Garden update august 2019

This poor garden

     First off, let me say that this “garden update” is more of a list of fatalities than a positive, what’s growing, post that I usually do. With Gummy Bear on the way, and an ever busy work schedule I let my garden go. Like seriously. She went. Poor thing sat so neglected that I’m surprised someone didn’t come mow her down (wouldn’t be the first time).

Is there even a garden path in there?

InSide

• Nothing. There’s really nothing going on inside. My aloe looks like she might still be alive, but just barely. I’m actually afraid to touch her.

poor, poor baby

Outside

• The herbs (oregano, mint, yarrow, bee balm, lemon balm and sage) all did exceptionally well despite my lack of attention. Actually, the sage bloomed for the first time ever. The thyme however, both plants died. I’m not entirely sure what happened. Maybe they don’t fair well when planted near yarrow? Or they just weren’t a hardy variety. That’s now at the top of my “to replace” list.

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• The strawberries showed up, but in pitiful numbers. I think when I thinned them last year, and then subsequently neglected them, they failed to thrive. The garden bed is quite overrun with weeds, so I’ll have to get out there when I have a hot minute and try to get it under control. Wish me luck!

• The blueberries were casualties of well meaning “helpers” between this year and last. One gentleman weed whacked an entire bush down, and decimated another. And yet another young man bent and broke one while repainting the front porch. The one I have left, she gave me about 10-12 blueberries, which were delish, but she, too, was abused by the nice main painting the porch. I’m curious to see if she makes it through the winter

• That leads me to the raspberries. Oh. My. Goodness. They went crazy. They look so awful and I feel so bad. They produced, don’t get me wrong, but visually they are a serious mess. I didn’t cut the old plants and let things just grow wherever. It’s on my to-do list in the fall. I swear.

• We didn’t harvest dewberries or mulberries this year, mostly because of Gummy Bear. It’s hot and bright back there and his fair skin is prone to sunburn. I’m pretty sure I saw some dewberries growing though, and the mulberries fed the birds nicely. Maybe next year I’ll get to use them.

• The wild blackberries are just now starting to ripen. Hopefully we will be able to sneak a few evening picking sessions before the animals get them. They’ll be great in oatmeal, or even a salad, hopefully. 

Can't wait to try them!

Chickory, SURPRISE!

Good thing I left the green bean trellis

• ​I had quite a few volunteers this year too- some green beans, which we are starting to harvest. The calendula came back on it’s own, to my surprise. And the best of all? I ended up with a chicory plant! Three years ago Caveman and I went to New York and stayed on a farm, the very same farm where many of my best pictures here came from. We took a walk and I harvested, or attempted to harvest, some chicory. I planted it in the garden hoping it would come up and when it didn’t, I planted calendula over it. This year it grew! I couldn’t believe it.

• In July, which is really, REALLY, late, I planted three peppers. Red, yellow and green. They’ve already got some blooms. Fingers crossed I get full sized peppers before the frost.

Upcoming

• As soon as Goomba and I finish weeding the other half of the herb garden I’m planning to plant some lettuce. I’m not entirely sure which type I saved seeds from, but I’m gonna plant them and find out! Either way it’ll be delish and save on my food shopping budget. 😊