Gardening 2013: Take 5



Has it really been that long since I've updated on our gardening adventure?  Here's our  last update, and you can catch the previous ones from there.

Oh goodness, how much changes in month, right before our very own eyes.

This was June:
 


And a drum roll for July:
This is the first year having a garden in this very space.  It's the same location a garden fed a family of 7 for over 100 years. Sitting vacant for some time, this is the first year it's been put back to work.  As it is always so with gardening, although there is celebration, there always seems to be a little disappointment here and there.  Unfortunately, when the septic was repaired here, the soil from that project was deposited in the very spot of above garden.  The top few inches is really, really poor soil that does not hold water at all.  However, that which is underneath has years of nutrients.  Next year we need to improve the soil. There's also big and small critters, bugs, unpredictable weather, big humans with rototillers and little humans with fast feet and grabby hands... Sometimes not everything makes it.

But what has been making it is plenty for us right now.  And to think I started just about everything from seed!  Plenty for us, some for sharing.  Not a lot for winter storage as of yet, but that is a blessing, indeed, given we just lost our chest freezer. We are thankful that we don't need the grocery store as frequent as usual.
 
Anyway, every meal is centered around the garden.  Kale, swiss chard, carrots, lettuce, basil, oregano, parsley, different squashes, green onions, garlic, peas, beans, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers, soon to be corn, peppers, cabbage, potatoes and eggplant.  I'm sure I'm forgetting some.  All that into salads, fried rice, stir fry, quiche, pasta sauces, pizzas, pesto and so on and so forth.  My kids gobble up that which we've grown. We are most happy eating freshly picked in our backyard.

 I have some blogger friends who were posting some blossoms around their garden.  (That's you Little Acre that Could).  Inspired me to look around my own garden.  These were taken at dusk with my 2 helpers.  Not perfect, but I hope you enjoy. And a little challenge...see how many you can guess.  There will be a key at the bottom.








 
 Marigold
Tomato
Pepper
Pea
Eggplant
Spaghetti squash
Summer squash
Sunflower
Cucumber
Corn

How many did you get?  I hope you got the corn one. ;)

While I'm thankful for all our garden has produced, even if it didn't produce much, I'm very, very thankful for the opportunities, lessons and play it has provided my kids. 





Now it's your turn.  How is your garden doing?  Or what have you enjoyed that's locally grown? 

6 comments:

  1. Your garden looks great! It must be wonderful to make your fresh veggies the focus of your meals!

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  2. How nice to enjoy your own fresh veggies! I love the pics of your sweet children enjoying the outdoors. What a gift your blog will be to both of them as they grow older.

    We only moved here 3 mos. ago...no garden yet but we do enjoy a farmer's market nearby. We've bought some lovely heirloom tomatoes, peppers and sweet watermelon.

    Have a great day! Mildred

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  3. This weather has been the pits, hasn't it? We're getting enough, but I don't see the great winter reserve I had so hoped for this year. I'm just trying to keep the bugs away at this point! I'm pretty proud, I actually got all of the blossoms correct, I guess I am getting a knack for this :)

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  4. I love all those bloom shots! Especially the last one with your house in the background. Lovely. Your garden is looking really great. I love summertime when meals are focused around whatever is ripe in the garden!

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  5. Those were beautiful blossom pictures. That was fun. I guessed everything except the egg plant so I feel very accomplished. Haha! Thank you so much for linking to my blog.

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  6. Thanks for stopping by everyone! Everyone did so well with the guessing game. I think I have lots of horticulture folks who follow along with me. :)

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