We were walking in the park the other day at a pretty good clip, and all of a sudden Jon grabbed my arm, and I squealed.  We were about to step on a black snake warming itself in the sunspot.

 

We stopped and took its picture, of course.  About the same time, a little girl (about 5 or 6 years old) and her grandmother came up behind us.  They stopped too and we pointed out the snake, showing interest but no fear.  The little girl was very interested, and we told her that it wasn't a poisonous snake, that it actually keeps Rattlesnakes away.  She didn't get too close, but she was fascinated;  the grandmother looked a bit worried, but she took its picture too.  And we all watched as it made its way back into the woods.

 

So glad we got there first.  Otherwise, I believe the mood wouldn't have been fascination, it might have been fear.   

 

HAPPY HIKING!!

 

Looking at the cucumbers this morning, I came across this friend in the garden.  Praying Mantids eats insects, and are definitely my friends in the garden. 

 

This one was on a brownish leaf, so it was camouflaged brownish.  But, again, it was at my eye level, so I saw it right away.  

 

I love seeing these critters in the garden.

 

HAPPY  GARDENING!!!

 

YUCK!!!  Look who I saw on my tomato plant.  Tomato Hornworm.  

 

This picture makes it look really big, but it is really quite small.  I just happened to notice it because it was at my eye level.  I walk up and down the rows every morning, looking for anything out of the ordinary.  And this is what I saw.  It just looks nasty doesn't it?  

 

You can see where it had chewed the tomato leaf.  The little opportunist that it is.  Was...

 

 HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Tada!!!!  How beautiful:  pink and blue!!!  Tuesday was day 100 since we planted the seeds for our North Georgia Candy Roasters.

 

So we cut them.  I learned a few years ago that a good practice before storing squash is to wipe the stem ends with Isopropyl Alcohol.  This prevents bacteria from moving in and destroying the squash while they are in storage.  How awful to spend 100 days growing them, then to lose them before you can eat them.  Our plan is to store them until winter, then make soup, pies, and other sweet squash stuff.  

 

I put my phone in the picture for reference, but here are the stats:  the biggest one, number 5 from the left weighs 6 pounds, 14 ounces!!!  The smallest ones are numbers 1 and 2, and weigh 2 pounds, 5 ounces each.  Total:  30 pounds, 4 ounces of delicious squash.

 

Thought you'd like to share in our thrill of having grown such beautiful squashes.  

 

HAPPY GARDENERS!!!

 

Now they are coming in pairs!!!  

 

Last night we looked out toward the apple trees, and there were two mommas and each one had two babies.  

 

The first time I heard my sister speak of "the damn deer,"  I thought she was being facetious.  Well, now I know from my own experience that she was being truthful. They can be a nuisance, especially in such large numbers.

 

So, be careful when you are driving through the neighborhood;  where there's one, there are many.  And for some reason, they want to be on the OTHER side of the road.

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I know better, but I do it every year.  I let a few Morning Glories climb the tomato cages, because:  well, just look how beautiful they are!!!

 

Any good farmer would tell you that they are noxious weeds, stranglers, and a nuisance in the garden.  I know that, but I still let a few go.  

 

I start the season weeding them out, but by July a couple have made it to the top of the tomato cages, and other places.  So I just let them go and enjoy them on my morning walks in the garden.  

 

Weeds?  Flowers?  YES!!!  I get it, but like I said:  I know better, but choose to enjoy the morning glories.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

HAHAHA!!!  The one that got away.  It happens every year:  that one zucchini that hid under the leaves, and didn't get noticed until.....

 

This one is 15 inches long and weighs 2 lbs., 5 ounces!!!

 

I just found it when I was looking at the Cushaw and Candy Roaster babies.  

 

What a pleasant surprise.  I will cut it in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, and stuff it with a mixture of wild rice and mushrooms.  It will probably feed us dinner twice;  ok, three times.  We love zucchini.

 

HAPPY  GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

The sunflowers are still big and beautiful, and the Goldfinches love them.  

 

I'm never quick enough to get their picture, but the sunflowers don't move, so they are easy to photograph.  And the goldfinches are fun to watch flitting through the garden.  

 

HAPPY  GARDENING!!!

 

Did I tell you that I planted corn in the garden along with the squash?  

 

I wasn't very serious about it;  I just stuck a few seeds in the ground next to the squashes.  The squashes did great, but they shaded out the corn, so the corn couldn't grow much.  I guess I should have let the corn get up some size before I planted the squash.  

 

There are about 10 little corn plants, and they are doing what corn does:  they have grown tassels and ears.  Interesting to watch, just little.

 

Maybe next year I'll be a little more scientific about it, and plant in rows so they have room to grow, and can cross pollinate, and we'll get some full-size corn.  

 

I don't know too much about growing corn, but given the choice of squash or corn, I'll take the squash every time.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

The first year we were here we planted 2 peach trees.  Some years we get peaches, some years we don't.  But it is so exciting when the peach trees flourish and give us peaches.  And when they do, there are a lot:  about a hundred.

 

What do you do with all those peaches?  Make ice cream.  

 

Our recipe only makes a quart, so we can handle that.  And it is so good.  Makes me think of Uncle Eddie and Momma and happy summer days.  

 

I will add the recipe to the website if you like.  It's really easy and fun.  Oh yeah, and delicious!!!

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!