Just for the sake of trying to see the good among the rubble of my particularly challenging gardening year, I present the following series of photos of stuff that does not suck about my garden right now. Please enjoy, and if possible, go out and look for things that don’t suck in your own.
Garlic Braids
The garlic has dried down pretty well, and I’ve braided six dozen of them. Tonight I roasted one in a terra cotta flower pot on the grill. My wife may never kiss me again. I wouldn’t.
Free Potatoes
The best thing about these potatoes, besides their fresh potato-y goodness, is that I didn’t plant any this year. They just came up all over the place. Apparently, I didn’t get them all last year (and some made it through the composting process). It’s like finding a forgotten $20 bill in your jeans– except your jeans are dirt and the twenty is potatoes. But besides that, it’s exactly the same.
Dinosaur Kale Forest
The kale that was struggling along earlier in the spring with a range of critters chewing holes in it has found its footing and taken off. If nothing else, this season has taught me some good organic kung fu for fighting off pests. You have eaten my kale, prepare to die.
Pure Cauliflower
White, pure, innocent cauliflower. Like an angel of garden mercy. Let us pray.
Crocosmia LUCIFER!
The slightly weedy, yet beautiful crocosima lucifer! Like a devil of temptation to man and hummingbird alike! Repent! LET US DANCE ALL NAKEY BUTT!!! OH!!! CHA CHA CHA!!!
One Raspberry of Millions
Even with its winter beating with a stick, the raspberry patch is cranking them out faster than we can eat them. I’m hoping that there are some anthocyanins or something in there that might make me live forever… or not lose my keys so often… or something nice. The good news is that, no, apparently, you cannot eat too many raspberries.
Figgy Good Greenness
The Oregon Prolific fig appears to be seriously getting into the groove in its new spot in the ground. I’ve been pinching off the growing tips to try to focus more mojo into the fruit, but she continues to find ways to bush out into a really nice looking tree. You can also see the next flush of figs forming up on the branches (note that little one in back). This pleases me. Very well. Carry on.
Ligularia: It's a SHADE plant.
OK, you can’t eat it, but the ligularia is a favorite of mine mostly because it had been so abused when I got here. It was in direct sun and nasty hard soil, and it would put up a couple leaves and then burst into flames and disappear. After moving to a nice, moist, shady spot and getting a few years of pampering, she’s got this happy yellow way of saying thank you. You’re welcome, Liggy. You’re welcome.
Even Hydrangea Can Be Pretty
I’m not a huge fan of most hydrangea– particularly the common mophead but decidedly not including the oakleaf hydrangea, which is freeking awesome. Still, even these mopheads and lacecaps are looking pretty good right now. I think they appreciate my newfound love of irrigation.
Casper the Friendly Eggplant
While I’ve only had a couple sungold cherry tomatoes, and the rest of the tomatoes and peppers are nowhere near being ready to eat, the eggplants are starting to crank them out– especially the ones in pots. The caspers are downright loaded with fruit. Still, seriously, it’s pushing the middle of July, and we don’t have a ripe slicer yet? Oregon. Hmmph.
Ay Conchita!
This poblano (I *think*) isn’t ready to eat, but it sure is perty. Andale. Arriba. And so forth.
OK, Your Caterpillars May Eat My Yard
Last, but not least, this swallowtail came to visit this verbena on my deck tonight. I had no idea how big they are up close. It was thoroughly enjoying that flower and, although no one else was too excited about it, I thought it was about the coolest thing I’ve seen in some time. I have to remember to figure out how else to encourage these dudes (gals?) to hang out with us.
There ya go. It’s not so bad. Sure, the botrytis ate most the strawberries, and the leafminers ate most the chard, but strawbs are cheap this time of year, and I think the neem’s got the flies on the run. Can’t let little challenges stink up the whole experience, right? RIGHT?!
Always look on the bright side of life… doo doo… doo doot doo doo de doo…
Wow – your garlic braids are bee-yoo-tee-full! My garlic doesn’t look quite finished to me, but maybe I should go poke the ground a bit and see.
Nice work on the free potatoes. I really like that picture, too.
And what? Really? It’s not even mid July and you’re complaining we don’t have ripe tomatoes? I don’t think anybody in the entire metro area had any eating ‘maters before September last year. Patience, my son.
I got home yesterday to an incredible overabundance of peas, blueberries and raspberries. Oh, and weeds. (Do I wash those before flash freezing? Need to look that up).
Everything else will still need a bit of time.
Your cauliflower is beautiful! And I totally covet your raspberries. I have tried to grow them here for 10 years with no success. I covet Danni’s too, and her blueberries. Bah!
I do love your photos.