First Harvest

Today was the first real harvest from the backyard garden. The tomatoes are finally starting to ripen and the peppers are multiplying daily.

I planted roma tomatoes and beefsteak tomatoes; the romas are coming in first. They are the best for salsa and sauce. Beefsteaks are for salads and tomato sandwiches.

Maya and Chico are very interested in what's coming in from the garden... sniffing and looking, but not eating! I read somewhere that cats can't really taste the heat of the chili pepper, but I'm not going to let them have and "samples."

This weekend will be the start of salsa making season. Yummy!

Happy Fourth of July!

It's Independence Day weekend here in the United States, when we remember and give thanks for our freedoms, including religion, speech and the press. We often mark the day with parades, picnics and fireworks, and I will be doing that in just a few hours. Because July 4th falls on a Sunday this year, our Federal Holiday is tomorrow, Monday, July 5th, giving us a nice long summer weekend to do the things we enjoy.

This weekend, like most so far this summer, includes time in the garden. There's an old saying that corn should be "knee high by the Fourth of July," but this year it's almost shoulder height, thanks to the early spring and abundant rains.

My little garden has no corn, but already there are quite a few poblano peppers starting ripen,and the tomatoes can't be far behind. The pepper plants all have multiple fruits, and the tomato vines are covered with yellow flowers.

I've also finished the first harvest of the lavender patch, and now the dried herbs are inside of pillows and sachets, making wonderfully fragrant gifts for upcoming birthdays and holidays.

I'm thankful that I have the freedom to do this kind of gardening for the fun of it.

Whether you're celebrating the American holiday this weekend, or enjoying your own national days this summer (or winter Down Under), take time to be thankful and smell the lavender!

Happy Summer!

It’s the first day of summer and I’m already making plans for harvesting, drying and canning.

The poblano plants, which went into the ground just a month ago, already have little tiny peppers on them, and the jalapeno and cayenne pepper plants are flowering too. The tomato plants, which went in a few days later have lots and lots of big yellow flowers.

The cilantro has gotten so bushy I’ve already cut it back and processed it for use in salsa later this summer. The lavender bed in the front of the house is spilling out of its boundaries, so it’s been cut back and dried for use in sachets. Gifts from the garden!!