I have a friend who calls Kudzu:  "The weed that ate the south."  Hahaha!  Too true to be funny.  Betsy called the route through the Nantahala Gorge:  "The Kudzu National Forest."  Now, that's funny.

 

I know you've seen Kudzu everywhere;  can't miss it.  Well, this time of year it is blooming.  I got a good picture for you.

 

 

The flowers look like sweet pea blossoms, and they smell so sweet.  We call the smell:  "grape Kool-aid."  That may not sound good to you, but just roll down the windows next time you're in a Kudzu National Forest, and breath the air.  You might agree with us.

 

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!!!

 

The Clematis virginiana is blooming everywhere!!!  This picture was taken at the Ocoee last weekend, but it is all around us.  

 

Look for billowy white clouds climbing over shrubs and fences.  There's some on Mocassin Creek Road heading to Murphy, on 19/129 heading to Blairsville, and all over the rocks near the Ocoee.  It ranges throughout eastern and central North America.  So, look for it in your travels.

 

It is gorgeous.  And be sure to roll down the windows.  It smells delicious!!!

 

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!!!

 

 

 

OK, gonna brag anyway.  Did I tell you that I planted red cabbage from seed?  It's true.  And this is the last one, until fall.  

 

We made it into the most beautiful cole slaw.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

Look at this beautiful Savoy cabbage.  I planted 12 seeds back in May, and got the 6 best ones into the garden early in July.  Now they are starting to form heads.  

 

Savoy cabbage is the ultra crinkly one.  I've never grown them before, but it sure looks like I'm on the right track.  Isn't it gorgeous?

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Yep, it's true.  I have dinosaurs in my garden.  And they are nearly as tall as I am.

 

Jon says we are going to need a few dinosaurs to help us eat all this kale.  I LOVE IT!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I know you've seen Bok choy in the grocery, but this is how it looks in the garden.  Not as big as grocery store, but beautiful just the same.

 

I love the blue green of the leaves next to those stark white stalks.  This one looks ready to pick.  YUM!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

After I cut the broccoli heads, I left the plants in the ground.  It's been a couple months, but they are now sprouting along the lower stem.  Not big heads like the initial harvest, but smaller florets to add to our salads.

 

And you can see by the leaves:  no wormage.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Look at the size of this mushroom.  It's a chanterelle we picked here in the neighborhood.  I can't tell you exactly where we found it, but it IS a prize specimen.

 

It looks pretty dirty, but this one is fairly clean.  We've seen worse.  (Lots worse.)   A toothbrush and a little water will take care of that.  

 

But this is great.  We've had a fabulous year for mushrooms.   

 

HAPPY WET SUMMER!!!

 

Look what the cherry peppers are doing.  Now we can see why they're called cherry peppers.  

 

Aren't they cute?  Yeah, and HOT!!!  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

We have picked a ton of kale, but it's still growing, and it is beautiful.  That's Dwarf Siberian kale in the front, and Nero di Toscana (dinosaur) kale behind it.

 

The dinosaur kale is almost as tall as I am.  I tried to take a selfie to show you, but I couldn't get us both in the picture.  You're welcome.  

 

We've learned how to can kale, so we will have some in the winter.  But there is also a great recipe for kale salad, perfect for summer.  It's under vegetables in the recipe section.  

 

I hope kale is part of your weekly diet.  It is so good.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!