I know fall has arrived when the hens quit laying. It’s extra official now that the leaves have started to change color and the maples have begun to shed. Commence leaf-raking. But more importantly, commence appreciating fall’s beautiful weather—perfect for gardening (at least as long as it isn’t raining).
A recent major outbreak of listeriosis in cantaloupes serves as a warning to hobby farmers to guard against food-borne diseases.
I’m so disappointed that we didn’t get any of our own pumpkins this season! I planted five pumpkin vines, including an Atlantic Giant, a Howden, and some others I don’t remember, but none of them managed to set any fruit.
As bumblebee populations continue to decline, a USDA entomologist searches for a replacement pollinator.
Photo by Jessica WalliserI accidentally grew All Blue potaotes in the compost bin, and they did better than the ones I purposefully planted in the garden! I’m secretly hoping for an early frost this year, namely to kill off some of the stink bugs before they make it inside but also to put an end to […]
I spent the morning mowing the lawn. It’s a beautiful day here, and even riding the mower was a pleasure. I don’t often write about my lawn because I really don’t care that much about it. I’m not one of those people who think of the lawn as part of the garden. We don’t really do much to it except mow. Don’t get me wrong, I love the look of a lush, green, well-maintained lawn, but I don’t think a person needs to spend time and money to have that. It’s not worth it to me, I guess.
Well, with my son now in school, I’m back to the garden. It’s so hard to believe Labor Day is behind us. Late last week, I harvested the last of the cucumbers—enough to make one more batch of pickles that I haven’t actually made yet—and pulled up the vines. Zucchini plants bit the dust two weeks ago, so they got yanked, as well.
I just put my son on the bus for his first day of kindergarten. As is probably the same with all other mothers, my head is filled with mixed emotions. Part of me is so very proud of him, as he stepped onto that big bus like he owned the joint; another part is so sad to be loosing my best bud.
Stupid stinkbugs have ruined my corn! I was so excited to harvest my Jade Blue sweet corn, but when I peeled back the husk, the kernels are all shriveled and warped. The foliage is completely covered with stinkbugs and the white splotchy damage caused by their feeding.
We just picked our first two melons of the season and enjoyed them with our dinner. I couldn’t remember what kind they were so it was kind of thrilling to cut into them and find out what was inside. The outside looked nothing like a cantaloupe, but that’s exactly what the inside looked and tasted like, only not quite as sweet.
It’s been so very hot around here—too hot to do much more than water the garden. The deadheading remains undone for yet another week and the weeds continue to grow. Such is my garden in summer.
Ugh! The stink bugs are in full force now. I knew it would happen, but this is crazy! I have finally started harvesting my tomatoes, and they’re all covered in stink-bug nymphs. The skin and flesh of the fruits is completely corked from their feeding.
