I showed you catnip earlier, when it started coming up.  Well, it is all the way to the top of the deck rails, and blooming!!!

 

I am thinking about planting it everywhere, because the deer don't touch it.  Even the rabbits leave it alone.  And it's pretty at all stages.

 

HAPPY  GARDENING!!!

 

Hey!  Have you ever noticed the man made drill holes in the big rocks on our roads?  

 

We just saw them on our walk recently, and realized that they are where the road builders used dynamite to cut through the big slabs of rock.  We have seen similar evidence on some of our hikes through the mountains, here and in Virginia. 

 

One time when Momma was visiting, we took a little detour through Grape Thicket Road, and there were county workers back there getting ready to blast through the rock.  We asked the guy what they were doing, and he told us they were getting ready to "Pull a shot."  I guess that's shop talk for blasting through rock.  

 

Next time you are on a walk down Stonebriar, or the Wagon Train Trail up by Brasstown Bald, be sure to notice them.  Very interesting.

 

HAPPY HIKING!!!

 

Check out the broccoli.  Aren't these leaves beautiful?  They are really as blue as the picture.  

 

We planted six plants in March, and the crowns are ready now.  I will cut all six, and blanch them.  Then we can eat some, and put some in the freezer for a yummy winter soup.  I'll check the recipe section, and see if I already posted the recipe.  If it's not there, I'll add it, because it is easy and delicious.

 

Last winter we made soup with store bought broccoli, but I bet it will be even better with broccoli we grew ourselves.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

The name of this cabbage is Ruby Ball, but right now it is lavender, and silver when it gets rained on.  So pretty!!!

 

I sowed 12 seeds and got 6 good strong plants to put in the garden.  Each plant is about 18" across now, and the heads are about 4" across.  The seed pack says they should grow 6-8" heads that weigh 3-4 pounds!!  

 

Won't this be a gorgeous addition to our Asian Cole Slaw?  Check the recipe section, under vegetables.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Wow!!!  Our Bee Balm has really taken off this year.  I planted it about 10 years ago, and it has only ever grown a few stems.  Now it is huge.  It stands about 3 feet tall, and about 3 feet wide.  

 

Two things have changed:  I added mushroom compost to the soil last fall, and we put up a fence to keep the deer out.  Take your pick.

 

Whatever, it is working;  and isn't it gorgeous?  The flowers attract butterflies, bumblebees, and hummingbirds.  The flowers are also tasty and pretty in our salads.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Remember the picture of the huge squash leaves a few days ago?  Well, this is what's happening under those leaves.

 

I promised to show you our squashes when they set fruit.  Well, they start out a lot smaller than this, but this is so pretty, I want you to see it now.
 

This is a North Georgia Candy Roaster.  I've seen them in the fall at the Sunrise Grocery on the way to Vogel State Park.  They grow to about 18", and when they are ripe they turn a beautiful salmon pink.  This one is about 12" and still green.  But isn't it impressive?

 

That little tray underneath it is to keep it off the ground.  I've tried paper plates and pieces of bird seed bags to do the job, but they get really yucky by the end of summer.  These work well.  They let water drain through, and keep the squashes clean.  I guess farmers don't do this when they are growing a field full of squashes, but I do it because I only have a few.  

 

I'll show you again when they are ripe.  I planted the seeds on April 14, and they take 100 days.  So.........that should be early in August.  So exciting!!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Did you know that some people buy beets and throw away the greens?  Whaat?

 

I know some folks who grow beets JUST for the greens.  They are so good.

 

We planted these beets about mid-March, and they are big enough to pull the roots.  I will leave some of them in the ground for the greens.

 

I have a great recipe for a beet salad.  It's under vegetables in the recipe section.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look at this one plant.  It has 3 big zucchinis and some baby ones waiting to bloom and get pollinated.  

 

I guess I finally found the right place in the garden for it.  It gets morning sun and afternoon shade.  Seems happy.  Me too!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Yoo-hoo!!!  We have zucchini this year.  I've grown it before, but with NO success.  This year it is doing great!!!

 

I can't help but think about this story:

 

A couple moved into a new neighborhood, and went to church with their new neighbors.  They were advised when they got there to be sure and lock their car.  The new guy said, "I thought this was a good neighborhood."  The older neighbor replied that it was, "but if you don't lock your car, when you come out after church the back seat will be full of zucchini."

 

We don't have THAT much, that we need to leave it on our friends' doorsteps, but we do have enough to cook and eat, and still have some to go in the freezer for next winter's lasagna.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

We spent the day deer-proofing our front flower bed, and in the evening when we went out to the garden we saw this baby.

 

Of course we went "Awww."  Then thought about all the time and effort we have spent fixing what they destroy.  

 

Life is a dichotomy.  Love it, hate it.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!