Last night we had a really beautiful sunset. Thunderstorms were predicted but failed to materialize. The clouds did yield a dramatic sky as the sun went down.
The sun was behind a narrow cloud and the effect was spectacular. I really like the soft colors on the hillsides below the horizon.
This didn't last long, just a few minutes.
Today we still have a chance at thunderstorms and rain, but less of a chance than yesterday.
This morning we went down to the garden to open the greenhouse, replant zucchini seeds which failed to germinate (soil was too cool); and plant some herb seeds in the greenhouse.
All in a row. The Gooseberry plant is weighed down by fruit; the baby Rhubarb plant is getting some size, and the baby Josta Berry plant next to it is also putting on good growth.
All three of these big fruit plants are going to duke it out for space in the years to come. We are placing bets on who is going to win that fight (I think it will be the Josta Berry plant).
The trees against the fence are a pie cherry which has probably 100 cherries that set, and in the corner is an apple tree that has several apples starting to grow. Behind the large fruit plants is a row of blueberry plants which are setting fruit, and some flowers for bees and hummingbirds to enjoy. In the big pot is a Chocolate Mint which we’ll dry this winter for an herb tea.
Dan pulled the largest radishes from the first planting. We have another row of radish plants which are starting to grow, and will plant another batch in a couple of weeks.
Behind Dan’s hand are the two beds with potato plants growing, and a row of Walla Walla sweet onions. The onions are starting to put on some new leaves – hurray, will be nice to have onions and I am starting to be hopeful.
The three remaining Blackberry plants from last year are getting green; the three new canes we planted are just barely leafing out.
Today I pulled the grass and weeds growing against the fence behind and around the Blackberries, and put down a few bags of bark mulch. That will hold moisture in and keep the weeds more under control, or at least make them easier to yank out when they come back. We’re going to have to make wire cages for these plants as the mice appear to relish them as a winter snack food.
The Yellow Snap beans are all popping up, and next to them the beets are also growing well. At the end of the bed is the second planting of peas. In the bed behind are strawberries. They are loaded with flowers and baby strawberries.
We need to replant some beets to fill in the row where it appears the first seeds aren’t going to come up. We’ll do that this afternoon.
The first ripening strawberry. Need to get a floating row cover down there very soon, before the birds come and check out the progress.
If enough berries ripen at once I could make some strawberry jam. That would be a very fun thing to do!
A row of Swiss Chard is starting to grow well. At the end of the bed, the pea plants are starting to bloom.
We planted a different kind of pea this year, not an edible pod variety. These should all be ripe at once and I’ll have peas to freeze for winter eating. The Chinese Cabbage plants are really growing fast, and Spinach will be ready to eat in a week or two at the most. Lettuce and carrots are being slow. One row of radishes has been mostly picked, and another row is growing well.
All along the fence the raspberry plants are just going crazy putting up new canes and flowering. Both red raspberry and black raspberry plants are doing well this year.
Dan tried to restrain these three Josta Berry plants. They were threatening to take over the entire back of the garden.
There are only a few berries on these plants; next year they should produce a normal crop.
The red currant bushes are just completely loaded with fruit, and that’s exciting. We love currant jam a lot. I didn’t take any pictures of them because they look like they did the last time I took pictures. The berries are all still green. I don’t think they start turning red until late July.
And we have two tomatoes already growing on one plant, and two other plants have blossoms. All in all this is just fun.