Catching Light - Part Two

The Garden After Rain is a Beautiful Thing...
Chard Power...The chard is all very happy in the coolness of autumn and with the squash beetles all dead and gone. Planted and left to go to seed, chard will readily establish itself in an area with pretty regular water. It is not fussy, and grows in a great variety of color combinations. It is a great (and reliable) overwintering veggie for soups and stir-fry.
Dandelion Going On to Seed...Below, the Future... 25 mixed white wine grapes. Half price orphans, we'll see how they fare in my new zone. 50 more... before I'm 50...
We are still enjoying the Granny Smith. A gift from Joe in the early 90's it has established itself quite nicely and seems to have settled into a pretty steady bi-annual fruiting cycle. Though it is prone to scab, the flavor is perfect. Peeled, they are a zesty, magical and very pleasing treat. Homegrown is just better. Below, Winter Bed. Mustard, Leeks, Onions, Red Lettuce (don't even bother to plant the green - red is so much better for overwinter use) Statice, and Snapdragons that were all planted out a few weeks back. I love my little Robinson Crusoe fence of short sticks and bamboo placed about 5" apart from each other - It will keep the dogs off the bed while it gets established!
More Post Rain Close-Ups...Borage, another homestead plant that makes its own way, absolutely glistens when wet. The droplets cling to each of the hairs that cover this plant. Borage reseeds enthusiastically and is very easy to establish in your garden. Just plant it once and let it go to seed. The star shaped blue flowers are edible. They are a mild, yet fruity flavored addition to any salad, or free range garden grazing. Below, Black Jack Fig...Not Good Grazing. The figs are done gone. Excessive moisture and cool temps produced the expected outcome of splitting/ mold/ mildew. So close and yet so far away.
Fir Spirits Lay Low...Gratitude to the forest and spring flows. Necessary thinning and tree removal a couple weeks back, produced some amazing logs. Respect to That Tree Guy. Respect to the land. Catching light...Below, TYKE the wonder city dog, appreciating all the puddles that come with the rain. Here he is after he spent about an hour barking at, and digging in a water puddle with some underground water current in it...it drove him crazy! He got covered in mud from hips to eyebrows - even the inside of his snout was caked! Dirty dog! He loves the homestead life. He sings when he comes, and he cries when he leaves (barking way too much in-between!) Come again soon little guy!