Love the photos. I've just removed my shallots and first onions from the drying greenhouse and put the later onions and garlic in to dry. Strange weather has slowed some things down, but everything is coming on nicely now.
It has indeed been a weird year, garden-wise. What are your weather conditions? I know my family in MN are experiencing a drought. Here in New England, we're experiencing flooding. Before that, both of us had a heatwave in the late winter immediately followed by a cold snap. So our fruit trees and most of our flowering shrubs didn't even flower. On the other hand, our berries (blue, rasp, and elder, and excepting the gooseberries) went nuts. Our blueberry bushes are wild, and we picked about two gallons worth of berries from them this season! Every year the dominant vegetable is a different one--this year it looks like we're going to be swimming in Hungarian yellow peppers, though the cucumbers and beans are also making a good showing.
They say, "One picture is worth a thousand words!" Hurray for this post giving more bang per buck to your 200+ subscribers 🙌🏼 (insert standing ovation from a proud follower😉)
I love your garden! As far as a report on ours goes, my perennial flowers (including some of Mark's lilies shared with me by Phillip) are blooming to their hearts content and give me joy each time I look out our windows or pick a bouquet to grace our table. Our very small raised vegetable bed is limping along after the summer's arid beginning, and my feeble attempts at keeping it watered. We have a few green beans and tomatoes starting to appear. Our own raspberries (original canes taken from your prolific patch years ago) are done, but I made yet another batch of freezer jam from your over abundance. Your gardening and beekeeping stories keep alive for me the treasured memories of time spent on my grandparent's farms! Thank you for all of it! ♥️
I was very irresponsible and bought another 50 or so lilium (they were on sale so I kinda had to). I’ll be sending Phillip one of the “sisters” early orienpets that reach 6’ and some double orienpets as well as a Casablanca which is the classic white summer lily not to be confused with the early Easter lilies.
I’ve had a great summer. Two out of my five lycoris finally bloomed after a two year wait and I’m hopeful for more next year. Unfortunately I don’t favor late bloomers so the flower garden is on the wane except for some late direct sow annuals. Coneflowers and guara are still going strong and my digitalis and delphiniums are reblooming along with the various verbena.
I’ve decided that I am unable to grow vegetables which is probably a good financial and time management decision based on the fact that my yields are basically nonexistent. “Stick to flowers, kid” I repeat as a mantra when looking at seed catalogs and online.
Also my hemerocallis seeds are maturing so look for those in the fall. I’m super pleased that Phillip agreed to take last years. They will be spectacular in a few trips around the sun and each new hybrid opening is like Christmas anticipation.
I’ve also started collecting iris (including ensata) so prepare for that overflow in a few years as well. Your front burm is going to stop traffic. Love you guys.
I adored your pics—I’m so glad you shared. I think you can be hip *and* be all about taking photos of your garden! Please keep ‘em coming. And big Congrats on your subscriber milestone 😊
I’m reading this a second time—just love all the pics. Oh, kale. I grew it for years because it’s healthy. Then this year, I finally got real. I just don’t like it enough to grow it, do the row cover thing because of cabbage worms, or process it either!
Love the photos. I've just removed my shallots and first onions from the drying greenhouse and put the later onions and garlic in to dry. Strange weather has slowed some things down, but everything is coming on nicely now.
Really amazing what you are doing here! Keep up the good work!
That dog is adorable. Name?
Congrats on your beautiful garden, and on reaching your Substack milestone!
This is great!
It has indeed been a weird year, garden-wise. What are your weather conditions? I know my family in MN are experiencing a drought. Here in New England, we're experiencing flooding. Before that, both of us had a heatwave in the late winter immediately followed by a cold snap. So our fruit trees and most of our flowering shrubs didn't even flower. On the other hand, our berries (blue, rasp, and elder, and excepting the gooseberries) went nuts. Our blueberry bushes are wild, and we picked about two gallons worth of berries from them this season! Every year the dominant vegetable is a different one--this year it looks like we're going to be swimming in Hungarian yellow peppers, though the cucumbers and beans are also making a good showing.
They say, "One picture is worth a thousand words!" Hurray for this post giving more bang per buck to your 200+ subscribers 🙌🏼 (insert standing ovation from a proud follower😉)
I love your garden! As far as a report on ours goes, my perennial flowers (including some of Mark's lilies shared with me by Phillip) are blooming to their hearts content and give me joy each time I look out our windows or pick a bouquet to grace our table. Our very small raised vegetable bed is limping along after the summer's arid beginning, and my feeble attempts at keeping it watered. We have a few green beans and tomatoes starting to appear. Our own raspberries (original canes taken from your prolific patch years ago) are done, but I made yet another batch of freezer jam from your over abundance. Your gardening and beekeeping stories keep alive for me the treasured memories of time spent on my grandparent's farms! Thank you for all of it! ♥️
You need to do this with your elderflowers: https://open.substack.com/pub/brunettegardens/p/elderflower-oxymel-and-gooseberry?r=1n113r&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Just loved all your photos!
Also, have you all tried kale chips? They’re delicious, and way healthier than potato chips. https://open.substack.com/pub/brunettegardens/p/kale-chips-and-the-brake-bleeder?r=1n113r&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Ha ha, you should tell your SIL about the brake bleeder.
I was very irresponsible and bought another 50 or so lilium (they were on sale so I kinda had to). I’ll be sending Phillip one of the “sisters” early orienpets that reach 6’ and some double orienpets as well as a Casablanca which is the classic white summer lily not to be confused with the early Easter lilies.
I’ve had a great summer. Two out of my five lycoris finally bloomed after a two year wait and I’m hopeful for more next year. Unfortunately I don’t favor late bloomers so the flower garden is on the wane except for some late direct sow annuals. Coneflowers and guara are still going strong and my digitalis and delphiniums are reblooming along with the various verbena.
I’ve decided that I am unable to grow vegetables which is probably a good financial and time management decision based on the fact that my yields are basically nonexistent. “Stick to flowers, kid” I repeat as a mantra when looking at seed catalogs and online.
Also my hemerocallis seeds are maturing so look for those in the fall. I’m super pleased that Phillip agreed to take last years. They will be spectacular in a few trips around the sun and each new hybrid opening is like Christmas anticipation.
I’ve also started collecting iris (including ensata) so prepare for that overflow in a few years as well. Your front burm is going to stop traffic. Love you guys.
Your garden looks better than ever.
I adored your pics—I’m so glad you shared. I think you can be hip *and* be all about taking photos of your garden! Please keep ‘em coming. And big Congrats on your subscriber milestone 😊
I’m reading this a second time—just love all the pics. Oh, kale. I grew it for years because it’s healthy. Then this year, I finally got real. I just don’t like it enough to grow it, do the row cover thing because of cabbage worms, or process it either!