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!

Lost in a Sea of Green

  Help!  I am being swallowed up in a Sea of Green!  Soon I may feel the need to send out a SOS signal!  Things are getting that bad!  Yesterday, I cut grass for over five hours.  The lawn seemed to be growing faster than my mower could gnaw its way through it but that is not the Sea of Green that I am watching take over the yard.  The vegetable garden seems to have been put under some magical spell!  The tomatoes have far outreached their cages, doubled down to the ground and are now nigh on four feet high again! The ones still standing erect reach skyward with heights untold. Bell peppers and cucumbers fill the rest of the area and are growing at the same fast pace.  Beyond them, the herbs have taken on a whole new appearance. Basil is a least four feet tall, a mint assortment is towering at more than two feet higher than normal and the fennel is slap crazy in size.  What am I to do???

  This green splurge must be due to the warm, humid weather.  My rainforest of a garden has just about blocked out the view from my window.  Whereas I used to see the Bayou and greenhouse, I now see tomatoes and basil.  It would be easy to lose myself among the plants. Obviously, judging by the specimens in my garden, the warm, humid weather of late agrees with botanical growth!  

  You will hear nary a complaint from me, though!  I love fresh veggies and the large, healthy tomato plants are loaded with green fruits.  Soon there should be enough to replenish the pantry shelves with yummy sauces, salsa and ketchup.  Those tiny cucumbers and bell peppers will make tasty relishes and the herbs are waiting to be dried and jarred. Our winter supplies will be laid in early this year.  My "Sea of Green" is a happy place!