Moulan Rouge Sunflower...
Yucca in Full Bloom...These are easy to grow and hardy in our area...it takes nearly 7 years from 4"
catalog purchase, to bloom, but is well worth the wait! PLUS, the yucca have lots of babies! I only have one bloom this year, but in some years there are many from this particular clump. I have planted others, with the future in my mind...
Amazing White Flesh Nectarine...Dave Wilson nursery stock that I want to say is an Arctic Frost, or Frost Queen or something...The marker on tree is absent and I am in a
paper chase for a few crucial items, the info on this fine tree being one of them. Update coming when the cleaning lady finally shows up... ! Anyway, it is an awesome tree that doesn't mind the snow and is first to bloom and bear.
Reminiscent of the
Stanwick which I have been unable to locate anywhere. Its flesh is greenish, juicy and
super sweet. The peel is a beautiful purple. Birds,
raccoons, yellow jackets and ants, all love them too!
Peace Rose...for a little peace.
Blue Hubbard Squash (my favorite) and Jumbo Pumpkins...I barely plant any annuals so I am pushing it a little when I call this Humboldt
Homestead...But, I
gotta do a few squash at least.
Perennial Black Eyed Susan...Nice jumbo blooms...
Full Moon of Late July
Snoopy's Watching Meditation...He spends at least an hour everyday looking out the window to the world beyond the fencing...
Fuchsia...
The garden is turning the corner to fall. Wistfully, I will go along for the ride. The days must shorten, for the
pumpkins to ripen, and for the grapes to fill with sugar, and juice. This summer has been very cool overall, and I have enjoyed the last couple days which were in the 90's. Today is overcast, and rain is even in the
forecast for Sunday. This is great weather for running around with the dogs. We had a big crash a couple days ago, actually it was two crashes, precipitated by a flock of turkeys and two deer at the first, and then, around the next corner we see a damn herd of cows at the school flat!!...I should have turned around the first time they didn't "stop". Anyway, I have had to chill on the
DL with a pretty significant bruise on my leg. Today, we try again.
The Honeybee...The bees are really enjoying the many sunflowers, and other annuals that are in bloom right now. I've even seen them get a bit aggressive, pushing the bumblebees away from a desired blossom. They are flying around absolutely covered in pollen!
Late Nectarine...These have white flesh and are very sweet...They can be picked as soon as they start to soften and left to ripen off the tree.
Fall Crop of Raspberries Coming On...goldens and reds, above...The Persimmon, below...I love their little hats!
Red Pear...These have started to drop...their texture is a lot like the Bartlett. Pears must be picked when the color is developed, they start to fall, and can be easily picked by lifting upward gently on the fruit. They must be removed from the tree before they are absolutely ripe. They ripen off the tree in about 5-7 days. If left on the tree, they can become mealy or grainy.
Above, Gravenstein Apples...First year for this tree to bear fruit, and what beautiful flavorful apples they were! Gravenstein are the earliest, next to the Wealthy, that we have growing up here. They are a wonderful applesauce, or pie apple. They are also delicious fresh. They are crisp and spritzy! Below, the Satsuma Plum...It has given us an abundance of dark red, meaty, freestone plums. These are wonderful for eating fresh, drying, or canning up as sauce, or whole plums in syrup.
Goat Rock Above...Battleship Rock From Afar, Below....
Church Series...
The Roundest Plumpest Little Pumpkin ....
Autumn is bearing down on me. The naked ladies and nectarines scent the air with fruity sweetness. The grapes are coming in, and the apples have begun to fall. The weather overall, has been very warm these last couple of weeks, (90+) and I have enjoyed it immensely. Watering chores are many, but I'm enjoying the feel of a California Summer...while I still have a chance! Too soon, the leaves will fall en mass, days will be cool, and the nights cooler still.... and I'll be left with a longing for spring~
