Jul 21
2008
Today In My Garden
One of my plans when I first started blogging was to create an online journal of what was going on in my garden.
Somehow, that never really happened. I had other ideas I wanted to explore and topics I wanted to write about. I suppose I also worried that no one else would be interested in my little plot of land. I also worried that if I wrote too much about what was happening in my backyard, people wouldn’t come and look over my virtual fence and chat.
Well, now that I have my gardening column on Examiner as a forum for non-personal garden topics, I can get back to some of my original objectives and make Bumblebee more about my own gardening space.
So let me tell you about my day…
Today I marveled at the perfection and beauty of my squash plants. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I am fully aware that they won’t stay this lovely. These perfectly formed and perky leaves will start to wilt. The bugs will discover them and chew tiny holes in them, some in lace-like patterns. Some leaves will wither and yellow even as the squash starts arriving by the bushel full.
But for now, I love these squash plants. They are perfect. They are mammoth. My hand cannot even reach from one side of the leaf to the other. Today, they represent the potential of abundance and are an ornament to my garden.
Today I also picked blackeyed peas. I have never grown them before, but a family friend gave me some seedlings she purchased at the local Amish market. Frankly, it was during the throes of spring planting and I just plunked them in a convenient spot. They are, perhaps, a bit crowded. And at first I thought they would need some sort of trellis to climb. But they have done just fine here, shooting up their long pods above the plants.
It was very satisfying picking a whole bucket of these beans today. Tomorrow I will shell them and find some appropriate dish to highlight their freshness. Secretly (okay, secret’s out), I am grateful that the men in my house do not like blackeyed peas. ALL MINE!
I also admired my pink bed today. When I planted the cock’s comb seedlings in the bed near the cone flowers I didn’t realize they would intermingle so companionably. But now I think I’ll do this again, since it’s a winning combination.
The cone flowers also make me smile because they are from a clump of flowers given to me by a friend about four years ago. I always think of her and her husband when I see them.
I also started harvesting the seeds from my spent cilantro plants. These coriander seeds will be a fine, fresh addition to some dish. I’ll need to begin exploring recipes soon to take advantage of the new harvest.
So, aside from the watering and bush squishing, that was my garden today.
What was going on in your garden today?
Robin
July 21st, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I’ve got lots of green beans and cucumbers and my squash plants are dying, but I did get some squash.
I love that flower combination. Might try that myself!
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:55 am
Don’t you love those serendipitous combinations? That one’s a winner.
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Love the combo – what is the flower with the coneflower? I’d like to try some of those.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
AAAhhhhhhhhh, the joys of pre-bug squash plants. I planted six squash and six zucchini so that I might get a bit before the bugs killed each and every one.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I’ve had the same struggle with my blog, but I’ve found I get a kick out of people reading it, but it’s not really my first goal. First and foremost it’s a garden journal for me, secondly an outlet for stifled creativity through photography, and lastly a source of community allowing me to reach out to other gardeners for advice. I will admit that I’m a little shocked that there have been days when over 100 people found it interesting enough to stop by.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Well, I’m sure our old garden is absolutely thriving and I may go back to visit it this week and get some tomatoes and see if the corn is ready. The saddest thing about leaving our home in Maryland was leaving the garden there. It was my husband’s refuge.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Don’t ya just love when a planting combination comes together so beautifully! And I know just what you mean by loving your squash plants–I kinda have a thing for mine too, LOL.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:20 pm
I do not believe I have ever heard so many ode’s to the squash as I have read here.
Long live the Squash!
July 24th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Hi,
I joined Blogher just this minute, and yours is the first blog here I have visited.
I live in CA and can grow the same plants you do.
My own blog is about gardening, my journey as a Christian writer, book reviews and occasional book giveaways, etc.
Glad to meet you.
July 24th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
This is also my first time to blog..I just completed the master gardner course in SC so I’m very excited about learning more. Loved seeing your pictures!
July 25th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
We love your virtual fence. We will always chat over it, Girl. Your squash plants are lovely, and the coneflowers mixed with the liatris is stunning.~~Dee
July 28th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I started my blog for the same reason, but it doesn’t seem to have turned out that way..LOL You squash is simply lovely…pray the bugs stay away a bit longer.
July 31st, 2008 at 4:02 am
wow at the squash! you are goin to have some mighty tasty dinners soon!
March 22nd, 2010 at 6:49 pm
I love your blog! I have a little blog to record the goings on in my garden (and other hobbies, as well), and even if nobody ever reads it, it is a great resource for me. I can look back and remember all my previous gardening foibles since I’m a novice, and it helps me remember what those plants were, where I put them, and I what I learned. I’m so glad there are more experienced gardeners like YOU blogging so I can learn from things other than my own mistakes.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Marching Backwards =-.