Garden Vegetables

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(Yellow Bush Scallop squash, Beefsteak tomato, Kentucky Wonder pole beans and Cherokee Wax beans)

I came back from vacation to find the vegetables thriving without me.

The Kentucky Wonder Pole and Cherokee Wax plants dripped with beans. Most of the beans were huge, 7 to 8 inches. When I can see a distinct shape of the seeds inside the bean, I know they’re too tough for me to eat. I’ll compost the extra large and cook the small and medium beans.

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The scallop squash has overpowered the peppers. There are a few small peppers on the plants. I’ve cut some leaves off the squash to give the peppers more room and light. I may have to pull a few squash plants. I hope the squash is as tasty as it is pretty.

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The beefsteak tomato turned into a monster bush. A few branches broke from the weight. I pruned some small branches and leaves. The first small ripe tomatoes were delicious straight from the garden.

I’ll try to catch up this week with deadheading and weeding. It was nice to be away but it’s also good to be back in the garden.

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Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - July 2009

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So many garden writers post beautiful pictures of their garden blooms each month for Carol’s May Dreams Garden bloom day. I challenged myself to pick one favorite bloom from my garden this month. It was tough choice but I picked Lillium ‘American Dream’.

Every year neighbors stop by to see its spectacular bloom.

Dave’s Garden page suggests the height to be 4 to 6 feet. The lily in my garden is 8 ft tall with 50 to 60 blooms. It is extremely fragrant – a delight when we sit on the deck.

I planted one bulb May 2003. It now has 25 growing stems - 8 are flowering.

I feel extremely fortunate to have selected a spot where it continues to thrive. Sometimes a gardener just gets lucky!


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(I will be on vacation until Wednesday, July 29. I’ll keep up with fellow garden bloggers but I won’t be able to post until then. I have some posts in the works from my garden and maybe I’ll have some good stuff to bring back with me.)

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Perfect Day

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Imagine a perfect day – pleasant sunshine, low humidity, a cool soft breeze. Imagine flawlessly designed gardens, rolling hills, stands of old trees and lush green growth.

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In this perfect weather, the world’s best women golfers meet this week at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem for the U.S Women’s Open. Even if you don’t like golf, it’s an idyllic place for a walk.

On Wednesday, the last day of practice rounds, the atmosphere was relaxed as golfers concentrated to gain a feel for the course. They spent a lot of time on the greens getting familiar with the difficult putting surfaces. Golfers graciously signed autographs at every hole.

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Allison Fouch on the green on a difficult hole #3 (Meadows) – a lot of balls in the water behind the caddies in the picture.

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Even the best golfers can have a bad shot. Juli Inkster in the woods on par 5 hole #6. This hole named Sahara seems about 3 miles long with more sand than the beach.

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Thursday’s competition was more serious. Thousands of people watched in a hushed, almost reverent, atmosphere.

This locally hosted U.S./World championship is just another reason to make me glad I live in the Lehigh Valley. It is exciting to watch the women play on a beautiful course on a beautiful day.

I’ll try to get back to earth (literally) with an update on my garden on Wednesday.

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Putting practice in front of the clubhouse.

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Hosta

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The hostas are at their peak in my garden.

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From small

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To medium

To large


A bright glow in the shady corners.

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Garden Bloggers Death Day

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I discovered Garden Bloggers Death Day through Donna at Mamma Mia Days. Hosted by Kate at Gardening Without Skills on the last day of the month, it’s sort of a requiem for lost plants.

Although I am late posting about dear Gardenia’s demise by spider mites, I decided to do it now to help me through its sad passing.

The story begins many years ago when I had a beautiful, three-foot tall gardenia growing in our bedroom. The scent was heavenly. It lived for many years – a gift from my grandmother taken from a cutting of her plant.

I have tried to replace it several times without any luck. Spider mites always win.

On May 1 this year, while picking up some annuals at my favorite local nursery, I passed a bench with several alluring gardenias. I had to have one. I brought it home and proudly set it on a table by the front window.

Imagine my disbelief when the leaves started to turn yellow and drop off. “It can’t be, not again,” I said to myself.

“Maybe I’m not watering enough,” I said to myself. “Maybe it needs to be transplanted to a larger pot.”

The plant continued to get worse. Little webs appeared on some of the leaves.

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“If I had only used the systemic houseplant insect control sooner.” “If only I had sprayed it more often.”

I sadly watched it die as I reminisced about the beautiful plant I had once grown. I mooned over it for days.

After weeks of clipping and spraying and general fussing, I finally gave up. Nothing seemed to help the damn plant. I decided to trash it and get on with my life.

Maybe someday I’ll try again.

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(“Gardenia: A Gardener's Challenge” by B. Rosie Lerner from Purdue Extension.)

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Have a fun-filled and safe Fourth of July everyone!

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Calendula

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Calendula officinallis

Another plant from my grandmother’s garden.

This year the unsophisticated Pot Marigold fills a corner of my garden. Perfect for a cottage garden (if you don’t mind an overabundance of yellow) they will flower all summer.

I usually pull a majority of plants in spring. I don’t know if it was laziness or lack of a better idea for the area, but this year I left most of the plants there. I seem to have way too many yellow blooms.

This old plant, grown in European gardens since the 12th. Century, was once nurtured for its medicinal properties. The leaves were used as an antiseptic on open wounds.

The prolific self-seeder often becomes leggy in the summer heat. I’ll pull them out if they start to look too weedy. I’ll deadhead as much as I can but I know I’ll have a generous supply of plants next year.

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(Note: See Penn State Master Gardeners Blog June 27 post for important information on late blight on tomatoes and potatoes in Pennsylvania.)

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