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!

Ak! Oh ick!!!

We discussed how I don't like icky gardening stuff, right? When I stepped out to water the garden today I discovered a NASTY surprise.... Can you see him?



Ugh! This cutworm is about as big around and as long as my pinky! He devoured all of the scallions I had sown in the planter with the japanese eggplant, down to the soil line (as cutworms do). I first noticed the droppings and then couldn't figure out what was different at first...then I saw HIM. Oh man, I'm such a wuss. I dropped the hose and ran for the camera and then my clippers. Ugh, still grossed out!

On a better note, I see 4, count 'em, 4 baby eggplants. Whoohoo!!!! Yum, yum, yum!! Lots more flowers, but you aren't guaranteed anything yet...


My Scarlett Runner beans are flowering, they are only about 3 feet tall as a whole, but there are runners who have reached the top of the fence. I am just waiting for the foliage to catch up.




And the edamame are getting pudgy! No seed pods on the most recently sown edamame yet.



My cucumbers are pulling down on the stakes I used, so I think this weekend might be a good time to get better stakes and do a little tying up. They seem to be doing great given the light support they have had. there's a big cuke hiding and about 4 that should be ready to pick any day now. Everytime I see my son eating something in the yard I have to interrogate him to make sure it gets washed first! Time tp pull out the flowering arugula and plant something for fall... hmm, what to plant?



The tomatoes may not be doing great, but the basil sure is going gang-busters! Maybe some pesto might be in my future.



Well, it's off to play with the kiddos. Reading time maybe? My youngest one turned 8 months yesterday and I definitely think he's saying "Mom-ma" and "Da-da". He can't crawl, but he can "talk".