mystery squashes

This year I have a bunch of squash-type plants that volunteered in my community garden plot. One of them sprouted from my compost bin, and is growing out of my fence and into the path. No fruits yet. I am curious to see what it will produce. The others are a clump of three plants in the far corner of the plot where my compost bin was last year. They are BIG plants that sprouted early. The fruits are forming and look like Big Rock pumpkins.

my plot

Just photos. They tell the story themselves....

rabbit...

Skippy in his shady spot

Skippy has dug a BIG hole under his shade cover. Its the only place in the garden he's allowed to dig. Must be cooler down there. We've been at the garden on some really hot days this past week.

garden notes

I noticed today the the squash stem borers are killing the giant pumpkin in the cold frame. It looks like it won't last much longer. I will try to remember not to grow squashes of any type in my yard as this is what usually happens.

The parasitic wasps I ordered for the Mexican bean beetles and corn ear worms are both back ordered. I'll be waiting weeks til they are available. By then, probably too late. Oh well. I will try to remember to pre-order next year.

Today I harvested cherry tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers. And I'm making a squash casserole with my garden zucchini and garlic, and using up the last of my store bought potatoes.

I saw lots of tiny melons starting to set at my community plot the other day. I look forward to watching them grow.

Eggplants are sizing up and basil is taking off.

My beans that the rabbit trimmed are regrowing and seem like they will recover.

I was asked "What is that big yellow thing?" growing in my community plot. I'm wondering too. I started 6 or 8 different types of winter squash and pumpkins and planted them in a patch, but it doesn't look like any of them. I'm wondering if I mixed up a label.

summer at the community garden

The gardens are so beautiful and full of produce. Skippy and I walked around the paths and I took photos. Here's a slideshow.

garden aerial

This week the cute little bunny ate my beans almost to nothing - so I now have a new fence made of chicken wire two and a half feet high all around my garden. I didn't realize those little rabbits can get through fence smaller than 2 inches and can jump a foot or more!!! Amazing.

Its a good year for bunnies and a good year for my garden. The hot weather is great for the basil and eggplants. The cukes are producing well and my giant pumpkin vines are coming along. The pumpkins are at the back side of my cold frame and are spilling over the edge and heading for the font yard where they will have room to sprawl.

harvests

These are photos of my harvests this past week.

Can't say what I've enjoyed most. I have my first tomatoes - a cherry (variety Prince) given to me and raised by Diane (Thanks Diane!). The new potatoes are fantastic, fried, sauteed or boiled. And the zucchini are growing amazingly fast, as usual for zucchini. Nice cukes, lots of lettuce and a big fava bean harvest. I peeled all the favas, blanched and froze some and made a nice dinner out of the rest. I sauteed then with garden fennel and garlic. Yummy.

garden event cancelled due to heat

:-( We thought it was best to cancel the Event scheduled at our community garden because of the extreme heat the weather service is forecasting. The humidity and heat are supposed to be dangerous here tomorrow through 8 pm. We'll reschedule for August 25, 6 pm.

garden event

This is an event we will hold at our Community Gardens this Thursday evening. We welcome any gardeners, would-be gardeners, or anyone interested in beekeeping to join us.

PLEASE JOIN US!

July 21 (Thursday) at 6/6:30 p.m.
Joan Teebagy – Bees at Rock Meadow (more info)

BELMONT COMMUNITY VICTORY GARDEN SUMMER GATHERINGS

Join other gardeners for a BYO picnics, fun, and informative presentation. Bring your own lawn chairs.

Picnic will start on the hour and the presentation half an hour later. Feel free to bring something to share.

Heavy rain cancels.

fledged robins

The robins from the nest outside my kitchen window fledged yesterday. On Friday morning, first thing after I turned on the coffee pot, I looked out and the nest was full of two big robin chicks chirping and mouths open. Mom and Dad Robin were in the yard scurrying round and just generally being great parents. And then Saturday morning I hit the coffee button and went to the window and the nest was empty. No note, no babies hanging around the yard. :-( Oh well. The season moves on. All the baby birds and rabbits are now out and about in the beautiful lush world of a New England summer.

butterfly milkweed

It was a big surprise to me to find this bright orange Butterfly Weed today! A few years ago (2008) I bought seeds of Asclepias tuberosa, a native orange milkweed. I raised a couple small plants and tucked then in a few different spots in my garden. Then I forgot about them. I never expected then to survive. What a joy!

covered crops

I have a couple patches covered with garden fabric this summer. One is broccoli, the other kale. At first I covered them because of the baby rabbits. Then my husband and son were so nice to put up chicken wire abound my garden to keep the cute bunny out. I left the row cover on the protect the plants from white cabbage butterflies. I am admiring how well my wood planks work as walking paths, patch dividers, AND row fabric holders.

Almost time to remove them I think because the plants are getting BIG.

today's harvest

cheers to the first cuke of the season!!!

A pretty little North Carolina Pickling cucumber is my first this year. As usual.... And what to do to celebrate the first cucumber? A martini of course.

(my nails look like I've been digging potatoes! yes.)