sunday, august 12

it was a beautiful morning-no sweating by the gardeners-not sure it is still august because it felt like late september, early october.  it was a semi productive morning, providing that chatting among friends was our list of tasks for the day...

a look at what we saw today

 just in case you didn't get your fill of cicadas last summer, here is one for you to admire.

 i love the markings on this cicada-they almost look as if they were painted on.

 just look at the beard on this one!

 this isn't encouraging news for the tomato trial

 tennessee sweet potato squash

 passion flowers getting ready to put on a show on the arbor.

 black and blue salvia-the hummingbirds were all over this plant.

 bronze fennel in bloom

cannas-bees and hummingbirds were taking turns 

our next big project for the year

 believe it or not, this is our leaf pile.  really, it is and no i am not kidding.  hidden here under a thick carpet of bermuda grass and weeds is a pile of beautiful, fully composted leaves; our own stockpile of black gold!  we need to uncover it and move the contents to an area that will make using it possible.  before we know it, it will be fall and the new pile of leaves (that we hope to acquire) will need a place to rot.  so if anyone is looking for something to do, put on your gloves and start pulling weeds or bring a shovel and start digging out the finished compost.

some of the plants growing around the leaf pile:

 poke weed, it is poisonous-all parts of it.  i know that there are plenty of folks around that will say otherwise but unless you know when to pick it and how to cook it, steer clear of it.

 the next crop of poke-just look at all of those berries...

 deadly nightshade-nothing about this plant is edible

 pretty-anybody know the name for this plant?

 wild tradescantia

oh, and speaking of digging out the compost, it doesn't look much better over in the compost corral either.  looks like we will be digging this out too...

shirley and i dined in style; we had scones with rose hip jam on real plates with fancy napkins...girls will be girls!  join us some time, there is always something good to eat!!!

baby, it's hot out there! 6/24 update

somebody please make it rain.  the grass is crunchy underfoot.  the garden is droopy and the gardeners are melting.  luckily, we have a few dedicated volunteers who make the trip out to the garden to water the plants.   here is a current view from the demo garden:

grapes in the arbor

 we have green grapes and red grapes.  these red grapes are coming along nicely-just don't eat them yet, they bring sour to a whole new level...

 many of the plants have a fungal infection, called black rot and we cannot eat them.

 i like to look at the leaves and see just who has been visiting.  any ideas who may have left these?

 looks like a leaf miner was here too

 cleome in full bloom in the zombie garden.  

 red noodle beans in the vertical garden

 missouri wonder pole beans also in the vertical garden

 mexican petunia in full bloom

 texas star hibiscus-love this one!  when fully opened, it is a bright red star shaped blossom.

 artichokes have wonderful foliage

 the herb garden, or perhaps i should say herb jungle

 the cannas would like to thank michael for their lovely new home and all of the room they now have to spread and grow.

 grasses have the most unusual blooms and are so tiny.  this is switch grass, cultivar heavy metal, in full bloom.

summer savory in full bloom.  how do i know it is summer savory and not winter savory?  summer savory has lavender blooms (the photo doesn't show that very well) and winter savory.has white blooms.  either way, the plant is under utilized in the kitchen.  the flavor is very similar to thyme but a little more earthy.   whatever you think of it, it is a great plant to use in your landscape since it needs little care and spreads nicely.

and speaking of summer savory, today's cake was an orange poundcake with summer savory leaves and blossoms in it.  it was rather tasty!