We picked the big apple tree, and took this big box of apples to our friends.  The box was way too heavy for me to pick up, so we transported it in the wheelbarrow to the road, then Jon loaded it into the golf cart.  We took them up to our friends on the ridge.  They were so happy.  They like to slice and dehydrate them.  

 

It's fun to watch everything grow, and good to share.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

We started harvesting butternuts this week.  This is the first haul:  20 squashes:  30 pounds.  And aren't they beautiful?  Yes, they are!!!

 

We cooked the last of the butternuts from last year just a couple weeks ago, and made pumpkin bread with them.  I love that they last a whole year in the basement.  The ones that last so long are the ones whose seeds we save.  Good genes.  If they last a whole year, they are telling me that their seeds will produce fruits that have good storage ability.  Hey, it's a thing they always mention in the seed catalogs:  good storage.  

 

Psst:  there are 20 more out there in various stages of ripeness.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

I have been so busy showing you all the critters lately, I forgot to show you our big apple tree.  This is just one branch, but the whole tree is FULL of apples.  I'm not sure why there are no leaves left on it, but it does this every year.  Maybe the tree is giving all its energy to the fruit.  Or maybe it's too dry to support all the leaves.  I don't know.  But I do know that there are about 500 apples up there, ready to be picked.  

 

We better get out there and do it.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

My Night-blooming Cereus has a bud!!!  Yay!!!  It takes a couple weeks for it to grow and bloom, but this is the start, and I am excited.  Thanks Sharon.  I love this plant.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I'm not sure why it surprises me, but it always does, seeing cattails in the city.  

 

Well, this isn't really the city, but it kinda is.  We parked in the Aldi parking lot and walked over to the Farmers Market on Saturday, and walking back I saw this patch of cattails.  Of course I had to stop and take a picture to show you.

 

This is the time of year to see them looking their best, before they go to seed.  So be on the lookout;  you may see some in your travels.  I hope so.  They are so cool.

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

OK, some caterpillars we like.  Some others:  not so much!!!

 

The same day I saw that cute Swallowtail caterpillar on the lovage, I also saw this big, fat caterpillar eating my tomato leaves.  ACK!!!

 

I encourage and support the swallowtails in their efforts to cocoon and emerge, but these hornworms are terrible.  They can destroy my tomato crop in a couple days.  They gotta go!!!

 

So I cut off the stem just below the worm, and put it on the bird feeder tray.  Next day it was gone.  Good, maybe somebody enjoyed it.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

  

 

 

 

This is why we can't let morning glories grow in the tomatoes.  They are stranglers.  

 

It is a shame that they are so pretty.  They trick me every year into letting them stay, then they do this!!!  

 

Oh well, I still love them.  Kinda like the squirrels, huh?  Love em, hate em.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

This is my beautiful Echinacea.  I nearly chose these for birthday flowers, but they are just too messy.  Look how they have overtaken the stairs.  Last year we didn't have any at all, because the deer ate them all, but this year we put up a gate to protect them.  The deer can't get to them, and we can't get to the stairs, so they have just gone wild!!  

 

Messy, but still pretty!!!  And the goldfinches love picking out the seeds.

 

 

WE ARE HAPPY GARDENERS!!!

 

The Mullein had the prettiest flowers in my garden today.  Not too good for cut flowers, but they do make a a pretty picture for your computer wallpaper.  

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDA!!!

 

 

 

 

Saturday I took out all the dill, and harvested the seeds.  I realized that I am in the wrong line of work.  I should be raising dill seed for Mr. McCormick.  

 

I cleaned the dill heads and ended up with enough seeds to fill 10 of these spice jars.  First, I will make sure they are dry, then put some of them in with my kitchen spices, and the rest in a pint jar along with my other vegetable seeds.  

 

Let me know if you need dill seeds.  ;)  You can cook with them or plant them.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!