The first tomato(s)!

The first tomatoes have arrived!

They were picked this weekend and they were Roma tomatoes (7/25/2009)
Since then, I've picked about 5 more (I have 2 Roma plants) and I made a delicious Salsa Fresca (see recipe below) with them!

I've also picked countless Sweet 100 cherry tom-toms and 2 large and in charge 'Better Boy.'

Salsa Fresca Recipe:

Lots of Diced Tomatoes (I prefer Romas)
Diced Green Bell pepper (add red and yellow if they are available)
Diced White or Yellow Onion
Dash of White Vinegar
Juice of one lime
Big handful of chopped cilantro

Mix and enjoy with tortillas!

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - July 2009

The garden is full of activity -- between the blooms and the buzzes, there are lots of things happening. The bees particularly like the echinacea.

This red monarda was something I took home in the neighborhood plant swap. It was one of the neatest things to watch a hummingbird hover around it for some sweet nectar.

Pretty pink and yellow daylily. There are also pure yellow, orange with red stripes, double orange and red, and a deep burgundy with yellow strip.

Meadow Rue -- some of the smallest flowers in the yard, but some of the tallest.

The black-eyed susans are starting to open. Many were smashed in the Sweet Gum saga, but there should still be a good show.

And finally some beautiful light purple phlox -- huge blooms that seem to have doubled in the past year. I have some that are darker pink and white ones as well. These are the most prolific near the patio.

Happy Bloom Day and many more blooms throughout July!

These are traveling elephant ears

A friend of mine was nice enough to orchestrate sending me (via postal mail) some fantastic elephant ear bulbs that his dad has grown for many years.

I received the package in June and the bulbs had already been started in some soil. One even had it's first leaf.

The picture on the left is when they'd been in the ground for about a week. The picture on the right is from last night. They've only been in the ground for about a month and they are growing like crazy!

Sweet Gum Saga Finale

The sweet gum tree, which suffered a big loss last Friday, came down this morning. It was time for it to go.
I am amazed by how quickly the tree company workers were able to remove it in it's entirety.





I think the back of the house looks naked...and the family room (just inside of the patio doors it a lot brighter and warmer now).


Probably will need to move a few of these plants which prefer shade. Their getting full morning sun now and a bit in the evening, too.

Sweet Gum Saga

Remember this spring when I posted about how my backyard sweet gum's days were numbered? About how I despised those little balls it produces? About how I thought it might be time to cut it down?

This weekend I got my wish...but not exactly on my terms...

Friday night there were storms with wind gusts up to 50 mph. My sweet gum lost a substantial limb.





This limb is easily 50+ feet and that hole on the side of the tree is at least 4 feet tall. The limbs reach higher than my house, too.

I'm getting estimates on having the tree removed.

Vegetable Garden Pics -- June 2009

Holy mole-y, the garden is growing like crazy!


With all of the rain, things have been growing very fast. This picture includes a ton of marigold (which have since been thinned), onions, bell peppers, 4 basil plants (some of which has since been used for some delicious pesto), rosemary, cucumbers, green beans, and lots of mixed lettuce/spinach (some of which has been used for salads and sammy toppings).







And here are the tomatoes. The 'better boy' already has 5 or 6 green tom-toms. I can't wait!

This, compared to less than a month ago, is just amazing!

New (to me) herbs!

Just confirmed what a couple of perennial herbs in the herb garden are!

This is winter savory.
I'm told it's good in green beans.









This is oregano. I have a lot of it and am willing to divide.
I'm told it's better dried than fresh.











This I still don't know what it is. It's an herb -- I know it looks like bee balm, but it's not...