus on mulching the garden

and getting the irrigation installed.

There is always something to do!