Pole Beans are up!

Mom's complaining about the lack of blog entries, and I finally have a functional camera, so here are some recent pix. The garden in general usually looks horrible in August. Everything burns up and dies. But two things are a surprise. The pole beans that were only seedlings in late July are doing great, but I'm watering twice a day religiously.

The basil is doing beautifully, and the peppers are chugging along. The six tomato plants are producing, two fading fast, two in full fruit, and two just starting. But they look pretty ugly so there won't be photos for Mom...

Our first pickling experience

We survived our first pickling experience. It was a small batch, yielding only four jars. We had a good recipe (I think) with the tip to soak them for two hours in an ice water bath to help keep them crisp. They have to sit for six weeks so it'll be a while before we can announce our success. It looks like the 20 or so one inch sized cucumbers will be ready for pickling next weekend. I think we'll get the hang of it, and then we'll need a serious break! Pickling was Dan's idea. His dad used to make pickles when they were young. If we go nuts and have 80 jars of pickles, I will remind him that this was all his idea.

Zukes and Cukes have gone mad!! Helllp!!!

Since this blog is mostly to share my NC garden with my Mom in PA, I'll have to remind her of all the times she had me deliver zucchini in paper bags to neighbor's doorsteps. I recall being asked to run a bag over to the Kapke's front door, even though it was dark out and they obviously weren't home, with all lights out.

I only give them to folks who ask for them, plus I'll dice a few and pack them in vacuum-sealed bags for the freezer. Any others will go to the food bank drop-off spot at Logan's, my favorite garden supply store in Raleigh. Cukes are getting pickled when not going into salads.

Gorgeous Butterfly!

We've had a ton of bumblebees and bumblebee moths, which are stunning, but it's days like this that make the butterfly garden worthwhile! Dan and I were hanging out on the back porch when two of these floated by.

Harvesting Dinner

This is the reason I work so hard to grow stuff...well, fresh garden tomatoes are reason enough, in my book.

Butterfly garden is buzzing

Another May update that I'm just getting around to is my butterfly garden. It's filling out, blooming nicely, and I've rearranged the plants. I didn't like the height and color organization and it needed a few new plants. Clover was digging in the garden fairly often during May, but it's now recovered nicely. It contains a butterfly bush, lantana, gaillardia, Shasta daisies, sage salvia, Tequila Sunrise coreopsis (one variegated), and a bee balm that isn't blooming yet.

Another stunning lily

This was a gift from my neighbor Ann, who didn't know which plant was what when she dug them up from her former house's garden. Her house was slated to be moved to a different location to make room for a building in Raleigh, and her gardens demolished, so she salvaged what she could. Now that it's blooming I'll have to ask her what the name is. I love this shade.