Readers, Welcome to my blog (formerly Birds, Blooms, Books, etc). I'm entering a new decade taking on the challenge of moving from Maryland after living there 46 years and learning about my new home here in New England in the Live Free or Die state - New Hampshire. Join me as a write this new chapter of my life.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Yikes - Another Harvest Monday - and Not Much to Show!


Production in the garden has slowed immensely. The sun is moving south which means the tall tulip poplar trees are shading the garden during mid day. The garden gets the first morning sun then later afternoon sun but decreasing sun is taking its toll.

Here's what I found in the garden when we returned from our vacation in Maine. I guess my teen aged watering team didn't pick anything the week before. Or maybe they did and left me the sorrier looking tomatoes.


On Tuesday I picked green beans and used all my tomatoes to make a sauce for dinner.


That's it! I know there will be more beans out there and there are peppers to be picked. I have a late butternut squash that I hope will grow to maturity. But the tomatoes need to be pulled for they are done for the season.

Look for better harvests at Daphne's Dandelions.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Irene - Before, During, and After


We were on the west side of Hurricane Irene and we are grateful to be spared the major force of its strength. Before it even all began to blow the birds knew something was coming. They were visiting my birdfeeders and my seed producing flowers. I caught this goldfinch outside my bedroom window feasting on the purple cone flower.


We weren't designated a Red Cross Shelter and during the storm we had two uninvited evacuees try to take refuge with us. The first was spotted in the hall and captured in a closet. It was sent packing to the woods. The second pictured below, was found "reading" the AARP Magazine on the hearth.


It was also captured under glass and sent on its way to the designated animal shelter in the woods. Both of them were young things so we wondered where the parents were. Maybe those were the mice captured not so nicely earlier in the week on the porch.

So now here we are after the storm, assessing the damage, waiting on the power to be restored though thankfully the generator is doing its function extremely well and for once the cable/internet has not gone down.

On the north side of the house there are more leaves littering than on the south. I've heard trees fall in the woods but will not investigate until the wind has subsided for good. Other than that the damage is minimal and fixable.

One bright spot in the perennial garden is the Pavonia sent to me by HolleyGarden of Roses and Other Gardening Joys. In fact she featured it as her all time favorite perennial for 2011. It has bloomed for the very first time in my garden. It's a lovely shade of pink and a miniature version of the hibiscus I have. I look forward to having it spread in years to come.



Friday, August 26, 2011

Visiting a Fellow Garden Blogger

On August 12th Dan and I had the chance to meet fellow garden blogger, Robin (on the left above) of The Garden of Eden. We were on our way to Maine on vacation and Robin graciously agreed to meet up with us for breakfast and a visit to her community garden plot. It was impressive. She has done an amazing amount of work in the season she has had this plot. Here are some photos.


Three sisters in the Native American tradition.


More varieties of tomatoes than I have ever seen together.



Thank you, Robin for the tour. It was really neat to meet you and see your handiwork.



Monday, August 15, 2011

Harvest Monday


It's the week of the peppers. Tomato harvest has slowed way down. there are more blooms on the Goldie so I'm hopeful for some more into September but as the sun moves farther south my vegetable garden is shaded more and more each day.



Cucumbers are still producing. They love the fence location this year.

See other harvest at the host Daphne's Dandelions.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Pigeon or Dove?


I had a visitor who took up residence on the scupper. Not sure why. I don't know if it's a pigeon or someone's white dove. I tired to get it to fly but it wasn't scared of me on the ground.




I wonder how long it will stay.

Joining Tracie at Cottage Flora Thursday.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Bee Balm Bust






I took the suggestion of someone and cut back my bee balm in the late spring. It was supposed to make it fuller. Well, it may have worked for her bee balm but it didn't work for mine. It's a real bust this year. Even the hummingbirds take a sniff and buzz on by. I had had flower supports around it expecting it to get to where it would need them. I took them down last week because they never got tall enough. Next year I'll leave them be the bee balm they are meant to be.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Harvest Monday


How soon we forget. I went back to last year's postings for August and read my laments that the zucchini wasn't producing and there were no green peppers. I was celebrating tomatoes and eggplants, however. This year the zucchini are just about done for the season, the peppers are mass producing, the tomatoes are satisfactory and no eggplant. What a difference from one year to the next.




Most of my tomatoes have been frozen, eaten or the last batch made into tomato jam. We are eating peppers but I could freeze some too. The basil you see above was washed, dried, chopped and drizzled with olive oil then frozen in a bag flattened so I can break off bits to use in the winter.

See other harvests at Daphne's Dandelions.