Week 9 - July 23, 2013 (Today would have been Dad's 88th birthday, he would have loved to be out here with us.)

Sun shining through the bunny tails lining the new raised beds.

Summer Sun Echinacea planted with lavender to the right.

Looking north from the middle of the new raised beds. Things are sure growing.

Lisa's wheelbarrow full of glads. Into the water they go.

Florencio is trying to keep the birds from eating the wonderful blueberry crop. Sometimes the netting catches us!

Grapes are getting plump.

Florencio even netted the fig trees. Quite a feat as
they are really tall. Now if the birds quit figuring
out how to go UNDER the netting.

Fall blackberries putting on size.

My great nephew found a praying mantis. It crawled all over him and he was a wiggling giggle!

Grams takes care of the littlest one today at The Farm. Shade and a song along with pats on her back calmed her down. She wanted to see what was going on, too.

The corn grows quickly in the heat.

Pablano peppers.

Bees working the sunflowers.

Love these branching sunflowers. So many varieties now have more than just one flower on them. 

Different varieties are different colors and heights. I am a sucker for the different sunflowers.

My friend, Chris, thinks tomatoes like to hide on the red plastic mulch. It is supposed to increase production by 20% and it also keeps the tomatoes cleaner. I like picking the yellow tomatoes :) She gets right in there to make sure she doesn't miss any.

Lisa picking the zinnias.

A few cucumbers and tomatoes.

A cart full of beautiful flowers. The blue ones are like an artichoke. They are a "cardoon".

A little closer look. The cardoon buds look more like an artichoke, but they aren't.

The first planting of corn is filling out. Still too slender at the top. The top end should feel blunt.The silk needs to be dried out and dark. 

Another cart full of beautiful flowers and fern fronds.
The carnations are so fragrant.

A variety of Sea Holly, (Eryngium). These will dry and last a long time.

Bumble bee on the echinacea. 

Sweet peas galore!

Mixed bed of echinacea.

Nasturtiums with fuchsias behind them.

The nasturtiums have taken over the bench.

Green and purple cabbage. 

Grams makes sure the rosemary bundles are even.
We love our big shade tree.
Most days there is a nice breeze under it, too,.

The praying mantis has found an echinacea to play on.

One of Lisa's bouquets is ready to go home.

Here is another one.

And another.

The drawers from the bathroom in
the farmhouse are full of blooms, too.

Mary (Grams) and "Other Mary" organize the fresh picked beans.