Monday, June 13, 2011

Reclaiming the garden

We had a beautiful weekend, and I was able to get a lot of work done in the vegetable garden.  A busy work season, combined with busy kid's activities, and the horrible biting gnats had made it a challenge to get outdoors.  Weeds were the prevailing crop, but I was determined to regain control.  With the help of my dear husband, we got the garden back to where we could feel proud of our accomplishment....as well as tell that veggies were being grown there!  There were a few things that I had not gotten in the ground yet, so I was able to get that done.  I planted eight okra plants, one hill of crookneck yellow squash from my aunt in Alabama (I love heirlooms....especially ones from my own family!) and a hill of zucchini.  I still need to plant cucumbers, beans, and black eyed peas.  It is getting late, but better late than never!

On the left is some of my volunteer dill that I have let grow. Dill is one of those plants that if you don't keep ahead of it, it becomes invasive. I don't think I have ever seen it labeled as such, but my garden in spring is proof of the fact. On the right is my sage. I severely cut it back in the spring since it was becoming very woody, and it came back very nicely.
Another view of the veggie garden. I planted seeds for more Bachelor Buttons, Zinnas, Sweet William, Stock and Wildflower mix along the right side of the fence. A couple of my poppies have come back this year which made me happy. I thought that they had died out. I would like to also get some Larkspur growing there again. I love flowers mixed in the garden. 
My stand of Roma tomatoes.  Far from the regular garden.  Hoping to have our strawberry patch in here next year.
A Roma tomato in the making....

Some funky fungi that I found while weeding.  A lot of different shelf type fungi seem to grow on the wood of the raised beds, but this was something I had not seen before.  While I was weeding, I encountered lots of different spiders, centipede looking creatures that were quick to get back underground when disturbed, and found that lightning bugs seemed to like my beet bed.  The rabbits must like beets too.  Many of my plants had the green tops munched off. 
Some sort of weed.  The flower was pretty though.  I have never seen it before.
Red raspberries.  There do not seem to be nearly the bees around them this year.  I have seen more wasps than anything.  I don't think I have seen a single honeybee.
I have no idea what this is.  Some sort of dried fungus from last year?  Nest from some sort of insect?




8 comments:

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

I just got my zinna, nastursimsm and marigold seeds in this weekend. Seems late but it was a great weekend to get it done.

T2Nashville said...

I think this is the first time I've seen your garden as a whole. WOW! Very impressive. I really wish it were possible for me to do this, but not happening in apartment dwelling. I am proud of my basil and cilantro in my house, though! I can't wait to see pics of the actual veggies and fruits when they're ready. Be sure to shoot that before they get cooked!

Peggy said...

Thanks, Tammy! You definitely need to be proud of your indoor herbs! Growing plants that require sun are a challenge to get to thrive indoors. I wish I had some great veggies to bring to reunion. I will make sure to post the pics as things ripen. :)

April @ Sewing Novice said...

Wow! That is an amazing garden!

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I enjoyed reading about and seeing photos of your veggie garden. I have larkspur and bachelor buttons in my veggie garden, and I'm trying to get some going in the front yard as well. I'm late in getting some things in, too.

I think that brown thing may be a praying mantis egg case. Oh, and we've been seeing some weird mushrooms this year.

Peggy said...

Thanks, Sue! It is always good to know that others are late getting things in the garden as well.
How interesting to think that my brown blob may be a praying mantis case. I will have to look into it more.

Mark Willis said...

Most impressed with your garden! I love a neat well-tended garden. The thing in the last photo might be a wasp's nest.

Peggy said...

Thanks, Mark. :) Keeping it neat and tidy is more work than growing and putting up the harvest. The weeds are always a battle! I do love the look of it freshly weeded.