End of August

   
   While my fingers are crossed for an Indian Summer, in practical terms, I am starting to wrap up what I can in the garden in case an early-September killer frost is on the horizon.  Relishes are being canned,  produce frozen and dehydrated.  The apples on our tree are ready to be picked (they fall to the ground if you look at the tree sideways), so apple maple crisp is in our near future.  

   The garden performers of the year seem to be the cabbage, and if things continue to go well, the tomatoes, potatoes, Early Prolific Squash, and North Georgia Candy Roasters.   And sunflowers!  Underwhelming producers were the peas (we ended up with a total of 23 lbs 4 oz, shelled), and string beans (they never do well in the South garden).  The cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, beets, and snap pole beans fell somewhere in the middle.  Best described as, "As expected".  Time will tell how the dry beans do.  R. picked a total of 30 lbs 13 oz of raspberries before he finally had enough for the season and stopped!

    Every summer brings us a different insect that makes working outdoors a little challenging (e.g., wasps, gnats, cabbage moths - even grasshoppers, one year).  The Pest of the Year this summer was the mosquito.  They were thick and thirsty.  

   Dozens of robins have appeared in the last 48 hours.  They are delightful to watch and listen to.  They sound happy!  Their time is being spent poking around the garden (especially the North garden, which we have already pulled up) and flying between the trees.

   R. managed to connect with a woman on Facebook who lives in the area and who had straw to trade.  Finally!  This is the third year we have tried to find someone with square bales who could - and would - deliver.  She dropped by this morning with 4 bales and we traded 8 lbs of frozen raspberries for them.  Some of the straw will be used in our little cat shelter this winter, and the rest will be used to mulch the garden next Spring.

Pink Dahlias

Early Annie tomato

Damascus Steel tomato

Dwarf Roza Vetrov tomato

Black Krim tomato

Work Release Paste tomato

Amana Orange tomato

Malachite Box tomato

Russian Rose tomato

Heirloom carrots

L - R....Rosemary and English Thyme

Lou having a nice stretch

South side of the house

South side of the house

South side of the house, outside plant room

Dahlias - these ones are prolific!

South garden

South garden

Dwarf Sunspot sunflower and bee

Assorted dahlias & Mammoth sunflower

Illumination zinnias - smaller than expected, but pretty.

Swedish Brown and Purple Amish Gnuttle beans drying

A wonky Lunar White carrot

A few Small Wonder spaghetti squash by the flower bed

Loulou likes hiding in the dry beans!

"The Jungle" (East garden) - lots of sunflowers!

"The Jungle" - sunflowers, winter squash...

...and rogue potatoes, borage, tomatoes, kale, marigolds, and pole beans

North Georgia Candy Roaster Squash

Fingerling potatoes gone wild. Hope they're as productive as they look!