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| Leaf detritus |
Outside my coffee shop, I saw these ash leaves that have begun to fall in earnest from the trees above. It's mid-August and summer is more than half over. Thinking about my Tuesday post, I figured I could show you what I'm seeing around here, and give you a little update on my garden.
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| Collards in front, blooming broccoli behind |
I'm watering every other day, usually early in the morning before the sun hits the plants, but everything is still very dry and should probably get a drink daily, but I'm falling behind. Plus we have plenty for the two of us. Those broccoli plants started to flower while I wasn't looking, and since the bees are really enjoying them, I decided to just let them go. The collards have been harvested three times already and are ready for another snip.
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| The kale looks like trees |
My kale has been harvested six times already, and when I cut the leaves off, new ones come up above where I cut the last ones. So now they look more like kale trees than kale plants, don't they? They will grow back again and have already started making new leaves. I'll probably let them go awhile longer now, though.
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| Fellow gardener gathering beans |
While I was out there, my friend Hedi came out with a basket to gather green beans and had just started when I took this picture. Beans and tomatoes are coming ready now, and of course the zucchini has been giving the entire lot of us plenty to eat. Fortunately we can give away what we don't want ourselves.
I've been very happy with the harvest this year, but it's getting to be time to starting thinking about what I might do differently next year. This is the fifth season I've had a garden, and now I cannot imagine what I did with my summertime before then. While it's a lot of work, nothing can compare with the tasty organic delights we've been enjoying.
And we have a mini-heat wave coming, starting Thursday. Forecasts show we will probably break some heat records in our area, and unfortunately my Thursday hike will be a hard one in full sun. I'll be doing everything possible to stay cool, such as dipping my handkerchief and hat in the mountain streams, and taking some electrolytes to keep from heat exhaustion. My next post will be about the Lake Ann hike. Wish me luck!
:-)
Gardening is hard work, but so worth it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your hot walk. Take care. You are important to so many of us here in the blogosphere.
You've got it right about the taste from your own garden. I work hard to have the pleasure of great taste. I think I'll get 2 or 3 more meals from my chard. we've frozen some and will use it in scrambled eggs.
ReplyDeleteLove your garden posts. Such a great garden plot.
ReplyDeleteStay hydrated on that hike and good luck.
cannot believe it has been 5 seasons already that you've gardened. i remember your first tentative summer. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing the maple trees drop their leaves for a couple of weeks now, and yet, we've had plenty of rain...
ReplyDeleteYou truly are a wonderful gardener, your harvest proves it over and over again.
Good luck on your hike, take plenty of liquids.
Hugs,
~Jo
I love fresh young greens. Most of the ones in the grocery stores are not young, but mature greens. I'll bet you're enjoying those young collards and kale.
ReplyDeleteAs for electrolytes, I started drinking some gatorade this past week after a pharmacist recommended it. The lemonade flavor isn't half bad.
We have so many beans that we can't keep up with eating them. Lots of local tomatoes to eat, but none from the garden yet. I could eat fresh tomatoes and beans for every meal!
ReplyDeleteYour garden is doing great! So fun to have fresh veggies that you grow yourself. Good luck with Thursday's hike....it's supposed to hit 100 here in Portland. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteZucchini, cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, zucchini, green beans and tomatoes being harvested now in the Reeder garden.
ReplyDeleteIt was cool and foggy this morning for walking and working in the yard. Hopefully we will have the same for tomorrow before it heats up.
Be careful on Thursday. I am prone to heat exhaustion, so I do not work or exercise in the heat now that I don't have to.
That looks like a garden that keeps on giving. Good for you and your husband.
ReplyDeleteNice garden! I'm sad about summer nearing an end, but I do love fall, too...
ReplyDeleteGood thing most of your days are cool in the northwest. Sounds like weather such as ours would chase you indoors. It's been over 100 this week with more such days forecast. I've tried to stay close to home and have been watering the yards LOTS.
ReplyDeleteI envy you your garden. I have nothing this year because of our move. Maybe next year ...
ReplyDeleteFive years you have been gardening! I almost fell over. Wow! Time really does fly by. Stay cool on that hike!! :)
ReplyDeleteYou have become such a good gardener! We had green beans last week they were so good and we had enough for three nights...I loved hem, my husband not so much. I hope you have a good hike! :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing that there are leaves falling already! Nothing like fresh produce from your own garden! We don't have a garden but live close enough to a farm where we can get lots of fresh veggies. Sounds like you have a good strategy for keeping cool on your hike :-)
ReplyDeleteIf anybody can DJ can but still be careful...:)
ReplyDeleteJust don't get too hot!!! while out hiking.
ReplyDeleteMmmmmmm, tomatoes, home grown...they can't be beat. And speaking of broccoli, I love cream of broccoli soup....sounds good?!!!
We've been hitting the markets and really doing well keeping up with our produce intake. Even though we eat out a lot! Last weekend, we were out picking blueberries. Today, I'm enjoying a blueberry torte. And another great summer day. Sigh. I can't believe it is almost over.
ReplyDeleteIt's getting so chilly here - I can't imagine your heat wave. I wouldn't do well in it! Today, I wore gloves and a jacket as I walked up the trail. We're eating as much fresh produce as possible. We have heirloom tomatoes daily with fresh basil. I'll be sad for the season to end.
ReplyDeleteYou're so lucky to have such a productive garden. Yum! I guess it's been hot everywhere.
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