growing :: the end of May

almost, but not quite, everything...

Welcome to a little tour of this garden of mine. It's little, but it's growing and already we're eating from it. Above, you can see the main garden beds. We've got tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, pumpkins, and watermelon in the leftmost bed. In the center you'll find delicata squash, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, and celery. Lastly, there's the monstrosity that are the zucchini plants. There's also some acorn squash hiding in that bed. Next year, I'll do a better job sticking to one or two types of veggies per bed.

In the tall beds we've got herbs, strawberries, and some greens. I've yet to be super successful with these beds but I'm willing to keep trying and trying. They're what started off all my gardening efforts at our house. The herbs just might be settling in and, ever slowly, the chard is growing. I lost my one big juicy strawberry to a squirrel - was going to pick it that afternoon, but I waited from morning until evening and it was gone.

Things to be done... clear off the bricks and other debris from the concrete pad, finish off the garage wall with some paint once the stucco finishes curing {tri-toned isn't really doing it for me}, and lay sand and bricks down for our picnic table pad. Each little step forward has me day dreaming of the day when the backyard is done and just enjoyable.

baby delicata squash

tiny pepper and a growing cucumber plant

mint sun tea

On Saturday we put in a new electrical panel - this time one that doesn't have a propensity to arch or cause fires. It's not a very visible change but one we were excited to have completed, especially since it was quite necessary. While the power was off for the day, I set some tea to brew in the sun. Sure I could have lit the stove with a match, but why not use this as an excuse to harness the power of the sun?

Behind the brewing tea you can see the old tires from the volvo hosting tomato plants. And in the shadow, just catching a bit of light is the apple tree. It is doing much better than the first one that never really grew. I was surprised when the nursery let me exchange the dead tree for a new apple tree this year. Hiding completely in the shadow are three artichoke plants that are happily growing too. I can't wait till they start producing.

pumpkin tendrils 

I have dreams of pictures of our baby with pumpkins from our garden. Probably something to do with the fact that there are pictures just like that of me and my siblings with pumpkins my mom grew. The pumpkin plant already has the promise or two of a pumpkin. The trick this year, for me, will be to pick them before they rot on the vine.

sungold flowers

Already, these flowers are turning into little green tomatoes. It won't be long now before we're eating the first of them as well. That will be a nice addition to the zucchini we are having trouble keeping up with.

Happy growing, little garden.

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P.S. Here's a peak at last year right around this time.