I took several garden photos on July 6, thinking I was going to write an Early July Garden Report. Then life got out of hand. So I will just incorporate those photos into this post, a week later.
Every June I think nothing is ever going to grow properly in the garden. Then July arrives, and it all takes off. I ought to know better by now!
Unfortunately, not everything is thriving. I'll deliver the bad news first. All of the slicing cucumber plants died, as did all but one Sweet Dumpling squash plant. The one remaining plant is not looking good. Four of the six marigolds died, and they were nursery stock.
Most of the zinnias turned brown and shriveled up like this. Out of ten or twelve that I planted, only four survived.
But two of them are blooming now! This one is a peachier color than didn't how it appears in the photo.
The other currently-blooming zinnia is here with the surviving sunflowers.
Several cosmos died, but the first of the five remaining is blooming.
Butternut squash and marigolds in one of the new raised beds, July 6.
Same bed, July 12. Took this photo from the other end.
Kale, pepper, marigolds and basil, July 6.
Same bed, July 12. Also taken from the other end.
Tomatoes and nasturtiums, July 6.
Same bed, July 12. I just happened to take all three raised bed pictures from the other end today.
Two days ago I harvested the big broccoli heads. They are about the size of my fist, and very tasty.
The Calabaza squash plants are beginning to vine. I've never grown this variety before, but it's the only winter squash seeds I could find locally, besides acorn and butternut, which I didn't want. Another sunflower can be seen growing out of the red coffee can ring. It's a different variety, one from Ms. W., and I don't remember its name.
I'm not sure what variety of lily this is, but I sure like it. This one, by the house, began to bloom in June. The rest of them are out in the garden and just started to bloom today.
I should be able to pick the first blueberries tomorrow. The raspberries are also barely beginning to ripen up. Of course, the insects have found them, and are busily eating just half of each one selected, as usual.
I spotted one zucchini that should be big enough to eat in just another day or two. After hovering over the seedlings for so long, first in the greenhouse and then in the garden, it's rewarding when they begin to produce food to eat. I still don't think gardening truly saves me money, and it's a great deal of work. But I know what I harvest is truly fresh and contains no pesticides or herbicides. I suppose I'll keep on gardening as long as I can. So far, this size garden feels manageable, and that was my goal.
All photos taken on my Android phone.
