Photo from the Farmers Almanac 

 

Here's what I learned about Father's Day.   It is interesting.  

 

 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

 

My friend Sharon would scream if she saw this picture.  She thinks that cats should be kept inside.

 

Well, this cat LOVES being outside.  He roams around our yard, hunting for mice, moles, lizards, and birds.

 

As you can see, he thinks he's going to catch a bird.  He didn't, but he sure had fun trying.

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

 

 

Look at all that Dill!!!  It stands about 4 feet tall, and it's starting to bloom.  

 

The feathery leaves are edible, and we use them along with our salad greens.  We dry it too, for use during the winter.    

 

But the blooms are what really thrill me.  Some of the heads are about 8 inches in diameter.  After they finish with the pollen, they grow green berries, which dry to become seeds.  Well, I cut them and bring them inside when they are in the berry stage.  They don't fluff pollen all over the place, but they still smell good, and taste good too.  

 

Fortunately the cucumbers ripen about the same time as the dill berries, so we use them together to make dill pickles.

 

Look at the picture again; just to the left of the dill.  See the cucumbers climbing the trellis?  Life is good at Crazybrook Farm.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Look at the leeks!!!  Aren't they fabulous?

 

Leeks are edible the first year, and the second year they bloom.  The stems get too tough to eat, but this is food for the soul.

 

I usually cut a few and put them in a crystal vase.  I love them so much.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

If you see Tom out today with Sky, be sure to wish him Happy Birthday!!!

 

Flowers for you, from our garden.  

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM!!!

 

 

 

I hope you remember to put out the flag today.  For some interesting flag history and etiquette, go to:

 

https://www.farmersalmanac.com/us-flag-etiquette-rules-guidelines 

 

and learn more about our national symbol.

 

HAPPY FLAG DAY!!!

 

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!!!