Busy times, reaping what I've sown......

 August 3, 2025

The smokey sun cresting the treetops to the east this morning. 

In the latter part of last week, we had a cool down, with overnight temperatures just barely above single C digits, and day temperatures just cresting 20C (68F), and an easterly flow of air that cleared the skies to a beautiful blue. We are now back into air from the west, bringing with it, smokey, dull, dirty, off-white coloured skies, and an air quality warning. The cool down was a shock after the extreme heat and humidity. Temperatures that would have been 'coffee on the porch' temperatures in spring, were 'throw on a sweater and put the blanket back on the bed' temperatures. The booming growth in the garden has slowed a bit, noticeable in the cucumber patch, but the heat is on its way back.

 Harvesting:

 First cabbage.

Garlic. 64 fat cloves.

 

  

Wild raspberries growing around the edges of the pond and our clearing were enough for several desserts, but now they are drying out from the ongoing dearth of rainfall. We haven't had rain since the July 18th inch. It is turning into a dry summer. The big water cube is down to half. Over the past two growing seasons, it was barely used, and had to be drained in the fall. If the forecast holds as is for the next two weeks, we'll be doing a refill from the diminishing pond.

The new pump handle Hubby made is getting a workout this year, and the 'water wagon' is back in service for places the hoses don't reach. The water barrels by the well get emptied and immediately re-filled, so the cold water can warm in the sun ready for the next watering session.

 

Cucs are taking off. Slicers are being eaten, picklers are being collected and soon there will be enough for the first batch of pickles.

Several pounds of beans have been picked and processed from the still producing first planting, and the second planting is budding up.  

Soon:

Big, beautiful onion bulbs for winter storage.

 

 

Eggies are getting bigger! There are 4 about this size so far.

 

 Lots of pumpkins and squash are growing in the jungle.

 

There is no shortage of peppers, particularly in the red department.

 

 

Both the slicers and paste tomatoes are loaded. Only a couple of slicers have reddened so far. They have been picked and are in a paper bag on the counter, as I don't want to share them with the  raccoons. 

 

Preparing:

 

16'X1'X2"

 

Chainsaw milled cedar planks to replace rotting out raised bed frames.

  Observing: 

Finally there are a few Monarchs around and they are enjoying the Swamp Milkweed.
 

 An Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar. Found on an Heliopsis.

 

 

 

 These beauties are up to my chin in height.

The only truly red Zinnia. 

 

Aliens wandering the bush!!