I took this picture right after a thunderstorm;  I'm not worried, they'll right themselves tomorrow.  

 

These are my creeping squashes:  Georgia candy roaster and Cushaw.  The flopped over one is a zucchini, see the zucchinis?

 

When the creeping squashes start setting fruit, I'll show you.  I am so excited.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Checking out my sage yesterday, and I spotted this!!!  It's a Yellowjacket nest.  It's hard to tell from the picture, but it's bigger than a softball, and smaller than a soccer ball.  Maybe 6 inches across, and it is ALIVE with Yellowjackets.  

 

Glad I saw it before I touched it.  They can be aggressive.  

 

Sorry, but it had to go, so I called my friend (my hero) and he took care of it, with that awful Wasp and Hornet Killer spray.  Again:  sorry!!!

 

I guess we won't be eating any sage from that area anymore this year.  YUK!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

At the beginning of our walk in Meeks Park, we saw Mrs. Mallard and nine little baby mallards.  They had this perfect feeding ground, in a big puddle, away from the busyness of the river.  

 

I can't help it, but I always think of Robert McCloskey's  Make Way for Ducklings.  We always laugh and name the eight little ducklings out loud:

Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Oack, Pack, and Quack.  Hahaha!!!  JKLMNOPQ.  So is this ninth one's name Rack?  I think so.

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

 

 

Welcome to Miss Gerry's Garden Center.  These are two flats of marigolds that I grew from last year's seeds, ready to be planted in the garden.  Each flat holds 6 6-packs.  That's 36 plants per flat!!  That's a lot of marigolds to plant.  But you can see that they are ready.

 

When I was out watering the other day I saw this Fritillary sipping nectar from each little flower.  She doesn't use marigolds for her host plant, but it is a great source for nectar.  

 

Later the same day, we saw two of them feeding.  So pretty!!!  I love having butterflies in the garden.  Well, most of them.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

The broccolis are getting huge, and they have started to set heads.  It is so exciting.

 

Believe me when I tell you I check them every day.

 

Mostly, we're checking for worms, but we do it every day.  Cabbage white butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves, and when the caterpillars emerge they start eating.  See those little holes in the leaves?  That's where we start looking for the worms, and usually find a few.  Every day!!!

 

It's easy enough, we only have 6 cabbages, 6 broccoli, and 6 cauliflowers.  Oh yeah, they go after the kale too.  Well, it's worth it to check and pick them off, because they can devour it all in very little time.  So we just do it.  Sweet rewards in the end.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Look!!!  My cabbages are forming heads.  I bought a 6 pack of seedlings and planted them back in March.  I was afraid that I waited too late to plant seeds for cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.  So I bought 6 packs.  

 

I go out and look at them everyday.  Sometimes more than once.  I love seeing how fast they change and grow.  

 

We should have cabbage for cole slaw by July 4th.  I think our recipe is in the recipe section;  it's under Vegetables, and called Asian Cole Slaw.  You can use store bought cabbage if you must, or check the farmers market, it should be available soon. 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

We hated to take down the flag and soldiers, but it's a new month. And it's almost summer.  Time for something festive.

 

I hope it makes you smile.

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

We have been seeing the Scarlet Tanager for the last week.  Today I saw him in the yard, and got his picture.  I guess they are ground feeders.  

 

I hope Gizmo doesn't see him.  

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

 

 

Queen Anne's Lace is blooming.  It's blooming in the meadows, and here in my arugula bed!!!

 

It is called Wild Carrot, because the first year the roots are edible.  I'm telling you, they are really tiny and really dirty, and carrots in the grocery cost less than a dollar a pound.  Don't want to admit my laziness, but....you get my drift.  The second year, it blooms.  That's when it is spectacular.

 

They are in the same family as parsley, carrot, celery, dill, fennel.  The greens are edible, even though they don't have much flavor.  But they taste a little like parsley.    I just love knowing what we can add it to our salads.

 

This picture doesn't show you the greens;  those leaves you see are Echinacea.  The Queen Anne's Lace leaves are feathery, like carrots.  

But, aren't the flowers beautiful?

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

The Elders are blooming in our neighborhood.  We've seen one on Stonebriar coming up Clifford's hill, and this one near Bellavista.  They are both beautiful.  And we can see them up close.

 

There are a whole bunch on the hillside as you approach the WalMart in Blairsville.  They are really pretty too, from a distance.  

 

Some people make wine using the flowers.  Never had it.  We like to wait for the berries, then dry them and add them to our tea.  

 

I hope you get to see some Elder bushes in your travels.  When you do see them, think of me and smile.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!