Week 8

The inside of a fig. This one isn't quite ripe. Of course we ate the yummy parts anyway!

Black-eyed Susan on the top left, orange Crocosmia with arching flower stems. In the top center/right is a hummingbird getting ready to take a sip out of the tubular Crocosmia flower.

A bit closer look.

He/she was flittering around these flowers for a bit and I just kept snapping photos. Adorable.

From the back view. Such quick wings!

Honeysuckle twisting its way up.

Carnations we started from seeds this past winter are starting to bloom. Boy do they smell wonderful.

We grow a wide variety of Sweet peas. Here is a little photo gallery of some of the different ones.

             

Different shades of lavender.

Lower petals are light colored, top ones are darker. So delicate.

Variegated.

Soft lavender all over. Starts out pink looking.

More purple ones.

And these are a mixture. I really like them against the shed wall.

Whitish and purple.

Speckled.

Reaching for the rafters.

A grasshopper on a large leaf.

My friend Jan picking cucumbers on the left. Anna's friend picking blueberries from the best location, under the bushes and under the netting.

Lisa's cart is full of freshly picked snapdragons.

I love all the different shades.

A large yellow calla lily.

Winter squash are growing well. Here is a yellow acorn squash.

Pumpkins are forming, too.

Butternut squash start out looking like this. Later they will change to their buff color and will get their tougher skin for winter storage.

This variety of Acorn squash is two toned.

Little ornamental gourds are putting on some size and adding vibrant colors.

The corn crop is varying heights. Our wild bunny population kept eating off the new growth. Florencio kept planting more. He also has tried trapping the bunnies. But what do you put in as the bait for a live trap? Everything they could ever want to snack on is right here in the garden. Nothing would get them to go INTO the trap. :(

Apples are growing, too. You might notice some spots. If you get fruit with these spots, just carve them off and eat the rest of the fruit. This is "scab" and doesn't hurt the rest of the fruit.

Florencio has managed to get netting up over the fig trees.

Pin cushion flower or Scabosia. Blue is the toughest color to find in the flower world, besides black.

Blue salvia and yellow nasturtiums.

Rhubarb staying hydrated.

Colorful Swiss Chard.

Carrots are growing, the lady bug likes them!

Walking space between the carrot rows. They get watered with drip tape like the rest of the garden. Fertilizer is also delivered through the tape.

Most pumpkins start out green and mature to orange.

Delicata squash will mature to a soft yellow hue.

The more common acorn squash is putting on size. They still need to mature and form their tougher storage skin.

Purple kale.

Green kale.

Swish Chard and Rhubarb hydrate side by side.

You knew it was coming, today's lunch. Pasta salad with garden veggies, summer squash fritters (my oh my!) along with zucchini cookies with a lemon glaze. Can you say "spoiled"?

Anna has help from her son as she mixes an iced latte.

These zucchini cookies with the lemon glaze were a big hit!


The littlest great niece LOVES the water. No matter how cold.

This look says "please turn it on".

"I think it's coming."

So tasty.

She doesn't care if she is soaked.

Pointing right at her!

Big brother gets his drink.

Oh there's an empty watering can. Hmmm.

I'd better fill it up.

I need another drink.

She brought it over to show us.

"But Mom, I like being all soaked!"

The only dry part on her was her back. They have reached an understanding about the water. Mom won.

Mary and Other Mary have fun with green onions. Ever think you would read a statement like that?

The sorting of green onions while the yellow crookneck hold down the table cloth in the breeze.

Little girl wet shoes and feet. She didn't mind one bit.

Beets are divided for each of the boxes. Go Mary! She is wearing her tie dyed shirt Bryan and I found for her at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland this summer. 
And the little wet one is sticking a bit as she tries to slide down the slide.

Zinnias and alliums.

A multi-hued rose.

Golden zinnia.

This zinnia starts out pale and then adds color as it unfurls.

Sunflowers at last!

Vibrant pink or is it purple? zinnia.

Asters in many pretty colors. These remind us of fireworks.

Yellow zinnias go well with the blue Scabosia.

She

Soft pink roses.

Sherbet shades of orange. Maybe peaches and cream?

Such a pure white in this phlox.

A bouquet under our Mom's sign. Love the mix of flowers Lisa chose for this bouquet.

A pretty purple aster.

Love Lies Bleeding draping over its bucket of water in the cart.

A green centered sunflower. A new variety for us this year.

Other Mary and Anna portion out the rhubarb. Mary's hands are in the bottom right corner. Bill's hands in the bottom left. It takes a village to get the produce picked and separated into each box every Tuesday.

Every box will get a tad bit of rosemary. All but one of our long time plants made it through the harsh winter with prolonged cold days.

Have you ever seen anyone enjoy fresh rhubarb with such gusto? 

Bulb fennel is trimmed and washed. Thanks Florencio!

Another sweet pea by the back gate.

Unusual color and patterns.

Another angle.

Near the trellis in the back yard. Dad put this trellis over the fence from the back yard to the garden.

Anna and Other Mary (just a touch of her is showing) divide up the kale.

Dry clothes and a new approved toy. A box of course.

Rubber bands going on the bundles. We love the shade of the very old black walnut tree and the curly willow behind the ladies. Most days there is a breeze here, too. Perfect.

My friend, Chris, ties and tags the rosemary.

Yup, she found more water! So much for dry feet.

Lisa had brought a tarp and little sprinkler for the kiddos to use as a slip and slide. A tad bit of Dawn dish soap aided in the slipperiness. So after all the boxes were picked up this Tuesday, more fun happened. Here they are getting the hang of what a slip and slide is all about with Anna, their mom, pushing them:

My car thought it was hot, too. This was about 6:20 pm.

My phone app agreed. Smoking hot!