Garden Friday

 

Welcome to Garden Friday,

where we share what's happening on our Piedmont Homestead.

We had a spectacular sunset this past week

and it made me so grateful for my working eyes.

 

In the garden, we are gearing up for fall planting.

There is some lettuce growing,

which was started earlier this summer,

but I've left it mostly for the chooks,

as it quickly turned bitter.

Thankfully, they don't seem to mind.

Several lettuce varieties will soon be started from seed.

 

The red ripper beans are coming on.

These are left on the vines to dry and use for cooking.

It never ceases to amaze me what comes from planting one seed.

 

The Piggot peas and cukes are nestled in their bed,

where they will remain covered to dissuade squirrels 

from digging them up.

This is the first time I've grown these peas,

but I'm always willing to try something new.

 

The Seminole pumpkins were transplanted this week.

This is the first time I've tried this crop as well,

and I'm not sure I have the timing quite right.

I haven't had much success growing squash

and have pretty much given up on it,

but this variety is supposed to be resistant 

to the squash vine borer.

new to me caterpillar

 

The elderberries are here,

and although there probably won't be enough to harvest,

I'm happy to share them with the birds.

 

The morning glory seems quite content 

growing on the fencing of the compost  pile.

 

The loofah is climbing our trellis in the chook run,

providing them with needed shade.

We have flowers, but no fruit yet,

but with the ongoing heat and humidity,

it won't be long.

 

 If you've read this blog for any length of time,

you know I enjoy thrifting materials

and repurposing them for other uses.

These bundt pans have been used for feeding,

turned right-side up,

but this week I tried something new.

I stuck cabbage and corn in the hole on the bottom.

 

It was a hit!

Jubilee

 

Amazing work

 

The baby wrens fledged this week 

under the most horrendous of conditions!

This was the first lil' one out of the birdhouse on the porch.

Its siblings took the rest of the day to emerge.

 

We had a tremendous wind and rain event,

and that's when they decided it was time to venture out.

It must mean they are going to be very hearty birds!

 

The butterflies have been increasing in numbers

 

and types.

No monarchs yet, but with August rolling around,

it should be soon.

 Some of the girls are molting,

which I think is great timing on their part!

Poor Ruby looks a sight,

but I'll bet she is a bit cooler than some of the others.

No doubt she will look brand new in a few weeks' time.

Summer is waning and we are getting a bit more rain,

for which I'm grateful.

It means less time watering,

and more time enjoying the beautiful cut flowers inside.

Gardening is a blessing.

 

 

Garden Friday

Happy Birthday to Big K today!

 

 

Welcome back to Garden Friday!

We are winding down our summer garden,

and the weather has been significantly cooler.

It's enough to make a gardener think about planting fall crops!

Overall, I can't say I've been that ambitious yet,

but each day, I try to do a little something out there.

Even 15 minutes a day makes a difference.

 

We ate our first (and probably last) ear of corn this week!

It had to be harvested early, 

so it probably would have been a bit bigger.

It was sweet and juicy, and I loved every bite!

Why is it our last ear, you may ask?

 

This is why.

The squirrels not only helped themselves

to the first ear, but most of them since.

The half eaten remains lay scattered on the lawn,

on the tree stump and other parts unknown,

where they have been feasting on the fruit of my labors.

I don't have enough room to grow a large amount,

and it's just not worth the trouble.

I'm proud of myself for trying this new crop.

 

Keeping in mind the squirrels' antics,

sister suggested wrapping this volunteer watermelon

in welded wire to deter them from getting to it first.

We'll see what happens.

 

All of the seedlings that were started last week are doing well,

also wrapped in their protective shields.

 I'm hoping to get these Piggot Peas and cukes 

planted this weekend.

The Piggot Pea is an heirloom variety that is akin to

field peas or black-eyed peas.

They can be dried on the vine, used fresh,

or sprouted!

 

Not all creatures here on the homestead are destructive.

This orbital spider is working her magic 

on the front porch.

No doubt she has had many good meals here.

 

It's been a slow, steamy summer,

and I have been dealing with the lack of motivation

along with a bout of fatigue and another rooster attack,

but all in all, it's been rewarding.

Especially seeing all of the beautiful flowers emerge

without any help from me.

 

I will be downsizing the garden for next spring,

and concentrating on growing just a few things

that aren't too much trouble.

Adding more self-managing pollinator plants is on the agenda,

as well as improving the overall look of the flower beds.

 

I'm also considering doing away with the Garden Friday post

and creating a once a week post about more general things,

perhaps everything that went on during the week.

 

 

A couple of off-topic things:

I've been making fruit ice cubes for the chooks,

to help them stay cooler and hydrated.

They are a hit!

 

Our grocery store stopped carrying the Hu chocolates I love,

They are the cleanest, no sugar confections I have found.

So, my own treats have been made,

using only cocoa butter, cocoa powder (dark),

salt and maple syrup for sweetening.

I added chopped pecans here because I'm a

dark chocolate and nut lovin' gal.

Not the same as my beloved Hu bars, but mighty good.

 I will take another photo of this field when the flowers fill in,

but I just wanted to share these amazing sunflowers

being used as a cover crop at a friend's house.

Stunning, isn't it?

Just you wait until next week!

 

 

 

 

 

Garden Friday

 

 

Welcome to a lazy, summer dazey Garden Friday.

The critters don't seem affected much by the heat of the season.

As for this gardener, I get out early

and spend most of the afternoon inside. 

The swallowtails have been visiting in full force.

The corn is coming along.

This is a first-time crop for me,

so it's very exciting to see any little changes!

 

 

This week, a handful of Jacob's Cattle beans 

were harvested.

They will be saved for next year's planting,

and hopefully, we'll get a few more to actually eat.

Aren't they just spectacular?

 

 

 

A couple of trays of herbs and flowers were sown.

Everything I plant is protected from squirrels

(and our resident chipmunk)

using welded wire. 

We were graced with 1/2 inch of rain this week,

for which I am sincerely thankful.

 

 

We have a lovely array of zinnia colors this year.

 

 We also have a few creatures that are sleeping the day away.

 

Not everyone is a slacker though.

There are plenty of pollinators doing their work.

 

 

This is the old oak tree that was taken down a few years ago.

It seems that fungi enjoy hanging around here.

This is the spot where wood chips have gotten dumped,

and I'm wondering if that lends itself to the mushrooms growing.

The chooks are enduring the heat as best they can.

It seems that the Golden Comets handle it the best.

I'm not sure if that is a trait of the breed,

or simply because they are a bit younger than the others.

They have been a wonderful addition to our homestead.

 

Life is Better with Chickens!

 

 

 

 

Garden Friday

 

 

Welcome to Garden Friday,

where we share our Zone 7b garden.

The sunflowers have been gracing us with their beauty.

It just isn't summer without them.

 

This volunteer squash plant showed up near the canna lilies

earlier in the summer.

Pumpkins had been planted around here last year,

but nothing ever came of it.

 

After checking it for a couple of weeks,

a female flower was finally found yesterday!

Even if we don't get any harvest,

it's fascinating to watch the development of a volunteer.

 

The sweet potatoes are rockin'.

All it takes is some full-on heat,

they don't even mind not getting watered much.

With rain scarce these days,

it's a good thing.

If you look closely, you might see insect damage on the leaves,

but we grow it for the tubers, so it doesn't really matter.

 

All sorts of beans are poppin' up out there.

We have green beans and beans for drying.

These are Jacob's Cattle beans,

which will be left on the vines to dry.

 

 We've got tassels, folks!

So exciting to see this corn get this far.

It's a fight to the finish though,

with squirrels creating pressure for harvest.

 

Another heat lover,

the loofah is making fast work of climbing the trellis

in the chook run.

The shade it will provide will be most welcome.

 

With most of the kale and lettuce having bolted,

the chooks have been given free rein in this bed.

They are allowed to snack on whatever remains.

 

Surprisingly, a few asparagus spears were harvested last night.

Since most of the crop has gone to seed,

I assumed it was done providing for the season.

Always a delightful treat.

 

The hyacinth bean vine is decorating the north side of the chook run.

The purple flowers are so dainty

and I can't wait to see how it fills in.

 

We have some milkweed flowering in the front porch bed.

The pollinators are swarming them daily.

This is the host plant for the Monarch caterpillar. 

We have quite a few of this variety that volunteered in the bed,

but we have yet to see our usual type of milkweed pop up.

 

A few of the frustrations of dealing with squirrels

have been shared on many occasions. 

Here's the latest.

These two sunflowers were toppled over

and the entire heads have been removed.

No doubt someone is enjoying a nice, round belly full of seeds.

 

 

The bluebird eggs we showed a few weeks ago

have hatched.

These four sweet babes will soon be on their way
after careful tending by their parents.

 

A few of the chooks have discovered

that lying in the compost bin is indeed

a very nice place to be.

Here, Betty and Wilma share the space

and enjoy the coolness of afternoon shade.

Any way to beat the heat, girls!

 

 

Life is Better with Chickens!