Kia hora te manno
Kia whakapapa paumamu te moana
Kia tere te Karohirohi

May the calm be widespread
May the sea glisten like the greenstone
And may the glimmer of summer dance across your pathways

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Without care they still flourish

For the past two weeks I have been laid low with dental problems, so the garden has been left to do as it will. Thank goodness the weather has been kind, and I do have irrigation set on a timer for both the vegetable and flower gardens, so all is well. The flowers are so beautiful and there are beans, peas, the last of the strawberries, lettuce, kale, and Swiss chard to be harvested tomorrow. I was going to pick the first two plump blueberries today, but the danged birds beat me to it. The blueberry bushes are now covered in bird netting.

Flowers sharing space in the vegetable garden.







Potted plants at the entrance to the front of our home


Saturday, July 16, 2011

Peek a boo!

A young bunny who is becoming quite friendly, was watching me as I pulled weeds just a few feet from it's hiding place.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Thursday harvest

The strawberry harvest is starting to wind down now, but the peas are still producing plenty to pick for a week or so. The basil is to go on grilled chicken panini for our supper tonight. Yum!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Harvest Monday, and a little This 'n' that

Actually the harvest was on Sunday. I spent all day outside working in the vegetable and flower gardens. I must say, my poor old body, is finally getting used to all the bending, tugging, digging and pushing the wheelbarrow, as I don't hurt as much this morning.

The 10 lbs of peas have been shelled, frozen, bagged and are in the freezer, the 4 lbs of strawberries will be done today. There is Swiss chard, kale and lettuce for our rabbit (she gets the bug chewed, and not so nice greens) and some for us, with plenty more to harvest in the weeks to come.

I am very fond of a chicken panini with basil, so decided to toss in some basil seed, and by golly, they are growing. Last year I had no luck growing basil at all. On the right of the basil are golden beets, and these are coming along beautifully too.

The Sunsugar tomatoes are growing plumper by the day. I can hardly wait to taste their sweetness.

A different variety of summer squash forming.

Monday, July 04, 2011

Keewee's veggie patch is starting to produce

What is there not to like about a lovely healthy garden such as this one? I do believe I have finally learned how to care for a veggie garden and 'I am tickled pink!'




Outside looking in.

Grace, this one is for you. My first Sunsugar tomato. Granted it is only the size of a medium sized pea, but will grow fast now the weather has warmed up.


Clematis climbs each side of the arched entrance to the veggie garden, and the basket is planted with hen & chicks.

Peas, beets, lettuce, scarlet runner beans and kale share this raised bed.




My very first teeny tiny squash of the season.

Burgundy bush beans, kale, parsnips, peas, gourds, and some flowers share this bed.

Scarlet runner beans climbing towards the top of the trellis in front of the pea patch.

Lots and lots of lovely peas. I am going to be very busy during the next few weeks, harvesting and processing these beauties.

The very first harvest of shelling peas of the season. There were enough peas for one good sized portion for both of us, and some were eaten right there as I stood in the garden.

I am so happy with the strawberries we have this year. So far we have had many desserts, made a batch of freezer jam, frozen several bags full, and this tray of berries will be frozen in a free flow state. I estimate I have picked 10lb or more berries so far, and hope to have enough to make another batch of jam, and freeze some more to enjoy during the gray days of winter.