Week 12

Stunning Black Eyed Susans.

Vibrant President Tyler morning glory flowers.

This morning glory twined its way around the yarrow for support making its own bouquet.

One of our favorite dahlias this year. "Maniac" from Swan Island Dahlias.

So many zinnias, so little time to pick. Usually Lisa picks all the zinnias Monday evening right before dark. This morning I was tickled to see some still in the field with Lisa finishing them up.

This coral zinnia in its natural habitat.

"Looky Aunt Lorrie!" Avrie is helping pick today. Love the nail polish :)

Corn, cherry tomato, cucumber, red onion salad alongside grilled golden zucchini with melted cheese on top. This is extremely tasty. Thank you Lisa and Anna!

Watermelon sorbet for dessert. Clear, clean tasting. Very refreshing. Not too sweet. Love it.

If you love cherry tomatoes, this is your time of year.

So many colors. 

I couldn't pick just one photo to post...

Bryan and Grams (his mom) sorting melons as Lisa finishes picking the dahlias by Grandma Daisy's trailer. Looks like Grams is showing Bryan where things go. :) They are great at sorting and putting things in boxes.

Brea gently mixing the colors of cherry tomatoes while making sure none that have split open make their way into the boxes.

Counting to make sure there is one watermelon for each box.

Lisa and Cody filling the cart with pretty posies. The buckets have fresh water so the flowers stay hydrated from the moment they are picked.

Many different colored dahlias with dark blue delphinium and one bright yellow calla lily.

Brooks prunes out in the orchard.

Very small Japanese plums. These are yellow on the inside. 

These Brooks prunes are in really good shape. The bugs that plague the apples and pears don't bother these prunes.

One of the Brooks prunes is loaded. Occasionally trees this heavily fruited will have branches that break. 

Sorting sweet peppers. I think this photo would make a good puzzle.

Different varieties of tomatoes are lined up and getting ready to be bagged for boxes. We usually try to get everyone the same number or size/color of tomatoes. There aren't always 20 of each variety to put in.

This chive bed was planted this year from clumps Lisa and I divided. They bloom purple. The flower is edible, too. The blooms can look cool floating on top of soups, like clam chowder.

Determined helper. The beans are at the bottom of the bucket and her arm is only so long. 

She was able to reach a hand full of beautiful green beans. Now to wiggle them into the bag. She is very good at helping! She has focus.

Wyatt helps out by holding his cousin, Levi. Good times at the farm. 

A bouquet of dark gladiolas, pink lilies, green scented geranium leaves from a Mable Grey plant mom loved and the slightly drooping "Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate" pink flower. This smells wonderful as well as being stunning.

Today's harvest box.

She picked out a bouquet that matches her shirt.

Ollie joins his master for fun at the farm. He gets really excited to see Lisa's little Cody and Anna's larger, blue eyed, Sheila.

Today's list of items. Mentally add "a flower bouquet" to the end of the list :)

Things to get from the carts by the greenhouse. Once again, heavy things.

The repurposed white chair became purple this Tuesday evening. One more coat of a water proofing spray and it will be ready for the garden.

The tomato patch. Each marigold denotes a change of variety in the garden. These rows are about 300 feet long.

The full flower house. Pretty flowers every way you turn.

Lisa added hops into this showy bouquet.

A multi-colored dahlia pairs nicely with Teddy Bear sunflowers and light blue delphinium.

  See you next time on the blog. 

Lorrie

Week 11 Surprise visitors

Doesn't every family have a family beekeeper?
Meet our's, Matt. He and his wife, Jamee, dropped in today. They brought their NEW twins! They are about 6-7 weeks old. Such a wonderful surprise.

Jamee with one of her twins and the youngest here at the farm who is a bit older. Surely a lap full of precious kiddos.

A gorgeous day on the farm.

Lisa and her fun sidekick Cody, bring in a wagon and bucket full of zinnias.

So many beautiful zinnias. Here are a few of the buckets to view. Which is your favorite?

Ready to help pick, Aunt Lorrie! She is a very good helper. The family dog in the background. 

Mr. Smiley today :)

Jamie has helped us pick for 4 seasons. She is having a bit of trouble picking ground level crops as she is due in about 2 weeks. She has been a great help. Her little one loves cherry tomatoes, even though her mom doesn't.

Beautiful grapes.
We have several varieties, but we don't know the varieties. Dad didn't keep track of the names of these, he just knew they were delicious.

Taste testing for ripeness of course. Lots of little helpers among the grapes today.

This variety has many clusters close together. Looking at these make my mouth water.

Apples, eggplant and plums catch a ride on the cart.

Part of today's pretty and delicious lunch. This is a cantaloupe and orange watermelon salad. Can you tell which chunks are which?

A lovely way to stay hydrated. Ice cold lemonade on tap.

Chocolate zucchini cake for dessert today. Or what's left of it. So very moist and tasty.

Some of today's tomatoes. The wavy ones are Costoluto Fiorentino, an Italian variety.

When you have tomatoes, basil is a wonderful addition.

Tomatoes and basil as art. Artist arrangement by Erin. 

Sunflowers and delphinium heading home in the corner of a harvest box.

Peppermint zinnias, red zinnias, boxwood, red roses and snapdragons.

Tall purple liatris, purple statice, boxwood and orange zinnias.

One of my favorite combinations. Coral zinnias, green amaranth hanging down, blue salvia, one dark scabiosa and ornamental grass.

Patty cake with the bouquet! The little guy loves cucumbers and apples. This happy group is picking up their friends' box today.

Red zinnias, white yarrow along with ornamental grass.

Vegetables, fruits and flower options for today. Oh and can't forget the herbs.

These items make the boxes really heavy. Picking them up on the way to the car helps out.

Today's list of goodies.

Matt getting all his protective gear on to check the bees.

Hat and netting, check. Shoes without holes and ankles tapped closed, check. Long sleeved gloves, check. Coveralls tied around the waist, check. That way if bees figure out a way in they can't travel up or down his entire body length.

Lisa getting to hold one of the twins. How cute is this?

Lisa found this chair, Craig's List I think. It will be painted purple and added to the garden as art. She is great at repurposing things for garden art.