How does your garden grow?

These are things I want for my yard - if only I knew what they were. Any ideas?

(This tree is one of the only evergreens I actually like. There's something about the whispy, reaching branches.)

What's in Bloom

I returned today from my sister's graduation in DC. Her law school graduation. At which was was a speaker. I'm so proud of her!

I came back to some bummers and some beauties! One of my squash plants had been dug up and put aside - roots in tact. I just replanted it, and we shall see. One of my pepper plants has been beleafed. I can't say it was beheaded because the stem is still standing; all the leaves are just gone. Oh well, I will continue to water and will see on that one too. Everything else in the garden seems to be dandy.

Now for what's in bloom:

Snow in Summer (the kind I like to see)

These I got from my MIL. Can't remember what they're called? The one on the left is the first on the plant.

First bearded iris of the summer. It's about 4 feet tall!

Tiered Inspiration

This is so cute!

Tutorial is here at Positively Splendid.

Afternoon in the sun

And Shafer Butte is important because the tomatoes finally went in today! I got them last weekend at the Peaceful Belly farms sale.

Anna Russian - 65 days. Pinkish red heart shape fruits that weigh a pound with outstanding flavor. Indeterminate.

Oregon Springs - 58 days. A cold-tolerant tomato for short season gardeners. Compact plants produce concentrated sets of medium to large fruit that is nearly seedless. Fruit is juicy and tender with full tomato flavor. Determinate

Black Zebra - 75 days. Burgundy tomato green stripes on the outside. Sweet and juicy, unique and stunning variety; vigorous plants produce an abundance of 3 to 4 oz tomatoes. Indeterminate.

Cal Wonder Orange Bell Pepper - (I thought I'd grabbed one orange and one green but I guess I grabbed two orange, woops!) 80 days. Classic bell shape, sweet, beautiful fruits

Summer Squash - Tromboncino - 80 days. Light green/tan skin, Italian

Cantaloupe - Super 45 Hybrid - 88 days. 4-5 lb fruit.

Eventually I'll get to the point that I can line all the veggies to produce at the same time so I can actually make salsa and such.

Shafer Butte

Shafer Butte still has snow. May 4th hit 32 degrees, and the 6th got close at 35. The forecast for the next 10 days show the lowest will be 42.

Score!

(photo courtesy of www.cooksgarden.com)

The veggie pictured above is a Tromboncino summer squash. I've been looking for a plant to grow in my garden, but I would have settled for seeds too. No one I talked to had even heard of it before, but as I was strolling through the veggie section at Edwards Greenhouse today, there it was! Woot! I didn't have the energy to get it in the garden today, but it's ok as the temperature is supposed to dip this week. I'm excited for the artichoke-flavored squash, and from what I read, it rivals zucchini in production. I'll have plenty to share!

I did force myself to get out in the sun a little bit. I got some free basil seeds so I made newspaper seed starter pots. I decided I am going to make pesto. I have planted:

Genovese Basil: "Of all the basils to grow, and there are about 150 varieties, Genovese basil is one of the best because it yields 7 to 8 cuttings and makes the best pesto." www.superbherbs.com

Lemon Basil: "A basil with a lemon/citrus fragrance and flavor which makes it particularly good in vinegar, with fish, in salad dressings & sauces, and in oils. Great in pesto and other standard basil dishes, too." www.gardenguides.com

Things My Husband Won't Eat

I have decided this flower is my all-time favorite. It's called narcissus poeticus and they are just now blooming in the yard. *Sigh* They make me happy. :)

Something else that makes me happy: having a day to do whatever we want. No pressure, no appointments, no running around. Of course, things done include yard work, garage sale-ing, and giving the dog a bath. Oh the exciting life I lead. But it's nice to just putter around by Husband's side.

Into the garden went the following:

The second round of carrots

"Grow Organic" Lettuce - Gourmet Blend (including Red Oak Leaf, Green Romaine, Red Lollo Rossa, Green Leaf, and Green Butterhead. Days to germination: 10-15; days to maturity: 45-50. The package says to sow when soil warms after danger of frost, but my grandpa already has lettuce coming up and everything I've read elsewhere says it's a cool weather crop. Guess we'll see.

Livingston Seed Bloomsdale Long-Standing Spinach - Days to germination: 7-10; days to maturity: 48.