Independence Day

These are the kind of summers I like.  HOT.  Today is the first day that I haven't been able to walk on the driveway without the bottoms of my feet cursing loudly at me.  In fact, I knew better than to even try.  Yesterday the driveway made my feet sting a little bit, so I knew that today even my hillbilly hooves would need protection.

I spent several hours outside earlier this afternoon puttering around in the garden and planting seeds in pots while sitting on the floor of the garage.  (It's the heat I like, not sitting in direct sunlight, as evidenced by my fair complexion.)  Now that the garlic is out of the ground, lots of garden real estate has been opened up and I intend to put that good Earth to use.

Being started in pots are Pasilla pepper, Serrano pepper, marigold, a Cardinal Climber Morning Glory, and two each of red, yellow, green and orange bell pepper.  There are already bell pepper plants growing in the garden bed, but there's no reason not to grow a bazillion of 'em and stock our deep freeze with homegrown bell peppers.

Two of the transplanted hot peppers (Pasilla and Serrano) didn't make it in the garden bed.  When I transplanted the seedlings at the end of April, the four hot pepper plants looked great and continued to look good for the next couple weeks.  One day, I noticed the Serrano plant was gone.  Another day, about two weeks later, the Pasilla plant was missing, too.  Hopefully, with so much sun and warmth, these newly planted seeds will grow quickly, be healthy plants, and produce many delicious peppers.

While planting the seeds, it occurred to me to share the system I use to easily recall what seedlings are growing in flats and, ultimately, what is growing where in the garden bed.  Seeds of more than one variety are planted alphabetically.  For instance, the hot pepper seeds were planted in the flat (as well as in the garden) alphabetically - Georgia Flame, Jalapeno, Pasilla and Serrano.  The tomatoes were planted alphabetically as well.  The bell peppers were planted according to color: red, yellow, green and then orange.  Like a traffic light, which is easy to remember.  Yes, you can write down what you planted and where, but this system is easy to remember when everything is still small and all looks alike.

Mama Leone tomato just starting to blush.

Yellow cipollini onions

Strawberries are growing strong.
The main plants have sent several runners in all directions.

The herb bed includes sage, dill, thyme, marjoram, basil, tarragon,
chives, oregano, rosemary, bay laurel and bergamot.

“Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don't they should, 

for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.”  

-- Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine

The Eastern Redbud is growing nicely.

The latest addition to the backyard is a tiny Blue Spruce, given to us
 by two nature-loving friends.  This little tree smells like Christmas.

A spent flower gives way to fruit.
This odd looking bit will soon be a black raspberry!

Both black raspberry plants are doing excellent.  They've literally gone from being sticks to plants that are a lush green with many broad healthy leaves and additional branches.  The newest growth on the plants are thorns.  The thorns are a sure sign of the plant's good health.

Beetastic!  Harvested today.
Tomorrow they'll be supper: Beet, Dried Cherry and Red Wine Risotto

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer's day, 

listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, 

is by no means a waste of time."  -- John Lubbock

Queen Anne's Lace

Queen Anne's Lace silhouetted against the late afternoon sky.

Cheers!

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