another new bug!

A black ladybug! Like the previously seen preying mantis, I have only read about these. Also like the mantis this elicited excited exclamations. (Say that 10 times fast)

This one was kicking it on the sheets I had hung on the (still temporary) line. It seemed to be really attracted to the warm white fabric.

The days are finally cooling a bit, I spent an hour today ripping the ivy away from the kitchen window and door - it had started invading.

The crock pot is full of chicken stock - to be pressure canned tomorrow night. There is double chocolate zucchini muffins in the freezer, and a couple loaves of maple nut zucchini bread on the counter. I have 3 bananas in the fridge begging to be made into bread. One of the neighbors behind us is allowing me to pick apples from his overloaded tree this week (tomorrow a.m.?) in exchange for a pie. Good thing too, as the family polished off the last of the cherry apple fruit leather this afternoon. I have started putting ripe roma tomatoes in the freezer to can when I have enough.

It won't be enough to stop grocery shopping, but it is a start.

Summer Bounty

I would like to claim this as my own.

But I can't.

Except for the Mr. Stripey tomato Juju picked today (far right front) that will soon become part of the BLTs we plan to eat for dinner, this was brought to us yesterday by our resident earth goddess Deb. All of the spiny oriental cucumbers will be dried for rabbit snacks this winter, and the small zucchini for soup this fall. The peppers will be frozen and the tomatoes will be tossed with feta, onions, olives and the smooth cucumbers for Greek salad - yum. The big zuch will become double chocolate cake for the girls' lunches.

I am not sure what is blocking my ability to grow massive amounts of food - believe me I am open to suggestions - but I am forever thankful for the generosity of neighbors.

But it is so pretty . . .

Yeah, I know. Invasive. Very invasive. I will pull it out, I swear. Really.

Visitor

I have never seen a preying mantis outside of gardening books.

The girls and I attracted the attention of my visiting brother with all our squealing in the front yard.

He just shook his head and went inside to finish his coffee.

He always thought I was strange anyway.

I have gotten 1 full grown yellow crookneck from this plant, BTW. The other 3 have shriveled up and died at about 3" long. Luckily my neighbors don't have such problems and I have enough large ones to make zucchini bread and enough small ones to marinade in balsamic vinaigrette and grill. Yum.

Garden update

Mostly neglected unknown lettuce.










Kentucky wonder pole beans. The books said the first week of July is the last chance to plant these.







blue field peas (last years leftover seed) and onions (leftover from earlier planting)








2 yellow squash!











Basil, onion and roma tomatoes (no blossom end rot! It is amazing what watering does for the happiness of our plants!) There are also cherry tomato and Mr. Stripey tomato + carrots (seeded 3x now with new seeds and minimal sprouting) and a single radish (from 6 seeds leftover from a couple years ago.

For the most part I feel good about this year's garden. The soil has not been amended (or weeded) for at least 4 years and we started planting in June. I've been watching the sun movement and have big plans for next year (I always do!) Sheet mulching will play a big part in my fall projects.

We have a lot of information sources here. Across the street is a retired botanist and we have met a couple neighbors who are serious about their vegetable gardens. (#1 advice - mulch) Plus the local extension service is 6 blocks away.

I have my criminal barrel that helps keep the plants healthy, and me feeling happily subversive. I have rabbit pellets to side dress. (no need to compost them! It has something to do with their vegetarian diet)

All of this makes me optimistic for next spring!

1st tomatoes!

Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes! Mesha and I picked them 10 minutes ago.

She put them on the counter so she can share with Juju when she wakes up.

gifts of the garden

This was left on our front porch yesterday.
I have been much more vigilant with watering this year. I have green tomatoes, and I have pinched off my basil once already. But any midsummer bounty is beyond my current gardening skills.

This is one more reason to get to know your neighbors.

From this basket of cucumbers and banana peppers I made Juju extremely happy. She loves refrigerator pickles. The trick will be to get her to leave them alone for a couple days.
The yellow squash is in the fridge. Dinner tonight. Yum.