Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Our late harvest this week

I've been busy lately, and it seems like it is really hard to make time for the garden. But thankfully we only have a small one! (and my camera is on the fritz, so now I'm posting via phone.... Text with pictures to follow).

This week we had the first of the Thai chili's (seeds from Renee's Garden) and mint picked fresh to add to a Thai chicken salad one night. It's fantastic to be able to wander out and just pick whatever I need for dinner (within reason).

We started enjoying our new Super Sweet 100 tomatoes. And also finally removed the scraggly tomato plant from last year that was still pumping out a few handfuls a week.  The size difference between the two plants is pretty significant. The tomato on the right is the old plant, and the left is obviously the new one.

And the zucchini's have started! We picked 3 on Sunday and I see 2 more for the morning picking.

We have been enjoying our kale. This week we harvested around 4 pounds, mostly given away to friends and cooked for dinner.

Also pictured is our most recent guest to the garden. I have seen him every day for the last few weeks.

I hope my new visitor eats some bad buggies! Happy gardening all.






Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Little helper

Today I headed outside just to check on some plant seedlings, and I heard a loud buzzing noise. As I looked up I saw a swarm of bees less than 10 feet away from the back door! Holy smokes! The dog was immediately called in and door shut firmly until they passed. I've never seen that before. I was very glad that Gray was eating and Haley was napping and not outside.

Ryle was a good garden helper today. He is very interested in the chamomile that we are growing. The first time I picked it he asked what it was for and when he found out you can make tea with it, he has been trying to pick it. Today was harvest #2.

Now I just wish he still liked tomatoes, we should have a pretty good turn-out this year. We won't have the most glamorous variety, but I'm hoping to rectify that soon. We have 1 black prince, 1 black cherry, 1 pineapple, 1 cherokee purple, at least 1 super sweet 100 (and one scraggly plant that is still giving us a handful of ss100 cherry tomatoes a week), 2 'patio tomato' plants and maybe a few more heirloom varieties soon. I'm slightly obsessed with tomatoes, even though we really don't have lots of space.

Every year I try to decide what plants get some of the precious space, but then I get sidetracked and fall for some plant that I hadn't anticipated wanting in the garden. I think we will focus on the typical home gardener favorites this year: tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, eggplant, herbs, squash and some greens. Drool.....

Happy gardening all!


Saturday, June 2, 2012

We've been busy

I've been mia from blogger, but we have been busy. Our family has grown since my last post in October. 

We had a baby girl! She is one of the 3% of babies actually born on their due date. Haley Anne was born on April 29 th in beautiful San Diego at 2:05 pm. She's fabulous.


We also added a puppy the kids named Max. We were told he was 2, but I disagree. He acts like a puppy and has grown a few inches since we adopted him.

The garden is sadly neglected and we are just starting to find a home for the seedlings I started. But tomatoes are starting to come in. I am hoping to be diligent about posting more now that spring is in full swing and the house is settling down. Hope you have all been well!