Everything is growing like mad in the garden these days. This past weekend I had to have the HH trim the laurel hedge in both the front and the backyard.
When we first moved in here 2 years a 9 months ago the newly planted hedge {from the previous owners} was a gangling 12″ high and the sides of the shrub we not touching each other yet. But just look at it now… all grown up and manicured. I just love the way it looks.
Miss Lucy is very proud of her strawberry patch and checks it daily.
I planted a $0.99 cent packet of Phlox seeds early last spring and take a look at them now. Aren’t they gorgeous? I love the colors.
The raised garden beds.
I’d say some delicious sauerkraut is in our future.
And check out those fava beans!!!! Now all I need is a nice liver and some Chianti to go with them. 😉 {In case you are wondering, I plan to dry the beans this year and to use later in the winter in stews}.
Potato blossoms.
Do you have a raspberry patch? Ours is covered in fruit this year. Seriously, it’s gone crazy and I am so looking forward to making raspberry jam this year from our own homegrown fruit. We planted canes just 2 short years ago and look at them… they are magnificent!
The wisteria has not taken off as fast as I had hoped {also planted 2 years ago} but it’s getting there. I’m sure by this time next year it will be climbing over the top of the arbor.
So far we have two fragrant blooms.
And our 3 espalier trees {2 pear, 1 apple}.
In our second year of having them in the ground we have 1 piece of hanging fruit. Ain’t she a beauty? We are going to have to have a special party or something when we pick it. 🙂
And Miss Lucy. The queen of our garden. We mustn’t forget to share a picture of her. Life is good! The grass {and weeds!} are green, we’ve got vegetables growing and the sun is shinning. Who could ask for more?
How is your garden doing these days? Are you growing anything unusual this year? I’m always on the hunt for something new to try.
Have a wonderful day everyone,
~Mavis and Lucy the Puggle Princess
Beth says
I love your Espalier Trees. I planted two columnar apple trees this year. A Golden Treat and a Tasty Red. I also added two honeyberry bushes, a dwarf plum tree, two grape vines, two rhubarb plants, and two Hansen bush cherries. This fall, I’m hoping to a white peach tree ( I already have one regular dwarf peach tree) and maybe another dwarf plum tree.
As far as my garden goes, I have already harvested all my snap peas, and pulled them out in favor of pepper plants. I have a few snow peas hanging in that I am still picking from, but they are about ready to go. I have been harvesting bush green beans for a while now. I have about 150 green tomatoes on my plants and a bunch of onions forming bulbs and potatoes that are just starting to turn yellow. I would imagine that I will be harvesting red and yellow potatoes next week. I have some cucumbers coming in and zucchini. Gardens…I love them!
Beth says
Midwest here…just east of St. Louis.
Gertrude E. says
We are trying San Marzano tomatoes and Black Hungarian peppers.
Connie says
It all looks great. Ha-ha on the fava beans. Some movies you just never forget. Here in high desert of NM. my wisteria grows a foot a week and blooms very early spring before it leafs out.
Sue R. says
Great to see and hear about people’s gardens. Mavis, perhaps mention that it would be interesting/helpful if commenters mentioned where they garden–Midwest, Southeast, Northeast… or name of state. Nosey me is often curious about where the garden is growing when I read the comments 🙂
Molly Jo says
NW Ohio and my ancient red raspberry patch is insane, I pick every other day and on Monday got 8 cups and made freezer jam. Today I got 5 cups and much of these and rest to come will go into freezer for smoothies. have been trying to eat as many fresh as I can. I planted some black raspberries this year too!
My garden is in large tubs with green peppers, tomatoes and herbs.
Enjoy all your photos and those your post that get shared!
Laura says
Your comment about the wisteria reminded me of some gardening advice given to me years ago from one of the senior members of the gardening club I was in: “First year sleep, second year creep, third year leap.”
Mavis Butterfield says
Well that’s good to hear! 🙂
Linda says
I was working up to the “weep” stage, but I’m feeling much better now here in southern Ohio. This is the second year for my wisteria and I, too thought it would be over the arbor this year.
Mel says
We are in zone 7B on the East Coast, and our only really unusual plant this year is ginger root. However, we have many things that are new to us, including purple peppers, tomatillos, and several tomatoes we haven’t tried (Amos Coli, Lucid Gem, Black Vernissage, Destor, Black Brandywine, and Riesentraube).
Kristina says
In central CA, my tomatoes are disappointingly slow. I planted them early April as usual, but late spring storms beat the heck out of them, and some of my basil ended up kaput! I thought they would never get going. Sungolds are reliable and early as usual, which is scratching my tomato itch for now. A recent heat wave has shut everything down, as it is my experience that 95+ degrees, everything shuts down. I admire your raspberries. Wicked hard to grow in our heat, but after the awesomely wet winter, the wild blackberries that are usually such a pest on our walnut farm are bursting with unusually large berries this year! I see lots of blackberry jam in my future – usually the flesh to seed ratio makes it not worth it. Pie fillings, too!
Rams says
Everything looks great. Will you be sharing a post on your fall garden prep? i think you usually start early July, no?