Cute Cukes Destined To Be Eaten

Cucumber seeds were directly planted on 27 May. I saw the first baby cuke starting on 11 July. At my age, if my math skills are any good at all, it has taken 35 days from seed to cute little cuke. 

I may sound a little like Kronos, but I can't wait to eat my babies.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Early June Downpours Pack Punch

The growing season is just getting underway and last night there was a downpour. Followed by another at 13:30. Downpours can deliver a powerful punch. Weather can knock-out a garden before its prime. Between the downpours, I ran outside to assess the damage.

Above is a well established Black Eyed Stella Daylily with petals thinned by a rain beating.

This Clematis x durandii was wet but came through without needing the cut man.

The remaining blooming flowers were down for a technical. So I wondered over to the raised bed rings to see if the vegetables got their ears pinned back.

Lettuce was still holding their heads high. Prepared for what ever nature may unload on them in later rounds. 

The above lettuce is Red Rosie purchased from Johnny's Select Seeds for the 2012 growing season. I have been taking some outside leaves for salads over the last week. It tastes delicious. Nothing better than lettuce from the bed directly to the salad bowl. Except for tomatoes directly from the vine to my lips.

This is Buttercrunch. It, too, was purchased at Johnny's for the 2012 growing season.

The potatoes planted in the lazy bed are showing signs of growth.

After I covered the potatoes with sod, grass side down, I covered the bed with shredded tree leaves collected and shredded last autumn. There are five or six plants that have pushed their way to the sunlight.

On the whole, the garden is in good shape this early June. All one can do is be prepared. And, hope for the best.

I hope it will be a champion season.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

In the Garden Summer 2012

Almost one week since summer began. This is what is happening.

Harvested the first square(on the left) of mixed lettuce. Already have bush beans in that square.

Mixed lettuce in a bowl getting familiar with the a food setting.

Super Sweet 100 Tomato. Just hanging.

Flower bed at the bottom of my driveway. Red, white and blue petunias, Tritoma flowering. Petunias not quite filled in. Poppy died back. New England Aster growing in the center. Brown Eyed Stella in remission.

Hosta

In shade.

Butterfly bush:Buddleia x weyeriana 'Bicolor'. Awaiting butterflies.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Garden at Mid-June Zone 6B

The growing season is underway, big time. Here are a few images captured 16 June 2012.

First ripe tomato - Husky Cherry

Super Sweet 100

Orange Bell

Mixed Loose Leaf Lettuce

Watermelon-Little Gem sprouting amongst the no longer producing snow peas

Butterfly Bush - Buddleia davidii "honeycomb"

Hydrangea macrophylla 

I need to add some sulfur to the soil around the Hydrangea to change the color of the blooms to blue. I will do that on 17 June.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

June - Late Spring Flowering

I stopped to photograph some blooms in my garden the first week of June 2012

Flowering Thai Basil a Bonnie Plant purchased at Lowe's

Common Mallow - Malva sylvestris

Hardy Geranium:Wargrave Pink with bee

Brown Eyed Stella Day Lilies

Clematis

Hollyhock

Yellow Loosestrife:Lysimachia punctata'Alexander'

Common Daylily - Henerocallis fulva

Rhododendron

Climbing Rose - Rosa' Zephirine Drouhin' thornless Bourbon

English Lavender 

Hosta

Eastern Purple Coneflower - Echinacea purpurea

I also finished transplanting flowers I purchased at Lowe's.

Red, White and Blue Petunias at the foot of my driveway. Note the soaker hose.

Red, White and Blue Petunias at the foot of my driveway

Planted under the umbrella of a Korean Dogwood - Cornus kousa-planted to memorialize by son, are begonia, impatiens an New Zealand impatiens. Notice the soaker hose in position.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved 

May - Spring Flowers

While my square foot vegetable garden is beginning to bare fruit, more flowers around my house are blooming each and every day. I guess the old adage, "April showers, bring May flowers", is mostly correct.  There wasn't much rain in April but there are May flowers.

Clematis 

Clematis

Rose Madame Isaac Pereire

 Iris

Iris

Budding white Iris with Red Poppy in background

"Johnson's Blue" Cranesbill or Hardy Geranium

2 Sambucus Nigra "Black Lace" bushes in full bloom
The odor is lovely, spicy with a strong taste of licorice

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved