This week in my garden: July 12th

This is a post inspired by Amanda Soule and her blog Soulemama.  My garden is "not looking good" right now. I have decided(har har) to have cool weather garden. So right now this is day one of the garden (again).

The blackberry bush is growing well. You can't even really see the borders of where the grass ends and the "garden" begins.

 





My favorite thing about this picture is that you can see the fireworks that neighbors are setting off.  It isn't the 4th of July but the house is outside city limits.

 

That grey little thing in the right corner is my cat. 

 

One of the reasons I have kept a blog is to see the progress of my garden. Right now it is not well, but through the blog, I can see what is was like when I kept it up.

 

It is hard to tell but under all that grass is really good soil. When I was moving stuff aside to walk, I could glimpse the soil. It looked rich and dark brown. Hopefully since this is the ultimate in "no till" right now, the dirt is doing well.

Effing dammit. The one picture that shows what little I had done to clean up the garden got deleted when I went back to compare pictures. Well shit.

In the middle of the picture I hope you can make out a corner. That corner is my hope right now.  Last year I set out some ceramic border in the garden.  That corner is a piece of one of the ceramic titles.  That is my starting point. So I cling tight to the song "Inch by inch" that Peter, Paul and Mary sang.  It helps to to not give up. Mother Nature does some amazing things with a little helping hand.

 





 

 





It is beginning

I am so excited that I am finally seeing some things that look like vegetables :-)
Besided the leafy variety which is kind of hard to judge when it is ready.
The first was some Easter Egg radishes.  I don't like radishes that much but they are pretty easy to grow and grow quickly.

They look like turnips but I promise they are radishes

My favorite pictures is this one of the broccoli. I am really proud of it (the picture,not the broccoli) I can't take credit for making the broccoli.  I will say it seems to have taken FOREVER for it to finally like like broccoli instead of just big leaves.

Pretty enough to eat. (almost)

I had totally forgotten about the asparagus.  It came up about 1 week and 1/2 ago.   I was so surprised. Now it has turned into that ferny thing.  I don't think I am suppose to do anything with it but i will read up and double check.

Sometimes it is best to leave things alone.

The watermelon is already past this stage and in the ground.  However, I love it when the plant has sprouted but you can still see the seed attached to the plant.

The black part is the seed it came from

My strawberry plant is getting in some nice looking berries.  I am learning that things happen on their own schedule. Everyone else was making strawberry jam and such so I was a little jealous.  Now, mine are coming in and all is better.

My favorite plant in the garden :-)

Lastly, are the sugar peas. I finally have a pea pod.  I am so excited.  I learned that the flower is what turns into the pod.  It is rather quickly from flower to pod.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and summer.

Celebration of Mother.

On May 9th

Here is what my garden looks like today. I must say that I am kinda proud.  Of course I haven't done anything, Mother Nature has done it all.  She is one of my favorite mamas. :-) She gives us water, food and air without asking anything in return.  The key is to take care of it.
So in honor of Mother's Day Sunday I want to take this picture.  It has rained here all day so I will say, the garden was looking particularly lush.

The Onions and Swiss Chard are ready for picking

Little Update

I have been reading about brussel sprouts and it seems that fall is the way to go. Our weather here get too hot too fast. I am still going to try. 
While reading, I read that some people cut off the leaves to make the sprouts grow.  I have decided to try and see what happens.

brussel sprouts before

I took 2 of the plants and clipped their bottom leaves and will see what happens.

hope this works

New additions

We have had alot of rain lately, so my seedlings have sprouted.  I feel like I am late in planting these but I am always amazed at what Mother Nature can do.

Kohlrabi is planted. Now, what is it?

It is amazing to think that you put this little bitty seed, that you can barely see, add water and some fertilizer, and it comes something you can eat.

Carrots for Easter

I am learning that things do get better over time.  If only I can have the patience until May?