We are blessed...

with memories so we may have jolly snowmen dancing in August and sweet roses with winter snow.

But just in case, we have broccoli, peas and beans blanched and stashed in the freezer for the sunless days of January! Oh yes, cherry freezer jam.
This broccoli was planted after the spring crop was done, but I don't seem to have noted the date. Wasn't sure how it would do in this hot summer we've had. These are the 2nd & 3rd heads cut. There are several more plants still working to get to this stage.

Too Hot for this Pumpkin

Here is the volunteer mystery pumpkin that just snapped off the vine yesterday while I was doing a little trimming in the pathway. Here is an earlier post about it. I had one like this for decoration last year and I composted it in the garden area. Should I try eating it? It isn't quite the same as Dig For Victory's F1 hybrid but must be a relative (but from the good side or the bad side of the family?). I noticed Maria in the window watching me photograph the pumpkin so I snapped her too. Later, I saw I also caught me, the barn, and the big rosemary on the right as well as a little color from the sunflowers in the garden. A clear, blue sky but about too hot to do anything. This pumpkin knows fall is coming though. Finally, a little orange on the small snackjack pumpkins. The big pumpkin vines are looking very sad & wilted in the last several hot days. No amount of watering right now could make up for a nice soaking rain.

Good Night, Caterpillar

DH & I trimmed the old pea vines one evening to make room for the new seedlings. Apparently, we disturbed this little guy and he soon had my attention as he climbed up and down the stick pea support several times. Then he investigated several pea branches, but surprised me by not stopping to munch.

I wondered if he knew how closely his color matched the yellowing pea leaves (hmm, I recall wondering about colors before).

After crawling around in a very determined manner, he suddenly did a few moves and positioned himself under two leaves (large picture below).

Still no munching, so I supposed he was just looking for a nice place to tuck in after we disrupted his sleep!

He was not letting anything disturb him at this point. And check out his house slippers!

The last part of the pea vines are still in place and this evening he was tucked in on another stem. I think he is a yellow bear caterpillar that will turn into a moth. I hope no one is going to tell me I'll be sorry for letting him stay.

Good Morning, Hummingbird

And Happy Blog Birthday, Allotment Lady! Your photos and writings have been a joy and inspiration in the garden and beyond. I don't have chickens I'm sorry to say, but here is another little bird for your day. Thanks for all you share!A visit to the scarlet runner beans (secretly grown just for the hummers, but now I'm enjoying them too).

Inspector Petunia

Petunia has been doing an inspection of the garden. Recently, I realized I heard leaves moving that didn't coincide with what I was doing. I'd move, and then I'd hear rustling. I'd move again, and hear more rustling. So I started looking around and spotted Petunia in the herb bed. Had to follow her around the lemon balm and then just quickly point the camera & click. Didn't capture her tail to see if she is really a she, but you know, I don't think either of us wants to get closer to find out.

Rain Ready

The new rain barrels (ok, new in March) are installed, thanks to Dear Husband! Now for some rain. He didn't even have to cut the guttering on the barn. Just moved the down spout to a different joint. The new ones are spaced apart due to a pole that kept the wall from being flat enough. The outside covered potting area is on the right side of the picture, 'garden shed' is inside the white framed doors (of the barn).

The garden had a treat when we siphoned empty 2 of the existing white barrels. What a nice, slow soak, especially for the beans. I've been watering pumpkins out of the other two and they are getting empty. Usually this brings about more rain, but just not sure it is going to work this time.

For you, Sis L!

Here is a bouquet by blog for you, fresh from the garden! Thanks to my sis-in-law, my Grandmother's Early American Prescut Glass collection (now mine) has grown. The vase was just what I needed! No more bouquets in beer pitchers.

The platters, bowls and butter dish also made the plane trip without a problem thanks to the apple box from Mom & Dad (that even fit within the legal carry on dimensions). We will enjoy using them all!

Shall I send the box back with some zucchini for all of you to share???

Bean Structure Conquered

The pole and runner beans have figured out how to climb these movable fence sections which became the bean structure (here is a link to mid July also.) The pole beans were supposed to grow to 8 feet and they've now flopped back over after passing the 10 foot top of the structure. Runner beans still send off shoots that like to wave around in the air, but I just let them go now. Baby bean are hanging down inside the structure where I'll be able to get to them. Others will be more difficult to reach.Here are some of the flowers that have worked their way in with the vegetables. They do draw in a lot of bees.

August=Blackberries

If July was all about cherries, August is going to be about blackberries. We returned home late last night from a trip, but I noticed people picking along the a road this morning on my way to work. So tonight, I checked the status of our blackberry patch(es). A little sweetening still to do, but we'll be picking this weekend so send recipes my way. The rest of the year, I don't have good things to say about them, but they're ok in August. Remember these girls from this post and this one? They followed me out to the blackberries but, unfortunately, they've not developed a taste for the ever growing canes. I'd give up some berries if they'd keep the vines under control.
Still won't pose unless they have their faces down in the grass. Usually, I capture a blurry ear and a glaring red eye.

It's a Poppy!

These tiny mystery seedlings back in March, became this poppy. It only made it to a pot and now lives on my potting bench outside the barn. I had collected the seeds from someone's garden years ago and wasn't sure what they would become. The tiny seedlings were abused by lack of water on several occasions. Then they went into pots and hung out in the coldframe longer than needed. Some made it to the garden to be swallowed up by a large borage volunteer. This one made it to bloom and now it has a tiny seed head for another try next year. What a trooper!

Remember the Kitties?

Here is how they survived the hot July weather (go here to see earlier pictures). Nikko doesn't give up the kitty climber even when it is hot!

Maria stretches out under the ceiling fan and Emily likes the tile.

Which Way to the Garden? Part II

Remember the Which Way to the Garden post? Here is what we did with the signs. Just took me a while to post the pictures.The idea was that friends/family would create signs pointing to their gardens far or near. The signpost would go in the center of our garden. However, several signs were made for places around our property AND we already had this pole in the pasture near the barn. The top sign is to Kansas and Alabama gardens (we had to combine some favorite gardens). I see we still have some advertising space available on the board behind the feeder.
We went to our favorite second hand shop in search of some sort of pole topper. This wasn't quite what I hand in mind, but as Dear Husband was working the power screwdriver, this won out over my other choice.

A few signs became art in the barn or went on the garden gates too. Thanks to all those who helped warm the barn and point us in the right direction!

July Progress

Here is a shot on July 3rd... And July 29th. It has been an unusually warm July which helped things move along quickly. There is the herb row with the bird bath and then 4 mixed vegetable/flower beds.
Here is a shot in late May and here is one in late April.