Friday, September 23, 2022

Garden Friday

 
 
 
Welcome back to Garden Friday,
where we share what's going on in our Zone 7b Piedmont garden.
Having been laid up with a back injury for the last two weeks,
there isn't much to report.
There is, however, always something to see out there.

 
The Monarchs have eaten almost all of the milkweed,
but there are still a few stragglers left behind
for the remaining crops.
 
 
The caterpillar that was suspended on the "Wordless Wednesday" post this week,
got busy creating its chrysalis and hangs there still.

 
Another hangs underneath the porch table,
while several others have chosen the metal chairs to use as their resting spot.

  
Still others hide underneath plant leaves,
like this one on the front porch steps.
Care must be taken when watering pots
or moving just about anything!

 
I'm not sure what these critters are,
but they were found on the milkweed plant as well.
They are definitely NOT monarchs.
 

The gargantuan woodchip pile,
for which I've been pining,
will have to wait at least a few more days
until I feel fully recovered.
This mound will be distributed between the chook run
and the garden itself.

 
 Without much mobility,
one of the things I was able to do
was to collect and scatter seeds.
This buckwheat has been a great addition to the garden,
and I want to have more of it next season.

 
The colors of autumn are finding their way to us

 
and slowly, but surely, the temperatures are cooling.
Although the first day of autumn was in the 90's,
today begins a new wave of cooler, crisper days.

 
Seed heads are left in tact so that the birds

 
will have nourishment through the colder months.
Along with seed and suet feeders,
we enjoy taking care of our feathered friends.

 
After hearing about this product from a few gardeners,
it seemed like an experiment was in order.
(The name is Soil Cube.)

 
This potting mix is from a local company,
and I've used it in the past with mixed results.

 
I will be growing the same crops in each mix,
with as many of the same variables as possible,
and we'll see which performs better.
In this picture, the Soil3 is on the left 
and the Wallace Farms is on the right. 
The first thing I noticed when filling the cells,
is that the Soil3 is much smoother,
with less bark bits in it.

 
The same varieties of kale, leek, lettuce and snap peas
were each planted in these trays. 
They will be watered at the same time
and kept in the same spot with the same amount of sunlight.
Hopefully, by next week, we'll have something to compare.
(The wire on the top is to deter squirrels from digging in the soil.)


 The garden is winding down,
but not going completely to bed.
We will be sowing a handful of crops 
that can do well over the colder months.


There are also cover crops to sow in a few of the raised beds.
This year, I'm trying a few new things,
so it should be fun to watch them fill in the beds.


The girls will no doubt enjoy the cooler days.
 
How's autumn shaping up where you are?
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Friday, September 9, 2022

Garden Friday

 
Greetings and welcome to Garden Friday,
where we share what's growing in our Zone 7b Piedmont garden.
I haven't been posting every Friday because,
well, sometimes there is absolutely nothing going on out there!
This was a recent harvest when our melons were still going strong.

 
There were two beautiful orange peppers
that got harvested and given to a neighbor.
Since my eczema is kicking up again,
I am off all nightshades, including peppers.

 
This wasn't grown by us, 
but I just had to share this carrot's whimsical shape.
It was promptly peeled and put into coleslaw.
 
 
Seed saving has been going on more
in the last few weeks.
Here are asparagus seeds that can be picked
after they turn a vibrant red.
I'm not sure what I'll do with them,
but more research needs to be done.


A patch of black-eyed susan vine was spied
out near the blueberries.
It was a wonderful surprise to find,
as I thought none of what was planted had germinated.
I'll be sure to save seeds so that I always have this beauty.
Maybe next year I can grow it on the chook yard fence.

 
Speaking of the chook run,
don't you love how this hyacinth bean vine
has covered the trellis,
giving the chooks plenty of shade?
It's gotta be at least ten degrees cooler under there.

 
Several cells of cool season crops were purchased
at a local nursery this past week
and installed in a few of the raised beds.
With my germination rates plummeting,
it was decided to just buy the dang starts.
I don't have to do it all!

 
 Broccoli, cabbage, kale and lettuce was planted
and anything that might be bothered by pests was covered.
I'm trying a new system of covers,
so we'll see how it goes.
 
 
We've had so many visitors to the garden this summer.
This is the first time I remember seeing a Zebra Swallowtail.
Although we don't have any paw paw trees,
someone in our neighborhood must.
It is the host plant for these amazing creatures.

 
The magic has begun!
We are inundated with these miraculous Monarchs!

 
If you plant it, they will come!
Milkweed, that is.
And we have plenty of it.

Can you spy all four of the cats on this plant?
 
We have two types of milkweed in our garden,
and they don't seem to be too particular about which to devour.
Soon, we will have chrysalises all over the place!
We are happy to give them a home.


One of my jobs this week
was digging up a ton of daylilies.
They will be listed on our local swapping site for free.
Good news is, I only dug up about 1/4 of the bed.
Hope we can find homes for these.
 
 
These two girls fight all the time,
but it seems they are having some kind of conference here.
Henrietta (on the left), chases Houdini any chance she gets,
but at least there are moments of peace between them.
 
A chicken keeper's work is never done.