It made me smile!

  Today was a "work in the garden" day.  I was out at daybreak picking the Boysenberries and pulling weeds.  Next came fertilizing and "hilling" the okra and cucumbers, then transplanting dozens more tomato and pepper plants.  The tomatoes needed their cages while the radishes needed thinning.  All in all, the garden is flourishing.  We still have some grand specimens of Swiss Chard and the broccoli is trying to give a go at a fifth bearing this year. These are leftovers from the winter garden but the summer garden is in full swing!  In this small garden, cucumbers grow on the wire arbor walkthrough and everything with the exception of the okra is planted in raised boxes.  The box gardening is a necessity due to an invasion of voles.  It is one of those "if you can't beat them, outsmart them" type fixes that most seasoned gardeners initiate when all else fails.  

  My morning was full of surprises.  As I worked, I found that many of the plants were blooming and some are setting fruits already.  Besides the berries, I was tickled to find tiny figs, squash and peppers!  It shouldn't be long now before we are feasting upon the fruits of our labor!  The day was rounded out by the harvesting and drying of mint for tisanes this year.  Two quarts of dried, ground mint leaves are now taking up space on the pantry shelf.  Ahh, yes!  The garden makes me smile!