Sunday, 12 August 2012
Thursday, 9 August 2012
One of the final harvests plus a thief!
Despite the fact that it is only early august, we are approaching the end of our growing season due to the tons of rain we have had and limited sunlight. Sadly the pumpkins have just not taken this year.
We have picked bowls full of bush beans, bowls of carrots and we had (!!!) 2 nice tomatoes, red and ready to pick ......Unfortunately on two successive nights we have had masked bandits (racoons) come and pluck them up, eat them and leave the untidy remains behind!
The only thing left to harvest is more carrots and our cherry tomatoes which are just starting to ripen. Once we have done that, we are planning on removing the soil from our veggie garden so that we can relocate/re-orient it to a sunnier location in anticipation of next year's garden.
Thankfully, we have lots of plentiful local farmer's markets from which to buy wonderful produce like the beautiful heirloom cherry tomatoes below:
Today the girls were busy helping me bake a beautiful rustic apricot tartlet from the first of the apricots.
And the finished product..... delicious!
We have picked bowls full of bush beans, bowls of carrots and we had (!!!) 2 nice tomatoes, red and ready to pick ......Unfortunately on two successive nights we have had masked bandits (racoons) come and pluck them up, eat them and leave the untidy remains behind!
The only thing left to harvest is more carrots and our cherry tomatoes which are just starting to ripen. Once we have done that, we are planning on removing the soil from our veggie garden so that we can relocate/re-orient it to a sunnier location in anticipation of next year's garden.
Thankfully, we have lots of plentiful local farmer's markets from which to buy wonderful produce like the beautiful heirloom cherry tomatoes below:
Today the girls were busy helping me bake a beautiful rustic apricot tartlet from the first of the apricots.
And the finished product..... delicious!
Sunday, 29 July 2012
Borscht!
The garden has had its ups and downs this year, *sigh*, but today was a major harvest day! We nibbled on cucumber salad, peas and our first pick of the bush beans.
The pole beans have been interesting. They have dramatic red blossoms, and the pods grew to 9 inches long.
When we cracked open the pods, the bean seeds inside were a beautiful
reddish pink, but alas ... they tasted awful! Next year we will know to
just plant the bush beans.
We also picked all of our beets, and some carrots, which we turned into yummy borscht soup. It tasted all the sweeter knowing that the veggies came from our own garden!
Now all there is to harvest is more carrots, bush beans and tomatoes. I am still hopeful that some of our Japanese eggplant will survive the intermittent rains and grow into shiny aubergines. Last but not least, our pumpkin plants are in full bloom now, so we are excitedly looking forward to some Jack o'Lanterns this fall.
We also picked all of our beets, and some carrots, which we turned into yummy borscht soup. It tasted all the sweeter knowing that the veggies came from our own garden!
Now all there is to harvest is more carrots, bush beans and tomatoes. I am still hopeful that some of our Japanese eggplant will survive the intermittent rains and grow into shiny aubergines. Last but not least, our pumpkin plants are in full bloom now, so we are excitedly looking forward to some Jack o'Lanterns this fall.
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
A week away in Hawaii and ....carrots, beans and cucumbers appear!
We left for a week of sunny summer vacation to chase our rainy June blues away. While we were away... there was sunny summer weather!
The carrots grew, the beans grew and the cucumbers got longer and fatter. Cherry tomatoes grew fruit. A baby eggplant even grew.
The pumpkin vines are finally starting to flower as well.
The flowers in the garden also welcomed the warm summer sun. The hydrangeas are all abloom and the flower pots are doing well. The bumble bees are happily buzzing among the lavender rows.
The carrots grew, the beans grew and the cucumbers got longer and fatter. Cherry tomatoes grew fruit. A baby eggplant even grew.
The pumpkin vines are finally starting to flower as well.
The flowers in the garden also welcomed the warm summer sun. The hydrangeas are all abloom and the flower pots are doing well. The bumble bees are happily buzzing among the lavender rows.
Sunday, 1 July 2012
Canada Day: 2 Yellow beans, a pumpkin blossom and a Chocolate Cosmos
Another rainy long weekend, this time for Canada Day :(
The garden is trying to do its best, and there are now several small cucumbers an inch long, and 2 yellow beans.
The pumpkin plants have also now decided to start blooming, and one very large blossom opened up today.... Jack O' Lanterns are almost a possibility.
In the flower pots, the Chocolate Cosmos has started blooming and the delicious subtle smell of chocolate can be detected when standing close by.
The lavender is also scenting the air with its relaxing smell - if only for a few rays of sunshine!
The garden is trying to do its best, and there are now several small cucumbers an inch long, and 2 yellow beans.
The pumpkin plants have also now decided to start blooming, and one very large blossom opened up today.... Jack O' Lanterns are almost a possibility.
Sunday, 24 June 2012
Strawberries, peas, baby cucumbers and 5 ladybugs!
Despite the fact that we are on track to be the coldest June in Vancouver's recorded history, we have managed to produce several juicy red strawberries and some English peas. We harvested the last of the peas today and planted a bunch more vines to harvest in July. This time I have made the stakes a lot taller, so hopefully they will grow a little less tangled up.
I also realized that we have not one but about 6 baby cucumbers and several cucumber blossoms, so the cucumber vines got tacked up off the ground as well.
The girls enjoyed feasting on the berries and peas today.
We also had some very welcome garden visitors: ladybugs. We counted a total of 5, but we hope that there are many more coming.
Finally, we finished making our summer flower baskets - better late than never, I suppose!
I also realized that we have not one but about 6 baby cucumbers and several cucumber blossoms, so the cucumber vines got tacked up off the ground as well.
The girls enjoyed feasting on the berries and peas today.
Finally, we finished making our summer flower baskets - better late than never, I suppose!
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