"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap
but by the seeds you plants. "
Robert Louis Stevenson
It was overcast this morning which means it was only 95 degrees
and I took advantage of the little "cool "spell to go out and do a little garden cleaning
and harvesting, after letting everything go to seed.
harvested hollyhock, leek, and sunflower seeds,
picked some apples and end of the season lemons.
I have let our artichokes flower. Aren't they just beautiful?
I like to do this at the end of the season to enjoy their gorgeous blooms.
This is when you can really see that they are a member of the thistle family.
My cucumbers are really coming along. I think I am going to make pickles this weekend!
picked these...looks like we'll be having ratatouille tonight.
So far, our pumpkins are doing great...crossing our fingers that we will be able to have a
little pumpkin patch in October to share with our community.
First of the season key limes. All they need is a Sol.
The Kadota figs are just about ready.
The first blush of red on our pomegranates gives me hope
that this heat will not be here forever... fall is going to come.
Our Easter rescue chicks are growing bigger and are now out of confinement and free ranging.
We have transitioned them to be with the big girls and all is going well.
We still don't know if they are all hens or if we might have a rooster.
Does anyone know the breed of the black pullet in this picture? Since these are rescued Easter chicks,
I do not know their breeds. I didn't purchase them. But I think one is a barred rock and
the red pullet is a Red Sex link /Cinnamon Queen but I don't know about the black one.
So if you have any ideas let me know. Thanks!
We planted 12 different kinds of basil this year, which mixed together makes an amazing pesto.
Harvested a bunch
and made pesto ice cubes that I freeze and use in salad dressings, marinades, or over pasta.
I like to make ice cubes with the last of the season lemons, too. Perfect for making those fall jams.
That is all that is going on here. I am actually in the middle of painting the kitchen
cabinets white and going a little crazy with mouldings. All this has happened because we needed
a new stove...funny how those things work.
Hope you're keeping cool!
Those artichoke's are amazing! hoping you plan to link to Cottage Flora Thursday's this week? xoxo, tracie
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Caroline! I'd love to learn how to make pickles. I love cucumbers and pickles! lol Post pictures if you can. :)
ReplyDeleteThose artichokes are beautiful! I have never grown any, but I think I'd like to just for the flower! When you were talking about the heat, and fall, I had to see where you lived. Arizona. Have you ever read the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I believe it was from Arizona that they moved, so they could live on the family farm. You are doing a stunning job of growing your own food.
ReplyDeleteCindy Bee
treasuresJune 29, 2011 at 7:47 AM
Everything in your garden looks delicious! You are an inspiration. Glad you had a cooler (still hot) day :).
ReplyDelete~ Julie
My basil flowered and Ive never had that happen!
ReplyDeleteEverything is looking fantastic! I have no garden this year, so I am living vicariously through yours. You also reminded me to visit my old house and gather the seeds from my now defunct garden.
ReplyDeleteBee Lady - They moved from Tucson, AZ to the farm in Virginia.
Your black chicken looks like the black sex-links that I got this spring and the red one looks like my rhode island reds.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen an artichoke flower like that, Caroline. Thanks for sharing your amazing garden with us!!!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful is that! The artichoke bloom is
ReplyDeletesomething else, I never dreamed they were so great. Your garden is so neat and tidy, I love the cucumbers. Great Pictures!
Kathy
It's my first time to see a flowering artichoke.. I love your cucumbers, chickens and just about everything! :)
ReplyDeleteCaroline, your garden is gorgeous and I adore the containers you use!! The key limes in that wonderful cup!
ReplyDeleteThe green vase! Love it all and I know how much work it is for upkeep!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Come and join my fashionable Giveaway from The Shabby Apple!
everythning looks great!! 95 cool little cool spell!hahaha had to laugh! its not been 95 here in years!(thanks goodness) i love to see the artichokes bloom! what a great picture! the chickens seem content, your basil looks happy!
ReplyDeletedebbie
Beautiful~ just beautiful! I so enjoyed seeing your pictures!
ReplyDeleteYour Basil garden is one I wish for, as of now I have 4 different Basil plants and I use them in almost every dish I make. Beautiful garden, thank you for sharing... good luck with the pumpkins, you will have to keep us posted. One year I grew pumpkins and my entire garden was lost underneath them!
ReplyDeleteLovely, just totally lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the photos of chickens, I want chickens so bad but cant because we have a Siberian Husky :(
glimpsesofglory-karen.blogspot.com/
Wondering if the black one is a black star?
ReplyDeleteI let my artichokes "flower" too... I actually don't care for them to eat so I grow them just for this reason!
ReplyDeleteHow I wish I could have a lime tree in my yard.. that would be heaven!
~Chris
The chicken is likely an easter egger. Her green shanks give that away. Generally they have pea combs and tufty cheek muffs as well, but hatcheries are just breeding for colored eggs, so sometimes you get off-type birds. The two birds that you posted the close ups of are definitely pullets. Garden looks great!
ReplyDeleteCould also be a black sex link of some variety, but the legs seem especially greenish for that...
ReplyDeleteCaroline.. Thanks for stopping by my blog- and I adore your garden the chickies are too cute...
ReplyDeleteLOVE it...
Karryann
Hello Caroline! Your photos are mazing and those artichoke flowers, wow! I live close to Castroville, CA which is known as the artichoke capital of the world but had never seen the flowers like that. I love artichokes as decor and of course they are delicious! There is a recipe that is called "Corazon Caliente" or "Hot Heart": with artichoke hearts, cream cheese, pickled jalapenos and roasted red peppers. YUM!
ReplyDeleteTrinidad
Yay - so glad you shared at Cottage Flora Thursday's over here at Fishtail Cottage! xoxo, tracie
ReplyDeleteSpectacular garden! I am so impressed with the ice cube trays of pesto... so smart. Such a beautiful post...
ReplyDeleteWow! Everything looks so beautiful. I am amazed. I'm a city girl moved to the country. I have never been able to make things grow like that. Good for you! Lisa~
ReplyDeleteYour garden is wonderful. How fabulous to be able to pick all those tasty things. So fresh. I've never seen an artichoke in bloom; thank you for that photo!
ReplyDelete95 would be a cold wave here in Dallas too :) Here's a link to some black chickens that I saw the other day: http://livingthesustainablelife.blogspot.com/2011/06/chez-poulet.html
ReplyDeleteEnjoying reading your lovely blog!