Showing posts with label tomato. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tomato. Show all posts

Friday, July 27, 2012

Up the Hill - Down the Hill

I haven't posted in quite a while now.  As I'm sure most of you know, the weather this season has been... interesting (to say the least).


Here in the Midwest, we have experienced quite a drought.  I tried to keep up on the gardens as best I could, but with life coming at me from all angles, I just couldn't get to everything in a timely manner.  Some stuff has lived.  Some stuff has died (boo).  


We did have a lovely storm earlier in the month which brought lots of rain and also destroyed my neighborhood!  Take the good with the bad I suppose.  Ha!  Check it out:


Taken after my daughter informed me a tree had fallen in our yard.

50 foot Maple tree down.



My neighbors deck.



It was actually pretty scary.  My daughter and I quickly moved downstairs, and she laid her head on my chest and said "Mom, your heart is beating really fast!  Are we ok?"  Poor girl.  


Afterwards I read that we had winds over 90 MPH, which is stronger than most tornadoes?  I had looked at the weather forecast, and it only said rain, so of course I was ok with that.  It came over us so fast!  The wind picked the furniture up off my deck and swept everything down the length of it (which is 40ft.).  Strangely, most of my potted plants stayed right where they were, although, my Zinnia's and herb gardens were totally windblown and since have died.


We were out of power for a few days, and since I have septic/well water, we had no use of the facilities or running water, so we left until it was restored.  Leaving town felt like driving through a movie.  Power was out through my town, and the ones surrounding me.  Trees were down everywhere!  Everyone was outside cleaning debris and checking to make sure nobody was hurt.  I keep saying it felt like driving through a post apocalyptic city.  Very strange...


Now that things are getting back to normal, I figured I would post some pictures, because lots of stuff is actually kicking serious butt right now!  I'm very proud.  Enjoy:


My Hindu Rope hoya that I'm in love with!  This picture is sort of older, and it's surprisingly grown quite a bit.



Comfrey is doing really well!  Again, this is an older picture (older as in like 3 weeks).  It's growing like crazy right now, and the stupid beetles really dig it.
  
ON TO THE INCREDIBLE EDIBLES!!!








I have harvested some of the garden beans already, and they are fan-freakin'-tastic!


Of course the mint survived.  It's doubled in size since I took this picture last week.

Garden Peach tomatoes - delish'

I have about 4 pumpkins, and this is the largest of them.

YAY!

As you can see, the Japanese Beetles really love my edemame.

Another heirloom bean picture.  They really are gorgeous.  Unfortunately, when blanched, they lose their color.

C'mon... OKRA!  Still waiting on bloom, but they're doing well.
So there you have it - nearing end of July and things look pretty good, as far as I'm concerned.  Thanks for all the advise and words of encouragement this season.  It's been tough, but I'm still standing (per usual).  Ya'll know Kelly can't be faded! 

Sunday, June 17, 2012

The Garden Is Hap-hap-happy!

Herb
Zina and a "Hummingbird Mix"

Zina on it's way...

Grrr...

I never planted Viola?  This is in my pot with Snapdragons!


My Gladiola never bloomed.  What gives?

Yeah, yeah... I know I need to weed but this is my Comfrey.

What a peach!

Something's eating them, and they didn't grow as well as I anticipated but still glad I gave them a go.

PUMPKIN!!!  You know what this mean!

Pumpkin

It's happening...

Squash

Squash going crazy and the Okra workin' it's way in.

Pumpkin is growing over my peppers.  I'm gonna have to move the peppers into a different cell to let them get sun.

Yellow Pear tomatoes ARE HERE!!!

I'm so proud.  These guys I started from seed back in April and they've been in this location since end of March.  Wow!

Just when I'd given up hope on my Coleus...

First Hydrangea blooms.

My other Hydrangea blooms (also first)



So, I didn't realize my camera lens was streaky before I started taking these photographs.  I did the best I could and I think they turned out okay.  This put a huge smile on my face today.  Happy Father's Day, ya'll!

Monday, May 7, 2012

Pretty... pretty... pretty good.

Just a photographic update on my garden/gardening progression.  Let's take a walk...

My little "growshelf" 

I am so happy with how hardy the pumpkin is!

Kicking arse!

Peppers




I started another tray last week: Rainbow Mix and Wizard Mix coleus, lobelia, foxglove (my 2nd go), sweet banana peppers, Sugar Baby watermelon, red onion and Bells of Ireland.  The heavy seed you see here is the foxglove.  I may have over done it, but I'm pretty sure I saw growth this morning, so we'll see how this goes.  


Newest tray 
Here you see 2 of the 46 Eskimo marigolds that I decided to try and start inside.  I'm wondering why the bulk of these haven't grown...
Eskimo marigolds again.

Roman chamomile!


Hidcote lavender


Mammoth sunflowers lookin' all tall already!

Iris


My raised beds in place and waiting to be filled.


PEACHES!


Comfrey



Blue Crop blueberries


Sparta blueberries


Peony


I have about 6 more of these (sweet pea) that I'm getting ready to plant around my compost bin.  Thoughts?  Good idea?  

Awww...

A couple hot days and some rain, and BAM!

Echinacea

Lily of the Valley


Bigroot Cranesbill (Geranium)


Garden beans






Onion

My rhubarb is growing!

Radish


Yellow Pear tomato

Squash (zucchini and yellow crookneck)

Yellow Crookneck squash

Blueray blueberry coming back (Lex said "next to the cigar.")

Roses