Count Your Riches



Onion Blossom with three bees.



June has come and gone. A lot has happened since my last post. A lot of personal things and a lot of gardening things…

Since I use this blog primarily as a way to remember important (usually gardening) things, I thought I would include an important event as a way of understanding the progress of my garden. I’ve written about the dramas of the beekeeping club and kitten rearing in the past and you’ve all stuck with me on that. Thank you. : ) I hope you’ll bear with an extra paragraph of personal blabberings just so I can save this moment in time for me to look back on.

My grandma passed away a few weeks ago. She was always present in my life and a wonderful example and role model of what a human being should be. Losing her is a really huge deal and a definite end of an era. She was the matriarch of the family and her family was what she counted as her riches. She will be missed and thought of every day.

She and my mother were the ones that taught me the basics of gardening. My grandma was the one that said never to react to gardening woes because the plants will fix themselves if they are fixable at all. She was a lady of great commonsense wisdom.

Mysterious pumpkin

We put her on home hospice the day before Memorial Day. I had just planted my garden when her health severely declined. I spent a lot of time with her during this time so my garden was neglected for a few weeks. Luckily all of the volunteers that popped up really gave me the jump that I needed during a time like this. Because of them I currently have zucchinis which I’m calling “Bicchinis” (pronounced Bikinis) because I’m certain they are a cross between a zucchini and a butternut squash. They are medium green in color and no matter how small they are, they have the distinct butternut squash shape – narrow on the stem end and bulbous on the blossom end. I also have what I’m calling “Paushi” – which looks like a mix between yellow squash, zucchini and a pumpkin. These ones are really weird so I think I’m just going to harvest the blossoms and call it a day. I have so many random tomato plants!! Last time I spoke of my 20 volunteers that I transplanted – well, since then I’ve found many many more all over the place. I’m going to leave them be unless I they turn out to be those putrid yellow pear cherry tomatoes. Those were not a favorite of mine. They were mealy and lacking acid.

Just before my grandma went ill I wrote a post about my garbanzo beans which I never published. I’m going to publish that in a few days although I realize they aren’t something that you’ll be able to find at the farmer’s market any longer. I think it’s still interesting if you have never seen a fresh garbanzo bean. And hey, maybe you’ll decide you want to plant some next year because of it!

Long-winded story short – the garden is doing absolutely fabulously. Because I had some things already planted there are so many wonderful textures. Fresh little guys standing next to the old-timers. I think it’s rather cute. The potatoes are doing great despite the fact I couldn’t get my act together and try the “Garbage Can Potatoes” like my friend Anna at Back to Our Roots. I’ll try harder next time!  



Out of control Hairy Vetch with tomatoes being
smothered (there are really tomatoes in there!).

 One of my cover crops has really created a problem. It’s the Hairy Vetch and it’s not dying like it’s supposed to. My poor little tomatoes are trying to break from its clutches but it just climbs the tomatoes. Every week I have to go in and cut it back but I have to wait until sundown because during the day it’s riddled with various types of bees and wasps because of the gorgeous purple flowers. Before I know it, I’m accidentally ripping out tomato plants because I’m working in the dark. However, one great thing is the soil beneath…oh the soil is divine!! It is very rich with organic material and I think in the long run I’ve made the right choice. It’s just a bit more high maintenance than I imagined.

For now here are some pictures. I have some before (meaning a month ago) and after (meaning about a week ago).

Cabbage

Garlic and Shallots



Potatoes (French Fingerling, Red, Yukon, Russet)




Cucumbers (Lemon and Pickling)



Herbs and flowers

Zucchini, Buttercup and Yellow Squash

Tomatillos (I transplanted these from all over the garden)

Beets, Chard and Onions

Peppers being protected from the ducks and the upside down
crate is protecting the soil from the peacocks that like to dig. 

 

Give your loved ones a hug,

Daphne