Well, dear reader, forgive my neglect of orderliness in the picture sequence. Perhaps my narrative can compensate. These pictures were taken June 13, 2011, updating this year's anniversary garden progress. Below is the tomato patch for this year, still in hot caps and walls of water. This is the third generation of tomatoes grown from my own seed. I also planted peppers and eggplant between the tomato towers, summer squash between the two rows, and a mixture of marigolds, alyssum, cosmos, borage and other flowers for good plant health and lovely color.
My antique double sink (great for rinsing veggies before processing at harvest) is in the foreground with the melon patch just beyond, strawberries beyond that and a row of blooming irises in the background.
Out of any sort of sequence, but here is the stone path that leads up to the house from the parking area.
Path from the greenhouse, past the herbal garden on the left and the tomato patch on the right, a row of heirloom irises as well as bachelor's buttons, lavender, borage and pennyroyal on the right of the path. The small trees on the left are Nanking cherries, which are loaded with fruit this year.
The double sink with trees waiting to be planted, tomato patch beyond, blooming pansies that wintered over as well as Flanders poppies and cinquefoil (which planted itself).
The tomato patch as seen from the greenhouse.
Columbines.
A gorgeous blue flower whose name and origin I do not know.
A shady sitting area.
The upper orchard.
Shady sitting area (cushions and pillows will come later, when it stops raining).
A marvelous, long-blooming bleeding heart.
The water feature I made from an old sink and bathtub is gradually filling in with foliage and provides a home to various frogs and critters contributed by my granddaughter, Emily.
Stone steps that are filling in with foliage.
Winter: woodshed. Summer: kitchen and sitting area in the shade by afternoon and evening.
Entry with funk.
The lane with blooming Oriental poppies.
Greenhouse in background, with tomato patch, heirloom irises, etc.
Relocated strawberry patch which is exuberant with growth and berries this year.
Greenhouse with herb garden in foreground.
Across the breadth of the garden, looking north.
The "cool" garden (where I grow those things that require less sun and more cool), with pea trellises in background.
Path between cool garden and the rest of the garden, double row of irises, a row of flowers still in the seedling stage on left.
Oriental poppies along lane.
Angel wing begonia.
Wild geranium/cranesbill.
Columbines.
Columbines.
My favorite viola, which wintered over.
This is a little story about making soup. What I call "end of summer soup." For gardeners, that's the time when there is an abundance of squash, tomatoes, beans, what-have-you and I find that putting layers of the cut-up veggies into a jar with some soy sauce (for flavoring, to lower the pH), a pinch of salt and hot water makes an attractive and tasty way to preserve the abundance. It's easy to add what you like when you open a jar - grains, meat, tofu, fresh or other veggies. So above you see my current selections: sweet corn (those last ears that are really a bit far gone but still quite tasty), tomatoes, beans, onion, garlic, carrots, mixed summer squash, and lovage (a marvelous herb that tastes like celery and grows like weeds in my herb garden). Oh, and the "bible": Putting Food By.
Now the jars are layered and ready for seasoning, hot water, lids and rings.
On the stove the pressure canner is heating, the tea kettle with hot water is behind, and a lid rack in hot water in the saucepan is keeping the lids hot, sterile and making the seals pliable for a better seal.
Lids and rings being applied.
Jars in canner (mine does 14 quarts at a time).
Above and below, the finished product. All jars sealed, though I will check the seals tomorrow, (after letting the jars sit overnight) when I wash them, remove the rings and check the seals and label them before storing them in the pantry.
Oh, the basket of grapes? Well, while the soup is processing there are other things to do. I harvested all my lovely Himrod grapes before the squirrels and birds and deer get them (and other creatures of the night). And the basket of beets? Well, those get pickled next. What is not obvious is that I was listening to the incomparable Nina Simone while canning. It was a very good day!
