Apples too!!!   This tree is loaded with Golden Delicious apples.  The squirrels usually get most of them, but we do get some.  And they are truly delicious.

 

Of course the deer get their share, but they can only reach so high, so we get the higher up ones.

 

Funny, there are some things we never buy:  apples, peaches, blueberries, tomatoes.  Store-bought ones just aren't as good as the ones we grow ourselves.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

The peaches are almost ready.  This is just one small portion of two trees.  We planted them almost 20 years ago, and some years we get peaches, and some years we don't.  We are right on the edge of peach country.  

 

If we get a frost or freeze when the trees are blooming:  we get nothing.  But I think this year Mother Nature is making up for the last two years.  Everything seems to be in heavy fruiting mode.

 

And aren't they beautiful?

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

This is so cool.  I took this picture last night about 9 o'clock.  These flowers are Mirabilis jalapa, or four o'clocks.  I got the seeds a few years ago from Rosalie's wildflower garden.  This is the first time I have grown them.  

 

They bloom late in the day (between 4 and 8 pm) and fade when the sun hits them the next day, all the while smelling so sweet.  

 

I read this in Wikipedia:

 

Mirabilis is a Latin adjective meaning "amazing, wondrous, remarkable"  Don't you love it?  I do too.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Whoever heard of blueberry ice cream!?!  Well, we have lots of berries this year, so we gave it a try.  Isn't it pretty?  Tasty too.

 

We have a recipe (that we love) for peach ice cream, so we just adapted it.  We used 3 cups of blueberry purée, and instead of vanilla extract, we used lemon extract and added the zest and juice of a lemon.  

 

I will add the peach ice cream recipe to the recipe section.  It's a good one.

 

Hahaha!!!  I just went to the recipe section to put in the recipe, and found that I added it in 2022.  When I read it, I noticed that it said 4 egg yolks.  We made it the other day with 3 whole eggs.  Whoops!  Oh well, it came out fine.  

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

 

 

This is the same deck rail as the tall marigolds.  And that is catnip on the other side.

 

This Momma deer is just a few steps beyond the catnip.  She won't touch the catnip, but we are glad for her to eat all the grass she wants:  less grass to mow.  If only she would stick to grass...

 

Anyway, I guess we don't have any "wild" deer in the neighborhood anymore.  They are all just a little too friendly.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

When I went out one morning to water and check on my plants, this is what I found!!!

 

This ugly green pot is full of (formerly) beautiful tall marigolds.  They reach up to the deck rail.  Well, apparently the goldfinches love marigold seeds, because they have eaten most of the flowers, and sowed the seeds all over the deck.

 

I used to deadhead the marigolds to encourage new flower production, but now I just cut off the "empties."  The goldfinches take care of the rest.  

 

 

STILL A HAPPY GARDENER!!!

 

Just look at these butternut squashes!!  

 

We planted seeds next to the tomato cages, for the squash vines to climb.  Those two-liter bottles are to deep water the tomatoes. And the squashes are planted on the north side of the tomato cages.  Don't want them blocking the sun with their big, fat leaves.  But we definitely want them to grow and give us butternuts.  We eat them all winter:  stuffed with everything,  butternut squash soup, and "pumpkin" bread.  

 

We have figured out that butternut squash makes delicious "pumpkin" bread.  We peel, cube and steam the squash (about 15 minutes,) then mash it.  It's like pumpkin, only denser, and a little sweeter.  My recipe for pumpkin bread is in the recipe section of the website, just substitute butternut for the pumpkin.

 

I will show you these beautiful squashes again when they are ready for harvest.  They turn a gorgeous pinky beige.  Meanwhile, I will keep taking care of them, guiding them up the cages, and keeping the squash bugs away.

 

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

Photo: Complements of The Farmers Almanac 

 

Here is the link to learn more about July 4th celebrations and history.

 

 

I hope your holiday is safe and happy.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!

 

The tomatillos are coming right along.  The plants are about 4 feet tall, and there are lots of yellow flowers.  

 

Some of the flowers have already grown into little lanterns.  See the two little green lanterns in this picture?  When you squeeze them they are full of air, and you can feel the little berry inside.  That little berry will grow into the tomatillo.  When the tomatillo is big enough, the little lantern splits, and that's when they are ready to pick.  I'll show you as we go along.

 

We like to skewer them, and cook them on the grill for about 5 minutes.  Or maybe it's 10 minutes.  (I don't know, I'm not the one who does that part.)  I just plant the seeds, nurture the plants, and pick the fruits when they are ready.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Do you love Mimosa trees?  I do.  I love seeing them along the highway, and I love being close enough to smell them.  This one is at the entrance to the Caney Creek Recycle Center.  I love them, but I don't want them growing in my back yard.

 

Because Mimosa trees propagate like weeds.  The seeds fall on the ground and before you know it they are growing all over the place, sometimes in inconvenient places.  Like behind the oil tank in Momma's back yard.  Boy, that was a stinker to remove.

 

Anyway, if you see one, try to get up close enough to smell the flowers.  They are like little pink powder puffs, and smell just as sweet.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!