Memorial Day planting

Dad came up Sunday to harrow the Eliot Garden. After nearly a week of rain, the soil finally dried out enough. He made numerous passes, setting all the rows, then we let the soil warm up in the hot sun.

We planted 5 varieties of potatoes, 5 varieties of winter squash, and 2 melons. Now, if we can just keep the deer out, we may have an awesome harvest!

I got another driving lesson--starting, and getting all the way into fifth gear. I even managed to put it in reverse--all without hitting anything. Good thing it's a large field.

Callie spent her time lying in the shade, slurping water, and panting--but have a great time none the less.

Verdant garden

The garden is peaking. Everything is lush and producing fresh produce for our table. Each day, I pick another pint of grape tomatoes. The bush beans are on the verge of a third picking, but the Kentucky Wonders are holding out on us--lots of flowers, but still no beans. And the squashes, well the winter squashes are creeping over the flower beds, into the driveway, and up the walkway. We should have a decent crop of buttercup and delicata for the fall. The yellow summer squashes are putting forth just enough at a time to keep caught up eating them--grilled, sauteed with onion, and maybe with some fresh tomatoes! My nemesis, the fully red-ripened bell pepper still eludes me. Not enough water, sun, good soil? I never have achieved the end product featured in the catalogs! As for the eggplant, it looks like we may have another late crop again, due to my late start this spring. But there's still time for us to get in some late carrots, lettuce, spinach, and garlic. Lord knows, with the number of carrots Harley eats, we need a big bumper crop!