Summer Garden and More

At Crossroads Garden Club meeting Monday night, club member, Cindy Christie used a 4th of July theme for refreshments after the meeting. I thought her red, white and blue fruit dish idea was worth sharing with everyone who might be entertaining next week on Independence Day!

Shown above is a great flag table cloth and three section dish loaded with strawberries, blueberries and covered yogurt raisins. Her entire spread was a great way to celebrate the 4th of July and the beginning of summer that started July 21st.

Now our spring garden has ended and it time to clean the garden of cool weather crops like sugar peas, kale, bok choy, lettuce, etc. and make room for those sun loving plants like okra, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, etc. The only downside to the hotter, drier season is the fact that bugs like the heat just as much, so more care is needed to avoid infestation (especially, since we have an organic garden).

However (maybe because the season just started), we haven't had too many problems with squash bugs or squash vine borers. Pictured above are "Rattlesnake" green beans. We planted these for the first time last year with much success. The yielded throughout the summer into mid fall even with the extra dry weather.

The tomatoes love the rain we've received lately and are full of fruit.

Although the carrots don't like the warmer weather, the tops are still full and very green. We've only harvested a third of the row (only digging up enough to eat and keep some extra in the frig). I love it because fresh veggies in the garden are like having a grocery out your front door.

The cucumbers and sweet potatoes seem to like being close together.

We had to replant the okra and planted another row in a different section, two weeks later. Staggering planting times allows a longer season and prevents every crop being ready to pick at one time.

Today we decided the next types of seeds we'd plant once we cleared the leeks, onions and other cooler crops out. There is still time to plant a summer garden.

Here's another picture of Cindy's delectable feast, chicken wings with blue cheese, celery and carrots, red hot pepper jelly over creme cheese and crackers. She also made cupcakes (not pictured), decorated with white creme cheese icing, sprinkles (red, white and blue) and little American flags stuck in each one.

So, if you like summer (like I do) and haven't had time to get all your summer garden planted (like I haven't) don't fret, there's still time. I also hope, if your entertaining next Thursday on the fourth, you can use some of Cindy's summer ideas to spice up your table.


Until Next Time...........

Happy Gardening 2013!


Posted by Wilma Smith